INTERIORS Clare Nolan BELOW Claire in her office. The 1950s desk came from Sunbury Antiques Market (tel: 01932 230946, sunburyantiques.com),
the vintage fur cape and leather satchel are from Portobello market (portobellomarket.org). Items from her collections hang on the rail
The open living space houses the lounge, dining room, kitchen and office. The original exposed bricks were whitewashed to give a neutral backdrop, and floor-to-ceiling doors allow light to flood the space. Claire likes to mix antique, Asian and contemporary pieces, such as the B&B Italia Ray corner sofa (from Chaplins, tel: 020 8421 1779, chaplins.co.uk) and teak dining table – try Raft for similar (tel: 020 8450 5078; raftfurniture.co.uk). Behind the dining table, a 1950s dresser from Sunbury Antiques Market (tel: 01932 230946, sunburyantiques.com) is used for storing plates. ‘I love 1950s furniture. It was a glossy and optimistic era, where people were having fun with design,’ says Claire.
THE FLAT
Above this, a vintage wall-hung cabinet is home to a statue of Quan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy and love: ‘My old Chinese female relatives would always have Quan Yin in their home.’
A former shoe factory in Queens Park, London, that has been turned into an open-plan live-work property by Claire Judge, who lives with her son Tai, 13, and french bulldog Knuckles.
‘T
he building used to be an old shoe factory. Luckily, rather than being modernised into a swanky warehouse development, it has been left in its original condition. The space reminds me of Hong Kong, where I used to live, and the beams upstairs in the bedroom make me feel as though I’m sleeping in an old French barn. ‘Although the main space is open plan, it’s long, so I can section it off into areas. I work at one end and “live” at the other. I love the ease of being close to my son Tai after school – he does his homework ZKLOH ,·P ÀQLVKLQJ RII P\ ZRUNLQJ GD\ ‘I have to be strict about not allowing work ± 74
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A pair of chandeliers lend a feminine touch – try Retrouvius for similar (tel: 020 8960 6060, retrouvius.com)
HOME IS WHERE THE SOLE IS For fashion designer Claire Judge, making her converted shoe factory into a cosy pad meant steering clear of a defined ‘look’ Photographs CHRIS TUBBS Words CLAIRE BINGHAM
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RIGHT The master bedroom is filled with globally inspired items: a disco ball, buffalo horns, a Japanese tatami mat (available from the Futon Company, tel: 020 7978 4498, futoncompany.co.uk) and an Afghan bed throw. Claire commissioned concrete specialists to make the polished-plaster bed base with built-in storage. For bespoke concrete work, try Lowinfo (tel: 01623 835311, lowinfo.com). The window is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue (tel: 01202 876141, farrow-ball.com)
BELOW LEFT Exposed beams and terracotta floors, which are complemented by the claret window frames, give the bathroom a rustic French-Asian vibe. To re-create the look, use Farrow & Ball’s Radicchio (tel: 01202 876141, farrow-ball.com). For similar tiles, see the Prismatics range by Johnson Tiles (tel: 01782 524000, johnson-tiles.com). BELOW RIGHT A sunset print lines the bathroom door – Zazzle has a range of similar posters (zazzle.co.uk). Above the basin is a 1950s barber-shop light. Check out Pedlars for kitsch vintage signs and lighting (tel: 01330 850400, pedlars.co.uk)
‘I haven’t based the look on any particular style – it’s what I call “easy chic”’ to spill into the living areas – I’ve tried to ensure that it never feels as though we’re living in the RIÀFH ,W·V LPSRUWDQW WR EH DEOH WR VZLWFK RII IURP work at the end of the day, so I keep all my paperwork hidden, and all my fabrics are stashed away in the basement. ¶0\ LQWHULRUV VW\OH LV GHÀQLWHO\ HFOHFWLF , KDYHQ·W based the look on any particular style – it’s not themed or matching – it’s what I call “easy chic”. If you buy what appeals to you, things tend to go
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together – you instinctively create your own mix. ‘I get a lot of my inspiration for my work from ÀOPV 7KH ODVW RQH , ZDWFKHG ZDV Eyes of Laura Mars, which I loved for its brilliant 1970s fashion and billowing silk blouses. Playing the role of a fashion photographer, Faye Dunaway’s so sexy, snapping away in her poncho while almost doing the splits!’ To see Claire’s latest collection, visit aloeloungewear.com, tel: 020 8960 0612
ABOVE Claire rents the flat, so an unfitted, fully portable kitchen means that she can take it with her when she moves. The work surfaces and shelves were all made to Claire’s design by a local carpenter. To create something similar, try the Utby series of kitchen units from Ikea (tel: 0845 355 1141, ikea.com), which can be adapted to various
configurations. There are references to Claire’s Anglo-Chinese heritage and her love of travel throughout the flat – the fisherman’s basket and Chinese stool under the work surface are from when Claire lived in Singapore and China during her 20s. The Knoll Bertoia stools add a contemporary edge (available from Aram, tel: 020 7557 7557, aram.co.uk) YOU 9 SEPTEMBER 2012
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