In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Marianne Tiegen takes a circular approach to her designs. The international designer—she operates offices in Switzerland, Paris and Los Angeles—relies on vintage furnishings and pieces made from upcycled materials to infuse her spaces with character, patina and history.
For her current mood board, crafted with a South of France hotel project in mind, Tiegen employed everything from reclaimed white oak floor samples to salvaged terra cotta tiles inspired by the building’s original architecture. “The palette blurs the line between the interior and exterior, as well as old and new,” she tells Business of Home.
The final flat lay features a symphony of rich, earthy tones and naturally tactile textures, with plenty of sustainably made modern accents—such as Calacatta Viola marble and burgundy boiled wool—sprinkled in to energize the scheme. “There’s a sense of contrast and tension,” Tiegen says of the design. “It’s rough yet soft, timeless but contemporary, glamorous yet imperfect.”
Here, the designer breaks down the details, from a 19th century chandelier to fabric made from repurposed grain sacks.
1. TENDRE FABRIC IN BLANC POUDRÉ BY KIEFFER AT RUBELLI
“Privacy blinds in lightweight linen bring an ethereal element in contrast to the boucles.”
2. CHAMONIX BOILED WOOL FABRIC IN MAROON BY HOLLAND & SHERRY
“Burgundy boiled wool is like a dark line that enhances the rest of the subtle palette.”
3. BRUSHED BRASS FINISH SAMPLE BY GENERAL BRITE PLATING
“All of the elements need to be represented in a material palette to create harmony, and this brushed brass from General Brite Plating is a timeless choice.”
4. RECLAIMED TERRA COTTA TILES BY CHATEAU DOMINGUE
“Reclaimed terra cotta tiles have an amazing variation of colors—and can go from burned orange to light pink depending on the time of the day and the light exposure.”
5. ANTIQUE 18TH CENTURY EMBROIDERED RIBBON TAPE
“Hand-embroidered antique ribbons [used as trims] add an haute couture touch to the room.”
6. VINTAGE ROLL OF GRAIN SACK FABRIC
“The roughness of reclaimed linen or hemp sacks—which I often source from Etsy—creates contrast with the more refined textiles.”
7. ANTIQUE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH BRONZE AND CRYSTAL CHANDELIER AT 1STDIBS
“The glimmer of glass beads brings a romantic feel to any room.”
8. CALACATTA VIOLA ANTICA POLISHED MARBLE STONE BY EGM SURFACES
“This amazing marble plays up the burgundy fabric and provides an organic pattern.”
9. LIMEWASH FINISH IN HAUTE BY DOMINGUE FINISHES
“This matte paint gives a wall so much texture.”
10. ISMAY BOUCLÉ IN CORAL AND GORSE BY YARN COLLECTIVE
“Bouclé fabrics look best on curvy pieces.”
11. FAIRLAWN WHITE OAK FLOORING BY THE HUDSON COMPANY
“This dark oak flooring is aged and has a very subtle gray patina.”
12. HAND-WOVEN SOUMAK HEMP RUG BY ROSE UNIACKE
“Traditional weaving techniques give this rug an artisanal feel.”
13. HEAVYWEIGHT LINEN IN BALLET SLIPPER BY ROSE UNIACKE
“A curtain drop in heavy linen is always so chic.”
14. LUCA KNOB IN DISTRESSED BRASS BY ASHLEY NORTON
“Aged brass hardware is a subtle way to introduce metal into a room.”
15. CUSTOM NATURAL DYED LINEN BY MARIANNE TIEGEN INTERIORS
“We work with the best artisans to create our natural hand-dyed fabrics for each project.”
16. ANTIQUE OAK FLOORING BY CHATEAU DOMINGUE
“Reclaimed oak has a unique natural gray tone. The yellow and orange [you see in] some new wood is neutralized by the aged patina.”
