When discussing interior decoration trends we are not talking about things that are fast and disposable but things that are gaining in popularity over several seasons as new products and themes emerge. Investing in quality furniture and considered floor planning gives longevity and is therefore the most sustainable way to update your home. Although economically Switzerland is more insulated than other countries, property prices are amongst the highest in the world. Therefore, many who are purchasing a new home are taking a long term view when decorating, prioritizing quality and working in phases from a master plan to get furnishings and finishes they desire. Homeowners who are renovating, make their largest investment in kitchens and bathrooms and are phasing other areas over time. A trend in floor plans, post pandemic, is to for creating spaces within the home for working with acoustic benefits … that will be another post. Now, let’s talk about the fun stuff!! All photos taken by me or Image: accredited to source.
Image: Iksel Wallpaper
Curves
Furniture with curves has been around for a few seasons, and I see this trend becoming a design classic. Curved furniture has the ability to break the lines of straight room shapes and those with difficult angles, predominantly found in modern architecture, but sits equally well to update a traditional setting. Rounded shapes conform to our bodies making it more comfortable and as humans we respond well to organic natural shapes giving a feeling of nature and calm. Curves require space, is particularly good for larger open spaces, looks good from all angles and can be stand alone pieces designed to be used from both sides. Innovation in building techniques and a new breed of fabrics allow curved upholstery to be upholstered with the correct design and stretch quality.
Curved Sofa Curved velvet upholsteryImage: danokellystudioImage: Jennifer Manners Rugs
Hotel Luxe
A trend that is becoming very clear (perhaps post-pandemic) is that people areviewing their homes as destinations with more confidence to be enjoyed as a luxury hotel. Notable finds: 3D wall installations or wallpaper murals, precious woods veneered into wall papers. There are tactile marbles with wilder veining for sophisticated spa like bathrooms and statement kitchens with larger side pantries to house the less attractive accoutrements, generally natural surfaces you want to touch and feel grounded to. Interestingly, in commercial design, the design trend for luxury hotels are concepts that emulate a luxury ‘home residential’ feelingI see these trends continuing into 2025/26.
Wallpaper with 3D elementsImage: Murano Glass fixed to hand drawn wallpaper Italian Ceramic Bespoke Wall InstallationWood veneered wall paper panelsImage: Lladro Sculptural Porcelain ChandelierSculptural Bronze & Marble lighting Image: Kitchen by Nate Berkus
Art Deco Glamour
Art Deco inspired furniture, fabric pattern, wallpapers and mirrors to bring in gilded glamorous touches. Vintage case goods (cabinets/chest of drawers etc) with rich colours in deep mohair velvets.
Image: Marta Sala Editons Salon with Fromental WallpaperImage: Marta Sala Editons Salon with Fromental WallpaperImage: Iconic furniture design by Marta Sala EditonsImage: Fortuny Art Deco Table Light Image: Fortuny luxury Art Deco Inspired LivingImage: Fortuny Art Deco Ceiling Light Deco Inspired FabricsDeco inspired hand painted glass tile
Colour & Warm Wood
Mid pastels and warm earth tones create a grounded feeling with colour. Green is warm moss tones. In the tailwind of the pandemic, these natural tones are highly desirable. Warm Wood Tones: There is a step back to warm toned and darker woods. There is a yearning for fun and a human connection to earth.
Curved furniture in pastel colours Image: Victoria + Albert BathsWall tiles in ceramic and marbleColoured stone samples for tables Warm wood samples for bespoke tables Image: Claire Totman Designs Image: danokellystudio
I hope I have inspired you to find your style and start your next project! If you would like to discuss how we can help, click below and we will be in touch.
Having guests to stay is always a pleasure, these small acts of thoughtfulness will allow you to up your host/hostess game – beware though, they may not want to leave! Here are a few suggestions – none are affiliate links just things I like and are all available in/ships to Switzerland.
A Fragrant Welcome
Tap into the 5 senses. Smell is one of the most dominant and having a sweet smelling home/guest room creates an important first impression. Fresh flowers is always a lovely gesture as are scented candles, do choose carefully though to keep your air quality healthy. I love this range made in Switzerland from organic soy wax. They actually do smell like the Swiss mountains and Silberhorn has a small rock crystal to keep afterwards. I Sonja. the girl who set up this business and she is doing good things! Girl from the Mountain
Image: Girl from the Mountain
Experiment with Decor
In this guest room I designed for a client the room was small and uninteresting so we painted the walls with Farrow and Ball Brinjal and added an oversized statement headboard. You can have fun and experiment with your guest room, don’t forget a decent light by the bed to read and I like to add a small dish for jewelry. You can see more of this room which was part of a project in St. Moritz on my projects page
Image; Jacober Interiors Photo: HauteX’posure
Cosy Bedding
Having cosy hypoallergenic bedding is a great choice. This is from a local company in Zürich and is made in Europe from plant based, Lyocell and Tencel mould resistant, breathable and washable whats more in years to come when after their lifetime of use they are compostable. Details here. Moving from feathers is in my opinion a good idea in terms of health hygiene because the industry behind feather production when you look into it is cruel and unethical. I am so glad we have alternatives!
Image: Zigzag Zürich
Hydrate
Fill a carafe with water and place in their bedroom so they do not have to make the trek to the kitchen in the middle of the night. Having the glass fit over the top of the bottle keeps it fresh and takes less space on the bedside table. This one below is clear and there are also recycled versions available.
image: Torquato
Tech Tips
Set up a charging station your guest room with the WiFi code nearby so they have all the right plugs in all the right places without having to ask! This bamboo one has a pull out drawer so you can attach the cables you need, and slide it closed for a sleek look and because bamboo regrows quickly is more sustainable than many other woods.
Image: Great Useful Stuff
Hanging Space
Guest rooms may be tight on space, but nobody actually likes to live out of a suitcase, consider installing a simple rail like this metal one that is ceiling mounted, hangers plus a small basket for their smaller items. I like how it would blend into the walls when not in use. Here shown in cashew it comes in black and white too.
Image: Metallbube
Soft Fluffy Towels
Have a supply of fresh towels in various sizes for your guests, I particularly like using this company because they are such good quality and wash so well for years! They now offer organic cotton, in many colours. I always give my guests darker towels so they don’t have to worry about make-up marks. Christian Fischbacher at time of writing are offering a 25% discount if you trade in undamaged bed or bath linens so they can forward those to Caritas Switzerland that offers help those in poverty in over 22 countries.
Image: Christian Fischbacher
Bathrobe & Slippers
Nobody has space to pack these so a give your guests a 5 star feeling and provide a roomy robe and slippers. These are cotton waffle from IKEA are cheap and cheerful at around CHF 25.- for the set!
Images: IKEA
Lie Of the Land
Of course you guests are there to see you, but they might like to get out and about a little on their own, especially if they are a couple. We all have Google at our fingertips BUT having a real map (call me old-fashioned I love a paper map I like perspective!) and some useful local guides: highlights in the area, best cafe, local shops to visit…. give them the idea to go out and explore for a few hours – so you have a little time to miss them! Have a spare cotton tote bag they can take to bring back goodies.
Photo by Samson Kat from Pexels
I hope this has inspired you to level up your hospitality style, I’m sure your guests will appreciate and you will receive lots of compliments!
Since the pandemic the home office has become a regular request when searching for or remodelling homes. Many people continue to work 20-40% from home and will do permanently so it is worth investing to create a positive space to allow you to stay focused and productive without compromising on style.
1. Take care of your posture
Image: USM
The most important factor is looking after your back and neck. Having a comfortable chair is important to keep your posture aligned I have a desk similar to this in my office and often use it at the standing option. As a rule when sitting or standing at your desk your elbows should be at a 90 degree angle and the middle of your computer screen should be at eye level. With a static desk It is important to have a chair that is height adjustable. If you require set your laptop on a riser or coffee table books to get the correct height.
2. Good Organisation
Image: Pinterest
If your storage needs are high, consider neutralising the storage boxes and files to keep things looking uncluttered. By keeping everything white/beige it creates a relaxing space and everything is easy to find.
3. Space Saving
Image: Pinterest
In an open plan space with careful planning you can create a free standing section to create a mini ‘room within a room’ concpet – the addition of glass panels helps reduce noise.
4. Design Classics – where to invest
Image: Vitra Switzerland
Choosing iconic classic pieces allows you to buy pieces that will never date and are worth the extra investment. They can also blend in well eg here the mid century look can be placed in a historic or modern home.
5. Easy and Simple
Image: Pinterest
Whatever your plan and investment figure is the main thing is to feel motivated and creative in the space so you can complete your work efficiently, even the simplest of shelving and desk can create a happy working space.
If you would like help to plan your home office space, contact me – I would love to help!
When you walk into a room and you get an instant feeling of ‘home’ – things seem to fit the space well, the flow is comfortable, the colour palette and materials work together to create a feeling that invites you into the space and want to sit down. That is good interior design. As an interior designer there is a lot that goes into making it look effortless, here are a few tips when planning your project.
1. Optimize your layout
image: Luxe Living
Think how you want to live in the space and what kind of feeling you want to create. Do you want an elegant space to entertain in a formal way with your silver cutlery and wedding china or do you like a casual vibe as in the photo above where you just pitch up and grab a stool to chat to someone cooking or lounge on the sofa and catch up on a favourite Netflix series. You may want to remove a wall between your kitchen and ‘formal’ dining room to make a larger area or enlarge a window into doors to access the garden… Walk through your day, coffee – where should the machine go, do you need a breakfast cupboard for the family to help themselves from? Where can you store your collection of serving platters? By thinking through various scenarios you will get a list of wants and needs. Once you have decided on the best layout for the space you can move onto what will go into the space. Tip: Measure your space and your doorways (for bringing furniture into your home) to keep on hand as furniture always looks smaller in a showroom!
2. Find your style
Image: Pinterest
Use Pinterest to collect images you like, set up a board (as I do for my clients) to see what you are drawn to – a pattern will emerge. Eg the collection of images above shows a transitional style, which is a blend of periods with a mix of old and new, a warm colour palette against light neutral airy walls, a desire to use natural woods and stones to create an authentic and casual style. My Pinterest is catagorised by rooms and a good place to start pinning from. Build an inspiration library, print and keep with your room measurements. When you go shopping it will keep you on track and focus you when choosing flooring, rugs, wall colour, furniture, lighting an so on. Tip: Always check with an electrician first before you buy a heavy ceiling light – they need to check if they can fix into a beam above your ceiling….
3. Choosing your colour palette
Consider what colours you like to wear? For a young and feminine style, this palette above would translate well into a room scheme. Pastel colours with light and airy textures and soft cosy fabrics. For a more masculine style you may look at more primary colourways denim blues, reds, emerald, navy with white. The idea is to create balance, so you need a careful mix of light and dark tones, that mix (mostly light or dark) and the colours you select will create the feeling within the space. The psychology of colour for interior design is an in depth subject, for quick reference; naturals with light wood tones and greens are calming and relaxing, pastels are uplifting and bolder and darker colours create drama and excitement to be careful how you choose! Print out colours you like and keep together with your library of inspiration and room dimensions and you are ready to shop! Tip: a small dark room eg a hallway or guest WC with little natural light will always be dark so creating a darker/bolder colour scheme is a clever way to create a little drama!
4. Finding Trades and Builders
Recommendation is always best. Ask around in your local area an facebook groups. In any case always get three offers for work and compare like for like, go through each list and also compare the timeline they are offering. I always advocate using established companies who are insured and will give a guarantee on their work. In Switzerland your trades should give you a 2 year guarantee and come back then to repair anything that is ‘seen’. You have a further 3 years (total 5) on things that were ‘unseen’ at the 2 year inspection. When making your final choice it is always advisable to ask for this assurance and for references to see previous work. Tip: The cheapest quote is not always the best.
Image: Schlagenhauf Meilen
5. Interiors Shopping
Image: LuxDeco
Armed with your inspiration library from Pinterest, your measurements and colour preferences you can visit your favorite retailers with the best chance to find things that fit your space and are in line with your style. It is not advisable to order upholstery online as you have no reference on quality or comfort, you also have little recourse if you find a fault on delivery or find it uncomfortable – it can be very difficult to return. Tip: Try to invest as much as possible in your sofa and bed, you can make economies elsewhere.
6. Hire an Interior Designer
Project image Jacober Interiors – Photo by HauteX’posure
So you have decided you want to start your project, and you realise you do have great ideas but lack the time it takes to find what you like. You may have the time but are overwhelmed at the choices or underwhelmed at the lack of choice! Finding a professional interior designer that can help you achieve your goals will save you time and prevent you from making costly mistakes. Again, as with trades ask for references you can check and even visit locally.
There are two distinct aspects to interior design: the function and the aesthetic. The function involves practical planning of your interior spaces so that they work both independently and collectively, to satisfy the occupants’ requirements. The planning covers the general arrangement of the spaces, including furniture and addresses issues such as the allocation of places for activities, eg sleeping, bathing etc – the flow of human traffic through the home and the location of storage areas. The aesthetic aspect relates to the visual identity of the spaces and how they feel; it is this aspect that most members of the public associate with interior design. The project’s visual language includes colours, palettes of materials, styles of furniture and other loose and fixed items and equipment.
in other words, Interior designers will create a concept with you, plan the spaceI use 3D CADs to give overview, and source all the elements you require from quality suppliers. A colour and materials palette will be produced so you can see how all the elements sit together. I also offer a luxury service to create in 3D bespoke furniture for my projects where my clients want something not available on the market and I work with specialists who can do this. Full service designers also coordinate works in progress to ensure they go to plan. This includes light building works, decorating, kitchen/bathroom installation as well as the final install of furniture and fittings. This means that as clients you get to enjoy the experience!
If you are in the Zürich area I would love to hear about your next project, contact me by email below and I will schedule a call to discuss your project and how I could help.
