Bianca Schikorr loves good design. You can see it not only in the artist's striking works, but also in the distinctive interior of her lake house in the Wetterau region near Frankfurt in Germany. Here, she shows her flair for a very special interplay between space, art and interior design.
We visited Bianca at her idyllic home and talked to her about creating a cosy feel in open-plan spaces and finding the right work-life balance.
Dear Bianca, what do you like most about the lake house?
For us, the house is a place of calm where we can slow down, surrounded by beautiful nature. When we arrive here from our hectic everyday lives, it feels like a feather slowly drifting to the ground. It's also a place to spend time with family and friends. We have lovely days here, which often end at night around the campfire. This is definitely no place for bad energy – everyone who visits us can feel that.
What do you need to feel at home?
To be surrounded by personal belongings that tell a story and are part of our lives. That individual, personal touch is what makes the difference.
Do you have any tips for making open-plan spaces feel cosy?
Deliberate contrasts. Lighting is also essential, and so are pictures that give each space its own character – they're key to making open-plan rooms feel cosy.
What's the best way to combine design classics so that your home feels lived-in rather than like a showroom?
Design classics already tell a story of their own – otherwise they wouldn't be classics. A room needs an object that tells a story, such as something fun and personal.
Used in the right measure, classics can add something valuable to any room. A homely atmosphere comes mainly from an authentic mix of furniture, accessories and pictures.
My works always relate to the space in which they hang. You can sense that, and it makes them look as if they naturally belong there.
What do you expect from a piece of furniture, and which classic do you think meets those expectations best?
It should be sustainable, timeless, easy to combine and made from high-quality materials. One really successful and versatile design classic is the Eames Plastic Chair. But we also love the Kaiser Idell lamp.
Do you often work from home?
I travel for my commissioned work, and creative processes happen everywhere. But of course I also work from home.
What should you pay particular attention to when furnishing a home office? Do you have any design tips?
A good working atmosphere is extremely important. In fact, I have three workspaces at home, where I do different things.
In my studio, I have a desk that's actually a high table. That's where I work with different materials and put ideas into practice. Then there's a desk in the basement, where I deal with things that need doing but that I don't enjoy as much – like my bookkeeping or taxes.
And then there's an "in-between" desk, which is my favourite place to work. It's in the living area, close to the open-plan kitchen, the entrance and the bedroom. This is often where I jump into action to record creative ideas straight away or sketch them out.
They all have one thing in common: good light, whether from plenty of daylight or from lamps. Each one has a Kaiser Idell lamp. When I was a teenager, my grandfather gave me a Kaiser Idell lamp that had served for many years in his father's tool room. That was the start of my passion for collecting them.
At each of my workspaces, I have everything I need for the different tasks within easy reach. Good, comfortable seating is also essential for a good working atmosphere.
How do you balance work and free time?
Every morning, I go for a run of around 45 minutes in the woods, usually as early as 7 am – in winter, as soon as it's light. I love the woods and nature. It helps me start the day with a clear head. From mid-April to mid-October, I also swim regularly in the lake.
How important is it to you to be close to nature?
Nature is the source of my creativity. I'm a real country girl. As a child, I spent every spare minute in the woods, where I always felt safe and happy. Back then, it was simply part of everyday life. I only came to appreciate the wonder of nature later on. Nature is a precious treasure that we should all look after.
How did you come across the house?
The lake is in the area where I grew up. After living in northern Germany, Australia and the USA, I realised that home is where it's most beautiful.
So in 2008, I moved back to Hesse. During a visit to the lake, my partner and I decided to look for a lakeside plot.
My girls, Mia and Lulu, are self-confessed water babies and loved the idea from the start. After a very long search, and countless notes posted all around the lake, we found this beautiful plot and built a house on it.
Architect friends from Frankfurt, who were just setting up their own practice at the time, came up with a design that was perfect for us, and it was then built. We all pitched in during construction, especially my father, who is very good with his hands.
What feeling does a place need to give you to be a retreat?
A good retreat is somewhere I can find peace and feel truly at ease. That has little to do with size or image.
It's much more about everything feeling right, and simply enjoying being there.
Is the lake house also your studio or "digital workbench"?
Because of the size of the house, I don't have a studio here yet, but of course I work digitally. Much of my process, right up to the final execution of a work, takes place on the computer.
You also surround yourself with many of your own pictures in the house. Are they more private pieces or current works?
Our house features works from my (current) series. In the bedroom hangs the moth, a work from my aluminium series, created through various technical processes in a very elaborate procedure. In the study, there's a self-portrait in the style of my "Portällage" technique – I spend a lot of time creating portraits of people and families.
Snapshots of nature also decorate the kitchen-diner. On large aluminium or glass panels, calm motifs like these have a meditative effect.
Thank you, Bianca, for giving us a glimpse into your beautiful home!
www.bianca-schikorr.de
