by Jasmin Jouhar, 06.02.2013
At the coat rack wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Shoes crisscrossed in a corner? And the light so dull that wire hangers and piles of shoes disappear into the semi-darkness? A horror vision for Carolin Sangha and Michael Reß from Schönbuch. The creative director and the managing director of the furniture manufacturer specializing in entrance and waiting areas have made it their mission to transform our checkrooms, hallways and entrances into pleasant, well-designed places. And to do so, they develop furniture and accessories that are practical yet beautiful to look at. We met the two in Cologne and talked to them about closets, hallways and bling bling.
Ms. Sangha, Mr. Reß, Schönbuch's guiding principle is Feel Welcome. What does an entrance have to be like so that visitors feel welcome?
Carolin Sangha: It has to express the personality of the resident. It shouldn't exactly be the junk room of the apartment. The entrance should show that the residents themselves feel comfortable there.
Michael Reß: The entrance is the calling card of the apartment or house. Many people, even the mailman or pizza delivery man, get an impression of me when I open the door. Other living areas are less exposed. With the entrance, I show how I live, what kind of person I am. The entryway is the interface between inside and outside. It depends on the design of the space, its interior architecture, but also its function. I might want to sit down, put my bag down, charge my cell phone, put my shoes away.
Sangha: The entrance must be able to do all this, but not look like a storage room. Unfortunately, this is the case in many places.
Reß: The same applies, of course, to the reception area in the commercial sector. For the individual office, the conference room as well as for the foyer. Where do I wait? Where do I sit down? Is there a magazine waiting for me? And besides, the functions can also change with the seasons.
Can you give an example of that?
Reß: In summer, I usually don't need an umbrella stand. So it's important how it looks without umbrellas. And when it's warm, I don't have a jacket with me. Nevertheless, the coat rack is there. We notice, especially in the office and commercial sector, that such details are often forgotten. The architects plan the lighting, the floor, the furniture - but what the coat rack situation will look like later is often forgotten. But that dominates the appearance later. In the entrance there is a beautifully designed office, and in the corner there is some random coat rack. And on it hang five different hangers, preferably the wire ones from the dry cleaners. You have to realize that such products are visible. And if they are bad, it affects the whole room. Good products integrate, but in the process set an accent. That's our theme. It's a niche topic, but a worthwhile one, we think. Many designers also find it very interesting to develop solutions for it. Now we have to convince architects and builders.
What does design have to do for Schönbuch products?
Sangha: Design should not be too complicated, but self-explanatory. A product should be beautifully designed and the function immediately understandable. That is very important to us. And the clear line, of course. Schönbuch products are not ornate.
Reß: Durability is also important. And the diversity. Our products differ from one another, in their functions or in their design statement, so that they can be integrated into different living environments. We would like to have a collection that is self-contained, but whose parts meet different requirements, which appeal to different customers, whether they are more conservative or a bit younger, more creative. The products should suit different lifestyles.
I have a very practical question: The entrance area is often a very small, dark passageway with little wall space and many doors. How can you arrange such areas in an appealing way?
Sangha: You can achieve something with relatively small means. Even if there are only a few walls, there is always a little space to hang a few hooks. A narrow sideboard or a small shelf usually fits as well. But the most important thing is the lighting situation: you can create a good atmosphere with light.
Reß: And order, of course. Clutter doesn't create more space, it creates less. Clarity is important, clearing things out of sight. That creates air and freedom. And with color accents, I make the room more interesting.
That means creating storage space is an important theme in your products?
Sangha: Exactly. And that even in a small area. Not just in sprawling wall designs, but in small furniture that helps keep things tidy.
You have emphasized that Schönbuch products should be durable. Do you nevertheless also look at trends?
Sangha: Trends do play a role, but not the classic furniture trends. We look at how people's attitude to life is changing. But first and foremost, fashion trends are important to us.
But fashion is even more fast-moving than interior design.
Sangha: That's true. Nevertheless, it shows trends and developments that we can take into account and implement. Especially as far as colors are concerned.
Reß: Color is a big topic for Schönbuch and is also in high demand. The smaller a product is, the more colorful and trendy it can be. The large built-in wardrobe is almost like the façade: It has to last a long time, and is usually more simple. But with products like the Line, wardrobe system, we follow the fashion colors. For example, we have currently included metallic colors. But only as an accent, so it's not bling bling. We look in that direction rather than other furniture brands, for example from Italy.
Sangha: Your own gut feeling counts a lot! We often react at relatively short notice, there are no long processes with us.
Ms. Sangha, Mr. Reß, thank you very much for the interview.
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