Interior architect Bieke Casteleyn runs her own design office in Knokke. 'With BCINT I want to transform the wishes of the customer into a strong design. The result is an interior with character that perfectly matches the personality and lifestyle of the customer. I attach great importance to small details, they really make a house live.
At the age of 31, you are at the head of your own design studio. That is a beautiful achievement! How did it all start for you?
"I studied Latin-Modern Languages in Ghent, at the 'greenhouses' of St Bavohumaniora. I wasn't very strong in mathematics, so I wasn't advised to study interior architecture at school. But I have always had a passion for aesthetics, beauty and art. And if I want something, I'll go for it... So I went to Sint-Lucas in Ghent. An exciting but hard training. I learned to put things into perspective and to find a solution for every problem instead of panicking. Things that often come in handy today! I then obtained a master's degree in product design from the Domus Academy in Milan. Back in Belgium, I started working in the Knokse furniture store RR Interieur. Under the wings of Rik Ruebens I was able to develop further commercially. It was the ideal job to gain experience in sales and in the meantime build my own business. BCINT was born in 2012 and today I have two employees."
What is your style?
"Every interior project is different, of course. The last thing I want, is 'decaying' in always the same. You will not hear me say that a white interior is not trendy and stylish, but it is not always the most beautiful color or style that best matches the customer's demand. I design personal interiors, completely tailored to the resident. I always focus on atmosphere and character. They are warm interiors with a feeling of home. I am not a fan of lavishly furnished homes, but I do not believe in purely functional furnishings either. I am a big fan of details. Everything has to be right, up to the switches and luminaires. The combination with existing furniture is also important and it certainly does not always have to be new pieces."
Where do you find inspiration?
"I attend all major interior and design fairs. I always try to link the useful to the pleasant by making a mini trip with my friend or a girlfriend. I also get a lot of inspiration during my travels. Strange but where am I not someone who constantly beautiful things to photograph with the smartphone in hand. I pay attention to everything, especially small details, but I store it in my head. Personally I love the interbellum style of the 20s to 50s. This is also reflected in my work. It is my dream to ever renovate and furnish a interbellum house. Or better still: to find one yourself in the neighbourhood and live there!" (laughs)
What do you consider to be the greatest challenge for an interior designer?
"That in addition to being a good designer, you also need to be a skilled psychologist. Customers like to play safe with their interior, for example by always opting for white or a minimalist interior. It takes a lot of time to convince them of my design and the story behind it. But I don't mind because I like to chat. I really need to 'get' my customers into my head and into the creative process. I do this by showing them a lot of samples and especially by communicating very well. When a project is finished, I sometimes drive around half a country in one day to load my car with all kinds of decorative pieces. A decorated house radiates more life and character and often the customer decides to keep many of the pieces I propose."
Does it happen that you don't get all your ideas through?
"Of course, and I can certainly live with that despite my stubbornness. It's a matter of giving and taking, as with everything in life. It's extremely important to be on the same wavelength with my customers. I expect them to give me their confidence to push my style through, even if at first sight this might be difficult. After all, it is an intensive process and for that a good relationship is extremely important.
Do you also do projects abroad?
"Yes, I recently set up three homes in Tenerife. Very exciting and challenging: that's the least I can say about it. The quality standards in Spain are much lower than here and it was not always easy to communicate with the various subcontractors. The projects had to be delivered around the same time so I went there several times for several weeks to coordinate everything. Meanwhile, I also had to keep the Knokke office running... I remember coming home and saying "I'll never do this again" because of all the stress and hustle and bustle. But look, we're barely eight months later and I'm actually already waiting for anotherforeign project. I don't always choose the easiest way, but that's what makes it so fascinating!"
Photography by: Piet-Albert Goethals
