Passionate about interior design, streetwear, and cycling, Simon Zimmermann talks with Marset about his influences and his home. With 'Slow Down' as his mantra, Simon Zimmermann shares his perspective on light and his favourite things, revealing that the Copérnica lamp is one he won't keep in the same spot forever.
Vinyl, mid-century modern furniture, design books, Bauhaus, plants... Your home's a reflection of your personality. If you had to define it in one word, what would it be?
'Two words: slow down. It's become not only a tattoo but also a kind of mantra for me.'
How have you gone about forging your style? Who or what has influenced you?
'I've always enjoyed the work of Ray and Charles Eames and a lot of the mid-century era. The best thing about it is you can still find endless good stuff for great prices on the second-hand market. Books and magazines help a lot, and my Instagram algorithm also provides inspiration.'
We're used to seeing unattainable houses on the internet. You live with design in a natural way. Your home's inspiring but approachable. What do you think motivates people to follow you on social media?
'I think one reason is that I thrift a lot of my stuff, which makes it more approachable. For example, my lunch table was €15, and people love that. They also know it took a lot of time to find all the things I now have. It's not about having an endless budget and buying all the classics at once. Sometimes I don't buy anything for months and wait for the perfect piece at a good price. Also, people enjoy the everyday latte art Stories, ha ha!'
Light's very important in your photographs. What's your favourite kind of light to use?
'Natural light is key for photographs, and I like to play with it when shooting outside the house. To be honest, inside we barely have natural light as the house faces north. That means I have around 5-10 minutes to place my coffee and use the sunlight. Besides that, I use all the ambient lights I have to create a cosy look at home.'
The Copérnica lamp creates minimalist sculptures in space. Where are you going to put it?
'Like most of my lights, it will move around now and then. But some definite spots are: the turntable, the corner with the palm tree next to the Togo, and by my bed to read before going to sleep.'
What's the one thing you can't do without in your home? Something that lights it up—apart from our lamps, of course.
'My coffee machine. I already look forward to brewing coffee when I go to bed, ha ha! When I visited my parents for 10 days at Christmas, I took it with me. My priorities are clear.'
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