Andras’ Budapest Home Full of Amazing Possibilities
Name: Andras
Location: Palace district, Budapest, Hungary
When I tried to find a home three years ago I was looking for a place with amazing possibilities. As a designer I’m lucky to have the ability to see the best in every room. When I first saw this apartment it was damaged, the walls were painted odd colors and the previous owner built arches to weird places, but I instantly fell in love with the picture of what the place could become.
This district of Budapest is a very old, interesting part of the town with narrow streets and a certain Eastern European charm. The house itself is under historical preservation that limited my possibilities a bit, but the parts that need to be protected add up to the end results. (The woodwork had to be unchanged.) I’m an owner of a design studio called Flying Objects and we usually don’t work on interior projects, but the work methods and design philosophies we use daily worked for rebuilding my home as well.
The style: in my work, even in the way I dress, I love well designed, clean, lovable, fun and practical pieces. I think it’s needless to say that I’m heavily inspired by Scandinavian design, but I did not want to just create a Scandinavian interior in the middle of Budapest, I used a lot from the rich heritage of the city and the country.
The basis was a clean, relaxed, warm look with mid-century modern furniture (it means the design of the socialist era here).
Because of my profession and passion I filled it up with objects I love; rare porcelains from old Hungarian manufacturers, paintings from my friends, vintage Braun kitchen appliances and lot of books complete the whole vibe. I used some simple lamps and learned a lot about lighting during the process.
The historic atmosphere of the hall and the stairway is enchanting and unique — even in this city — with its stained glasses by the famous Art Nouveau artist, Miksa Roth.
I love the tall ceilings and large windows that make the whole place bright all the time. I can’t choose a favorite nook or place because it depend on my mood. Sometimes it’s the century-old Thonet rocking chair in the living room, under the windows and on hotter days I love to read or work on the love seat in the dining room.
What I love the most is the mixture of historical and modern. It’s spacious, but has cozy corners, stylish, yet comfortable and has everything I’m looking for in a home. Two years after the renovation and styling, now it’s completely the way I imagined it when I first step in.
Thanks, Andras!
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour & House Call Submission Form.