ChatGPT Asked Me...
What’s the first detail you notice when you walk into someone else’s home?
The kindness and positive energy (or not) of the owner…
Is there a material you’re completely obsessed with right now?
Collection available at our showroom
The 70’s rugs are back! I’m obsessed with the most luxurious, fluffy, decadent white rugs.
Who is your dream dinner guest at your perfectly styled table in your Algarve home?
Karl Lagerfeld. Would be a fun German night spending it with this genius.
What’s your favorite “small detail” that makes the biggest impact?
Smell. Walking into a home that has a luxurious, cozy fragrance makes all the difference. Home fragrances and scented candles are so important. I can smell a scent and remember people’s homes, hotels, or shops forever.
If a client gave you total creative freedom, what’s the first thing you’d do?
I’d dive straight into fabrics, wallpapers, trimmings, and rug materials (Pierre Frey, Elitis, Canovas, Coordonné…). From there, I’d build the entire project around those choices. I always visualize the colors and textures first, then bring it all to life.
Why did you decide to open your showroom and business in the Algarve?
I worked many years with my business in Switzerland and London, and during lockdown I ended up staying here after a winter holiday in Quinta do Lago. This beautiful part of Portugal is in full growth, and it was the right time for me to take on a fresh challenge. Besides, I love working in this weather.
If interiors were a soundtrack, what song would be playing in your spaces?
Amor Amor by Arno Elias - because a house without Amor isn’t a home.
Which design trend do you secretly wish would disappear forever?
I don’t know if it’s a trend (a mystery to me), but too short curtains make me allergic. You can have the most stunning fabric, but if the curtains don’t sit on the floor at least 3–5 cm… no thank you.
Oh, and can we also ban rugs that stop in front of sofas, please?
What’s your go-to “wow” piece to instantly change a room?
Never getting tired of my art at home
Art! A crazy art piece is a statement, especially when it has a wow factor and is hung in the right place, at the right height.
In a bedroom, it’s definitely the headboard. You can do wonders with bespoke designs. I wish more clients would go for that
If you weren’t in interiors, what creative world would you dive into?
Definitely skincare, which has been my passion since a very young age. I’d have my own skincare line for sure, and I’d own a luxury spa… using my products, of course.
Which designer or artist do you dream of collaborating with?
I wouldn’t mind jetting around with Baptiste Bohu, working on a project in Bali or Marrakesh. I love his style but would bring in more color if we collaborated.
How do you want people to feel the moment they step into your spaces?
Comfortable and at peace.
If you could design a set for any movie, which one would it be?
A Good Year with Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. One of my favorite films.
Which space in a home do you think is most underrated?
Inspiration from Degournay
The laundry room. We spend so much time there, yet it’s usually the most boring space. Imagine if it were designed to perfection. You might even start loving folding your husband’s underwear!
What’s the story behind the very first space you designed?
I had just opened my company in 2007 in Geneva, waiting for my business cards to be printed, when two weeks in I got my first full house renovation project by the lake, thanks to a friend’s recommendation. My client had just divorced, purchased the property, and put all his trust in me. I hadn’t even started researching suppliers or found a contractor. This project really pushed me into who I wanted to become eventhough I wasn’t ready yet. That’s when you learn the most. You push yourself, believe in yourself (or the universe), and make it happen. The property turned out beautiful, cozy and chic. I am still proud of this work and it was the start jump to all future projects.
If your interiors were a cocktail, which one would it be?
It reminded me a little of this
For sure a “Paradise,” mixed by Luigi at the Voile Rouge in St. Tropez in the 90’s. It was a fabulous cocktail in a light pink colour.