Celia Solf
Home Series are conversations with friends about parenthood, work-life balance and treasured items.
In the Italian city of Bolzano, where the Mediterranean meets the mountains, freelance creative director Celia Solf lives with her partner, Moritz, and their two-year-old son, Albert.
MT You moved from Berlin to Bolzano almost two years ago. How did it feel to leave Berlin behind?
CS Leaving Berlin wasn’t difficult for me at all. I grew up in Munich and, thanks to my parents, I travelled a lot already as a child. Berlin was an important chapter in my career and I still have close friends there, but I lived in many other cities before Berlin, so moving again felt easy and right.
MT Your due date with Albert was just two weeks after moving in. What was it like to become a mother in Italy?
CS Becoming a mother in Italy was beautiful, and I wouldn’t want it any different. At the same time, it naturally came with challenges, as we had just moved. My friends weren’t around, and my close family wasn’t nearby either. Everything felt very new, and our house was definitely not ready yet—I think our bed, dining table, and sofa arrived a few weeks after Albert was born.
Looking back, 2023 was quite a year. But honestly, I feel very proud of how we managed it all. I’m an optimistic person and tend to approach things with a sense of humour, so in the end it became a mix of chaos, learning, and many unexpectedly joyful moments.
MT What is life like for you now, living in Bolzano, so close to the Dolomites?
CS I enjoy life here immensely. Especially experiencing motherhood in this environment feels like a real gift. Raising a child surrounded by nature brings a sense of calm and perspective to everyday life. We live very quietly, next to a river, on a street without cars, which makes daily life feel easy and grounded.
During the week, we spend our time in Bolzano or Lana. I currently work in the mornings and spend the afternoons outdoors with Albert after picking him up from nursery. He loves being outside and is a very social little person. On weekends, we try to escape into the mountains as much as possible, hiking together and spending time outdoors. The area is also very well connected, which makes it easy for me to meet clients in nearby cities such as Milan or Munich.
Daisy Bedding Camel on a vintage chair. The painting is made by Celia and Moritz
MT Your son Albert recently turned two. What are some joys and challenges you are facing in parenthood?
CS There are so many joys. I’m constantly surprised by how much humour a child can have at this age, how social, open, and friendly he is with other people. I really see myself in that, as I’m very social too, and it’s a joy to watch him communicate, run around, joke and make others laugh. Right now, I try not to focus too much on challenges. This phase feels very joyful and light, and I enjoy being fully present with him.
MT How has your professional life changed since the move?
CS After becoming a mother, I consciously decided to take a full year off and focus entirely on this new chapter. Last year, I took on smaller projects that I genuinely enjoyed. I’ve always had too many ideas and too little time, and that was already the case long before having a child, so I’m not sure that part will ever really change.
Earlier in my career, I was used to working on very large-scale projects with a 24/7 mindset. After having a child, that may have shifted slightly, but living in South Tyrol has not changed my ability to continue working as a freelance consultant. Thanks to my network, I can stay closely connected, and I’m also able to travel more again for work.
Overall, I see the change as a very positive one. It feels a bit like a fresh start, and I’m genuinely excited about what’s coming next.
MT Moritz runs several hotels, including the Parkhotel Mondschein, next door to your home. Do you play a role in running the hotel?
CS Since our taste is quite similar and we work in the same field, it’s easy to assume that I’m part of the hotel group, but I’m not. All credit for the hotels truly goes to him and his brother. It’s their family business, which they took over from their parents and run independently. I support Moritz where it feels natural, but professionally I work independently as a freelance creative director and collaborate with a wide range of clients in the hospitality and design space.
Daisy Bedding Blue by the pool at Parkhotel Mondschein
MT Please share a bit about your home in Bolzano. What makes it special to you?
CS We didn’t have much time to search, as Albert was already on his way, and ended up finding an apartment in a beautiful building from 1904, full of character, which we both love. Old houses come with their quirks, but that’s part of the charm. The apartment opens to three sides: on one side, we look into a small valley between two mountains that brings fresh air in summer; in the middle, we face the river and a green park; and on the other side, we look towards Bolzano, framed by vineyards instead of streets. With no cars, no direct neighbours, and light from sunrise to sunset, it feels like a very special place to call home.
MT What is important to you when decorating for your child?
CS Honestly, there’s nothing more beautiful than decorating for a child. Since Albert is around, I’ve realised how much joy I find in children’s things, toys, clothes, and especially interiors. I’m drawn to a more traditional, timeless feel, choosing pieces with beautiful rich colours and natural materials like wood and good cotton. I’m personally not a fan of these modern grey and beige kids’ accessories, I don’t know, I think kids deserve color and a room full of colourful magic. It’s very much inspired by my own childhood. My mother decorated our rooms with so much care, we each had our own curtains, beds, and little details. I’d love to carry that feeling forward and create a similarly thoughtful, warm space for Albert as he grows.
MT What’s the most treasured item in your home?
CS We have a few antiques that once belonged to my grandmother and were passed down to me through my mother. She grew up in a castle in Germany, and these pieces carry a lot of personal history and emotional value for me. Not everything made it with me when I moved, but maybe that was meant to be. Moritz and I have built a collection of objects together over the years, things we found, bought at auctions, or even made ourselves. It truly feels like a family home, and I love seeing it grow and evolve with us.
MT What dreams or plans do you have for your family in Italy over the next few years?
CS I’m definitely a dreamer, so there will probably always be too many ideas and plans in my head. More than anything, though, our wish is to continue building our life here together as a family in a way that feels healthy and grounded.
Right now, our work–life balance feels really good. We both manage to get a lot done while still making time for each other. I take on new international projects, which means travelling on my own from time to time, while Moritz is developing two new hotels with his brother, one in Val d’Ultimo and another by the sea, close to Venice. We plan very consciously around that and align our calendars so that there’s always one of us at home if we’re not travelling together as a family. It’s important to us that Albert always has one parent with him at night, as he’s still sleeping in our bed.
Published January 2026
Photography: Sarah Wijzenbeek
© Minor Things
