Sybille de Margerie, head of her own interior design firm, achieved with panache a plethora of projects around the world. Currently, the studio has 30 employees in her Paris, Florence, and Dubai offices, working on various projects. Her understanding of the contemporary hospitality industry and her eye for detail have been recognized by everyone from luxury hotels and large brands to private investors. Over the years, Sybille de Margerie consolidated herself as modern, creative, and efficient. Best Interior Designers had the opportunity to talk to Sybille de Margerie to get to know a bit more about her career and future in the interior design industry.
Career
How did you get involved in the interior design Industry?
For a long time, my family owned some of the most luxurious hotels in Paris. I, therefore, had the privilege of growing up in the particular atmosphere of a place that attaches the utmost importance to traditions, the finest service, and savoir-faire.
When I chose to become an interior designer, I recalled the sense of wonder I had felt so early in life and set out to recreate it.
How would you describe your work style? Do you have any kind of signatures that help to identify your projects?
My signature is not to have a recognizable signature, but to create a unique project that has its own identity.
Some interior designers impose their identity on a place, and in doing so reduce the identity of their client to invisibility. My approach is more open. I’m above all interested in revealing the soul and uniqueness of a place.
If I had to define a Sybille de Margerie’s style, I would say I am an architect of a particular art de vivre that blends tradition and creativity in a characteristically French luxury spirit.
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What is your philosophy on design and life?
My studio philosophy is driven by these keywords: Being creative with simplicity – Modernizing the traditional – Making technology attractive, and colors elegant – Designing for harmony and comfort.
In my own private life, I enjoy traveling which offers proper moments for inspiration and is culturally enlightening.
Inspiration
Which major international events do you attend/follow to get the latest novelties?
Milan Salone del Mobile is one of the major events where we meet most of our partners. Paris Design Week is of course always followed by my teams.
How would you describe your personal decorating style?
Femininity is important to me, as is a brand of elegance underpinned by refinement.
The creation of furniture and lighting collections, combining modernity and tradition, luxury and elegance, is part of the creative direction of my studio.
We always design bespoke and unique pieces for our projects, hotels, or private residences.
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All artists need some inspiration to work, and interior designers are artists too. So, what or who really inspires you?
My approach is to create a “sense of place”, gathering all elements which are part of a city or country heritage. History, architecture, art de vivre, colours, know-how, arts.
Those emotional and intangible elements will constitute a unique language for a custom-made project.
If you had to pick one project around the world that you wish was made by you, which one would it be?
I’d love to design a yacht interior, an interior that could be traveling around the world.
Projects
How important is a perfect chemistry between you and your clients to achieve the best results?
To anticipate the desires of the client and understand the personalities involved in an interior design project is fundamental. Our clients require creative responses and they have the utmost confidence in our abilities to make our ideas realized to the very last detail and keep the overall coherence. Confidence and loyalty are key for successful execution.
Our experience and efficiency have been gained in great hotels and public facilities.
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Do you think working with teams in interior design is better or worse than working alone? Why?
From the start date of my studio, I always found great richness in being accompanied by collaborators. They come from different backgrounds and cultures, which is a source of creativity. Working as a team is stimulating and challenging.
I enjoy as well to confront my own method to fellow partners. I am currently working together with 3 others internationally renowned designers on a luxury cruise ship project. We learn a lot by confronting our approaches and styles.
Future
Is there anything exciting that you are working on at the moment that you can tell us about?
I work on several luxury hotels developments, which remain the most exciting part of my work. Each project is unique thus challenging. Quite different though very stimulating is creating the interiors for a US private ranch. Bringing elegance and sophistication in a remote and wild environment is the key for this project’s success.
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What has been your greatest accomplishment as a designer? What goals do you have for the future?
Royal Atlantis Residences in Dubai is probably the most amazing project we have been working on. We have designed the interior of 230 apartments and penthouses. It’s challenging and rewarding to work on such a large-scale project and I am thrilled to see it delivered next year.
Do you have a favorite project or a favorite story about one of your projects?
Mandarin Oriental Paris and Cheval Blanc Courchevel are my two favorite projects. Both hotels were creations into which I put a lot of innovative contemporary vision for luxury interior design. I wanted to inject character and charisma. They are accomplishments which I am very proud of, and both projects were received immediately after opening the french highest luxury distinction “palace”.
What did you think about this interview with Sybille de Margerie?
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