The Inha Times interviewed Kim Yunyeong, who is living in a rooftop house. She changed the narrow and old house to one more in line with her tastes. Because she focused on the strengths and made up for the weaknesses, she has found there are many reasons why living in a rooftop house is better than the rest.  

'Rooftop House Interior', Provided by naver

The Inha Times (IT) : Hi! Introduce yourself, please.

Kim Yunyeong : Hello! My name is Kim Yunyeong. I currently live in Seoul and eight years had elapsed since I’d come up here for college and also one of the dwelling poor (people who live in poor surroundings such as rooftop house or tiny studio).  I’ve always found the notion of a rooftop house romantic. To get my heart’s desire, I leased a rooftop house and have lived there for three and a half years. After moving in, I decorated my house and posted photos on the Internet. People responded nicely and asked many questions. In response, I stared a blog. As my blog was featured on a portal site, public TV network, and by magazines, I published the book 'Rooftop House Interior'. Though I have been away from my hometown for eight years, I am a young person enjoying life to the full.

IT : When and how did your interest in interior design begin?

Kim Yunyeong : From early on, I was interested in magazines my mom read, rather than fairytales. I think my parents had a great effect on me. My mother always embellished my house and my father enjoyed DIY activities. I had always wanted my own room, but I grew up in a large family and that was impossible. When my sister turned twenty, she moved out of the family home and I finally got my own room at eighteen. It was this time that I stared practicing interior design.

IT : Why did you move to a rooftop house rather than a studio?

Kim Yunyeong : Before I moved to a rooftop house, the room I lived in was on the first floor of a multiplex housing unit. Because buses passed by my window, I couldn’t really open them fully because of all the fumes – also, my laundry didn’t dry properly. A room with a veranda, where one’s laundry can dry is expensive. Thus, I wanted a place that was exposed to the sun so my laundry could dry and was inexpensive – this perfectly describes a rooftop house. Most people worry that rooftop houses are cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Well, they are right. However, it was now or never for me if I ever wanted to live in a rooftop house.  

IT : What are the advantages enjoyed by rooftop house residents?

Kim Yunyeong : As I live on a rooftop, I also have a terrace. Here, I can have barbecues with my friends or sleep under a mosquito net during the summer. Sometimes I can watch a movie projected onto a white comforter hung on my clothesline. The best thing is my laundry dries nicely. Because a rooftop house is not blocked in by surrounding walls, there is enough sunlight and wind to dry the laundry.  By living rooftop, I am building up good memories, yesterday and also today.

IT : Which part of your house has taken the most design effort?

Kim Yunyeong : Of course, I have devoted myself to every space, but what I care about most is my kitchen and bathroom, which are made of sandwich panels (a kind of plywood). The house was very narrow and in bad shape initially. The toilet, especially, was covered with mold. To change this, I painted and laid tiles. As a result, the toilet is now my most satisfying place.

Rooftop house, Provided by CheskaSy in Flickr

IT : Where did you get your ideas for interior design?

Kim Yunyeong : I often visit other people's blog. There are a lot of experts. While using public transportation, I captured images of interiors to use later. In addition, SNS pages or Apps, such as 'Today's House' are useful. I sometimes refer to magazines - they offer professional advice, which often is a little excessive for my meager space. To get more public information, blogs or SNS operated by ordinary people are the best bet.

IT : What are your future plans?

Kim Yunyeong : Many people have asked me why I don’t decorate other people’s houses. For me though, interior design is a hobby like watching a film, reading a book, play the instrument, etc. Through interior design, I can have an enjoyable time and get a chance of this interview. I want to live decorating in my area as I used to.

IT :: As interior design has become something of a fad these days,, many university students have also taken an interest in this area -  what advice would you give to those students living in rented accommodation?

Kim Yunyeong : Decorating a rented accommodation is a burden for a student. Buy small furniture or props rather than large items, and the most important concern for me is furniture layout. Because renting students usually live in narrow rooms, furniture layout is important to effectively use the limited space. I have changed my rooftop house's furniture layout around 14 times. Through this process, I think my house is not just a 'place to sleep', but 'the place I want to stay'.

이지은  wldmsdl1420@naver.com

<저작권자 © 인하프레스, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>