THE MAN BEHIND THE ART
Society challenged Bijan Laufer to answer a 100 questions.
1. How would you describe your personal interior style?
Opulent, colorful, layered, cozy. Inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Marbella Club, and my obsession with detail – fringes, piping, rich fabrics, everything harmonized.
2. How does that differ from your clients’ homes?
Most of my clients ask for beige-toned, minimalist, modern spaces. Elegant and calm. But me? I love soul, drama, and bold color.
3. What’s your design philosophy?
Great design should touch all your senses – what you see, touch, smell, hear. It’s not just visual. It’s emotional.
4. Do you remember your first design job?
A boutique hotel in southern Germany. I was young, ambitious, full of ideas. It was the start of everything.
5. And now?
Now I work internationally. Private villas, hotels, residences – always with soul and a signature touch.
6. What makes your approach unique?
I combine Persian hospitality with German precision. Emotional yet structured – that’s my formula.
7. Where do you find inspiration?
Travel. Always. People, cultures, luxury hotels, colors in Paris, fabrics in Bangkok, textures in Rome.
8. Favorite hotels in the world?
Beverly Hills Hotel, Four Seasons everywhere, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Hyatt in Shanghai, the Ritz Paris, and the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort in the South Pacific.
9. How many countries have you visited?
Almost all. From Iceland to Bora Bora. Haven’t done North Korea – yet.
10. How long have you been in the business?
Over 23 years. I trained at Stilwerk in Hamburg and learned through real life and real clients.
11. Where have you lived?
I grew up in Munich, lived in London, Phuket, and Switzerland. All those places shaped my style.
12. What does “home” mean to you?
A sanctuary. My home is an oasis with an organic pool, tropical garden, parrots, dogs, and pure calm.
13. How many pets do you have?
Five dogs and two giant parrots. They’re part of the family – and part of the design.
14. What does your own house look like?
Colorful, soft, full of books, music, candles. A space that hugs you. With soul and style.
15. What does luxury mean to you?
Time. Silence. Quality. A place that feels like you – not just looks expensive.
16. Favourite colors to work with?
Dusty rose, coral, sage, turquoise, camel – I love color that tells a story.
17. And favourite materials?
Cashmere, bouclé, silk, velvet, linen. Natural, tactile, layered.
18. What’s trending right now?
Dark woods, sculptural sofas, handmade ceramics, earthy tones. Imperfect is the new perfect.
19. Do you follow trends?
I observe them. But I don’t follow them blindly. My work is timeless, not seasonal.
20. Where do you begin when designing a room?
With feeling. Mood. Light. Texture. Furniture comes later.
21. How important is scent in design?
Huge. I even created my own candles – like Spring Picnic, a fresh scent of tomato and grass.
22. And music?
Always. Every room has a playlist. Jazz, bossa nova, sometimes just birds and wind.
23. You have your own furniture brand?
Yes – Bijan Maison. Bespoke, bold, flexible. Crafted in Asia, finished to perfection in Europe.
24. What makes Bijan Maison special?
We’re detail-obsessed. If a client wants a 4.17-meter sofa – done. Every piece is made to measure.
25. Where can we see it?
Instagram. That’s where I show pieces, process, and inspiration.
26. You also have a skincare line?
Yes – Bijan365.com. It started after I designed a house for a big beauty mogul. Now I create scents and skincare with dermatologists.
27. Why beauty and interiors?
Because it’s all connected. Skin, scent, texture, light – design should touch every sense.
28. What makes a home truly beautiful?
When it embraces you. When you feel at ease, not intimidated. That’s true design.
29. Where do your ideas come from?
Conversations, nature, vintage shops, travel – I’m constantly inspired.
30. Describe a typical workday.
Dogs, garden, espresso. Then site visits, material boards, client calls, and inspiration hunting.
31. How do you stay inspired?
By living in beauty. My home is my muse. Travel is my fuel.
32. Favorite piece in your own home?
A vintage velvet fringe sofa – over 20 years old and still perfect.
33. How important is touch in design?
Crucial. I want people to want to touch everything. That’s the power of material.
34. What’s your personal design mantra?
“Make it personal.” A space without soul is just a showroom.
35. You’ve been featured on magazine covers?
Yes – 16 covers, national and international. Some for campaigns, some just because the work stood out.
36. What do awards mean to you?
Nice recognition. But honestly? A happy client is the biggest reward.
37. How do you start a new project?
With a conversation. I want to know who they are, what they dream, what’s missing.
38. Your favourite type of project?
Ones where the client trusts me fully. That’s when magic happens.
39. How do you deal with difficult clients?
Empathy, clarity, humor. I translate their unspoken wishes into design.
40. Favourite city for sourcing interiors?
Paris. For the ateliers, the fabrics, the antiques. And London – for timeless taste.
41. What’s a must in every home?
Books, candles, good pillows, and warm lighting. Always.
42. How important is lighting?
It’s everything. I use warm, dimmable, layered light – always.
43. Favorite shade of green?
Sage. Calm, elegant, goes with rose, brass, and everything soft.
44. All-time favourite piece of furniture?
A Jean Royère daybed. If only I could find one again…
45. What’s your take on minimalism?
I get it. But my heart beats for layering, coziness, and detail.
46. And vintage?
Love it. Mixing old and new brings soul to a space.
47. Biggest interior pet peeve?
Perfect cushions. Life isn’t perfect – design shouldn’t be either.
48. What makes a room feel “homey”?
When you can walk barefoot without worry. That’s the test.
49. Favourite fabric right now?
Textured bouclé – in creamy white or fun speckles. It’s timeless but alive.
50. Top 3 design no-gos?
Cold white lighting. Tiny rugs. Generic decor with no story.
51. What’s your secret to success?
Being real. I’m always myself – with clients, in interviews, even on Instagram.
52. What brings a room to life?
People. Pets. Music. A little chaos. And a lot of character.
53. How important is custom furniture?
Essential. That’s why I created Bijan Maison – design should adapt to people, not the other way around.
54. Your favourite design era?
Hollywood Regency meets Midcentury with a splash of Art Deco. But always with a modern twist.
55. What should never be missing in a bedroom?
Soft lighting, beautiful bedding, a calming scent – and no TV remote in sight.
56. How do you work with color?
Bold but balanced. I love harmony, but I also love surprise.
57. Any colors you avoid?
Stark white. Flat grays. I need warmth, depth, emotion in every tone.
58. How do you add personality to a space?
Through stories, textures, vintage touches, and thoughtful surprises.
59. Most exotic project you’ve done?
A beachfront house in the Maldives – everything had to be beautiful and sea-proof.
60. And your most personal project?
My own home. It’s where I recharge, reflect, and create.
61. Is interior design a job or a calling?
A calling. It’s how I breathe, how I see the world.
62. How do you manage stress?
Structure, calm music, and a swim in my organic pool.
63. Weirdest client request ever?
A home cinema – in emerald green, with a gold-leaf ceiling. Naturally, we did it.
64. And was it fabulous?
It was a showstopper. Pure glamour meets function.
65. How many projects do you take on each year?
Only a few – but deeply personal. I choose carefully. Quality over quantity.
66. Biggest design mistake people make?
Buying too fast. Good interiors take time. Let them evolve.
67. Your advice to young designers?
Travel. Listen. Feel. Don’t copy Pinterest. Find your own voice.
68. How important is Instagram to your brand?
It’s my window to the world. But real spaces matter more than reels.
69. Favourite online design resources?
Auction houses, boutique French brands, old movies, Pinterest – curated, not copied.
70. Your favourite cities?
London, Paris, Rome. Each one teaches you a different design language.
71. Why London?
That British elegance – butler service, dark wood, timeless taste. I love it.
72. Why Paris?
The ateliers, the fabrics, the creative spirit – it’s a designer’s paradise.
73. Why Rome?
History, stability, classical proportions. Rome feels eternal. I always wanted to live there.
74. Favourite scent?
Fresh tomato and cut grass. That’s why I created “Spring Picnic” – it’s fresh, chic, and a bit unexpected.
75. Your interior style in three words?
Curated. Elegant. Emotional.
76. How do you create atmosphere?
With scent, light, texture, and silence. Mood is everything.
77. What feels truly cozy?
Layered fabrics, warm light, a dog on the couch – and music playing softly.
78. Which room is most important?
The living room – it’s where life happens. It has to feel open, elegant, and warm.
79. What if a room feels flat?
I rearrange. I add flowers. I play music. Something always clicks.
80. Favourite home accessory?
A soft, oversized cashmere throw. Style and comfort in one.
81. What matters more – form or function?
Both. Function without beauty is boring. Beauty without function is pointless.
82. How do you define success?
Freedom. Creating beautiful things with trust and joy. That’s it.
83. What do your clients say about you?
“I’d never have dared – but it’s exactly what I needed.”
84. What is Bijan Maison to you?
My playground. My couture house for furniture. Where every dream becomes a piece.
85. And Bijan365?
A love project. It began by chance – now it’s a whole philosophy. Skincare meets design.
86. How do you develop products?
With experts. Dermatologists. Perfumers. Everything is tested, lived, experienced.
87. Your greatest strength?
I listen. I feel. And I translate that into spaces.
88. What makes your style unforgettable?
It has personality. It tells stories. And it’s designed to last – in memory and in time.
89. Next goal?
More products. A signature fragrance. A coffee table book. And always: inspiration.
90. Would you ever say no to a project?
If it has no soul, yes. I need to feel something – or I can’t create.
91. Favourite quote about design?
“Luxury is when it feels right.” If it doesn’t feel right, it’s not luxury.
92. What drives you?
Curiosity. Beauty. And a deep desire to leave something meaningful behind.
93. Your biggest weakness?
Choosing fabrics. I love too many. It’s a beautiful problem.
94. What’s “good design” to you?
It speaks without needing words. It moves you. Instantly.
95. Who inspires you?
Kelly Wearstler, Axel Vervoordt, Jean-Louis Deniot – all masters in mood and material.
96. How do you stay relevant?
By never repeating myself – and always staying true to my vision.
97. Favourite interior brand?
Hermès Home. It’s refined, quiet, and perfect in every stitch.
98. Favourite season?
Spring – everything wakes up. Colors, ideas, scent. It’s a designer’s New Year.
99. What do clients want most today?
Individuality. No one wants a catalogue house anymore – and I love that.
100. What’s your message to the world through design?
Live in a space that makes you happy. Forget trends. Design for you.