Milola Meets - Interior & Product Designer Florent Breton
At Milola, we love speaking to interior designers who share our ethos about the emotional impact of good quality interior design, and understand the identity found within beautiful domestic spaces. Florent Breton is an inspiring interior and product designer, living and working in Crans-Montana, creating passion-driven spaces and products that truly reflect the environment around them.
Read on to discover Florent Breton's inspiring journey, signature style and creative influences.
Hi, I’m Florent Breton. I’m originally from France, but Switzerland has been my home for the past 13 years.
“Working alongside inspiring creatives - from artisans to architects - helped me understand that precision, patience, and storytelling are at the heart of everything timeless.”
You moved into interiors after a successful career in an adjacent space. Tell us about your background and when you first realised you wanted to pursue a career in interior design...
Interior architecture entered my life during a period of personal and professional changes. While working in sales for Victorinox, I found myself increasingly drawn toward creative expression, particularly during the quiet, reflective period of the COVID pandemic.
Having worked for Maisons like Zenith Watches and Celine within the LVMH group, I was always surrounded by design excellence. My roles introduced me to the world of retail architecture and sparked a deeper fascination with how space can embody emotion and identity. The curiosity led me to pursue formal training at Idées HOUSE in Lausanne.
That was the turning point - a decision that ultimately led to the launch of my own practice in Crans-Montana
How do you believe your experience in the luxury goods world has helped you in the interiors space?
The world of luxury taught me that great design begins with intention - and lives in the details. Working alongside inspiring creatives - from artisans to architects - helped me understand that precision, patience, and storytelling are at the heart of everything timeless.
I also learned the art of listening. Collaborating with discerning clients honed my ability to translate complex, often unspoken desires into spaces that feel personal, tailored, and quietly exceptional.
But perhaps the greatest lesson from that world is passion. That same drive now fuels my interiors - spaces that balance refinement with warmth, and where every element, no matter how understated, has a reason to exist.
What would you say is your interior design philosophy?
Design, for me, is like composing a piece of music - where each note, or in this case, each detail, contributes to a harmonious whole. It all begins with listening: to the client, the architecture, the environment.
From there, it's a collaborative process of sketching, refining, and shaping - together with artisans and clients - to create something that goes beyond what was first imagined.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Inspiration comes through the senses. A space should not only be seen - it should be felt, heard, even remembered by its scent or texture.
My travels, conversations, and the people I encounter all leave traces. So do the places I’ve called home, from vibrant cities to peaceful mountain villages. I’m particularly drawn to simplicity that feels lived-in and thoughtful. Ultimately, I design to improve lives - to create a feeling of “home” that is both comforting and beautiful.
Would you say you have a particular style you favour in interior design?
My aesthetic often bridges the raw beauty of nature with the quiet sophistication of Japanese influence. It’s about creating spaces that breathe - where materials are honest, forms are clean, and the silence between things speaks as loudly as the objects themselves.
Each project is an opportunity to tell a story - one that flows gently between tradition and modernity, between nature and architecture.
Do you have a stand-out project you’ve worked on?
My Crans-Montana condo will always be special. Not only was it featured in The New York Times, but it marked a personal milestone. The space reflects a blend of Alpine authenticity and subtle Japanese sensibility - my first true expression of what I wanted to bring into the world through design.
How did you feel when you were first approached by the NY Times to do a piece that recognised your work in Crans?
Honestly, I didn’t quite believe it at first. Even after speaking with journalist Julie Lasky, I kept thinking, “I’ll believe it when I see it in print.” It was a surreal and deeply rewarding moment - a recognition that this new chapter of my life was resonating beyond borders. (Take a look at Florent's article.)
Tell us about your product design work – where did you draw the inspiration for your first piece?
My first piece was born out of the #Le36 project in Crans-Montana. I wanted to create something deeply rooted in craftsmanship - where joinery took center stage, inspired by the traditional cabinetry you often find at temple entrances in Japan.
Built entirely without screws or nails, the piece is made from oak chosen for its clarity and grain. It’s a quiet object - but one that carries intention and soul. For me, it was about celebrating form, function, and a slower kind of beauty.
Talking of products, what’s your favourite piece we offer at Milola and why?
The stacking beds from Müller Small Living. They’re elegant in their simplicity and brilliant in their practicality. For families with kids, they’re a dream - smart, stylish, and always ready for a spontaneous sleepover. A bit like a Swiss Army Knife: compact, beautifully designed, and endlessly functional.
What does the future hold for your interior design and product design work?
It feels like I’m just getting started. There’s so much more I want to explore - new materials, new stories, new ways of living.
Interior and furniture design are deeply intertwined for me, and evolving both in tandem feels natural. One day, I’d love to open a creative studio surrounded by brilliant minds - where ideas flow freely and we push boundaries together. That’s the dream: to create not only spaces but a space for creation.
IF YOU'D LIKE FLORENT'S HELP WITH YOUR HOME, CONTACT HIM HERE:
NAME:
Florent Breton
LOCATION:
Crans-Montana
COVERAGE:
Switzerland
WEB:
INSTAGRAM:
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