Name: Eveline Rossi

Zürich März 2014, Reportrage Hochhaus Hard Park, Photo: Marion Nitsch

Company: Rossi Interiors (living.rossi ag)

Position within company: CEO & Founder

Website: www.rossiinteriors.com

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
It was always my hobby to decorate and move furniture around, even as a child I was very happy moving my bedroom to another room in the house and decorate it from new. I never followed my passion in my career. I made a career in Private Banking. I have a degree in Process Management which helps me a great deal in my daily work, getting things done on time! And of course when I started the company with my husband, Piero in 2009 the Projectmangement education in my pocket made things a lot easier. Piero is an architect and has been in the business for over 25 years. After we met it was clear that we had the same dream of opening an interior design shop, which we did. During the build up of the company I visited an Interior Design School in Switzerland and graduated in 2010. Learning by doing and having Piero who was giving me the necessary tips and tricks, I have now been successful in the business for the last six years.

How would you describe your personal interior design style?
Opulent, luxurious, playful and always practical. I would say I am the ‘Wallpaper Interior Designer’, wherever possible I use wallpaper or at least a beautiful colour on a wall to set an atmosphere. Soft fabrics, subtle lights and an eye catcher are a must in every room.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
All over the world! My husband and I travel a lot and I get my inspiration from different cultures. Peoples homes, hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and showrooms are always interesting because their design/interior varies depending on which country I am in. Books! I just love books about Interior Design & Architecture (pssst and cook books, cooking is for me also a kind of design… presenting a great meal on a plate with all it’s colours and shapes that delight the eye)

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
In the past, architecture was determined by functionality and aesthetics. Today, a third criteria must be considered and this is sustainability.

I also believe that the outside area/enviorement will get more and more relevant for the design in living spaces. One aspect is, that you don’t feel a difference between in- & outside. Larger windows, more earthy tones and the integration of the outside to inside and vice versa.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2017 and beyond.
Sustainability with chosen materials
Multi-Functionality of rooms
More colour and glamour
More singles, smaller living spaces
Affordable good design

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
Don’t save money on not getting a good interior designer.

How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
Very important! It’s like when your best friend recommends you to buy something because it’s great. The more publicity the design award gets, the more recognition is achieved for great designs and talents. A design award is like doing a fashion show in Paris or London, presenting marvellous clothes to the public.

What projects are you currently working on?
Currently we are working on several projects, Maserati Showroom Zürich, Showroom Apartment in Zürich and some other redesign objects in several of Zurichs high rise buildings.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Expanding my work abroad, designing another restaurant or bar and working on my Interior Design and Travel blog: evelinerossi.com (my latest project)

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself
Your most treasured possession? My home
Your favourite holiday destination? Apart from Mallorca which is our second home, it would be Oman, Florida, England and to drive to the Cote d’Azur with the car
Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar? Hotel Delano Miami, Hotel Chedi Muscat, Restaurant Hakkassan, Outside Bar Smith & Wollensky Miami
Your favourite book / film / song? One Thousand and One Nights is a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and Cookbooks from Yotam Ottolenghi / Film: A fish called Wanda / song: depends on the charts
Your favourite food and drink? Middle Eastern and Peruvian food, Pisco Sour and Wine/Champagne
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? (in no more than 25 words)
Hmmmm, spending an afternoon at home reading books and magazines about trends, design and travel. To chill out, relax and get inspiration for new projects.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Psychologist (I am very interested in people and helping them with their worries, pretty similar to what I am already doing in my job now)

Anything else interesting?
My Interior Design and Travel blog has been created to share great design with people all over the world, showing possibilities. Not just 5* luxury spaces, but places that are interesting for everybody. ‘Great design is not expression of wealth but a sign of imagination’ and it’s my ambition to share this with my friends and followers.