Alexandra Elisa

Berlin, Germany

Alexandra is one of the first people from Berlin that I started sharing on NORMAL. The more people I meet from Berlin, the more I see that interior design is an important part of their lives there, the city and its people have become one of my biggest inspirations for my home. Alexandra’s apartment stands out with having so many different energies, I think every room speak for itself. From a little art studio to her terra-cotta painted bedroom, the home brings together different styles into one. I loved learning about how she took her time to transform this space into what it is today. Like I always say, designing a home is always an unfinished project and that makes it most fun - this home is the proof of that. Enjoy!

You can find her on @eightyfive.sqm :)

How would you describe your home?

For me it is very hard to categorize my home into a particular style. The house I live in was built in 1895. The stucco in the living room is the only thing left from that time, everything else had to be renovated when I moved in because the apartment was in a very bad condition. Ever since then, I try to combine the old and the new. Many pieces I own are vintage or interior classics. On the other side, I also own industrial clothes rails and a yellow pull-out couch. It's a wild mix of many elements that often just happen to fit together in the end.

When I look at your home, it truly has many different energies all around, a dark-wooden living room, an amazing art corner with big windows, lots of plants…It is a very unique space. How did you end up deciding this home is the one? How did you start decorating your space? Did you have a mood board in mind, did it happen organically?

The process from what you see here to what it looked like was a very long one. Before I got interested in interior design, everything was very minimalist, dark and simple. 6 out of 8 years, my apartment was 99% Ikea. Not that there is anything wrong with Ikea. There was just no attention to detail and I think that's why I never really felt at home. It was like a place where I could live but not a place that excited me. When I was in Japan, this suddenly changed. The art and culture scene, the people and the everyday life in Tokyo have shaped me immensely. I started to remotely plan a whole makeover for my apartment. I chose wall colors, ordered furniture, organized posters… All without being physically present. Most furniture stores have several weeks delivery time and I did not want to arrive first in Berlin and then order everything so I just hoped on good luck. And it seemed to work.

Let’s move on to your bedroom. A part of it is very warm with that terra-cotta wall, the other side has more of an industrial energy with black elements, for me it has a mix of feminine and masculine energies. Tell us a bit of your inspiration and design for the bedroom.

The bedroom, unlike all other rooms, was even completely rearranged twice. The first time, I painted the wall in a dark red and pulled through the same industrial style in all areas of the room. The nightstands were also made from metal and the lamps were a DIY project. I was happy with it. Exactly for 2 months. Then, it all became too “heavy“ for me. The clothes rails have remained but the wall color became more harmonic and more natural and since I had just discovered my love for tile furniture, I have directly declared the nightstands to be the next DIY project. The fact that the closet is an open closet is a way of self-protection. I try to buy only things that I need. I do not have a lot of clothes and whenever I want something new I have to say goodbye to something old. Also, my closet must be always tidy because everyone would see if it would be messy.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your background? How did your interest in interior design begin?

My name is Alexandra but most people just call me Alex. I am 26 years old and an Austrian art director who moved from Graz to Berlin 8 years ago. I originally came to study photography and never knew exactly how long I would even stay here in Berlin. It wasn't until 2 years ago, when I lived in Japan for a while, that I found out that I actually do miss Berlin a lot. This is when I realized, that Berlin might be my "forever home" and not just a temporary stopover. From then on, I have gradually redesigned every room and discovered my love for interior design.

I met you through your Instagram account where you share your beautiful Berlin home with us. What inspired you to start an interior account?

I started with @eightyfive.sqm about 5 months ago. I already had a private, a business and an account for my dog, Lotti. Due to staying at home during the pandemic and thanks to my friends, who kept telling me how much they loved my apartment, I finally thought: why not?

Whenever I think of your account, the first thing that comes to my mind is your corner with big windows that you use almost as an art studio. How did that part of your home come to reality? It really has a beautiful energy, and I want to learn more about your routine there.

The small room has also undergone a transformation all its own. When I moved in, I didn't know exactly what to do with this space. In winter it was crazy cold, so cold that the windows were frozen. In the summer time, it was extremely hot. Due to the listed status of the house, restoration of the windows was not possible and I had no interest in finding an alternative heating option, since I had enough space in my actual apartment. The room was therefore more or less a storage space. At some point, I hung fairy lights and put seat cushions in it, but I never sat there. In the course of the described redesign, I then gradually began to bring things into the room. First the desk, then the lights and later a canvas and paint. I started playing music and painting in the evenings. I also got a portable fan heater. You can now sit here all year round and read, make art or have a glass of wine in the evening. The space has gone from a storage room to my favorite place to be.

What was your strategy while decorating, how did you start picking certain pieces for your layout? Was there any important element, piece of furniture you really wanted? What was your intention behind your choices?

To be honest, I didn't have a plan. I still don't have one. Of course, in the beginning I was often on Pinterest getting inspiration from different sources but there was never a mood board or a specific system behind my decor. The only thing I paid attention to was that the base elements weren't too colorful and that the wood of the furniture harmonized in some way with the wooden floor. Everything else was pure coincidence because I never actually saw the furniture live before I bought it online.

Can you tell us some of your favorite pieces in your home?

My favorite is my dining table with the legs made of glass. I love to own things that not everyone has. The table legs are not the easiest to clean, especially if you have a dog at home, but they give the room a kind of lightness because you can see through them. Other than that, I'm very happy with my small but nice gallery wall in the living room and my very comfy bed :)

Do you have a dream piece of furniture you have in mind?

In fact, I have three. One of them is a new couch. Not because I don't like mine, I think it's great, but I've always wanted a really cozy couch with a cover made of cord. My favorite would be the Corner Sofa Cord Velours platinum from Vetsak. The second piece is a ceiling light. The Parentesi from Flos. I don’t think I have a lot to add to this one, it’s just beautiful. The third piece is in most living rooms of people I follow on Instagram: a vase from Muuto.

Lastly, can you please list some of your favorite items and where you purchased them :)

I bought most of my furnishings on Made.com or Sklum.com. Other stores I like are Maisons du Monde, Granit, Urban Outfitters Home, Connox and Nordic Nest. Oh and of course vintage stores. I recently started a new highlight section on my Instagram (called “Shop The Look”) where I link stores and show where I bought my decor and furniture.