MY MANIFESTO

1. A HOME SHOULD BE A PEACEFUL AND COZY SPACE

If you don’t feel good where you live and how you live, change it now. It is most likely affecting your mood, your mental state and therefore, your health every day and every night.

2. YOUR SPACE SHOULD FIT YOUR NEEDS

We all know the story, my cousin told me this, my auntie told me that and my friend has that. But this is YOUR space, no one else's. If you don’t wanna have a reception area, don’t have one. If you want an open plan kitchen, go for it. Do not take people's opinion as YOUR opinion and remember that who will live in the space is you.

3. BEFORE YOU START, PLAN, PLAN AND PLAN AGAIN

I'm quite tired of seeing villas being built around Kuwait with only a floor plan and a bunch of 3Ds. Where is the electric plan? Elevations? Detailed furniture plan?And then, issues start. To avoid that, plan, plan and plan before you start. Then execute. This way you will minimize the mistakes and the headaches throughout the process.

4. THE BOX IS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST

If you are suddenly turned into a giant and you are to turn your place upside down, think as "the box" as everything that won't fall down. Floors, walls, bathrooms, tiles.... that's what you need to pay attention to the most!

5. AND REMEMBER THE LIGHTING… IN YOUR PLAN

When lighting is properly done you will not notice it, everyone will look their best and feels relaxed and comfortable. In Kuwait I see a LOT of overly bright lighting, with cold temperatures and sometimes feel more like an office or emergency room. No matter who did your make up that day, you are LOST!

6. AN OLD HOUSE IS NO EXCUSE

My heart breaks when i see old solid houses being demolished in Kuwait, and this happens quite often. As a replacement new house is build with thinner walls, less insulation, less personality sometimes... Believe me, living in an old house doesn’t mean you can't live cozy and fully covering all your needs.

7. PICK WHERE TO SPEND

We all know that higher prices usually mean higher quality. But make sure you pick your investments wisely, especially when it comes to items that will not be easy to change quite frequently. For example, between splurging on a floor or splurging on a sofa, pick the first one. But careful! think long term and dont let trends trick you!

8. YOU DON’T NEED MORE SPACE

With a good distribution MANY MANY space issues can be solved, I have seen the magic over and over. But also, the amount of stuff we accumulate over time can be daunting. Decluttering and intelligent storage options are your best friends when you dream BIG and your space is limited.

9. PERSONALIZE

YOUR home needs to tell YOUR story. Add accessories, travel memories, your pictures, showcase some art... there are many options to bring interest to a basic set-up. Mixing old with new is also a great way to personalize your space and ensure that your house sit apart from everyone else's home

10. DARE

Nothing is forever, dare, take some risks where the downside is limited (like wall paint!) and if you don't like it, start all over again.

ABOUT ME

Carolina Garcia, founder of The Room at House One.

Hello, my name is Carolina, and I am of the creative flare.

During the day I work at a corporation, and during my free time I equally enjoy my two passions: interior design and restoring old furniture pieces. If you pass by Friday Market, you are likely to find me hunting for that unique piece that will get some of my unconditional love and attention to nurture my home (and my soul).

My love for interiors has always been around, but it fully blossomed when I moved to Kuwait in 2009. Landing in a country were urban design is generally little cared for, greenery is hard to find and has extreme heat and dust, home interiors suddenly grew in importance to become a vital part of my life. A feel-good interior became a MUST to compensate not only those rough exteriors, but also the strenuous long days fulfilling duties, various activities and social life.

Since then I have developed several interior design projects both in Kuwait and Barcelona with a very practical approach where functionality is paired with the latest European interior design trends. I believe that any design for a happy home should first and foremost revolve around who YOU are and how YOU will live in a space, using a specific design step-by-step approach to develop a project.

From single-room redesigns, to full floor plans or end-to-end home renovations, I strive for non-pretentious, laid-back interiors with an eclectic twist, where old meets new, with a preference for natural materials and beautiful organic textures

Tell me, what is a happy interior for you?