Discover the second part of the interview with Ninon Petras studio. She explains how to organize and optimize your interior. You'll see that second-hand decor plays an important role in her apartment!
Do you recommend buying only second-hand decor?
I think it's important to consume differently. It's a topic that is increasingly relevant in the current context. Buying second-hand decor is an advantage in terms of price. It allows you to buy quality pieces that have aesthetic value. We have unique objects that have a story. These are not items that come straight from a factory. But to be clear, we don't find everything in second-hand decor. There aren't only beautiful things,You have to alternate between new and old. You have to alternate different styles and choose things you really like.
Should you go to a flea market to find second-hand decor with the same mindset as in a store?
If we go to a flea market with an idea in mind, we almost never find what we're looking for. I recommend staying open-minded and digging around instead. These places are often not very well organized, so don't be afraid. It works on a gut feeling. We can find things we didn't necessarily need. That's how you make great discoveries. I rarely found what I was looking for when I went to Emmaus with a specific need. That's why it's quite a long process. You have to take your time to find what you need. Otherwise, you can quickly get frustrated. You have to find a middle ground.
Of course, it's easier to go buy a table in a store or order something online. I do that too when I have needs. But, I try to prioritize second-hand decor, for the ecological and aesthetic side..
I love the story that the pieces tell. That's really what creates a personalized and unique atmosphere in an apartment. Ecology is something I care about a lot.I find that Being able to buy second-hand decor without needing to recreate a product is quite a smart system. It's not the solution to everything, but it's a gesture that individuals can make.
How to combine the ecological aspect with second-hand decor design?
My apartment has a fairly "aesthetic" but minimalist style. I try to invest in useful pieces that will last me over time. I know I’ll appreciate my pieces in a few years. It’s how you combine them that matters. I have a classic rug in my living room with an industrial table and a 1950s mirror. I have vintage pieces in different styles. Mixing them gives them interest and takes them out of their usual context. You shouldn’t be afraid to shake up the rules. I think it’s a shame to try to go for just one style. It’s a shame to follow a trend and buy all the matching accessories. It works, but you easily end up with the same apartment as your neighbor or Pinterest photos.
How do you adapt your style to your partner’s?
My partner follows me in all my craziness and supports me a lot in creating my videos. He loves the flea market part. We look together and he’s as happy as I am with the things we find. You have to make concessions. There are things he suggests that don’t suit me. Sometimes it’s the other way around.
What are your house rules?
The rules concern tidying up. We try to have our own separate storage spaces in the bedroom. Each of us has a part of the closet. Everyone is in charge of their own things. It’s important to have a space to express yourself. We have shared storage spaces. In the living room, we have drawers where we put uniform boxes with labels. We know what’s inside. It’s a great solution for people who aren’t organized or don’t have much space. By labeling things, we know where to find our stuff and where to put it away.
What would you do if your partner wasn’t as tidy as you?
You have to find a balance and make concessions. Don’t forget that when we decide to live together, it’s also to share the downsides. We can’t have the same values and ways of doing things. Ideally, we have common spaces that we both control. But Don’t take control of every room and square meter of the apartment. Your partner or roommate will be more willing to tidy up important things if you give in on certain matters. I let my partner have part of the bedroom. It’s messy, but that’s okay. In return, he makes more effort to tidy the common areas. He knows it’s important to me to live and work in a well-organized apartment.
How do you avoid losing motivation halfway through your tidying process?
Generally, spring cleaning is a fairly long process. To start, you shouldn’t take everything out at once but begin room by room. We set a goal for the day. That way, you don’t get tired of tidying after two hours or two days. If it’s something tedious to organize, I try to spread out the task and not do it all at once. People quickly realize how much tidying up and moving things around has an impactPositiveAt the end of the process, you feel much more comfortable at home.
What is the hardest space to organize for you? What’s your tip?
In the apartment, we have a kitchen that isn’t very big. We really enjoy cooking. So, we have a lot of utensils. We tried to simplify and keep only what is truly useful daily. We bought mini-shelves that we installed during the setup. This creates extra shelves in the closets and optimizes their height. We minimized the things we had. For that, you have to ask yourself if we really need to have so many tools. You have to look at what is essential.
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How do you decide what to keep and what to throw away?
I am a fan of the method Marie Kondo I have been practicing this for several years. I read her book as soon as it was published. The principle is to ask yourself the following questions: Do I need it? Do I like this object? And is it used daily? When I want to declutter, I take my objects and clothes and ask myself all these questions. I strive not to have material attachments.
I think people struggle to sort because they assume they bought the object. But it’s a good thing to take that into account. Maybe next time the person will avoid making the same type of purchase. You have to know how to detach yourself from possessions. They are just objects. We feel better when we have fewer of them. We appreciate the objects we keep more.
Feel free to check out our latest article: Studio Ammo
Interview conducted by Imane Charkaoui
Formatted by Coralie Mottu
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