There are apartments where you know immediately that this is the one. That’s exactly how it was with Sofia Vrecar and her home in Vienna’s fourth district. The interior design expert and owner of the interior showroom “Daunenspiel” in Marxergasse also has a special feel for rooms – and what you can do with them. A house call.
In housing, as in life, the path to bliss often leads through cleverly chosen compromises. “We were specifically looking for an apartment in an old building,” says Sofia Vrecar as she shows us barefoot around her spacious five-room apartment in the heart of Vienna. “We would have liked an outdoor space,” she admits, “but then again, we travel a lot, so we could live without it.” Rather, the decisive factor was “that the apartment is newly renovated and offers enough space. As soon as we saw it for the first time, it was clear: this is it.”
A home for the family
“We” are Sofia Vrecar and her partner and his two children, who enjoy the comfort of three separate bedrooms in the 140 square meter apartment. Plus an extra dressing room for the adults and a private bathroom for the daughter. And all this in a district that Sofia Vrecar didn’t actually have on her radar: “We previously lived in the sixth and thirteenth districts and wanted to move more into the city. The fourth district wasn’t even on our radar,” says the native of Lower Austria.
Vrecar was a retail manager in various positions in the fashion industry for 15 years before moving to “Gans” as managing director and setting up her own interior showroom, “Daunenspiel”, in 2016. It is a welcome coincidence that this is located in the neighboring district to her apartment, the third. Because: “When we found the apartment, we were immediately impressed by the area. It’s quiet, Resselpark is like our second living room, and you can always find a parking space here at the weekend – a real luxury.”
Room for creativity
Speaking of luxury. With a room height of 3.30 meters, a fireplace and a total of five rooms, even an interior expert can really let off steam. “The landlord had already planned a kitchen, but I immediately said: Stop! I’ll do it myself,” laughs Vrecar. “I’m an interior designer, I won’t let anyone else do it.”
A harmonious interior
In this respect, it is also fitting that there was agreement on the rest of the interior. “My partner and I agreed from the outset that we would rethink our furniture here, so to speak, and not stitch anything together.” Only the dining table is a piece from Vrecar’s past – an extendable ceramic table from Midi, which is also “my absolute favorite piece in the apartment. It just fits perfectly in the room.” And seats up to twelve people.
Vrecar’s home looks elegant and very tidy. A few (scented) candles in stylish holders, walls painted in light tones – in the anteroom, for example, an in-house creation from the Cooper Colours brand’s color palette – and carefully selected lamps and furniture, which can also be found in Vrecar’s showroom in 1030 Vienna, make for a cosy atmosphere. Most of the pieces come from Italy, some from Scandinavia – it’s the perfect mix that makes the difference. Despite her penchant for design, Sofia Vrecar is pragmatic. “It’s important to me that an apartment remains homely and doesn’t look too sterile. Too many accessories or pictures stress me out. Our personal photos hang in the bedroom – that’s where they have their rightful place for me.”
Timeless elegance
The family’s old apartment reflects this philosophy. “I think rooms speak their own language,” explains Sofia Vrecar. “You can’t just go in with a concept and implement everything. The apartment inspired us to create something calm and timeless.” Now that the sofa has also recently found its final (?) place for the self-confessed bookworms, you could definitely linger here. Or not?
A home with plans for the future
However, Sofia Vrecar and her partner know that this apartment will not be their last home. “When the children move out at some point, we’ll be more drawn to the countryside,” she reveals. Even then, furnishing won’t be the problem. After all, Vrecar’s “Daunenspiel” offers everything your heart desires. “Just one year after the showroom opened, everything exploded. I met an architect and together we quickly expanded the portfolio – living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms. Today, we cover everything from planning to implementation – not only in Vienna, but also at international locations. The customer can hand us the keys and look forward to a finished home.”
All photos: Sybille Sierlinger
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