Home and property. Autumn Winter 2015

HARRODS HOME & PROPERTY

HARRODS HOME & PROPERTY Autumn/Winter 2015

Autumn/Winter 2015

PLUS

FRENCH EVOLUTION How Gallic designers conquered the world

harrods.com

MODERN CLASSICS

Looks to last a lifetime

50 pages of London’s most exclusive properties

Editor’s Letter

LALIQUE or LAGO? So which will it be – the classical, the ageless, the moments of perfection that transcend time? Or the bold, the daring, the pieces that grab the attention through their sheer imagination? When it comes to design, the two schools are far from mutually exclusive. Take Lalique and Lago, two brands that appear to have little in common – the former crystallised for eternity in an Art Deco glass wonderland; the latter a blur of ingenuity, all floating furniture and Instagrammed images. Yet both trace their history back to the latter part of the 19th century, and both continue to set agendas today – as seen in these pages. In the same way, the interiors trends of this season are as rooted in the styles of bygone eras as they are branching out to the new.

Because while design never stands still, neither does it ever completely break away from the past.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Timeless Design exhibition being held in-store in September, to coincide with the London Design Festival. Fifteen celebrated brands will showcase a range of exclusive new products alongside a retrospective of never-seen-before archive pieces, throwing into focus the evolution of design and blurring the lines between the old and the new. It should make for quite a sight.

There’s only one thing better than a room filled with stylish, imposing, intricately designed interiors. A room waiting to be filled with stylish, imposing, intricately designed interiors.

GUY WOODWARD DEPUTY EDITOR

HARRODS HOME DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE MARKETING

Deborah Bee

EDITOR Jan

Masters ART DIRECTOR Barney Pickard

CHELSEA SALES MANAGER

KENSINGTON SALES MANAGER

ASSISTANT MOTION GRAPHICS AND VIDEO DESIGNER

MIDDLE EAST SALES DESK

Pradeep Balasubramanian Wendy Hinton Laide Pitan Kiaan Orange

DEPUTY EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKINGS EDITOR

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

DEPUTY BOOKINGS EDITOR

Guy Woodward Amy Broomfield ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR Rebecca Baio

ASSISTANT BOOKINGS EDITOR

Emily Sellers PROP STYLIST Holly Isabella PRODUCER

Victoria Gaiger FASHION FEATURES EDITOR Lindsay Macpherson DEPUTY FASHION EDITOR Poppy Rock ASSISTANT FASHION EDITOR Becky Branch FASHION ASSISTANT Kelly Bluff FASHION EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING PROP STYLIST

Jennifer Kay

Beth Hodder Madalaine McCarthy Dawn Hall ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Rachel Moncur PUBLISHING ASSISTANT Connie Foster-Hall DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Arnaud Burtin DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE Mei Wilson DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE OPERATIONS

Suzy Chapman EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Phoebe Fisher CHIEF SUB-EDITORS Lisa Hillman, Nicolette Thompson LEAD SUB-EDITOR Caroline Hunt SUB-EDITORS Marnie Clarke, Jo Mattock Sonja Burri ART EDITOR Natalie Boo Mosquera LEAD DESIGNER Rachel Escudier DESIGNER Gina Hollingsworth Bob Devsi Stefano Caso, Tak Yeung Cheung

DIGITAL DIRECTION AND DESIGN MANAGER DIGITAL DESIGNERS

Hayley Young Kieran Horgan,

HOME ACTING HEAD OF MEDIA SALES AND MEDIA SALES MANAGER Chris

Sweet

MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES

Adele Brousse,

Hashim Javaid MARKETING MANAGER

Virginie Duigou

MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVE, THIRD PARTY

Katie Astin

Camilla Josephs HARRODS ESTATES DIRECTORS Julian Cook, Shirley Humphrey ASSET MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR Richard Stephenson SALES DIRECTOR Shaun Drummond MAYFAIR SALES Robert Cox, Michael Davis

MEDIA PROMOTIONS PROJECT EXECUTIVE

Lara Kelly

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES +44 (0)20 3626 7518 +44 (0)20 7225 5996/5706 REPRODUCTION Zebra PRINT PRODUCTION The Westdale Press Limited PAPER SUPPLIER Gould Publication Papers UK Ltd

HARRODS, 87–135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL Tel. +44 (0)20 7730 1234 • harrods.com

Guy Cheston

PRODUCTION OPERATIONS MANAGER PRODUCTION EXECUTIVES

DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

MEDIA SALES DIRECTOR

PA TO DIRECTORS PUBLISHER

MANAGING EDITOR

Andrew Gunn-Forbes Nicholas Shaw Reem Dougramaji RUSSIA & CIS DESK Leila Dyominova HEAD OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS Simon Barry LETTINGS DIRECTOR Karen Boland MAYFAIR LETTINGS Robin Bogh-Henrikssen CHELSEA LETTINGS Candice Fletcher PROPERTY MANAGER Monica Kent MARKETING MANAGER Nicola Clark DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE Kimberley Cullum

MOTION GRAPHICS AND VIDEO DESIGNER

Burim Metolli

MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER

Katie Arnaud Laura Parsons

All information and prices are correct at time of going to press. Offers and promotions may have limited availability.

The paper in this magazine originates from timber that is sourced from responsibly managed forests, according to strict environmental, social, and economic standards. The manufacturing mill has both FSC and PEFC certification, and also ISO9001 and ISO14001 accreditation.

MEDIA MARKETING EXECUTIVE

MEDIA PLANNING & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Cassandra Ashford MEDIA PLANNING & OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

Jessica Owen

H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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CONTENTS Autumn/Winter 2015

25/ Top 20

77/ Shake it up

The latest trends in homewares, appliances & accessories

Being a whizz in the kitchen has never been so easy with the latest line of do-it-all gadgets

28/ Zeitgeist 81/ Counter intuitive

What everyone’s talking about right now

Italian brand Lago combines a genius for design with a quirky sense of humour

34/ Why I love London

COVER Photography BROTHERTON-LOCK Stylist EMILIO PIMENTEL-REID

The Rug Company’s Suzanne and Christopher Sharp pick their London highlights, and talk about home in Notting Hill

84/ Bedtime story From florals to furs, paisley to zigzags, bed linens are designed to be clashed

38/ London views 90/ French evolution

Seven of the best places in London from which to get a sense of perspective

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41/ News: furniture Moooi’s Altdeutsche Cabinet; De Gournay wallpaper; the Skygarden lampshade by Flos; a mini interview with Massimo Minale of Buster + Punch

Gallic designers fuse classic and contemporary, as seen in the work of three heritage brands

97/ One in a million Richard Mille has filled his home with an eclectic mix of furnishings and curios

103/ Decade revival 43/ Something in the air The latest diffusers and candles make a feature of fragrance

44/ News: accessories Mud Australia ceramics; cushions by Lacroix for Designers Guild; versatile cookware by KnIndustrie; beds under the spotlight

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51/ Timeless Design

67/ Natural history

109/ Home comforts

Alongside the London Design Festival, an in-store exhibition features items from the archives and exclusive launches

Flora, fauna and the female form are recurrent motifs in Lalique’s signature pieces

Marry the strong, simple and graphic with the romantic, textural and detailed for looks that span the ages

71/ Pure and simple 61/ Soft touch

47/ Pretty in print

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AW15 sees designers tap into all things retro, from late-Victorian decadence to the offbeat ’70s

There’s a boldness to this season’s cushions, from the graphic to the kaleidoscopic

Woven from natural fibres, Society’s Italian linens are contemporary with a vintage feel

49/ News: technology

65/Shades of blue

Loewe’s Reference TV; the Bugatti high-tech cooker; a foldable keyboard from Zagg; sculptural speakers

The tableware mood is indigo in everything from English calico to Japanese peonies

Scandinavian inspiration brings cool, calm neutrals and functional styling to the table

75/ British heritage

H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Thirty years on from its founding above a chip shop, furniture brand Linley is creating pieces for the ages

122/ The ultimate dream machine Design fit for a deity and the most meticulous manufacture make Savoir’s latest creation a bed that dreams are made of

125/ Harrods Estates Luxury homes to buy and rent in London

TOP 20

The latest trends in homewares, appliances & accessories

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1/ The Original Sofa Co

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3/ Georg Jensen

5/ Labrazel

7/ Mauviel

9/ Timothy Oulton

Every one of the brand’s bespoke chesterfields takes more than 100 hours to make. William IV sofa

The Danish silversmith has updated some of its most successful pieces, including its Cafu vases, in gold. From £42.95.

Natural variations in the green onyx mean each carved piece of the Onice Verde bathroom collection is individual. From £199.

Saddle up: British designer Timothy Oulton has created a worn-leather version of the equestrian armchair. Chair from

£19,999. Classics Room, Third Floor

Entertaining at Home, Second Floor

Bathshop, Second Floor

Professional cookware supplier Mauviel’s new line includes copperplated kettles that fuse classic looks with modern functionality. £325.

2/ Waterford

6/ Andrianna 4/ Christopher Guy Shamaris

The Lismore Connoisseur crystal-cut tasting range is perfect for whisky fans. From £65 for set of

The Louis XVI-style Gaultier armchair is subtly grand, thanks to its contemporary upholstery.

Using the natural qualities of reclaimed exotic woods, Shamaris creates modern one-off pieces. Side table

two glasses. Waterford Crystal, Second Floor

From £2,599. Classics Room, Third Floor

£2,199. Classics Room, Third Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Cookshop, Second Floor

£1,975. Timothy Oulton, Third Floor

8/ Roche Bobois

10/ La Perla

A study in contrasts, the ’70s-inspired Beata sideboard combines oak veneer with fabriccovered details. £7,880.

The Italian lingerie label has launched a homewares range, with embroideredtulle and cashmere bed linen. From £109. Luxury

Roche Bobois, Third Floor

Linens, Second Floor

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11/ Harrods Estates

13/ Tom Dixon

15/ Abyss

17/ Hermès

19/ Le Creuset

The Harrods Estates team can help you find the perfect property, advising on details like the nearest schools and transport links.

The dramatic Wingback chair is a reimagined 17th-century archetype, now available with copperplated legs. From £3,200.

Made from noble silk and Egyptian cotton, Abyss towels take their colour cues from nature and tropical travel. From £9.95.

Inspired by a 16th-century Persian manuscript, the hand-painted Cheval d’Orient vase is finished in 24kt gold. £1,827. Luxury

Brighten up the breakfast table with Le Creuset’s stoneware bowls in a rainbow of colours.

Call 020 7225 6506

Tom Dixon, Third Floor

Towels, Second Floor

Home, Second Floor

12/ Baldi

14/ Lee Broom Having kitted out most of the bars in Shoreditch, Lee Broom is now the king of hipster lighting, as his new Crescent Light demonstrates. £985.

16/ Royal Copenhagen

18/ Drop

For its new Boccadoro line, Baldi has reshaped some of its classics into contemporary designs like the purple lamp, exclusive to Harrods. £5,334. Luxury Home, Second Floor

Lighting, Third Floor

Designed in 1775, Pattern No.1 has been reinvented time and again due to popular demand. Plate from £44.95. Entertaining at Home, Second Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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The Drop scale is set to transform home baking.

The weighing device links to an iPad app that takes you through a recipe step by step. £79.95.

Cookshop, Second Floor

£78 for a set of 6.

Cookshop, Second Floor

20/ Harrods Estates lettings The lettings service at Harrods Estates will do the groundwork for you, whether you’re looking to rent out your home or find one. Call 020 7225 6506

St Paul’s Cathedral Getty Images

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EVENT: LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL First staged in 2003, the London Design Festival has established itself among the world’s key design forums, with more than 350 events and exhibitions at venues across the capital including the V&A, Somerset House – and Harrods. A vibrant mix of designers, products, talks, workshops, installations and innovations, it provides a hub for buyers, opinion leaders and design lovers alike, with some week-long fairs that are festivals in their own right. One such is Decorex International in Syon Park, a showcase for the UK luxury interiors market where 400 exhibitors – big and small – will launch new collections. From Saturday 19th to Sunday 27th September across London

GP&J BAKER

BY KILIAN Having grown up around the production of some of the finest Cognac in the world, it’s no surprise that Kilian Hennessy has more finely tuned senses than many. After university, he trained with the top fragrance houses behind scents for Christian Dior, Paco Rabanne, Alexander McQueen and Giorgio Armani. In 2007, he launched his own line of fragrances, By Kilian, with the first scents redolent of the aromas of the ageing oak barrels that surrounded him as a child. His latest range is for the home, and includes four perfumed ornaments – a paperweight with a scented ceramic stone, an incense ball, a pendant and a candle – each created in black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl panels. From £50.

In 1954, David Hicks (left) famously cast aside the “safe” neutrals of the time, developing an original aesthetic using graphic patterns and contrasting colours – and soon had Vidal Sassoon and Helena Rubinstein among his followers. Now, fabric brand GP&J Baker has revived some of the patterns in a collection with Hicks’ son, Ashley. The David Hicks by Ashley Hicks fabric and wallpaper range features monochrome prints, cerise and orange floral motifs, and sparkling foiled designs.

Fabrics from £79 per metre. Available from The Fabric Library, Third Floor

David Hicks Getty Images

Available from Home Fragrance, Second Floor

H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Zeitgeist

NIKA ZUPANC for SÉ There’s a playfulness to Nika Zupanc’s designs, with femininity a recurring theme. Her most recognisable piece to date, the Lolita lamp by Dutch brand Moooi, features a bluebell-shaped shade with a scalloped edge evoking the hem of a petticoat.

The Slovenian designer also draws on the Golden Age of Hollywood and the elegance of film noir, while her third collection references the Olympics and Modernism: pieces include the Olympia dressing table with interlocking circular mirrors; a laurel wreath-shaped mirror; and the Stardust sofa, upholstered in Neisha Crossland fabric. Stardust sofa £5,600. Available from Classics Room, Third Floor

Barber and Osgerby Alisa Connan

FAMEED KHALIQUE At sixth-form college in Leicester, Fameed Khalique was asked to organise the annual fashion show; he duly pulled it off without a hitch, and was inspired to dream big: in 1985, he orchestrated the largest fashion show ever seen – Fashion Aid at the Royal Albert Hall. The charity event included 18 of the world’s most famous designers, as well as heavyweight celebrities including Freddie Mercury and Boy George. Having set the bar high, he dabbled in various creative fields before finding his next calling, rare and beautiful textiles; today, his name is in the black book of every high-profile interior designer. Khalique’s Kings Road studio is a treasure trove of semiprecious stones, hides and fabrics – and he can do just about anything with them. His cushion collection has metallic covers in leather hand-loomed with silk, while a coral crepe version is embroidered with pearlescent beads. CUSHIONS, FROM TOP Oscar from £688, Isadora from £335, Chloe £633 and Coco £548.

Available from The Fabric Library, Third Floor

EDWARD BARBER & JAY OSGERBY for THE RUG COMPANY Having created art installations, fabrics and even the London 2012 Olympic Torch, Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby have now made four children’s rugs – Peacock, Tiger, Frog and Croco – in collaboration with The Rug Company. “It was a challenge to make the creatures real without scaring the living daylights out of the household,” Osgerby says.

Rug 2.29m x 1.52m, £2,558. Available from The Rug Company, Third Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Zeitgeist

EXHIBITION: The World of Charles and Ray Eames Few designs are an instant classic. In fashion, there’s the Chanel tweed jacket, or the DVF wrap dress. When it comes to furniture, look no further than the Eames Wire Chair.

Designed in 1951, the organically shaped seat remains at the top of many wish lists for today’s savvy set. Charles and Ray Eames are commonly credited with creating a new look for furniture by embracing minimalism while maintaining fun and functionality. Now, the Barbican is offering a retrospective look at the duo’s portfolio, ranging from renowned pieces by the two design greats to lesser-known children’s products and rare photographs.

BOOK: Architecture Visionaries

by Richard Weston

EXHIBITION: Alexander Calder: Performing Sculpture

Selected for their impact on modern architecture, 75 of the world’s most influential architects – and their work – are profiled in the latest book from Richard Weston.

From the Antoni Gaudí-designed Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to Günter Behnisch’s Olympic Park in Munich, Weston focuses on diversity and the way fantastical design has changed today’s skylines. With personal stories and significant works, the compilation includes an illustrated timeline providing an orderly visual representation of buildings that were strikingly ahead of their time. £24.95. Available from Harrods

In the 1950s, American sculptor Alexander Calder pioneered kinetic sculpture, working with wire, abstract forms and primary colours to explore the movement of objects. Fellow artist Marcel Duchamp labelled these dynamic designs “mobiles”; a new art form was created; and from this autumn, Calder’s early work can be seen at Tate Modern.

Books & Cards, Second Floor

From 11th November 2015 to 3rd April 2016 at Tate Modern H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Alexander Calder in his Roxbury Studio, 1941, and his Red and Yellow Vane, 1934 Calder Foundation, New York/Art Resource, NY © ARS, NY and DACS, London 2015; wire chairs with bird, 1953 Charles Eames © Eames Office LLC

From 21st October 2015 to 14th February 2016 at the Barbican Art Gallery

Notting Hill St J es’

N tion

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Why I love LON DON After extensive travels, Suzanne and Christopher Sharp established The Rug Company in the capital. They pick their London highlights, and talk about home in Notting Hill

Suzanne and Christopher Sharp’s lives could be likened, somewhat appropriately, to a magic carpet ride, full of pinch-me moments. Having met on the London Underground, they married within a year and set off backpacking around India before winding up in the Middle East where Christopher made documentaries.

Spending evenings scouring souks led to a considerable rug collection, and returning to London in 1997, the pair decided to turn their textile acquisitions and love of travel into a business plan. Today, The Rug Company is responsible for revolutionising the way we look at rugs. Its pieces adorn floors as artworks do walls, while fashion designers and architects have formed an orderly queue to work with the duo. The couple tell us what they love about living and working in London.

TOP Suzanne and Christopher Sharp; ABOVE Edward

Barber & Jay Osgerby for The Rug Company Croco rug 2.29m x 1.52m £2,558

Where is home for you?

CS: Our backgrounds are quite exotic; my early life was in Uganda, while Suzanne was brought up in Malta, H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Rome and London. Today, home is London.

SS: Our house is in Notting Hill and every room obviously has a rug in it. Our decor has a layering of colour, pattern and print, and we have a collection of treasures found on our travels.

If you had to be locked in a building for a night, which would you choose?

SS: I once spent a night in the Science Museum with our son. I’d like to do the same in the National Portrait Gallery, but I’m not sure I’d be able to sleep. There’s something special about being in a huge building like that when nobody else is in it. It would be amazing to wake up among all those great artworks.

What’s your favourite hotel?

SS: My current favourite is Chiltern Firehouse. It’s a novelty, and that’s always exciting. It’s so well done, the service is excellent and it’s just a fun place to be.

Christopher and Suzanne Sharp Suki Dhanda; National Portrait Gallery Rex Features

By PHOEBE FISHER /Illustrator NATALIE BOO MOSQUERA

Q&A H A MPSTE A D HE ATH

R EGEN T’ S PA R K Lisboa EUSTON

RN L BO GO

AD E RO

M WESTBOURNE PARK

YL AR

EB

E ON

AD RO

EDGWARE ROAD

ROYAL OAK

LADBROKE GROVE

TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD

R PO

Chiltern Firehouse

OXFORD CIRCUS

T L BE O

PADDINGTON

LO A RO

Granger & Co.

D

Julie’s Wine Bar

QUEENSWAY

Bar Italia

The Ladbroke Arms

PICCADILLY CIRCUS NOTTING HILL GATE

H Y DE PA R K

HOLLAND PARK

National Portrait Gallery

GREEN PARK

Eat Tokyo

HYDE PARK CORNER

Science Museum

GR EEN PA R K ST JA MES’ S PA R K Blue Bar KNIGHTSBRIDGE

SOUTH KENSINGTON

VICTORIA

Do you have a favourite London market?

SS: Portobello, because it’s on my doorstep. I drop in once a week and know all the shopkeepers. It’s part of our community, and I feel loyal to it. The best day to visit is Friday, as it’s quieter than Saturday.

Favourite London restaurant?

CS: That changes all the time for me. At the moment I’m enjoying Eat Tokyo – we go to the Notting Hill branch.

It’s an authentic Japanese restaurant where they cook in front of you and the sushi is fresh.

SS: My all-time favourite is The Wolseley, but closer to home, I currently adore Granger & Co.

The Rug Company Alpaca blankets £350 each Available from The Rug Company, Third Floor

Where would you choose to go for a drink in London?

SS: Julie’s bar in Notting Hill, or the Blue Bar at The Berkeley for something a little special.

CS: I love a good pub and prefer traditional pubs to the current trend of gastro pubs. It’s important, though, H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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to feel that you aren’t in a grubby hovel. The Ladbroke Arms, on Ladbroke Road, is an honest institution where I’m sure the lights would only reveal pristine floors.

Best coffee in London?

SS. Bar Italia in Soho.

CS: Lisboa on Golborne Road. It’s a Portuguese café that’s a bit of an institution. They serve coffee in a glass, and the clientele is varied and representative of what makes London such an interesting city.

Do you have a recent London discovery?

SS: It’s not new, just new to us: the auctions at Sotheby’s, introduced to us by our 14-year-old son. We’re addicted.

We like the way our hearts beat fast when we’re bidding.

Where do you go in London to escape?

SS: To be honest, I usually go shopping! But it’s lovely to spend time in the parks. St James’s Park is my favourite. HMN

News

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Minale Massimo “Buster’”Minale founded London design label Buster + Punch in 2013, crafting lighting and hardware from rare materials.

His latest project is the Buster Bulb

GREAT WALLS OF CHINA Though its range has expanded to include hand-carved furniture and porcelain, it’s for handpainted wallpaper that British brand De Gournay remains best known. Instrumental in the revival of chinoiserie designs, notably featuring bold flora and fauna, today the brand’s range spans gilded and silver paper-backed silk wallpapers. Bespoke designs are its speciality, though, as seen on the walls of London’s Haymarket Hotel and the newly redesigned Lanesborough.

L’Eden wallpaper from £1,279 per panel. Available from The Fabric Library, Third Floor

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

A JOY FOREVER

When it’s time to move, many find it hard to leave behind elements of their old home. Few actually take them, though – especially if the item in question is a ceiling. Marcel Wanders, however, was so enamoured with his antique plaster ceiling, decorated with garden motifs, that he removed a piece and turned it into an architectural feature in his new home. Now he’s teamed up with lighting specialist Flos to bring the look to a wider audience, through his Skygarden half-sphere lampshade. From

When the two founders appropriated the Dutch word for beautiful – mooi – for the name of their interior-design company, they stepped it up a notch. The extra “o”, they said, was meant to reflect the extra, inner beauty of their products. Fourteen years on, the range is as individual and playful as ever, not least in the Altdeutsche Cabinet, described as “an ode to the beauty of old Frankish furniture”.

Made from solid pine with pine veneer, it’s hand painted with decorative motifs that fuse the mythical and the mysterious. £5,218.

£1,363. Available from Lighting, Third Floor

Available from Moooi, Third Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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What’s the inspiration behind the Buster Bulb?

We wanted to make the world’s first beautiful LED lightbulb. All the magic of this bulb is in the patented light pipe at its core, which allows the bulb to give off a soft ambient glow which has never been achieved by LED light before.

What was the major challenge?

It’s hard to control LED so it looks good to the naked eye. When we first told people what we were trying to do, they thought we were mad – we were just three guys in a garage, who started life building motorbikes. It’s a powerful incentive, being an underdog, and so even after we spent all our money, we drove on. We had a breakthrough when we manipulated the elements that surround the LED. We invented the light pipe and played with coloured glass to get an ambient glow. It’s the piece I’m most proud of.

How would you describe your style?

My designs are always inspired by the changing faces of London, in particular its subcultures in fashion, music, bikebuilding and street art. I like my products to be an extension of London.

What are you working on right now?

Our new Hardware range will launch during London Design Week. It includes solid metal door handles, pull bars and cabinet pulls, the likes of which have never been seen or felt before.

Who is your biggest design inspiration?

My late father, Marcello Minale, who was a graphic designer, founded his own agency and designed Harrods’ logo and packaging in the 1960s.

Buster Bulb £40; pendant lights from £125. Available from Lighting, Third Floor

Must-haves

SOMETHING in the A I R From gilded black porcelain to geometric etched glass, the latest diffusers and candles make a feature of fragrance Photographer SARAH HOGAN

FROM LEFT Fornasetti reed diffuser £295; Neom Organics London designed by Jenny Packham candle £295;

By Kilian diffuser ball £275; Welton London reed diffuser £52.95; Kartell Fragrances electronic diffuser £179; Timothy Dunn London candle £139, exclusive to Harrods; WALLPAPER Cole & Son Crackle wallpaper £72 per roll Available from Home Fragrance, Second Floor; wallpaper available from The Fabric Library, Third Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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News

ANATOMY OF A BED A good night’s sleep is about more than rapid eye movement. A comfortable bed, a perfectly firm mattress and a suitably snug duvet are all essential for those critical eight hours.

Simon Horn

DOWN TO EARTH Since 1994, Shelley Simpson has been mastering pared-back crockery with ceramic specialist Mud Australia. Handmade in Sydney from Limoges porcelain, the pottery is tinted before being moulded for deeper pigmentation. Adopting a minimalist aesthetic, the organically shaped plates, bowls and jugs play with texture; the stone-like matte exterior contrasts with a glazed interior. Autumn sees the introduction of two new colour ranges: plum and bottle.

The company that introduced the sleigh bed to the UK, Simon Horn is the go-to brand for modern and classical French designs. Museum references help to recreate historical motifs as closely as possible. Valentino Bed from £6,600

From £13.95. Available from Entertaining at Home, Second Floor

Vispring The Knightsbridge mattress combines the greater breathability of bamboo fibre and the insulating properties of mohair with individually pocketed springs for ultimate comfort. Knightsbridge divan set from £10,400; exclusive to Harrods

FRENCH FANCY With a celebrity fan base that includes Lady Gaga and Madonna, Lacroix is known for fantastical creations. Not content with injecting theatre into fashion, though, the couture house has turned its hand to homeware. Pairing with textile giant Designers Guild in 2010, Lacroix has introduced colour and print to the home in abundance; the latest range, Atelier Camargue, is no exception. Inspired by the French region, where the Rhône meets the Mediterranean, four new fabric designs make a feature of texture. Double-sided faux suede, brushed satin and linen come in rich hues of green, scarlet and blue. Curitiba Perroquet cushion £100.

Available from The Fabric Library, Third Floor

HANDLE WITH CARE Who said multitasking was difficult?

Foodwear pans from KnIndustrie are the Transformers of the cooking world. The bronze-coloured stainless-steel collection, designed by architect Rodolfo Dordoni, has detachable locking handles that allow pans to be used for both cooking and serving. Glass lids double as cake stands, and casserole dishes as salad bowls. Pans from £79.95, lids from £45.95 and handles from £19.95.

Available from Cookshop, Second Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Schlossberg Hand-filled with eiderdown, Schlossberg duvets help you to stay the perfect temperature, and use press fasteners so duvets can be combined to suit any time of year. Superlight 4.5 tog duvet from £3,200 Available from Luxury Linens, Second Floor; and Simon Horn and Vispring, Third Floor

News

THE ART OF NOISE The bulky boxy speakers of yesteryear have been replaced with today’s sculptural designs

Devialet Silver Phantom Kanye West, will.i.am and Sting are all fans of this small but mighty speaker. The Silver Phantom can project up to 105 decibels, wirelessly streaming large music files so accurately that listening to music will sound like a live performance. £1,690

CARRY ON SCREENING

KEF Blade Two

Television technology is so sophisticated these days that there is rarely any need to go to the cinema for the ultimate movie experience. Loewe’s Reference TV is now available in huge 75-inch and 85-inch options fit for a crowd. Its anti-reflective glass screen and built-in 4K Ultra HD technology offer a sharp picture whatever the viewing angle, and a sophisticated arrangement of eight speakers delivers a crisp cinematic surround sound. The TV’s hard drive enables you to pause and record live TV, and stream recordings to other Loewe TVs in your house. With the Smart Assist app, you can even set recordings remotely from your phone. 85”, £17,000. Available from

Although smaller than its predecessor, Blade Two has been designed to offer the same high-end technology and powerful realistic sound. Inside is a tweeter, mid-range drivers and a three-way bass reflex that will fill the air with acoustic precision. It can even be matched to any colour you choose. From £16,000

Harrods Technology, Third Floor

COOKING WITH GLASS

POCKET SCIENCE

There’s more to a successful dinner party than delicious food. Cook with the Bugatti Noun and you’ll have a conversation piece that will last the entire evening. Just put the ingredients into a heat-resistant bag, place it between the glass-ceramic panels, and the meal will be cooked by the brand’s patented far-infrared technology; like a sous-vide, this method preserves the food’s flavours and nutrients.

Temperature, cooking time and other functions can be set using the touchscreen display or an app. £999. Available from Cookshop,

The rise of the touchscreen has turned all of us into touch typists. But sometimes, what’s needed is a keyboard larger than that of a smartphone, yet less bulky to carry around than a laptop. That’s where the portable Zagg Pocket Keyboard comes in handy. Honoured at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Awards, the foldable wireless Bluetooth device is slim, light and fits easily into a jacket pocket. Just plug Zagg into your mobile or tablet for easy typing on the go. £70. Available from

Second Floor

Vodafone, Third Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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BeoLab 19 90thanniversary edition To commemorate Bang & Olufsen’s 90th anniversary, the BeoLab 19 subwoofer has been reimagined in a black and rose-gold finish. With its distinctive dodecahedron shape that promises to project an even surround sound, the wireless BeoLab 19 is as smart as it is good-looking. £2,395 Available from Harrods Technology, Third Floor

Design

For much of the year, London can stake a valid claim to being the capital of the design world, acting as a hub for hip and hot designers, thinkers, movers and shakers.

Over nine days in September, however, there is no doubting the city’s leading status.

The annual London Design Festival, first held in 2003, has become a vehicle not only to promote the city’s creative output, but also to attract the world’s top practitioners – from emerging entrepreneurs to established exponents, manufacturers to retailers, educators to commentators – or a celebration of all things design. The festival, which runs from 19th to 27th September, hosts more than 350 events and innovative installations in illustrious venues such as the V&A and Somerset House. To mark the occasion, between 12th and 27th September, an exhibition at Harrods – Timeless Design – will bring together leading international brands to showcase previously unseen archive and limitededition pieces as well as exclusive launches.

By GUY WOODWARD and AMY BROOMFIELD

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Design

CHRISTOFLE

FROM TOP A collection of citrus

squeezers in the Alessi Museum; Philippe Starck’s original sketch; Alessi Juicy Salif in cast bronze £850

Christofle Jardin d’Eden XXL clock £16,097

The fine silver, crystal and homewares producer Christofle established its reputation during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III. The emperor encouraged bold creativity, and Christofle’s 1860 fruit bowl exemplified the opulent style of his reign. The French brand has since reflected the fashion of the era, be it a silver Paulownia-leaf crumb sweeper in the Naturalism-influenced 1880s or the geometric lines of a 1930s Art Deco ice bucket. For the Jardin d’Eden range, Christofle’s minimalism meets the whimsical flamboyance of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders.

Oversized candelabras and centrepieces with all-over etching are the mainstay of the collection; the latest addition is a similarly extravagant clock in a limited edition of 12.

Christofle will host a retrospective, Defining Design Moments of the Past 150 Years as part of Timeless Design.

Luxury Home, Second Floor

ALESSI When Philippe Starck chose to order the squid while dining with his family on the Italian island of Capraia 25 years ago, he couldn’t have imagined that we would still be dissecting the repercussions of his decision.

Squeezing a lemon over his lunch, Starck was struck by the shape of the mollusc and began sketching designs for a citrus squeezer on his napkin. He sent the drawing to Alberto Alessi, for whom he had promised to design a tray some months previously. How did Alessi feel about creating a citrus squeezer instead?

Fortunately for all concerned, Alessi had the vision and good sense to adjust his business plans accordingly, and the rest, as they say, is history. Apart, that is, from the Juicy Salif itself. Having become one of the world’s most recognisable kitchen utensils, it retains a place not only among Alessi’s bestselling products, but also in the pantheon of design classics. To mark the 25th anniversary, Alessi is releasing two special editions: one created in cast aluminium with white ceramic coating, of which just 50 have been made; the other, limited to 299 pieces, in cast bronze. Alessi will be showing five original Starck prototypes of the Juicy Salif from the Alessi Museum in Italy, alongside archival imagery and giant versions of the citrus squeezer.

Cookshop, Second Floor

Linley Crescent Fruit Bowl £995, exclusive to Harrods

LINLEY Inspiration can come in a variety of forms. In David Linley’s case, it came from a cheese bowl at his grandmother’s home. Despite his aristocratic lineage, Linley started his career as a furniture maker in a workshop above a chip shop in Dorking. The cheese bowl gave him the idea for the shape of his first accessory – a walnut fruit bowl – that has since become a signature piece. This year, Linley is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his line with the release of a series of pieces reinterpreted from their original form. So the Fruit Bowl in walnut becomes the Crescent Fruit Bowl, the Regencyinspired shape of the original transformed into a sweeping curve in American walnut with metallic edging on the base. Linley will be showing eight interpretations of original pieces to mark its 30th anniversary.

The Great Writing Room, Second Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Design

B&B ITALIA In terms of timeless design, there are few better examples than the Up Series of furniture designed by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia. It was in 1969 that the brand engaged the 30-year-old Pesce to design a range of seven pieces. It was, in some ways, a risk, particularly given Pesce’s challenging theme. “I wanted to express how women have always been prisoners of the prejudice and fears of men,” he says. It was with this in mind that he designed the Up 5 armchair with what he calls “a feminine shape”, with the Up 6 ottoman tied at its foot to represent a prisoner’s ball and chain.

The theme was potentially controversial, and the designer unproven. But the company commissioned him, and allowed him to use a pioneering material: polyurethane foam. For shipping, the pieces were vacuum-packed to reduce them to 10 per cent of their size, with the upholstery only taking shape once unpacked. Today, almost 50 years later, the pieces come complete, and the collection is as popular as ever, with a new mini version for children, UpJ.

FROM TOP 1960s

advertisements for the Up Series range; B&B Italia UpJ armchair and ottoman £910

B&B Italia will show Up 5_6, Up 7 and the new UpJ range, as well as original images, sketches and advertising materials from the line’s launch.

B&B Italia and Timeless Design exhibition, Third Floor

Fritz Hansen PD91 folding stool £10,665 and PK80 day bed £12,904

FRITZ HANSEN When it comes to designer collaborations, they don’t come much more prolific than Raf Simons; his works with Adidas, Eastpak and Fred Perry were bestsellers.

This time, the creative director of Christian Dior Couture is returning to the field in which he started his career: furniture. His latest endeavour is a textile collection, in collaboration with Danish company Kvadrat. The range, in turn, is used in new interpretations of the mid-century design classics of the PK80 daybed and PD91 folding stool, originally created for Fritz Hansen by the late designer Poul Kjaerholm. The pieces feature the highly textured Sonar 1 and 2 fabrics from the Kvadrat/Raf Simons collection, and are produced in an edition of just 25 numbered pieces. The Fritz Hansen pieces will be on show exclusively in-store during September, alongside landmark products from the brand’s archive. Fritz Hansen and Timeless Design exhibition, Third Floor

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Design

ANGLEPOISE With its streamlined design, the Anglepoise has stood the test of time, but then again, it’s no ordinary lamp.

In 1932, an automotive engineer named George Carwardine, who loved to experiment in his spare time, devised a new type of spring that could remain in position after being moved in different directions.

He patented the spring later that year and then combined it with flexible joints, a heavy base, and a special shade to focus the beam – thus the Anglepoise was born. Various models were introduced in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, but in 1992, the Original 1227 version was voted “the favourite light of all time” by 25 top designers. Today, the archetypal lamp is considered an essential desktop accessory. It is hailed as one of the most distinguished British designs alongside other classics such as the Mini Cooper and the red telephone box. Anglepoise is hosting a retrospective that shines a spotlight on key events from its 80-year history, with displays of lamps from different decades and rarely seen artefacts. Lighting and Timeless Design exhibition, Third Floor

FROM TOP Vintage advertisement;

a model from the Original 1227 Brass Collection; the 1935 patent application for the Original 1227 lamp; the Anglepoise + Paul Smith Edition Two lamp; an advertisement in Punch magazine

VITRA ABOVE Charles and Ray Eames; Vitra Lounge Chair and Ottoman set £5,430

No two designers have had quite the impact on the contemporary interiors world that Charles and Ray Eames did in the late 1940s. With pieces created in moulded plywood and fibreglass, the American husband-and-wife team’s furniture was refreshingly simple and elegant yet functional – and is still seen as such today. Among their most popular designs is the Plastic Side Chair, a versatile seating option for any room, and the Lounge Chair, the duo’s take on the living-room fixture, which they wanted to have “the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt”. Both chairs became instant classics.

The Eames’ design philosophy of placing function at the heart of their work, with fun never far behind, has had a lasting influence on the aesthetic of Swiss contemporary furniture brand Vitra, which now manufactures Eames’ products for Europe and the Middle East. Vitra’s retrospective will explore how the Eames’ ethos has influenced modern design using archived imagery and an installation on famous seating solutions from the last century. Timeless Design exhibition and Vitra, Third Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Design

KNOLL When Hans Knoll, the third generation of a family of Stuttgart furniture makers, founded his brand in New York in 1938, it was with the fundamental goal of producing pieces with a modern aesthetic. Today, Knoll continues to push the boundaries of design, but there is a decidedly retro look to many of its pieces, not least in its latest collaboration. Having worked with the likes of Frank Gehry, Marcel Breuer and Charles Pollock, the brand has teamed up with British designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby to create the Pilot Chair. “We wondered how we could go about placing new ideas into such an iconic collection,” admits Barber. The answer was by blurring the lines between an office chair and an armchair.

For the Pilot, the duo took a simple T-shaped aluminium frame and then moulded the seat, back, base and armrests onto it to create a cantilevered chair on which the seat appears to float in mid-air. The elegant silhouette is perfect in any environment, and this is reflected in the two versions of the chair – a lighter, “slimline” model and a “soft” style for extra comfort.

Knoll Pilot Chair for Knoll by Barber and Osgerby from £1,596

For the Timeless Design exhibition, in addition to the Pilot Chair, Knoll will be showing examples of its sculptural low tables designed

by Warren Platner and a new collection of lounge furniture by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. Knoll and Timeless Design exhibition, Third Floor

LIGNE ROSET While its range now extends to lighting, textiles, rugs and bed linen, French family-owned company Ligne Roset remains best known for its sofas and armchairs. It was in the 1960s that the brand first made waves with its Asmara modular seating that was marketed as being “fou, mou, doux”, which roughly translates as “mad, pliable and soft”. The pieces were intended not merely to be pushed against the walls, but to take centre stage, and offer a variety of less formal reclining options. Thereafter, Ligne Roset has led the way in the evolution of living-room furniture through the softer curves of its caterpillaresque 1973 Togo collection, the “variable geometry” of the 1985 Prao (with its adjustable back cushions and armrests), and the minimalist structure and oversized proportions of the Saint-James in 1990. The most recent line, Ploum, with its low seat and curved, nest-like form, maintains the brand’s aesthetic of combining comfort, flexibility and style. Ligne Roset will illustrate its perpetual search for comfort by showcasing its classic sofas that symbolise each decade since the 1960s. Ligne Roset and Timeless Design exhibition, Third Floor

FROM TOP Vintage

advertisements for the Togo and Asmara collections; Ligne Roset Ploum sofa £3,399 H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Design

OYUNA “A timeless design, for me, is not one that has simply existed forever, occupying the middle of the road, unchallenged,” says Oyuna Tserendorj. “It is one that challenges the status quo while also redefining it.” Tserendorj has been reinventing the world of cashmere ever since she left her native Mongolia to study in Hungary. After travelling extensively, she settled in London where she founded her own label in 2002. Starting out with a small capsule collection of meticulously sourced throws, she has expanded her range to include homewares, accessories and womenswear. It is for the throws, however, that the brand remains best known, notably for its mastery of printing cashmere, an exacting technique which it debuted in 2009.

For the Timeless Design exhibition, Tserendorj has created a new range of one-off pieces that convey the majestic Mongolian landscape through drawings and photographs that are digitally printed onto the throws, which are then hand-embroidered. “I like to think of my throws as more than just blankets,” says Tserendorj.

“They’re a canvas to showcase Mongolia’s rich heritage.”

FROM TOP The majestic

Mongolian landscape; Oyuna Vista throw £699; choosing colour combinations

Oyuna’s one-off pieces will be available exclusively at the Timeless Design exhibition, where you can also chart the journey from cashmere fibre to printed throw.

Luxury Linens, Second Floor

FROM TOP Sketch of the 18-candle Zénith Lustre chandelier; Zénith Charleston chandelier, price on request

BACCARAT The opening of the first Baccarat Hotel, set in a sleek 50-storey tower in New York this March, was a telling statement from a brand which had, a year earlier, celebrated its 250th anniversary with a major exhibition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The French crystal house certainly didn’t lack items to display, but if there is one piece that encapsulates its elegant, dazzlingly intricate style, it is surely the Zénith chandelier. First introduced in 1840, it married simplicity of form with an abundance of cut-crystal elements: crystal drops, bells, bowls, small dishes, and garlands of faceted pearls spread out like the branches of a tree. The Zénith has had a place in Baccarat’s catalogue ever since, and has been reinterpreted several times over the years, with recent renditions from Arik Levy, Louise Campbell and Philippe Starck. Now, a new version has been released. The Charleston collection references the 1920s, with the candelabras embellished with Champagne-coloured drops intended to evoke the long pearl necklaces and the draped gowns worn by the decade’s flappers. An exclusive edition in pink – a colour created by adding 24kt-gold powder – is set to follow.

Baccarat’s exhibition will chronicle the development of the Zénith chandelier through the ages, culminating in the new Charleston model.

Luxury Home, Second Floor

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Design

EDWARD BARBER & JAY OSGERBY for THE RUG COMPANY The roster of names who have created pieces for The Rug Company reads like a who’s who of contemporary design and includes Alexander McQueen, Diane von Furstenberg and Sir Paul Smith. The brand’s latest collaboration may even feature its most multitalented partners yet. Since founding their London-based studio less than 20 years ago, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby have designed everything from the London 2012 Olympic Torch to the new £2 coin, via furniture, lighting and glassware commissions, while their current portfolio includes projects for Knoll, Vitra, B&B Italia and Flos. Now they have turned their hands to children’s rugs, with a new collection of four designs featuring a tiger, a peacock, a crocodile and a frog. Made from hardwearing hand-knotted Tibetan wool, the rugs are as practical as they are eye-catching. The Rug Company’s most recent collection with Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby will be available exclusively at the Timeless Design exhibition. The Rug Company, Third Floor

Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby for The Rug Company Tiger rug 2.29m x 1.52m £2,558

FORNASETTI To celebrate 100 years since the birth of its prolific founder Piero Fornasetti, the Italian brand recently hosted an exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Practical Madness reflected the often eccentric, always distinctive Fornasetti aesthetic, exemplified in the 460 patterns he created for use on trays. Some of his designs will soon be on show in London, along with a new one-of-a-kind piece featuring musciarabia – an Italian take on mashrabiya, the Arabic word that refers to traditional Middle Eastern wooden latticework screens. First included by Fornasetti on a screen (left) in the 1950s, the Musciarabia design has been adapted by his son Barnaba for a new desk, the Ribalta Musciarabia, which has been created using the atelier’s contemporary screen-printing technique. Also on show will be a one-off desk, the Ribalta Litomatrice Musciarabia, manufactured with the original zinc-alloy plates that Fornasetti used for his lithographic printing in the fifties. Fornasetti will show a collection of heritage pieces, the original Musciarabia screen, and the Ribalta Litomatrice Musciarabia and Ribalta Musciarabia desks, exclusively at Harrods.

Luxury Home, Second Floor

FROM TOP The Practical Madness exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris; an original 1950s Geometrico screen; Fornasetti Interno del Teatro alla Scala tray £1,800 H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Design Saint-Louis craftsmen creating the La Rose paperweight; Saint-Louis La Rose paperweight £2,605 and Notus paperweight £2,305

SAINT LOUIS Queen Elizabeth II has seen fashions come and go since her accession to the British throne more than 60 years ago. But rarely has she been responsible for the revival of a particular item. However, to mark her coronation in 1953, American collector Paul Jokelson commissioned a work of glass art using a technique that hadn’t been practised since its brief heyday more than a century earlier. It was in 1845 that French crystal specialist Saint-Louis made its first paperweights using the intricate millefiori method, which involves creating decorative patterns by fusing coloured glass rods. The fashion for such paperweights died out by 1860, along with the requisite skills, but Jokelson’s tribute to Her Majesty breathed new life into the process, with four Saint-Louis craftsmen working in a dedicated workshop to remaster the technique. Inspired to resurrect its paperweight production, since 1970 the house has released new limited-edition models each year.

Among the latest are La Rose, of which there are just 100 pieces, depicting the flower seen from above with its petals spread; and the Notus – limited to 50 pieces – which is an ultra-contemporary interpretation of a waterlily that showcases the dexterous use of the blowpiping technique.

A retrospective of Saint-Louis paperweights, including one of two originals produced for the 1953 coronation, will be on show. Luxury Home, Second Floor

DAVID HICKS for PARKER & FARR

will feature in the Timeless Design exhibition alongside revamped versions of chairs, footstools and scatter cushions, all of which were originally designed in the 1970s. Classics Room and Timeless Design exhibition, Third Floor

A guided tour of the Timeless Design exhibition will begin at 3pm daily from Saturday 19th to Sunday 27th September. Visitors should meet at the Timeless Design exhibition on the Third Floor.

FROM TOP David Hicks;

the Benson sofa pictured in the Hyde Park Hotel lobby; swatch of Fiorentina Velvet Teal fabric designed

by David Hicks

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David Hicks Rex Features

With an eclecticism all of his own, designer David Hicks transformed the world of interiors from one embracing safe neutrals to one awash with pattern and colour. Hicks began his career drawing cereal boxes for an advertising agency and was projected into the limelight in 1954, when the family home he had decorated was featured in House & Garden magazine. He quickly developed a famous fan base that included Helena Rubenstein, Princess Anne and Prince Charles.

After his career in interiors took off, he also began designing his own fabrics and carpets. In the 1970s, Hicks teamed up with British furniture maker Parker & Farr, and created the Benson sofa, a contemporary design that became an instant classic and was used to furnish the lobby of the Hyde Park Hotel in 1971. To mark Parker & Farr’s 65th anniversary, this model will be revived from the archives and reissued in a special fabric designed by Hicks. The Benson sofa

Provenance

Soft T O U C H Woven from natural fibres and in subtle colours, Society’s Italian linens are contemporary with a vintage feel

By HANNAH BOOTH

The elegantly rumpled linens for which Italian fabric house Society is known may be homewares but, somehow, the term doesn’t quite do them justice.

The tablecloths, bedding and baby-soft wool blankets are the domestic equivalent of a Chloé silk blouse or an Armani suit. In fact, the brand’s founders talk of dressing every room in the house as you would yourself.

“The home is a mirror of ourselves,” says Society’s Davide Mazzarini. “People love to surround themselves with objects and colours that make them feel good. Our spaces are really just an extension of our personalities.”

From napkins and table runners to sheets and linen bread baskets, Society’s understated designs fit the layered, low-key look that is so of the moment. The

FROM TOP

Society Spon pillowcase £139 per pair and sheet, price on request; Bis pillowcase, price on request; Lite Zigs pillowcase £199 per pair; Metric super-king duvet cover £509; and Nodo throw, price on request H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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brand – with its easy-living, mussy-bedsheets feel and emphasis on neutral tones – is less a collection of pieces than a lifestyle. A home with piles of its soft, waffleweave bath sheets in the guest bathroom and a cashmere blanket on the sofa is probably one with vases of freshly cut wildflowers on the kitchen table and scented candles flickering on the mantelpiece. Its customers are encouraged to mix and match, as they might a selection of vintage dining chairs, to create that just-throwntogether look.

Yet, as contemporary as the products are, their production methods mean that they more closely resemble family heirlooms. Purposely made with natural imperfections, the fabrics have a lived-in appearance. Add to this the simple timeless designs, and the entire collection seems beyond fashion.

Society is a division of the Limonta Group – an Italian textile manufacturer that has been in operation since 1893. Starting with tapestries and Jacquard cloth, Limonta went on to weave matelassé and velvets. In the 1950s, it became a supplier for high-end fashion and interior design firms, both X

Provenance

in Italy and abroad, and has been producing Jacquards for a raft of exclusive European designers for decades.

But Society, founded in 2000, is the company’s first consumer brand, after Limonta decided to put its 100-plus years of expertise to good use. The resultant identity came via a small but important difference in the way it creates its pieces, in that they are dyed after being sewn. Mazzarini explains: “You can either dye the yarn before you weave it, or you can dye the fabric in bulk, while it’s still on the roll. But we dye it once the products are finished and sewn. It means the colours look less ‘flat’. The dyeing process takes around four hours, at 90 degrees “We dye the fabric once in huge washing machines, so the won’t shrink when you the products are finished fabrics wash them at home.” and sewn. It makes the Society is noted for its Jacquard colours look less ‘flat’ ” fabrics, for which designs are incorporated into the weave. The Meri bedding range, for example, features a doublesided sheet with a floral pattern on one side and subtle stripes on the reverse. “Jacquard is what we’re best known for,” Mazzarini says. “The process is a more CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT technical, sophisticated method of working.”

Society Lipe, Drai and Linge Aside from Jacquard, the brand’s fabrics cover the bath towels, all price on request; whole spectrum, including bed linen made from a “super the Limonta Group factory in Lombardy; Society Tab 110” extra-fine cotton thread; an extra-light linen gauze tablecloth £279, Maya tablemat rendered as light-as-air curtains; and thick cotton canvas £42.95 and Lite Violet napkin made into tablemats and slouchy travel bags. There are £29.95; Society scarf from a selection cotton, silk and wool blends; ramie – similar to linen and prized for its robustness – is used; and the natural fibre Available from Luxury Linens Manila hemp, from the Philippines, is also included. and Entertaining at Home, Second Floor Surprisingly for a young brand in this age of social H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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media, Society has gained a following with almost no help from the internet. “We have a growing network of faithful customers,” explains Mazzarini.

Similarly old-fashioned is its rejection of the cult of personality. Instead, as its name suggests, the company works as a team, rather than championing any particular designer.

The brand produces two collections a year, each an opportunity to innovate. This autumn, it will launch deeper shades, such as dark green and bordeaux, juxtaposed with pale pastels, subtle florals and geometric prints. New products include cashmere and silk double-faced blankets, wool bouclé pieces and linen-cotton pillowcases.

Outside the seasonal collections, the brand’s staples include Rem – a soft, washed-linen bedding range in muted shades; and Nite – an extra-fine cotton range.

“They are among our earliest products, but are still at the heart of a Society home collection,” says Mazzarini.

It may be a brand suited to turning houses into homes, but Society is equally popular with high-end restaurants and hotels, particularly in its native Italy.

In Rome, its bed linens grace hotel-apartments near the Trevi Fountain; if you’re staying at the five-star L’Albereta resort in Brescia, you’ll eat off Society tablecloths in its LeoneFelice restaurant.

But for all its top-end connections, Society remains more than a little mysterious – is it vintage, or is it contemporary? Either way, there’s no better feeling than when your dinner guests ask: “Where did you get these napkins?” HMN Hannah Booth is interiors editor of The Guardian

Provenance

NAT U R A L history Flora, fauna and the female form are recurrent motifs in Lalique’s signature pieces By GUY WOODWARD

All artists have their muses. But as sources of inspiration go, the prickly cacti found in parched Mediterranean scrubland are one of the less obvious jumping-off points. René Lalique was nothing if not unconventional, however, and the fact that the new collection from his eponymous brand revolves around its ageless Languedoc vase of 1929 is a fitting reflection of its founder’s signature aesthetic.

Lalique was a lover and keen student of nature.

His interest, however, extended well beyond the academic. When creating glassware, he realised that by integrating the natural shapes of plants, animals

and the female form, he could soften the geometric lines of Art Deco style. Flora and fauna have been a recurring theme on the mood board of the venerable French crystal house ever since.

It was not glass where Lalique started his career, however. The young trailblazer made his name as a jewellery designer, working in Paris for houses such as Cartier and Boucheron. Emboldened by the positive reaction to his designs, in 1888 he opened his own workshop and created a range of pieces in chased gold (where designs are applied to the metal). In marked contrast to the prevailing mood of the era, Lalique’s

Lalique Languedoc vase £4,290 H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Provenance

vision was to prioritise the overall beauty of his creations above the luxury of their constituent parts. Soon he was combining less prestigious materials – ranging from horn to enamel, ivory to semiprecious stones – to create avant-garde pieces that appealed more to the intellectual and artistic than to trend-watchers and the fashionconscious. Rejecting the popular ornate styles, he selected elements for his designs purely on the basis of the light and colour they brought.

The great French actress Sarah Bernhardt was among those who appreciated this beauty, and in commissioning several pieces – spanning necklaces to tiaras – from her countryman, she “Flora and fauna references helped Lalique to make his name remained at the heart of among the Paris cognoscenti.

As Lalique’s designs became Lalique’s designs, reaching more and more daring, he brought a notable apogee with another under-used material into the Languedoc vase” play: glass. Through engraving and setting, he was able to increasingly employ it in place of gemstones, and also began making small glass artefacts and vases. Eventually, he attracted the attention of the renowned perfumer François Coty, who invited Lalique to join him in designing flacons for his scents. Together they revolutionised the way perfume was presented, with the bottles becoming almost as integral to the appeal as the scent itself.

By now Lalique’s fascination with glass was becoming all-consuming, and in 1909 he opened a glassworks near Paris, where he experimented with more and more intricate designs. As the focus of the TOP, FROM LEFT Temperatures company shifted towards the material, in 1912, he reach 1,400°C in the hot-glass workshops; the majority of the debuted a number of designs at his first glass-only manipulation is done in the exhibition, and it was so well received that shortly cold-glass workshops; ABOVE, afterwards he staged his final jewellery exhibition.

FROM TOP René Lalique; Lalique Singes vase £590 Subsequently devoting himself entirely to the world H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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of glass, Lalique could allow his imagination to run riot, and soon his repertoire extended from perfume bottles and statuettes to vases and tableware.

Having stamped his personality on Art Nouveau jewellery, he then made his own Art Deco aesthetic through the medium of glass. This, though, was a softer, more subtle take on the style’s traditional geometric forms; fluid and minimalist, tactile and curved, with an emphasis on elegance. Out went the multilayered, multicoloured pieces of the time; in came a cleaner, brighter feel, showcasing the material’s transparency. And flora and fauna references remained at the heart of his designs, reaching a notable apogee with the accentuated relief and grander proportions of the Languedoc vase.

The vase, first created in 1929, takes its imagery from the Languedoc region of southern France, in the form of finely chiselled cactus leaves in satin-finished and repolished crystal. Now, 86 years on, the vase has been reimagined at the Lalique factory in Wingensur-Moder in Alsace. Three sizes and four colours – clear, green, purple and bronze – are available in the new collection, alongside vases representing artichokes and agave plants.

While René Lalique was responsible for introducing the house’s signature – a contrast between clear and satin-finished glass – it was his son Marc who moved into the world of crystal, furthering the brand’s reputation. Today, the portfolio includes fragrances, decorative objets, jewellery, art and – since 2011 – furniture. It is with glassmaking, though, that Lalique is destined to be most closely associated, with the Languedoc vase the ultimate expression of the house’s elegant, natural, but highly technical approach. HMN Available from Luxury Home, Second Floor

Dining

P U R E and S I M P L E Scandinavian inspiration brings cool, calm neutrals and functional styling to the table Photographer SARAH HOGAN

FROM LEFT LSA Lotta vase £74.95; KnIndustrie 26cm casserole £99.95 and lid £47.95; Mud Australia water jug £90.95 and carafe

£52.95; Society tablecloth £279 and Maya table mat £42.95; LSA Haze tumbler £23.95 for 4; Jars Epure tumbler £21.95; Mud Australia dinner plate £34.95 and salad plate £24.95; Jars Epure bowl £28.95; Fritz Hansen PK9 chairs £4,124 each H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Dining

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Mud Australia carafe £52.95, rice bowl £25.95 and tray £90.95; The Linen Works napkin £8.95; Mud Australia extra large bowl £299; Georg Jensen Barbry spoon and spatula £35.95; Mud Australia cereal bowls £31.90 each; Jars Plume Perle dessert plates £27.95 each; Mud Australia dinner plates in Milk and Ash £34.95 each; Cutipol Goa 24-piece cutlery set £235

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Society napkin £29.95; Mud Australia two-cup teapot £120; Villeroy & Boch Daily teaspoon £20.95 for 6;

Mud Australia sugar bowl £15.95, round jug £15.95, bowl £45.95 and latte cup £24.95; Jars Epure 20cm plate £27.95; Cutipol 24-piece Moon cutlery set £229; Fritz Hansen PK9 chair £4,124; The Linen Works tea towel £12.95 Available from Entertaining at Home, Luxury Home and Villeroy & Boch, Second Floor; Fritz Hansen, Third Floor; and harrods.com

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Provenance

British H E R I TAG E Thirty years on from its founding above a chip shop, furniture brand Linley is creating pieces for the ages By AMY BROOMFIELD “I knew from a young age that I wanted to create beautiful things,” says furniture maker David Linley.

“I developed an affinity for working with wood, but I couldn’t have dreamed that Linley would become the company it is today.” As the brand turns 30, it is a widely established name, featuring prominently in stylish homes around the world, as well as on the occasional super-yacht.

Despite Linley’s aristocratic heritage, the beginnings of his “We create items that are company were decidedly humble. His unique, intriguing and built first workshop was above a chip shop to last for generations” in Dorking, and it was here that he toiled to perfect his carpentry skills.

This was also where he vowed to produce wooden furniture with a focus on quality rather than quantity.

Three decades on and Linley designs have stood the TOP, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT test of time. Inlaid woods, secret desk drawers and Linley London Landmark Triptych £2,400; marquetry is a beautiful marquetry made from ebony and walnut painstaking craft; David are among the brand’s signatures. “We are constantly Linley in his workshop in 1985; pushing ourselves to produce the best,” Linley says.

ABOVE Linley Pimlico Road photograph frame £595 “By combining innovative design with the finest British craftsmanship, we create items that are Available from The Great unique, intriguing and built to last for generations.”

Writing Room, Second Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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To mark the brand’s 30th anniversary, Linley has selected eight items that each represent a time in his company’s history. “We handpicked pieces from our archives and asked our designers to reinterpret them,” he says. “There is a wonderful narrative behind each of them.” One of his personal favourites is the Broken Pediment frame that has been renamed the Pimlico Road photograph frame to commemorate the company’s move to the area in 1993. The new edition is made with a marquetry inlay that is rippled with white and grey sycamore. A silver plaque bears the year.

Being “inescapably and innately British” is an important factor in Linley’s work, and many of his designs are inspired by the city he lives in. Another piece in the anniversary collection is the London Landmark Triptych, cleverly finished with motherof-pearl – pearl being the traditional 30th wedding anniversary gift. “Architecture, art, travel and London all inspire me,” Linley says. “I always encourage people to look up when they are walking through London, as often the interesting architecture is right at the top of buildings. I like to keep my mind open and inquisitive – it can sometimes be the tiniest detail that inspires the most brilliant design idea.” HMN

Kitchen

S H A K E it U P Being a whizz in the kitchen has never been so easy with the latest line of do-it-all gadgets Photographer DENNIS PEDERSEN Bugatti Vento blender ÂŁ999; exclusive to Harrods

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Kitchen THIS PAGE Drop Kitchen

Connected Scale and Recipe App £79.95; OPPOSITE PAGE Vitamix S30 blender £399 Available from Cookshop and Home Appliances, Second Floor

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Provenance

Counter intuitive With its latest kitchens, Italian brand Lago combines a genius for design with a quirky sense of humour By GUY WOODWARD

ALL PHOTOS

Lago 36e8 kitchen Available from Lago, Third Floor

It’s not unusual to come across designers who are, to put it diplomatically, a touch quirky, be it through their dress sense or their working environment. A maverick approach can, it seems, liberate the creative inspiration.

But is it possible for a whole company to embody such an eccentric, madcap spirit?

In the case of Lago, it appears it most certainly is.

The Italian interior design brand views its products as an “alphabet” for customers, labels its collections under character traits – Devotion, Curiosity, Wisdom and Foolishness – and has published a manifesto of its design ethos. (The 11-point document comprises such mantras as #3: “We believe in the atoms and bits of human relationships”; and #4: “We have a compass: head, heart, courage”; while #6 is left blank, to be filled in by the customer, because “Lago is not a completed text”.)

The Lago journey may be constantly evolving, but it has already come a long way since Policarpo Lago began making cabinets for churches and manor houses in late-19th-century Venice. Slowly but surely – as each H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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subsequent generation took over – the family company’s range grew. Then, the 1980s saw Lago branch out into furniture for the whole home. Today, the fourth generation designs everything from wallpaper to floor coverings, rugs to mirrors, “huggy” armchairs to “floating” beds – and all with a highly contemporary, minimalist aesthetic and a knowingly humorous touch.

The Flattua (or floating) bed embodies the brand’s sense of fun; supported by a single leg, it gives the illusion of space by dispensing with the superfluous.

Similarly, the Et Voilà wardrobe employs a single fabric door in a format Lago terms “dressable furniture”. But it is in the kitchen where the brand’s creative spirit runs free. Its 36e8 template allows for multiple options for the composition of its maze-like, contiguous units and shelving – again via optical illusions of “suspended” cabinets. Appliances are hidden away in cupboards or larders, revealed by single touch doors, while items such as the Depth basin, with its transparent slanted base, play tricks with the mind in terms of perception and space.

Lago positions itself as a lifestyle, with its “Interior Life Network” linking Lago-clad offices, hotels, cafés and restaurants through a social media network. Customers are made to feel like members of a club, with owners of properties furnished entirely with Lago products encouraged to open their doors and host events. You don’t have to be mad to be a member, but it might just help. HMN

Beds

BEDTIME S T O RY From florals to furs, paisley to zigzags, the latest bed linens are designed to be clashed Photographer JOANNA PATERSON

Vispring Hera headboard from £845; BED LINENS, FROM LEFT Missoni Passiflora cushions £349 each and Roma cushion from £209; Oyuna Seren cushion £269; Schlossberg Eden king-size duvet cover £769 and pillowcases £129 each; Missoni Oswin throw £329; CLOTHING, FROM LEFT Molo pyjamas £74.95 and £79.95

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Vispring Wilton headboard from £1,370; BED LINENS, FROM LEFT La Perla Venere pillowcases £319 each and South Sea throw £599; Etro Boonville cushion, price on request and Cranberry cushion £199; Missoni Remich cushion £379; Etro Granville cushion £249, Whitehall cushion £249, Mooers cushion £199 and Boonville bedspread £999; CLOTHING Derek Rose pyjamas £69.95

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Beds

Vispring Iris headboard £1,790; BED LINENS, FROM LEFT Frette Sempione Arredo pillowcases (part of a set with a duvet cover) £1,350, Sempione Pizzo pillowcases (part of a set with a duvet cover) £1,600; La Perla Margherita cushions £129 each; Frette Mia cushion £899 and throw £3,000; Missoni Reunion cushions from £169; Versace Jacquard bedspread £3,875 and Medusa bedspread £4,895; CLOTHING Molo pyjamas £99.95

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Vispring Helios headboard £1,095; BED LINENS, FROM LEFT Schlossberg Forte pillowcases £129 each and king-size duvet cover £769; Missoni Masuleh cushion £429, Paraguay cushion £179, Margot cushion £269, Rajam cushion £399, Jill quilt £729 and John bedspread £699; CLOTHING Derek Rose pyjamas £69.95 Available from Bed Linens and Luxury Linens, Second Floor; Vispring, Third Floor; and Children’s Nightwear & Underwear, Fourth Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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F R E N C H evolution Gallic designers have a long tradition of fusing the classic and contemporary – an approach that is seen to its fullest in the work of three heritage brands

By GILES KIME

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T

here are many distinguishing qualities of French design. But if there is a single prevailing attitude, a signature trait, it would be that excitement about the future is matched by affection for the past. Almost wherever you look in France, new and old sit side by side. Look at the Palais du Louvre, its gleaming glass and steel pyramid providing a monument to classical art while adding modernist glamour to the setting. The scene is typical of a striking juxtaposition that is ubiquitous in France, not just in architecture but also in furniture design; look only at the collections of a family-owned brand such as Roche Bobois and you will see designs firmly rooted in the French vernacular sitting happily next to progressive collaborations with Luigi Gorgoni, Paola Navone and Vladimir Kagan. In textiles and wallpaper, the same approach applies, with a revered brand like Pierre Frey spanning everything from classic fabrics by the historic house Braquenie to cutting-edge collections inspired by modern fashion and aboriginal art.

Yet it isn’t just in the old and the new that French designers find a rich seam of inspiration; in the 18th

century, the furniture workshops of Paris, Orléans and Lyon were cradles of eclecticism where designers and artists took inspiration – not only from Europe’s classical past, but also from the exotic destinations of the country’s trade routes. India, China and Africa all had an impact on art, architecture and interior design.

The aim, though, was never to slavishly copy – instead designers embraced ideas, forms and techniques that contributed something new and exciting.

How do these disparate forms make cohesive sense in an interior? With an impressive Gallic insouciance, framed in a classic setting. France’s reverence for its heritage means period buildings are treated with sensitivity, rather than pared back to minimalist boxes to suit the passing whims of their owners. Stone floors, 19th-century parquet and original tiles create a calming, layered backdrop to schemes that are absorbed into a broad canvas, from Louis XV to Philippe Starck.

It is an approach that permeates beyond the salon.

In the kitchen and dining room, Laguiole knives – that for two centuries have been as intrinsic to French gastronomy as foie gras and truffles – sit happily X H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Roche Bobois

Profile sofa £4,430; Mauviel pans from £39.95; Le Creuset casserole dish £145; Laguiole carving set £239; OPPOSITE PAGE Du Bout du Monde Lafayette headboard £1,949 and bench £899

alongside the latest kitchen appliances and staples from Gien, Mauviel and Le Creuset.

In a world that relentlessly embraces the new at the expense of the old, this seamless join between tradition and innovation is the reason French design continues to captivate – that and the fact French brands make instinctive good taste seem elegantly effortless.

MOISSONNIER Bourg-en-Bresse makes a fitting birthplace for one of France’s most revered and historic furniture brands; the forested region that surrounds it is home to a rich mix of timbers – oak, ash and burr elm, as well as beautifully coloured fruitwoods including pear, cherry and walnut. The company in question was founded in 1885 by Emile Moissonnier, a painter and sculptor who turned his creative abilities to furniture design. As the industry was transformed by new industrial techniques, he remained passionate about the possibilities offered by artisanal production. In the 1920s, the business passed into the hands of his sons Gabriel and Paul, and Moissonnier’s reputation burgeoned as new

markets opened up around the world.

The evolution of the brand demonstrates the capacity of French designers to turn the styles of the past into something refreshingly new. In the 1970s, under the creative hand of Jean-Loup Moissonnier, who started his career as a painter and fashion photographer, the brand took a new direction. A passion for antique and vintage furniture led him to create collections inspired by classic pieces he bought at markets and auctions (an approach still prevalent in designs such as the D’Aurevilly sofa, which echoes 19th-century style with carved cabriole legs, sinuous lines and luxurious upholstery). Yet increasingly, while the range reflected the structure and patina of the originals, styles were merged to create something startlingly different.

At the same time, Jean-Loup’s wife, Anne-Pierre, employed her experience as a fashion designer to add bold colour and pattern to the mix. The resulting pieces were more of an artistic statement than an item of domestic furniture – witness the Louis XV commode in a leopard-skin finish: a brilliant example of fashion meeting furniture design. X H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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“The brand demonstrates the capacity of French designers to turn the styles of the past into something refreshingly new”

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT Moissonnier

bedside table £5,099; handpainting Moissonnier furniture; paints and finishes; Moissonnier chest of drawers £10,499; OPPOSITE PAGE Grange Jacob bed £2,054, bedside table £820 and bench £1,251

Design

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To reflect the influence of the catwalk, each new collection was revealed in the style of an haute couture fashion show. From a chest of drawers covered in jeans to designs reflecting Marie Antoinette’s taste (but given a pop makeover) new designs have never failed to surprise, amuse and inspire. More recently, Moissonnier has offered bespoke designs created to clients’ specifications.

Today, it sits alongside Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Baccarat as a leading French luxury brand. Still the evolution continues, though, in the hands of a new generation. At the heart remains the tradition of French craftsmanship – the creation of bronze work, the carving, gilding, silver plating, tapestry, leatherwork and upholstery. To keep these skills alive, trainee furniture makers from France’s top schools come to be trained in the Moissonnier workshops, with the best recruited to preserve both the brand’s ethos and the continued integration of young and old.

GRANGE An hour-and-a-half ’s drive from Bourg-en-Bresse, southwest of Lyon, is Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise,

home of another French furniture brand. Grange was founded in 1904 by Joseph Grange. And while Moissonnier has thrived by embracing the possibilities of fashion, Grange has succeeded in adapting classic designs for modern living.

Grange’s distinctive quality sits deep within the history of French furniture design. The 18th and 19th centuries were a golden era for craftsmanship and decorative arts; furniture wasn’t just an opportunity to indulge in classically inspired form, but also in lavish and exotic materials – ebony, tortoiseshell and ivory – via painstaking carving, gilding and marquetry. While this style of furniture matched the grand hotels of Paris and the châteaux of the Loire, in France’s deep south, the taste was for furniture that was simpler and better suited to the lifestyle and the climate. And while Provençal furniture, with its cabriole legs, shared many of the forms of Parisian furniture, the detailing was simpler, the materials and finishes more robust.

It is this practice of combining traditional style, pared-back design and painstaking craftsmanship with the demands of everyday life that is at the heart H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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“Combining traditional style and painstaking craftsmanship with the demands of everyday life is at the heart of Grange”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Grange Louis-Philippe king-size bed £3,467; Louis-Philippe headboard £1,210 and bed bench £930; Ermitage single bed £1,855

Design

of Grange. The company continues to evolve, most recently with new designs that combine the spirit of the past with modern styling and finishes. Other pieces each have small imperfections that lend a rustic look. A comparison of the Louis-Philippe and Ermitage beds demonstrates the breadth of its range; the former is classically simple – perfect for purists – while the latter is a chic interpretation of France’s rustic past.

DU BOUT DU MONDE More recently, new arrivals have come to the fore, bringing a more modernist approach. Some, such as Du Bout du Monde, have pulled together different strands in the country’s design heritage, creating classic and contemporary furniture that sits effortlessly in an authentically Gallic palette. The essence of this look is not just key pieces such as sofas, bookcases and dining tables, but also ceramics, lighting and mirrors that are integral to creating a layered scheme. Established in 1989 by Georges Lustig, this innovative Paris-based company has

come to epitomise the diverse nature of contemporary French style; in the true spirit of French eclecticism, no piece is the same as the next. Traditional shapes are brought up to date with soft contemporary colours and textures creating a look that is infinitely greater than the sum of its parts. Its Touraine dining table is typical in combining elements of old and new, while the Bourbon chairs represent an archetype of French period furniture, with a contemporary black finish.

Grange, Moissonnier and Du Bout du Monde offer different interpretations of France’s past as well as an insight into the spirit of French creativity. Rather than turning their backs on classic styles, the country’s designers are inspired by their heritage to make something new. In France, the past and present are never far apart. HMN Giles Kime is executive editor of Homes & Gardens CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Available from Cookshop, Second Floor; The Bed Studio, Du Bout du Monde and Roche Bobois Nouveaux Classiques, Third Floor; and harrods.com H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Du Bout du Monde Le Lord sofa £5,459; Amiens chair £649; Touraine dining table £2,279; Bourbon chair £689

Style

ON E in a M I L L ION Watchmaker and antique-racing-car enthusiast Richard Mille has filled his home with an eclectic mix of furnishings and curios

Château de Monbouan Alan Lee at Uber London

By AMY BROOMFIELD / Interiors and portrait photography STÉPHANE GALLOIS

Richard Mille’s home, Château de Monbouan H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Style

“What breathes life into the castle is the quirky choice of curios” BOTH PAGES, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Richard

Mille in his garage; the antique Formula 1 cars; the living room with its velvet chaise, paintings and chickens; the stone goose stands guard in the hallway; the second living room with its gothic look H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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just beyond its borders. Back in the 18th century, many castle owners were forced to sell their land to fund the maintenance of the building, Mille explains, so finding this kind of space was extremely lucky.

Just inside the château’s huge front door is a sweeping staircase in rich mahogany that dominates the foyer.

Double doors open up to a grand living room filled with rustic furnishings in soft neutral tones. Floorlength curtains billow at the large bay windows and an elegant chandelier hangs above a velvet chaise. On one side is a large weathered armoire showcasing a collection of delicate crystal and glassware. Next door is a second living room with a wholly different look. The walls are painted duck-egg blue, while the furniture is a mixture of gold and black with purple accents that give

Photographer’s assistant Yannis Nivault

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atchmaker Richard Mille is a man of contrasts. Horologically speaking, he is an innovator – the designer of the world’s most expensive and complicated timepieces. His home is a different story – an 18thcentury castle on the outskirts of Rennes filled with objets d’art from days gone by, and a serious collection of antique Formula 1 cars, just for good measure.

It’s a cloudy day when we arrive at Mille’s home. Our car takes a turn down a neatly manicured drive with tall trees. A pretty lake comes into view. We turn a corner and there it is: the expansive Château de Monbouan, a towering mansion made of sand-coloured granite.

We’re told Monsieur Mille is hidden away in his favourite spot, the office above his garage, and it’s from here that he emerges. He is dressed in a smart black dress shirt and jeans, and wearing his signature tortoiseshell glasses. His manner is sprightly and enthusiastic; he grins proudly as we admire his racing cars, polished and lined up like well-loved trophies.

Together with his personal mechanic, he likes to deconstruct the engines and meticulously examine the parts. “Watches?” he says with a shrug. “This is my real work.” These aren’t just any cars, either, but first-edition models once driven by F1 legends such as James Hunt, Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren.

Space for his automotive collection was an essential prerequisite of Mille’s when he went château-hunting back in 2002. It’s a home that took him and his wife nearly a year to find, but when they did, they had to have it. “Structurally, it was perfect. My wife and I loved it straightaway – the lake, the trees, the landscape. It’s simply beautiful,” he says. Next to the castle is an old building that was once used for home-schooling. When Mille moved there, it still had the original benches inside and an old bell above the door. There are also stables, one part of which is home to his horses, while the other is used to house an ever-growing collection of sculptures and ornaments. The entire property sits on 65 acres of surrounding greenery, with a wild forest

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it a gothic edge. But what breathes life into the lofty, high-ceilinged castle is the quirky choice of curios: a stone goose bears a crown in the hallway, taxidermised chickens perch on a side table, and a crow stands watch over a child’s truck. “I enjoy a personal kind of eclecticism,” says Mille. “My approach in interiors is to surprise and refresh the senses with all kinds of juxtapositions; thus one is never bored and always sees the world from different angles.” Taxidermy is prevalent everywhere. “You might turn a corner from an elegant room with parquet floors and suddenly find yourself in a farmyard,” he says. “I like to think this kind of decor makes you stop and look, perhaps even smile.”

Mille prides himself on the element of surprise and intrigue. Back in 2001, he famously established

ABOVE Richard Mille RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur, price on request. Available from The Fine Watch Room, Ground Floor H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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his own brand that he declared would be free of cost restraints, and would instead focus on the detail and complications of the watch movements. Such an idea might have seemed frivolous and many were sceptical, but he maintains that every single part of a Richard Mille watch has a function. He was the first to use composite materials and apply engineering techniques that echoed those found in British racing cars. He also developed the distinctive tonneau shape that became the brand’s hallmark.

“To me, they are pieces of art,” he says. “A real connoisseur knows a Mille watch is an important part of horological history. They are often referred to as ‘the Formula 1 of watches’,” – a name he no doubt delights in – “so if you think about what it takes to make a

Interview

GET THE LOOK Du Bout du Monde Diderot chair from £1,399 and candlestick from £99

Yves Delorme pillowcases £69.95 each and king-size duvet cover £339

Timothy Oulton 40cm x 40cm cushion £110

Vera Wang for Wedgwood Hue Smoke carafe £40

Waterford Cranmore nine-arm chandelier £3,500

car, it’s the same with our designs; sometimes they can take seven or eight years to complete.”

In 14 short years, his brand has achieved worldwide fame. Today, Richard Mille’s designs are worn by the likes of Rafael Nadal, Natalie Portman and, of course, Formula 1 drivers including Felipe Massa and Romain Grosjean.

When Mille isn’t designing watches or tinkering away under a car bonnet, he slows right down to enjoy what he calls “gentlemanly pastimes”. Such hobbies include restoring his château grounds to their 18th century origins. “Everything life offers interests me,” he says. “I respect the history of the home I have; it’s all part of the multifaceted approach to life that I embrace.” HMN

Jars teacup & saucer £32.95

“I respect the history of the home I have”

Cire Trudon candle £64.95

FROM TOP The castle exudes an

air of relaxed elegance; some of the curios on display H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Available from Entertaining at Home, Home Fragrance, Luxury Linens and Wedgwood & Waterford Crystal, Second Floor

Style

Timothy Oulton Crystal Chandelier £1,275 Labrazel Lydia Gold range from £229

Rodarte for The Rug Company Cobalt rug £7,697

Grange A La Reine armchair £3,926

Gien Pivoines Bleues vase £1,499

Flos Chrysalis floor lamp £1,800

DECA DE R E V I VA L Lalique Rayons bowl £1,790

Go vintage and beyond as the AW15 season sees designers tap into all things retro, from late-Victorian decadence to the offbeat ’70s

By STEPHANIE MONTEATH Du Bout du Monde Ro mirror £779

Frato Chicago console from £2,369

Waterford Clarendon Cobalt glass £150 per pair

Cole & Son Folie Versailles wallpaper £120 and Chippendale China wallpaper £80 per 10m roll

Chelini table £5,699

Etro coat £1,575 Etro Hurgarton cushion £249

1880s OPULENCE This season’s 1880s revival sees embroidery, enamelling and embellishment return with patterned upholstery, gilded porcelain and rugs.

Reminiscent of the William Morris era, furniture and accessories take on organic shapes; witness the ochre curved armchair by Grange and cerulean crystal glasses by Waterford. For a touch of the regal, an Etro cushion makes the perfect accessory.

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Style

The Rug Company Zebra Gold rug £7,697

Timothy Oulton Geode Pendant lamp £2,800

Artek floor lamp £2,837

Yves Delorme Fibre pillowcases £69.95 each

Ligne Roset Voltige sofa £2,223

Christoper Guy Iribe armchair from £3,529

Villiers Chicago console £7,579

Du Bout du Monde Gueridon Sacre Franck side table from £449

Waterford cocktail glasses £100 per pair and decanter £160

Oscar de la Renta dress £3,675

Cole & Son Feather Fan and Hicks’ Hexagon wallpapers £72 per 10m roll

1920s GEOMETRY Clean lines in stark brass and iron compositions offer a metropolitan update with a 1920s sheen. A longline Artek floor lamp and a flowering-lotus chair from Christopher Guy are Deco additions to an architectural interior. Graphic prints alongside a neutral palette and reflective geode-style lighting from Timothy Oulton create a sophisticated ambiance.

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Style Cole & Son Palm Leaves wallpaper £72 per 10m roll

Tom Dixon Beat lights from £285

KitchenAid Artisan mixer £449

Anglepoise Type 75 mini desk lamp £105 Ligne Roset Harry armchair £1,934

Roberts Revival radio £169

The Rug Company Flamingo wallhanging £965

Prada gilet £1,530, skirt £1,095, gloves £405 and bag price on request

Fritz Hansen Favn sofa from £4,777

Mud medium carafe £90.95 and teacup and saucer £52.95

1950s CABANA This season’s alternative rock’n’roll trend sings with tropical palm-leaf prints, flamingos and retro Roberts radios.

Lighting takes on molecular shapes, while matte ceramics come together with a palette of pale neutrals with pastel accents to create a Miami-suburban feel.

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Trends

Trends

HOME COMFORTS This autumn, marry the strong, simple and graphic with the romantic, textural and detailed for looks that span the ages Photographer BROTHERTON-LOCK / Stylist EMILIO PIMENTEL-REID

HIGHLAND RETREAT

FROM LEFT Du Bout du Monde Canister

Semillon £529; Tom Dixon Beat Floor Brass lamp £855; The Original Sofa Co Victorian Porters Chair £8,999; BoConcept Cenova cushion in Chocolate Firenze £127; Oyuna Diamo Sunset throw £549; BoConcept picture from a selection; Giorgetti Ling coffee tables £2,012 and £1,941; Baccarat Everyday tumbler £330 for set of 6; Lalique Courlis vase £1,250; L’Objet Malachite tray £100 H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Trends

HIGHLAND RETREAT

FROM LEFT Timothy Oulton Boy on a Horse

picture £450; Moissonnier Gency Medaillon chairs £2,089 each and gaming table £3,899; Baccarat Harmonie Square Whiskey Decanter £650 and Everyday glass £330 for set of 6; Purling chess set £750; Chelini stool from £1,319; The Original Sofa Co The Wilmington sofa £9,499; Oyuna Andro throw £849; Alexander McQueen for The Rug Company Hummingbird cushion £600; Du Bout du Monde Bow and Arrow picture £2,639; Roche Bobois Nouveaux Classiques lamp £859; Dedar Playful Plaid fabric (as curtains) £124.50 per metre; Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company Squiggle Blue rug £4,688; Eichholtz Smythson coffee table £2,069 (ON COFFEE TABLE Baccarat Everyday glass £330 for set of 6; Christofle Clivage bowl £1,392; B&O Play H6 headphones £329; Du Bout du Monde Horse Tang Large £649); Timothy Oulton Gyro chandelier £750; Eichholtz Gregory chairs £919 each; Meng Phoenix cushions £199 each; Chelini column with vase £3,879; The Original Sofa Co Milena armchair £14,499; Timothy Oulton Regiment Brass Drum lamp table £975

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Trends

MONOCHROME LIVING

FROM LEFT Lago Net storage £6,800 (ON SHELVES Artemide Dalù lamp £73; Christofle

Fidelio double photo frame £318; Vitra wooden cat £175; Baccarat Eye vase small £485; Bernardaud Calder dinner plate £474 for set of 6); B&B Italia Husk armchair £2,665 and Dives sofa £16,884 (CUSHIONS B&B Italia Lutetia square cushions £174 each, Dives rectangular cushions £136 each; Missoni Piaui cushion £114 and Realeza cushion £184); Pierre Frey Sakura Noir fabric (as wall hanging) £266 per metre; Paul Smith for The Rug Company Umbra rug £4,187; Knoll Bertoia Diamond chair £1,212; Fornasetti Egocentrismo stool £700; Fritz Hansen coffee table £4,246 (ON TABLE Vitra large wooden dog £175 and small wooden cat and dog £95 each; Takahashi Hiroko candle £62.95; Lalique Mossi vase £7,600); Fritz Hansen daybed £12,904 (CUSHIONS B&B Italia Dives rectangular cushion £136; Missoni Reynosa cushion £174); Roche Bobois Trace floor lamp £2,780; Fornasetti Tergonomico tray (on wall) £315; Bang & Olufsen BeoSound Moment £1,795; BoConcept Dark Romantic framed photo £299; Bang & Olufsen BeoLab subwoofer £2,295

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Trends

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

FROM LEFT Rubelli for Armani Casa Jasaan

fabric (as curtains) £260 per metre; The Rug Company Persian Bayat rug £7,955; Chelini dog sculpture £1,159; Jonathan Charles drawers £3,029; Linley Sapphire jewellery box £9,500; Du Bout du Monde Banquette Splendid £849; Simon Horn Valentino bed (without mattress) £6,700 (ON BED Fendi Casa fur (black) £12,260, fur (brown) £18,170 and throw £2,210; Frette Doppio Ajour super-king duvet cover set £1,200; Roberto Cavalli Cinci pillowcases £139 per pair; Frette Mila cushions £369 each); Amy Somerville Axial bookcase £3,749; Lalique Tourbillon vase £3,600; Cire Trudon candle £74.95; Lee Broom Crescent lights £985 each; Christopher Guy Plumage screens £9,939 each; Eichholtz Beard side table £1,149 (ON TABLE Christofle Madison tray £258, OldFashioned glass £47 and Albi thermos £547; Chopard Happy Sport alarm clock £715); Frato Dubai II armchair £1,739

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Trends

MODERN MISCELLANY

FROM LEFT Ligne Roset Long Island chair

£551; BoConcept City of Light picture (reflected in mirror) £299; Du Bout du Monde Lily console £499; Flos Ray T lamp £605; B&B Italia Psiche mirror £2,220; The Rug Company Spectrum rug £6,193; Giorgetti Eos wheeled side table £1,686; (ON SIDE TABLE Saint-Louis Amadeus water jug £375; Hermès Voyage en Ikat bowl £320); Tom Dixon Melt copper pendant lights £575 each and Melt mini pendant lights £370 each; Fritz Hansen PK9 chairs £4,124 each, Grand Prix chairs from £329 each, Series 7 chair £523 and Essay table £4,247 (ON DINING TABLE Villeroy & Boch Ella 44-piece cutlery set £799.20; Hermès Voyage en Ikat presentation plates £352 each, dinner plates £155 each, dessert plates £160 each and salad bowl £729; Alexandre Turpault napkins £24.95 each; Baccarat Mosaïque tumblers £160 each; Riedel Veritas Cabernet Merlot wine glasses £55 for 2; Georg Jensen 8-candle candelabra £240 and 4-candle candelabra £175; Alessi Joy bowl £69); Lago Morgana storage drawers £3,558

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H A R RODS HOME & PROPERT Y

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Trends

MODERN MISCELLANY FROM LEFT The Rug Company Spectrum

rug £6,193; Fritz Hansen Essay table £4,247, PK9 chairs £4,124 each and Grand Prix chair from £329 (ON TABLE Villeroy & Boch Ella 44-piece cutlery set £799.20; Hermès Voyage en Ikat presentation plates £352 each, dinner plates £155 each, dessert plates £160 each and salad bowl £729; Alexandre Turpault napkins £24.95 each; Baccarat Mosaïque tumblers £160 each; Riedel Veritas Cabernet Merlot wine glasses £55 for 2; Georg Jensen 8-candle candelabra £240; Alessi Joy bowl £69); Lago Morgana storage drawers £3,558

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Available from Bed Linens, Entertaining at Home, Luxury Home and Luxury Linens, Second Floor; B&B Italia, Bang & Olufsen, BoConcept, Classics Room, Eichholtz, The Fabric Library, Fendi Casa, Frato, Fritz Hansen, Giorgetti, Knoll, Lago, Lighting, Ligne Roset, The Original Sofa Co, Roche Bobois, Roche Bobois Nouveaux Classiques, The Rug Company, Timothy Oulton, Tom Dixon and Vitra, Third Floor; and harrods.com Styling Assistants VICENTE BEN and ALEXIS DEAVILLE

Ultimate

The Ultimate

DREAM MACHINE Design fit for a deity and the most meticulous manufacture make Savoir’s latest creation a bed that dreams are made of Sure, beds have to be sigh-inducingly comfortable. But they shouldn’t be merely functional. Such a dominant piece of furniture has statement-making potential – something that British manufacturer Savoir well understands.

Its latest upholstery design, a print by tapestry-rendering specialist Zardi & Zardi, portrays Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, in all his glory. Even gods, though, need to sleep, and the divine cloud here comes in the form of Savoir’s renowned No2 mattress – first commissioned by the Savoy hotel 110 years ago, and whose lambswool and horsehair layers have floated on the company’s hand-tied pocket springs ever since. Today available with bespoke construction to fit each customer’s individual requirements, each Savoir bed is fit for a king. Or, indeed, a god.

Felix bed with No2 mattress £30,100; exclusive to Harrods. Available from Savoir Beds, Third Floor

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SNEAKE W S: get ready to up your game To play, download the September edition of Harrods Magazine in the Harrods app for a chance to win your own hot shoes

Subscribe now for free magazine.harrods.com/app

HARRODS ESTATES

CAPITAL PROPERTIES:

London’s most desirable neighbourhoods

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Established 1897

H A R ROD S R E WA R D S E XC LUSI V E OF F E R For a limited time, Harrods Estates is offering up to 1 million Harrods Rewards points (worth up to ÂŁ10,000)* to those selling or letting a property.

Simply appoint us on the sole instruction of your property before 31st December 2015.

8S ½RH SYX QSVI TPIEWI GEPP (0)20 7225 6506 or email nicola.clark @harrodsestates.com

*For full terms and conditions, please see harrodsestates.com/company-info/rewardspoints

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: T: +44 ( 0 )20 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: T: +44 ( 0 )20 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: T: +44 ( 0 )20 7225 6700 KENSINGTON OFFICE: T: +44 ( 0 )20 3650 4600

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Sales

PETERSHAM HOUSE PENTHOUSE, SW7 Located in the heart of South Kensington, this penthouse apartment of approximately 2,786sq ft (258sq m) has direct lift access and a panoramic terrace, and is furnished with bespoke fixtures and fittings throughout. The property benefits from a dual-aspect reception room and a 360-degree terrace with a gym, covered sun terrace and a Jacuzzi offering views of the London skyline. The accommodation includes a 30ft reception room, kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room, master bedroom suite with dressing room and en-suite bathroom, two further double en-suite bedrooms and a guest WC. The apartment is close to the shops and restaurants of South Kensington and within easy walking distance of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park. EPC rating D. Leasehold: Approximately 114 years remaining Guide price: ÂŁ10,000,000 020 7225 6700 mark.greenway@harrodsestates.com

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Sales

TRINITY HOUSE Kensington High Street, W14 This three-bedroom apartment of approximately 1,136sq ft (106sq m) is on the seventh floor of a new landmark development.

The spacious open-plan reception room has been designed to incorporate a kitchen, dining and living area opening onto a westfacing terrace with views over London. The apartment also has two bathrooms and two underground parking spaces. Located at the western end of Kensington, 375 Kensington High Street benefits from 24-hour concierge and security, underground parking and a residents-only leisure suite that comprises a gym, swimming pool, spa area, treatment rooms and cinema. Managed by Harrods Estates Asset Management. EPC rating B. Leasehold: Approximately 995 years remaining Guide price: ÂŁ2,300,000 020 3650 4603 alexander.white@harrodsestates.com

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Sales

LEXHAM GARDENS MEWS Kensington, W8 This mews house of approximately 1,464sq ft (136sq m) has been totally refurbished and has a reception room, an open-plan kitchen with ceiling speakers and Miele appliances, a master bedroom with a dressing area and a marble en-suite bathroom with underfloor heating, two further bedrooms, both with marble en-suite bathrooms, a separate study and a utility room. Lexham Gardens Mews is located near Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington. EPC rating F. Freehold Guide price: £2,995,000 020 3650 4603 alexander.white@harrodsestates.com

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Sales

TRINITY HOUSE Kensington, W14 This three-bedroom apartment of approximately 1,471sq ft (137sq m) is located on the seventh floor of a new landmark development. The spacious openplan reception room has been designed to incorporate a kitchen, dining and living area opening onto a small terrace. The apartment also has three bathrooms, a utility room and an underground parking space. Located at the western end of Kensington, 375 Kensington High Street benefits from 24-hour concierge and security, underground parking and a residents-only leisure suite that comprises a gym, swimming pool, spa area, treatment rooms and cinema. Managed by Harrods Estates Asset Management. EPC rating B. Leasehold: Approximately 995 years remaining Guide price: £3,150,000 020 3650 4603 alexander.white@harrodsestates.com

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Residential Developments

BERNERS STREET LOFTS, Fitzrovia, W1 In the heart of the West End, adjacent to Berners Tavern and the Sanderson, this boutique development comprises six lateral two-bedroom apartments and one triplex three-bedroom penthouse with a large roof terrace. The interiors are all architect-designed to a high specification, all bedrooms have built-in storage and en-suite bathrooms, and there is lift access.

Leasehold: Approximately 999 years remaining Guide price: From ÂŁ1,750,000 to ÂŁ4,000,000 020 7409 9346 simon.barry@harrodsestates.com

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Residential Developments

MANHATTAN LOFT GARDENS, London, E20 Manhattan Loft Gardens is a 42-storey tower in Stratford City, on the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Located next to Westfield shopping centre, Stratford International railway station and the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the tower includes 248 apartments, three sky gardens and a 145-room hotel. The developer, Manhattan Loft Corporation, whose portfolio includes Chiltern Firehouse and St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, estimates completion in 2018.

Leasehold: Approximately 240 years remaining Guide price: From ÂŁ625,000 to ÂŁ2,000,000 020 7409 9346 simon.barry@harrodsestates.com

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Residential Developments

GROVE END ROAD, St John’s Wood, NW8 15 Grove End Road is an exclusive new development of four lateral apartments and a duplex penthouse, all of which have been interior designed by Freddy van Zevenbergen of Lambart & Browne. With only one apartment per floor and direct lift access from the underground car park, the development has a daytime concierge and there are terraces or balconies on all apartments. The development is near Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood high street, St John’s Wood Underground station ( Jubilee Line) and Regent’s Park.

Leasehold: Approximately 999 years remaining Guide price: Two-bedrooms from £3,295,000; three-bedrooms from £3,950,000 020 7409 9346 simon.barry@harrodsestates.com

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Services

ASSET MANAGEMENT Harrods is world renowned for the quality of the products and services it provides, and Harrods Estates Asset Management is no exception Harrods Estates Asset Management provides an unrivalled property and estate-management service on behalf of developers, landlords and resident management companies. We offer an impressive high-profile and award-winning portfolio across London.

NO TASK IS TOO SMALL, NO REQUEST TOO EXTRAORDINARY In the world of high-profile luxury developments, a hotel-style concierge service is essential. Harrods Estates Asset Management concierges are highly trained, professional, discreet and trustworthy. Naturally, they will

be happy to undertake everyday tasks, such as receiving deliveries and greeting tradespeople, screening and escorting visitors, making restaurant recommendations and reservations, arranging maid services, booking travel or simply hailing a taxi. Furthermore, our concierges can call on all the resources of Harrods to ensure that your “front desk” is run to impeccable standards.

Flowers, food, gifts and personal items can be delivered at short notice, while your concierge will be able to arrange everything from a chauffeured limousine to a private helicopter.

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We are committed to providing an optimum service to our clients, and we offer a range of services including, but not limited to: • Service-charge administration • Ground-rent collection • Supervision of on-site staff • Supervision of maintenance repairs, including major works • Concierge services • Acting as company secretary for resident management companies For more information, please contact us on 020 3626 7565.

Services

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Harrods Estates Property Management service is designed to meet your requirements and provide a personal touch In addition to our Sales, Lettings and Asset Management services, Harrods Estates is pleased to provide a five-star total property management and refurbishment service to individual homeowners and landlords.

Whether you spend a significant amount of time abroad – or are looking to increase the rental value of your property – we can provide a property management service that is tailored to meet your requirements.

PERSONAL SOLUTIONS, FIRST-CLASS SERVICE As you would expect from Harrods, we go one step further to provide bespoke solutions and a first-class service. We pay particular

attention to identifying and surpassing the needs of our clients. This, combined with our expert property knowledge, has enabled Harrods Estates to provide property management and refurbishment services to individual homeowners and landlords.

The unique position of Harrods Estates in the Harrods group of companies allows us to call on the enormous corporate resources of the group in support of our property management and refurbishment activities, delivering outstanding results in terms of quality, responsiveness and professionalism.

Harrods Estates manages a broad range of properties, catering for everything from studios

H A R RO D S E S TAT E S .CO M

to large family houses. Services include: • Tenancy management • Maintenance work • Vacant management • Weekly inspections • Cleaning and ironing • Gardening services • Full property refurbishments • Building and construction • Furniture hire and purchase • Interior design consultation For more information, or to discuss your property and requirements, please contact Monica Kent on 020 7225 6758 or email monica.kent@harrodsestates.com.