D E S I G N S H OWC AS E . . .
HIGH-END HOMES
SHOWCASING THE FINEST SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN AND STYLE INTERVIEW WITH ANN SAND
When you opened the High-End Homes showroom in Puerto Banús, what
So, when I opened High-End Homes, and had the final say myself, I picked
was the idea behind the concept?
the best of the best, including my own absolute favourite brands, based on
I have worked with leading design brands in Scandinavia my whole life. When
everything I knew about the quality, aesthetics and unique personality of
I moved to Marbella, it was only natural for me to want to take that work to
each brand.
the next level.
When I approached these brands, the concept was very well received. We
Scandinavian design is popular around the world, but many of the brands
now represent more than 40 brands, and have exclusive rights for some of my
are less well-known than they deserve to be. I wanted to create a space where I could showcase what I think are some of the top brands, and show people what Scandinavian design is at its absolute best. Ultimately, I wanted High-End Homes’ showroom to become a place where I could share my love and enthusiasm for Scandinavian design with others – a place for people to admire and become inspired by all the beautifully designed pieces I love so much, and to experience it for themselves. And so I created a place where people can drop in just to look, or to buy anything from a coffee table book to a one-of-a-kind piece of art. But it’s also an inspiring place to visit for real estate developers, investors or our private consulting clients who want help decorating their homes, where they get an opportunity to immerse themselves in the style, and “try it on”, so to
134
favourites such as Pent Fitness, Vipp, Muuto, etc. In addition to Nordic roots, I am also influenced by the time I spent living in Bali, and so I have added a few tropical brands and accessories to the mix – especially for outdoor areas. I love how that adds some heat to the often cool, Nordic style. You offer various options to your clients when they come for a consultation. Tell us more. We work with private clients, interior designers, brokers and developers, and they come to us with very different needs and expectations. However, we see that the key point of differentiation is not the size of the
speak.
project or even the client’s own experience, but the level of involvement they
You work with some interesting and prestigious brands. How do you choose
Some people want a creative sparring partner who can offer advice, help
your brands?
pick out key pieces to set the tone, and assist with the practicalities. Others
I used to be general manager at Illums Bolighus in Oslo, a respected high-end
want us to take the reins completely, and let us handle every aspect of
lifestyle brand store in Norway. In that job, I got to know the top Scandinavian
the decorating, from lighting and furniture down to picking out linens and
design brands very well; the competitive market, the storytelling behind, the
tableware. And some ask us to come up with a complete interior design
manufacturing, the key selling points… I got to know each brand in depth.
concept for multiple units.
JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2022
are looking for.
