Where the passion and the connection can build a bright future

Where the passion and the connection can build a bright future

November 5, 2021

Where the passion and the connection can build a bright future. After such a rich and good interview series, we couldn’t do a “special edition” for our readers. It is with pleasure that we present the sum-up of the conversations from our Design Meetings. Ladies and gentlemen here with you the most of the most. We hope you enjoy it!

Design Meetings was an idea that emerged in the middle of the pandemic – this completely extraordinary time in everyone’s life – the project was born from a restlessness, a question: how to generate a connection between our interior design network, clients, lovers of the world and the people who do it? And then we thought: why not go after top designers, architects, developers, managers, people involved in the interior design universe around the world and do some long-distance interviews? That, thankfully, was a very good idea and everyone we talked to embraced it in a genuine and inspiring way.

After all the series developed, interviews and articles edited on our blog, and the interviews in video format on our youtube channel, we can say with certainty that we left with many ideas from those people that are working to inspire and make the world of interior design more glorious. It was amazing to see different perspectives and ideas, and also to see the similarities in some characteristics, the common factors that inspire each of the designers. We guarantee that if you are not yet an interior design lover, after marathoning our series of interviews you will become one (welcome to the club!). All the conversations were very enriching, and we selected here five topics in common between all conversations – follow up the more spoken topics from our Design Meetings:

1 – THE PASSION FOR WHAT THEY DO

Sounds like a clichê, but the passion never goes out of style! It was something very present in our conversations. That is one of the most powerful fuels to a long and successful journey, for sure. We could feel, even from afar, the energy of delivery, donation, the affection with which each one of them develops their work – many already knew this passion from childhood, others turned their hobbies into work, others were influenced by people around them. So many inspiring histories.

Gracinha Viterbo (from Viterbo Interior design), for example, said that she creates designs to live in her own best version, to offer the best. To Sara Folch (founder of Sara Folch Interior Design) this passion is a heritage from her mother: “My passion for design came from my mother. She would prepare the house for each season, transforming the spaces to fit the spring, summer, fall, or winter. She would adopt the fabrics, colours, and arrangement of some pieces to breathe according to the time of the year. She guided me on my way into the industry and continues to do so as a reference.”

2 – THE FOCUS ON THE CLIENT

A very special and interesting point was that most of them talked about how important it is to always put the client in the first place, which we believe is one of the keys that make their work so recognized. We realized that – in addition to a lot of talent – it is a determining factor for their successful careers: the focus on customer service, to paraphrase Saad Moaswes, managing Director of Bond Interiors, they are all “very client-centric”. In this same line Peter Buchberger (Interior Designer and Founder of Raumkonzepte Peter Buchberger) told us that for him the most important point in his job is to fulfil the dreams of his clients and listen to them carefully. Laetitia Laurent (from Laure Nell Interiors) shares the same thought: “the best part is always seeing the project come together in the end and revealing it to our clients. There’s nothing like the feeling we get when seeing their reaction to their dream home.” The dedication to listening to their needs, their dreams, what their demands are, what they want to solve, how they want to feel in their own home, understanding the concerns, feelings, and all the history involved in this work: “Interior design is powerful, energetic, and gives clients the opportunity to change the environment. It is very impressive to see the reaction of clients after a redesign or a completely new design of buildings, rooms, or even gardens.” – Isabella Hamann (interior designer and founder of Interior Studio Isabella Hamann).

Also, the interior designer Ammar Steven Alshash (from Dwelling Designs) emphasized that he loves to understand what makes people “click” what makes them do the things they do. Gracinha Viterbo went deeper and talked about what she believes to be her mission: “My mission is to make a project look like it was made for the client, not by me. I create for people and their life stories, not for me or my signature. My biggest differential is my service, my experience and expertise in various styles, the well-travelled eye of my multi-disciplinary team, my business structure, and the extraordinary care we have with our clients in a turnkey service”.

3 – THEIR INSPIRATIONS

The third point was the inspirations. The power and strength that an interior designer has to transform, to generate good feelings, a good atmosphere. Each one in its own way and with its personality and inspirations.

It was interesting to see, for example: while Ammar Steven Alshash prefers a minimalist and modern style, always focused on the future; Dorina Cocolea (cofounder of Cocolea Furniture) said she and her brand have their very own style, irreverent, opulent, and out of the box. And Laith Abdelhadi from Laith Design Studio said he doesn’t have a specific style: “I like to mix different genres and styles and periods because that’s what makes it personal, that’s what makes it you”. In the case of Christian Stocker (partner of Caduff & Stocker Lichtplanung), the inspiration comes from the meet with other persons: “The best ideas are the ones you get in combination with others. You need confrontation, discussion, and critical questioning to get better every time.”

4 – THE FIRST ROOM OF ALL

The room chosen as the most special by most interviewees was: the kitchen. Yes, herself! In this series of interviews, she was the queen of the house. And we agree with it, it really is the place capable of gathering affection, laughs, smells, flavours; capable of communicating the essence of someone, of being the soul of the house and the first that many of the designers said to think about when developing a project. Milica Grubann (Co-founder of Luxury Department of Formvision) highlighted: “I feel like the most important space is the kitchen … is a place where life is maintained, where food and our life energy get prepared. It, most of all rooms, has a soul. Except for its undeniable vitality, it is the place in the house where socialization is the best-children love being there, feeling the love that comes from homemade food, and enjoying dinners when having friends over.” A thought that is very well complemented by Laetitia Laurent: “The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where everyone always gathers.”

5 – HOME’S VALUE

A new perception and a new concept about a house emerged because the world has changed with no doubt, and people too – most of them having to spend more time at home – have made them realize how important it is to feel comfortable and cosy at home. To Dorina Cocolea people start now to value more what they have and their houses. And if unfortunately, the whole world suffers from the pandemic times, the interior designer is having more work to do – as Gracinha Viterbo describe: “Trying to look at the positive in the negative I can say that this mandatory change has created a greater awareness of our homes and how we live them because they have become everything that was deprived of us. There is a greater willingness to invest in comfort, in aesthetics, and a greater awareness of how our homes can raise our mental well-being through design, a greater willingness to live in a more authentic version of oneself through how we live the home and how to make the most of it.”

6 – THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING GOOD PIECES

The interviewees also highlighted that the right choice of products that will compose the environments is fundamental, and having brands such as Meetsales partners that have a piece of furniture that communicates, translate and impress, can transform spaces into organized, “Our clients are valuing handcrafted work which is very much appreciated in our culture and traditions and handle elements handcrafted in such unique design is definitely a winner and that’s why we chose to be a reseller and partner of the product that we believe in”. Raimonda Vazinske (from Unum Design Deco reseller of PullCast).

Gracinha Viterbo talked about the relevance of the details and how a good piece can change an environment: “I think they (covet group brands) have unique features and attention to detail. They have star pieces that often manage to be vanishing points, the so-called “invitation to travel” that elevates moments in the projects…My clients place great value on handmade, attention to detail and like to have some element that makes them elevate their project and I think that the brands…are based on these same factors”. And after that, what about the idea of a Design Meetings II for the next year? Who do you suggest for us to interview? Keep up with us and our social media to follow all news, notices, and launches from our brands and the interior design world. It’s always a pleasure to meet you!

COVETED EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FIRAS AL SAHIN