Whether spacious or small: when you enter a designer's home, your perception of how you can live often changes. This is particularly noticeable in the Zurich apartment of German designer Niklas Mellmann. Limited space makes him more selective – and above all, more creative. He likes minimalist lines, inspired by Bauhaus, combined with individual moments of color.
Niklas describes himself as a typical Taurus – and thus a born host. This conscious approach shapes how he lives. We visit him and talk about smart solutions for small spaces, thoughtful decisions in interior design and fashion – including special vintage finds and his growing collection of designer bags, carefully stored in the wardrobe – and about the joy of having people over.
Interview and text by Kaira van Wijk.
Niklas Favorites
Just a few steps from Patumbah Park, where cherry blossoms frame the view through the stone pillars in spring, lies the apartment of the versatile creative Niklas Mellmann on a quiet side street. We climb the wooden stairs of the old building all the way to the top. There, he lives in a loft with a rooftop terrace and a view over the city. "When the sun comes out and summer is really here, it feels like a small neighborhood up here. No one is on the street, everyone is out here in the sun, you just pass drinks around."
As small as the apartment is in square meters, it is cleverly designed. More on that later. We wouldn't have expected anything less from someone like Niklas. After studying Industrial Design in Germany, he specialized in User Experience Design. In addition, he teaches at the School of Design, spontaneously models after being discovered in a notorious Zurich club, gives indoor cycling and barre classes at a studio around the corner, and shares his passion for fashion and travel online.
This afternoon, he looks very elegant in his suit trousers and blue linen shirt. When asked about his style, he laughs: "There's more to it. I collect bags." He opens a wardrobe and holds up one of his favorite bags: a Loewe Puzzle Bag in strong color blocking. It seems like a small reference to Bauhaus, one of his most important references – alongside a coffee table book about Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. "I like clear lines. And I think that works particularly well when the space is a bit more limited."
Nevertheless, he is not afraid to break up the calm base with color. Especially with a warm, expressive orange that runs through the apartment: in a friend's picture above the USM sideboard, in the Artemide Nesso lamp, in a patterned blanket on the black Togo armchair, and in a single orange poppy from Silkhaus. Tulips stand on the dining table. Niklas says: "You can't tell the difference between real and artificial. That's good design. And I love that."
Your love for design started with…
"Cars, actually. Even as a child, cars fascinated me. I always wanted to be a car designer, that was my big dream. I grew up near the city where Opel comes from, and my grandfather worked there. So it was very close. After school, I looked into it and came across Industrial Design. That felt broader and more natural. Today I live in Zurich and when I think about it: it's quite a car city. Classic Porsches, older Mercedes, every now and then a Ferrari or Lamborghini on the street. You even still see car spotters. Somewhere deep down, that enthusiasm is still there."
A design object that fascinates you today…
"Jony Ive, the former Apple designer, immediately comes to mind. Since leaving Apple, he has built his own studio and does incredibly exciting work. Recently, he redesigned a lectern for the auction house Christie's. How everything interlocks, the mechanisms, how parts fold away – it's incredibly well thought out. This depth of thought fascinates me."
Your view on furnishing small spaces…
"I think in this apartment, the floor plan already does a lot. It's a studio, but the wooden staircase to the terrace naturally separates the living and sleeping areas. I've always been attracted to clear, simple lines, probably due to my background in Industrial Design. I like spaces that don't feel cluttered, not too decorative. And I think that's exactly what works particularly well in smaller rooms. At the same time, I'm not afraid of color. The orange came about almost by chance, but I like that it looks both calm and energetic. A lot of what I have is secondhand. I find things on Tutti, and there's this great vintage store in Wiedikon: 2punkt2. That's where I got the USM sideboard, a classic."
How do you choose furniture when space is limited?
"In a smaller space, you have to be clever. My bed, for example, is a game-changer because it has drawers underneath. You're forced to think more practically, but also more selectively. I could have many more design objects, but here I have to choose the pieces I truly love and truly need. I also like to think in terms of multifunctionality. My bedside tables are actually stools stacked on top of each other. When people are over, they become extra seating. I've had twenty people in this apartment; you just pull them over. It's about being a bit creative and not thinking everything in a completely classic way."
The design moment you wouldn't do without…
"I've had this Togo leather sofa by Ligne Roset for a long time. I notice that I'm often drawn to pieces from the 70s. I just love them. It's not the most comfortable sofa if you want to snuggle up and watch a movie. With friends, we sometimes joke that, along with the low armchair opposite, it feels like a therapy session: 'Tell me about your childhood.'" Niklas laughs. "Visually, however, it's perfect for the room. The low, sculptural lines create a kind of seating area without looking too classic. It's close to the ground and almost invites you to just flop onto the rug and sit there."
Your travel suitcase and this small Louis Vuitton Sporty 30 travel bag are almost like exhibits here. Do you have a secret travel tip?
"Last year, a friend and I went to Dijon quite spontaneously. We actually wanted to go to Paris, but it was Fashion Week and hotels were around 500 euros a night. So we thought: let's try something different. It was a really good decision. From here, it's only about two and a half hours by train, towards Paris, and it really feels like a smaller, quieter version of it. The architecture is beautiful, very historic, but well preserved. And there are so many good restaurants and wine bars. It was surprisingly lively, but without the crowds. You have to keep an eye on opening hours a bit, they can be unpredictable sometimes. But that's part of the charm. It was one of those trips that exceeded all expectations."
At home, you like to host…
"Yes, totally. I'm really a typical Taurus, the full cliché. I love to create a cozy, beautiful home and bring people together."
What do you always prepare?
"For drinks, I always have something sparkling in the fridge. Crémant, Prosecco, Champagne. I also make sure everything is there for a good Dirty Martini, that's one of my favorites. Coffee is also essential. I really look forward to the first cup the next morning the night before, so I invested in a good machine early on. And I love appetizers. I'm totally a sharing person. I would almost skip the main course for that. Just a table full of simple things: grilled vegetables, good mozzarella, bread, something to pick at. It's uncomplicated, but it always works."
How do you dress in everyday life – and how do you dress when people come to visit?
"Actually, it doesn't change that much. I actually wear a lot of pieces from the women's department. Especially for trousers, I often go there because the fit is just better, a bit more interesting. I would say, in 90 percent of cases, if I get compliments, it's about something from the women's department. I remember being in Paris with my mother and we ended up buying the same trousers." He laughs. "We both just loved them. Even with basics like sweaters, there are often small details or crops that you don't find in menswear. For bags, it's very much about craftsmanship for me. I like pieces that look lived-in. A well-worn Kelly, for example, is on my wish list. Or this old Louis Vuitton from the 70s or 80s. It's always about character."
