Swiss-Colombian interior designer Veronica del Castillo on relaxed entertaining.
Casting aside static trends, creative director Veronica del Castillo believes that making a house truly feel like a home is about letting personality lead. She welcomes us into her universe guided by a playlist she jokes ‘makes Spotify think I’m in my eighties’, a well-stocked pantry ready for impromptu guests, and a refreshing approach to hosting.
By Kaira van Wijk
Driving up to Veronica del Castillo’s home on the shores of Lake Zurich, a whisker beyond the city, the Swiss late-modernist house reveals itself gradually. Known for the warm, balanced and delicately eclectic interiors she has created for Audemars Piguet boutiques across Switzerland, alongside a growing portfolio of private projects and design objects, Vero (as her friends like to call her) is also a new mother to little Federico. ‘It’s been a year of growth,’ she says with a sigh and a smile. ‘A new business, a new baby. I’ve been planting a lot of seeds, and I’m hoping next year the flowers will bloom.’
It’s an overcast winter day, the sky hanging low, and as the road climbs the car carries us above the clouds. The family home clings to the mountainside like a geometric box. We pass through a terracotta-walled courtyard and step inside. Vero sweeps her ink-black hair back, slips off her loafers and waves me in. We settle onto a velvety sofa in front of a large, floor-to-ceiling window. As the hours pass, the fog slowly lifts, revealing sweeping views over the garden and the lake. The building itself rises vertically across four floors, each with its view framed by glass walls. ‘It’s almost like a British townhouse, but less ornamental. We’re talking Swiss here,’ she laughs. Form follows function. The spaces are light-filled and symmetrical, connected by wooden staircases: one floor for the parents, one for the children, one for work, and one entirely dedicated to hosting. That intention becomes clear the moment you enter, straight into the kitchen. ‘The former owner wanted to hide it,’ Veronica explains. ‘But I want to highlight it! I love to host, and this space is integral to my way of living.’
She points out slabs of light wood and natural stone, sketches for a small bookcase and a bar area, and gestures towards rich jewel tones, burgundy among them. Hosting here is not a gesture; it’s ingrained in the way she works, designs, lives, and welcomes in the world around her. It’s time to pick her brain.
My signature apéro drink is…
‘A Negroni Sbagliato (holding up her own with a smile). With olives. They’re my favourite little nibble and need no prep, so I always keep them in the pantry, along with non-perishables like sardines, anchovies, good butter, bread and jamón for when guests drop by spontaneously. In summer, I’ll serve a gin and tonic. Simple, fresh, and it’s easy to play with different aromas. At my beach place in Colombia, I keep a tray of herbs and spices so everyone can concoct their own. It’s also a great conversation starter: what did you put in your drink?’
Speaking of conversation starters…
‘More than one specific gesture or object, I would say it’s in the way I set the table. I love this artisanally handmade Colombian silverware from the label Argenta. The traditional silversmith technique leaves small singularities, it catches the light beautifully and elevates everything, even with a simple white tablecloth. I also adore these super rococo, baroque plates from Colombia. Talking about them immediately brings me back to where I’m from. And wherever I go in the world, I collect indigo-blue pottery. It tells the story of my travels, pairs beautifully with anything, and reminds me of my childhood growing up by the ocean. What’s quite exciting is that I’m currently designing my own décor objects: glass artefacts crafted in collaboration with a skilled glassblower in Switzerland.’
What’s the design trend you’d happily retire?
‘Stop the beige. Even if you’re into neutrals, I can’t deal with overly staged, overly themed interiors. A home should feel lived-in, not stale, like walking onto a film set. I love spaces that tell stories. Whether it’s minimalism or the Taj Mahal, there’s no reason to push one idea to the extreme. Let it breathe.’
Ideal soundtrack to set the mood…
‘I just got my Spotify Wrapped. It thinks I’m 80! (Laughs) I love salsa! Oldschool salsa with a mix of bolero and some contemporary artists. For any dinner party I gravitate towards Buenavista social club radio station. A latin dinner vibe immediately makes you feel relaxed, chilled out, at ease.’
Speaking of ease. What makes you a good host, do you think?
‘Mi casa es su casa. For me, the trick is to take away any distractions, so guests feel extremely comfortable from the get-go. Something that was new to me in Switzerland is taking your shoes off at the entrance. I never want guests to be idling at the front door, so I think a lot about the arrival, also from a design point of view, since I’m a trained designer. There needs to be a seamless place for coats, somewhere to put shoes, and, very importantly, a drink already waiting. I always have a glass poured and a small nibble on the table. The moment you can hold a drink or an olive, the atmosphere relaxes, and the evening begins.’
What is distinctly Colombian in the way you welcome people…
‘My grandmother is my biggest inspiration when it comes to hosting. She’s this tough, very opinionated nonna. We always say: if she had been able to study, she would have been the president of Colombia! (Laughs) She wears a kind of uniform, very practical, but never goes without big jewellery. In terms of jewellery, my latest obsession is Paola Mendoza. Sculptural, contemporary pieces. My nonna is also extremely generous. She always says it’s the same effort cooking for one person as it is for two hundred. There’s nothing worse than having too little food! The same goes for a dinner that only lasts an hour. Then something went horribly wrong. A dinner should unfold slowly, with good conversation and good food. That doesn’t mean a three-course meal, not at all. You can do a standing dinner too, where people feel so comfortable they can just grab something from the fridge. But timing is key.’
What’s your most controversial hosting opinion?
‘Not everything has to be homemade! (Laughs) I don’t want to just order takeout when I have people over, but I’m a terrible baker. I love starting with really good quality elements and making them my own. A great cake I assemble myself, a beautiful chicken from a good deli that I finish at home. It doesn’t have to be made from scratch to feel personal. I’m very transparent about it and honestly, it just makes my life easier.’
How do you keep your space stylish while still child-friendly…
‘My glass table is a disaster! (Laughs) I have to clean it twenty times a day. Now I try to choose materials and objects that can be touched without leaving a trace, that have rounded edges. When it comes to décor, there are two things I can’t live without: candles and flowers. The Silkhaus flowers have been such a gamechanger for me. Fede can pull on them all he wants and they hold up beautifully. I still love fresh flowers, but they pair really well together and, honestly, you can’t tell the difference. It has also simplified my life, saving me a last-minute run to the grocery store or flower shop when I’ve run out of fresh ones.’
Bouquet The Spice at Veronica's home.
You’re redoing your home. What’s your number one practical tip for anyone else currently renovating their house in Switzerland?
‘I’m biased, obviously, but hire an interior designer instead of just an architect, even for a small renovation. Someone who understands the technical reality and has a good network will save you time, nerves and money. Always plan your furniture layout from the start. I’m constantly surprised how often that’s forgotten. Where does the bed go, does the wardrobe fit, can you actually walk around it? You don’t need full project management. Sometimes a few hours of consultation is enough. Planning with furniture in mind makes everything easier and avoids very expensive mistakes.’
If you could invite five people (dead or alive) for a dinner party who would they be, and what would you ask them?
‘Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, for how she works with light, colour and material to create emotion. Natalia Criado, whose contemporary silver jewellery reinterprets traditional craft. Jorge Lizarazo, translating Colombian artisanal techniques into a modern design language. Rogelio Salmona, for his human, light-filled architecture built in brick and rooted in community. And artist Fernando Botero, to understand how he created such an unmistakably strong visual language. I’d love to get into their minds. Surely a dinner party, with drinks flowing, is the perfect occasion for it.’
Colombian silverware by Argenta
