Sabrina, behind the popular instagram account @maisonpourcinq, is busy renovating her family's 100-year-old house located in the Ruhr area, Germany. She recently re-did her hallway, a narrow space that was transformed with the help of simple, timeless design, a mirror, and useful extra storage. Hallway interior brand Essem Design interviewed her.
Photo: Essem Design
How do you create a welcoming home?
'I believe that's quite specific from person to person. For me, calm colours with a few splashes of colour are essential. I think eye-catchers that catch the eye are exciting and encourage conversation. For me, this includes bright colours but also exciting materials such as chrome, marble, or brass. I want my home to have a welcoming atmosphere. Not too sterile, not too tidy. A place where visitors can feel at ease.'
What are your best tips for decorating an entrance area?
'Our direct entrance area is very small, so there isn't much room for decorative elements. I took this aspect into account during the renovation and gave the permanently installed elements a decorative character. Our front door was therefore coloured dove blue, and our floor tiles are black and white with a striking pattern. There is always room for a nice poster that loosens up the room. I also find stylish ceiling lamps very suitable in small rooms.'
You recently redesigned your hallway. What was important to you in the makeover?
'Definitely plenty of space for jackets and shoes. Due to the small space, an open system was important to me. As already mentioned, the room is very small, so the wardrobe should have a decorative character. A large mirror, which makes the room appear larger, is indispensable. I painted the lower part of the walls with washable paint. This means I can quickly get rid of the children's muddy fingers, and we don't always have to repaint. Another new addition is a shelf for shoes, which I painted in the same colour as the wall to make it look more discreet. We now also have a shelf for keys and our wallets. We were missing that before. The panelling for the radiator is still open. I'll come up with something nice for that.'
You chose products from the Nostalgi Family. What makes the product family special for you?
'The Nostalgi 291 hat rack combines plenty of space and aesthetics. The design fits perfectly into our old building, yet the chrome-aluminium version makes it look modern and is a great eye-catcher. It not only has hooks, but also the option of using hangers. I particularly like the option of being able to extend the wardrobe at any time. It is always possible to purchase additional hooks or to add another element to the coat rack.'
Read the full interview here: www.essem.se