Linh Tran lives in Cologne and can be found on Instagram under the handle @don_linh. Here, Linh shares his take on interior design and explains why he chose Thonet furniture for his home.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Sure. My name is Linh, I’m 42 years old and I am originally from Hanoi, Vietnam. I have been living and working in Cologne for over twenty years now. For the last 18 years, I have been a self-employed hairdresser, and for 15 of those years I have had my own salon in the heart of Cologne along with my brother Don.
Outside of work, I have also found a wonderful creative outlet as an influencer. I have always loved photography, so being able to combine that with my passion for lifestyle topics, design, architecture and fashion is something that gives me a lot of joy. Not as a job, but just a sideline that brings some balance into my life. And in the last few years I have also discovered a love of running!
Endurance training is my favourite type of exercise. It clears my head, and I get a kick out of setting new goals for myself and competing with others.
What are your priorities when it comes to the interior design for your apartment?
I would probably describe myself as a minimalist and I prioritise functionality, a homely feel and sustainability in the spaces I furnish. I like clean lines and, for me, less is always more. In my opinion, a space should not only look nice, but ideally also be functional. And, of course, it should make you feel comfortable. I would never choose a designer piece just because it looks good if it wasn’t comfortable and useful.
My home is there to be lived in and it should be a space that people want to spend time in. And what makes me really happy is good, timeless design combined with exceptional quality.
Where did you first encounter Thonet furniture and what made you choose the cantilever chairs?
I think once you start looking into classic design, sooner or later you are bound to come across Thonet. The cantilever chairs have timeless appeal; I consider them absolute classics and they are also unbelievably functional and comfortable. That’s why I have them around my dining table and I use one with armrests as my desk chair.
Which Thonet pieces are still on your wish list?
I could picture adding the S 5000 sofa range to my home. It’s an extremely flexible, modular furniture system. Here again you have functionality paired with timeless style and great design language. I love these pieces. And, of course, you can never have too many cantilever chairs in whatever new “configuration” you go for. I can’t get enough of them!
