Stylist Karin Bochnik's refined Melbourne residence

Images by Yaseera Moosa

'Comfortably minimalist' is how Stylist & Interior Decorator Karin Bochnik explains her style of choice. This fondness for restrained decoration, soft shades, and a smattering of artwork has been embraced at her family home in Melbourne's Glen Iris that she shares with daughters Milla (13) and Gia (11), and cat Pepper. This week we spoke with Karin about the trial and error of interiors, and her growing collection of art.

“I live in Glen Iris, a leafy suburb in Melbourne’s south-east about 10km away from the CBD. I’ve always lived in this area since I moved to Australia from Israel 18 years ago. I love how close it is to the freeway, linking me into the city or the north which I have to travel to often due to my work or to the Mornington Peninsula, where I try to escape to as often as possible. It's also super close to some of my favourite local shopping area, high street Armadale and walking distance to central park and my new studio."

Karin's bed is dressed with IN BED Heavy Linen Bedcover in Natural, and Heavy Linen Bolster in Natural.

“The house is an 80s free-standing 3-bedroom home built by an architect initially for him and his wife to retire in. When I first walked in to the home, it was the ceilings which grabbed my attention. Everything else needed a good face lift; I opened the kitchen up to the main living area, added a second powder room and completely gutted the home. It was a process over several years and I’m still constantly making changes.”

I really love my bedroom - it’s my oasis. I love the calm paint colour and soft linen. It’s also home to my most prized piece of art; ‘Lava cloud’ by Jonny Niesch.

“My favourite room in the house is the living room, I can’t get enough of nights in front of the open fire, an original feature that I’ve kept but updated with the brick step. I just love spending time lounging on the couch with a wine on a cold night, it’s my happy place. I also really love my bedroom - it’s my oasis. I love the calm paint colour and soft linen. It’s also home to my most prized piece of art; ‘Lava cloud’ by Jonny Niesch.”

 “I’m a massive art lover and when I was growing up my dream was always to be a crazy art collector living in a loft in France. I’m slowly working towards that dream, collecting pieces as often as I can at art fairs and galleries around Australia. My bedroom art is my favourite thing on the planet, I wanted a piece of Jonny Niesche work for years and finally managed to get my hands on one at this year's Sydney Contemporary. I couldn’t be happier and I can't stop staring at it.”

Karin's bed is dressed with IN BED 100% Linen Sheet Set in White.

“I describe myself as 'comfortably minimal'. My aesthetic has always been very classic but with an edge. I don’t follow strict rules, I like to find balance between objects, colours, textures. it’s a very intuitive process for me and includes a lot of trial and error."

My aesthetic has always been very classic but with an edge. I don’t follow strict rules, I like to find balance between objects, colours, textures. it’s a very intuitive process for me and includes a lot of trial and error.

“My work is incredibly varied. I like doing lots of different things to keep my curiosity and excitement for the work alive. My studio is titled 'an Interior Direction' studio. We offer consultations for design direction for new builds or renovations, creating a language for a project, we also offer furniture and styling packages, art curation and AD for creative campaigns and architectural shoots/projects. I wear many hats but I always say my specialty is making things look pretty. That is always our aim, to make things aesthetically pleasing and interesting.” 

My work is incredibly varied. I like doing lots of different things to keep my curiosity and excitement for the work alive.

 “Last year we rebranded and really established ourselves as a reputable design studio offering solutions to clients needing design direction, and the response has been so wonderful. I have actually just signed a lease for a new studio space, but first I have to get through the busiest part of the year for us, the pre Christmas rush! Personally, I’m just so happy with where life has taken me. It's definitely been a bumpy road but I can safely say I’m so proud of the foundations I’m building for myself and my daughters."

@karinbochnikstylist
www.karinbochnik.com