It’s complicated

When you meet someone for the first time – a new colleague, a friend of a friend or even a complete stranger – two common questions usually come up in the conversation: «What do you do?» and «Where are you from?»

The first one has always been easy to answer. I’m an interior designer and I’m so passionate about my profession it feels like I was born to be one.

On the other hand, question number two, is really difficult for me. Because how much could a geographic birthplace on this planet have to say about who I am. Maybe a great deal actually. Let me give it a try. It is – as they say these days – complicated.

DOLLHOUSES

I was born in the small town of Eupen in Belgium, where my mama is from. I spent my first few years in Germany, where my dad is from. Already as a small girl I loved to decorate and make small pieces of furniture for my dollhouses. I loved the designing even more than playing with the dolls themselves. So, already then I was a designer in the making.

After a carefree childhood just outside what then was the capital of West Germany, Bonn, my family moved to The Netherlands when I was 12. It was tough to leave friends behind and start all over. New country, new language, new school.

Nonetheless, in retrospect I can see that this move taught me to adapt to new places, new people and a new culture. These are skills, which served me well later on in life, and I would not be without them.

Throughout my teenage years, my interest in and passion for interior design grew. My papa’s stories about how my great-grandparents used to run their own textile business in old Istanbul – which is where my papa spent his childhood – had a profound impact on me. Was it in my blood to work with textiles?

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

After finishing high school, 19 years old, I started to work as an assistant in an architect firm – at Interieurarchitekt Anne Lawant. Here I learnt to make architect drawings by hand, how to choose and combine colors and also how to talk with clients and customers. All of them were essential skills for a future interior designer.

THE VOGUE ACADEMY

A year later, I signed up for studying towards an associate degree in interior design at the Vogue Academy in Amsterdam. I had definitely found my way and a path to my passion!

At the Vogue Academy I learnt the art of making inspiration boards. During two years I was given the opportunity to train my creative skills and talent. Through many practical projects I expanded my understanding of aesthetics and the importance of art and decoration in interior design. I learnt how to develop total interior design concepts.

During my studies in Amsterdam, I went on an inspiration trip to South-East Asia, to the beautiful island of Bali. I spent a month in this tropical paradise and returned to Amsterdam with lots of colors and patterns in my head. This served as inspiration for starting to draw and design my own patterns. I loved it from day one! It was as if I could hear the echo of my great-grandparents and their textile adventure in Istanbul almost 100 years earlier.

GOING TO CALIFORNIA

The two years at the Vogue Academy and my trip had set in motion a desire in me to travel more. I wanted to go out west, to America! So, in late 2001, I packed my bags and went to San Diego, California, for the first time. I stayed with friends of my family for six weeks – fell in love with the Californian way of life – and swore I would come back.

The following year, I got my visa to the USA and started to work for Donna Armani Town & Country Design in San Diego. As a designer’s assistant, my days were filled with drawings and meeting clients.