Design Talks – Sibel Kutlusoy

What kind of objects do we use every day in our home?

What is the meaning of these objects?

What do we feel when we use the objects outside of their functions?

What do we feel when we touch a coffee cup or a bowl? 

Staying at home, thinking about what future will bring is stressful. However, if we live the moment and enjoy it as much as we can, will we not be relieved? Wouldn’t it be happy to hear the voices of our loved ones and share our daily excitements with our friends?

To take you out of this stressful atmosphere we would like to share with you a new topic called “design conversations”.

In this issue we talk with food designer and photographer Sibel Kutlusoy.

I asked her a simple question: How can we create a relaxing atmosphere with the objects we use every day?

SK_ I have been working from home for some time now, so there hasn’t been a big change in my life. However, family members working from home have joined me, now all three of us are at home. The first few days were a bit chaotic, but later we managed to set a daily routine.

The Anatolia pitcher is a product I use often during the day. My day starts with a glass of water that I drink as soon as I get up in the morning. And then I fill the coffee machine with water from it. I use it very often while cooking in the kitchen.

We brew filter coffee in the mornings. I like to drink my first coffee of the day from a mug because it is easy to take around. As for my brunch meal I made a set with my favorite amorphous cups, one for coffee and the other for oatmeal. I love the multifunctional size and form of these cups. Sometimes I use them as sauce pitchers, other times as snack cups.

I love objects that I can use for different purposes. I also love to mix and match new objects with old ones inherited from family.

ÖT_What are you doing to create a relaxing atmosphere?

SK_ I think “relaxing atmosphere” has a different meaning for me. Instead of relaxing at the end of a tiring day, I prefer to set up a system in order to easily complete my daily house chores.

I don’t like having too many objects and accessories around. I prefer to buy functional, useful and well-designed products. I think that a well-designed product is also a beautiful product.

I have been doing the house chores myself for about six years now. So, the ergonomics and functionality of the products I use are important, in order for me to finish the chores in a short time and sit down to work on my computer.

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Apart from cooking, I also take my photographs in the kitchen. It has a north east facing window with a perfect light for taking pictures. However, since I do both things here, the kitchen can be easily messed up. Apart from the arrangement in the kitchen, its lighting is also very important for me, the light and shadows need to be adjusted while cooking as well as taking photos. The color of the light is also important when taking photographs.

For the house in general, I try to create spacious and bright spaces that are easy to keep tidy and clean. As for items and objects that have not been used for a while, I give them away to people in need. And the ones I can’t give up are kept away in storage.

In the rest of the house, I try to create spacious and bright spaces that are easy to keep tidy and clean. I often try to give away the items and objects that are unused to those in need. I save what I can’t give up and keep them in the storage.