Chimera by Interior Design Philosophy nominated for 2013-14 ADEX Awards.

Chimera

Interior Design Philosophy

“I am a liar who always tells the truth” writes Jean Cocteau. This quotation could have been the preamble of the realization of this villa which has required more than two years’ work. Everything in this bucolic Genevan country house was devised to defy appearances…The genesis of this project was inspired by other reading, a book particularly loved by his clients: L’élégance du hérisson (The Elegance of the Hedgehog) by Muriel Barbery. In this novel, the hidden secrets are unveiled to those who are patient… The same is true in the latest work of the Swiss interior designer: poetry and modernity play hide-and seek to better surprise us.Indeed, if you pay attention, you can find golden dragon flies fluttering in a wall light, and bookshelves that appear to fly. Beneath the mercury dye of an (18th century) antique mirror, you can make out modern technology. And when night falls, some walls glow to reveal their amber onyx veins.It is a constant game of contrasts in which luxurious materials and textures play off each other harmoniously and sensually, such is the signature of this house. The Iranian travertine dialogues with the solid oak parquet, bronzes contrast with the palette of golden shades… A subtle play of colours also melts into the decor: warm, welcoming shades spread through the living quarters and react to the more nocturnal ones of the private levels, to tinge dreams blue. The chimeras had to be present; what could better illustrate this project? These mythological creatures, mistresses of illusions, are placed in the different quarters of this contemporary space: a Garuda welcomes you in the kitchen, Nepalese lions fiercely survey the dining-room and even the library hosts a wooden beast of Burma…The choice of works of art, as everything involved in this project, has not been left to chance: the paintings and other works were commissioned to Spanish artist Silvana Solivella. She works on the theme of the memory and the marks it leaves on our subconscious… So many reflections of by-gone worlds or the emotion of their recollection are not far away…Special care was taken in selecting the antiques: old Chinese polylobed mirrors (from the Song period) resemble pebbles, a Japanese Suiseki placed on the book by Muriel Barbery, in recognition of her character, Kakuro Ozu, the Japanese culture buff.This dialogue between things and their appearance, this excessive taste for mise en abîme is a permanent feature of Jorge CAÑETE and of this project, so rightly called “chimeras”. About J o r g e C A Ñ E T E It was no accident that Jorge Cañete, a Genevan with Catalan and Andalousian origins, chose to dedicate his life to design and to the architecture of the interior. After a career in luxury products (with Ungaro, Bvlgari, Mugler et Azzaro) which honed his sense of beautiful objects and an MBA in Lausanne, he took the decision to give a three dimensional form to his creativity by working in interior design. He gained his diploma in Interior Design from the London Metropolitan University. Thereafter, a number of projects in the offices of architects in Rome and in Geneva served as springboards giving him the impetus to found his own design studio, I N T E R I O R D E S I G N P H I L O S O P H Y, some years ago. Success was not long in coming: prestigious firms and an important private clientele asked him to decorate their universe according to his characteristic philosophy : to give material expression to an emotion that comes from the interior.Jorge Cañete has been characterized by a style that inspires wonder and offers a poetic vision of the world. His signature, between memory and modernity, gives birth to a mysterious and sensual alchemy, where sophisticated and raw materials speak together in a wondrous way.His creations have been published in many magazines, and also in the prestigious book Andrew Martin’s “International Interior Design Review” for the fifth consecutive year : 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and 2013. This book presents each year a selection of designers deemed to be currently the most significant: within the profession, it is considered to be the “bible” of interior design worldwide.The International Interior Design Association announced early this year the winners of the 2nd annual Global Excellence Awards, an international Interior Design competition honoring the best in Interior Design projects from around the world. The award ceremony was celebrated in Paris during the “Maison & Objet “ fair.

Interior Design Philosophy

A Swiss of Spanish origin, Jorge CAÑETE did not choose to devote his life to interior design by chance. Following a career in luxury products which sharpened his sense of items of beauty (Ungaro, Bvlgari, Mugler) and an MBA, he decided to express his creativity in 3D through interior design. A diploma in “Interior Design” by the London Metropolitan University and several architectural projects at architecture studios in Rome and Geneva served as his launch pad allowing him to set up his own studio: INTERIOR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY. His work has been published in numerous international magazines and in the prestigious book “International Interior Design Review” by ANDREW MARTIN, in 5 consecutive years : 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Each year, this work brings together a selection of the leading designers and it is considered by the profession as being the international “bible” of interior architecture. He also won the “Global Excellence Award” for the best international project in the “residence” category granted by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). This prize was presented in Paris in 2012 during the Maison & Objet fair. His style proposes a poetic vision of the world where the different elements and material between modernity and memory speak with harmony and sensuality. Jorge CAÑETE speaks fluently in French, English, Italian and Spanish allowing to deal with an international clientele. He is member of the Society of British Interior Design (SBID) and member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).Jorge CAÑETE likes the word serendipity that means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful while not specifically searching for it. Prestigious brands and his own private clientele commissioned him to decorate their universe with his characteristic philosophy: to materialize an emotion that comes from within via a poetical vision of the world. His ultra-personalized approach suggests creating projects that are inspired by the environment, by the place itself, as well as the client’s personality. In doing so, the resultant of the equation of these three sources of inspiration is unique and coherent every time.

http://www.jorgecanete.com

All Projects

Chimera

Interior Design Philosophy

Interior Design Philosophy