Limitless Imagination: An Evening with Gaggenau

Caption: Karin Bohn, the renowned interior designer, at Limitless Imagination: An Evening with Gaggenau.

Gaggenau presented a remarkable evening under the leadership of Tomas Alonso, CEO of BSH Middle East, where noted interior designer Karin Bohn discussed her collaboration with the luxury brand. The evening also featured exquisite culinary delights prepared by a celebrated Michelin chef.

On June 20, 2023, Gaggenau held an extraordinary evening at the Theatre of Digital Arts Dubai. The immersive art-infused event enthralled participants while sparking significant conversation on building a powerful interior-design brand. On the evening, Tomas Alonso, the leader and CEO of BSH Middle East, and Irem Yalzar, the Head of Brand Marketing at BSH Middle East, represented Gaggenau. Karin Bohn, a creative force and globally known interior designer, took centre stage and presented a powerful speech that rippled inspiration throughout the evening. Mark Eggberry (General Manager of Asian Fine Dine, Tan-Cha) and Chef David Pang (The Head Chef of Tan-Cha) sealed the night with a gastronomically wonderful culinary demonstration.

“Limitless Imagination: An Evening with Gaggenau” promised to be an inspiring evening, and it exceeded all expectations. The Theatre of Digital Arts Dubai served as an ideal setting for this thought-provoking event.

Tomas Alonso, who presented a fitting welcoming note to an audience of industry executives, potential consumers, and journalists, set the tone for the evening.   He believed that the night was more than just an opportunity to deliver home appliances or products, it was an opportunity to deliver dreams.

He extended his gratitude to the present design leaders while emphasising the necessity of future cooperation and seeing Gaggenau as the premium choice in expanding luxury living across the region.

Shortly after, the audience erupted with delight when noted interior designer Karin Bohn joined the stage.

Karin spoke about her career inspiration, her collaboration with luxury brand Gaggenau, her experiences hosting a Netflix show, and the challenges that she faced as a creative entrepreneur and working mother.

For Karin, design is all about connection— “connecting people with spaces and creating environments that bring people together.” Growing up in a small town in northern BC, Canada, Karin discovered her passion for design at a tender age. She embarked on a journey to pursue interior design in Vancouver, and with no time-wasted, right after graduation, she incorporated her own design studio, House of Bohn.

Karin’s journey to success involved building a personal brand that resonated with a global audience. Starting with a YouTube channel, she openly discussed the challenges faced by young designers, women in business, and the behind-the-scenes aspects of her studio. She believes there’s an innate beauty in building a brand in this manner. “Showing up on social media and being really candid and honest and authentic about your practice and what you’re doing. It builds a really loyal fan base, and that’s how you build a brand”, Karin stated. This transparent approach garnered a loyal following of over 13 million viewers, and Karin’s brand continues to thrive through her candid and authentic presence on social media.

Karin’s dreams of television stardom came to fruition when she landed a show on Netflix – Restaurants on Edge. She reflects, “The interesting thing I learned is that really no matter where you are in the world, we really are the same. People all want to come together and build their dream. People want to provide for their families and build community, and that’s what we were doing with these restaurants.”

Becoming a mother has been a transformative experience for Karin, nonetheless balancing motherhood and a thriving career, Karin admits having the occasional mom-guilt, “There are days when I feel like I really want to be with her then there are days when I need to be working and I feel guilty that I’m not at home”. Her dedication and organisation have allowed her to navigate both roles with grace and determination. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she strives to be a role model for her daughter, showcasing the power of hard work, self-sufficiency, and pursuing one’s passion.

Karin’s brand, House of Bohn, embodies luxury, and her collaboration with Gaggenau, renowned for its high-end kitchen appliances, aligns perfectly with her vision – “Their products seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetics, allowing me to create spaces that are not only visually stunning but also highly functional.”

Looking ahead, Karin envisions a future where technology becomes even more integrated into design, allowing for innovative and immersive experiences. Simultaneously, she emphasises the increasing importance of sustainability and the use of local materials in the work of designers and architects. By embracing these trends, the design industry can contribute to a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible world.

To conclude the glorious evening, the stage was graced by Mark Eggberry and Chef Pang of the Michelin Guide Asian fine-dine, Tan-Cha. They created an extraordinary culinary show that combined art, cuisine, and immersive storytelling. The curated meal, an omni-spinach dumpling, was not only presented as a delectable takeaway but was also made with blue flour to pay homage to the Gaggenau oven’s blue interiors.

This unique event gave a fantastic opportunity to network with industry leaders, creatives, and enthusiasts, establishing connections and collaborations that fueled innovation in the field of architecture and design.

Gaggenau has been committed to producing beautifully engineered high-end household appliances for over 300 years. For them, three fundamental constants have always been “the vision of the designer, the quality of the material, and the skill of the craftsperson.”

Check out the video interview with Karin Bohn here: