Publications

Eva Saikovska /Photo by V. Zelenkova

LRT.lt

Eva Saikovska, curator of a vintage furniture studio, always looks for aesthetically pleasing spaces and objects, especially those with an interesting history. “Vintage furniture is often chosen by more curious people who allow themselves to try something unconventional,” notes the interviewee. The idea of "allowing oneself" is particularly important in our conversation. We discuss choosing objects for one's space, the role intuition plays in this process, and how vintage furniture can help shape habits.

– Eva, how do you choose or "let in" a new item, an interior accent, into your home? What criteria do you follow?

– When choosing a new item, such as a piece of furniture, the most important thing for me is that the choice aligns with my values. The designer's name or other collectible aspects are not as important. What always catches my eye is the material, it’s important that the object is pleasant to touch.
I don’t follow the idea that one piece of furniture can overshadow another or that things have to match stylistically. On the one hand, my eye is sharpened, and usually, the selected furniture or objects “communicate” with each other. On the other hand, I like to create interiors based on contrast - soft and sharp forms, warm and cold surfaces, etc.

– Do you follow similar principles when advising clients choosing vintage furniture? Or when you look for new pieces for your studio?

– Vintage furniture is often chosen by more curious people, who allow themselves to try something unconventional. My main principle is to give space for people to choose for themselves.
Of course, sometimes clients choose a coffee table and say - our sofa has stricter forms, so maybe we need a table with similar features. But I always try to break the stereotype that everything in the home needs to match, unless we aim for a look that seems like it came from one store. I want more intuition, playfulness. Sometimes we long to know and follow the rules so much that authenticity disappears. So, I follow the principle of less censorship, more freedom. Letting oneself try an unexpected shape or a bold color.
We choose furniture for the studio together with its founder, Jovita. Often, I feel like an inner curious detective trying to figure out the history of an item – which is often very interesting. Together, we really want to showcase the variety of mid - century aesthetics and deepen its understanding.
We also bring in things that might not necessarily be popular or desired in the local market, but are new, unseen, and unexpected. For example, some black leather furniture, which Italians adore. On the other hand, there are always opportunities to renew or change vintage furniture – reupholstering, repainting, etc. Sometimes people are unsure how a particular vintage item will look in their home, so we offer them to "try it on" - bring it home and live with it for a while to feel whether it suits them.

– Vintage furniture also speaks about the lifestyle of that era, its slower pace, and culture of leisure time. Does it inspire contemporary people to create new rituals or habits?

– Indeed, some mid - century items no longer serve their original function or have a place in today's homes. People lived much slower back then, allowing themselves, for example, to read a book on a daybed in the middle of the day and often take a nap. Today, this furniture is trying to find a place again in our homes and encourage their owners to slow down, allow themselves a nap during lunch, or, in the end, lay down and scroll through their phones (laughs).
At that time, creativity in design flowed freely and inspired many later creators. Salon culture flourished in the homes of that era, where people loved hosting gatherings, reading literature, listening to live music, and so on.
In mid - century design, the names of male creators dominate, but reading design history books about family creative teams, I learned about the strong contributions made by women. Finally, their names are coming into the spotlight.

– What does intuitive living mean to you, Eva?

– For me, it’s being in touch with myself and my body. It’s something that can be developed, expanded, by listening to my needs and elevating myself above the everyday. We all have intuition, but we get caught up in routine, in a fast pace, and our senses dull. We start to only satisfy those needs that are essential.
After turning forty, I became more aware of the impermanence, the finiteness of the body, and I now notice things like a tree that has just bloomed or a beautiful architectural detail. I feel less tension, more acceptance of myself and others, relaxation. Living intuitively is simply more fun.

https://rb.gy/9hf65q