Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Occupation: Interior designer.
Instagram: @friedmann.versace
Hometown: Paris.
Studio location: Paris.
Describe what you make: We assist our clients in writing and designing unique “art of living” places. We develop interiors for hotels, restaurants, and luxury retail, but also for private homes.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: One of the studio’s recent projects is the renovation of the Hotel La Pérouse. It’s an iconic location on the “Promenade des Anglais” in Nice. Every piece of furniture in the rooms has been bespoke, and each room offers a stunning view over the Baie des Anges. We’re also very proud of the recent launch of our Constellation furniture collection, for which we worked in partnership with French artisans.
Describe the problem your work solves: For each project, we have to strike a balance between aesthetic considerations and technical constraints. We work in very busy areas and the materials we use have to be extremely resistant. We also have to comply with ever more stringent standards, and always take care to respect the environment when we’re sourcing materials. All these parameters are a real challenge, and the most important point is that the user should never suspect anything.
Describe the project you are working on now: We have two openings: Le Procope, a historic café in the center of Paris in Saint Germain des Prés; and a hotel called Le 5 particuliers. Then we’re working on opening two seafood restaurants in Deauville. The setting is very inspiring. We’re also working on developing bespoke lighting and dining room furniture for Constellation, made in France by craftsmen.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: We’re very proud to present the first eco-concept Cartier boutique in Brussels. This prestigious brand is giving us a big challenge and we can’t wait to see the result. Opening next spring!
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Flowers, books and lots of chocolate…! And above all, the energy of our teams, always in a good mood, sharing, and creativity.
What you do when you’re not working: We travel as much as we can to discover new places and cultures that are ever more inspiring! We also love bargain hunting, finding unexpected objects. To refocus and find calm, we practice yoga.
Sources of creative envy: Our inspirations are varied, and we particularly like the work of Gabriella Crespi, with its mix of materials using bamboo, stainless steel, and plexiglass. The creativity of the Dimore Studio duo, who mix styles and eras to create timeless décors. And our great masters Gio Ponti and Carlo Scarpa.
The distraction you want to eliminate: The legal and administrative part of each project, and above all the budgetary restrictions. No matter what the size of the project, there are often budgetary constraints that challenge us. And overly tight schedules—it’s important to have the time required to develop a unique space from the very beginning of the project.
Concrete or marble? Marble! It’s an incredible natural material. We have a great passion for marble quarries. We love visiting our marble suppliers to discover new stones and new colors that inspire us.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse. We like to draw inspiration from an area, a culture, or a family to develop an ever more personalized décor.
Remember or forget? Remember! A smell, a taste, a sensation.
Aliens or ghosts? Ghosts. A bit like a soul protecting a heritage, know-how from the past, treasures…
Dark or light? Light is a very important parameter in all our projects. We use layers of light to create warm, intimate atmospheres. This work allows a space to come alive in different ways over the day.
