A visit with Atelier Delonne
Atelier Delonne, a boutique design studio that combines elegance with a personal touch, is located in the heart of the Dutch Betuwe region. Founded by Madelon, run together with her mother Nell and supported by team member Zina, the studio is a creative interplay of experience, intuition and fresh ideas. Beloved pieces such as the Marie Armchair bring comfort, character and individuality to every project.
INTERVIEW
You are particularly close as a mother-daughter team. How does your family relationship influence the creative process and interior design decision-making?
Working together as mother and daughter is something really special. There’s a kind of trust and understanding that you can’t explain. We often just know what the other one is thinking. It makes the design process feel very natural. We each have our own strengths and views, but we’re always on the same page when it comes to the feeling we want to create. It keeps things honest, personal and intuitive.
Your style is chic, warm and contemporary with an international flavour. How do you manage to create this characteristic look? Where does the inspiration come from?
It’s all about layering and balance. We love working with soft textures, warm tones and materials that feel real and timeless. Inspiration comes from many places. Travel, Pinterest, fashion, architecture, even restaurants we visit. But in the end, it’s about how a space makes you feel. Our goal is to create interiors that are both elegant and comfortable, where people really feel at home.
You have already used various Freifrau products in your projects. What do you like most about them?
The designs are beautiful, but what we love most is the quality and feel. Freifrau chairs bring that extra bit of softness and character to a space, they’re refined but never too “perfect.” And they work so well with our signature curves and custom-made furniture. Clients love them too, which makes our job even easier.
Marie Armchair | Bezug: Sahara, Ivory - Gestell: RAL Greybeige 012
What do you like most about Marie and which ‘family member’ is your favourite?
Marie is elegant and super comfy! Such a welcoming shape. It’s the kind of chair that instantly elevates a dining area. We’ve also used Celine in our projects and it’s still a favourite, but Marie has that same softness with a slightly different vibe. It just feels right.
Freifrau stands for handmade, durable and locally produced seating furniture. How important is sustainability for you and your customers?
It’s definitely becoming more and more important. Clients are asking more often about where things come from and how they’re made. And we love working with brands that focus on longevity and craftsmanship. We always prefer investing in a few good pieces that will last and still look beautiful after years of use!
Another feature of all Freifrau products is their customisability. How important is customisable furniture for your work?
That’s a big one for us. No two homes are the same, so being able to choose the perfect fabric or finish makes all the difference. It allows us to create a really personal space that fits both the architecture and the people who live there. Freifrau gives us a lot of freedom to get the details just right.
With your experience in colour, material and styling concepts, what (interior) trends do you see currently and in the future?
We see a strong move towards natural warmth and organic shapes, earthy colours, materials like linen, wood and stone. People want spaces that calm them down and feel authentic. There’s less focus on “showpieces” and more on pieces with soul. We think the future is about timeless design that feels both relaxed and refined.
Thank you very much for the inspiring interview and the trusting cooperation – it is always such a pleasure for us to be part of your projects.
