Un foyer reflète notre identité à travers sa décoration, son organisation et l’ambiance qui y règne. Pour ceux menant une vie trépidante, jongler avec toutes ces responsabilités peut s’avérer difficile. De plus, les déménagements sont une source d’anxiété pour beaucoup, impliquant la réorganisation des espaces et des habitudes de vie. Malheureusement, cela ne procure pas toujours autant de joie qu’on l’espérait. C’est pourquoi, en découvrant Maison & Co, nous avons su que c’était l’équipe à vous présenter pour rendre votre quotidien un peu plus agréable et votre sourire un peu plus grand. Trois femmes exceptionnelles, prêtes à relever tous les défis, ont accepté notre demande de nous expliquer plus en détail leur vision, encore rare à trouver en Suisse mais ô combien précieuse.
« Can you tell us about Maison & Co., how it was born and the philosophy behind it ? »
We are three friends, three Brazilians, with expertise in different areas. We met in Geneva over fifteen years ago and in 2022, we decided to join forces and launch Maison & Co. Maison & Co.was born from our own experiences as women, professionals, mothers, expatriates living in a country where exclusive services are surprisingly still quite limited. From there, and after a lot of brainstorming, we created a palette of exclusive services to facilitate everyday life for our clients and to meet their specific needs.
It means that every project is unique. Our main services include professional home organisation, move and relocation coordination, household staff training and interior decor. But this list is not comprehensive. We also offer support and assistance in other areas, within our range and as needed, for example event coordination.
If we could summarise, Maison & Co. is all about more harmony, practicality and beauty through exclusive solutions tailored to you.
« What are your greatest daily challenges? »
Daily challenges for us include the challenges of every woman who juggles a career, a family and keeping ourselves in shape. Our kids are already grown up, which helps, but we love to spend time with our family and friends. Our health is also a top priority, meaning eating well, exercising, and keeping a social life, which can be challenging specially when we have a big project or several ongoing.
« Have you ever had to decline a task? If so, could you share an example? »
Not yet! We do our best to organise our agenda in a way that we can work on multiple projects and at the same time, respond to our clients’ emergencies.
« What languages do you speak? »
We speak Portuguese, our mother tongue, French, English, Spanish and Russian.
« Which regions in Switzerland and possibly other countries do you cover? »
We go where our clients need us to go. So far, we have been mainly working in the larger Geneva and Vaud areas, and the neighbouring French alps region like Megève and Chamonix.
« Can you envision a career change at this point? »
Well… It is not in our plans for now. Actually, Isabela just did it to found Maison & Co. She was a project manager, working in the field of public policies for health in an think tank in Geneva, but she has also been addicted to organisation and interior design. She is the one responsible for the daily management of the company and relationship with clients, but also hands on in project design and implementation. And from 2024, Nohad will be spending more time in Brazil to support our upcoming new project.
« The three of you seem wonderful; who among you is the most detail-oriented or meticulous? »
Humm… this is a tricky question. The three of us are very detail-oriented and exigent in different ways, otherwise it would not work. Isabela has an eye for the smallest details, Andrea will not rest until everything is functional, beautiful and in the right place and Nohad’s solid reputation is that she won’t settle for anything less than excellence.
"The most rewarding aspect of our work by far is seeing the impact we've had on our clients and their families"
« Is it possible to commission you to organize someone’s apartment while also handling the purchase and assembly of furniture? »
Yes! We offer services that are adapted to our clients’ needs. So yes, it can include sourcing, selecting and organising the purchase and assembly. This is true in many of our organisation projects. While designing organisation plans, we also proactively identify potential solutions to optmise space, such as replacing or integrating additional storage furniture. These proposals are thoroughly discussed with our clients beforehand to ensure a mutual understanding of needs and that the proposed solution is beneficial to all of us.
« What is the most satisfying moment in your work, and conversely, what is the most stressful? »
The most rewarding aspect of our work by far is seeing the impact we’ve had on our clients and their families.
The most profound and unforgettable moment came when we received a video from the cutest 8-year-old boy, expressing how happy he was with the changes we had made in their basement (laundry and playroom). He was genuinely thankful, with so many touching words coming from a little boy… Of course, the three of us cried. That’s when you know you are in the right path.
The most stressful was early November when we were organising a 3-story chalet in Megève, when an unexpected snowstorm hit. It was 5pm and with the snow rapidly increasing, we realised that it would be quite dangerous to drive back to Geneva. That moment in the car, the fear in our eyes as we drove around the city, was quite an experience!
Si ces personnes talentueuses, véritables fées de l’organisation, ont éveillé votre curiosité, je vous invite à consulter déjà leur site web et à les contacter via leur adresse e-mail info@maisonandco.ch
« An indispensable tool or item in your work? »
If we had to pick one, it would be a tape measure – accompanied by a notepad and a pencil.
« Considering our blog and its name revolves around the significance of first impressions, is it crucial for you to make a positive first impression to gain access to a home and the green light to recreate its spaces? «
When we saw your blog, it sparked an immediate reflection. See, there is a duality in ‘first impressions’. At first, it makes us think of appearance and aesthetics. But on the other hand, it is also a lot about energy – as everything in life. And this is precisely the vibe we chose to channel to our clients. The positive, uplifting, trustful energy that sets the stage for unforgettable first impressions and that guides us throughout our work in everything that we do.
Our work touches the most intimate sphere of people. It is important that they feel safe to share personal aspects of their lives, and we guarantee it through a very discreet and non-judgmental environment.
« Anything else to add ? »
When we founded Maison & Co. a year ago, our vision was to curate personalised services and experiences, designed to remove stress from our clients’ everyday lives and leave a lasting positive imprint. But even with such ambitious goals, we never anticipated how rewarding it would be.
During this last year, we’ve not only impacted lives, but we’ve also sharpened our skills, grown in confidence and deepened our sensitivity. We’ve become better listeners, more effective communicators and have forged connections with incredible people. Also important: we are having a lot of fun together!
