Karolina Tornqvist
Website: https://tornqvistinteriors.com/home
Instagram: @karolinatornqvist
Karolina is originally from Sweden but grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. She moved to London to study interior design. When the school she was looking at decided to drop their course in Interior Design she ended up doing a 3 year degree in Documentary Photography at UAL. When she finished her degree she decided to pursue my dream of becoming an Interior Designer and applied for a BA at Inchbald School of design, a 2 year degree based in Chelsea. With COVID-19 having a huge effect on all of us, she is finishing her degree this year and will finally graduate in September to start off her career at a design Company based in Barnes.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?: Life is all about finding happiness. Someone told me that you can never find true happiness until you learn to be content with what you already have.
Which living person do you most admire?: My big role model has always been Amal Clooney.. Maybe that is a bit cliche but I think she is amazing. Not only is she a human rights lawyer and a mother of twins but she looks fabulous doing it too!
What is your greatest extravagance?: Food!! I love trying new food and restaurants! During quarantine I have really gotten into making my own pasta which definitely helps my wallet!
What is your current state of mind?: Grateful! In life, we will always meet people who have more, who are more successful, more talented and it's easy to feel inadequate. We forget that life is not a race. Looking at the bigger picture, I try to remind myself how fortunate I am and how far I have come and I want to feel proud and grateful!
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?: Temperance - I think that people shouldn't over restrain themselves. As long as we can stay humble and humane, indulgence is great!
Which talent would you most like to have?: Some people are incredibly outgoing and great with public speaking - I wish I had that!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?: I wish I was a morning-bird, sadly I am not.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?: I have had a few achievements that I look back at and feel proud about! In 2018 I completed my first proper Photographic Documentary on a nomadic family in Mongolia - The picture series was discovered by a big photographic hero of mine who contacted me through my website! Something that I was beyond excited about.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?: Audrey Hepburn, not only would I love to rock those fun sunglasses, but seeing the 60s play out through her eyes would be pretty incredible!
Where would you most like to live?: For the moment, I love living in London, it is such an incredible city with so many places to explore, but in the future I see myself living in a paired back and Scandinavian styled home in Stockholm.
What is your most treasured possession?: My Health.
What is your favorite occupation?: Exploring my creativity. I love learning new things and have decided to take a course in ceramics as soon as lock down is over!
What is your most marked characteristic?: Probably my positivity or. my enthusiasm!
What do you most value in your friends?: Honesty! I want to surround myself with people who will have a positive impact on me. I would like to think that when I cross a line my friends will let me know!
Who are your favorite writers?: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's work is incredibly moving!
Who is your hero of fiction?: Pocahontas - One of the only Disney princesses who isn't saved by a man but instead is the one doing the saving!
Which historical figure do you most identify with?: I recently watched the film "Colette" about Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, a french female writer who wrote her books under the name of her husband. She was a big advocate for women's rights especially for women's voices in a male driven world. I think many of the issues she struggled with are things that I and other women struggle with today (Keira Knightly's style in that film is also very inspiring...)
Who are your heroes in real life?: My mum! She is a huge inspiration to me and is always the first person I call when I need advice!
What is it that you most dislike?: Prejudice - We all need to learn how to judge a little less and love a little more!
What is your greatest regret?: I wish I had cared less about people's opinions when I was younger and just do me.
What is your motto?: If there is nothing you can do about it, don't stress over it! (My mum taught me that one!)