Another look into the interior decorative Utopia of the elite (the elite being those who their own spaces to decorate to a Utopian level).
Meet
Lizzy McGrath, editor in chief of
BangBangBerlin.com, one of the best sources for finding out what 'bangs' in Berlin (natch). And let us marvel in her grungy, eclectic yet effortlessly stylish abode.
photographed by Ailine Liefeld
"I also love pop culture and some of our pictures reflects in that, whether its a picture of Roxy Music or a Lost in Translation poster or a painting from an urban artist. I could also only ever live in an old house that has character to it. I like this apartment because its renovated but it still has beautiful stucco on the ceilings. Also when you live a freelance lifestyle, sometimes you have money and sometimes you don't. You have to be relaxed enough to deal with that sort of lifestyle. So some months its great and you buy a big new sofa and TV and sometimes there are months and months when you cant do any home-improvements! But I always love going to flea markets and second-hand antique shops. Like this carved wooden table I found on Brunnenstraße was a bargain and it came from India."
"BangBangBerlin.com came about because I just needed a new challenge...I have put a great new team together: Mertol, Jobot, Emer. They are people with real enthusiasm for what they do. It’s all about having the right attitude. And I’m completely converted to doing on-line now. I would never go back to print (maybe a one-off if we had a sponsor) but it means that you reach a whole international/foreign community who love Berlin, whether they are in the UK, or NY or Paris or Spain, as well as of course the people here in Berlin."
I love Lizzy's attitude toward decoration and furnishing, especially incorporated with travel. Bits and bobs from this country and that country, each with its own meaning and significance. Total decorative inspiration.
Though she does bring up a rather scary point. Are print magazines becoming obsolete? Are internet domains becoming more and more tempting, to the point that they will no longer simply be online versions of their print counterparts, but stand-alone online destinations? I certainly hope not. As much as the internet makes things easier, I love the feeling of a magazine in my hands, being able to turn the pages with my fingers instead of clicking on a mouse.
Where do
you stand on the print vs. digital issue?
Romany
[photos courtesy of
freundevonfreunden.com]
