MiNiMONO FAMILY #22 - JOHANNA, MICHEL AND THEIR 2 KIDS FROM BERLIN

THROUGH OUR MiNiMONO FAMILIES JOURNAL, WE LOVE MEETING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO CREATE THEIR OWN RHYTHM OF LIVING. PEOPLE WHO FIND BEAUTY IN THE ORDINARY, WHO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR HOMES, AND WHO EMBRACE LIFE WITH AUTHENTICITY AND JOY.

TODAY, WE ARE STEPPING INTO THE COLORFUL WORLD OF JOHANNA, THE CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND @TUTTIFRUTTIAPARTAMENTO , WHERE DESIGN, FAMILY LIFE, AND A PLAYFUL SPIRIT COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A HOME FULL OF WARMTH, PERSONALITY, AND INSPIRATION.

1- CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE?

WE’RE JOHANNA AND MICHEL, AND TOGETHER WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN, WE LIVE IN BERLIN. OUR FRONT DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WE LOVE HAVING PEOPLE OVER AND BEING HOSTS. FOR US, HOME IS ALL ABOUT HAVING THE PEOPLE WE LOVE AROUND US.

WE’RE ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT THE LITTLE DETAILS THAT MAKE A HOUSE FEEL LIKE HOME.
2 - WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR HOME?
THE APARTMENT WE LIVE IN TODAY WAS ONCE MICHEL’S SHARED FLAT. OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS EVOLVED FROM A STUDENT APARTMENT INTO A HOME FOR ONE, THEN TWO, THEN THREE AND NOW A FAMILY OF FOUR. OUR HOME AND THE WAY WE FURNISH IT KEEP CHANGING ALONG WITH US AND THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF OUR LIVES.

WE LOVE YOUR UNIQUE WAY OF PLAYING WITH COLORS, PATTERNS, AND OBJECTS. YOUR STYLE FEELS VERY PERSONAL AND FULL OF LIFE.
3 - HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH TO SHAPING AND DECORATING YOUR HOME?
OUR INTERIOR STYLE IS A JOYFUL MIX OF COLORS, PATTERNS, OLD TREASURES AND NEW FINDS. WE DON’T FOLLOW A PARTICULAR DESIGN CONCEPT — IF SOMETHING MAKES US HAPPY, IT’S WELCOME IN OUR HOME. WE ESPECIALLY LOVE BRINGING PIECES BACK FROM OUR TRAVELS. MOST OF THE THINGS WE OWN HAVE A STORY BEHIND THEM, WHICH GIVES THEM A SPECIAL EMOTIONAL VALUE.

FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SHAPING A SPACE.
4 - DO YOU INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN IN HOW YOUR HOME LOOKS AND EVOLVES?
SINCE BECOMING PARENTS, OUR STYLE HAS NATURALLY EVOLVED AS WELL. FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN FUNCTIONALITY AND AESTHETICS IS IMPORTANT TO US. OUR DAUGHTER, WHO IS FIVE, ALREADY HAS VERY CLEAR IDEAS, WONDERFUL CREATIVE INPUT AND, OF COURSE, HER OWN NEEDS. OUR CHILDREN, AGED ONE AND FIVE, SHARE A BEDROOM, SO WE TRY TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE BOTH OF THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE — SOMEWHERE THEY CAN PLAY, RELAX, BE CREATIVE AND SIMPLY BE THEMSELVES.

5 - AT MiNiMONO WE ENCOURAGE MORE CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?
WE LOVE BEAUTIFUL THINGS, WHETHER IN INTERIORS OR FASHION, BUT WE ALSO TRY TO CONSUME CONSCIOUSLY. FOR US, THAT MOSTLY MEANS BUYING SECOND-HAND. YOU CAN FIND REAL TREASURES THAT WAY — OFTEN FOR LESS MONEY AND WITH A STORY ATTACHED. ON MY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, @TUTTIFRUTTIAPARTAMENTO, I REGULARLY SHARE IDEAS FOR GIVING OLD PIECES A NEW LEASE OF LIFE. I LOVE PAINTING, CRAFTING AND BUILDING THINGS. AN OLD STOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WITH A NEW UPHOLSTERY COVER — WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY OR BUYING SOMETHING BRAND NEW.

WE ALL KNOW THAT COMING UP WITH FAMILY MEALS IS ALSO A DAILY CHALLENGE FOR EVERY FAMILY
6 - WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR NUMBER 1 FAMILY DINNER RECIPE?

PASTA IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA! WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN ITALY BECAUSE WE OWN A SMALL HOLIDAY HOME IN PUGLIA, SO OUR LOVE OF ITALIAN FOOD NATURALLY PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. AND THE BEST THING ABOUT PASTA? WHEN FRIENDS DROP BY UNEXPECTEDLY, YOU SIMPLY THROW A FEW EXTRA HANDFULS INTO THE POT.

WE LOVE SEEING HOW MiNiMONO BECOMES PART OF EVERYDAY MOMENTS AT HOME.
7 — AT YOUR HOME, WHO USES THE MiNiMONO AND WHAT FOR?
THE MiNiMONO STOOL IS CONSTANTLY MOVING AROUND OUR APARTMENT. IT WORKS AS A STEP STOOL, A SEAT, A LITTLE TABLE FOR OUR YOUNGEST, A FOOTREST OR A SIDE TABLE. IT’S ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT SERVES COUNTLESS PURPOSES AND LOOKS GREAT WHEREVER IT ENDS UP.