Our student accommodation Aurora is getting a fantastic new lounge area. The LtG Crew had a talk with Zandra, founder and co-owner of Esteriör, the interior design agency helping us out. We discussed work, what makes a room and much more.
Running a business together is really nothing new to Zandra and Henrik of Esteriör, this year they celebrate eight years as co-workers. Their journey began in a vintage furniture shop at Mariatorget in Stockholm, where they did everything from buying furniture abroad to the economy. During their time in the shop, they had a few interior decoration projects on the side, helping people to decorate their homes.
– We felt Sweden’s interior design scene had stagnated – every single room got the same white, black and grey theme and all walls had the same graphic prints. We didn’t like it – neither the esthetics nor the way of working, and that’s when the idea of a business of our own started to grow.
Henrik and Zandra both have gotten where they are today without a degree in design – they’ve got plenty experience and a genuine interest. To them, making just cool or photogenic spaces has never been the point. They want their creations to feel like home – places where one feels safe and welcome.
– We don’t work according to a standardized process of any kind, mostly because we want to see to each unique space – what’s there? How’s it going to be used? Who’s going to use it? What materials will look nice? What feeling are we going for? Our esthetics are warm, personal and welcoming. We mix high and low and new design with loads of plants and old items and furniture. You know, a lot of great design has already been made and needs to be used.
Besides the decoration part of their business, Henrik and Zandra also run a shop where one can buy nice things and see what the Esteriör crew means by creating welcoming spaces.
– I think we’re really affected by the spaces we’re in, how we feel and how well we perform and all that. Everyone feels nice around plants, colors and warm lights. Just think about how different you feel out in nature versus in an empty room with fluorescent lights. Creating nice atmospheres is an underrated thing today, and we can help change that.
Wow, yes, and thanks for inspiration says the LTG crew! Don’t Henrik and Zandra seem like great people? And what a nice job to have! In the future, there will be a post with Zandra’s best tips for young people thinking about starting a business of their own. Until then, feel free to read the one about the Aurora lounge and visit Esteriör’s website(it's in Swedish, sorry)!
Bye for now!