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June 2021 NOW

25 News Our round-up of the hottest new designs, including the

best eco buys, plus the enduring appeal of SCP’s ‘Balzac’ armchair

34 Pearly queen Introducing cult label Mother of Pearl’s first sustainable homeware range for John Lewis & Partners

37 Laura Jackson on… The return of the deckchair and finding the best vintage pieces to get garden-party ready

38 Design hero Italian photographer Willy Rizzo, whose glamorous furniture was the perfect match for his A-list clientele

40 Inside story How Danish brand Tekla creates high-quality home textiles designed with longevity in mind

43 My cultural life British artist and author Edmund de Waal shares the books, music and museums that influence him 44 Gardens Designer Aaron Probyn’s new plant pots, the story behind Petersham Nurseries, plus all you need to get foraging 46 Architecture New York’s High Line heads for Camden and Richard Rogers bows out in gravity-defying style

48 Kitchens & bathrooms SieMatic’s colourful units and eco brand Handle’s circular approach to beauty

59

50 Technology Smart gadgets to covet, from sensor-packed insoles to 3D-printed designs

STYLE

37

53 News Discover the fabrics, wallcoverings,

tiles and paints to complete your next project

59 The dream weaver Bec Kirby takes

87

PICTURES: STUDIO DES FLEURS, THOMAS SEARSON, BEN TYNEGATE

inspiration from the weird and wonderful to create her tufted cushions and wall hangings

62 Chelsea blooms again We reveal Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s summer events, from key launches to expert talks

65 Colour pioneer Rose Cumming, the sheep farmer’s daughter from Australia with a love of brilliant green, who became the go-to interior designer for Hollywood movie stars

66 The palette Use Cumming’s favourite shade of parrot green to create a verdant and vibrant interior 69 Decorator index Sarah Peake of Studio Peake shares her tips on how to combine colour and pattern in a home

72 Hit refresh Inspiring looks for warm days ahead that follow our ‘clean, calm and well-crafted’ decorating mantra

79 With the demand for pre-loved pieces at an all-time high, we share our top secondhand picks and how to source them

87 From offices to artists’ studios, garden rooms have enjoyed a lockdown boom – we meet the owners of four inspiring projects

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JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 13

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146

HOMES

98 Thoughtful minimalism A simple and consistent palette of materials creates a relaxing interior in a new-build near Bruges

110 The simple life An architect duo has given their clutter-free flat in a Victorian townhouse a suitably pared-back extension

118 The happy place Complete with swimming pool and outside bar, this contemporary villa in Ibiza has a playful, vibrant vibe

128 A declaration of love In Canada, a remote holiday cabin is dedicated to one couple’s devotion to each other and the landscape

136 Unplugged sessions With no internet or TV, this eco retreat by the Danish coast allows its owners to switch off from modern life

146 Home is a canvas A constantly evolving 128

Escape

Finally

157 The outsiders Our pick of the best

22 Subscriptions Never miss an issue

al fresco dining options to book now

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162 Blueprint for living Charlotte Perriand

168 Stockists Where to buy 178 Treasured Interior designer and

is the focus of a new exhibition in London

165 News The museums, installations and

Firmdale Hotels founder Kit Kemp’s prized piece is a sculpture by Tony Cragg

accommodation to check out this month

157

The covers Newsstand This bright and breezy Ibizan villa celebrates the joy of summer living on p118. Photographed

by Manolo Yllera Subscribers A detail from our ‘Hit refresh’ shoot on p72. Styled by Marie Monrad Graunbøl/Revolver and photographed by Anders Schonnemann

14 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

PICTURES: YANN DERET, MANOLO YLLERA, EMA PETER PHOTOGRAPHY

art collection is the focus of a Parisian apartment that’s been designed with entertaining in mind

From the Editor

T

PICTURE: BEN ANDERS

he past year has shown us, perhaps more than ever before, how vital outdoor spaces are. For the town and city dwellers among us, this is a particular obsession.

My central London apartment may not open onto an expansive garden, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t lavished care and attention on the blustery balcony, which is my only opportunity to commune with nature. Packed with pots full of leafy bushes, fragrant herbs and hardy succulents, it’s become my micro-oasis, somewhere I sit and enjoy my morning coffee and where I can now – finally – entertain friends and family.

Surrounding myself with foliage has given me a new-found understanding of the many benefits of the colour green, and the way it simultaneously creates a sense of calm and invigoration.

Refreshing and revitalising, it’s no wonder that this palette has been a popular choice for interior decoration through these difficult times. So, as I start weeding and pruning to get everything sunshine-weather ready, it’s perhaps ideal timing that this issue is dedicated to all things green, in every sense of the word.

The importance of sustainability and taking an environmental approach to our homes informs every issue we put together. To highlight this, we’ve once again picked out the relevant stories with our ‘Eco Deco’ logo – including John Lewis & Partners’ important new home collection with sustainable fashion label Mother of Pearl, which is impressively leading the way.

Since the launch of ELLE Decoration, vintage designs have always been an integral part of our look. Not only an aesthetic choice, they also speak to the desire to be more environmentally friendly. Our examination of the recent rise in demand for pre-loved pieces proves the positive impact of reclaiming, repairing and reusing. All have a vital part to play in a more considerate and circular view of how we furnish our homes.

When it comes to outdoors, for those with slightly more space than me, we explore the lockdown boom in creating high-design, multifunctional garden rooms – think the humble garden shed on steroids. And, with indoor hospitality still a few weeks away and most of us gasping for a properly-mixed cocktail, our Escape section includes some of the UK’s best destinations for al fresco drinking and dining. There are so many refreshing changes ahead of us this summer, these venues will surely be the perfect places to raise a glass and get in the mood.

‘VINTAGE designs have always been an INTEGRAL part of our look. They speak to the DESIRE to be more environmentally friendly’

Editor-in-Chief

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House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ EDITO R- IN - CHIEF BEN SPRIGGS Creative Director Philippe Blanchin

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Group Managing Editor Connie Osborne

With thanks to Sarah Andrews, Lisa Howard (sub-editing) Contributors Claudia Baillie, Hannah Bort, Amy Bradford, Despina Curtis, Amy Frearson, Laura Fulmine, Natasha Goodfellow, Laura Jackson, Emma Love, Fiona McCarthy, Tessa Pearson, Sania Pell, Amanda Smith-Corston, Kassia St Clair, Suzanne Stankus, Becky Sunshine, James Williams, Eva Wiseman

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HEARST UK & HEARST EURO PE CEO, Hearst UK/President, Hearst Europe James Wildman Chief Operating Officer, Hearst Europe Giacomo Molleto Chief International Brand Officer Matt Hayes Chief Strategy Officer Robert Ffitch Chief Content Development Officer Betsy Fast Chief People Officer Surinder Simmons Finance Director, Hearst UK Julien Litzelmann Business Strategy Director, Hearst UK Romain Metras Director of Operations Sophie Wilkinson L AGA R D È R E N E WS CEO Constance Benqué CEO ELLE International Licences François Coruzzi SVP/International Director, ELLE Decoration Valéria Bessolo Llopiz Creative Director Linda Bergmark Marketing Director Morgane Rohée Syndication Director Marion Magis Syndication Coordinator Johanna Jegou Copyrights Manager Séverine Laporte Database Manager Pascal Iacono Senior Digital Project Manager Moda Zere

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NOW NEWS

/ SHOPPING/ OPINION/ TRENDS

Edited by K ATE WORTHINGTON

ECO DECO

IN FULL SLING For Denmark-based Takt, a transparent, responsible approach to design is as important as how products look and function. Happily, its ‘Sling’ chair ticks all the boxes. Designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of British firm Industrial Facility, it comprises a linen ‘hammock’ that slides over an oak frame, so it’s light to ship, easy to assemble and comfortable. In terms of lifetime carbon emissions, its production is extremely low – equivalent to less than two pieces of steak. From £416 (taktcph.com).

NOW

Crochet AWAY

ECO DECO

3 OF THE BEST S U S TA I N A B L E LIFESTYLE STORES

When Naomi Paul set up her design studio 10 years ago, her striking, tactile crochet lighting pieces elevated the craft to new heights. To mark the anniversary, new colours and sizes have been introduced, including the statement ‘XL Monika’ pendant in ‘Chalk’ with ‘Blue Marine Marl’ (pictured). From £2,952 (naomipaul.co.uk).

WEARTH The shop-by-values filter makes it easy to support ethics you care about – plasticfree, vegan, organic, locally made…

Granary stool, £195 (wearthlondon.com).

ZERØ-LIVING

Small but packed with personality, the new ‘Allié’ by Luca Nichetto for French brand La Manufacture is a handy piece to have around.

Both a stool and a side table, its expressive handles make for a shapely statement and allow it to be easily moved, plus it can be used in outdoor areas as well as inside – so you’re covered whatever the summer brings. Approx £552 (lamanufactureparis.fr).

26 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

RÊVE EN VERT Originally focused on sustainable luxury fashion and beauty, the website has added homeware, including vintage pieces. Vintage Dutch vase, £55, Eesome (reve-en-vert.com).

PICTURES: NICK ROCHOWSKI PHOTOGRAPHY

FLEXIBLE FRIEND

As a proud representative of a roster of independent brands, Zerø-Living champions its makers with in-depth bios. Linen pillow, £70, Stoff Studio (zero-living.com).

NOW

DREAM TEAM Carl Hansen & Søn has partnered with Swedish sleep specialist Dux to launch the ‘BM0555’, a new bed based on sketches discovered in Børge Mogensen’s archives. A variation on the Danish designer’s classic daybed, it features many of his hallmarks, such as visible mortise joints and cylindrical cushions, while Dux’s luxuriant spring-core mattress has been specially upholstered in light grey fabric with hand-sewn piping to complement the frame.

From £4,830 (carlhansen.com).

ECO DECO

GLASS ACT Purveyor of playful and artisanal homewares, Polkra’s new mouth-blown recycled glass tumblers add a burst of colour and a handmade feel to summer dining tables.

Lightweight and delicate yet suitable for everyday use (and dishwashers), they feature hundreds of tiny air bubbles suspended in motion. Choose from five shades: ‘Garnet’, ‘Pearl White’, ‘Almond Shell’, ‘Apple Green’ and ‘French Turquoise’. £42 for set of six (polkra.com).

FLOWER POWER Designed in the mid-1950s, the iconic Miller House in Indiana is one of Alexander Girard’s most revered works. Girard masterminded the interiors, including the home’s showstopper – his famous ‘conversation pit’, a sunken square seating area, with, at its centre, the whimsical ‘Flower’ table. This piece is now available to buy thanks to Vitra, which has reissued the original brass version in powdercoated steel in two colours, making it suitable for both indoors and out. From £549 (vitra.com).

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NOW

Horse play

PICTURES: STUDIO DES FLEURS, RYAN BLACKWOOD - BUTTERFLY WEDDING FILMS, STEWART BOURNE LRPS, HELENA DOLBY

Illustrator Gianpaolo Pagni is the latest creative to reimagine Hermès’ iconic equestrian motifs for the brand’s home collections. Drawing inspiration from cartoons and colourful jockey silks, the ‘Hippomobile’ tea service features horses wrapped around and stretched over various plates, cups, platters and a teapot, while graphic, joyful patterns decorate the background. £115 for a dessert plate (hermes.com).

BR AND TO KNOW

BENCH STUDIO Designer-maker duo Charlie Haslam (above left) and Ben Bill founded their east London studio in 2019, making bespoke joinery and ready-to-order products How would you describe your design approach?

We design a lot of our products through the physical act of making them. We never go into the process completely sure of how the end result will shape up. For example, when we sculpt our chopping boards, the shape of each one takes its own form spontaneously. Each is completely unique, following the natural variations in the grain.

We’re passionate about craftsmanship and quality and it’s important to us that we create pieces that will last.

What does ‘good’ design mean to you? It strikes a balance between modesty and playfulness. It’s about designing pieces that are both practical and beautiful, which will be used all the time but also cherished.

You make bespoke joinery as well – how do these two parts of your business inform each other? Our bread and butter is joinery work. This finances our tinkering time in the workshop, experimenting and creating new designs. Each bespoke commission is a great opportunity to play with materials and processes and learn something new and interesting to incorporate into future work.

What are you working on next? Lighting. We are super excited about our first lamp, coming out this summer, which is a collaboration between Bench and some of our favourite illustrators. The structure is built and designed by us and the shade is a canvas covered in artwork (benchstudio.co.uk).

ETERNAL FLAME Grey Suit Clay ceramics and candlemaker Lit have collaborated on ‘Grown’, a collection of hand-thrown sculptural candles that are designed to be reused after the wick has reached its end.

Stoneware vessels are made with tinted clays of peach and olive and filled with naturally scented wax, featuring top notes of clary sage and base notes of lavender and frankincense. Once empty, use the pots for plants, fruit or flowers. £184 (lithome.uk).

‘Pebble’ coffee table, £620; ‘Pebble’ chopping board, £80, both Bench Studio (benchstudio.co.uk)

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NOW

A British ICON

The ‘Balzac’ armchair in ‘Utah Russet’ leather Below, from left Sheridan Coakley, SCP founder; and designer Matthew Hilton

SCP’s bestselling ‘Balzac’ armchair celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We reveal the story behind the design and why it’s still going strong To design an armchair that sits as easily in an industrial warehouse loft as it does in Concorde’s glamorous lounge is no mean feat. But it seems that the creation of the ‘Balzac’ chair was more effortless than you might expect. Designed in 1991 by then emerging talent Matthew Hilton for SCP, itself a newly established furniture firm in London’s burgeoning Shoreditch, it’s become an instantly recognisable piece of British design. ‘We were part of a bunch of designermakers – Ron Arad, Tom Dixon – who were presenting an alternative to the Italian design scene, which was a bit staid at the time. I’m sure most Italian companies would have spent ages developing the “Balzac” – we just did it,’ notes SCP founder Sheridan Coakley. ‘There were lots of things about it that weren’t fashionable then,’ says Hilton of the chair. ‘It came from an old typology and it was covered in leather that aged quickly when everyone was covering seating in thick, brightly coloured felt.’ As the first piece of

‘Balzac’ armchair (above in the workshop) and ottoman upholstered in Kvadrat’s ‘Silas’ fabric by Matthew Hilton for SCP, from £3,454 (scp.co.uk)

32 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

upholstery for both retailer and designer, the brief was loose, the only caveat being comfort. ‘Back then, design was more important than function, but we went out of our way to make a comfortable chair – we wanted to make the kind of thing you see in an old gentleman’s club where someone’s asleep in the corner,’ reminisces Coakley, who met Hilton shortly after his showroom opened in 1985. But its voluptuous form and louche attitude wasn’t an instant success: ‘Interestingly, it did take us two years to sell one.’ It wasn’t until Terence Conran spotted it and stocked it at The Conran Shop that it started to take off (‘Terence Conran always said it was his favourite chair,’ adds Coakley). The poster piece for 90s ‘Cool Britannia’,‘Balzac’ embodied the zeitgeist, making it into the Museum of the Home’s permanent collection and even Tony Blair’s office at the 1997 Anglo-French summit in Canary Wharf. But the chair’s popularity has endured well beyond its debut decade. As testament to this, SCP does a brisk trade in reupholstering original pieces and there’s a healthy secondhand market for them, too; ‘We’re now covering chairs that were bought in the 90s, so the longevity is there in the design. It’s a pretty circular product.’ Now more than ever, as SCP has recently developed a way for its shapely silhouette to be made using only natural, sustainable materials.

Hilton says it’s tricky to know exactly what has made the ‘Balzac’ such a long-standing success – ‘you can’t set out to design a classic, it just happens’ – but its ergonomic, inviting shape and tactile quality seem to have something to do with it. As Coakley puts it: ‘It’s consumers that decide whether something’s going to turn into an icon. I think we can unashamedly say it is because of that.’ scp.co.uk

WORDS: KATE WORTHINGTON PICTURES: ELLIE LAYCOCK, CAMERAPRESS/DAVID YEO, VICKI COUCHMAN

THE POSTER PIECE FOR 90S ‘COOL BRITANNIA’, IT EMBODIED THE ZEITGEIST

ECO DECO

PEARLY QUEEN This beautiful new homeware range with Mother of Pearl is John Lewis & Partners’ most sustainable yet When John Lewis & Partners launched its fashion collaboration with cult responsible label Mother of Pearl just over a year ago, it felt like something of a coup for the high-street stalwart. Twelve months of strong sales later, the first homeware collection is here: a 21-piece edit of bedlinen, throws, cushions and organic silk eye masks.

‘Fibres and fabrics is what I know,’ says creative director Amy Powney, who has steadily worked her way to the top after landing a role as a studio assistant nearly 15 years ago. As Mother of Pearl pulled firmly ahead of the curve on responsible fashion, she became an industry figurehead almost by accident, advocating for materials that can be named and traced, and that secure a certain amount of social responsibility.

Here, that means organic silk and cotton, certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, and flax linen both sourced and manufactured in Portugal. If it sounds like common sense, that’s because it is. ‘In most cases, sustainability is more logical and makes

better financial sense. There are age-old farming methods that we’ve abandoned in favour of pesticides.’ What follows is a whistlestop tour through the ins and outs of crop rotation, depleted soil and contaminated water. It’s clear that Powney knows her stuff.

Fans of Mother of Pearl’s often graphic womenswear (and there are many) might find the collection surprisingly muted. Save for contrast stitching on a throw, a simple check on a sheet and a splash of earthy colour – inspired by a trip to Morocco’s rural Berber Lodge retreat – it’s wholly devoid of superfluous detail. ‘After a year at home our customers are looking for pieces that bring a sense of calm and restoration to their space,’ says Philippa Prinsloo, head of design for Home at John Lewis. ‘These timeless designs will look stylish for years to come.’ As a self-confessed Marie Kondo, Powney is equally wary of our capricious attitude to trend. ‘It’s about forever pieces. You can use all the sustainable fabrics you want, but it’ll never be sustainable to create a one-hit wonder no-one keeps.’

WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: NICK PRENDIVILLE

NOW

Growing up off-grid in a farming community, she knew ‘from Beware the sweeping statement and the sudden pivot to a very young age that electricity doesn’t just appear in your house sustainability messaging, too. ‘What we want to achieve has no and food doesn’t just appear in your fridge’. By the time she left quick fix,’ agrees Prinsloo. ‘It takes time and a lot of diligence. for Kingston University and a more connected kind of life, it had Ethics and sustainability have to be integrated into each touchpoint made a lasting impression. ‘It’s where that thought process first to enact real change – it’s about making adjustments through the supply chain, changing attitudes and started: where do we get these things?’

She recalls being met by blank faces at a ‘IT’S ABOUT FOREVER communicating clearly to our customers.’ fabric trade fair four years ago, when the Canny shoppers will already be able to spot PIECES… IT’LL NEVER project was in its infancy. ‘We would ask, the differences here – the waxed cotton tags, “where does your yarn come from?” and we the fact that the bedding arrives in a cushion BE SUSTAINABLE thought, well, if these people don’t know, how cover rather than plastic wrap.

TO CREATE A ONEare we going to work this out?’ She went And as provenance goes mainstream, straight to source – to fields, to speak to attention is gradually – and gratifyingly – HIT WONDER’ farmers directly; online, to tease out the web shifting to what Powney calls ‘the circularity of global politics and its implications for the textile industry. side’. ‘Rent and resale. Thinking about the end use of that product.’

Powney pulls no punches when it comes to the insidious power If it all sounds like a minefield, there’s a simple mantra to keep of marketing spin, citing greenwashing as the biggest problem in mind. ‘The single most important thing that consumers can do faced by the industry. So how does a consumer clock the real deal? is to buy things that they know they’re going to keep for a long ‘You’ve got to get into the nitty gritty, the product level. Look for time.’ Above all, she is hopeful. ‘The desire is definitely there,’ she brands that are talking about their fabrics, and their certifications.’ says. ‘Now it’s about action.’ johnlewis.com Above, from opposite page, left Amy Powney, creative director at Mother of Pearl sits on a ‘Juno’ chair by West Elm at John Lewis & Partners, £699; Roxy, Powney’s dog, poses proudly with a ‘Sunray’ throw, £180, and ‘Spot Stitch’ cushion, £40; ‘Check print’ linen/organic cotton-blend duvet cover set, from £125, and cushion, as before; ‘Plain tan’ linen/organic cotton-blend duvet cover set, from £125, and organic silk eye mask, £30, all John Lewis & Partners + Mother of Pearl

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NOW

L AUR A JACKSON ON…

Welcoming the return of outdoor entertaining Our columnist and consummate host shares her tips on how to prepare for garden-party season After what has felt like an endless winter, everyone is raring to go this summer. Personally, I am desperate to entertain again and, for the moment, the only place to make that happen is outdoors. Yes, weather is a factor, but when we have it good, warm British evenings are just the best. Plus, if you’re fortunate enough to have one, the garden can be the perfect place to host friends and family.

To do that, you’ll need outdoor furniture, which can be tricky to choose. I bought the French marble-topped table that sits in my garden from a dealer I found on Instagram called Galerie De La Madeleine. In my opinion, giving something a second life by buying vintage is the best option. You can find French bistro tables that can fold away for winter on Facebook Marketplace, Ebay and Gumtree. I’ve said it before, the thrill is in the chase for me.

Maybe it’s because of the increased interest in British holiday destinations, but I also think deckchairs will make a comeback this year. The Stripes Company sells lots of different types of deckchair canvas you can use to reupholster secondhand finds or freshen up

PICTURES: STEPHANIE SIAN-SMITH, LAURA JACKSON

‘Salvia’ rug, part of the ‘Tres Outdoor’ range by Nanimarquina, £1,534, Nest (nest.co.uk) Right ‘The Premium Beach Umbrella 70s Panel Cinque’, £220, Business & Pleasure Co (businessandpleasureco.com)

Laura has been prepping her garden, ready for hosting parties Right ‘Butterfly’ deckchair, £125, The Stripes Company (thestripescompany.com)

old favourites. Whatever you pick, be sure to add some bright cushions that will offer character (and comfort) for guests.

I recently bought some beautiful woven decorative placemats for the table from Madwa, an incredible brand that believes in empowerment through employment. The pieces are made by women in Eswatini, showcasing the African country’s traditional weaving skills. You can buy them via Gail’s Bakery (any excuse for a visit).

As this season, more than ever, gardens will become an extra room of the house, I have developed a thing for outdoor rugs. They add some real magic to a patio or terrace – I love Nanimarquina’s ‘Tres Outdoor’ range. Perfect for shading from the sun, parasols are also having a moment and some great companies have popped up of late, including Sunday Supply Co and Business & Pleasure Co. When it comes to food and drinks for these first gatherings, I’ll be keeping it simple with peach bellinis and big salads for everyone to get stuck into. I’ve been working on my kitchen garden through winter (more on that next month), so I’m looking forward to serving lots of home-grown summer vegetables. And, if the occasion calls for hot food, I can highly recommend a ‘Firewok’ for cooking over open flames (so much more dramatic than a barbecue!). Alternatively, turn garden parties into pizza parties with the Ooni pizza oven. A friend informed me it was one of their best lockdown 1.0 investments.

One thing is for certain: it’s going to be a summer to remember for those of us who love to host. No matter what size your garden, or what the weather brings, let’s make sure we enjoy it.

See Stockists page for details of all the stores mentioned

NOW Rizzo’s apartment in Paris, featuring his ‘Sofa Super C’, ‘TRG’ coffee table, rotating ‘Mini-Clubs’ chairs and brass ‘Floor Lamp’

DESIGN HERO

WILLY RIZZO The Italian maverick who excelled at glamour, combining a career as a celebrity photographer with furniture design When Willy Rizzo (1928-2013) wasn’t photographing stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn and Jack Nicholson, he was designing the kind of furniture they liked to live with. Party-ready, revolving lacquer coffee tables with built-in niches for cocktail kit; glass and exotic-wood desks more suited to the writing of racy memoirs than to humdrum office tasks; curved sofas upholstered in conversation-starting materials (wild boar skin and peccary hide) that were perfect for playboy pads. Salvador Dalí owned several of his pieces, as did Bardot, who used them to furnish her Saint-Tropez retreat, La Madrague.

Rizzo’s neat dovetailing of two very different careers not only made him unique, but also lent his life and work a level of glamour that few designers attain. Born in Naples, he loved photography from a young age, snapping classmates at his Paris school with a box camera given to him by his mother. By 1944, still a teenager, he was doing war reportage in Tunisia, shooting burned-out tanks in atmospheric twilight. Then the world of cinema reeled him in. In 1949, he was hired by the newly launched Paris Match magazine, heralding the start of a long collaboration during which he photographed Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe and Pablo Picasso.

Rizzo moved to Rome in 1968, and it was here, almost by accident, that he became a furniture designer. The only property he could find to rent in the area he liked was an abandoned second-floor commercial unit. Working with local artisans, he transformed it into a jewel-box apartment with a silver kitchen and furniture in

the kind of ‘noble’ materials for which he would become known: fine woods, stainless steel, marble and leather. Naturally, all his famous friends wanted the look for themselves, so Rizzo set up his own studio. His ‘hero’ designs included the ‘TRG’ lacquered circular coffee table (1969), created for a round room in a friend’s apartment, and the ‘TP-Elliptique’ dining table (1969), made entirely of exotic marble with brass trim, which is now exhibited at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. As the 1970s unfolded, the pieces were followed by gleaming metal lamps, bookcases and games tables.

Though his design work happened spontaneously, Rizzo took it very seriously. Of his signature coffee tables, he said: ‘They are not designed to be “gadget” furniture. They are definitive and indestructible pieces made to last the test of time.’ One of his final projects, in 2011, was an update of the hi-fi furniture he’d helped pioneer in the 1960s: the ‘Galileo’ stereo, a space-age form with iPad dock and Bose speakers.

Rizzo returned to photography in the late 1970s, saying he missed his bohemian lifestyle, but he still found time for design. In 2009, he opened Studio Willy Rizzo in Paris with his wife Dominique and their children Willy Jr, Camilla and Gloria. He died in 2013, but the family still produces his work, so the pinnacle of jet-set chic is yours for the taking. willyrizzo.com 38 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

‘TP-Elliptique’ table, approx £15,385; ‘SQ-L’ chairs, approx £1,282 each ; and ‘SQ-L-BR’ armchair, approx £1,496, all Willy Rizzo (willyrizzo.com)

WORDS: AMY BRADFORD PICTURE: NICOLAS MILLET

THOUGH HIS DESIGN WORK HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY, RIZZO TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY

Left ‘TP Unopiedi’ dining table, approx £7,693; and right ‘Round Love Lamp’, approx £6,839, both Willy Rizzo

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I N S I D E S T O RY

TEKLA It was a very obvious gap in the market that prompted Kristoffer woven in Lithuania, plus brand-new linen bedding, developed to Juhl and his business partner Charlie Hedin to dive into the world offer an alternative sleeping experience. ‘Linen is more common of home textiles. ‘We both had a natural interest in investing in southern Europe,’ says Juhl. ‘It has a very different feel on your in our homes but found it quite difficult to navigate that particular skin, as well as temperature-adjusting capabilities, which are arena,’ says Juhl, the co-founder of Scandinavian brand Tekla. amazing during summer.’ A palette of timeless colours allows pieces ‘There seemed to be lots of expensive heritage brands or to be used alone or mixed and matched so customers can curate high-street options such as Ikea, but little their own look. ‘We try not to be affected too much in-between. We felt there was an appetite for by trends,’ explains Juhl. ‘Instead, we choose ‘TEXTILES PLAY colours that we’ll still be happy with in five or 10 beautiful, affordable textiles, so it made sense to develop something new.’ That was three-and- SUCH A BIG PART years’ time, rather than something that will look a-half years ago and since then, the company tired in six months.’

IN CREATING A has established itself as a key player in the With a customer base that spans trendy teens homewares market. ‘We wanted a timeless through to savvy retirees, the pair have succeeded GOOD FEELING aesthetic,’ Juhl continues, ‘and to focus on getting in developing an inclusive product that slots IN YOUR HOME’ functional, high-quality textiles into people’s effortlessly into any scenario. ‘Textiles play such homes at a price that makes sense.’ a big part in creating a good feeling in your home,’ Based in the heart of Copenhagen, the small but dynamic team says Juhl. ‘You take a shower every day and sleep in your bed every of 12 works with a network of skilled craftsmen in Portugal to night, so it’s important to bring some joy to the experience, whether develop and manufacture Tekla’s range, which includes extra-thick, it’s the colour of your sheets that makes you happy or a towel that’s combed terry cotton towels, organic cotton robes, flannel and poplin softer on your skin. We put a lot of love, care and attention into unisex sleepwear and its signature cotton percale bedlinen. Also making sure our products meet very high standards, so that Tekla in the collection are luxurious merino and pure new wool blankets can really become part of that experience.’ teklafabrics.com Clockwise from top left ‘Linen Bedspread’ in ‘Brown’, £345, and ‘Down Duvet’ (spring/summer), £425 for a double; ‘Pure New Wool Blankets’, £169 each, and ‘Fine Merino Blankets’ (in ‘Powder Blue’ check and ‘Deep Blue’ check), £345 each; ‘Poplin Sleepwear’ shirt, £135; ‘100% Organic Towel’ in ‘Forest Green’, from £12 for a ‘Guest Towel’; ‘Percale Bedding’ in ‘Sand Beige’, from £29 for a pillowcase; ‘Classic Bathrobe’, £169, all Tekla

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WORDS:CLAUDIA BAILLIE

Quality, functionality and longevity are the core values that underpin this Danish textile brand

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M Y C U LT U R A L L I F E

EDMUND DE WAAL WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: © MARVEL STUDIOS 2021, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, TOM JAMIESON, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE, ROSES BY CY TWOMBLY COURTSEY GAGOSIAN/© TWOMBLY FOUNDATION/MIKE BRUCE, UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES

An arbiter of taste tells us what they’re reading, listening to and more British artist and author Edmund de Waal is best known for his finely turned yet tactile porcelain vessels, which have been displayed in their hundreds at the British Museum, Tate Britain and the V&A, as well as his acclaimed family memoir, The Hare With Amber Eyes.

His latest book, Letters To Camondo (Chatto & Windus, £14.99), is a reflection on ‘memory, collecting, porcelain and what it is to belong somewhere’ centered on the Jewish collector Moïse de Camondo – an exhibition at the Musée Nissim de Camondo in Paris is set to follow this summer. First, catch new curation effort ‘This Living Hand: Edmund de Waal Presents Henry Moore’ at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in Hertfordshire. edmunddewaal.com I’m currently listening to Stabat Mater (2) by Marco Rosano, sung by the countertenor Andreas Scholl. I made most of my last exhibition of pots listening to this by myself in the studio. When I’m at the wheel, a single voice feels very direct, and these settings of such familiar texts move me greatly. I’ve also discovered Michael Kiwanuka (7). I started running during lockdown last year with one of my sons and his album Kiwanuka still keeps me going round south London.

I’ve just finished reading the superb Frostquake (1) by Juliet Nicholson and Miranda Seymour’s In Byron’s Wake and am now happily in the company of Hermione Lee’s Tom Stoppard. After a lockdown novel-binge, I’ve been loving biographies.

I’ve been watching Call My Agent! The premise of a Parisian talent agency and its unstable roster of entitled actors and film stars doesn’t begin to explain how deeply enjoyable this is. My kids have introduced me to WandaVision (4), which is compelling and utterly baffling.

My all-time favourite gallery has to be the V&A. From childhood it has been an unending delight, a place of return and sustenance.

The ceramics galleries (3) are the greatest in the world, with everything on display. The trick is not to panic in front of so many pots, but allow them to come in and out of focus.

My much-rehearsed line is that I’m not a collector. I’m not sure how I can keep this up as I’m surrounded by piles of books on every surface, with a shelf of Meissen porcelain behind me and a little Agnes Martin print. I think of it as research, rather than collecting.

If I won the lottery, I’d buy a late painting of Cy Twombly.

Something vast and immersive, a vortex of colour and energy and tenderness. Perhaps one of his Rose paintings (6). And a Sung Dynasty Chinese bowl with Jun glaze. Small, impossibly rare, precious, perfect for the hands.

My lockdown discovery was Instagram. New friendships through shared images and poetry. Who knew?

If I had a totally free day in London, I’d walk through St James’s Park and up to Piccadilly. I’d stop at Hatchards [booksellers] of course and then amble through the Royal Academy – the best walkway, thanks to David Chipperfield – to lunch at Ottolenghi’s Rovi and to browse more bookshops in Charing Cross Road and Cecil Court. I’d drop into the British Museum and then end up at Sir John Soane’s Museum at dusk – best shadows in London.

My favourite place in the world is Ardnamurchan (5), the peninsula stretching out between Mull and the Inner Hebrides. There is a view across to the islands of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna that changes by the minute with sun and wind and rain. Just thinking about it brings my blood pressure down. I can’t wait to return.

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GARDENS / Potted history When the Bogliones bought the small nursery behind their home in Petersham, west London, to save the land from developers, never once did they imagine that, 20 years on, it would be known around the world. Beautifully photographed by Andrew Montgomery, this new book tells the story of that transformation (Petersham Nurseries, £65).

EARTHY APPEAL Hot on the heels of his debut eponymous homewares collection, British designer Aaron Probyn has just released ‘Botany’, his first range of plant pots. Made in hard-wearing porcelain clay, they are suitable for in or out and come in a duo of sultry tones: jet black and a dark, earthy terracotta. From £25 (aaronprobyn.com).

PA C K E T S W I T H P U N C H It’s to the wildflowers of their home county

Yorkshire that Mini Moderns’ Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire have turned for inspiration for their latest range of beautifully packaged seeds.

There’s something for every taste and growing position – from sun-loving thrift to water avens, which prefer a damper spot. £2.50 (minimoderns.com).

HEDGEROW HARVEST Our shorelines, hedges, riversides, woodlands and even our city streets are all bursting with food – if you know what to look for. Toast’s new foraging kit (left) makes that easy. Included is a copy of John Wright’s acclaimed and highly entertaining The Forager’s Calendar, which acts both as an identification guide and a useful recipe book, as well as everything you need to gather your harvest and get it safely home. £99 (toa.st).

ELDERFLOWERS Elder trees or bushes thrive on waste ground, railway embankments and in cemeteries, as well as in parks and hedgerows. Harvest the clusters of white elderflowers on dry, sunny days and use to make cordial or fritters.

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WILD GARLIC You’ll smell this before you see it, often in deciduous forests where it is an indicator of ancient woodland.

The young leaves are delicious raw in salads or mix with Parmesan, olive oil and pine nuts to make a pesto.

CHICKWEED Commonly thought of as a garden weed, this is in fact a tasty, nutritious edible, which can be added to salads, soups and stews.

Identify it by its five, deeply divided petals and line of tiny hairs on one side of the stalks.

WORDS: NATASHA GOODFELLOW PICTURE: JULIAN WASS

What to look for now…

ARCHITECTURE / ON A HIGH The landscape architects behind the High Line in New York are preparing to repeat the formula in London. A team led by US-based James Corner Field Operations has been selected to transform just under a mile of disused railway into an elevated public park.

Connecting King’s Cross with Camden Town, the Camden Highline will combine planting areas and viewpoints with elements of culture and play. The designers are now consulting with the local community to develop the proposal in detail (camdenhighline.com).

COMING TOGETHER South African architecture studio Counterspace has created the 20th Serpentine Pavilion in London’s Kensington Gardens, using sustainable materials. Opening a year later than expected due to the pandemic, the pavilion brings together a variety of forms that celebrate the diversity of London’s different areas and cultures, with a particular focus on migrant communities. ‘These forms are imprints of some of the places, spaces and artefacts that have made London’s identity,’ says studio director Sumayya Vally. Open 10 June to October (serpentinegalleries.org).

British architect Richard Rogers, known for iconic projects like the Lloyd’s Building and Pompidou Centre, is ending his career with another showstopper – the gravity-defying Richard Rogers Drawing Gallery at Château La Coste in Provence. Thanks to a seesaw-like structure, this remarkable feat of engineering cantilevers 27m out from the hillside, allowing it to float 18m above the woodland below (chateau-la-coste.com; rsh-p.com).

Art and nature A walled garden in Devon is the setting for this contemporary country house by architecture studio McLean Quinlan. Featuring a monumental brick façade and a glass-roofed courtyard at its centre, this serene home was designed to double as a gallery for the clients’ extensive collection of pottery and sculpture.

The interior combines a palette of warm materials, such as brick, oak and clay plaster, with framed vistas of the scenic surroundings. What’s more, the building is a certified passivhaus, able to produce all of its own energy (mcleanquinlan.com).

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WORDS: AMY FREARSON PICTURES: JIM STEPHENSON, STÉPHANE ABOUDARAM | WE ARE CONTENT(S)

FLOATING ON AIR

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS /

Ray of light Nuura’s ‘Liila 1’ wall and ceiling light has been updated with an IP44 rating, meaning it’s now suitable for bathrooms. Inspired by the sun, its delicate mouthblown globe comes in either ‘Optic Clear’ or ‘Opal’ glass. The former creates radiant reflections like the beams of the summer sun, while the latter exudes an ethereal glow that recalls the Nordic midnight sun. In two sizes with ‘Nordic Gold’ or ‘Light Silver’ fittings.

From £239 (nuura.com).

TRUE COLOURS Breaking out from its signature neutral colour palette, kitchen specialist SieMatic has introduced new shades to its ‘NCS’ colour range in a bid to offer a bolder, more individual look.

Hues have been chosen specifically to create a sense of harmony in relaxed open-plan living spaces – think pastels, greys and dusky hues, such as ‘Powder’ and ‘Stone Grey’ pictured here in a velvet-matt finish. From £25,000 (siematic.com).

ECO DECO

Innovative brand Handle transforms empty plastic cosmetics bottles into stylish grooming accessories. Send in your bag of empties (or drop them off at selected salons) and you’ll be rewarded with a voucher to spend on its colourful brushes, razor handles, mirrors and toothbrushes. It’s a shining example of how a circular approach can be adopted in a hugely wasteful industry. Razor, £60; hairbrush, £45; mirror, £58 (handlerecycling.com).

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SIMPLY DOES IT Those searching for the perfect understated vanity unit, take note.

Simplicity and versatility are at the heart of Italian bathroom brand Ex.t’s new ‘Noto’ range. Available in two sizes and thicknesses, units can be paired with both integrated and countertop basins and come in four colours of lacquered MDF (including ‘Red Beige’, pictured) and in natural oak. From approx £1,376 (ex-t.com).

WORDS: KATE WORTHINGTON PICTURES: KLEMME, PETER M. MADSEN, MONDO OLFI

TRASH TO TREASURE

TECHNOLOGY /

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE We all know the health benefits of cleaner air and the damage VOCs (volatile organic compounds), microscopic particles and traffic fumes can cause, but what about formaldehyde? Found in newly manufactured wooden flooring and furniture, as well as in some paints and lacquers, this chemical is difficult to combat, but Dyson has found a way.

Its new ‘Pure Hot+Cool Formaldehyde’ air-purifying fan heater has an extra filter for this task. Plus, it heats and cools rooms 20 per cent more quietly than its predecessor. £599 (dyson.co.uk).

RUN LIKE A PRO Taken up running during lockdown? You may have already experienced niggling pains and frustrating training setbacks. Many of these problems stem from your stride and gait. NURVV Run has the expert insight you need to minimise injury risk and improve your form, using its sensor-packed insoles that slide comfortably into your trainers and the accompanying coaching app. £249.99 (nurvv.com).

The fine print

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SOUNDTRACK YOUR LIFE As at home on a shelf as it is on the beach or up a mountain, the new ‘Roam’ is the lightest speaker (under 1lb) Sonos has ever made.

Ready for anything, it’s waterproof and rugged enough to survive drops, dust and more for up to 10 hours of playtime, but it’s the smarts inside that set it apart. It knows when you’re indoors, linking to your wi-fi, and once you step outside of reach it automatically switches to Bluetooth, using its ‘Trueplay’ tech to tune the sound to your surroundings. £159 (sonos.com).

WORDS: CLARE SARTIN

3D printing’s appeal has remained niche, despite the possibilities it opens up. That’s something Boem Studio is striving to change. It sells designs for useful homeware – think lampshades, watering cans, vases and more – that can be bought, downloaded and used to print stylish pieces at home.

Granted, you will need a 3D printer and the materials, but with Boem Studio’s minimalist ‘Nothing Else’ range to explore, there’s never been better reason to invest. Digital designs from approx £0.72 (boem.store).

ST YLE D E C O R AT I N G

/ M AT E R I A L S / I N T E R I O R D E S I G N / I D E A S Edited by KIER A BUCKLEY-JONES

PICTURE: LUCKY IF SHARP

‘COCONINO’ JACQUARD BY LARSEN Taken from Larsen’s latest collection of weaves, bouclés and decorative fabrics, all in the brand’s signature understated style, this cotton jacquard is suitable for cushions as well as curtains. Its metallic saffron thread, which perfectly captures glistening sunlight, makes it the ideal addition to any room this summer.

‘Coconino’ jacquard in ‘Saffron’, £75 per m, Larsen (larsenfabrics.com)

STYLE

MAXIMAL MOOD A panoramic wall covering is not for the timid, but its ability to instantly transform a space is undeniable. This woodland example by Arte has a serene quality that will transport you to the world of fairy tales – it reminds us of the scenography from early Disney movies such as the atmospheric ‘Sleeping Beauty’. ‘Le Jardin Mystique’ panoramic wallpaper in ‘Fantasy’, £2,275 per 520cm x 300cm panel (arte-international.com).

Whimsical walls

Floor show

Citing William Morris as an influence, new wallpaper brand Living Quarters has designs featuring enchanted forests, tropical palms and creeping vines. We’re rather taken with ‘Maidenhair’ (below), with its cockle shells hidden among the eponymous fern’s twisting leaves. £145 per 10m roll (living-quarters.co).

The second collection of ‘Art on Rugs’ by Swedish brand Nordic Knots features two designs by contemporary Danish artist Carsten Beck Nielsen. Made from New Zealand wool, the geometric and mathematical forms are hand woven by artisans in India.

From £645 (nordicknots.com).

ECO DECO

DOUBLE UP Sustainable leather company Sørensen has produced its first double-sided leather in a colour palette created with Tom Dixon.

‘Duet’ has soft nubuck on one side and rustic suede on the other. Price on application (sorensenleather.com).

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STYLE

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Inject a playful vibe into bathrooms with these ‘Spot’ tiles from independent brand Feild. The four designs are based on domino patterns and overlapping bath bubbles, and are hand-painted in Portugal. Choose from four colours: pink, peachy yellow, cobalt or Delft blue. £16 per sq m (feild.works).

ECO DECO

SOUND OF SILENCE Cosmic world The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is the home of British astronomy, and now photographs, drawings and maps within its vast archive – from constellations to comets – are available as artworks and murals from Surface View. The Moon in Partial Lunar Eclipse III, 1970 (pictured), from £90 for a print (surfaceview.co.uk).

House of Grey interior design studio and limewash paint specialists Bauwerk have collaborated on a new capsule range of paints. The ‘Visual Silence’ collection comprises 15 restful shades, including ‘Reflection’ (pictured), all produced from natural pigments such as ochre, burnt umber and white clay. ‘We’ve been working with Bauwerk to get the nuance of each shade and tone exactly as we envisaged them,’ says founder Louisa Grey. The paints form part of the studio’s ‘Native Elements’ home product range, which features eco-responsible materials. From £31 for 1 litre (houseofgrey.co.uk/store; bauwerkcolour.com).

WOOL ART

Woven Form transforms excess mohair and merino wool from British mills into decorative artworks in the style of Bauhaus textile pioneer Anni Albers.

Every piece is unique depending on what remnants are used.

From £30 (wovenform.com).

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WORDS: KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES PICTURES: OLIVER PERROTT, LUCY COOPER/MY KIND LIFESTYLE

ECO DECO

STYLE

THE DREAM WEAVER Manchester-based textile artist Bec Kirby of Soosumsee takes inspiration from the weird and the wonderful to create her tufted cushions and wall hangings Why Soosumsee? It’s the slang name for rock-paper-scissors in Toronto. I use a lot of different mediums within my work, so the name derived from that.

Where did you study? I did an interior design degree at the University of Huddersfield, but I taught myself tufting (a type of textile weaving). This past year has been unusual; it led me to want more of a creative release.

I’m very hands on and felt I was missing something. Studying design definitely brought me to this point in my career; it goes hand in hand with tufting. However, it feels far more rewarding to work on pieces from start to finish without having to pass my ideas onto someone else to bring to life.

What’s your inspiration? I’m drawn to the weird and the wonderful. Some of the

pieces have been inspired by people, places and personal experiences; others by folk art and outsider artists such as Bill Traylor and Marcos Bontempo. I love the work of Francisco Toledo and the darkness in his pieces, too. They’re a reminder that inspiration doesn’t always have to come from positive influences. In fact, a few pieces from ‘The Series of Eight’ were inspired by terrifying recurring hallucinations I used to have as a child. But recreating them and turning them into something physical was a nice way of getting my own back for all those sleepless nights.

Where do you source your materials?

I like to use local suppliers. The cotton comes from a mill in Manchester and the alpaca wool is sourced from a farm in

From top ‘An ode to Bill Traylor’ cushion, from £130, Soosumsee; Kirby creates her designs on a frame hung with monk’s cloth

WORDS: KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES PICTURES: THOMAS SEARSON

‘INSPIRATION DOESN’T ALWAYS HAVE TO COME FROM POSITIVE INFLUENCES’

Kirby with her ‘Isolation Chair, 2021’ wall hanging, from £260, Soosumsee

Yorkshire. Animal welfare is important to me, so I only use suppliers who share the same values – it’s one of the reasons why I don’t use merino wool yarn yet.

Can you tell us about your technique?

There is a lot of conceptual development that goes into each piece, so my process always starts with drawing out ideas and mocking them up digitally. I then project the design onto the frame and sketch onto monk’s cloth. Using a special gun for tufting, I work into the detailing first, to refine the shapes, before filling in the background.

Once the pieces have been glued, they get cut off the frame and then I hand-trim with snips to tidy up the loose loops. Each cushion is hand-sewn with a lot of care.

What do you have coming up? I’m currently in the process of renovating my studio, after tufting in my dining room for the last six months! As soon as it’s ready, I can create far bigger pieces, which I’m really excited about. Rugs are definitely on the cards, along with larger wall hangings and throws. It feels like I’m at a very exciting stage with Soosumsee and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. soosumsee.com JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 59

STYLE

CHELSEA blooms again

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There’s so much going on at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour this year. Follow our highlights to ensure you don’t miss out Long regarded as the UK’s epicentre of cutting-edge interior design, this hub of more than 120 fabric, wallpaper, paint, lighting and furniture showrooms, set on the Thames, should be the first stop for any decorating project. For more info on our picks, visit dcch.co.uk.

LONDON DESIGN WEEK 2021

Discover all the latest decorating trends via virtual events and in-person visits from 16 to 21 May. Our Editor-inChief Ben Spriggs will be in conversation online with renowned designer and philanthropist Diane von Furstenberg on 19 May at 11.30am. Register for a free ticket at dcch.co.uk.

AL FRESCO LIVING

High on our list for summer entertaining is this striking ‘Rafael’ dining table by Paola Navone for Ethimo (above) with its statement enamelled lava stone top – from £6,600. To see this and more in the range, be sure to visit the Ethimo showroom on the third floor.

CRAFT IN FOCUS

Artefact, the Design Centre’s first contemporary craft fair, lands from 22 to 29 June with works from the likes of Vessel Gallery and Cavaliero Finn, including ‘Twist’ by Matthew Chambers (above).

M AT E R I A L WORLD Fabric brand Larsen’s new design director Béatrice Bostvironnois has reinterpreted its founder Jack Larsen’s designs in a fresh palette of ecru, navy and stone. The calming range, available at Colefax and Fowler, includes the ‘Jack’ fabric (right), £79 per m.

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Take advantage of the personal shopping service and sign up for a video consultation with a Design Centre insider. Show them images of your rooms and you’ll receive great ideas on products and colour palettes.

NEW A R R I VA L S US decorating brand Schumacher recently made the Design Centre its UK home. Its bold approach is so timely – take its ‘Kanji’ wallcovering in ‘Ink’, £2,200 for four panels (left).

It’s not the only newcomer though. Architectural hardware specialist Studio Franchi also opened its doors, and lighting expert Vaughan’s showroom has had a makeover, too.

WORDS: KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES PICTURES: JESSE FROHMAN, RYAN J BURKE, BERNARD TOUILLON

I N VA L U A B L E A D V I C E A N D I N S P I R AT I O N

WORDS: KASSIA ST CLAIR PICTURES: HAROLD HALIDAY COSTAIN, WILBUR PIPPIN, COURTESY OF ROSECUMMINGDESIGN.COM

STYLE

‘Either you have a flair for the beautiful,’ Rose Cumming, decorator to the stars during the 1920s and 1930s, once proclaimed, ‘or you haven’t.’ She, naturally, had plenty. This was fortunate, because her path to design was far from straightforward.

Rose was born into a family of prominent Australian sheep farmers in New South Wales in 1887. When she was 30, she boarded a ship with her sister Dorothy, a silent film actress, and set out eastwards, bound for Europe. This was in 1917, the height of WWI, and very few ships were venturing across the Atlantic: they could only make it as far as New York. Still, they found the city suited them, so there they remained, mixing with a fashionable, bright and creative set. It was one of these friends, Frank Crowninshield, the editor of Vanity Fair, who Rose approached when it became clear that, if she were to remain in New York, she would need to find a job. After a thoughtful pause, he suggested that she would make a fantastic decorator. ‘Perhaps I would,’ she replied, ‘but first tell me what it is.’

His response is lost to history, but whatever it was, she did not need it: Rose was a natural. She had eclectic tastes and a genius for mixing styles together to create a harmonious whole, laced with touches of surrealism. Chinoiserie with French antiques and frog ornaments; apothecary bottles

COLOUR PIONEER

ROSE CUMMING The daughter of a sheep farmer who became a celebrated interior designer to the Hollywood elite

with chandeliers; chintz with everything. The glamour and drama inherent in her style attracted a celebrity clientele, including silver-screen stars Marlene Dietrich and Norma Shearer, the dancer Rudolf Nureyev and society figures like Jacqueline Onassis and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

She was fearless in her use of colour and materials, favouring those that reflected light.

Extravagant use of mirrors and metallic features and finishes allowed her to deploy bold colours without rooms becoming dim or forbidding.

Swathes of silver lamé were draped round beds as canopies; sheets of cellophane were hung in place of curtains. When, in 1960, an earnest New York Times interviewer mentioned ‘muted tones’ to her, she screamed. ‘They are my enemies!’ she replied, hand clutched to her chest in horror.

Her home featured a living room with silvery, hand-painted Chinese wallpaper lit with black candles and a library with a purple sofa, red lacquered furniture and brilliant green walls.

This latter hue was a recurring motif, appearing often, both on its own and as accents in the floral fabrics she designed. ‘Parrots are blue and green,’ she once announced, ‘why shouldn’t fabrics be?’

Left Cumming, whose living room (above, around 1960) showcased her opulent style

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T H E PA L E T T E

PARROT GREEN

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Go verdant and vibrant with Rose Cumming’s favourite hue 1 ‘Parlour Palm’ wallpaper in ‘Gecko’, £45 per 10.05 m roll, Scion (scion.sandersondesigngroup. com) 2 ‘Ultrasuede’ fabric in ‘Pine’, £144 per linear m, Chase Erwin (chase-erwin.com) 3 ‘Swing’ wallcovering from the ‘Insolence’ collection, £125 per linear m; and 4 ‘Feuillage’ wallcovering from the ‘Intrigue’ collection, £234 per m, both Arte (arte-international.com) 5 ‘Mykonos Villa Motif’ wallpaper in ‘Island Green’, £135 per 10m roll, Mind The Gap (mindtheg.com) 6 ‘Bejmat’ tile in ‘Dark Green’, £140 per sq m, Otto Tiles (ottotiles.co.uk) 7 ‘Paintbox’ gloss ceramic tile in ‘Fern’, £36 per sq m, Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com) 8 ‘Venus Calypso’ velvet, £140 per m, Zinc Textile (zinctextile.com) 9 ‘Bansuri’ fabric in ‘03’ from the ‘Larkana’ collection by Nina Campbell, £82 per m, Osborne & Little (osborneandlittle.com) 10 ‘French Grosgrain’ ribbon in ‘Peridot’, £15 per m, Samuel & Sons (samuelandsons.com) 11 ‘Eriska’ fabric in ‘Apple’, £63 per m, Designers Guild (designersguild.com) 12 ‘Treillage’ lattice border in ‘Emerald’, £67 per m, Samuel & Sons (samuelandsons.com) 13 ‘Hepworth’ fabric in ‘Blue Malachite’, £86 per m, Zoffany (zoffany.sandersondesigngroup.com) 14 ‘Flag’ linen in ‘Flag-005’, £140 per m, Fermoie (fermoie.com) 15 ‘Heifervescent’ leather in ‘Apple Green’ by Jerry Pair, £45 per sq ft, Chase Erwin (chase-erwin.com) 16 ‘Kiota’ linen embroidery in ‘Grass’ by William Yeoward, £127 per m, Designers Guild (designersguild.com)

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COMPILED BY: KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES PICTURE: LUCKY IF SHARP

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STYLE

T H E PA I N T S

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From spring fresh to vibrant emerald, greens are go 6

4 ‘Chelsea Green II’, £51 for 2.5 litres, Paint & Paper Library (paintandpaperlibrary.com)

‘Emerald Green’, £49.50 for 2.5 litres, Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com) 9

11 ‘Fleurie’, £40 for 2.5 litres, Craig & Rose (craigandrose.com)

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‘Varese Leaf’, £50 for 2.5 litres, Designers Guild (designersguild.com)

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‘FTT-OII’, £44 for 2.5 litres, Mylands (mylands.com)

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‘Sage & Onions’, £48.50 for 2.5 litres, Little Greene (littlegreene.com)

‘Enchanted Ivy’, £38 for 2.5 litres, ELLE Decoration by Crown (crownpaints.co.uk)

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STYLE

D E C O R AT O R I N D E X

STUDIO PEAKE Growing up around country houses and training in architectural interiors informed Sarah Peake’s classic-with-a-twist style Who is she? Following careers at Alidad and Todhunter Earle, Sarah Peake set up her Parsons Green studio in London at the start of 2019. ‘At Alidad, I began folding rugs and fabrics and worked my way up. I learnt a huge amount about proportion and scale,’ recalls Peake, who took evening classes at The Interior Design School at the same time.

‘Todhunter Earle was fast-paced, with an emphasis on architectural interiors. I honed my technical skills and, as an associate director, saw projects through from the initial layout to the final lampshade.’ Peake grew up next to some of the grandest properties in the country – her father was an estate manager at houses such as Castle Howard and Cornbury Park – but it wasn’t until a post-university stint of work experience at Knight Carr & Company, an American interior design practice in North Carolina, that she decided on her career path.

What’s her style? A mix of traditional and modern, Peake likes rooms that ‘aren’t overly curated, so they feel as if they’ve been built up organically over time to reflect the personality of the client’. For instance, she might pair a contemporary kitchen with antique furniture or add colour and pattern in unexpected places, such as inside a cupboard or on curtain linings.

Diverse references range from Vanessa Bell’s hand-painted wardrobes to Christian Bérard’s

‘I LIKE ROOMS THAT AREN’T OVERLY CURATED, SO THEY FEEL AS IF THEY’VE BEEN BUILT UP ORGANICALLY’

murals used in projects by 20th-century French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank.

What are her recent projects? Her first solo commission was a complete refurbishment of a Georgian cottage in Vauxhall. ‘It was really interesting because it wasn’t a case of ripping everything out and starting again. We did lots of restoration, from painting the kitchen and adding new worktops to French polishing the handrails on the stairs.’ She has also completed an apartment in an Edwardian mansion block in Barons Court, decorated to a ‘Parisian Chic’ remit, with a turquoise bathroom and a dark study. ‘We steered slightly away from some of the frilly elements that the brief could have led towards, to create something timeless.’

What is she currently working on? Projects range from a country house in Surrey to a four-storey townhouse in Chelsea. ‘The young clients in London are letting us stretch our legs creatively with designs inspired by nature with Japanese references,’ says Peake.

‘There is so much that’s exciting about this project, especially the bathroom, which has scallop-shaped ceramic wall tiles and cloud wallpaper on the ceiling – when you lie in the bath it’s like you’re looking up at the sky!’

She says: ‘Being brave with colour is so important because it adds character to a home.’ studiopeake.com JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 69

STYLE

Previous page A framed wallhanging by BFGF is the star of the living room in Peake’s London flat. The joinery was made to her own design From top Patterns stylishly collide in this welcoming sitting area; the light and airy kitchen-diner in Peake’s home; a bespoke daybed with built-in storage utilises the narrow space in this child’s bedroom; the elegant main bedroom of a Georgian residence

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK Every project has its own unique list of suppliers and craftspeople. Part of making it special is finding the right mix ANTIQUES

‘BEING BRAVE WITH COLOUR IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ADDS CHARACTER’

Lillie Road in Fulham is known for its antiques shops. Two of my favourites are Quindry and Dorian Caffot de Fawes, which are both great for 20th-century furniture, mirrors and ceramics.

From Dorian, I recently bought an amazing mid-century cabinet that we turned into a television unit. quindry.net; dorian-antiques.com TEXTILES

Sarah Peake’s tips on how to combine colour and pattern in a room 1 Use white to anchor a scheme. It helps a room feel fresh and lively, and allows colours to ‘sing’. Too many dark shades next to each other on walls or textiles can merge into a muddy mixture without a neutral like white to frame and add definition. For instance, I often go for a brightly patterned curtain set against an off-white background.

2 Layer colour. I like to start with a vibrant, patterned rug. Some people might find that idea scary, but the rug is softened by the furniture on top. The pattern then becomes a backdrop that can be seen peeking between, say, an armchair and a coffee table, and holds everything together.

3 Consider neutrals. I would advise anyone who is nervous about colour to keep the walls and furniture more muted, and then play around with bolder tones in a less committed way on cushions and textiles. You could choose a neutral shade for a sofa and then add dazzling cushions – perhaps combining Josef Frank prints and plain shades. It is all about the contrast: colour is critical to a room’s character, but mustn’t overwhelm the space.

4 Be confident. In the bedroom, the big things I discuss with clients are the headboard and curtains. Choose a shade you feel confident with on the headboard: it uses far less fabric than the curtains but, because it’s flat, can look much more prominent in the room.

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BED LINEN

I have a huge obsession with beautiful bed linen.

Aleta makes the most gorgeous block-printed bedspreads, inspired by the decorative arts from 17th-century India. aletaonline.com LIGHTING

Margit Wittig is an artist first and foremost so she has an amazing eye for colour, which translates into her designs. We have collaborated on a chandelier, which launches later this year. margitwittig.com

WORDS: EMMA LOVE

EXPERT ADVICE

I buy a lot of vintage textiles, such as Chinese wedding blankets, and one-off cushions from Penny Worrall. I also love Vanderhurd’s dhurries – I’m using a silk one at the moment for a Missoni-esque zig-zag patterned stair runner. pennyworrall.com; vanderhurd.com

HIT REFRESH Preparing for a more hopeful season?

Remember the new decorating mantra – clean, calm, well-crafted

Styling MARIE MONRAD GRAUNBØL/REVOLVER Photography ANDERS SCHØNNEMANN This page Curtains in ‘Estate’ fabric, £77 per m, Kinnasand by Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk). ‘DS201’ stool in ‘Douglas’, £369, Dinesen (dinesen.com).

‘Palace’ plate by Teruhiro Yanagihara for 1616/Arita Japan, approx £19, Studio X (studiox.dk). ‘Torso’ glass vase, price on application, Seche Studio (seche-studio.com). Blue glass by R+D Lab, from a selection, Matches Fashion (matchesfashion.com). Crossgrain cherry wood vase, approx £231, Woodcraft by Jonas Als (woodcraftbyjonasals.dk) Opposite, from left ‘Plint’ coffee table by Cecilie Manz, £499, Takt (taktcph.com). ‘Glass’ lamp by Matias Moellenbach, £350, Dansk (danskshop.com).

Books, from a selection, Muji (mujionline.eu). ‘280 Zig-Zag’ chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, £1,596, Chaplins (chaplins.co.uk). ‘Vier’ glass table by Philipp Mainzer for E15, £760.99, Einrichten Design (einrichten-design.co.uk). Glass bottle by Nina Nørgaard, approx £200, Studio X (studiox.dk). Teapot, from a selection, Stilleben (stilleben.dk). Mug by Megumi Tsukazaki, £41, Yonobi (itsyonobi.com). ‘SL 615’ sofa, £3,659, Søren Lund (soren-lund.dk).

‘Kaylan’ throw, £86, Aiayu (aiayu.com). ‘Plica Sprinkle’ cushion in ‘Bordeaux’, £95, Hay (hay.dk). ‘Collect’ cushion by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, £100, Monologue (monologuelondon.com). ‘Sequoia’ pouf by Space Copenhagen for Fredericia, £761, Viaduct (viaduct.co.uk)

Opposite ‘Pao’ pendant light by Naoto Fukasawa for Hay, £259, SCP (scp.co.uk). ‘Norian’ stool by BACD Studio, £151, Ment (mentmade.com). ‘Islet’ dining table by Maria Bruun for Fredericia, £6,971, Viaduct (viaduct.co.uk) On table ‘Moon’ glass dish, price on application, Seche Studio (seche-studio. com). ‘Tuccio’ green glass jug by R+D Lab, £95, Matches Fashion (matchesfashion.com). Champagne glasses, £33 for six, and glass pitcher, £24, both Bitossi (bitossihome.it). ‘Dunes’ plate and bowl (far right) by Philippe Malouin, from £16 each, 1882 (1882ltd.com). Cutlery by Maarten Baas, £166 for 12 pieces, Valerie Objects (valerie-objects.com). Glass by Nina Nørgaard, price on application, Studio X (studiox.dk). ‘Luca’ water glass in ‘Amber’ by Bitossi, £45 for six, Smallable (smallable.com). ‘Petit Standard’ chair by Daniel Rybakken for Hay, £374, Finnish Design Shop (finnishdesignshop.com).

Tea towel, from a selection, Dora (shopdora.dk). Table lamp, price on application, Studio 0405 (studio0405.com). ‘Sawn’ board, £52, Akiko Ken Made (akikokenmade.dk). Endgrain beech vase, £116, Woodcraft by Jonas Als (woodcraftbyjonasals.dk). Sketch artwork, price on application, Mette Nisgaard (mettenisgaard.com). ‘Ofset Chair’ by Ana Kraš for Knit!, price on application, Kvadrat (knit.kvadrat.dk) This page, from left ‘Duotone’ rug in ‘0511’, from £1,243, Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk). The Only Moment We Were Alive artwork by Jordan Sullivan, price on application, Les Gens Heureux (@les_gens_heureux). ‘Sedia 1’ chair by Enzo Mari, £752, Studio X (studiox.dk). ‘Récifs’ glass vase by Nina Nørgaard x Sophie Bille Brahe, £1,195, Matches Fashion (matchesfashion.com). ‘Anza’ bench by Rui Pereira & Ryosuke Fukusada, £1,230, Please Wait To Be Seated (pleasewaittobeseated.com). ‘Islet’ side table by Maria Bruun for Fredericia, £1,484, Viaduct (viaduct.co.uk).

‘W163 Lampyre’ table lamp, £407, Wästberg (wastberg.com)

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Opposite, from left ‘Alma’ cabinet, price on application, BACD Studio (bacdstudio.com) On cabinet Crossgrain cherry wood vase, as before; bowl, from a selection, both Woodcraft by Jonas Als (woodcraftbyjonasals.dk). For similar wicker basket, try Toast (toa.st). ‘Islet’ side table by Maria Bruun for Fredericia, as before. ‘Récifs’ glass vase by Nina Nørgaard x Sophie Bille Brahe, as before. Framed print by Erik A Frandsen , price on application, Edition Copenhagen (editioncopenhagen.com). ‘Duotone’ rug in ‘0951’, from £1,243, Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk). ‘BM62’ cane wicker armchair by Børge Mogensen, price on application, Fredericia (fredericia.com). Table by Muller van Severen in ‘Ivory/ Oak’, £2,780, Valerie Objects (valerie-objects.com). ‘Tal’ green oak chair by Léonard Kadid, £267, Kann (kanndesign.com). ‘Lazy Haley’ stool, price on application, Atelier Axo (atelier-axo.com) On table, from left For similar glass bowl, try the ‘Raami’ by Iittala, £16, Nordic Nest (nordicnest.com).For similar tray, try the ‘Bon’ by Ferm Living, £49, Heal’s (heals.com). For similar yellow glass, try the ‘Danish Summer’ by Marie Graff, £18, Chase & Sorensen (chaseandsorensen.com). Glass bottle by Nina Nørgaard, as before. Books, from a selection, Muji (mujionline.eu). Pencils, from a selection, Faber-Castell (faber-castell.co.uk). Japanese spinning top, stylist’s own. ‘Locus’ bowl by Sofie Østerby for Fredericia, £1,263, Finnish Design Shop (finnishdesignshop.com). ‘Bolero’ table lamp by Niclas Hoflin for Rubn Lighting, £616, Dansk (danskshop.com)

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STYLING ASSISTANT: GAIA TADDEO LOCATION: FREDERICIA FURNITURE SHOWROOM

This page ‘Enfold’ sideboard by Thomas Bentzen for Muuto, £1,551, Nunido (nunido.co.uk). ‘Piuma’ glass teapot, £35, teacup and saucer, £15, all by Marco Sironi for Ichendorf Milano at The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk). ‘Plank’ large chopping board, £35, Kin (kinhome.co). ‘Io’ elm tray, £20, Akiko Ken Made (akikokenmade.dk).

Mug, from a selection, Casa Cubista (casacubista.com). Tea towel by Charvet Éditions, from a selection, Dora (shopdora.dk). ‘Sferico’ wine glass by Joe Colombo, £12, Karakter (karakter-copenhagen.com). ‘Penguin’ glass jug by Ichendorf Milano, £18.50, SCP (scp.co.uk). Bowl, £15, Apato (apato.dk). Wooden spoon, £46, Woodcraft by Jonas Als (woodcraftbyjonasals.dk). For similiar cake cover, try The Basket Company (thebasketcompany.com)

Vintage furniture from Max Keys (@max_keys), who has tapped into the trend of selling pieces via social media

A very FINE VINTAGE With our interest in pre-loved pieces at an all-time high, it’s clear that secondhand is no longer second choice Words KATE WORTHINGTON

Right now, it seems as though you can spot Mario Bellini’s ‘Camaleonda’ sofa in practically every home you see. Or perhaps it’s a set of ‘Cescar’ cantilevered chairs by Marcel Breuer, or one of Gabriella Crespi’s flamboyant coffee tables from the 1970s.

Vintage has always been a thing – eschewing the box-fresh in favour of the gentle patina of pre-loved pieces is nothing new. But the obsession is greater than ever, and with so many savvy homeowners on the hunt for specific pieces, it’s become a frantic race to snap up the choicest designs. In this era of instant gratification, with its endless supply of newness, it’s a little surprising.

Why the sudden boom now?

Like so many things, the pandemic has had

a part to play. ‘The lockdown period definitely heightened the demand. It has exploded!’ confirms Nat Tillison of antiques shop Folie Chambre. ‘People are engaging with their surroundings more than ever. This has meant a reconnection to the meaning of home and the things we put in it.’

For Tillison and many others, the qualities of secondhand pieces – the craftsmanship, history and tales they tell – far outweigh the thrill of the new. ‘A sideboard arrived recently and I found a set of exam certificates from the 1950s tucked down the back. I love the depth that antiques bring to a home, the warmth of aged wood, the imperfections of old furniture,’ she enthuses. This soulfulness is precisely why antiques are so integral to interior designer Hollie Bowden’s work.

She says that one special object can often dictate the direction of a project: ‘I love the unpredictable nature of it, there’s such a thrill in finding that perfect piece.’

What are the benefits of buying vintage?

Aesthetics aside, there are practical benefits, too. ‘Sourcing vintage pieces has helped us to keep to our project deadlines regardless of supply chain issues over lockdown,’ points out Tiffany Duggan, founder of interior design firm Studio Duggan, citing coffee tables, lighting and mirrors by Willy Rizzo, Louis Sognot and Sergio Rodrigues as the most sought-after items. ‘It’s also a lovely way to be kinder to the environment,’ she adds.

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A V E RY F I N E V I N TAG E

younger generations, the eco argument is not to be overlooked – a new chest of drawers has a carbon footprint 16 times higher than that of its vintage equivalent, for example.

What are the new ways to find these must-have pieces? Technology is the primary protagonist of the boom. Whereas once sourcing vintage pieces meant having the time and energy to trawl auction houses or websites or brave intimidating showrooms, a curation of stylish stock can now be perused in the palm of your hand thanks to a fleet of Instagram dealers. ‘I think many people were previously put off by the perceived lack of affordability and accessibility,’ agrees Nat Tillison.

Demand is high and you have to be quick if you see something you like, as most items sell the instant they’re posted – indeed, some sellers have dispensed with ‘traditional’ websites entirely. Last year, Max Keys started posting daily ‘drops’ of stock on Instagram at 6pm as a way of reaching new people: ‘Most pieces sell within minutes – I wanted to make it accessible and fun. I think there’s an element of excitement, which in some

in attitudes towards old objects, embracing their scars and scratches as part of the stories they tell. For artist Molly Martin, whose book The Art Of Repair (Short Books, £14.99) argues the case for giving things a second lease of life instead of banishing them to the bin, there is comfort and familiarity in the old. ‘Repairing something yourself can deepen your relationship to the object but also gives you a sense of confidence in your own abilities – and that can be a powerful and uplifting feeling, particularly in times of anxiety and uncertainty,’ she says.

As Martin points out in her book; ‘In our modern society we are actively encouraged

to fight the process of ageing. We are told that ageing is bad and unattractive and that we must avoid it at all costs.’ It’s an attitude that frequently extends to encompass our furniture and belongings, too. Therefore, the repairing or rehoming of a secondhand object can be viewed as a political act, flying in the face of our fast-paced, frenzied consumer culture. So, in addition to their uniqueness, beautiful craftsmanship, lesser environmental impact and personal stories, maybe there’s another reason we’re so beguiled by antique and vintage pieces; because they remind us that it’s those imperfections that make us who we are.

Architectural salvage specialist Retrouvius also offers a design service

ways does echo that of auctions,’ he explains, pointing to yet another reason why sourcing vintage is so addictive. Then there’s newly launched secondhand homeware platform Narchie. Styling itself as a ‘Depop for homeware’, the mobile-first, social marketplace offers a more seamless and engaging experience compared to sites such as Ebay, which have become flooded with cheap products from overseas.

Narchie is aimed squarely at a youthful audience that prides itself on creating unique, expressive spaces rather than going for an identikit Ikea look. ‘Millennials and Gen Z are definitely reshaping the way we buy homeware and furniture. I think sustainability is an important factor for them and they find more satisfaction buying one-of-a-kind pieces,’ says co-founder Harriet Wetton, who started the venture after becoming frustrated while trying to source vintage pieces from the usual online haunts.

Why is repairing pieces an art form not a chore? You only have to look at the popularity of TV shows such as the BBC’s The Repair Shop to confirm the nation’s shift 80 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

PICTURE: THEO TENNANT

‘MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z ARE RESHAPING THE WAY WE BUY HOMEWARE AND FURNITURE’

A V E RY F I N E V I N TAG E

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O U R S H O RT L I S T O F W H AT TO LOOK FOR NOW

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PICTURES:2 & 10 BY GARETH HACKER/BETON BRUT

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1 ‘Camaleonda’ sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 2 ‘Olympe’ table lamp by Harvey Guzzini for ED 3 ‘LB7’ bookcase by Franco Albini for Poggi 4 ‘Cesca’ chair by Marcel Breuer for Knoll 5 ‘524 Tabouret Berger’ stool by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina 6 ‘Ekstrem’ chair by Terje Ekstrøm for Varier 7 ‘Toio’ floor lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos 8 ‘Hilleplan’ sideboard by Robin Day for Hille 9 ‘Ellisse’ coffee table by Gabriella Crespi 10 ‘Soriana’ sofa by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina

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FIND & FIX

OUR EDIT OF THE BEST RESTORERS A N D V I N TA G E SELLERS

REPAIR AFTER NOAH

This family-run workshop situated beneath the homeware shop on Islington’s Upper Street was established in 1938. Craftsmen are well versed in all manner of restoration techniques, from French polishing to cane and rush seating repair (below). afternoah.com

RECLAIM

REHOME

LASSCO

@BETONBRUTLONDON

With outposts in London and Oxfordshire, Lassco is an Aladdin’s cave of exquisite architectural antiques, salvage and curiosities. Expect to find everything from Regency and art deco mantelpieces (below) to Victorian jelly moulds – although flooring, including stone, tiles, parquet and timber boards, is a speciality. lassco.co.uk

This gallery-cum-photography studio is the brainchild of Sophie Pearce. Hugely influential in the collecting scene, whatever her impeccable eye singles out – be it furniture, lighting or artworks – inevitably becomes highly sought after. @FOLIE_CHAMBRE

With a fondness for mid-century Italian rattan (below), antique faux bamboo, brass sconces, Victorian chests and dressers and ‘absolutely anything with a bobbin’, Nat Tillison’s Instagram feed is a must-follow for those in search of whimsical, decorative pieces.

M A I T L A N D & P O AT E

RESTORE MICAELA SHARP

As a contestant on BBC Two’s Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr, Sharp’s eye for combining pattern and knack for upholstering lacklustre furniture into statement pieces took her to the semi-finals. micaelasharpdesign.com

A personal sourcing mission for their own home led the founders of Maitland & Poate to launch their tile business, which now offers new designs as well as antiques. Tiles are rescued from properties throughout Spain, France and Belgium, and range from plain terracotta to ornate encaustic (below). maitlandandpoate.com

@MAX_KEYS

‘I tend to gravitate towards things I find interesting and different, with strength in whatever period it comes from,’ says Keys of his buying approach. Tune in every day at 6pm (along with his 7,000 followers) for a new drop of stock – expect everything from postmodern chairs to lighting and sculptures.

NEST @_MODERN_ROOM

Crafted from vintage fabrics sourced by founder Lucy Bathurst, Nest’s bespoke curtains (below), blinds and home textiles could be likened to modern works of art with their geometric compositions. nestdesign.co.uk RETROUVIUS

Maria Speake and Adam Hills’ London-based architectural reclamation and interior design company has almost single-handedly reinvented the way reclaimed materials and objects are used in contemporary settings. Sourcing from factories, schools and historic buildings, its stock spans the 1800s to the mid-century era and beyond. retrouvius.com 84 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

As the name suggests, this Bristolbased dealer specialises in the modern era, with pieces mostly sourced from Europe. There’s a particularly strong edit of lighting, including great finds from the 50s and 60s, but you’re just as likely to pick up kitchenware, storage, seating or coffee tables. @ T H E . P E A N U T. V E N D O R

Specialising in 20th-century pieces, this east London dealer also has items available to rent. There’s a spectrum of styles here, from glamorous Italian lounge chairs and coffee tables to rustic three-legged side tables, plus ceramics, artworks and lighting.

ROOM to GROW

An office, a playroom, an artist’s studio – garden rooms can be anything you want them to be, with a little know-how and imagination. We meet the owners of four inspiring projects who share a few pointers on how to create your own

PICTURE: SURMAN WESTON

Words NATASHA GOODFELLOW

In the first week of lockdown alone, Richard John Andrews, a small architectural practice in east London, received 16 enquiries for garden rooms. Surprising though this was at the time, these calls were indicative of a far larger trend. Research by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) last October showed that 20 per cent of homeowners are looking to create additional living space, while the tradesperson recommendation site Checkatrade reported a staggering 306 per cent increase in searches for garden rooms between January 2020 and January 2021.

It makes perfect sense. If many of us already found our homes a little on the bijoux side, the demands of the last 15 months – when they also had to serve as offices, schools, gyms and more – have had us increasingly eyeing the back garden and wondering whether the space could not be better used.

‘A garden room can be a lot more cost-effective and quicker to build than an extension,’ says Jo van Riemsdijk of new eco-workspace brand Modulr Space. It is also a much more straightforward proposition. Provided it is in the back garden, under 2.5m high, doesn’t take up more than 50 per cent of the land around your

house, and you’re not in a conservation area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is unlikely to need planning permission.

The options are endless, from simple flatpack cabins to highly specified, bespoke structures via a new generation of hybrids: architect-designed off-the-peg spaces, many spawned by the demand that lockdown unleashed. For somewhere usable year-round, expect to pay around £6,000 for the most basic self-assembly models, but be sure to check what’s included. Foundations, if needed, can add a considerable amount to the cost, as can insulation, electrics, heating, network connections and, of course, decor. Many companies offer options for all these things – to a point. ‘If you have a budget of £20-30k to invest in a garden room, have a look at your local creative practices,’ says Richard Andrews. ‘You might find that they can offer something much more bespoke for you and your site for the same money as some of the prepackaged options.’

Done well, garden rooms will add value to your home. But even if you don’t have plans to sell, you need to make sure the space works for you. As van Riemsdijk says: ‘If you’re going to sacrifice part of your garden, it needs to be amazing.’

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CASE STUDY NO.1

RACHEL & JONNIE ALLEN The couple commissioned Jonnie’s brother, architect Ben Allen, to build a studio in their garden. His design, referencing The Pineapple folly at Dunmore Park in Scotland, was unlike anything they were expecting

‘BEN’S DESIGN SHOWED US THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING HIGH-QUALITY AND FUN’

PICTURES: BEN TYNEGATE

O Our London flat is fairly small and we knew we needed more space but didn’t want to move. Since we live in an area with fairly high property prices, we felt that adding some extra living space could make financial sense, too.

O Keep an open mind about what you want. We had an idea that we’d make some sort of workspace at the end of the garden with double doors and a desk against the back wall, but Ben totally turned that on its head. His design showed us that we could do something high-quality and fun, which our daughters (five and eight) enjoy and, most importantly for us, means we’re looking out onto the garden and house rather than staring at a wall.

O We wanted it to be a sustainable, healthy build, which is achieved through the timber construction. It’s clad with digitally pre-cut ply panels, which are all drilled and slotted into place, avoiding the need for glues. The whole building, including the paint used, is very low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

O We love the studio’s versatility. It’s been amazing during lockdown as a permanent workspace, but it also serves as an extra bedroom (the built-in seat hides a fold-out double bed) and a playroom. The children can have Zoom parties in there and feel like they have total independence, while we can keep watch from the house. studiobenallen.com

ROOM TO GROW

CASE STUDY NO.2

DANIEL HEATH The surface designer needed a quiet space at home in order to focus on his drawings. He chose a self-assembly cabin and customised it with slate tiles O I have a studio in Hackney Wick, east London, where I work on projects – from screenprinting wallpapers to laser-engraving my illustrations onto panels of reclaimed materials – but it’s a very busy, industrial space. Drawing underpins everything I do, yet I hadn’t made any provision to allow myself to draw and to think.

O There was a ramshackle old tool shed at the end of the garden and I thought the space could be far better used. I drew up plans plus a list of materials for the new structure, but started to wonder if it would be a lot easier to start with a kit and then personalise it.

O We went for a log cabin style from Dunster House with similar dimensions to what I’d designed and with a simple, stacked wood construction. The first step was to level and prepare the ground, extending the concrete pad from the previous shed, and then my brother helped with the build. There were hundreds of pieces and it took around two weeks but, considering it’s the biggest indoor space we now have (5.5 x 3m), it was relatively easy and fun to do.

O At first the studio looked very stark, so integrating it into the garden was important. My wife, Laura, and I painted the exterior in a dark grey. To create a calm feel inside, we chose a soft putty colour for the walls, with Farrow & Ball’s ‘Dutch Orange’ on the window frames for a contemporary touch.

O The idea for the slates engraved with plants came from the garden, which Laura was replanting at the same time with achillea, euphorbia, sanguisorba and fennel. By having those engravings on the outside of the building, it feels like the garden is truly a year-round space. The drawings are there as the plants come up; they get lost in the foliage as they grow and then, as they die back, they reappear. It’s a nice way to create some harmony between the building and the setting. danielheath.co.uk

PICTURES: CARMEL KING

‘BY HAVING THE ENGRAVINGS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, IT FEELS LIKE THE GARDEN IS TRULY A YEAR-ROUND SPACE’

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ROOM TO GROW

CASE STUDY NO.3

RICHARD ANDREWS

PICTURES: CHRIS SNOOK

The architect built his garden studio over a period of six months. It also functions as a cinema room and extra bedroom

‘AN UNEXPECTED BENEFIT HAS BEEN THE INCREASE IN WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN’

O From the outset, this was intended to be a comfortable space so we knew we wanted it to comply with building regulations [not required for many garden rooms]. We also worked with our structural engineer to develop a less invasive foundation system, which used concrete pads rather than strip foundations to minimise our impact on the ground.

O The asymmetric roofline echoes that of our house extension but also hides an exterior staircase on the building behind. By raising it on one side, it has given us privacy and stopped us from being overlooked; and by dropping the other, it’s allowed us to follow the growth of the tree behind.

O The walls are clad in bitumen-soaked corrugated fibreglass, a lightweight, cost-effective, fire-resistant material usually used for roofing. I like its aesthetics, too – each indent creates a vertical shadow that adds depth to the façade and it has a lovely texture, which is important when it’s in your eye-line.

O We’ve used light-diffusing polycarbonate panels for the roof.

They don’t weigh much and are easy to install, and good for lighting the space naturally without casting strong shadows.

O An unexpected benefit has been the increase in wildlife in the garden. The sycamore tree drips sap onto the studio roof, which attracts aphids, which, in turn, attract blue tits and robins whose shadows we can see. We hear their feet shuffling about – it’s really connecting. richardjohnandrews.co.uk JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 91

ROOM TO GROW

CASE STUDY NO.4

RUTH MILNE & MATT BRUMBY Tool storage was meant to be a part of this couple’s bespoke office space in their garden, until the build was finished and the lawn mower had to go elsewhere

‘THE WINDOW WAS PLANNED WITH DESKS IN MIND, SO WE CAN LOOK OUT OVER THE GARDEN’

PICTURES: ALEXANDRIA HALL PHOTOGRAPHY

O As I’m an architect and Ruth is an interior designer, we often collaborate on projects, so after years of Ruth working in the spare room, we started thinking about a shared office space. We need to have all our samples to hand so hot-desking was not an option and renting a place just wasn’t affordable – but we did have space in the garden.

O We could probably have bought something cheaper off the peg, but the joy of this office is that we could design it sustainably and to suit our requirements and the dimensions of the garden.

O Early on, we decided that this would only be used as an office, not a multi-function garden room. Having that clarity meant we could design it specifically for that purpose. The large picture window was specifically planned with desks in mind so we can work while looking out over the garden, and the joinery wall provides ample storage for all our materials and books.

O Alongside the office function, we had originally planned for around a quarter of the space to be used as a tool store. While we have hidden some power tools in the cupboards, we decided it was far too beautiful to fill with old lawn mowers so these now live in a separate shed, and we use the extra space as an exercise studio.

O The exterior larch cladding will silver with age and it works well with the garden setting. Inside, the main feature is the birch ply – it has a beautiful grain. The flooring is Forbo’s ‘Marmoleum Cocoa’ in ‘White Chocolate’, which is made from waste cocoa shells.

O Neither of us has ever worked in such a pleasant environment before. Our Victorian house is inherently cold and draughty but this is built to the spec of a new build. With good insulation and ventilation, a huge window and roof light (found on Ebay), it feels much more comfortable in there than it does in the house. It’s now our favourite space. studiomilne.co.uk; penningtonphillips.co.uk

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ROOM TO GROW

4 OF THE BEST

GARDEN ROOMS Modulr Space

1

An offshoot of FD Architecture, it offers highly sustainable, environmentally conscious turnkey ( fully finished) rooms, all designed to be repurposed.

Some structures can even be taken with you when you move. From £21,000 (modulr.space).

2 Surman Weston

The London architectural practice is branching out into prefabricated garden rooms with ‘Heid’, an attractive studio designed to maximise our connection to nature via a large, pivoting window, sedum roof and concealed nesting boxes for birds. From £19,500 +VAT (surmanweston.com).

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3 4

Bothy Stores

Inshriach Bothy, an artist residency space in the Cairngorms National Park, was the inspiration for these cabins, which are clad in corrugated steel and Scottish larch. Available as prefab or flatpack. From £27,000 ( bothystores.com).

Bert’s Box

Tile specialist Bert & May has collaborated with Box 9 Design architects on this range of rustic-yet-refined modules, which come installed with Crittal-style glazing and high-quality, design-led finishes. From £27,500 + VAT (bertsbox.co.uk).

PROMOTION FOR DFS

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE The latest eco-conscious homeware is a celebration of innovative design and considered colour, from dazzling Mediterranean blues to nature-inspired earthy greens and playful mustards

WORDS: EMMA LOVE EDITED BY: DELPHINE CHUI GRAND DESIGNS IS A TRADEMARK OF FREMANTLEMEDIA LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Just in time for summer, the latest home furnishing collections embrace bold design, tactile textures and uplifting hues – along with sustainable credentials. Take the new ‘Grand Designs’ collection of stylish sofas and chairs from furniture specialist DFS. Generous proportions, deep, super-comfy seats and inviting fabrics (velvets, weaves, chenille) in a grounding palette of green, blue, terracotta and mustard all combine to create contemporary statement pieces.

The ‘Kent’ range, for example, is available in eight shades and marries an architectural aesthetic with opulent quilting; while the clean lines and wing detail of the indigo ‘Padstowe’ accent chair will ensure that even the most minimal of modern living spaces feels serene.

Not only do the nature-inspired colours of the collection help to bring the outside in, each component is also designed to reduce the impact on the environment, in keeping with a shift towards more conscious consumer habits. Back cushions that keep their shape are filled with 100 per cent polyfibres made from plastic bottles, responsibly sourced timber frames are free from synthetic chemicals and lacquer finishes, springs are created from reusable high-carbon steel, and the fabric uses recycled polyester yarns.

Also adding a splash of colour while championing recycled materials is Devon-based homeware brand Nkuku. Its latest pieces

GENEROUS PROPORTIONS, DEEP, SUPER-COMFY SEATS AND INVITING FABRICS IN A GROUNDING COLOUR PALETTE ALL COMBINE TO CREATE CONTEMPORARY STATEMENT PIECES

From top ‘Kent’ velvet four-seater sofa, £1,299; ‘Padstowe’ velvet accent chair, £599, both ‘Grand Designs’ collection at DFS (dfs.co.uk). ‘Yala’ jug, £24.95; and wine glass, £36.95 for four, Nkuku (nkuku.com). ‘Ariadne’ cushion, £440, Maria Sigma at The New Craftsmen (thenewcraftsmen.com).

‘Slot’ lamp, £200, GoodWaste at Selfridges (selfridges.com)

include the gorgeous Mediterranean blue ‘Yala’ glassware, made from crushed and melted glass, which captures the cerulean shades of the sea. Then there’s GoodWaste, founded by three Royal College of Art graduates, which repurposes industrial materials into decorative lighting and patchwork furniture. The striking, linearpatterned ‘Slot’ lamp, for instance, is made from reclaimed perforated steel previously used for a display in Selfridges.

Textiles are another easy way to introduce colour and pattern into even pared-back homes. Designer Jennifer Manners’ new ‘Scallop’ rugs for her ‘/re/PURPOSE’ collection (made from waste plastic that would otherwise find its way into the sea or landfill) feature stunning crescent-detail borders in rich shades such as lemon and ocean blue. Meanwhile, zero-waste weaver Maria Sigma has collaborated with The New Craftsmen on ‘Ariadne’, a handmade, caramel-hued range of cushions inspired by a traditional Greek Cycladic crocheted lace motif. This is homeware that transforms your space in more ways than one.

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HOMES BRUGES

/ L O N D O N / I B I Z A / VA N C O U V E R / T I S V I L D E / PA R I S

PICTURES: YANN DERET, MADS MOGENSEN

Edited by CL ARE SARTIN

We all want to make CONSIIDERED decisions when it comes to our homes.

And that desire extends beyond agonising over paint swatches (as important as colour can, and should, be). This month, we are talking about the positive choices that have a TR A NSFOR MATI VE effect.

Sometimes an eco objective is the driving force – such as in the bright, low-energy bolthole in Tisvilde, Denmark (p136), where one family go to UNPLUG from the buzz of modern life. Occasionally, the emphasis is on a THOUGHTFUL edit of materials.

For the architect owners of a London apartment (p110), that translated into a tight palette of SUSTA INA BLE charred larch and plywood. In a minimalist new-build near Bruges (p98), muschelkalk (a type of rock with a high shell and fossil content) has been used as a defining thread throughout.

At other times, the emphasis is on curating a FEELING and creating a home that is a pure expression of passion. Living the laid-back lifestyle is what sparks JOY for the family in one sunny Ibizan villa (p118), while for a couple that designed their own RETR REAT outside Vancouver (p128), it’s waking up every morning in the exact spot where they got engaged beneath the stars.

THOUGHTFUL MINIMALISM A strict palette and a functional approach to design produces luxurious results in this new build on the outskirts of Bruges Words CLARE SARTIN Photography AMBROISE TEZENAS/PHOTOFOYER

W

hen Thomas Ostyn purchased a patch of land on the verdant outskirts of the Belgian city of Bruges, he already had big plans.

The third generation of the innovative family behind kitchen brand Obumex, he had extensive experience working with the world’s leading architects, from John Pawson to Joseph Dirand, but for his own home – a family space to share with his wife Julie and their three children – he craved a fresh perspective.

‘I wanted to work with a young and talented architect,’ says Thomas, who envisioned a close collaboration on this most personal of projects. Brussels-based Nicolas Schuybroek was the ideal man for the job. ‘His architecture is timeless but up-to-date, and he has a very diplomatic and empathetic approach to working with clients,’ explains Thomas. What’s more, Nicolas went to boarding school in the nearby town of Loppem so knew the area well.

The first task for the duo was to decide on the tight edit of materials that makes this build unique. Together, they settled on muschelkalk, a type of sedimentary rock known for its layers of fossils (from German it translates as ‘shell-bearing limestone’), sandblasted aged oak and metal for the interior. Outside, elongated grey bricks lend the building a sleek solidity. ‘For me, a house is a place to relax, so I didn’t want visual excess,’ says Thomas. ‘That’s why we kept the palette simple and consistent.’

The minimalist layout of this home was also carefully considered.

‘It needed to contain and absorb the energy of Thomas’s three young children,’ notes Nicolas, who designed a pavilion-like

Living room The huge mantelpiece is crafted from muschelkalk and is bespoke. To the right of the elm coffee table – a custom design by architect Nicolas Schuybroek – are two white ‘Ipanema’ armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin for Etel

property with no traditional front or back. Instead, every external element is equally important – whether it be the doorway where the family change out of their dirty shoes after walks in the countryside or the grand entrance that greets guests. ‘The architecture is interesting from all angles,’ adds Thomas.

Inside, the interest continues, with a core living space – kitchen, dining area and living room – acting as an open-plan hub around which family life circulates. ‘So many people only use about 20 to 30 per cent of their houses. They provide their homes with spaces that only come into use for special occasions, like a dinner party,’ says Thomas, who strove instead for a design where no area is wasted. To this end, much of his property is multifunctional. The main bedroom is also a snug, not just a place to sleep, while the dining room doubles as an office or a bar.

There’s a practicality to Thomas and Nicolas’s vision, but function does not overtake form here. Luxury exudes from every detail, whether it be the statement kitchen – designed by Joseph Dirand as part of Obumex’s ‘Signature’ collection – or the furniture, which includes vintage classics by Pierre Jeanneret and Jorge Zalszupin.

Even when it comes to these prized pieces, though, Thomas’s approach is unshakeably pragmatic. ‘However valuable it may be, a kitchen or a chair is designed to be used. Why would you buy a Ferrari if you can only look at it? My motto is: surround yourself with less stuff, but choose better and enjoy it to the fullest.’ obumex.be; ns-architects.com

Living room Above the sofa by Christian Liaigre is an egg-shaped artwork by Gavin Turk from Maruani Mercier gallery. The vintage wood and rattan chairs and bench (now reissued by Cassina) are by Pierre Jeanneret, as is the pigeonhole desk in the study area at the back. The artwork above it is by Ethan Cook and the table lamp on the back shelf is the ‘Brasilia LP’ by Michel Boyer for Ozone

Kitchen Wide floorboards from Arbony link this space visually to the living room beyond, as does the use of muschelkalk. Here, the stone adds interest to the chunky, minimalist lines of Joseph Dirand’s ‘Signature’ kitchen for Obumex. Around the extended island sit vintage Pierre Jeanneret chairs (also now available from Cassina). The pendant lights are the ‘Brasilia S’ by Michel Boyer for Ozone

Dining room Lined with cupboards concealed behind sandblasted aged-oak doors, this space features a bespoke table by Nicolas. The walnut seats surrounding it are from Miyazaki Chair Factory and vintage Louis Weisdorf pendant lights hang above. Through the open door to the terrace can be seen Charlotte Perriand chairs and a custom sofa in Belgian linen. The coffee table is another bespoke piece by Nicolas

Hallway A carved styrofoam console unit by Rick Owens sits in this airy, welcoming space.

It is lit from above by a tubular pendant light, another piece designed by Nicolas, which descends from a double-height void

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Bathroom Again honed from muschelkalk, the double sink and bath in this space have a monolithic quality that is softened by the caramel tones in the stone. The mirror is bespoke and the taps are from CEA Design

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‘MY M O T T O I S : SURROUND YO U R S E L F W I T H L E S S S T U F F, B U T CHOOSE BETTER A N D E N J OY I T T O THE FULLEST’

Bedroom Calm is key here, with an artwork by Jessica Sanders above the bed setting the mood. A suede headboard extends behind the custom-designed bedside table and vintage ‘Bidone’ wall lamp by Luigi Caccia Dominioni – try Vinterior. The clear glass water jug and glass set are from When Objects Work See Stockists page for details

THE SIMPLE LIFE With just a few well-choreographed design moves, it is possible to transform a London apartment into a temple to the calming power of nature Words CLARE SARTIN Photography STÅLE ERIKSEN

Exterior Clad in hand-charred larch, the extension has a natural quality that helps it to blend into the lush foliage in the garden, which has been replanted with plenty of evergreens and ferns Living room A print by Atelier CPH for The Poster Club is placed on top of an Ikea storage unit, upgraded with a lick of Farrow & Ball’s ‘Cornforth White’ paint. The daybed is the limited-edition ‘Markerad’ by Virgil Abloh for Ikea and the floor lamp is the ‘Metal Triangle’ from HK Living

‘There is so much mental clutter in everyone’s lives at the moment

Living room ‘Kabric’ plaster-effect paint in ‘Linen’ from Detale CPH gives this neutral space a softer quality. Beneath the ‘Three-Arm’ Serge Mouille pendant light sits an ‘LCW’ plywood chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Vitra and a ‘Karla’ armchair from Swoon Editions. The coffee table is custom-made, part of Studio Hallett Ike’s ‘Gezwart Staal’ range, and the rug is from Ikea. Prints by Berit Mogensen Lopez and Leise Dich Abrahamsen for The Poster Club hang above the bespoke blackened steel shelving units, which feature a ‘Kizu’ table lamp by Lars Tornøe for New Works

that people want their home to be calm. A space where you can dump all of that stuff and relax,’ explains Jonty Hallett, tapping into the rise in the appeal of pared-back interiors. When he and his partner, Madeleine Ike – both architects and the masterminds behind Studio Hallett Ike – began working up plans for the extension of their own apartment in a Victorian townhouse in north London, the focus, fittingly, was on creating a clean, clear aesthetic.

The plan was to add a second bedroom to the property, but by making as few structural interventions as possible.

A box extension to the rear now houses the extra room and a sociable dining space, with a view to the newly updated garden (now an exotic inner-city jungle of evergreen ferns) that can be seen as soon as you open the front door. Budget was an important consideration, too, but not one that hampered creativity. ‘There were only so many things we could do, but that didn’t mean that those things couldn’t be really good,’ explains Jonty.

‘We spent a lot of time thinking about how we could make small changes and carry them all the way through to make the project feel harmonious.’

That clarity of vision applied to the couple’s material choices. Externally, the extension is clad in larch that they charred on site, lending it an imperfect, handcrafted quality. Inside, Douglas fir plywood has been used to create much of the bespoke furniture and fittings that form this home’s design language. ‘The wood has a lot of pink in it, so when the evening sunlight hits it, especially during the summer months, that intensity of colour increases,’ says Madeleine. The result is an enveloping glow that their cat Luna loves to lounge in when she’s not cosily tucked away in her own private getaway, carved into the custom-made dining room bench.

In the living room, that natural light is enhanced by walls coated in ‘Linen’-coloured ‘Kabric’ by Detale CPH. Unlike flat paint, it offers a subtle texture that captures the movement of light and shade. Here, original floorboards have been stripped and treated to seamlessly link with the new engineered oak floors of the extension. Where the furniture hasn’t been created especially by Jonty and Madeleine, the defining characteristic is Scandinavian simplicity. ‘As architects, we are really into our Danish furniture,’ says Jonty, ‘but the stuff we’ve got, although beautiful, is at the more affordable end of that spectrum.’

The daybed in the living room, for example, is a limitededition Ikea piece by Virgil Abloh.

As with everything else in this home, the edit is allimportant. ‘It’s minimalist,’ accepts Jonty, ‘but not a sanitised take on minimalism. It’s comfortable, warm and welcoming.’ ‘I just feel the whole place is like a sanctuary,’ adds Madeleine. The perfect salve for the past year. studiohallettike.co.uk JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 113

‘It’s minimalist, but not a sanitised take on minimalism. It’s comfortable, warm and welcoming’

Dining room Douglas fir plywood is the star material here – used to create wall panelling as well as form the bespoke built-in seating, bench and storage. Luna the cat, right, even gets her own special hideaway carved out underneath. The table is another custom-made piece from Studio Hallett Ike’s ‘Gezwart Staal’ range, while the pendant light above is the ‘Utzon JU1’ by Jørn Utzon for &Tradition Kitchen Custom-designed units mimic the material palette – Douglas fir plywood, engineered oak and terrazzo – used throughout the rest of the apartment. The mugs are from Heal’s and the tap is the ‘KV1’ from Vola

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‘There were only so many things we could do, but that didn’t mean those things couldn’t be really good’

Bedroom A skylight allows sunshine to seep into this minimal space in the new extension. The Douglas fir plywood headboard is the main decorative feature, while the wall lights beside the bed are the ‘Mini Glo-Ball’ by Jasper Morrison for Flos and the bedding is from The White Company.

There’s also a functional study area with a double desk from Ikea See Stockists page for details

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Exterior Sunsets on the terrace are magical, with panoramic views of the island. The bright orange Acapulco-style chair is from Mexico – for similar, try online store Sklum

THE HAPPY PL ACE Rest and relaxation are the order of the day at this contemporary Ibizan home designed for the sunnier side of life Words CLAUDIA BAILLIE Photography MANOLO YLLERA Styling AMAYA DE TOLEDO

t’s the ultimate Ibizan dream: a sweeping yoga deck edged with fragrant lavender, from which panoramic views stretch out over the lush countryside towards the Mediterranean coast. ‘The sunsets are amazing, and the outside space is perfect if you come home late and want just one more drink,’ says Ali Pittam of Cancan Design who, along with Roberta Jurado of Box 3 Ibiza, was responsible for kitting out this contemporary property.

Located on the north-west coast of the island, Can Fructu was almost a shell when the pair, who have collaborated on projects in both London and Ibiza for several years, were tasked with bringing the home to life. ‘The owner has a young family, but they also do a lot of entertaining,’ says Roberta, ‘so it’s designed for relaxation, but it’s also a very social house.’

Entering the low-slung property via its full-height front doors, it’s possible to see all the way through to its expansive terraces and glittering infinity pool beyond. Colour inspiration for the inside and outside space comes from the vast Hermann Nitsch painting that dominates the dining room and subsequent touches of red weave their way through the living areas and out to the al fresco bar. The artwork is part of an impressive 120 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

collection that is displayed throughout the house in a very organic way.

‘It wasn’t all mapped out,’ Roberta explains.

‘We just looked at where the light was and figured it out as we went along.’

A 1950s sideboard and a sculptural, brassbased table with a sliced marble top also reside in the elegant dining room, while outside the kitchen’s sliding doors is a more casual wooden table for relaxed day use.

The inviting living area is home to a pair of Warren Platner lounge chairs upholstered in House of Hackney fabric. ‘Everyone calls them the crazy bird chairs,’ laughs Ali. ‘They’ve become quite a talking point.’

Formerly uniform bedroom suites have each been given their own personality, too, with bathrooms clad in artisan tiles sourced from Portugal, while the main bedroom is covered in textural hessian wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries.

‘All the other walls are a beautiful matt plaster that looks almost like suede, but here we wanted to change it up a bit, and the paper is the perfect backdrop for the amazing Christian Rosa painting,’ adds Ali. ‘Our aim throughout was to avoid the turquoise and bleached-out materials associated with typical Mediterranean villas. Instead, the vibe is playful, vibrant, welcoming and definitely not too serious.’ @box3ibiza; @cancandesign_

See even more of this blissful Ibizan getaway in the new ELLE Decoration Country Volume 18 – on sale now. Buy it online at elledecoration.co.uk/ specials

Entrance Full-height double doors at the front offer a clear view through the house to the pool beyond Living room Two ‘Platner’ chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll, covered in joyful ‘Zeus’ fabric from House of Hackney, give this room a boost of vitamin C. They are paired with a calmer ‘Cestone’ sofa by Antonio Citterio for Flexform and a ‘Lowtide’ wooden coffee table by Roderick Vos for Linteloo.

Many of the vases and limited-edition prints on the builtin shelving are from Cancan Design. The two miniature oil portraits are by Robi Walters from West Contemporary Art

Colour inspiration for the space comes from the vast Hermann Nitsch painting and subsequent touches of red weave their way through the living areas

Kitchen The stained oak cabinetry and marble worktop are part of a custom design by a local building team, while the appliances are from Gaggenau. By the island sit two bar stools by Diesel in collaboration with Scavolini Dining room A canvas by Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch overlooks the ‘Stealth’ table and ‘Strip’ chairs, all by Massimo Castagna for Henge. The hand-crocheted pendant lights above are by Naomi Paul. At the entrance to the room sits an American walnut credenza from the 1950s, above which hangs Movie Star, a photograph from David Drebin’s ‘Love and Other Stories’ collection

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‘Our aim was to avoid the turquoise and bleached - out materials associated with typical Mediterranean villas’

Bedroom Ben Eine’s limited-edition Riot print sets the rebellious tone in this bright room. The ‘Togo’ sofa by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset is upholstered in zingy ‘Cayenne’ velvet by Dedar and the colourful Berber rug is from Box 3 Ibiza. The ‘Mini Marseille’ wall light was designed by Le Corbusier and is available from Nemo Lighting, while the ‘Riviera’ side table below it is by Maison Sarah Lavoine. Diesel designed the glass-topped ‘Xraydio’ table for Moroso and the Africa-inspired ‘Ajour Carve’ chair is by Paola Navone for Gervasoni Bathroom Hand-painted tiles from Smink Studio in Portugal bring geometric cheer to this room. The shower is from Australian brand Astrawalker Main bedroom A bench, part of the ‘Touch’ collection

by Ilse Crawford for Zanat, sits at the end of a ‘Groundpiece’ bed by Antonio Citterio for Flexform. A large canvas by artist Christian Rosa adds colour to the raffia wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries. The bedside table is the ‘5050’ by Rodolfo Dordoni for Molteni & C

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Bathroom A double shower by Astrawalker features in this simple, calming plaster space, which connects to the terrace outside. The large pots are from Atelier Vierkant and Ksar Living Poolside At one end of the pool is a bespoke wicker bar, crafted by an artisan in Girona, Spain. The bamboo pendant lights above were crafted in South America. Adding to this outdoor entertaining space are ‘Eddy’ sofas from Flexform and an eye-catching red ‘Otto’ pouffe by Paola Lenti See Stockists page for details

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FLOWERS BY @THEFLORALSTUDIOIBIZA

‘The owner has a young family, but they also do a lot of entertaining, so it’s designed for relaxation, but it’s also a very social house’

Living room A painting by late artist Eva Wynand, who was a friend of the couple, complements the natural tones in this room. From the cedar cladding on the ceiling to the cement floors and soft-grey of the bespoke sofas, the palette here is muted. A Morsø stove sits in the corner, beside a bean bag chair – for similar try the ‘Mighty B’

by Haus Direct. On the coffee tables (bought on Facebook Marketplace) are a bronze sculpture of a horse by Elza Mayhew, a vessel from Kathleen Tennock Ceramic Studio and pieces picked up on holiday on the Japanese island of Kyushu ±

A D E C L A R AT I O N O F LOVE Built on a remote spot close to Vancouver, this holiday cabin is dedicated to one couple’s devotion to the landscape and each other Words KARINE MONIÉ Photography EMA PETER

A ‘

house should be a world, unto its own, that emerges from the meeting of the experienced environment and the story of the inhabitant,’ says Patrick Warren, partner at Frits de Vries Architects + Associates Ltd. ‘This home is a deeply personal exploration of that idea.’

Located on a one-acre waterfront plot in Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, it was built as a retreat from city life in Vancouver for him, marine biologist Kevin Kaufman, and their labrador Taavi (meaning beloved in Hebrew). ‘The Sunshine Coast can be reached by a 40-minute ferry ride across the stunning Howe Sound,’ says Patrick. ‘It feels remote, but is close to the city.’

‘Kevin and I are both spiritually drawn to nature,’ he explains. ‘As an architect from the Canadian west coast, I think that building a cabin in the woods was inevitable for me. Building it by the ocean was inevitable for Kevin. So when we found this spot we knew it was the one. We actually camped on the site after we first bought it and marked out our favourite places.’

The best view of the nearby lighthouse became the living room, while the dining room, oriented to the south, is located to catch the sunrise from the east. The bedroom occupies a spot very close to where the couple spent their first night when the structure did not yet exist and, where later, Patrick proposed to Kevin. ‘Working on this house together inspired us to get married,’ says the architect.

‘In a way, merging our stories on this land has been a marriage, too.’

A large, gently sloping roof protects the living spaces and outdoor patio, while the small guest wing is set under a smaller roof on the opposite side. Designed as a single-storey property, it is divided into three levels, separated by three steps each, that follow the natural topography of the land. Inspired by 1970s American coastal architecture and traditional Japanese ryokans (or inns) that the couple visited on the island of Kyushu, the materials used for the build are both simple and tactile: Douglas fir for the structure, window frames and stair treads, and cedar for the interior and exterior cladding.

Reflecting Patrick and Kevin’s affection for the landscape, eco ideas were integrated into this project from the start. The eye-catching roof maximises solar exposure that powers passive heating in the winter, while all of the wood used is from managed, renewable forests. Furniture choices focused on preloved pieces. ‘Sustainability,’ says Patrick, ‘should not be something that is an added technology at the end of the design process.

This home is a place to remember our essential connection to nature.’ frits.ca

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Exterior The swoop of this home’s roof was designed to best drink in the sun’s rays, which are used to power heating Dining area Preloved dining chairs surround a secondhand glass table – for a similarly sleek design try the ‘Hub’ by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia. The ceramic sculpture on top is a piece by Liz de Beer. ‘Studio’ pendant lights from Sistemalux hang above. Patrick Warren sits on a ‘Womb’ chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, with Taavi the dog ±

Kitchen More ‘Studio’ pendant lights by Sistemalux hang above a cedar-clad island topped with granite. The tap is the ‘Minta’ by Grohe and the bar stools are secondhand finds, inspired by Hans J Wegner’s ‘Wishbone’ chair for Carl Hansen & Søn Opposite A commissioned sculpture by Liz de Beer stands on a built-in cement bench at the entrance to the bedroom ±

Bedroom Behind the custom-built bed, charcoal rubbings by Isamu Akino of a piece by Canadian sculptor Elza Mayhew form a striking headboard. A small sculpture by Mayhew is placed on the bespoke bedside table, beside a Miss Bunny sculpture by Anyuta Bathroom By painting the wooden cladding black here, eyes are drawn to the perfectly framed view behind the Japanese-inspired ‘Origami’ tub from Bain Ultra, which is clad in cedar to match the ceiling and window surrounds See Stockists page for details

‘THIS HOME IS A P L AC E TO R E M E M B ER O U R ESSEN T IA L CONNECTION TO N AT U R E’

No internet, no TV, no mobile signal… this colourful home in Danish beach town Tisvilde offers a digital detox for one eco-minded family Words and production MARTINA HUNGLINGER Photography MADS MOGENSEN

UNPLUGGED Surrounded by lush woodland, this low-energy house, made up of simplified blocks, is clad in Siberian larch with oak windows and doors, all sustainably sourced

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r c h i t e c t Je p p e Utzon does not have a car. When he, his partner Alice and their threeyear-old son Nord Neri make the regular trip from Copenhagen to the family retreat he created for them, his mother and his two sisters in the Danish seaside town of Tisvilde, they take the train.

It’s exactly the environmentally conscious travel decision one would expect from the co-founder of architecture practice Cold Wet & Dark, whose focus for this multi-generational bolthole was to create a space to enjoy the landscape while inflicting as little damage as possible upon it. The low-energy house has underfloor heating powered by an air-to-water heat pump, while well-insulated windows keep the need to use it to a minimum. From construction to cladding, the build uses only sustainably sourced wood – Siberian larch for the exterior, oak for the windows and doors, and birch plywood for the interior furnishings.

Days here are spent simply. There is no TV or internet, and the surrounding hills block mobile signals, making this the perfect place to switch off from modern life. A swim in the sea every morning kick-starts a connection with nature that continues throughout the day as the family regularly forage for mushrooms and edible seaweed, as well as plundering their fruitful garden to make organic meals. Anything that doesn’t get eaten is put aside for the fox that visits every night at dusk.

The set-up is idyllic, but this home is unlike many eco properties.

Here, there is colour, playfulness and personality. ‘Nothing white,’ was the order Jeppe’s mother, artist Barbara Trolle, gave her son before work began. It is her colour choices that set this property apart. Cabinets and wardrobes are finished in a sage green that mimics the wild rye that grows on the sand dunes along the nearby beach. The grass’s golden flowering tips are reflected in the light colour of the birch plywood of the walls and ceilings.

‘As to the red epoxy resin floors, initial inspiration came from a red and black Chinese bowl my mother holds dear,’ adds Jeppe.

The bright hue was later changed to the subtler shade that we see today, more like the tone of clay tennis courts. A glass jar on the kitchen counter still holds wooden pegs daubed with colour samples – a lasting testament to the exhaustive research that went into getting the combinations just right.

Jeppe and his mother’s bold colour-blocking approach is perfect for this home that is itself a combination of simplified blocks. One large central section holds the main open-plan living area, kitchen and dining room, while a further two blocks contain, in total, three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Sliding doors allow the rooms to be closed down for a more private experience, but during the annual Musik i Lejet festival held in Tisvilde, up to 12 people descend on the retreat, making use of not just the bedrooms, but also the large bespoke sofas in the living room and mezzanine. Even at its busiest though, this is still a home built for switching off and enjoying life’s analogue pleasures – whether that be reading a book in the sunshine, listening to music or just peacefully watching the day unfold outside the windows. coldwetanddark.com

Portrait Jeppe, Alice and Nord Neri take a walk in the dunes, among the abundant wild rye that inspired much of their eco house’s colour palette Living room Custom-made sofas by Jeppe, built from the same birch plywood used to clad the walls and ceilings, offer ample seating in this space. The yellow scroll-like coffee table is also custom-made, while the black ceiling light is from Danish brand Ilva (as is the round mirror in the entrance hall) and the wall lamp is an old Ikea design

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Living room A vintage ‘Slæde’ armchair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia sits by the floor-to-ceiling doors that open on to the garden Kitchen Red epoxy resin floors really shine against the sage-green custom-made cabinetry in this space. On the island, 1950s bowls by Herbert Krenchel pick up on the colour scheme. The red child’s chair is a piece that has been in the family for a long time, while the stool is the ‘AAS 38’ from Hay. For a factory-style aluminium pendant light like this one, try Skinflint

UNLIKE M ANY ECO PROPERTIES, HERE THERE IS COLOUR, P L AY F U L N E S S A N D P E R S O N A L I T Y

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Dining room Artworks by Jeppe’s mother Barbara Trolle are displayed on a shelf above the table. The chairs are the ‘Jutlandia’ by Danish designer Jakob Berg – his ‘Ballare’ chair for Skagerak has a similar simplicity

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Bedroom A bespoke wardrobe and bookcase sit flush with the birch plywood walls in this space. The writing desk is a prototype design by Jeppe’s grandfather Jørn Utzon – a famous architect himself, he designed the Sydney Opera House. It is paired with a simple red chair picked up at a flea market. The bedside table and table lamp are both pieces purchased at Danish store Søstrene Grene See Stockists page for details

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Home is a canvas Created for two art and design collectors, this Parisian apartment can be regularly reconfigured, like a modern gallery, to keep life interesting Words ANNE-CATHERINE SCOFFONI Photography YANN DERET

Living room The two ‘Soriana’ sofas were designed by Tobia and Afra Scarpa for Cassina in the 1970s. In the middle sits a marble coffee table designed by Angelo Mangiarotti, also in the 1970s, on top of a pink rug from Tai Ping.

Built-in shelving that stretches from here into the dining room houses a vast collection of books, ceramics and objets d’art. Displayed on the console is Early Work, a piece by Victor Vasarely

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was the views over the rooftops of Paris that attracted the now-owners of this two-floor apartment in the city’s ninth arrondissement.

Through the windows, all was perfection. Inside, though, this home was in a dilapidated state.

Poorly considered 1990s redesigns had done the place no favours, but this couple, both ardent art collectors, saw potential, enlisting the help of interior architect and designer Olivia Massimi.

‘They didn’t want a conservative apartment,’ says Olivia, ‘so I played the “arty” card.’ This approach to the six-month renovation project is evident from the moment you walk into the entrance hall, which has been designed to look like a contemporary art gallery. White walls radiate new possibilities, while a brass picture rail and spotlights are placed to display the constantly evolving art collection to its best advantage.

After having opened up the main living areas downstairs, reconfigured the staircase (which now features a curving handrail crafted by a local artisan) and uncovered the full height of the ceilings on the second floor by exposing original beams, Olivia was faced with what she describes as ‘a blank canvas’. ‘It gave us the freedom to write a completely different story,’ she adds.

Key to that new narrative was a prominent artistic thread. The brass picture rails present in the entrance hall continue in the living

and dining rooms, allowing the owners to switch around canvases, prints and photography (including pieces by the likes of South Korean artist Soo-Kyoung Lee and leader of the Op Art movement Victor Vasarely) any time inspiration hits.

When confronted with the one restriction this project presented – unmovable ventilation ducts that split the two central living spaces – Olivia devised a fittingly creative solution: a double-sided fireplace that looks like it should always have been there.

The gallery look can be cold, but here artworks are not the only sources of colour and texture. Black lacquered doors and details add a sophisticated edge and an element of theatricality when paired with recognisable furniture designs by 20th-century masters Gio Ponti, Tobia and Afra Scarpa and more.

In the kitchen, the drama is elevated. Perfect for partying at home, the focus of this space is its black, rubber-topped bar counter, but a material palette of terrazzo, emerald tiles, white marble and foxed mirror gives it the feel of a jewellery box packed full of gems.

From this once-blank canvas, Olivia has conjured a home now bursting with life. For a couple who thrive on entertaining friends with dinners and drinks gatherings, there could be no better composition. The past year may have seen social diaries curtailed, but, as we head into a more convivial future, this artful apartment is ready to show its full potential. oliviamassimi.com

Living room The two vintage chairs were bought at Paris’s Saint-Ouen flea market, while a wooden sculpture by Vedran Jakšić from Roman and Williams Guild in New York is displayed on the travertine shelf attached to the bespoke double-sided fireplace Dining room Below the brass picture rail, Soo-Kyoung Lee’s bold, bright canvas dominates this space, where the furniture includes a ‘Rough’ table by Samuel Accoceberry Studio for Collection Particulière and ‘Superleggera’ chairs by Gio Ponti for Cassina. The paper pendant light above is from the ‘Akari’ collection by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra

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Kitchen Custom-made with a rubber top, the bar counter is the focal point of this glamorous space designed for entertaining. The bar stools are the ‘Tractor’ by BassamFellows.

Matching the emerald tones of the bespoke cabinetry, the tiles were also specially designed and made by TeamWork. The ‘Arabescato Corchia’ marble is from Italy, while the wall lamps mounted on the foxed mirrors are vintage pieces by mid-century brand Harvey Guzzini. Prints of work by the late US artist Ellsworth Kelly (right) brighten up the scheme

Guest bedroom Featuring a bespoke office nook tucked in beside the black lacquered doorway, this room is an inviting space for visitors. A ‘Kina’ pendant light designed by Bent Karlby for Lyfa in the 1950s hangs beside a selection of artworks, which include a photograph by Yoko Ikeda from Ibasho Gallery in Antwerp and plates by Hylton Nel from Gallery Stevenson in Cape Town

Turning this home into a blank canvas, says Olivia, ‘gave us the freedom to write a completely different story’

Bedroom Beneath the freshly uncovered ceiling beams sits a serene white space, complete with a custom-designed built-in wardrobe. Vintage brass pendant lights designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson in the 1960s hang either side of the bed, one illuminating a ‘Rivet’ side table by Frama.

The large floor lamp is an ‘Equilibrium’ by Pierre Guariche for Disderot and the bench at the end of the bed is another vintage piece – a Belgian design from the 1970s See Stockists page for details

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/ R E S TA U R A N T S / C U LT U R E / Edited by CAT OLLEY

THE OUTSIDERS With the demand for al fresco dining at an all-time high – and warmer weather (hopefully) on the way – here’s our pick of the best outdoor spaces to book now

PICTURE: ROBIN BALL

THE HUT, COLWELL BAY, ISLE OF WIGHT Don’t be fooled by the name – this waterfront spot is no dinky beach shack. Perhaps the sense of formality would jar with the simple pleasures on offer… fish tacos, lobster and chips, a west-facing terrace perfect for evening sun. Getting to this tip of the island is part of the fun – shuttle yourself across from Lymington on the mainland and they’ll take you ashore by tender (thehutcolwell.co.uk). ±

SEABIRD, SOUTHWARK Hotels have something of a head start when it comes to the sort of space needed for outdoor dining. The Hoxton’s Southwark outpost, which arrived two years ago after a trio of stateside openings, has certainly made the most of its elevated position, launching restaurant Seabird on the 14th floor. Its rattan furniture and rows of palm trees are paired with concrete and brickwork in a nod to the neighbourhood’s industrial heritage.

Book a table on the terrace for startling views over central London (seabirdlondon.com).

Shaded by olive trees and bedecked in cheerful striped green and red cushions, this expansive outdoor restaurant seems transplanted straight from the Mediterranean – save for the unmistakably urban Gasholders complex next door.

Here, diners are trusted to wield mini tabletop parilla – Spanish grills – to char prawns, chicken wings and lamb pintxos with precision. The unusual prospect of a DIY dinner is but one of several reasons to swing by a sensationally regenerated King’s Cross (parrillan.co.uk).

PICTURES: GREG FUNNELL

PARRILLAN, KING’S CROSS

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ROCKSALT, FOLKESTONE Kent-bound day trippers tend to peel off for Whitstable, Margate and Deal before southerly Folkestone, but the port town deserves a share of the spotlight.

Opened a decade ago on the pretty harbour, Rocksalt is still the best spot for a languorous lunch, with its timber terrace cantilevered over the sea. While much of the menu is devoted to locally caught seafood, it also showcases seasonal Kentish produce (rocksaltfolkestone.co.uk).

197 CHISWICK FIRE STATION, CHISWICK Hit a spell of balmy weather in the whitewashed walled garden of this all-day spot and you could almost believe you’re in the Balearics.

In reality, it’s W4 – a leafy corner of the capital made all the more appealing by its arrival four years ago. The menu is well set up for summer, with sharing plates and charcuterie boards alongside bowls of pasta and brunch dishes.

Cocktails are classic with a twist, with some served by the jug (no197chiswickfirestation.co.uk).

ISSHO, LEEDS The contemporary sofas on the terrace of this chic Japanese restaurant are the kind you want to sink into – louche and low-slung – while a central location makes it a great spot to get your bearings.

Alongside artful small plates, there are genuinely inventive cocktails that lean on delicate floral notes like peach, lychee, kumquat and shisho, as well as sake and Japanese whiskies. Clock the views across to the historic Kirkgate Market as you sip (issho-restaurant.com).

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GOLD, NOTTING HILL Launching less than a year before the first lockdown, this west London restaurant never got a fair outing on the capital’s fickle food scene. Now, with al fresco dining more desirable than ever, its transportive garden room – all lush palms and pink plaster walls – seems almost prescient.

The retractable roof offers an insurance policy against the equally fickle British weather (goldnottinghill.com).

20 STORIES, MANCHESTER There are no points for guessing the inspiration behind the name of this rooftop bar and restaurant, which crowns glass monolith No.1 Spinningfields in Manchester’s buzzy business district. Wholly open to the elements, its large terrace features mature trees that scale the full two storeys, plus glass dining pods, firepits and secluded corners with sleek sofas. Book a table for sunset and you’ll be well rewarded (20stories.co.uk).

Richmond’s Petersham Nurseries is well versed in the art of outdoor dining, its great glasshouse seating guests beneath bougainvillea, jasmine and a thick canopy of trailing vines. Opened in 2018, the airy courtyard at Covent Garden sister site La Goccia has a similarly sylvan feel, with sinuous chairs and ferns spilling from terracotta pots. The effect is irresistibly Italianate – just the spot for antipasti and an aperitivo or two (lagoccia.co.uk).

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PICTURES: INGRID RASMUSSEN

LA GOCCIA, COVENT GARDEN

Blueprint for LIVING A new exhibition on Charlotte Perriand at London’s Design Museum salutes the style and spirit of this modernist visionary. We speak to chief curator Justin McGuirk

From top Perriand, a great talent, and force of nature; her bookcase for the Maison du Mexique, 1952; the iconic ‘Chaise Longue Basculante’; Air France’s office in New Bond Street

When the Design Museum staged its retrospective of French architect and designer Charlotte Perriand in 1996, it was to be one of the final chapters of a remarkable life that spanned the century almost exactly. Twenty-five years later, her legacy as one of its greatest innovators is under the spotlight once more. ‘She deserves to be better known,’ says chief curator Justin McGuirk, who was keen to build on the momentum generated by a vast exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris two years ago. ‘It was a real opportunity to bring Perriand back to London.’

The narrative that hovers around the designer as a victim of modernism’s boys club is an oversimplification, says the curator.

‘If she was held back, it was more by history. She was taken very seriously by her peers.’ And what peers. There was Spanish architect José Lluis Sert, who likened her holistic approach to interiors to that of an urban planner; fellow modernist heroes Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret; the painter Fernand Léger and, of course, Le Corbusier, who famously tried to send her packing with his quip: ‘We don’t embroider cushions here!’ Perriand would go on to design for him for a decade. ‘She was, above all, a great collaborator. She thrived on it,’ says McGuirk.

While Perriand herself would often exhibit pieces by Léger and Le Corbusier alongside her own, this exhibition makes sparing deviations from her work across seven decades. ‘It’s really the story of her life,’ says McGuirk. ‘You start at her first project, and you end at her last.’

The first of three distinct sections introduces Perriand the dogmatic modernist, an exponent of the machine age whose creations in glass and stainless steel speak of the movement’s sharpest edges. ‘That early period was a kind of avant-garde assault on the home,’ explains McGuirk. If credit for these designs has since favoured Le Corbusier, it doesn’t present a fair picture of input. ‘He

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had the broad intellectual principles, she was the one translating them into furniture,’ he adds.

Shown alongside finished pieces are prototypes, photos and sketchbooks, where ideas are puzzled out on page, such as her ‘Chaise Longue Basculante’ with lever in tow (later dismissed as an inelegant solution). ‘You can see her handwriting, her sketches – they’re messy and unprecious,’ says McGuirk. ‘You get a sense of someone at work.’

An independent and tireless traveller, Perriand spent time in Brazil and two crucial years in Japan, where she found inspiration in traditional craft and a sense of interior space. A minimalist, then?

Not quite, says McGuirk. ‘When she found her own voice, she found both warmth and calm. It’s that influence of different traditions, the Japanese, the peasant architecture of the mountains – and the modernist. She was a great synthesiser.’ If this second segment reveals her shift in focus toward nature’s organic forms, the third is the great reconciliation. Post-war, Perriand began to fuse the rural with the urban, craft with industrialisation, wood with metal.

As modernism grappled with the new frontier of mass tourism in the 1950s, she designed interiors for Air France, including

WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: ARCHIVES CHARLOTTE PERRIAND ADAGP 2021, NICOLA ZOCCHI, © ACHP/CHARLOTTE PERRIAND, © ADAGP, PARIS AND DACS, LONDON 2020 © ADAGP, PARIS AND DACS, LONDON 2021/© ACHP, CENTRE D’ART DE FLAINE

‘WHEN SHE FOUND HER OWN VOICE, SHE FOUND BOTH WARMTH AND CALM… SHE WAS A GREAT SYNTHESISER’ an office on London’s New Bond Street, which has been reconstructed for the exhibition.

‘Installations play to Perriand’s whole thesis that architecture and furniture need to exist in unison. They bring that sense of immersion,’ explains McGuirk. So, too, will the opportunity to sit on some of her most famous and prized designs, courtesy of Cassina, the exhibition’s Reconstruction Content Partner, including the chaise longue and ‘Fauteuil Pivotant’ chair.

A proponent of the portable, flexible and modular, Perriand was ‘good with small spaces’, says the curator, who singles out the deceptively compact rooms of her spectacular 30,000-bed ski resort Les Arcs, which reveals itself in a virtual tour. With much conceived for mass production ‘she was disappointed that the furniture she designed with Le Corbusier became so elitist,’ he adds.

Perriand, who passed away aged 96 in 1999, had a knack for quotable wisdom, and McGuirk’s most loved is: ‘Better to spend a day in the sun than to spend it dusting our useless objects.’ That, he believes, ‘has to do with storage. It lets you hide things away, and go out and play.’ Perriand’s days in the sun were spent hiking, swimming and skiing in the mountains of her beloved Savoie in France, which inspired her and Jeanneret’s futuristic alpine pod ‘Le Refuge Tonneau’.

A famous image (above left) shows her in a kind of exultant embrace with Savoie’s snowy peaks, naked back turned to the camera and arms thrust skyward. For McGuirk, Perriand offers a blueprint for living with unfettered curiosity and courage. ‘I look at her and think, “What a life”.’

‘Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life’, 19 June–5 September 2021; designmuseum.org

Clockwise from top Perriand’s research sketches of chairs and tables, 1928; 1927’s ‘Fauteuil Pivotant’ chair; mountain pod ‘Le Refuge Tonneau’; and Perriand in Savoie, France

Part of Perriand’s Les Arcs ski resort, La Cascade is cantilevered into the hillside

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ART HOUSE With interiors curated by a local gallerist, a stay at one of two new Paris rentals offers the chance to live like an art collector

Ambroise, Le Marais: the ‘Ring Block’ table and ‘Node’ chandelier are both

by Yasmin Bawa

‘I’m convinced everyone wants to live in an inspiring place where everything has been designed and crafted by artisans,’ says gallerist Amélie du Chalard of her latest venture Ambroise Maisons de Collectionneurs, a guesthouse concept inspired by the homes of art collectors. Two skilfully renovated Parisian apartments allow guests to discover abstract art in a domestic setting. ‘The idea is to use your stay to develop a sensitivity to art using all of the senses.’

While she has respected the character of each property, retaining the classic Hausmannian details of Ambroise, Saint-Germain, and creating a contemporary duplex for the fashionable location of Ambroise, Le Marais, it was the immaculate white walls of her gallery that provided the starting point for both. ‘The idea is to really showcase the artworks and white walls are the best way to facilitate that,’ she says. ‘The walls are dedicated to the artists.’

These include both the emerging and established, from former street artist Clément Mancini and Natalia Jaime-Cortez to famed ceramist Georges Jouve and painter Pierre Alechinsky, whose works have also made their way into the office of Emmanuel Macron.

If guests feel inspired by a piece during their stay, it’s all for sale.

The interiors are peppered with vintage finds and design collectibles, such as chairs by Brazilian architect Sergio Rodrigues and ceramic plates picked up on travels in Asia. The rest of the furnishings are bespoke commissions for Ambroise and indulge Chalard’s love of tactile raw materials, notably the striking walnut dining table from artist Yasmin Bawa and curved headboards by Batiik Studio.

The gallerist is working on a third apartment in Montmartre, set to open in September, while Ambroise, la Provence, is due this summer. An Italian property is also on the cards. ‘The concept of living like an art collector will be the same in each, but the spirit and character will evolve. Each house will have its own special soul.’

Le Marais sleeps four, from approx £430 per night; Saint-Germain sleeps six, from approx £610 per night (ambroise-collection.com).

‘THE IDEA IS TO REALLY SHOWCASE THE ARTWORKS AND WHITE WALLS ARE THE BEST WAY TO FACILITATE THAT’

WORDS: NICOLA LEIGH STEWART PICTURES: RAUL CABRERA

The spacious living room at Ambroise, Saint-Germain, with an ‘Oba’ table by Jean-Pierre Tortil for Delcourt Collection and an ‘Eko’ sofa by Christophe Delcourt

One of two bedroom suites at Le Marais – the curved headboard is by Batiik Studio

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WILD ISLE Forget Skye or the Shetlands, for maximum sunshine hours, it’s the island of Tiree you want. The most westerly of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides has 46 miles of pristine white beaches, as well as excellent surfing conditions. And it’s here that Sian and Adam Milne have opened eight-room eco hotel and restaurant The Reef Inn. With a permanent population well under a thousand, it’s no surprise this is the first of its kind on Tiree. ‘There’s a lot of satisfaction in bringing a luxurious retreat to this wild isle,’ says Sian. ‘We can’t wait for people to walk in, after being on the beach all day, to a lovely meal and a comfy bed.’ From £145 per night, including breakfast (reef-tiree.com).

C U LT U R E H O T S P O T As Coventry kicks off its City of Culture 2021 celebrations, it heralds the start of

a year-long arts programme. Highlights this month include ‘The Show Windows’, which will see artists and architects create shop displays in collaboration with RIBA, the launch of street art festival ‘In Paint We Trust’ and a characteristically colourful installation from Morag Myerscough. From 15 May (coventry2021.co.uk).

FOREST FOR CHANGE

T H E F O R K E D F O R E S T PAT H

MARBLE ARCH HILL

By the time designers from 50 countries unveil their responses to director Es Devlin’s ‘Resonance’ theme at this year’s London Design Biennale, the courtyard of Somerset House will be transformed with 400 trees. Designed by Devlin as a way to spotlight the UN’s Global Goals, ‘Forest For Change’ is a rallying call to ‘counter the attitude of human dominance over nature’.

1-27 June (londondesignbiennale.com).

He installed a blazing sun in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, turned rivers green and pumped fog into galleries across the globe, but Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s latest project has a quieter feel. Conceived over 20 years ago and now brought to Brighton’s Fabrica gallery, ‘The Forked Forest Path’ will see visitors wind through rooms filled with locally sourced branches and saplings.

18 May-20 June (fabrica.org.uk).

While much talk around the great return to central London has focused on pedestrianisation, Dutch architectural firm MVRDV has devised an unusual plan to coax us back into town this summer.

Part viewing platform and part nature installation, Marble Arch Hill is a 25-metre-tall forested mound, offering panoramic views of the monument and city beyond (mvrdv.nl/projects).

PICTURES: SOMERSET HOUSE/KEVIN MEREDITH, TOWNER EASTBOURNE, MVRDV 2021

3 O F T H E B E S T: N AT U R E I N S TA L L AT I O N S

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HOMEcoming

WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: SECCHI SMITH, JANE LLOYD, HUFTON + CROW, EM FITZGERALD PHOTOGRAPHY, BENJAMIN WESTOBY

After a lengthy renovation, London’s new-look Museum of the Home is ready for the big reveal Now reopening three years after doors closed for major renovations, it’s clear that east London’s Museum of the Home – formerly the Geffrye – has been missed. What’s less clear is just how local practice Wright & Wright Architects managed to carve 80 per cent more exhibition space from its series of 18th-century almshouses. ‘We dug down into cellars, opened up roof spaces and stitched in modest extensions,’ explains partner Clare Wright.

The lower floor, revealed for the first time in the building’s 300-year history, becomes the ‘Home Galleries’, doubling display space. There’s a new atrium-like entrance, a café housed in a former Victorian pub, fresh access to the extensive archives on the first floor and two new garden pavilions outside. The firm even lowered basement floors in the pursuit of visitor space, ‘meaning what were formerly doors have become windows,’ says museum director Sonia Solicari. ‘It gives a new perspective on inside and out.’

Announced, too, is a pledge to tackle domestic life in all its diversity, with topics such as migration, homelessness and gender roles, plus the very first ‘Festival of the Home’ in September. Opens 22 May (museumofthehome.org.uk).

5 MINUTES WITH… MUSEUM OF THE HOME DIRECTOR SONIA SOLICARI Real homes are often messy and complex spaces. Whether we live alone or with others, they are epicentres of our hopes and fears, loves and losses – that’s what makes domesticity so captivating. The aim of the museum is to ask, ‘What does home mean to you?’ It’s a subject that’s both universally relevant and deeply personal.

Over the past year, we’ve been forced to think about our homes more intensely than ever. Our ‘Stay Home’ project, which collated lockdown experiences, has shown a greater awareness of things like light, sound and comfort, as well as our relationships with friends, families and neighbours.

The role of community is surfacing like never before.

The biggest domestic gamechanger of the last decade is digital connectivity. Many of us have woken up to the possibilities it offers our domestic lives – our ability to work from home or the ease with which many of us can order online for home delivery. This is teamed with tensions around data and privacy and the erosion of boundaries between home and work.

My favourite new addition to our collection? I love the ‘Brexit’ egg cups by Harriet Cole. Boiled eggs are such an everyday comfort food but the message of ‘hard brexit/soft brexit’ is anything but comfortable.

Homes are political spaces and these egg cups say it all.

‘Brexit’ egg cups by Harriet Cole, on display at the Museum of the Home

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STOCKISTS / &Tradition (andtradition.com) 1882 (1882ltd.com)

A

Aaron Probyn (aaronprobyn.com) After Noah (afternoah.com) Aiayu (aiayu.com) Akiko Kenmade (akikokenmade.dk) Aleta (aletaonline.com) Apato (apato.dk) Arbony (arbony.com) Arte (arte-international.com) Astrawalker (astrawalker.com.au) Atelier Axo (atelier-axo.com) Atelier Vierkant (ateliervierkant.com)

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BACD Studio (bacdstudio.com) Bain Ultra (bainultra.com) BassamFellows (bassamfellows.com) Batiik Studio (batiik.fr) Bauwerk (bauwerkcolour.com) Ben Eine (beneine.co.uk) Bench Studio (benchstudio.co.uk) Béton Brut (betonbrut.co.uk) Bitossi (bitossihome.it) Boem Studio (boem.store) Box 3 Ibiza (@box3ibiza) Business & Pleasure Co (businessandpleasureco.com)

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Dansk (danskshop.com) Dedar (dedar.com) Dedon (dedon.de) Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour (dcch.co.uk) Designers Guild (designersguild.com) Detale CPH (detalecph.com) Dinesen (dinesen.com) Disderot (disderot.com) Dora (shopdora.dk) Dorian Caffot de Fawes (dorian-antiques.com) Dyson (dyson.co.uk)

E

Edition Copenhagen (editioncopenhagen.com) Etel (etel.design) Ex.t (ex-t.com)

F

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Folie Chambre (@folie_chambre) Frama (framacph.com) Fredericia (fredericia.com)

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Gaggenau (gaggenau.com) Galerie De La Madeleine (@galeriedelamadeleine_beziers) Gervasoni (gervasoni1882.it) Glas Italia (glasitalia.com) Grohe (grohe.com)

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Jessica Sanders (jessicasanders.org) John Lewis & Partners (johnlewis.com)

K

Kann (kanndesign.com) Karakter Copenhagen (karakter-copenhagen.com) Kathleen Tennock Ceramic Studio (kathleentennock.com) Kin (kinhome.co) Knoll (knoll.com) Ksar Living (ksarliving.com) Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk)

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La Manufacture (lamanufacture-paris.fr) Larsen (larsenfabrics.com) Lassco (lassco.co.uk) Les Gens Heureux (@les_gens_heureux) Ligne Roset (ligne-roset.com) Linteloo (linteloo.com) Lit (lithome.co.uk) Little Greene (littlegreene.com) Living Quarters (living-quarters.co) Liz de Beer (lizdebeer.com) Lyfa (lyfa.com)

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Madwa (madwa.com) Maison Sarah Lavoine (maisonsarahlavoine.com) Maitland & Poate (maitlandandpoate.com) Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com) Margit Wittig (margitwittig.com) Maruani Mercier (maruanimercier.com) Matches Fashion (matchesfashion.com) Max Keys (max-keys.com) Ment (mentmade.com) Mette Nisgaard (mettenisgaard.com) Micaela Sharp (micaelasharpdesign.com) Mind the Gap (mindtheg.com) Mini Moderns (minimoderns.com) Miyazaki Chair Factory (miyazakichair.com) Modern Room (modernroom.co.uk)

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P

Paint & Paper Library (paintandpaperlibrary.com) Paola Lenti (paolalenti.it) Penny Worrall (pennyworrall.com) Phillip Jeffries (phillipjeffries.com) Please Wait To Be Seated (pleasewaittobeseated.com) Polkra (polkra.com)

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Tai Ping (taipingtent.com) Takt (taktcph.com) TeamWork (teamworkitaly.com) Tekla (teklafabrics.com) The Basket Company (thebasketcompany.com) The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk) The Peanut Vendor (thepeanutvendor.co.uk) The Poster Club (theposterclub.com) The Stripes Company (thestripescompany.com) The White Company (thewhitecompany.com) Toast (toa.st)

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Y

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Z

Zanat (zanat.org) Zerø-Living (zero-living.com) Zinc Textile (zinctextile.com) Zoffany (zoffany.sandersondesigngroup.com)

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ST YLISH INTERIORS Create your dream living space with our inspiring collection

MARCELA SOLANA

STUDIO MILLS

Marcela Solana (‘MARCH’), is a Mexican artist known for her playful use of acrylics. When she discovered her artistic abilities, she made it her mission to inspire and colour life through her art.

Visit www.marcelasolana.com to learn more and follow @marcelasolana.art on Instagram.

Studio Mills is an architecture and interior design practice founded in 2015 by three sisters based in London. They use their combined skills to create playful, holistic spaces – from private residences and hotels to retail and commercial interiors. studiomillsdesign.com

SILVER WALL ART Silver Wall Art are a leading UK design studio that creates luxurious, unique artworks with a focus on contemporary accent colours and sculptural themes. New collections include their fabulous Living Wall Art frame that brings indoor greenery to your home in a spectacular fashion.

Visit www.silverwallart.co.uk find us on instagram @silverwallart or email studio@silverwallart.co.uk

REVIVE INNOVATIONS Stylish, bespoke products created by recycling CDs! We craft a range of beautiful furniture and home accessories which aim to reshape the future of recycled products.

We collect and reprocess waste CDs, entering them into our circular economy system. These elegant side tables contain over 200 recycled discs and feature a record or magazine rack. Visit our online store to browse our other designs. www.reviveinnovations.design

CARMINE LAKE If you want the ultimate wallpaper for your powder room, sniff out this new paper from maverick designers Carmine Lake.

‘I’m so in 2 U - Gold’ £180 for a 10m roll.

See more at www.carminelake.com JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 169

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LUXURY LIVING For you and your home

LIBRA FINE ARTS

ROBEYS The Girse is a stylish handmade outdoor fireplace/barbecue designed to denote quality and offer a lifetime of enjoyment.

Its stainless-steel structure means that it is heat and weather resistant and can be left outdoors in all seasons, creating a warming centrepiece for any garden.

The traditional and family owned company have also created a variety of stainless steel cooking accessories to accompany their outdoor fires and help put the fun back into cooking.

For more information call 01773 820940 or visit www.robeys.co.uk

Libra Fine Arts specialises in elegant hand drawn charcoal and graphite original drawings, prints and homeware. Taking pride in using the highest quality products, each elegant print is beautifully framed with the environment in mind as are all mounted in luxuriously hand crafted frames and hand cut mounts.

The homeware collection also features vegan suede cushions, balmoral bone china mugs, notebooks and greeting cards complete with artwork making them the perfect gift. Libra Fine Arts plants trees in deforested areas across the globe for every sale.

With a range of stunning drawings to choose from you will find your perfect picture.

See more at www.librafinearts.co.uk, call 07595 336062 or email support@librafinearts.co.uk

DAVID STUDWELL CLASSIC AND ELEGANT CUTLERY DESIGNED FOR MODERN LIVING THE SOHO LIGHTING COMPANY Prepare for a fabulous British summer with Soho’s stunning collection of outdoor lights.

Exquisitely hand crafted in solid brass, the timeless Hopkin wall light, featured in aged brass is sensational in any outdoor setting.

Visit soholighting.com or contact info@soholighting.com for trade enquiries.

This delightful range is Old English mirror finish stainless steel with dishwasher safe cream handled knives.

Exclusive price – Set for six people at £330, this includes six seven-piece place settings (as shown) and two table spoons.

A set for four people costs £240.

Prices include VAT and UK delivery. www.glazebrook.com Tel: 020 7731 7135

David Studwell often uses figures that are synonymous with certain eras, in particular the swinging sixties.

Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Steve McQueen all crop up in his prints, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia.

His work has been exhibited in London and the USA. David’s work hangs in private collections worldwide and has been collected by Kate Moss, Nile Rodgers and Sheryl Crow.

Title: ‘Elvis III.’ Screen print. Edition of 50.

57 x 46.5cm. £300.

Visit: www.davidstudwellgallery.co.uk or email david@davidstudwellgallery.co.uk

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WINDOWS

Experts in steel windows.

We design, manufacture and install bespoke frames throughout the world.

Visit us at: www.fabcosanctuary.com

01903 718808 enquiries@fabcosanctuary.com

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INTERIOR DESIGN, SOFAS & BEDS

Spring Sale Now On

HANDMADE SOLID WOOD BEDS Furniture, Homewares & Gifts

sofasofa

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ART

ORIGINAL PRINTS

Designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik

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DANISH FURNITURE, UPCYCLED FURNITURE & BATHROOMS

The New Me Furniture A range of over fifty styles for bathrooms big and small Half the weight of cast iron and warm to the touch, an Albion bath has a difference you can feel

Request your brochure at: 01255 831605 albionbathco.com

Upcyling Furniture with a new look Clair’s passion for buying and restoring furniture began as a small hobby, but she quickly found herself with a lot more pieces than she had space for.

Giving a new lease of life to any room, her furniture and accessories are restored and finished to the highest quality using professional materials.

The quirky and unique designs provide the perfect addition to any home and can be upcycled to match your own home décor style.

Visit @thenewmefurniture on Instagram & Facebook to check out the latest pieces.

HAND MADE IN ENGLAND

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OUTDOOR FURNITURE

OUTDOOR SCULPTURES, CERAMICS & GIFTS

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Björk Haraldsdóttir Contemporary Handbuilt Ceramics

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Unique, organic, ceramic sculptures. Bespoke commissions www.kiramics.com

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OUTDOOR FURNITURE

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Lisbon

Garden Lounge Set The Lisbon Garden Lounge set seats 5 people in comfort and comes in charcoal grey. It includes a comfy 3-seater sofa, 2 spacious arm chairs and a rectangular slatted coffee table. The cushions are made from poly spun fabric, so soft to touch and have removable covers for washing. The frame of the lounge set and coffee table is electrostatically coated DOXPLQLXP WR JLYH D GXUDEOH DQG VOHHN Ɠ QLVK

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Marbella

5-Seater Corner Lounge Set Weatherproof Materials

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Bang on trend in gorgeous shades of grey, this set is designed with a contemporary feel. It’s hardwearing, woven in strong polyrattan on a galvanised steel frame. The comfy cushion covers can be removed and hand washed with care. The sofa and armchair seats 5 easily, and includes a tempered, glass topped coffee table so you can entertain outside with ease.

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Chesterton

Corner Rattan Set The luxurious Chesterton corner sofa and matching glass-topped coffee table set is perfect for entertaining outdoors. Generously proportioned with deep, comfortable cushions you can seat 5 people with ease. It’s so easy to look after – the seat and back cushions all feature removable covers (see website). With a maintenance-free construction of thick polyrattan and a galvanised steel frame, the set can even be left out all-year round.

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To receive your discount on any of these products quote discount code at checkout at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 03.06.2021. *See website for details. **Excludes delivery.

JUNE 2021 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 177

TREASURED /

KIT KEMP I first encountered the sculptor Tony Cragg when he created a piece for the courtyard at Ham Yard Hotel. He’d agreed to do it because he said there were so few really contemporary sculptures in London – it’s all admirals on horses. The piece is huge and circular and zigzaggy, like lots of people talking together in profile.

We got to know him a little better when my daughter went to study at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, where he was a tutor. He invited us to walk around his sculpture park and see where everything was made. He’s not just an artist, but a teacher too, a real renaissance man.

Soon after, this sculpture arrived in the post, which was such a surprise. How the hell they carried it, I have no idea – it’s Corten 178 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2021

steel, like Antony Gormley’s Angel Of The North, and weighs a ton.

It reminds me of an explosion or a vortex. As it’s so heavy, it’s impossible to move and you can’t touch it without gloves as you’ll spoil the patina. So once it’s in position, that’s it! It’s in my living room, stood beside a 1960s Brutalist lamp, so I see it every day.

It came without a note – no ‘hello, here you are’ – but I think it was a thank you for the time we’d spent with him and for the commission. So it was a successful sort of friendship and the lasting thing from it is this wonderful little sculpture. It makes me think of my daughter and the whole symbiosis of work and family.

Kit’s new book, ‘Design Secrets’ (Hardie Grant, £25), is out 20 May

INTERVIEW: CAT OLLEY PICTURE: SIMON BROWN

The interior designer and Firmdale Hotels founder on the surprise arrival that marked a new friendship