bedMATE of the month #33: Nurcan Tuzkapan

Every month we visit a creative and inspiring person. They are the "bedMATE of the month."

The bedMATE is the most iconic item in our collection. This extra-long pillow serves as a headboard, but also as a cuddle buddy, a supportive friend.

We're climbing into bed with the "bedMATE of the month." We'll take a look inside their homes and their colorful (bed)rooms. We'll talk about how they experience the SUITE life. What's on their minds? Where do they find their inspiration? And what color do they dream in?

This month, we're taking a look at Nurcan Tuzkapan's home. We visited her and her cat, Lela, in a beautiful historic building in Amsterdam Zuid, where she lives in a small but comfortable space. Her workspace, however, is enormous: for five years, she's been running studio3000, a 700m² space available for photoshoots, events, and more.

Nurcan has lived in a beautiful building in Amsterdam Zuid for eight years. "It's small but lovely. I've had a very sweet cat, Lela, since this year. She keeps me company, and she often makes me laugh. I've been running studio3000 for five years now, an event space I rent out for all sorts of things: imagine it, and it can be done! It's become a place I walk into every day, feeling happy. It's just a warehouse... but there's a great energy."

She collects unique design pieces and rents them out for film, photography, and events. "It's always so much fun to see how people use the space and the objects. I also love having the freedom to go to Italy, for example, to buy things, which doesn't feel like work at all. Of course, I always add a vacation to that. I've discovered so many wonderful people and places through it."

Besides Studio3000, I'm working on a new dream called New Gymnasium. Because what are we without dreams? I believe everyone should make their dreams come true, all day long. It will be a special place in the city where people come together to work, exercise, and eat. Wellness will also be a big part of it, and we want to organize inspiring events, such as dinners, lectures, and courses. I hope this will become a place where people feel connected, where new friendships and relationships are formed, and where you can be yourself. 'A network of people committed to living well.' I do this with three men; we complement each other incredibly well, and every meeting and workday is a celebration. We're all good friends, go on vacation together, and one of them even lives with me in this building!

I've had a wide variety of jobs; I've been working full-time since I was 15. My teenage life took a slightly different turn, and I left school at a young age. That sometimes made me feel insecure. I often considered pursuing further education, but I'm also learning so much as an entrepreneur, and I've truly chosen to do so. I've taken something from every job and employer, and I regularly apply it in my work.

Besides New Gymnasium (follow us on Instagram!), I hope to go to the Venice Biennale this year, along with our architect. We want to get inspired there and, of course, also enjoy sitting on a terrace and watching Italian men.

What's on your interior wishlist?
I'll FINALLY be getting my USM Haller case soon, from a collaboration with Mobilia (I have a never-ending wishlist for them).

Your favorite movie/book/song?
Gosh, so hard!
Film: I usually say Interstellar because it's so mind-blowing, but there are so many good films, and I love watching them at home on my projector. I also have a Cineville pass. Some of the directors I love are Christopher Nolan, Yorgos Lanthimos, Gaspar Noé, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, and Ridley Scott.
More movies that make me happy: Erin Brockovich, Good Will Hunting, LOVE, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Catch Me If You Can, Limitless, Mona Lisa Smile, Dead Poets Society, The Game. These are just a few that come to mind, but I could go on for hours.

Books: I mainly read nonfiction. I particularly enjoy Man's Search for Meaning, Lost Connections, The Power of Habit, and other books on neuroscience, such as what happens in your brain when you're in love.

Music: My musical taste is diverse! My Spotify favorites list is seriously bipolar. I love singing along to songs like Yebba Smith, Lianne La Havas, and Aretha Franklin.

What snack do you always have at home?
Licorice!

Do you have a favorite architect?
I'm a huge fan of Isamu Noguchi. His work is timeless, and I recently learned a lot about his background and philosophy thanks to a tour of the Rijksmuseum. His work is now on display there, highly recommended!

How do you relax?
Not enough! It's a thing, haha. But I do get a massage almost every week and I enjoy going to the sauna.

How do you use the BedMATE? (couch buddy? pregnancy? cuddle buddy?)
I find the bedMATE super handy for my back, but sometimes I also wrap myself completely around it for extra support when sleeping on my side.

Do you sleep together or separately? Do you use one large duvet or do you wrap yourself in your own duvet?

For now, I sleep alone. So no one will be bothered if I wrap myself in the duvet!

What's a must-have on your bedside table?
On my bedside table there is always a book, a large glass of water and my night cream.

What is your biggest work-related dream?
My biggest dream is to create beautiful places where people enjoy gathering and feel connected to others (and themselves). Whether that's a studio, a members' club, or a retreat in the woods or by the sea.

What's the craziest place you've ever slept?
During my yoga training in India, where I slept for four weeks in a traditional ashram on a super-thin mattress. A kind of mat, really.

Where would you most like to sleep someday? On a sailing ship at sea! Two years ago, I went on a sailing trip with a friend in Greece, the Ionian Islands. It was wonderful to sleep, because you're gently rocked to sleep, and waking up at sea is something magical.

What can't you sleep without? (A hot water bottle, sleeping with socks on, earplugs)
I like to put on a podcast to drift off. I also enjoy a bit of reading before bed.

Can you tell us something about your favorite place in the house?
I really like my kitchen, even though it's a bit too small for proper cooking (which is totally an excuse, as I'm not a very good cook). I actually use it more as an office.

Which item in your home says a lot about you?
My Moccamaster and bean grinder? I'm a coffee snob.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Superstar.

What's your favorite color combination? And why?
Pink is forever my favorite color! I don't really know my favorite combination... I like it with brown, like with this bedding.

How would you describe your interior style?
Quirky and cozy.