Meet Serap Yıldırım of Cologne, Germany

Today we’d like to introduce you to Serap Yıldırım.

Hi Serap, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sure, I’d be happy to share. I was born as the first child of a big family in a remote village near Cappadocia, Turkey. My uncles, grandmother, and our immediate family all lived together. There were no other houses around us. As my cousins and siblings were born, they slowly became my playmates. My family is truly one of the biggest blessings of my life.

When I started primary school, I made more friends, but transportation was always a challenge due to where we lived. Until the end of high school, I had to leave home an hour early every day and wait an hour for the bus after school. It was exhausting. I always dreamed of leaving my hometown, discovering new places, and studying elsewhere.

I grew up in a patriarchal society and always felt the weight of societal expectations. I’ve fought against that pressure throughout my life. I can say I’ve always resisted for the sake of my freedom and fought to claim my independence. Through my own efforts, I got accepted into the interior architecture program in Trabzon and left my hometown. At the time, I didn’t have a clear idea about the field I had chosen, but by chance, I found myself in a discipline I truly loved.

I’ve always been a dreamer. I enjoy thinking abstractly and started to recognize that I had a talent for it. After university, I decided to move to Istanbul and start working. My family couldn’t support me financially, so I had to build a life on my own as a fresh graduate. And I did — but it wasn’t easy. Istanbul can be quite chaotic and expensive for someone just starting out.

I worked in architecture studios for about three years. I constantly felt a conflict between my profession and my personal life — creating for wealthy clients while trying to survive on a tight budget myself. But with experience, things gradually became easier.

Eventually, I moved to Ankara, a calmer and more organized city. I wanted to improve my English, and I needed a more structured work life. Architecture studios rarely respected personal time; my days were filled with overtime, leaving me no space for self-development. So I started working for a corporate office furniture company and attended English classes every day of the week. After a year and a half, I returned to my hometown — this time to save money and focus on my dream of working internationally and living abroad.

I spent three years there working hard on great projects, often with long hours. I even got to work on international projects. But producing the kind of quality work I dreamed of was extremely difficult in Turkey. I realized I needed to surround myself with people who had vision. I kept building that foundation — and eventually, I reached my goal.

With the money I saved and a bit of support from my family, I made the move to Europe. I’ve now been living in Germany for a year. Along the way, I’ve learned a new language and built a new life. Even though I had reached a certain level in my professional career, I was willing to start from scratch here. I worked as a cashier in a bakery. I’m 32 years old now. I don’t have a family of my own yet, but I’m working to create the life I’ve always dreamed of.

I truly believe that with consistency, dreams become reality.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, it hasn’t been a smooth road. There were always challenges, but over time I realized those were the very things that helped me grow. What challenged me the most was making decisions on my own, stepping into the unknown, and starting over — again and again. But through it all, I discovered my own resilience. Every difficult moment introduced me to a different side of myself. I believe that’s the most valuable part of the journey — not just building a career, but learning who you truly are.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an interior architect, and I’ve been in the field for about 13 years. What I love most about this profession is how it’s constantly nourished by other disciplines — art, dance, fashion, and more. This aspect of the profession really aligns with my personality.

If you look at my CV, you’ll notice I’ve worked across many areas: from furniture design to on-site construction, from technical drawing to textile-based design. My portfolio ranges from boutique villas to large-scale commercial centers, from administrative buildings to corporate retail stores and trade fair exhibitions.

In my personal life, I stay creatively fueled through dance, travel, music, cinema, and fashion.

If I had to define my ultimate strength, I’d say it’s adaptability. I adjust quickly to new environments — and when I moved to Germany, I was able to embrace the culture, build a new circle, and keep growing.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I think something most people don’t know about me is that I have a dream of combining interior architecture with cinema and performing arts. I’ve realized that through my profession, I can tell stories with spaces — not just create beautiful environments, but also evoke emotions. That’s why I want to improve myself in this area and eventually create projects that raise awareness and speak to people on a deeper level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/serapyldrmfc6f
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serapyildiriminteriors?igsh=MTVwNHU1c2MxNThtdg==
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serap-y%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r%C4%B1m-4709288a/