Visiting Lukáš Kimlička

He studied fashion, worked in design and styling, and today his main domain is fashion photography. Welcome to Lukáš Kimlička's stylish apartment - this time we travelled all the way to Slovakia for his unique aesthetic and collection of glass vases.

A year ago you left your life in Bratislava and found a home in a smaller town. Do you feel "at home" here?

I'm still getting used to it. Everything here is new to me and it will take a while before I start to feel at home. But I enjoy living here, and what gives me a sense of home is, for example, the fact that my grandmother once lived in this apartment. It holds many lovely memories.

And what do you think makes a home?

Ease, a sense of security and, of course, good neighbours.

"I like combining things, materials and textures that seem mismatched at first glance."

Did you design the interior of the apartment yourself?

Yes, I drew a lot of inspiration from the internet, social media and magazines. I knew I wanted to keep the feeling that my grandmother had lived here, so that some of the original elements would remain. At the same time, it was important to me that it be modern and tailored to me.

And where does your passion for interior design come from?

I've had a relationship with beautiful things since I was little. I studied fashion design, so I probably have some sense of aesthetics. I like combining things, materials and textures that seem mismatched at first glance. I enjoy minimalism, but I also like maximalism. When furnishing the apartment, I often faced the dilemma of which direction to take. I think I chose a golden middle way. :)

How would you describe your apartment in three words?

Cosy, clean, designed.

The neutral bedroom is completed by the Lejaan bedding collections Father's Playground, Deep Secret and Afternoon Storm.

How often do you change, shift or move things around in the apartment?

Quite often. I try to find permanent places for things, but I still have the urge to keep changing something and moving furniture, decorations or pictures on the wall. I'm quite indecisive about some things and, above all, I always feel I need to keep improving something here.

Which piece for the apartment took you the longest to find?

The marble desk for the study took the longest. I couldn't find one anywhere that matched exactly what I had in mind. In the end, I had it made to measure to my own design.

Lukáš's study and the made-to-measure marble desk.

Where in Slovakia do you go for the best second-hand finds?

There are quite a few second-hand shops in Slovakia where you can find vintage furniture or home accessories. There's one in Malacky, where I live. I bought the lamp on my bedside table there, for example.

I bought other pieces of furniture through design shops that offer renovated vintage furniture imported from Italy, for instance. And I went to Košice for the chandeliers, which I bought through Bazoš.

How did your collection of glass vases come about? Do you have them all on display?

Glass fascinated me already at university. Back then I told myself that if I ever had my own apartment, I definitely wanted lots of glass in it.

I bought my first vase online. I was surprised by how cheap it was, so I started collecting pressed glass vases. Slowly it became a passion, and I got to know the names of the individual collections as well as the designers and the glassworks where the vases were blown. Over time, they became harder and harder to find and prices went up quite a lot. I still have many vases tucked away; I don't have room to display them all, so I'll probably have to have new shelves made.

Glass vases of all shapes and colours adorn an entire wall of Lukáš's study.

What piece of furniture or accessory do you have your eye on now?

I think I already have everything I needed. So I'm not looking for anything. But I still follow vintage furniture websites and visit various second-hand shops. It fascinates and inspires me at the same time.

Did you make anything in the apartment yourself?

The only thing I made myself is the door frames in the bedroom. Basically, I just covered the old frames with decorative mouldings and painted everything white.

The woven Woven Monocolour collection brings new texture and a sense of cosiness to the interior.

What do you think makes any space cosier?

Definitely accessories. At first I avoided accessories in the apartment; I was afraid it would look cluttered, but without them it looked sterile and not cosy at all. I resisted cushions on the sofa and curtains, and now I can't imagine it without them. I think home textiles make any space cosier.

And what should everyone have at home?

A big bed. I always told myself that when I furnished my own apartment one day, I wanted a bedroom that would look like a hotel room. With a big bed and a pile of pillows.