Franzi from @fraeuleinfraenzchen gives us a look inside her beautiful flat and shows us her favourite chairs for the popular mix-and-match chair trend.
Franzi, thank you so much for your time!
Tell us a few facts about yourself.
I'm Franzi from Bochum in Germany. I discovered my love of furnishing and decorating rooms in my childhood bedroom, which I rearranged what felt like every week. But I only really got going in my first flat of my own. [laughs]
Where do you live and who with? You've only just moved, haven't you?
Yes, during the hot summer months this year, my husband, my daughter Frida and I moved from Berlin in Germany back to Bochum, into a beautiful period apartment.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a qualified special needs care worker, but since my time in Berlin I've been working as a nursery teacher.
Tell us more about your new home. What was important to you when furnishing it? Which interior style did you choose, and why?
It was important to us that every piece of furniture had the right place, where it would really come into its own. We've been following designs by Danish and Scandinavian classics for a long time, but modern design too. We're open to all kinds of styles. Above all, it matters to us that the room and the furniture work well together and form a whole. We pay close attention to the materials of surfaces and decorations.
Why did you decide on a new flat?
Our old flat had beautiful large windows with a ledge you could sit on. We were also right in the heart of Bochum's lovely Ehrenfeld district, so very close to the city centre. Despite these advantages, after Frida was born we had to look for a bigger flat – and we really struck lucky. We're still very happy with our decision.
Which is your favourite room, and why?
I can't really say which of our rooms is my favourite. But I love the atmosphere in our living and dining room, and I feel at home there at any time of day.
Who's in charge of furnishing and styling in your home?
That's easy. I take care of the styling and my husband takes care of putting it into practice. [laughs] No, we both have good ideas and often think the same way about how to design the rooms. That way, we usually find the solution that suits us best.
Moving usually means new furniture and accessories too. Which new interior pieces did you add when you moved?
The new HAY J110 and J104 chairs are two of our new treasures that we wouldn't want to part with. They look great at our oak-veneer dining table from &Tradition. A few accessories also moved in, such as new pendant lights, a rug and vases.
What has changed in your new flat compared with the old one?
Basically, we've followed a clear style for a long time when it comes to interior design. The room itself should stay as understated as possible in the background – that includes the colours, flooring and curtains. The objects that fill the room can then stand out more. For example, we go for flexible pieces of furniture, which we then add colourful decorations to.
What does the move mean to you personally?
For me personally, moving into our new flat means above all more time with the family – but of course also discovering new possibilities and reinventing myself again and again.
Where do you like to find interior inspiration?
I like to be inspired by other people and places. Best of all on a trip or a day out. But of course also through pictures I find on social media.
Looking around your new home, the dining room catches our eye. How important is the dining room to you?
Our dining room is still a key part of our layout, even if dining and living rooms often form a single space. We love eating together with family and friends – and then there has to be a chair for everyone.
How do you use your dining room?
We recently bought an old glass display cabinet, which was immediately filled with our tableware and craft supplies. It always comes in handy when we want to lay the table or do some crafts. We actually use our dining area in lots of different ways: for working, eating, crafting and playing.
On to mixing chairs: it's still a big trend. What do you love about it?
I'm a big fan of uniformity, but chairs are a different matter. I like the idea that guests, for example, can choose their own chair rather than everyone having to sit on the same one. Sometimes there's even a long discussion about one chair or another.
How do you get a mix of chairs just right? Do you have any tips on:
Colours: They can be colourful, but I also like black, white or wood.
Materials: Wood is my favourite, but metal or plastic work too
Upholstered or not: Every chair should be comfortable, so a cushion is important.
Shapes: I absolutely love the chair designs of Arne Jacobsen, Charles and Ray Eames and Marcel Breuer, who designed icons
Are there any no-gos for you when mixing chairs?
Chairs should be practical and functional. I think chairs can be anything, as long as you can sit on them.
Do you have a favourite chair? What makes it your favourite?
My favourite chair is the J110 by HAY. It's really comfortable and looks great too. I came across it myself while browsing in a shop and fell in love straight away.
What's your next interior project?
Hmm, I think that'll happen spontaneously, whenever the mood takes me.
I'd thought about trying my hand at wallpapering and creating an eye-catching feature wall. Who knows – watch this space. (laughs)
https://www.instagram.com/fraeuleinfraenzchen_com
Thank you so much for this fascinating insight!
