Inspired by years of collecting memories, objects and ideas, Lithuanian creative Indre Dabulske has built a space filled with colour, personality, books, playful objects, and the kind of joyful energy that makes you instantly want to stay for coffee. She invited us into her playful home for a chat about creativity, collecting, family life, and finding joy in the everyday.
Hi Indre, it’s so lovely to chat to you. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a creative mom of two very active boys, and styling and fashion have always been my biggest passions. Over the years, that love naturally spilled over into interior design after moving houses a lot and spending many wonderful years in the UK. I absolutely fell in love with London, Brighton, and other quirky coastal places like Margate. Now that we’re back in Lithuania, I pour all that visual energy into our home, daily photography, and raising our boys!
Your home feels incredibly personal - what’s the first thing people notice when they walk through the door… and what do you hope they notice?
The very first things people look at are our collection of cool lamps and the massive stacks of books and magazines - plus a lot of unapologetic colour! It’s styled like a large studio flat with barely any doors, so the open, together vibe hits you instantly. What do I hope they notice? The playfulness. I want them to instantly feel that this is a space where memories are made and rules are meant to be broken.
Is there a room in the house that completely changed your habits or routine once you finished it?
Our main living space completely changed how we spend our days. Because we don't have a traditional TV, we use a projector instead. During the day, the room is flooded with the energy of music and kids playing, but in the evening, the projector transforms the entire space into our own private cinema. It’s made our nights together feel so intentional and cozy.
You have such a strong visual point of view - where do your ideas usually begin: colour, objects, architecture, mood, memories… or a very dangerous late-night Pinterest spiral?
It’s definitely a mix of memories, architecture, and galleries! Everything we see during our travels - visiting museums, unique independent shops, and beautiful book stores - settles in our heads, and that’s how our spaces are born. It’s like a physical collage of all the places we’ve loved, especially our time spent in the UK.
What’s the oldest thing in your home, and what’s the newest?
The oldest thing is our vintage dining table, which has so much character. I love mixing new and preloved pieces; I really think that’s how the best interiors are created. The newest is my Fujifilm camera. I’ve gotten so into photography lately that I use it every single day, and it constantly inspires how I look at our home.
Which corner of the house feels the most “you”?
Without a doubt, our magazine, vinyl, and book wall. It honestly represents exactly what’s going on inside my head! It’s packed with quirky photography, fashion, design objects, and memories from our travels.
Do you decorate instinctively, or are you secretly the kind of person with seventeen moodboards and labelled samples in tiny envelopes?
Completely instinctively! We don’t follow design rules here; everything just flows directly from the heart and sudden visualisations. I’m a big fan of not rushing things. A home should be an expression of your personality, and that takes time to naturally evolve.
What’s one design rule you absolutely ignore?
The rule that says everything needs to be perfectly coordinated or match a specific era. My styling background started with clothing, where I always loved quirky combinations. Now, I do the exact same thing with our interior - if I love it, it goes in, regardless of what the design books say.
Has social media changed the way you think about your home - either positively or negatively?
Completely positively. It has been such an amazing tool for connecting with similar-minded people from all around the world. It’s created this beautiful community where we all just inspire and lift each other up.
Is there a piece in the house with a really good story behind it?
Our Donna Wilson hand cushion! To me, it perfectly represents all the little fingerprints and hand marks our active boys leave on our windows every day. Donna’s whimsical creations are a huge part of our home and help us express our personalities even more.
Which room took the longest to get right?
The kitchen. Because our home is so open-plan, the kitchen is an area where we spend a massive chunk of our time. It’s the heart of the home, so we really took our time making sure it felt right for the whole family.
What’s your relationship with colour? Are you brave immediately, or do you need a long emotional negotiation with a paint sample first?
Oh, I’m brave immediately! Colours just naturally play together in my head. Because of my background in styling, I’m not afraid of bold shades or unexpected pairings. I just let the colours flow.
What’s something unexpectedly practical in your home that you now couldn’t live without?
With two active boys, we have a lot of large objects - including toys! I realised early on that instead of lots of tiny storage, having very large statement objects and a few excellent, big storage boxes makes it so much easier to tidy up at the end of the day.
If your house had a soundtrack, what would be playing during this tour?
Definitely something from Fred again.. or Barry Can’t Swim. I absolutely love that type of music. It’s playful, high-energy, and just brings the best vibes into the house while we’re cooking or playing.
Are there any Lithuanian influences or memories from home that subtly appear in your interiors?
It’s actually the opposite right now! We spent many years in the UK and haven't been back in Lithuania for all that long, so most of the things in our home are actually vivid UK memories. Our home is a little slice of London, Brighton, and Margate brought over to Lithuania.
What do you want people to feel when they spend time here?
I really want people to feel inspired not to be afraid to express themselves when it comes to their own homes. I want them to feel the playfulness, the warmth, and the sense of freedom we have here.
Which room gets used the most realistically versus which room looks the best on Instagram?
They are actually one and the same! We are always together in the main open-plan living area. One person might be watching something on the projector, the kids are playing on the floor, and we’re cooking - all in this one big space. It’s the real-life heart of the house, but because of the light, the book wall, and the colourful lamps, it also happens to look great on camera!
What object in your home would you rescue first in a fire?
Honestly, I would be scrambling to rescue my kids' drawings. You can replace furniture, but you can’t replace those little moments of childhood creativity.
Finally - what’s still unfinished? (Because the best homes usually are!)
So much! We still haven't finished half of this home, but we are absolutely not rushing. Our office area is a space where we’re still thinking about what represents us the most, and our bedroom is still a very empty, minimal canvas. We’re just enjoying the process!
Thank you so much, Indre!