Postimees · Luxurious Estonia (Luksuslik Eesti) · 2025
The deeper meaning of luxury interior design: an investment in yourself
English translation of the original Estonian article. Original headline: Luksusliku sisekujunduse sügavam tähendus: investeering iseendasse
See the original design in the magazineLuxury interior design is much more than just expensive; it is an investment in your own wellbeing, meaning above all high quality and comfort. With the help of an interior designer, you can create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, while also reflecting the personality of the person who lives there.
We talk about interior design with three women working in the field, whose daily job is advising on how to create the most comfortable, special and beautiful space possible. Sharing their knowledge are Ines Haak, interior architect and founder of the interior architecture studio Ace of Space; Liina Treimann, founder and head of the family furnishing business Treimann Mööbel & Disain; and Sirli Lemnits, content creator at Hektor Light.
Ace of Space was founded almost a dozen years ago; its small professional team chooses its clients as carefully as clients choose their interior designer. "Our goal has never been to become a factory producing mediocre so-called fast fashion; from the very beginning we have wanted to do only exciting and challenging projects," says the company's founder Ines Haak. Demanding clients with luxurious taste often buy a complete concept.
Treimann Mööbel & Disain is a family business that brings together the knowledge and experience of different generations in both furniture production and sales. Its range includes products of the highest quality and modern design from the heart of Europe. They work with several interior designers and help every client who steps into the salon with good advice on interior design – whether it is a larger furnishing project or individual pieces of furniture.
Hektor Light has been dealing with lighting since 1994, offering distinctive lights in different styles and working with clients both through advice in the salon and on site. The range is large and constantly expanding, helping even the most demanding client find a product to their liking.
Luxury lies in the details, where timeless elegance lives.
Beautiful spaces are often created precisely by using high-quality materials and keeping minimalism in mind. According to Ines Haak, the aim is neither ostentatious splendour nor excessive decoration. A luxurious overall impression arises from the interplay of different details and their materials, where one supports the other and brings it out in the best way.
With smaller details, even a simpler interior can be made to look more luxurious. For example, quality textiles can be added to a room, such as cushion covers made of silk, the finest Egyptian cotton or linen. Many a room is transformed by an exclusive scent that creates a pleasant impression from the very first moment.
Luxurious minimalism can also be brought into an interior by adding a natural element. A carefully chosen vase holding an irregularly shaped stone or a branch invites you to explore and enjoy it visually. By adding a finely lined sofa or a beautifully designed chair, the whole room can offer a more luxurious feel.
In lighting, Hektor Light's clients show a noticeable interest in elegant and minimalist solutions. Recessed and linear track lights are especially valued, creating a clean and flowing space without the light source dominating. As a counterbalance to the minimalist direction, lights that are like works of art are also gaining popularity. These are visual elements that give a room a captivating focal point.
Are there no trends in creating a unique interior?
"Many clients with high standards want to hear more of the interior designers' ideas and follow trends less. They expect a strong concept, a complete picture," Ines Haak says from experience.
According to Liina Treimann, besides interior designers, their furniture salon is also visited by clients who already partly have a vision of their own but still expect advice on creating a beautiful interior. While timeless elegance mostly comes first in luxury solutions, trends in materials and products often still have to be taken into account depending on the client. Some clients also have a clear vision of getting exactly the latest, trendiest high-end product.
Ines Haak adds about new trends: "In fact, very little that is completely new comes along. New usually means a new interpretation of the old, and time has shown that neo-trends come from good old solutions." Every 5–10 years, some old products, materials or finishes come back in some form.
While marble and quality hardwood (oak, teak) have generally always been a sure choice of material in luxury interior design, their degree of gloss or finish does follow trends over the years. For example, years ago a matt finish became very trendy, and thanks to its practicality and the cosy feeling it creates, it is still among the popular choices. Small defects, fingerprints and other signs of use don't show on a matt surface, and with little reflection of light it gives the impression of a softer material.
At the same time, after the triumph of the matt finish, gloss may start showing itself again. "For some time now, trendsetters have also been showing interior images with furniture panels of wood veneer lacquered and polished many times over. Looking at such a result, those who remember Soviet times may of course still get shivers," Ines Haak smiles at how trends can be linked to very different emotions for different people.
Often keeping up with trends actually means using the latest technical solutions and newest materials in interior design. Liina Treimann also points to the so-called return of rounded forms: "Even in wooden furniture design, more and more rounded forms can be seen. The designers' handling of materials is surprising – it's amazing what forms they manage to conjure out of wood!" Microcement products can be added to this as well.
According to Liina Treimann, trends in upholstered furniture are moving towards modular sofas. It's a convenient and practical solution for combining a sofa set that suits the room exactly. "By the way, a smart solution is to place table modules between the upholstered elements: it makes the set even airier and more open," adds the representative of Treimann Mööbel & Disain.
Technological development is bringing many changes to the world of lighting.
Regarding lighting trends, Sirli Lemnits, marketing project manager and content creator at Hektor Light, explains that over the past five to ten years the role of interior lighting has completely changed. "A light is no longer just a functional object, but an organic part of interior design. Contemporary architecture requires lighting solutions that also give a space its own personality," explains Lemnits.
Decorative yet technological lights that help personalise a space are also gaining popularity. Light that allows the colour temperature and intensity to be adjusted is important, for example, adapting to the rhythm of the day and creating an energising atmosphere in the morning or a cosy one in the evening. The focus is on Human Centric Lighting, which mimics the natural daylight cycle and thereby supports human wellbeing.
Technological solutions are integrated into interiors unobtrusively, while also offering ease of use. Acoustic lights have come to the fore, which, in addition to providing light, dampen echo and improve the acoustic environment. According to Hektor Light, cordless rechargeable lamps are also winning more and more fans, offering the freedom to place a light wherever your heart desires.
Discerning clients have always valued the same things – naturalness, timelessness and quality.
In upholstered furniture, textured and sheepskin-like fabrics are still in the picture. "At the same time, natural leather and faux leather that is very similar in quality and properties to real leather are increasingly gaining ground alongside them," adds Treimann.
Clients who highly value their everyday comfort and wellbeing demand natural materials and quality products, because they see it as an investment in themselves. Yet luxury interior design is much more than aesthetics and precious materials. It is the art of creating a space that tells a story, reflects personality and offers experiences. In short, the secret of a luxurious interior is rather hidden in the details and sometimes in smart solutions that above all serve the resident's comfortable lifestyle. Most importantly, all the elements must form a harmonious whole.