A dream in white! And no, we're not talking about a wedding dress, but about what may well be the most beautiful loft in Hanover. On her Instagram account Karlas_view, Sandra gives more than 20,000 followers a daily look inside her bright top-floor flat – filled with popular design classics and cool DIY finds, from the hallway to the bedroom. We visited her at her lovely home and talked to her about her very personal interior style.
Facts about Sandra
Age: 31
Job: marketing manager
3 things Sandra likes: coffee, arranging fresh flowers, visiting markets with her husband
3 things Sandra doesn't like: doing the laundry, disorganised people, mangoes
Facts about Sandra's flat:
Location: Südstadt, Hanover
Size: 100 m²
Interior style: Scandi / clean chic
Special features: an open-plan loft over two floors. When the flat was converted, great importance was placed on high-quality, natural materials.
Sandra, your flat is an absolute dream. Please tell us how you found this gem.
Oh, that's a lovely story! In 2012, my husband and I were looking for a flat for a couple we're friends with, and we came across this dream. Up to that point, we hadn't even thought about moving in together, because we'd only been a couple for a few months. But we threw all our doubts overboard and moved in ourselves.
Who do you share the flat with? And who has the upper hand when it comes to the interior?
I live with my husband, Christian. He brought our first design pieces with him, such as the Vitra Eames Lounge Chair, and infected me with his passion. As soon as we moved in, I bought my very first classic: an Eames Side Chair in mustard yellow. That's probably what started my love of chairs. These days I set the design pace, but Christian has full say. Sometimes [laughs].
Do you work in interior design, or where does your knack for beautiful interiors come from?
No, at work it's mainly about shoes – a dream, right? I work in marketing for a large shoe retailer. I probably inherited my feel for interiors from my parents – I don't know anyone else who redecorates as often as they do.
Your home is minimalist – lots of white and a little black. And yet it feels incredibly loving, warm and inviting. How do you do it?
Two things are mainly responsible for the warm atmosphere: first, our flat is right under the roof and has lots of windows, so sunlight streams in at every time of day and floods the space. Second, we have lots of natural elements, such as the large wooden staircase, the beams and – not to forget – the lovely spruce floorboards. Both create so much warmth that the rest of the furniture should keep a low profile visually. Beyond that, I rely on attractive lighting accents and, of course, fresh flowers. Here, the saying "less is more" really holds true.
Have you always preferred a cleaner look, or has your style evolved over time and with the flat?
Let's put it this way: I probably wouldn't have got 100 likes for my old flat [laughs]. I've always preferred a clean look, but it was only in our current flat that I "perfected" it for myself. In general, I think it's absolutely right for your style to evolve over time. Who wants to stand still completely? There are so many sources of inspiration today – Instagram above all. Tastes can change quickly. But a lot of bloggers overdo it with makeovers, complete revamps and a conveyor belt of new furniture – I think you should also be happy with what you have.
Would you say you're as straightforward and tidy as your flat? Or is there a little queen of chaos inside you?
The flat reflects me really well. I love order and structure. But I don't own anything like a calendar or a planner – I keep everything important in my head. What I can never manage to remember, though, is my own mobile number [smiles].
When did you start using Instagram, and how did it come about?
Phew… I used to use Instagram only for its nice filters, without even knowing what was behind it. It was only at the beginning of 2016 that I took a closer look, made my private profile public and gradually started showing our flat. The positive feedback encouraged me to keep going.
Why is your account called Karlas_view, Sandra?
You'll never find out [grins]! It's an in-joke between my husband and me, sorry…!
You built the coat rack in the hallway yourselves, didn't you? Are there any more DIY projects in your flat?
Oh yes, quite a few! For example, we built the walk-in wardrobe in our bedroom ourselves, because I'm not a fan of ordinary wardrobes at all. Most of them are just huge blocks that aren't nice to look at. Planning and building it was a real challenge for us, because it had to fit under a sloping ceiling. A wooden frame covered with sailcloth separates it from the rest of the room and is backlit in the evening.
What inspires you most? Interior magazines, bloggers or your surroundings?
I like to get inspiration from interior magazines, but most of all I love looking at interior books like those from "Gestalten". My favourites are "Scandinavia Dreaming" and "Upgrade".
What would you prefer: building a new house exactly the way you want, or renovating an old one? And where would your dream house be?
I think I'd go for a mix of both: buy an old house in the countryside, renovate it and add a new extension – with as much glass and wood as possible. If you're planning something similar, you should definitely take a look at the book "Upgrade". So many great examples!
You already own some absolute design icons – such as the Vitra Lounge Chair. Is there a very special piece on your interior wish list?
Only one [laughs]? Here are my top 3: the USM Haller sideboard in black, the Snoopy table lamp by FLOS and the Togo armchair and footstool by Ligne Roset.
Describe your perfect day.
Getting up early and strolling around the farmers' market with my husband, drinking a good coffee, buying flowers. Then a long day at the beach on the North Sea in Sankt Peter-Ording. In the evening, some delicious tapas and maybe the cinema afterwards. For me, that would be pretty perfect.
Where's your favourite place in your flat and in the world?
It changes from time to time. At the moment, I like spending time in our living room most. From here, you have a great view through the flat – and as a series and film junkie, I naturally like to be near a TV. When I'm not at home, you'll most likely find me by the sea. Sankt Peter-Ording and Sylt feel like home to me.
Thank you so much, Sandra, for the fascinating insights and the inspiring conversation!
Photo credit: Sandra (@karlas_view)
