Astrid Driller is an interior architect and works at Vitra as a Home Specialist. Her particular passion: micro living – living in a small space! We met her in her boyfriend's micro apartment in Cologne in Germany, which she designed and planned herself. In our magazine, the interior architect shows you how to live cosily, beautifully and individually, even in the smallest of spaces.
Astrid, how did you come to champion micro living in particular? You work at Vitra – when I think of the brand, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic Eames Lounge Chair, and with it spacious rooms …
That's true – at first glance, the two don't go together with that classic armchair. But it's often more exciting to focus on things that aren't obvious, isn't it?! Two things drive me. First, I live in Düsseldorf in Germany, and my friends are spread across various big cities. Questions often come up about how to use floor plans intelligently and make the most of their potential.
Second, I was coming across micro-living concepts on the market more and more often. And since I'm quite a curious person, I looked into the background: both architectural and socio-cultural.
And how did this particular project come about?
My boyfriend, whose main home is in Munich in Germany, had been looking for a small property in Cologne for quite some time. Many viewings, floor plans and options later, the purchase went through and the floor plan landed in my inbox. If you look at the sketch, you might recognise the challenge.
How did you approach this project?
In the end, a small interior project is no different from a big one – only the quantities are bigger. So, in the classic way, I started by asking about the resident's needs. When you hear "micro living", you might always picture young, flexible, cost-conscious clients.
But that's not the case: we see that living in a small space runs through all levels of society and all age groups. In this case, it's someone who lives in several places.
What were the specific requirements here?
At the time, the flat consisted of one large room and a bathroom. So there was a strong wish for a separate bedroom, without losing the generous feel of the living space.
And what was your plan for making this a reality?
I looked at various options – from a freestanding wall to screen off a bed, to a separate room built from plasterboard. But I quite quickly decided on a monolithic cube. Since a fully functional kitchen was also on the wish list for this passionate cook, alongside the separate bedroom, I combined the two and turned them into the heart of the flat.
The result is a cube with lots of details, which houses the kitchen and generous storage space on its two outer sides. Inside, accessed through a door in the kitchen front, it conceals a cosy sleeping nook with a velvet headboard and a small compartment for an espresso cup and phone.
How was the rest of the space designed?
The rest of the space was furnished with freestanding pieces and deliberately given personal accessories. I think that's a really important point: with small rooms, you often feel the need to keep everything very clean and calm, plan lots of built-in units and so on. That's basically right, as the space needs structure. But in the end, it's your home, not a hotel room.
The personal picture on the wall, the little toolbox herb garden for the aubergine pasta, coat hooks that show off a beautiful coat and the scent of favourite flowers give the micro apartment personality.
In this case, you're both interior architect and resident. Now that it's finished, would you do anything differently?
That's true, and it means you look at it differently – much more personally. But I have to say I'm actually quite happy with the result. The only thing I'd really like is a rug under the sofa, to mark out the living area more clearly and add more textiles to the mix of materials. You're never finished …
I find the idea of marking out the living area with a rug interesting. Do you have any other tips for small flats?
Don't be afraid of colour! Not even of dark, strong colours. I think you can see that wonderfully in this flat: we painted two end walls of the living area in a deep blue. That gives the space a certain hierarchy, and the furniture linked by the blue connects visually. The same goes for the bathroom.
We gave it a new look with the simplest of means. The tiled area was painted white with suitable tile paint, and everything above it, including the ceiling, was painted blue. Add some new accessories and you're done!
Do you think furniture for small spaces needs to meet special requirements?
No, I don't think that's the answer. I think you can choose from a manufacturer's perfectly normal furniture range. Perhaps it's more about reviewing your own habits? Do I really need a dining table and a desk? Or can I use one table for both if I have a box where I can put away my home office things in the evening?! Then I have more free space in the flat itself.
And finally, a personal question: do you have a favourite spot in the micro apartment?
Definitely the best retreat: sitting in the sleeping nook by the window, with the door open and a view into the living space. Ideally with a freshly brewed espresso in my hand.
Thank you, Astrid, for the insight into the apartment and the helpful tips on micro living.
Astrid Driller is happy to answer any further questions about micro living at [email protected]
