Yannick loves one thing above all else (apart from books): interior design. In his home, he loves to combine design classics in a blend of old and new. Before Yannick buys a piece of furniture, he researches its design history at length.
On his Instagram account, aaroninteriors, Yannick takes us into his world. We can almost smell the aroma of espresso and hear the music from the vinyl records. In any case, we can sense his affinity for design classics, his love for the Bauhaus and mid-century style, and his admiration for Jean Prouvé.
Yannick used to live in Berlin, but has since opted for a quieter life with his partner in Baden-Baden. However, his job as a teacher can get rather hectic from time to time. All the better, then, that his home provides a harmonious haven of peace.
Anyone who has ever visited Yannick’s home would love to stay there forever. Well-known design classics dominate the décor, yet without turning it into a museum. Thanks to Yannick’s talent for interior design and his skilful combination of furniture from different eras, a perfect harmony is created that invites you to linger in every corner of the flat.
Alongside iconic pieces such as the Eames Lounge Chair and Le Corbusier’s chaise longue, USM Haller shelving also plays a key role in Yannick’s interior. For functional storage that still complements the décor aesthetically, USM’s modular tubular steel design was the ideal choice. We had the pleasure of accompanying Yannick as he redesigned his two pieces of USM furniture.
Yannick’s flat is a showcase for design classics such as the Eames Lounge Chair, Nelson Bench, Wishbone and Wassily Chair, alongside Louis Poulsen lighting. It’s an absolute dream for any fan of classic design. We spoke to Yannick about his interior style and his favourite designs.
smow: Yannick, please introduce yourself briefly!
Yannick: I’m Yannick and I’ve been curating the Instagram account “aaroninteriors” since 2022, where I invite my now 70,000 followers into my home. For me, my home is a bit like my own little stage, where I can shape my own taste and further develop my aesthetic. My main job is actually as a secondary school teacher of music and German; interior design is just a hobby so far. But who knows where the journey will take me…
smow: What’s your biggest quirk?
Yannick: Strangely enough, my books – whether on a bookshelf or a sideboard – always have to be placed exactly parallel and at a perfect angle. As soon as a book slips even a millimetre, it drives me absolutely mad and I have to readjust it.
Yannick: I actually prefer design classics in my home, as for me a piece of furniture is more than just a decorative or functional object. On top of that, I’m absolutely fascinated by history, so the history behind a piece of furniture also plays a major role for me. Before I buy a piece of furniture, I spend a long time researching the designer, the period in which it was created, how it was received, the design, and so on. I particularly like Bauhaus designs and mid-century furniture – you simply can’t go wrong with them, and they’re easy to combine.
smow: Can you briefly describe your interior design style, perhaps using three adjectives?
Yannick: Classic. Progressive. Warm.
smow: What was your first piece of designer furniture? And how did you develop a taste for design?
Yannick: My first piece of designer furniture was the opal glass lamp by Wilhelm Wagenfeld. My grandmother had received it as a free gift with a newspaper subscription back then, and I’d always admired it as a child and wanted to have it in my own home too. I’ve always been fascinated by beautiful and timeless things, but it was only really through my current flat that I immersed myself in this world; its abundance of space encouraged me to turn interior design into a passion.
smow: What’s important to you when it comes to your interior design?
Yannick: Anyone who’s been following me for a while knows that I’ve been constantly evolving over the last year and a half and that my aesthetic is becoming increasingly defined. I’m placing greater and greater emphasis on combining new furniture with vintage pieces to bring out their true beauty. I enjoy playing with different eras, materials and influences from other countries to create a personal home.
smow: Who is your favourite designer? And do you have a particular favourite manufacturer?
Yannick: That’s a difficult question to answer, but I really love French designers like Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé. Prouvé is produced by Vitra today and Perriand by Cassina, so those two.
smow: What do you think makes for good design?
Yannick: Timelessness, functionality and comfort. And, of course, you should be in love with the piece of furniture yourself and take pleasure in it every day.
smow: We can see a few USM shelves in your home. What do you like about them?
Yannick: I love timeless design, and I really needed storage space for my study. Whilst doing my research, I came across USM, which has been producing modular furniture since 1960. And as I have an antique wooden cabinet in my study, I definitely needed something modern and stylish to provide a contrast. So I used the configurator to create a sideboard to suit my needs at the time, which I’ve now been able to simply expand three years later. For me, it’s the perfect piece of furniture for rooms that require (ever-increasing) storage space.
smow: We were also able to accompany you during the conversion of your USM furniture. Together with smow Stuttgart, you planned your ‘new’ USM furniture down to the finishing touches. And the conversion was also carried out by the installation professionals at smow. We’re absolutely thrilled with the result. The existing shelves have been transformed into completely new pieces of furniture that offer storage space without losing any of their airy lightness. They fit perfectly into your interior and complete your décor.
smow: If you could choose three more items from our shop, which ones would they be?
Yannick: The Akari UF4-33N, the Soft Modular Sofa by Vitra and the Guéridon table by Jean Prouvé.
Your first words when you have unexpected visitors? – What can I offer you to drink?
Your favourite spot? – On the sofa, looking out into my living room.
A bad buy? – Actually, the Wassily Chair. It’s so beautiful, but not quite as comfortable for my needs as my height requires. I hope it’s okay to call the Wassily Chair a bad buy, even though I bought it from you. But that’s the honest answer.
Your guilty pleasure when it comes to home decor? – Seating – there’s just so much lovely stuff out there...
Rug or no rug? – Definitely!
Your favourite pastime at home? – Leafing through coffee-table books and rearranging furniture
White or coloured walls? – You can’t go wrong with white, but maybe one day I’ll pluck up the courage to work with a bit of colour...
You collect...? – Books
Thank you very much, Yannick!
