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Inspiration

Timeless re-look

Iria Degen creates space designs with timeless beauty. So it was all the more exciting for the interior designer to create a re-look for an object she had designed more than ten years ago.

Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration
Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration
Iria Degen knows exactly what she wants to achieve with her work: To the interior designer, a compelling master plan is the most important feature of successful space planning. This is also one of her personal strong points—something which this citizen of the world and happy working mother has already proven internationally in all its beauty in numerous public and private spaces, including a detached home on Lake Zurich. She furnished it in 2003 and has now re-interpreted IT for Carte Blanche using SILK & SPICES fabrics. We met with Iria Degen and asked her how Création Baumann managed yet again to inspire her work with fresh textile ideas.
«How Création Baumann manages to surprise with every new collection amazes me everytime and again»
Iria Degen
DE

Iria Degen

After completing law school in Zurich, Iria Degen worked as an intern for star designer Andrée Putman, which sparked her interest in interior design, so she trained at the Paris-based École Camondo. She has been running her own interior design agency since 2000, with offices in Zurich and Mallorca. A citizen of the world and happy working mother, she furnishes private residences, hotels, offices, dining venues, and much more all around the world. Integrated concepts are important to her—from space planning, decor and furniture to lighting and key accessories. In this context, she launched an online shop for accessories in 2015. Iria Degen is an active member of the association of Swiss interior designers (VSI.ASAI), a committed Swiss delegate in the international association of interior designers (IFI) and sits on numerous judging panels.

What inspired you to create Création Baumann’s Carte Blanche?

On the one hand, it was of course the attractiveness of the SILK & SPICES collection, and also the international context. Carte Blanche enables me to show the differences between interior design in cities such as Zurich, Paris, and New York. On the other hand, it appealed to me a lot that Création Baumann was documenting the making of this creative process to allow a look behind the scenes.

 

Why did you choose this specific object?

This detached home on Lake Zurich, which I had the honour of furnishing back in 2003, excellently balances function and aesthetics—it is quite a typical example of fine, modern architecture in these parts. To create a re-look for this object and replace textiles after 14 years makes sense from a sustainability point of view and was very exciting for me.

 

Was this a novel and/or instructional project for you?

The nice thing about my job is the fact that you learn something from every project, regardless of how much experience you already have. Carte Blanche gives me the opportunity to find a new perspective for an upcoming project. Of course we needed to work out the details and how to coordinate all the ideas we had come up with at such ease, but that is often the case, in a positive sense.

Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration

What do you appreciate about the SILK & SPICE collection?

How Création Baumann manages to surprise with every new collection amazes me time and again. I like the choice of colours in SILK & SPICES, its finishes—generally, the beautiful contrasts between matte and shine. The fabrics are very complex, even if they seem simple at first glance. SILK & SPICES is textile quality of the highest order.

 

Which styles are these fabrics particulalrly well suited for?

The SILK & SPICES collection is so incredibly multi-facetted that you can use it for a wide variety of applications. It supports contemporary interior design but you can also combine it with any other era. Most important, the textiles are the ideal fabric for free interpretation.

«Textiles form the connection between the individual elements, lending rooms an air of well-being.»
Iria Degen

What does Création Baumann have that other brands do not have?

That must be the very distinctly creative and dynamic Baumann family. Being a family company that is committed to special values, including, apart from ingenious products, continuity and reliability.

Why is it worthwhile employing an interior designer for a private residence?

Often, there is a lack of time, ideas and the ability to see the big picture. The expert is able to follow a harmonious master plan and knows how to integrate it with the interfacing architecture and interior design. In any case, employing an interior designer means added value.

What do you look out for when you enter rooms you will be furnishing?

Basically everything they know themselves. What is the customer’s relationship with the object? What do they want? What are their preferences and ideas? I want to understand who they are and how they live their daily lives.

 

Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration

What do you want to know from your customer before developing a concept?

Basically everything they know themselves. What is the customer’s relationship with the object? What do they want? What are their preferences and ideas? I want to understand who they are and how they live their daily lives.

 

What textile trends leave their mark on today’s interior design?

The market and the offering have grown considerably. There are now many more textures and motifs, we can custom-design and custom-print fabrics. Today’s textiles are technically very demanding, e.g., acoustic fabrics. And you can use more and more fabrics outdoors.

 

Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration
Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration

What can be done against the fusty appeal of curtains?

You just have to make them trendy (laughs). If you handle fabrics not just in the traditional way but leverage their potential in multi-faceted applications, you will simply not have a fusty appeal. Being a creative element, curtains need to be integrated with the space design from the very beginning.

 

Will you let us in on your recipe for success?

I cannot give you any tips out of the blue, apart from the fact that you need to stay true to yourself and be aware of the reasons for doing—or not doing—certain things. You need stamina, gratitude, and modesty, so success remains long-term success.

 

What is characteristic of Iria Degen’s home environment?

I live and work under the same roof. Timelessly modern, in a 1930’s building. And of course, there are a great many fabrics.

 

«The fabrics are very complex, even if they seem simple at first glance, SILK & SPICES is textile quality of the highest order.»
Iria Degen
Zeitloser Relook - Création Baumann - Inspiration

About Carte Blanche

“Carte blanche” is Création Baumann’s invitation to select interior designers for interpreting a collection in a location of their choice in their own style—showcasing the range of possibilities for textile room design using fabrics from this traditional Swiss company.

 

Curtains and seat covers, sewing studio: Marion Porro, Richterswil, Switzerland

www.marionporro.ch

Project management: Sibylle Schaller, Iria Degen Interiors

www.iriadegen.com

Accessories: theroomers.com

www.theroomers.com

Photography: Rainer Schär, Zurich

www.mueller-schaer.ch

Selected products for the Carte Blanche

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