Name: Olaf Kitzig
Company: Kitzig Interior Design
Position within company: Managing Director
Website: Kitzig Interior Design

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)  

I started with the apprenticeship as a decorator and a window dresser so my education is based on technical experience. After this I found the possibility to live my passion – interior design. I went to design schools in Cologne and London. After this I worked in Italian design companies for around two years and I started up my own business with the age of 28. From this time I lived my dream of my own business in interior design. The first two years I did everything on jobs I could get: starting from private houses, fashion and shoe shops and fair stands. Nowadays my colleagues and I have the lucky situation that we can work out of three offices in Germany Lippstadt, Bochum and Munich and a sales office in London.

How would you describe your personal design style?

Oh that is a difficult question – interior design has so many faces and so many styles. It always depends on the clients situation to do a proper design for our customers. The style is inspired by music, fashion, art and of course of the political situation around the world. But to cut a long story short I would say our style is still moving forward and changing.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

I already said a bit to this question before. But the connection between the world of fashion, art and music inspired us a lot in our design concepts. And of course one of the most important issues are the financial and political situations as well as the technical environment. This offers us a very fast world with so many influences.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

I think everything is possible. Good interior design and design has nothing to do with the general theme. People are so open minded and informed that every proper interior design has got his authority.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2017 and beyond.

I will try to give you just five key words: Light, real materials, cosy, quiet – sorry just four.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design, what would it be?

Feel free in your thoughts!

How important are The International Hotel and Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?

Very important – it promotes talents and I had the honour to win in previous years and it is a very nice feeling to recognise that people are interested in the world of interior designers and architects and clients can find inspiration from different interior designers. It gives a very good overview of the design market.

What projects are you currently working on?

Hotel 3-5 *, Office with 5 – 200 working units, Design Concept for an international fashion brand, some bar and restaurant concepts in Europe, Russia, South Arabian and Asia. Oh I forgot a private property project in Miami!

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

I always love the situation if a concept is running so we have around 28 openings this year and I love starting up with a new design concept. It is fascinating to meet clients from all over the world and having interesting conversations about design ideas. That’s hopefully what I will do for the next 12 month and many years more. Internal wise we have a very interesting target to do in 2017.

We split our company in three. Kitzig Interior Design as it is, Kitzig Indentities for communication design and Kitzig details for decoration and furnishing. This is a very inspiring and interesting time for my colleagues and myself. So we try to enlarge our services for our clients.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself

Your most treasured possession?
My little boys Glen and Lugh of course
Your favourite holiday destination?
Having a family barbecue on my terrace
Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar?
I don’t want to speak about my hotel and bar design. Despite them my favorite Hotel is Mandarin Oriental in Marakkesh and the Chedi Andermat, favourite Bar: sorry for that, the Kitzig Interior Design piano bar GOP in Bonn favourite restaurant: Armani Restaurant Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Your favourite book / film / song? Film:
High – Rise from Ben Wheatley and Music: Music I love everything what’s nice in my ears
Your favourite food and drink?
I am very open minded sometimes I love beer, sometimes champagne sometimes water. Food: everything just chicory makes me sick
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?:
That’s definitively the family theme: cooking, laughing, chatting with friends and family
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I have always wanted to be an interior designer…
Anything else interesting?
I can‘t say if i am an interesting person or not I can say that I am an interested in so many things…