At Studio Schmaus the name is program: Here a dinner isn't simply served, but rather staged as an experience. From the furniture and accessories to the smallest details – every element fits into a thoughtful composition that uniquely combines taste, design, and atmosphere. This transforms every event into a work of art, where culinary delights and aesthetic design harmonise perfectly. Amelie Büchner from Bremen and Alan Bayer from Vorarlberg serve culinary experiences with a pinch of humour and a generous portion of creativity. Their recipe for success? A spicy blend of attention to detail, gastronomic expertise, and a dash of explosiveness. The two business partners have a clear mission: to bring taste and design to a single plate – always with a wink.
Guests here will not receive an ordinary dinner. Upon entering the studio you sense not only the attention to detail, but also a warmth that goes beyond design and style. Amelie, a lively, creative whirlwind, is brimming with enthusiasm. Alan, characterized by the casual manner of an Austrian Wirtshaus, counters this with charming composure and subtle humor. Together, they create a well-rounded blend of flavours that transforms every dinner into an unforgettable feast.
Anyone standing in front of Studio Schmaus wouldn't immediately guess what lies behind the gallery windows. There's nothing obvious that suggests an event-cooking agency—no classic restaurant flair, no open kitchen. But a glance through the large shop windows reveals a scene reminiscent of an artistic staging: A polka-dotted table, reminiscent of Normann Copenhagen's speckled design, sits enthroned in the center of the room—a blend of turned comfort and urban purism. Four vintage Rey chairs frame it invitingly.
The rest of the space remains minimalist—yet full of thoughtful details. Colorfully arranged tableware, Wire Cubes by Verner Panton, the black Nessino lamp next to sculptural ceramics – everything appears like the carefully curated composition of a still life. The atmosphere resembles that of a gallery until one's gaze falls on the modern sideboard: a design statement that reveals itself to be a fully-fledged kitchen unit with an integrated stove. Handmade ceramics and unusual lighting merge here to create an overall picture that underlines the creative character of Studio Schmaus.
A particular eye-catcher is the color orange – a consistent, bright accent, reflected in Amelie and Alan's murals, as well as in the USM Haller serving cart. Almost like a vibrant splash of color in a work of art, the orange permeates the space, imbuing it with warmth, energy, and optimism. The choice of this colour was a spontaneous decision – it reinforces precisely what the colour effect of orange and Studio Schmaus is all about: an atmosphere that is simultaneously stylish, vibrant, and inviting.
Our colleagues from smow spoke with Amelie and Alan about their studio and the importance of design – and, above all, we did one thing over and over again: laughed. A wonderfully engaging conversation, as lively as their events.
smow: Amelie you're from Bremen, from the coast. and you, Alan, are the mountain goat from Austria. It's an interesting mix. And you're both gastronomically self-taught?
(both laugh)
Amelie: I always say “Schummelier” because Alan doesn’t have any sommelier training either.
Alan: But I come from a hospitality family, everyone has owned a Wirtshaus at some point, and I also grew up in one.
smow: How did you come up with the idea of organizing culinary pop-ups?
Amelie: When I first came to Berlin I sold food in clubs, that's how it all started. And then when the lockdown came my girlfriend, a stylist, came with the first request for set catering for photo shoots. Those were the very first steps. After graduating, I went to Vienna, where I, or rather we, worked full-time together in a restaurant. That's where we met. And where we quit together, we went to Mexico for three months, and when we came back, we were able to share the space here and started Studio Schmaus.
smow: Did the trip to Mexico inspire you?
Alan: In Mexico, there was this one week when Amelie cooked a lot for both of us and actually for Instagram, and we took a lot of photos of it.
Amelie: Yes, I had a cooking Instagram like that before (Editor's note: "Amelie cooks"), but I can't take any photos.
Alan: And I have a bit of a photography background.
Amelie: He took the photos, and it was really fun. So the question came up whether he might want to join in... And then it took the whole trip until Alan was ready and said, Okay, let's try it together.
smow: That was the beginning of Studio Schmaus? And that's how your plan to organize events together in the catering industry came about?
Alan: Yes, that's how it was. Shortly before we went to Mexico we cooked here three evenings. For the gallery, for friends of the gallery, for the artist, and for our friends. Then we spent three months in Mexico, and we came up with the idea of asking the two people from the gallery, Leonie and Moritz, if they'd like to do it a bit more often. And so the idea was born.
smow: And how do you divide your tasks?
Amelie: We both have our creative areas and our commercial areas. I'd say I cook, and Alan does everything related to service. When it comes to the table, I definitely always have an opinion. But Alan creates all the photos, all the digital design stuff, the menus, flyers, and concepts. I used to handle all the customer contact for that. Now we have an agency manager for that.
Alan: I'm also the Hausmeister here, I patch holes and paint the house.
Alan: But in this culinary dynamic, we actually complement each other quite well.
smow: You don't really have to ask when you look around, the design affinity is already there...?
Alan: This is part of our job.
smow: This is also reflected in your Instagram account.
Amelie: You wouldn't guess it, but I'm not much of an aesthete; that's not really my strong suit – especially when it comes to cooking. It's important to me that it tastes good. But I've noticed that people also care a lot about how the food looks, and I practice that all the time. My flatmates were also more into interior design, and I've learned a lot from them over the years. We're lucky to have a lot of people around us who make a lot of great things. A lot of the things here in the studio are from friends of ours, like the ceramics. And that's fun.
smow: You also deliberately use accessories, such as ceramics, which also have Studio Schmaus on them or the label for which you organize events.
Alan: It's such a playful approach. There was once a pop-up here called "Blow Shop," an artist collective. They all exhibited their work. There was also an artist who made lamps. That's how we came up with our lamps. For us, design is more of a learning-by-doing process. If I had to devote myself to it intensively now, it would be more difficult. I always look for places where I can find refuge, like with our ceramics friends.
smow: It all sounds like you're putting a lot of puzzle pieces together.
Alan: I don't come from such an aesthetic household.
smow: More like from the Wirtshaus.
Alan: Yes, with deer antlers on the wall.
Amelie: We definitely have a lot of fun. For me, it's definitely my two friends who taught me that everything in the house doesn't just have to be functional, but can also look beautiful. That would never have occurred to me before. If everything you have looks beautiful, then the room will look beautiful too. But I had to learn that, too, and I'm still learning it.
Alan: For me, it's also a question of value. I generally don't buy a lot, but when I do, I want it to be good. That's the most fun when it's honest and well-made.
smow: We agree; it's practically a smow premise. What's the concept behind your interior design?
Amelie: So for us, the most important thing was that you can rearrange things quite a bit, so that it can always look different.
Alan: I think that because this used to be a gallery, we've simply continued this clean aesthetic for a long time.
Amelie: Our studio has nothing to do with a restaurant. Someone once typed that into Google: restaurant and dining, gastronomy.
Alan: For us, this is simply our creative space. Office, warehouse, play area. We wanted it to be clean because our customers like to create their own designs in this space. But now we're increasingly moving towards a new direction: learning by doing and bit by bit. We want to design the space with a little personal touch, and we're simply keen to do so. But overall, the space should remain adaptable.
smow: What role does interior design play in your events?
Amelie: To ensure the final look is truly stunning, it goes beyond the plates. Eating is a visual experience. And that's where the choice of table and chairs comes into play. We weren't really considering that at the beginning, but now we're really into it.
Alan: Nothing against the big furniture rental stores or party equipment stores in town. We always go there and get functional things, but when it comes to beautiful furniture, unfortunately, they're usually not that great. And then you have to start considering buying a collection of chairs yourself, and then you find a set at a flea market.
smow: Are there any pieces of furniture or accessories that particularly inspire you when it comes to an event?
Amelie: Yes, but that's sometimes really difficult because, for me, the most important thing is the table. It's always about the table, the shape, whether we need a tablecloth, what kind of table surface. Often, our customers spend a really long time thinking about the dimensions or the look. And then the question is, how should we design the table if we don't know what it looks like.
Alan: Everything always revolves around the table. Here in the studio, my favorite piece is the kitchen unit. A stove is hidden beneath the small raised area. This is where we always shoot our videos.
smow: What does an ideally furnished room look like for you to receive guests or hold such an event?
Alan: It's very different, but it just has to be coherent. It can't be too off-kilter, it can't be carelessly and cheaply made. It's just a feeling.
Amelie: Yes, such a space has to be well thought out. You can't host a dinner for 100 people in a 50-square-meter room. We often come across venues that are simply not designed to host these kinds of dinners, and that's problematic. The space and the event have to fit together in an elegant and functional way.
Alan: For example, I love it when I walk into rooms that feel historic, like a Wirsthaus. You can see that they've been around for a few years, but with dignity. I also love an armchair that's been sitting right there for 20 years and just looks great. Honest. With character.
smow: Can you describe Studio Schmaus's concept in terms of art and design?
Amelie: We work on a lot of projects involving art and design and play around with it. Recently, a designer friend of ours brought us her fruit bowl, which is actually a wire object. And that's such a connection
Alan: We also often work with florists who don't work in such a classic way, but rather in a sculptural style. They're also more like visual artists. And when the whole thing is arranged so beautifully, it definitely has an artistic aspect.
smow: What should visitors feel or experience when they enter the studio?
Amelie: So I think it can be a bit surprising and a bit quirky in terms of aesthetics.
Alan: But it should still be cozy and homey—that's my thing when it comes to a guesthouse. It's important to me that it's not a sparse, uncomfortable space. We also simply try to welcome guests in a way that feels warm on a human level.
smow: And how can we not just say, "We'd like a great meal, would you cook something for us, and then we'll just come over?" Does that have to be an event that we book with you, or how does it work?
Amelie: We see ourselves as a culinary studio. We work on an event-based basis, but not exclusively for companies; we also work with private individuals.
Alan: But we also do community things every now and then, where we say: There's a dinner here on Friday: big table, 20 people, you can buy a ticket.
smow: Your first sentence when you have an unexpected visitor?
Alan: Ohhhh.(laughs)
Amelie: I still have to clean up a bit. (laughs)
Alan: It's weird, my own apartment is kind of my sacred temple. Nobody's allowed to come in unannounced. If someone shows up unexpectedly, I get nervous.
smow: Do you have a favorite place?
Alan: My chair is right by the window, where a little bit of sun comes in in the morning. This is my morning coffee corner, my favorite spot at home.
Amelie: I don't have that at home, but I have to say, here it's definitely the table. I love the table more than anything. When we found the Rey Chairs, yes, I have to say, I love sitting here.
smow: You collect?
Alan: Kilometers.
Amelie: Ceramics.
smow: Tablecloth or blank?
Alan: Tablecloth.
Amelie: Tablecloth.
smow: Large table or many small ones?
Amelie: Large table
Alan: I like lots of small ones.
smow: Colourful or monochrome?
Alan: Monochrome.
Amelie: I would say colourful.
smow: Favourite travel destination?
Alan: Well, where there is a mountain and a sea. (laughs)
Amelie: Mexico.
Alan: Yes, Mexico.
smow: Favourite activity on a day off?
Amelie: I like to go for coffee.
Alan: I don't really like sitting in the sun for long periods of time at a café. But I also like to chill in my hammock by the lake.
smow: Thank you very much for this refreshing and delicious conversation!
