Charity Begins At Home

Across the interior design spectrum there are many heart-warming examples of decorators taking the opportunity to channel their expertise, influence or buying power (in some cases, all three) to support causes that have no financial impact on their own company’s bottom line. The range of work is far-reaching. For example, Christopher Farr co-founder, Matthew Bourne, is enabling traditional hand weavers in Afghanistan to target the high-end rug design industry via HRH Prince Charles’ initiative, Turquoise Mountain. Ilse Crawford has redesigned a soup kitchen in Earl’s Court, where food is prepared using supermarket surplus – she’s created a serene and welcoming space with a design that can easily be replicated in similar venues elsewhere. Then there’s Emma Deterding, who’s leaning on her contacts to get support for her mission to furnish and decorate a new children’s hospice in East Anglia, and Rachel Chudley, who put together the interiors for a pop-up restaurant in London that supports children in Aleppo. We’ve spoken to some of London’s top interior designers to see what else goes on behind the scenes in their studios.

TIM GOSLING AND CHARITABLE PANTO

The Interior Designers’ Pantomime may be one of the more esoteric charitable ventures in the business, but it’s fun, camp, chaotic and full of camaraderie. One year, Joanna Wood dropped her live microphone down the loo and Tim Gosling had to scold one of Snow White’s dwarfs for being drunk backstage while dressed in knee-high Jean Paul Gaultier boots. It’s been staged every three years since 2001 and raised £1m for charity.

It all started modestly when a group of friends working in interiors put on a decorative show of Cinderella in Fulham Town Hall. After Tim Gosling had made his debut (as the White Rabbit), he decided to ramp up the production gears. Using his unstoppable energy as well as his background in theatre design, the panto transferred to the West End. This year’s production, Jack and the Blingstalk, will hit the stage for a week in November.

Previous theatrical runs – including Peter Pan, Designers of the Caribbean and Snow White and the Seven Designers – have had costumes designed by the likes of Dame Vivienne Westwood (using furnishing fabrics). ‘It now has more costumes than Wicked and is just off the Richter scale in terms of bonkers-ness,’ says Tim.

Rehearsals started in February for this year’s production, which will raise funds for two causes: Maggie’s and William Yeoward’s charity, Screw Cancer. There are lots of sponsorship opportunities, plus a gala dinner. For Tim as lead orchestrator, the challenge of pulling it all off is both exasperating and hugely rewarding. ‘Thank God it’s only every three years, otherwise I’d have a nervous breakdown,’ he sighs.

RABIH HAGE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

When a substantial redesign of a grand London house was coming to an end, the client of architect and interior designer Rabih Hage turned to him and asked for advice on her next project. ‘She was a very sophisticated lady, whose children had grown up and had pretty much had everything. So I said, instead of starting an art collection or another more inwardlooking diversion, she could help those who don’t have so much.’

The idea struck a chord, not only with the client, but with Rabih himself, who set about channelling his professional skills into a project with a social conscience. As with many unplanned schemes, timing is everything and this was shortly after the Haiti earthquake in 2010. Rabih’s first approach looked at emergency housing and how it could be quickly, safely and economically constructed. Studying solutions – and coming up against various frustrations – persuaded him to focus his next efforts back home in the UK, where he has devised a concept for transitional housing. Rabih elaborates: ‘Everyone knows there’s a desperate shortage of housing in the UK right now. But instead of repeating the mistakes made after World War II, when social housing was built quickly and often badly, this transitional housing is intended to provide somewhere to accommodate people while local authorities and developers come up with something well-designed and well-built.’

The prototype he’s devised can be installed on site for a maximum of five years, after which it is dismantled, renovated and re-serviced for future use. Rabih is looking to liaise with housing charities, private developers and local authorities who can provide suitable sites – these could include land earmarked for development but where construction won’t begin for a while – all in conjunction with the local community.

‘With the right support, I’m hopeful it will take off,’ he says. ‘The cost of these units will be much lower than putting families up in hotels, where they have to be moved on every six weeks.’

TRICIA GUILD AND MAGGIE’S

Maggie’s is a charity that Tricia Guild of Designers Guild has long admired from afar. Founded by Maggie Keswick Jencks, it provides free practical and emotional support for people living with cancer, through centres built in the grounds of specialist NHS cancer hospitals.

Now Tricia has converted her admiration into something altogether more practical by collaborating with architect Stephen Marshall and garden designer Arne Maynard to create the brandnew Maggie’s centre in Northampton, set to open in 2021. Everyone involved is aiming to keep costs to an absolute minimum.

‘I was delighted when they approached me to work on a new project,’ says Tricia. ‘The process of collaboration and ultimately of bringing people together was important to me. I felt that it reinforced the entire motivation behind Maggie’s.’

In her design, Tricia aims to create a comforting, cossetting and transporting space that makes possible a feeling of progression rather than regression, much like the Hammersmith centre in central London, which she knows quite well. ‘I hope that our design will radiate this spirit of optimism, hope and calm,’ she says.

The palette will be inspired by a summer sky and full of tonal colour, using blues, yellows and verdant greens alongside delicate neutrals that are gentle, restful and easy. Fabrics will be sourced from the Designers Guild collection and will be largely plains complemented by tactile textures and a modern cut-velvet pattern. ‘The varying textures of wallpaper, paint, velvet, linen and weave will add layers of richness and warmth to the space,’ adds Tricia.

KAREN HOWES AND ST MARY’S PADDINGTON

One early summer’s day in 2018, Karen Howes of Taylor Howes received an email out of the blue from a ward manager at St Mary’s Paddington, who had found the studio via a simple internet search. It asked if someone in the company would be willing to refurbish the staff room for nurses looking after gynaecology patients on the Lillian Holland ward.

‘I wanted to give the nurses something different from chocolates and cards – something that had longevity,’ explains the ward manager, Nadia. ‘I thought it would be nice to create an environment where they really felt they could relax when they’re on a break.’

The idea piqued Karen’s interest. ‘The existing rest room was truly shocking and I couldn’t believe anyone would be expected to eat and relax in an environment that was dull, unwelcoming and cold.’ So Karen approached suppliers and called in lots of favours to get everything they needed. ‘No one said no,’ she adds.

The new ‘rest nest’, which is an uplifting space, bright with colour, took three days to install. The team at Taylor Howes designed an L-shaped sofa which is the length of two single beds and used near-indestructible fabrics that would stand the test of time. ‘I hope this will be part of a bigger picture,’ says Karen, whose own daughter is training to be a nurse. ‘Nurses do the most amazing work, it constantly blows me away. If they have somewhere comfortable to relax – especially on difficult night shifts – they can be more focused on their work, which, in the end, benefits everyone.’ The story doesn’t end there: Taylor Howes has further plans to expand the concept in 2019. •

By Arabella Youens