While working on the renovation of a 40-meter motor yacht, I recently spent several days in Split. We rented an apartment for a short stay, and I honestly didn’t expect much.
A Stay That Changed My Perspective
Checking existing elements during the first visit to the 40-meter yacht we’re redesigning.
But the moment I walked in, I noticed something special. The space was thought through to the smallest detail.
At first glance, it seemed simple.
Neutral tones, plenty of light, nothing that called for attention.
Yet the longer I stayed there, the more layers I began to see.
It wasn’t an apartment designed to impress.
It was a space that understood everyday life.
The apartment seemed to adapt to me, even though I wasn’t its owner.
That short stay reminded me how easy it is to recognize a space created out of understanding, not out of trend.
The Difference Between Trend and True Comfort
In recent years, I’ve seen many interiors of different styles but similar essence.
Perfect for photos, but difficult to live in.
Spaces that look as if they were designed not to be touched. Beautiful only while they remain untouched.
In contrast, I believe that true luxury in a space lies in the ease of living in it.
In the way every element has a purpose and is meant to be used.
When lighting can change with your mood, when you can sit anywhere and feel at ease, when every part of the space can become your small retreat.
A space is not something we own.
A space is something we live in.
And when it’s well-designed, it becomes part of our rhythm.
Design That Adapts to Everyday Life
In some homes, I recognize a kind of long-lasting care: the way things are maintained, the small rituals that survive the passing of time.
In others, I see courage: the willingness to reshape space, to adapt it to new habits, work rhythms, travels, or children growing up.
Both approaches are equally honest.
And both tell a story about the people who live there.
That’s why I believe space should follow people, not trends.
The Power of Listening in Design
Good design always begins with listening.
Not with materials or favorite colors, but with questions:
How do you spend your day?
How do you rest?
What does comfort mean to you?
Once you understand that, the space itself reveals the right solutions.
And spaces born that way remain beautiful long after the year’s trends fade.
Because they were never made to last in pictures, but in life.
That’s why I believe a space where we feel truly comfortable doesn’t have to impress us.
It just needs to understand us.
