For this striking duplex apartment in Kilchberg, overlooking Lake Zurich, the client’s vision was clear: create a timeless, family-friendly home that feels warm and inviting while allowing standout design pieces to shine. With Zurich’s colder climate, the design needed to balance sophistication with cosiness, using warm tones that echo the beauty of the surrounding landscape. With two children, the space also had to be highly practical, easy to maintain, and full of personality.
Challenges
The project came with a strict deadline for completion in February, meaning logistics had to be tightly managed. With Switzerland’s complex customs and import processes, the team needed to ensure every item specified and approved could be delivered and installed seamlessly. To meet the timings, some existing interior elements were retained and reimagined within the new design.
Outcome
The result is a calm, contemporary family home that balances elegance with function. Defined by threads of retro revival, bold design statements, and subtle warmth, the apartment feels both luxurious and deeply personal – a place where style and family life coexist harmoniously.
K’Arte Design Director Katerina Tchevytchalova comments, “Designing this home was about balancing beauty with real family life. Every space needed to feel elegant but also approachable, timeless yet playful, and able to adapt as the children grow. By weaving in bold design statements alongside personal touches – from heirloom pieces to artworks with meaning – we were able to create a home that truly reflects the family’s story, while remaining warm, functional, and enduring.”
ROOM-BY-ROOM BREAKDOWN
Entrance Hall
The duplex layout meant the staircase was the first impression – so it became a centrepiece. A cascading cluster of alabaster and bronze pendants by Tigermoth creates soft, inviting light, complemented by a ceramic wall sculpture by Elizabeth Prince that echoes falling flowers. A vintage oversized Bally poster, sourced in New York, adds a nod to Swiss heritage and the clients’ passions.
Living Room
The living area pairs practicality with bold design. A bespoke Ferreira de Sá rug anchors the space, while Cassina’s Patricia Urquiola sofa in leather ensures durability with young children. A vibrant Utrecht armchair adds playful colour, balanced by tactile green marble and bronze Minotti coffee tables. Sculptural lighting from Arteriors and Bover enhances the sense of height and atmosphere, with curtain tracks ceiling-mounted to accentuate the space.
Dining Area
The dining table, handmade by the client’s brother as a wedding gift, provided the emotional anchor for this space. Paired with wipe-clean faux leather chairs by Calligaris and a playful Giopato G Coombes bubble chandelier, the dining zone mixes sentiment with fun. An oversized vintage Taittinger poster and a walnut-accented Wimmer drinks cabinet bring in personality, while a piano nook is adorned with an oyster artwork – an inside joke that reflects the client’s character.
Kitchen
Rather than a full remodel, the kitchen was elevated with new Dekton worktops and splashbacks – a durable and visually striking upgrade that blends seamlessly with the wider scheme.
Master Bedroom
The master suite combines the clients’ own bed and Lee Broom pendants with Cattelan Italia furniture and Arte wallpaper. The result is restful yet refined, bringing together cherished pieces with elegant new additions.
Guest Bedroom
A small double bed with a custom UK-made headboard and a stylish desk doubles as a workspace – designed to look elegant enough to serve as a backdrop for video calls.
Children’s Spaces
A shared bedroom for the clients’ son and daughter strikes a playful balance with mint green and yellow tones, Dutch house-shaped wardrobes, and a bed with a slide. The adjoining playroom is designed for creativity and activity, featuring a climbing wall, modular sofa, and craft table.
