Enikő standing in the bedroom door, Photo: Matti Varga
Enikő Eged, the young Budapest-based illustrator, graphic designer, and pattern artist likely needs no introduction — her distinctive drawings are appearing in more and more places, instantly winning people over with their charm. She often features animals, nature, and urban life in her work, but at the heart of it all lies a recurring theme: homeliness. That’s why it felt a natural choice to begin our new interview series with a visit to her apartment — a space where carefully chosen objects, handwoven Abra rugs, and Enikő’s own illustrations (which can be found in many other homes as well) live side by side in perfect harmony. During our visit, we discovered, among other things, that Enikő approaches interior styling the same way as her art — as if composing a large-scale, spatial illustration.
Your apartment feels like the visual world of your illustrations come to life. How would you describe your interior style?
I’m not exactly familiar with all the official names of interior styles, but if I had to describe mine, I’d say: neofolk, eclectic, naïve, livable, and a bit fairytale-like.
What would you say connects your artwork and your living space?
Color harmony, figurativity, homeliness, warmth, and safety.
This connection is, of course, strengthened by the fact that many of your own works are displayed here. What should we know about the illustrations we see in your home?
There are a few acrylic still lifes that I painted during the Covid lockdown — that was probably the last time I had the chance to work with this technique, even though I really enjoy it. Most of the large-scale prints came from PSTR Studio; they sent them over for a photoshoot. I probably wouldn’t put up so many of my own prints at home, but since they’re here — why not? It felt strange at first, but I’ve gotten used to them. It’s a bit like when people ask me if I designed my own tattoos. I always say that I look at my own drawings all day anyway — it’s more exciting to wear other artists’ work on my skin.
Enikő's kitchen is hidden behind the Japanese Noren cat curtain, Photo: Matti Varga
Living room cozyness with our vintage Zindekh displayed as wall art, Photo: Matti Varga
Enikő and cat Simon arranging her Tarot art print series, Photo: Matti Varga
Tell us a bit about your creative process! Where do you draw inspiration from, and how do you usually work — what’s your rhythm like?
I often find inspiration on Pinterest, and I also have albums and anthologies I flip through when they relate to the topic I’m working on. Traveling is another huge source of inspiration — I do a lot of sketching while I’m away, and later I develop those ideas when I’m back and have the time and headspace for them. I usually work in the afternoons or late at night — unless I’ve been procrastinating. In those cases, hyperfocus kicks in, and I can sit in front of my laptop for a few days without really moving.
Outside those hyperfocused bursts, what does a typical day look like for you? How much time do you spend at home?
I spend a lot of time with my horses, but when I’m not with them, I’m usually at home. My days tend to go like this: I take my dog out for walks in the morning, during the day, and in the evening. I go riding or running in the mornings, and then I work in the afternoons and evenings. My productivity is very up and down though— some days I only feel like drawing for myself, I can’t really bring myself to work on commissions.
How do you recognize your boundaries, when you need creative nourishment rather than productivity?
There are times when I know in advance that I won’t be productive, and others when I can feel burnout looming. When that happens, I try to slow down — with varying degrees of success. Since receiving my ADHD diagnosis, I’ve become much more patient with myself and more attentive to those boundaries.
How do you separate work and rest in your space?
It would be great to keep them separate — for example, I never work at the stables. At home, it’s harder; the spaces tend to blend together. I think that’s part of being a freelance illustrator: even the things I draw just for fun can later become a post or a print for sale. What I try to focus on is keeping the act of creating for joy — without thinking about the outcome as a mandatory Instagram content.
Enikő Eged, Photo: Matti Varga
Colourful Decor featuring Enikő's Spotted crab and turtle prints available at PSTR studio, Photo: Matti Varga
Enikő and Simon, Photo: Matti Varga
Living room interior featuring some Abra rugs, a pouf and cat Simon, Photo: Matti Varga
What felt most important to you in shaping your home?
Natural light and ceiling height were definitely decisive factors — although those were already determined when choosing the apartment. It was important for me to feel safe in the space — I don’t keep anything too fragile or sharp because I know I’d bump into it daily. It also matters to me how I arrange my objects — since I work from home, this is the environment where I spend the most time. Whenever I move or make major changes, I rearrange everything, paying attention to the balance of patterns and how the colors relate to one another — as if I were composing a large-scale illustration in three dimensions.
What objects, artworks, and textiles make your apartment feel like home? How do you choose each piece?
I’m really drawn to folk art and objects with a naïve visual language — and I also have a soft spot for beautiful packaging. I’ve surrounded myself with colors and pieces that I’m emotionally and visually connected to. Almost everything holds a memory — whether it’s from a trip or something I found here in Budapest — and that’s what makes it truly feel like home.
When it comes to choosing pieces, I go with my intuition: I take home whatever speaks to me. That said, I do try to avoid mass-produced items and prefer high-quality, secondhand furniture. I’m much more attracted to old things — I find them more beautiful and interesting.
At the same time, I try to keep my object collecting in check — every time I move, I realize that if I keep going like this, I’ll eventually run out of space. So if I see something I love but know I have no room for it, I’ll take a photo or make a drawing instead.
Abra’s Moroccan rugs are often associated with homeliness as well. How do you relate to them and how did you choose?
They bring so much softness and warmth into the room, and they harmonize beautifully with the colors in my apartment. I love their texture, the contrast in their color compositions, and the way abstract and figurative forms blend together.
At first, I was drawn to a rug with a dinosaur motif, but when I saw this runner in the studio, the beautiful orange-yellow tones instantly gave me a strong feeling of warmth and atmosphere, and I fell in love right away. This first rug was a total impulse buy — I had no idea where I’d put it. But I think I found the perfect spot for it: hanging vertically from the mezzanine. It has this tapestry-like presence while also working as a space divider. You can see it from both levels, and its scent really comes through this way too, which I absolutely love.
Boujad runner hanging vertically from the mezzanine, Photo: Matti Varga
Enikő's portrait, Photo: Matti Varga
Vases, horse sculpture and jewels, Photo: Matti Varga
Wall decor details with wooden horses, Enikő's paintings and her vintage Zindekh, Photo: Matti Varga
Are you more of a creative chaos person or someone who prefers order?
Complete chaos – except for the kitchen and the bathroom. I usually wait until the mess gets so big that I can hardly move or find anything. Then comes a big cleaning session, and everything starts all over again.
How much consistency do you need in terms of your home? How often do you rearrange?
There are certain things that cannot be moved in my space – like books or sculptures – and if someone does mix up them, I can't rest until they're back in their original spot. However, I do rearrange the gallery walls once every couple of years. My work station also changes every six months: sometimes I work at the desk, sometimes at the dining table – I need some variety from time to time.
To wrap up, could you tell us about a favorite object of yours that is currently at the forefront of your life for some reason?
I really love equestrian things. I have a marionette horse that comes from Bhutan – it’s more of a promise to myself that I’ll one day travel to the place it came from. I noticed it on the floor of an antique shop near Jászai Mari Square. It was priced higher than what I usually spend on such things, but I had to bring it home. Many objects for me represent an internal decision or a new beginning. That day, I had my first acupuncture session, and I was trying to find a new start for the chaotic beginning of 2025. I’ll probably draw or paint it someday.
Words edited by Lilla Gollob (Co-founder of Edit)
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Enikő's favourite object: the Wooden marionette horse from Bhutan, Photo: Matti Varga