Home Stories by AA-COLLECTED

KALTBLUT presents Home Stories! Produced by AA-COLLECTED! A designer-run and independent design focused RETAIL SHOWROOM & AGENCY with in-house JEWELLERY STUDIO based in Kreuzberg Berlin, with over 15 labels that span a variety of products.

“In light of the current situation and our worldwide re-embracing of home life and simple pleasures, we asked four, uniquely creative couples from Berlin to capture their home moments styled with fashion, jewellery + homewares from our collective of independent artists, designers + makers.”

 

Laura + Arnaud

Where have you come from and where are you based, What brought you here?

Laura was born in France from Belgian and Swiss parents. Arnaud was born in Cameroon and came to France when he was 6 years old, and he moved to Switzerland when he was a teenager.

We are based in Berlin. Laura came to Berlin 8 years ago, for two months of freelance mission in a graphic design studio, and she is still based here! Arnaud is living in Berlin for 3 years, he came to Berlin the summer we met and we both decided to live together and became Berliners.

What is your favourite thing about your home, what makes a home?

The sun shining in the morning, through the window, both in our bedroom and kitchen. Starting the day with this light makes you feel home. And the days when there is no sun, especially in winter, we definitely doubt that we can stay Berliner all our life. But we are still here!

What is your favourite home activity?

Chasing and playing with our two cats, Fuji and Kodak.

Who was your most previous text/call to and what about?

A ‘good night’ to our team. We are currently going back to an ambitious production with a tiny crew for a music video, and spending long days writing and organising the three days of shooting with our collaborators.

Tell us your daily rituals: Morning/Evening

We definitely have a daily ritual for the morning, but not the evening!

Arnaud is waking up earlier than Laura, and bringing her the coffee in bed. But that can happen that it is the other way around! We are always 1. Feeding the cats – 2. doing the coffee and bringing it to the other one

What do your days look like, Weekday vs weekend

No difference! Our weeks depends on the workload. It is always changing and we love that. The last weeks, quiet with the pandemic, we have been trying to stay quiet for our Sundays and go for a long walk.

What is your plan for today, this week and this year?

Love each other, give the best of us, respect the people with whom we work, enjoy what we do, live from it and do not regret our choices.

Most influential person in your life?

Each other, and our families.

Arnaud: Guy Bourdin, Luis Buñuel

Laura: April Greiman, Oskar Fischinger

Tried and true methods against creative block?

Taking breaks, going outside in nature, cuddle cats!

Your simple yet inspiring things in life are:

Landscapes: mountain, lakes, sea, islands.

Likes/dislikes? (just a shortlist, one-word answers)

Like: the Berlin summer

Dislike: the Berlin winter

Laura @knoops + Arnaud @arnaud.ele

Labels:

Bed Linen www.dreamonhome.eu, Lingerie @anekdotboutique, Perfume @abelodor, Earring @milanovastudio, Rings @miesnobis

 

Nadira + Simon

Where have you come from and where are you based, What brought you here?

Germany and Indonesia
Currently based in Berlin
Love

What is your favourite thing about your home, what makes a home?

Our Serif TV, we love binge-watching TV series and movies

Home: heart, comfort, safe

What is your favourite home activity?

Some of our favourite at-home activities are: cooking, eating, reading, binge-watching tv shows and movies, caring for plants and flowers, or just staying productive and being creative

Who was your most previous text/call to and what about?

We always call our parents regularly, that’s our preferred method of keeping in touch.

Tell us your daily rituals: Morning/Evening!

Wake up
Drink a glass of water and turmeric drink
Exercise
Shower
Skincare routine
Breakfast
Check e-mails and texts
Wfh
Lunch
Daily walk
Eat dinner
Shower
Watching movies or reading a book
Sleep

What do your days look like, Weekday vs weekend?

Either just stay home, relax and watch movies or actually do something productive

What is your plan for today, this week and this year?

We thought we’d travel more this year… But corona had plans for us all. Lol

Most influential person in your life?

Nadira: Mom
Simon: Elon Musk

Tried and true methods against creative block?

Visit exhibitions
Take a walk in nature
Travel
Self-care
Be around creative people

Your simple yet inspiring things in life are:

Watch movies. Read books. People watch. Travel to other countries. That is actually one of the most inspiring things for us.

Likes/dislikes? (just a shortlist, one-word answers)

Likes:

Being content
Movies
Music
Food
Cats
Travel
Sports

Dislikes:

Bad food
Racism
Ignorant people

Nadira @nadirataniaa + Simon

Bed Linen @dreamonhome.eu, T-Shirt @thisisfred, Lingerie @anekdotboutique, Linen @dreamon.eu, Rings: @miesnobis, @sibillasantucci_jewellery, @ginamelosijewellery

Kendra + Arne

Where have you come from and where are you based, What brought you here?

Kendra – I am from Canada. I came to Germany because it was a place which was supportive of artists.

Arne – I am from Germany. I always dreamed of living in Berlin.

What is your favourite thing about your home, what makes a home?

Kendra – The bed, it is so comfortable and I never really want to get out of it. I just love sleeping.

Arne – Our studio. It is my creative paradise.

What is your favourite home activity?

Kendra – Cooking or bring at my computer

Arne – Making art, playing with images or creating images and making music

Who was your most previous text/call to and what about?

Kendra – A client to talk about their images

Arne – Music producer about planning a photo-shoot.

Tell us your daily rituals: Morning/Evening

Every morning we enjoy a coffee together, after that breakfast and then we spend most of the day working and creating. Dinner time is also a big highlight.

Kendra – I went to chef school before becoming a photographer. We are also vegan so it is always exciting to experiment with dinner and create new dishes.

What do your days look like, Weekday vs weekend

Art, creativity, laughing, biking and munching on food. Maybe seeing friends.

What is your plan for today, this week and this year?

Arne – Buy food, retouching images, create new images for a project that I am currently working on.

This year the goal is for me to shoot some big names in the techno and house scene.

Kendra – I have appointments today and retouching images, planning photo-shoot. This week the goal is to get caught up on all my work.

The year goal would be to create as many images as possible.

Most influential person in your life?

Arne – Granny

Kendra – Mom

Tried and true methods against creative block?

We do not have this problem.

Your simple yet inspiring things in life are:

Stay positive, stay busy, stay creative

Likes/dislikes

Dislikes: being lazy

Likes: motivation, gratitude

Kendra @kendrastormrae + Arne @triplesixrae

Rings @typeberlin Towl @dreamonhome.eu, Hairpin @carolinasilva_orfebre, Necklace @ginamelosijewellery Ring @miesnobis

Nathan + Juli

Where have you come from and where are you based, What brought you here?

Sydney, Australia. I have been based in Berlin for 4 years and I came for a new start and never left.

What is your favourite thing about your home, what makes a home?

The record player. Listening to my records makes it feel like home.

What is your favourite home activity?

Cooking, I love making food whenever I can.

Who was your most previous text/call to and what about?

Congratulating my partner on her latest published article.

Tell us your daily rituals: Morning/Evening!

Water, stretch and power smoothie. Bike to the studio, make gold jewellery all day then home to relax on the balcony.

What do your days look like, Weekday vs weekend?

I spend 5-6 days a week in my studio, try to get some time in the forest on Sundays.

What is your plan for today, this week and this year?

Finish these wedding rings and spend more time on a new collection.

Tried and true methods against creative block?

Long hot showers.

Your simple yet inspiring things in life are:

Being plant-based for 20+ years always reminds and inspires me to be kind to all beings.

Likes/dislikes? (just a shortlist, one-word answers)

Likes
Spicy food
Skateboarding
Documentaries.
Dislikes Scooters Wind
Queuing

Nathan @nathanxthomas + Juli @analogthreesome

Bed Linen @dreamonhome.eu, Shirt @iimaimaofficial, Gold studs @sibillasantucci_jewellery, ring: @ginamelosijewellery