In the shadow of mass tourist routes and predictable summer scenarios, Metković preserves its special tranquility. This Neretva town, located on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, is often overlooked in tourist guides, but it is precisely in this modesty that its greatest charm lies. A peaceful promenade along the river, quick drives to the Neretva delta or a day trip to Mostar and Ston, all are within easy reach, but without the summer crowds. And for those looking for an authentic Dalmatian experience, but also a comfortable retreat from the hustle and bustle, Metković offers more than meets the eye.
Besides being home to the famous ornithological museum, Metković is an ideal base for exploring the Neretva valley, boat rides among the reeds, or tasting mandarins in season. However, recently, the town has also become a backdrop for an increasing number of small design stories that enrich the tourist offer – like the two new apartments we’re taking you to today.
They are located right in the center, and their interior design is by designer Ivana Maslać Budimlić from Masart studio, whose studio is known for adapting to clients’ styles through a detailed initial survey and a personalized approach to every project. That was the case this time as well.
"The collaboration with the clients from Metković came through a recommendation; I had worked on a kitchen they really liked, so they contacted me to design two apartments intended for rental. Following our studio’s policy, they first filled out a survey to determine their style, and then we adapted the decor style accordingly, naturally bringing our own touch to the space as well," Ivana recounts.
The investors wanted the apartments to be functional and easy to maintain, but at the same time modern, elegant, and "with soul."
"We carefully selected materials that meet those criteria. That’s their common point, with the smaller apartment, 48 square meters in size, with one bedroom, going for a three-star rating, and the other, slightly larger at 74 square meters, for four stars," says Ivana, adding that the agreement was to stick to neutral tones with one accent color standing out.
"Materials and tones that soothe were chosen: with accents of plush blue and green that give the space a dose of luxury," she continues.
Thus, in the smaller apartment "Azure," categorized with three stars, blue dominates, while the one with green details, named "1st choice," proudly holds four stars, and for good reason. In that apartment, the designer arranged a master bedroom and a single room, while the third was turned into a real wellness zone, with a jacuzzi and sauna, making it ideal for guests seeking complete relaxation.
The furniture was custom-made in collaboration with Dineco studio from Trebinje, while the mirrors are the result of cooperation with local manufacturers. Special attention is also drawn to the Magis Wall wallpapers, also custom-made, and Ivana admits that they are her "eternal weakness" and a must-have in residential interiors. From ready-made pieces, Kare sofas and beds were chosen, while the chairs are from the Kult Home brand.
"The bathrooms were perhaps the biggest challenge in terms of functionality and aesthetics, and in the end, we designed them with ceramics from Minipex in Čapljina and sanitary ware from Brotis in Čitluk," Ivana lists.
Lighting fixtures were also carefully selected – pieces from Ikea enrich the "blue" apartment, and those from Kult Home the "green" one.
"The clients didn’t give me a specific budget, but we were guided by the idea that function and aesthetics must be satisfied. The clients had all the details on what and where to buy, but since I personally like to be involved in the whole process, we were kept informed about all deliveries and the situation on site until the end of execution," says Ivana, for whom this project is especially dear, not only because her studio thus opened the market towards southern Croatia. In fact, the whole process lasted a little longer than her pregnancy, which coincided with the start of the collaboration.
"I am especially grateful for the clients’ kindness and understanding, but also for the fact that we used resources from the south to equip the apartments – I only showed up three times in total. The other work meetings were ‘online‘, which is a very convenient way of communicating in this business," Ivana points out, adding that in the design business, the most important thing is to have clients with whom you share trust, and then the project results cannot fail to follow.
"In this case, the results are best seen in the ratings on the rental platform, where real users are also satisfied with the property," Ivana concludes.
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