The experience can save the retail

Not at home in a tight interior

After a time where materials for interiors became smoother and tighter, now there is a tendency towards products showing imperfection. A tight interior has its qualities, but is not always something people feel most comfortable in. My mission as interior designer is to make people feel at home, also outside of their homes. The store's carpet and the hospitality floors of LEOXX are a contribution to that.

The handmade feeling of home for hospitality floors

Materials looking like they have a pleasant touch and are handmade or adapted do something with your feeling. I like working with them. I create a contrast forming a vivid whole. For example in the interior of a monastery transformed to a restaurant and in which hospitality carpet was used. The modern shaped lampshades were designed with authentic materials: felted wool woven by hand. The knitted feels familiar and give a beautiful shattered light. Nowadays the demand is that big, they can be bought on my webshop.

Sense-tickling floors

The retail suffers from the success of webshops. Yet the perception is lacking with online shopping. This is a big chance for physical stores. You have to call upon as much sensations of the senses as possible there. For a chocolate store where they produce their own chocolate, I chose for a warm interior with artisanal materials. With a wall painting it looks like the chocolate is dripping from the walls. You are guaranteed to start craving for chocolate. An inviting display is also important. For a butchery I am designing one with atmospheric materials like casted iron, scrap wood and vintage leather. Very warm and humane. This makes people feel welcome. You usually enter somewhere based on your feelings after all.

Clients at ease, mission accomplished

I notice with my clients how important perception is. With a digital presentation I can exactly demonstrate a spatial design. But in order to let the client experience the atmosphere I always use moodboards with materials to touch. I often get feedback about people feeling very much at ease in the spaces I design. That is the biggest compliment. In that case my mission is accomplished.  

Linda Hunter is interior designer at her own design agency Karakter and her webshop puurmetkarakter.nl.