Notes from the Studio
Notes from the Studio
Material, Neighbourhood, Light
Behind every space we design there is a decision. In these pieces we share the reasoning behind those decisions — from choosing a material to setting out a lighting scheme.
In an interior project the real difference usually comes from choices you cannot see: how a particular stone behaves in a particular light, why a room feels welcoming in the evening, what can and cannot be changed in an older apartment. We write these notes for anyone standing at the same decisions.
What do we write about?
- Material — how natural stone, timber and other surfaces behave in a real space; maintenance, wear and the way they change over time.
- Light — the layered structure of lighting, colour temperature, and the difference between a space by day and by evening.
- Neighbourhood — the constraints imposed by the building stock in different parts of Istanbul, and renovation in older apartments in particular.
What will you find in them?
Travertine or marble? — Both stones will build the same bathroom, but one gives the space warmth and the other clarity. We compare them through pore structure, maintenance and behaviour under light.
How is an apartment renovated in Kadıköy? — The constraints of the neighbourhood’s building stock, the steps of the process, a realistic timescale, and three questions you should always ask at the first meeting.
Lighting layers — What makes a home inviting in the evening is not a single ceiling fitting but layers laid over one another. We explain how ambient, task and accent lighting are put together.
Elazığ Vişne, Calacatta Viola: wine-toned stones — Strongly figured stones become the signature of a space in the right measure; too much of them wears the space out. On where, and how much, to use them.
Where to go next?
If you want to know how a renovation runs from start to finish and what determines the timescale and the budget, see the Process & Budget Guide. The types of space we work with are on the Spaces page, and our design approach is set out in our philosophy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes these pieces?
The studio’s own team. The decisions described here are decisions we have actually taken on completed projects — this is not a compilation of theory.
Can I use the materials described here myself?
Of course. The point is to make the reasoning behind the decisions visible. With natural stone in particular, though, do not decide without seeing the sample in the light of your own space — photographs mislead.
How often are new pieces added?
We do not keep to a publishing schedule; we write when a decision worth sharing comes up during a project.
Who applies the decisions described here on my own project?
These pieces are not a how-to manual but an attempt to make the reasoning visible. If you are working with your own builder you can use these headings to discuss the questions with them; if you would rather hand the whole process to us, we set out how we work in our turnkey guide.
Can I decide on a material without seeing it in my own space?
We would not recommend it. Natural stone and timber look different in the light of the space than they do in a showroom; the same tone reads grey in a north-facing room and reddish in a west-facing one. Seeing the sample in place, at different times of day, prevents most of the decisions people later regret.