At Home with Fara
Fara Mahmudy is actually a student. About 2 years ago, the 25-year-old and her partner found an apartment in their adopted city of Hamburg in the Generalsviertel. For some time now, Fara has been sharing authentic impressions of their shared apartment on her account. Fara proves like no other that an individual interior is possible with a relatively small budget, because "cheap does not always mean IKEA". More and more people liked that, the account grew, first collaborations with furniture brands took shape. She carefully curates her furnishings, mixing flea market finds with contemporary designs. With mirrors and the right colors, she gives the 59-square-meter apartment more air - and anyone who enters it quickly forgets the square footage. What immediately catches the eye, on the other hand, is that everything glows in warm colors that compensate for the lack of sunshine on this autumn day.
V: One thing that struck me immediately when we walked in here is the colors that immediately speak to you. You went extremely heavy on pastels here in the apartment. How did that come about? What does color do to you? Why is it so colorful here? What advice would you give to people who aren't quite as bold with color?
F: I reach for pastels because they're a good place to start with color. They're colorful and friendly but not overbearing, don't get too dark or serious, which is why I like pastels so much. Color just brings coziness and a personal touch. You can transform the room with color. Plus, if you don't have the heart, you can leave the big pieces in neutral colors. Our couch is bright and the big furniture is not that colorful. Through colored rugs, blankets and candles, you can still set accents.
V: You can be bold without being brave, because color can always be painted over.
F: And you can still put another color.
V: You just mentioned it. We are in an apartment that measures 59 square meters. Yet it feels like we're in 100 square meters. How did you manage to do that?
F: That's nice to hear. I pay attention to it through the decor. What I just noticed again when I was painting the dining room is that the rooms seem much smaller without furniture. You can play neatly with the furniture pieces there or do something with mirrors. Mirrors stretch and widen the space immensely. I really like the big mirror in the dining room. In addition to the many mirrors, the high ceilings also contribute to this, of course.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the most in the country?
V: One stands here in the room and has the feeling of having twice the length, because you have so many large mirrors, but they don't take up so much space - after all, they hang on the wall. Another topic, which is of course exciting for us, are the Kelim that are here with you. There are even two pieces that have made it to you. There, too, you have chosen pastel colors. Why and what do you think the kilim do to the apartment?
F: As you said, I fell in love with the rugs mainly because of the pastel colors. The runner in the hallway that I saw on the website was really love at first sight. I love the combination of green and purple and when I saw that one, I knew it had to be that one. The other Kelim also features my much loved combination. I like them incredibly well and fit incredibly well in here.
V: It suits you, it suits the apartment. Another thing that is also about color is the walls in the dining room, which you have just painted with a very beautiful color by Anna von Mangoldt. You chose a light sage-matcha green. Why did you choose this color?
F: I absolutely love green and have been toying with the idea of painting a room green for a long time, since nothing here was really green before. I thought now was the perfect opportunity and time to pick out a beautiful shade of green with a professional color consultation because green is so versatile. I really wanted a light, friendly tone. With the last color we had on the walls in the dining room before, the gray cast bothered me. We have so many gray days in Hamburg, so I wanted to get away from that and chose the color "Ceylon" by Anna von Mangoldt. Ceylon is mixed with yellow and green particles and doesn't look gray in any light at all. That was especially important to me.
V: It turned out really nice, too. I think in combination with the kilim that's lying there right now, which also has these green touches in the border, it's an insanely beautiful combination that makes the room super friendly, even cozier and more extraordinary.
This is how beautiful and impressive the color "Ceylon" by Anna von Mangoldt in combination with our matching Kelim Gashgai looks.
V: Dear Fara, thank you very much that we were allowed to be here it was huge fun. I'll check in again next week and hope to have those delicious French rolls again then and see you again here with a kilim or rug or two. Who knows?
F: I would be happy. Thank you for being there.