Raoul Sanchez is an interior designer and proprietor of Studio Visite Privée in the viaduct arches 1 & 2 in Zurich. For him, living is a form of self-determination. Furnishing reflects a person’s needs and desires and says a lot about their personality. We asked Raoul what tips he has for furnishing, from planning and financing to the design with shapes and materials.
“Furnishing is a process that takes time. Don’t make decisions too quickly, but little by little. Make sure you also take your needs and wishes into account as you do so.” Raoul gives us an exclusive insight into the world of interior design and shows us which questions are important, what the no-goes are and which mistakes can be avoided.
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Financing tips
Which furniture is most important?
Pieces of furniture that bring an atmosphere to the room. For example, the choice of sofa should not be underrated. Not only the material and design, but also a sofa’s durability and comfort should be matched to your personal needs when making this decision. The dining table is also a centrepiece of a home. We gather and eat together at the table. It’s worth spending more on this even if it means saving a little longer to do so.
Quality furniture can also pay off in the bedroom. These days, sleeping well is considered a luxury. A high-quality bed with a good mattress is something that initially feels far too expensive. But this is put into perspective when you consider how many hours you sleep on it.
You can save on other items. Raoul draws a comparison here with fashion, where designer brands are often mixed with cheap brands – but still result in a great look. The same also applies to furnishings. A high-quality, solid wooden table can also look stylish with cheap accessories. Raoul recommends emotional, eye-catching and colourful elements here.
How can you identify quality pieces of furniture?
A quality piece of furniture is characterised by a good and timeless design. It is made of durable materials. The value of such a piece of furniture lasts for years, as can be seen, for example, in design classics from the 1960s and 1970s, which are still popular today.
Quality can also be attached to the material. You can feel good material. If you can sense the feel of a beautiful woollen fabric, you know the difference. Raoul recommends never only viewing furniture online. You have to discover and feel a piece of furniture, sit on it and feel the emotions. This way you can quickly recognise the value of furniture items.
What should you do if you’re on a tight budget?
Take your time! You don’t need to furnish everything straight away. The best thing is to proceed slowly and furnish your home gradually. This way you’ll also make fewer mistakes. Because you’ll notice over time what you want and what you don’t want.
Raoul recommends that people with a tight budget focus on individual rooms. Ideally, you should start with the parts of your home where you spend the most time. For example, in the living area. And then you can proceed step by step or room by room. A home develops, and new things are constantly being added to the wish list. The important thing is to set the right priorities.
At what point in the home ownership process should you think about the furnishings?
The earlier, the better. Furnishings are often considered at too late a stage in the process. The focus in Switzerland is usually on buying the property and this is also how the budget is planned. But when the keys are handed over, the house is empty and the process of furnishing is only just beginning. People in other countries are further ahead here and entire houses including the furnishings are frequently sold or sales documents already have suggestions for interior design. Raoul is therefore increasingly collaborating with real estate companies to establish this in Switzerland and include furnishings in the planning right from the start.
Interior designer Raoul Sanchez recommends playing with opposites and mixing shapes and materials.
“As a designer, in addition to furnishing, my work has both a human and a psychological component. I have to feel what my customers really want and wish to inspire them anew each day.”
The most important rule when furnishing is to take your time. Furnishing is a process that evolves.
“At Visite Privée we are open to different projects, from small apartments and holiday homes to large-scale projects such as the furnishing of hotels. We derive pleasure from bringing more self-determination to our customers’ four walls.”
It is important for Raoul that furnishings should in future be planned right from the outset of real estate projects. He wishes to drive this forward in Switzerland so that the new key does not lead to empty, reverberating walls, but to a furnished home where the owner feels comfortable.
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Interior Tipps
Tip 1: Take your time!
Take your time when furnishing your home as otherwise you might make some rash decisions that you regret later, especially if you’re not yet living in your new house or apartment. People often want to have everything bought and installed by the date of the move. Raoul advises against this. You need to get a feel for new rooms and gain a sense of the proportions. How does the light shine in during the day? Where does the sun go down? These factors ought to be taken into account. Thoughts about what should stand evolve over time.
Tip 2: Decide according to needs
Ask yourself what you need from a room or a piece of furniture. And what gives you pleasure. Above all, your gut instinct serves to reveal what suits you and what doesn’t. And set priorities. It doesn’t all have to happen at once. Don’t forget that the impact of a room is determined not only by its furniture, but also by its atmosphere. Which lighting should I choose, which artworks or pictures should I hang on the wall?
Tip 3: Inspiration
You can gain inspiration from anywhere! Both a museum and your own garden can inspire you. It’s important that you feel what is good for you and what gives you energy. “It goes without saying that I can also inspire as an interior designer as I’m basically at the source. But it doesn’t end here. There’s inspiration everywhere, you just have to look.” (Raoul Sanchez)
Tip 4: Round shapes
Have the courage to integrate round shapes into your furnishings. This may be a round table or a round stool. Roundness is good, especially as we’ve had things very strictly linear and rather cool for many years. Round shapes convey warmth and emotions and complement the many existing straight shapes.
Tip 5: Think big
Try to buy large elements. This means vases, books or pictures in large dimensions. This is particularly recommended for small rooms. The reason for this is that large pieces of furniture – even if you might think the exact opposite – make a small room cosy and harmonious. This effect is particularly strong when dark walls or surfaces are added. Avoid lots of little things. These can quickly appear disorderly.
Tip 6: Colours and material
Raoul recommends natural materials. These are timeless. A beautiful stone or marble or a high-quality woollen fabric lend character to the room. Pay attention to the mix between cold and warm materials. Many people design their homes by focusing on just one style. They forget how important the mix is and that only a well-chosen blend can give rise to emotions. And emotions are needed as a house is there for living.
Tip 7: Modularity & functionality
Focus on flexibility. Choose modular furniture in order to be able to respond to different needs. Instead of classic L-shaped sofas, modular sofas can be rearranged according to requirements – be it for private relaxation or as an inviting reception for guests. These days a room can fulfil different functions. It can serve as a place of work, a place of relaxation and sometimes also as a bedroom. When buying, pay attention to functional elements that live with you and meet your requirements.
A safe purchase is…
Not a trend! A safe purchase is if you’re not actively looking for a piece of furniture, but come across it by chance and have a good gut instinct. This may be a vase or a beautiful picture, but also something bigger such as a table or a sofa.
At the same time, timeless furniture items can also be described as a secure purchase. These are classics with a strong design, preferably in a neutral colour, and will still fit in with the rest of the furnishings in 20 years’ time. Such pieces of furniture can stay with you for a lifetime. And here it is not the price or a sale sticker that decides, but the design and quality.
“A good purchase is one that does not take place intentionally, but arises through chance. And one that is guided by the right emotion, a good gut feeling.” (Interior designer Raoul Sanchez)
What to do if you cannot agree as a couple?
“Consult an interior designer,” recommends Raoul. “We are able to visualise what the finished room will look like and can therefore offer a sound solution. The important thing is for our customers to trust us.”
Mistakes when furnishing
Incorrect proportions! You need to have an eye for proportions. This also includes the incorrect positioning of furniture. The sense of space is often not perceptible, especially when you only have a plan. It is important to think about how the walls are built, how a room closes or a window opens. All these things should play a role in furnishing. In general, however, Raoul encourages people to allow mistakes to happen: “Mistakes enable you to see what’s really needed. And to make the right decision next time.”
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Sustainable furnishing
Sustainability has existed in the interior design sector for some years. Vintage is timeless. Raoul is integrating more and more vintage elements into his collection. He focuses on the dialogue between new design and vintage. It is precisely this mixture that creates a special and very exclusive atmosphere. Raoul also pays attention to working with suppliers that use sustainable materials. Not only for the furniture itself, but also for its packaging during transport.
Self-determination
The importance of furnishings for self-determination
Furnishings reveal a lot about a person’s personality. For Raoul, furnishings are a mirror image, reflecting not only a person’s individual style, but also their needs, dreams and quest for self-determination.
How can you bring more self-determination into your home?
Incorporating more self-determination into your own four walls doesn’t require any major changes. All you need to do is select a small area and design it. This can be a small room. Or a zone or corner within a room. Ask yourself which room gives you back the most, or where you most like to be. You should invest there and create your own personal zone while paying attention to comfort. The amount of energy such a place can give a home is frequently underrated.
Interior design is more emotional than you think
Furnishing is not about buying a particular piece of furniture but about arousing and conveying emotions. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your own four walls and enjoy being there. Furnishing is an emotional process that matures and never ends. Either you’re done with all the rooms at some point and start all over again. Or – the much more realistic variant – your own emotions and needs change and call for new pieces of furniture or spaces. An interior accompanies us throughout our lives and develops with us.
About Raoul Sanchez
Raoul Sanchez is an interior designer and advises clients both in Switzerland and internationally with his Studio Visite Privée. And yet he never feels as though he’s working. He sees his job as an opportunity to do something he likes: supporting people with their furnishing. Raoul is not concerned here with selling a particular piece of furniture, but with emotions. Designing a house or an apartment is a process. And this is something that needs time. Raoul supports people with his know-how and experience. And with a great deal of passion.
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About Studio Visite Privée
Founded in 2020 by Raoul Sanchez, Interior Design Studio Visite Privée offers pure inspiration with a unique mix of exclusive furnishings. All pieces of furniture and accessories are hand-picked and consist of items from current brand-name collections, classics and exclusive individual pieces. The studio is located in the viaduct arches 1 & 2 in Zurich and is open daily from Tuesday to Saturday: Visite Privée by Raoul Sanchez
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