Kriszta Gabor: by Alma

Name: Kriszta Gabor 

DOB: 5 June1982

Place of birth: Budapest, Hungary

Occupation: Interior Designer at SPACE Furniture

1. What is your personal style signifier?

Since living in Australia, I have slowly become the 'blue jeans and plain T-shirt' kinda person. It’s funny to look back at the girl who left Hungry almost 15 years ago. Her suitcase was filled with carefully curated outfits that matched her shoes, belts and handbags! But Australia has changed my need for consumerism and 'more stuff' in general. I prefer to buy quality over quantity, and am very happy if my shoes don't match my belt anymore. 

2. What is the last thing you purchased and loved?

A Gaggia coffee machine. And I am obsessed with it! But I’m having trouble reducing my caffeine intake since getting this machine at home.

3. What is currently on your wish list?

Purchasing our very own piece of land up north where my (soon-to-be) husband and I can design our holiday home.

4. Your earliest interior memory?

Growing up in Budapest, in the middle of the city, all my family and friends lived close by in historic apartment buildings. Imagine four-metre high ceilings, internal glass-inlaid double doors, ceiling roses, heavy crystal and cast bronze chandeliers and wall sconces. Parquetry partially covered up with oversized Persian rugs. Burning hot cast iron radiators in every room kept us warm and cosy throughout those long European winters. 

5. The beauty staple you’re never without?

It has to be my perfume. For over ten years, I have been using Ralph Lauren Big Pony #4, which they have just discontinued. When I found out, I had to run around the city to buy the last few bottles. Now I store them in my fridge - hoping they don't go off before I get to use them. 

6. What will you always find in your fridge?

Apart from my last bottles of perfume, you will find absolute chaos inside my fridge. I am a very neat and tidy person. However, when it comes to my fridge organisation skills, I fail every time. So just don't open my fridge door, please!

7. How do you stay healthy? Any tips or advice?

I've done a lot of different sports when I was young: gymnastics, diving (tower jumping), aerobics and trampoline. So I've always lived an active life which helped me to stay healthy. Living close to the beach also provides plenty of opportunities to stay active. However, if I must pick one thing, it would be pilates! Pilates is magical, and I hope to get back into it once I've figured out this whole 'working mum life' thing.

8. What item of clothing did you add to your wardrobe recently?

A pair of Nudie Jeans. They are fantastic, and I'm so tempted to get them in all shapes and colours. 

10. What object would you never part with? 

Personal object: My Verse engagement ring. This ring is extra special to me as it was re-designed out of three very special rings, each symbolising the three most important women in my life: my Mother, my Grandmother and my Dear Aunt. Hopefully, one day my daughter, Alma, will cherish this beautiful piece of jewellery as well.

Interior object: I have two Akari Floor lamps by Isamu Noguchi (10A and 14A). Their simple structure, sculptural form, and soft golden glow at night create the ultimate happy feeling every time I look at them.

11. What sacrifices did you have to make in your interior when you had Alma?

I've asked the same question to my Mum when I was pregnant. My husband is an architect, and I work in interior design for one of the most beautiful interior stores in Australasia. As you can imagine, we have a home filled with beautiful designer furniture and decorative pieces. Bringing a baby into this home made me question my previous furniture choices. However, my Mother always told me that she never had to put anything away from my brother and I when we were little. And I must say that she was right! They were always right... Alma has watched us right from the beginning. She watches how we live, how we treat our home, and how we treat our furniture. Thankfully, she has adopted the same mannerisms from us. She has never damaged or even tried to break anything - which is really impressive if you knew about my extensive art glass collection, haha! 

Kriszta wears Verse Two Letters 18-Karat Gold Necklace 

Film photography: Alma (3)