SAVVY Interior Design: Where Circularity Meets Belgian Craftsmanship

What if the future of interior design lies in giving the past a second life? Since launching SAVVY Interior Design in Brussels in 2017, Stéphanie Cornet has built a business around this idea, combining eco-friendly materials, furniture restoration, upcycling and local craftsmanship.

From transforming discarded materials into high-end furniture to extending the lifespan of existing pieces, Savvy Interior (Ex-Trait Deco) brings together sustainability, creativity and Belgian know-how. We spoke to Cornet about her journey, the philosophy behind SAVVY and her ambitions to take its circular design approach beyond Belgium.

© savvyinteriordesign

Who is behind Savvy and how did the idea come about?

Initially, I was an art historian but quickly I started working in different fields more focused on communication and marketing. Particularly, I worked at a publishing house and a press agency.

After over 11 years of an extremely intense professional life, I burnt out. My life then took a radical turn when I decided to take interior design classes and trained myself in different techniques across natural painting and restoration. This kind of manual work allowed me to recharge my batteries and re-discover my artistic roots. I became an independent and started restoring furniture. At the same time, I taught and began to train others.

Little by little, the project of SAVVY Interior Design built in my head, and I launched my own company on a human scale. This was essential in my eyes!

Today, at SAVVY, we work in pairs. We outsource a lot, by subcontracting locally to companies offering adapted work. Our modest size allows us to be very responsive. Over the years, many interns, passionate about eco-responsibility, have joined us temporarily. Many had great ideas and made their contribution to the project.

What is the project’s DNA? Are there any guidelines?

In English, "Savvy" means being resourceful or, to put it very positively, always being "solution-oriented." This is our DNA. Rethinking, reusing, reinventing.

Everything is done in the spirit of urban craftsmanship. I like to say that we are creating a new form of these crafts, which used to be very common in the past in Brussels. There were a lot of workshops in the city, and today we combine this aspect with cutting-edge technology and creativity.

The company is essentially structured around three areas of activity:

1.       First of all, we have the training. Our expertise is in furniture restoration, and for everything that is coated, in natural products from the committed brand Galtane. It offers a whole range of environmentally friendly products and we regularly organize workshops.

2.       The second axis is to work, in the broadest sense, around the development of eco-friendly interiors for companies, architectural offices and individuals. We work a lot in the field of building renovation. Very often, we collect materials on location as quickly soon as possible. Our expertise is broad and extends from consulting to the design and monitoring of projects.

3.       Finally, the third pillar focuses on upcycling and furniture restoration. Our Brussels workshop designs and manufactures more broadly furniture and decorative accessories. One of the levers for decarbonization is to extend the lifespan of furniture. Thus, we give a more contemporary look to antique furniture, we make sure to give them a neat design and superior quality. We also transform waste deposits (wood, metal and plastic) into high-end furniture and accessories. This approach gives a new life and superior quality, combining history and contemporary design.

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We have three flagship collections: Adagio, Yabby and Voyages, which are the result of a partnership with SNCB. These different collections are created from recycled raw materials. It is a neat, sustainable and responsible design. Adagio is a variation of chairs "made in Belgium" that combines elegance, functionality and respect for the environment. It is made up of 99% recycled products.

The other two collections are more recent. Yabby is a series of high and low tables made from recycled shell trays combining minimalist design and natural materials. The Voyage collection consists of small furniture and side tables designed from old bakelite train shelves from the SNCB.

These products can be found in our e-shop (link) because we only open our showroom by appointment. Our products are not distributed in stores. Although our communication is mainly aimed at companies, this does not prevent us from reaching people who choose to buy from us because our prices are very affordable in terms of the quality we offer.

Is there a desire to export your products and know-how abroad?

It’s on the agenda, we’re working on it. For a little over a year now, our collections have been exhibited in the Brussels Houses in Barcelona and Milan. Last November, in Barcelona, we participated in an event to present our collections. It’s a great opportunity to explore new horizons. On site, the teams did an amazing job. We are very interested in the Spanish and Italian markets.

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Is the short circuit also an essential value for Savvy Interior?

We work locally whenever possible. Our company has strong environmental values. If we look back, it’s clear that ours and our parents’ generations have polluted a lot in a short time. What will we leave for the younger generations? The purpose of our company is to depollute, recycle and recover waste.

We draw on local raw material deposits. At the heart of our project’s development are values that have been passed on to me by my family. I grew up in a large family where we were led to be inventive and resourceful. Ecology was at the centre of our lives.

How do you see the company’s development?

The idea is to continue operating in the same spirit that drives us today, to develop SAVVY’s visibility and attract the attention of new clients in Belgium but also in Europe.

We are convinced there is a real need to consume as cleanly as possible, even if it is obvious that there is still some way to go to make everyone aware not to buy furniture of poor quality.

Finally, I want us to remain a human-sized company that develops a real pedagogical approach and ensures the transmission of our values. For a better tomorrow...

By Emmanuelle Dejaiffe for W+B #171 by Wallonia-Brussels International

Cover image: Stéphanie Cornet - founder of SAVVY Interior Design © hub brussels