Milola Meets Beti Stoyanova of THE HAUS Design

At Milola, we believe great interiors are about more than beautiful pieces. They are about creating spaces that feel considered, personal and built to last. That's why we were excited to speak with Swiss-based architect, designer and content creator Beti Stoyanova, whose work spans architecture, interiors and visual storytelling.

Through her latest venture, THE HAUS Design, Beti's new chapter focuses on residential architecture and interiors, with an emphasis on timeless design, natural materials and spaces shaped around the people who inhabit them.

Let's learn a little bit more about Beti and THE HAUS Design.

Tell us about yourself

I’m Beti Stoyanova, a Swiss-based architect, designer and content creator with a passion for beautiful spaces and thoughtful design. My background is in architecture, but over the years my work has naturally expanded into visual storytelling and creative direction. For me, all of these worlds are connected by the same thing: creating an atmosphere and making people feel something.

 

Thoughtful architecture. Timeless interiors. Spaces designed around the way we live.

- Beti Stoyanova

Can you share your journey into becoming an architect?

I’ve always been a very creative person, but I also loved structure and problem-solving, so architecture felt like the perfect combination of both. I was fascinated by the idea that something you first imagine and draw on paper can eventually become a real space that people live in and experience every day.

Over the years, I’ve worked across different architectural projects and gained experience in everything from the early design stages to planning and construction. At the same time, I started building my presence online and discovered another side of my creativity through photography, content creation, interiors and visual storytelling.

Today, I see those worlds as very connected. Architecture taught me how to think about proportion, materials, light and functionality, while content creation made me even more aware of atmosphere, emotion and how we experience spaces visually.

How would you describe your philosophy when it comes to designing spaces?

I believe a beautiful space should never be beautiful just for the sake of it. It has to work for the person living there.

I’m very interested in creating spaces that feel considered but still effortless, where the architecture, materials, lighting, furniture and smaller details all speak the same language.

I also think good design should have longevity. I would much rather create something timeless and then bring personality into it through art, furniture and objects than follow every trend that comes along.

You’ve said you’re “an architect by training, but creativity has always been more than a job, it’s how you move through life.” Can you tell us a bit more about what this means to you?

For me, creativity has never really switched off when I leave work. I notice spaces, details, colours, materials, fashion, photography, even how a table is set or how the light falls through a room.

I think that’s also why my career has naturally expanded beyond traditional architecture. Whether I’m designing a space, creating content, planning an event or working on a visual concept, I approach it in a similar way. What is the feeling I want to create? What is the story? How do all the individual details come together?

I think architecture trained my eye, but creativity influences almost everything I do.

Would you say you have a particular style you gravitate towards, or does it evolve depending on the client or project?

I definitely have an aesthetic I naturally gravitate towards: warm minimalism, natural materials, neutral tones and spaces that feel sophisticated without being too perfect or sterile.

But I don’t believe in imposing one signature look on every project. A home should ultimately reflect the people who live there, not the designer who designed it.

So my approach evolves depending on the architecture, the location and, most importantly, the client. My role is more about translating their personality and way of living into a cohesive space while bringing my own eye for proportion, materials and detail into the process.

You co-founded THE HAUS and create content online. Tell us a bit more about this work and how these creative projects reflect your personality and approach to design.

THE HAUS started from a shared love for design, creativity and bringing people together. We created it as a platform where design, fashion, art and lifestyle could meet in a more personal and inspiring way.

Alongside that, I’ve built my own online platform, @lifeofbeti, where I share architecture and interiors alongside fashion, travel, beauty and everyday life.

At first those might seem like very different things, but to me they’re all part of the same visual world. I’m very interested in how we experience beauty, whether that’s through a beautifully designed hotel, an interior, an outfit or a piece of furniture.

I think both projects reflect my personality quite well because I’ve never wanted to put myself into only one creative box.

How has being a content creator influenced the way you see architecture and interiors?

Content creation has made me even more conscious of how people experience spaces. Architecture is not only about a floor plan. It’s about movement, perspective, light, texture and the little moments you notice as you move through a room.

Photography and video have trained me to look at those moments differently, and I think that has ultimately made me a more visually aware designer.

Where do you draw your inspiration from, both for architecture and for your content creation? 

Travel is probably one of my biggest sources of inspiration. I love discovering hotels, restaurants, cities and homes and seeing how different cultures approach architecture and interiors.

But inspiration can come from almost anywhere. Fashion influences the way I think about colour and texture, photography teaches me about composition and light, and art often gives me ideas about proportion or unexpected combinations.

I also find a lot of inspiration simply by observing everyday life. Sometimes it’s a material combination in a café, an old building detail, a beautiful chair or even the colours of a landscape. I’m constantly collecting little references without necessarily realising it.

Is there a project you’ve worked on that stands out for you, either because of the challenge, the design process, or the end result?

About two years ago, I worked on the complete renovation of a school, and it’s still a project that is very close to my heart. It was quite different from a typical architectural project because designing for children meant thinking about spaces from an entirely different perspective.

I really enjoyed researching children’s psychology and exploring how things like colour, light, materials, acoustics and spatial organisation can influence how children feel, learn and interact with their surroundings. It pushed me to think a little outside the box and approach design not only from an architectural point of view, but also from the perspective of the people experiencing the space.

Lately, my work has shifted more towards residential architecture and interiors, which I also really enjoy, but the school remains one of the projects I’m most proud of.

If someone was about to renovate or redesign their home, what would be your key piece of advice?

Don’t start by choosing finishes. Start by thinking about how you actually want to live.

Before choosing the kitchen colour or the perfect sofa, think about your everyday routines. Where do you naturally spend your time? What frustrates you about your current home? Where do you need storage? Do you entertain? Do you work from home?

Once the layout and functionality are right, the beautiful details become much easier.

I also always recommend investing in the elements that are difficult or expensive to change later, such as the layout, flooring, lighting, kitchens and bathrooms, and allowing the decorative layers to evolve over time.

What do you think makes a home feel truly personal?

For me, the most interesting homes are never the ones where everything was bought at once. They evolve over time. Art, books, objects collected while travelling, vintage pieces and things with personal meaning are what give a space character. I love combining those layers with a calm architectural foundation.

What’s your favourite piece of furniture we offer at Milola and why?

My favourite piece is the CAPTURE Modular Outdoor Sofa, which I actually have at home.

I love its soft, generous shape and how comfortable and inviting it feels. What I especially like is that it brings the feeling of an indoor living space outside. For me, outdoor areas should feel like a natural extension of the home, and this piece does exactly that.

I also love the modular aspect because it gives you the flexibility to adapt it to the space and the way you live.

What are you most excited to work on next?

I’m particularly excited about building THE HAUS Design and working on more residential architecture and interior projects where I can be involved in the complete vision, from the spatial concept and material palette to furniture and the final atmosphere of the home.

It’s still a new chapter for me and something I’m developing step by step, which makes it even more exciting. 

Want to work with Beti on your interior design project?

If you've been inspired by this interview with Beti and would like to learn more about THE HAUS Design, all her contact details are below! The studio is still in its early stages, with new projects and behind-the-scenes of the design process gradually being shared through @thehaus.design.

Alongside her architectural work, Beti shares her perspective on architecture, interiors, travel and lifestyle through her digital platform @lifeofbeti.

Name: Beti Stoyanova
Agency: THE HAUS Design
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Coverage: Switzerland and selected international projects
Instagram: @thehaus.design / @lifeofbeti
LinkedIn: Beti Stoyanova