A fortuitous trip to Switzerland saw Los Angeles-based designer Sarah Akbary immersed in the Alps, where layered interiors, authentic Alpine architecture, and a deep appreciation for the surrounding natural environment prevail.
Here, Sarah shares the lasting influence the trip left on her and her work.
Destination: St. Moritz, Switzerland
Month traveled: March 2026
Duration of trip: 5 days
Temperature range: 35– 40°F
Solo trip or vacation with family/friends? This was a trip with my husband to celebrate a close friend’s wedding. Our friends spend a lot of time in St. Moritz, so being able to experience a place that feels so personal to them made the trip feel especially meaningful.
First visit or repeat destination? It was my first time visiting St. Moritz.
What drew you to this locale?
Initially, it was the wedding itself, but once we arrived, I was immediately drawn to the atmosphere of the town. There’s a quiet elegance to St. Moritz that feels very different from most ski destinations. It has a strong sense of history and tradition, but nothing feels overly precious or staged.
As a designer, I was really inspired by how naturally the lifestyle, architecture, and landscape all coexist. Even simple moments, like long lunches after skiing or walking through nearby villages, felt visually rich and incredibly intentional.
The lodgings…
We stayed at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, perched above the lake with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The interiors are richly layered, with a confident use of pattern and deeply saturated color. Reds and warm yellows carry throughout the public spaces, paired with a mix of geometric and floral wallpapers that often extend into matching drapery. It feels bold, but incredibly cohesive.
The lobby is expansive yet inviting, with cluster seating arrangements that create intimate moments within a larger volume. Redesigned by Renzo Mongiardino as one of his final commissions, it’s a masterclass in layered detail. Trompe-l’oeil panels, ornate antiques, velvet-upholstered seating, and intricate woodwork create a space that feels immersive without being overwhelming. A luminous stained-glass skylight brings in soft, diffused light, warming the palette and enhancing the richness of the materials.
Crystal chandeliers and red stair runners add to the overall sense of depth and character, but nothing feels overdone. It’s expressive, elegant, and deeply rooted in its Alpine setting.
Must-sees for design and architecture enthusiasts…
What I found most inspiring about St. Moritz was the mix of traditional Alpine architecture with more refined European influences. There’s a balance between rustic materials, ornate details, and contemporary additions that feels very authentic to the region.
I loved seeing how different properties interpreted Alpine living in completely different ways, from more historic layered interiors to cleaner contemporary spaces. But beyond interiors specifically, I think the landscape itself is what shapes the design identity of the town.
Some of the most memorable moments were actually the simplest ones. Sitting outside after skiing surrounded by snow-covered mountains, walking along the lake, or experiencing the quiet pace of the town all gave me a deeper appreciation for how the environment influences design and the way people live within a space.
Postcard moment…
One of the moments that stayed with me most was simply being outside in the middle of the Alps after skiing and realizing how peaceful everything felt. The scale of the mountains is incredible, but there’s also a stillness to St. Moritz that makes you slow down and become more aware of your surroundings.
Another memorable experience was a lakeside lunch toward the end of the trip that felt completely removed from the main town. Sitting outside surrounded by the mountains with a fire going nearby felt understated, intimate, and incredibly beautiful. It reminded me that atmosphere often comes from simplicity and setting rather than excess.
Souvenirs…
I brought home a coffee table book on the history of the Kulm Hotel because I wanted something that captured the design history and character of the place after experiencing it in person. It’s something I’ll keep in my studio as both inspiration and a reminder of the trip.
Lasting influence…
This trip gave me a deeper appreciation for layered interiors that still feel comfortable and emotionally grounded. St. Moritz embraces richness in color, texture, and detail, but it never feels overwhelming because everything feels connected to the surrounding environment.
It also reminded me how important atmosphere is in design. Some of the most memorable spaces weren’t necessarily the most elaborate, but the ones that created a strong emotional connection through warmth, materiality, lighting, and setting.
Greatest takeaway…
The biggest takeaway for me was how much a destination’s culture and landscape can influence the feeling of a space. St. Moritz felt elegant and historic, but also deeply connected to nature and everyday life.
It reinforced the idea that great design is not just visual. It’s about how a place makes you feel, how it slows you down, and how it creates lasting memories through experience and atmosphere.
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