9000
april 2021
spring awakening DECOR TIPS TO MAKE YO U R H O M E F E E L B R I G HT
a new leaf
H O U S E S T H AT R A D I AT E WITH SUN-FILLED IDEAS
P O P PY O KOTC H A’ S FIRST GARDENS COLUMN
JOA STU DHOLM E ON PICKING THE PERFECT S H A D E O F PA I NT
PLANTING INSPO FOR INDOORS AND OUT
k itchen trends I N N O VAT I O N S , COLOURS AND COOL STOR AG E SOLUTIONS
let the
light in
april 2021
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news & shopping EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT Modernising your home with glossy paint, the joy of mix-andmatch stripes and flat slats dominating furniture DESIGN RADAR Interiors pro Linda Boronkay on the beautiful buys she’s got her eye on NEWS Matching furniture to deck out your bedroom in style, a curvy statement chair that ta kes its na me f rom the bao bun a nd cute long-handled spoons in candy-cane stripes THE EDITED CHOICE Eye-catching rugs to fill your rooms with vibrant colour and pattern CATWALK LOOK Stripes get a bold update THE EDITED CHOICE Sit pretty with our pick of modern carver chairs DESIGN CLASSICS OF THE FUTURE Fine craftsmanship from Italian makers NEWS REPORT The importance of embracing a greener approach in our homes HOW TO… LET MORE LIGHT IN Ten tricks to make the most of natural daylight LIFESTYLE REBOOT Lily Simpson of Detox Kitchen on how life has changed in the last year
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fabulous spaces ROOM OF THE MONTH Elaborate tiles in rich jewel tones bring joy to Retrouvius design studio’s bathroom makeover AUSTRALIAN NEW BUILD This homage to modern desig n is the result of an inspired collaboration between an architecture/interior design studio and a luxury brand company BRUSSELS TOWNHOUSE The ability to see the potential in a decrepit building led to the creation of a wondrous home combining period features with pared-back Scandi style PROVENCE PAD Filled with vintage finds from local brocantes, Katie and Oli’s chic hilltop abode oozes Gallic charm and joie de vivre BEACHSIDE RETREAT Michelle Kelly has created a romantic and chic family holiday home by mixing a bohemian feel with modern flourishes PARISIAN APARTM E NT Classic details and contemporary art blend seamlessly in this elegant city flat by interior architect Félix Millory
Head to livingetc.com for daily updates on style, trend news and decor inspiration
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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY MATTHIEU SALVAING
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design & decorating THE MEANING OF GOOD DESIGN Designer Ini Archibong on lifelong purchases for his home DETAIL OF THE MONTH Pay attention to Claybrook’s new paints and their playful names AROUND THE BLOCK Go big and bold with dynamic geometrics and graphic prints COLOUR INSIGHT Farrow & Ball’s colour curator Joa Studholme reveals her favourite shades PATTERN BOOK Fab fabrics and wallpapers STYLE COLUMNIST Minnie Kemp on her love of fruity motifs – they’re delicious G A R D E N I N S I G H T Elisabeth Rogof f of Champalimaud Design on Puerto Rico’s Su Casa GARDENING COLUMNIST Our new writer Poppy Okotcha on her projects for early spring BATHROOM NEWS New products and launches
kitchen dossier NEWS Style ideas from the experts LOOKBOOK The latest design trends INTERVIEW Beata Heuman
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the lifestyle edit THE ONE THING WE’RE EXCITED FOR THIS MONTH Learn how to grow fruit, herbs and veg from your kitchen scraps SPRING FEASTING Dish up some serious style with a fabulous table setting DRESS TO IMPRESS Chic serveware buys guaranteed to elevate your table BEE HAPPY Easy entertaining recipes with honey as their star ingredient IN AND OUT Things to do – at home or outside ROOM AT THE INN Four rural pubs here in the UK just perfect for getting away from it all GLOBETROTTER Jeppe Christensen on his favourite spots in Berlin SECRET ADDRESS BOOK Our go-to for quilts you’ll want to wrap yourself up in
and the rest… EDITOR’S LETTER HOUSE TOURS OPEN DOOR HEADS TO AMERICA See inside the homes of designers SUBSCRIBE Sign up to never miss an issue
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let the
light in A couple of days ago, the government started making noises about March 8 as the day schools may reopen. If they manage to stick to it, by the time you read this many of you might be about to have a very different home life. Perhaps your kitchen table won’t be cluttered with worksheets, perhaps there won’t be a child keen to avoid their maths lesson by watching some more YouTube on your sofa. Perhaps, unencumbered by all of this, you’ll be feeling a little… lighter. I don’t have kids myself, but I’m still keen to let the sunshine into my life this month – both figuratively and literally. All the decor updates I have planned for my new house are on hold while we figure out the dull stuff – rewiring is sapping my creative energy – but I’ve taken notes from the feature on page 45 about making your home seem brig hter. Fred R igby ’s simple suggestion for furniture placement has helped me make a difference. And the style suggestions from the apartment Félix Millory designed on page 94 went straight onto my mood board for when I can finally get to that stage. All that white feels so right for the fresh outlook I’m craving now (it really is clear I don’t have kids, isn’t it?).
Pip McCormac Editor HOUSE TOURS
OPEN
DOOR
This issue also sees the growth of our gardens content, which we’ve never really covered from anything other than a style perspective before. I discovered Gardeners’ World last summer, a much-needed dose of mood-boosting gentleness, and think many Livingetc readers might have realised the joy in gardening for the first time, too. So the brilliant horticuluralist Poppy Okotcha joins us as a regular columnist on page 123 with her tips for getting your garden going, no matter how big, small or non-existent your outdoor space. She has already inspired me to become a compost obsessive, and she makes gardening seem fun, doable and worthwhile. Elsewhere, designer Elisabeth Rogoff reveals how to plant a lush jungle that will survive the UK on page 120. I referenced YouTube earlier, and now you have your iPad back perhaps you’d like to join my colleagues on Roost, the brand new Future Homes Network channel where we’ll be sharing some styling tips on short videos. Launching Ma rch 10, our tea m w ill be of fering adv ice on everything from flooring to gardening, which I’ll be tuning into as it’s sure to be a soothing balm. One of the many joys of spring.
Our live webinar series is back, starring four top American designers. Find out how to join on page 52
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everyone’s talking about... C O L O U R E D GLOSS
Gone are the days when gloss paint was reserved for skirting boards and door frames. Instead, bring it inwards for some high-shine impact. ‘Gloss is now being used to deliver a shot of modernity to interiors,’ says Dominic Myland (Mylands Lolly Pop No. 275 gloss is on the bed). Brushes at the ready!
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S L AT S
Fluted detailing has had a long reign; now it’s time to usher in a new era of vertical (and beautiful) three-dimensional lines. Flat slats are dominating furniture design, soon to be seen adding depth and subtle pattern to a piece of homeware (Superfront, pictured) near you.
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Y K B S O FA S
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
Remember the teal sofa craze? Us neither. We’re focusing on rich, Yves Klein-y b l u e u p h o l s te r y (C a p p e l l i n i at Chaplins, pictured). As the man himself said: ‘Blue has no dimensions; it is beyond dimensions.’ Sounds comfy.
OFF -WHITE
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White has taken a turn for the warm. Cosier than grey, not quite a beige, the tone is akin to snowfall doused in sunlight, surely a sign that brighter things are on the horizon. Get involved with accessories and surfaces (Otto Tiles & Design, pictured).
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STRIPES STRIPES STRIPES
ON ON
Take your striped duvet and pile on some striped cushions, pillows and throws p o s t- h a s t e . Whatever you do, make sure they don’t match – this is all about mixing up different sizes, colours and styles, and playing with proportions (Heal’s, pictured). Go!
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design radar Interior designer Linda Boronkay on the pieces catching her eye this month 1
2
1 THE SHINING Tibor is one of my go-to fabric houses for beautiful colour combinations. This has a slight sparkle and is reversible, which makes it diverse. Luna Rose fabric, £245m, Tibor
2 IN THE FOLD Who doesn’t want a soft cloud floating in their room? Sculpted from layers of banana fibre, it gives out a beautiful glow. Anders light, £1,435, Pinch
3 ON POINT The handmade nature of these elegant candleholders e nsures ea ch pie ce is completely unique. A La Pointe candleholder by Laurence Brabant, £30, &YOU
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4 S I T B AC K This 1957 piece is beautiful from every angle and can be dressed with loose cushions. Lounge chair and ottoman by I l m a r i Ta p i o v a a r a f o r Esposizione La Permanente Mobili, €5,500, Morentz
5 PHOTO FINISH
3 5
Shira Barzilay’s style is very graphic, fun and instantly recognisable. 2/12 Handdrawn doodle print by Shira Barzilay, £50, Koketit
6 T WO T O N E Travertine and black marble are both slick and modern materials, and the way Lee Broom combines them forms an amazing centrepiece. Tribeca coffee table, from £7,900, Lee Broom
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news T H E I N N O VAT I O N
bottled up Ne ver a g a i n w i l l we lo ok at pl a st ic b ot t le s i n t he s a me w a y a f t er s e ei n g t he i n g en iou s w a y s t he y c a n b e r eu s e d a nd r epur p o s e d. K i r k b y D e sig n’s R e c ycle d c ol le c t ion i s a w hole h ou s e wor th of t ex ti le s , spu n f r om 10 0 % r e c ycle d b ottle s th at wer e melt e d dow n, t ur ne d i nt o y a r n a nd g i ven a s up er s of t s e c ond l i fe a s uph ol st er y, c u r t a i n s a nd c u sh ion s. Fr om £ 4 4 m; F low f a br ic (show n), £ 8 9 m (k i rk b yde sig n .c om)
THE TREND
wall f lower
The rattan renaissance has reached new heights with Soane Britain’s Daisy mirror, a simple, cheerful frame made from the flexible, woody material. Steam bent in the brand’s Leicestershire workshop into a scalloped surround over a metre in diameter and finished in glossy Emerald or Shell Pink, this is a piece guaranteed to bring a smile to any wall. From £1,600 (soane.com)
I N T E R N AT I O N A L DESIGN
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
whole lot of bun
As cute and voluptuous as the steamed bun that gives it its name, Walter Knoll’s Bao chair is an ode to the circle in sweeping curves. Created by design firm EOOS, the piece now comes in a petite version of its 2012 larger sibling, dressed in fabric in a range of tones complemented by a leather back panel and sitting happily on squat wooden legs or a swivel base – just be careful not to take a bite out of it. From £1,974 (chaplins.co.uk)
T H E H E R I TA G E R E M I X
talking point
The dresser gets a bold, modern-day makeover at Neptune. While embodying a classic Shaker style, its Suffolk design is painted in contrasting Burnt Sienna Orange and Deep Blue Ink, making an object which traditionally acts as a backdrop just as much a part of the conversation as the pieces being displayed on it. Made from oak and tulip wood, it’s also accented with subtly backlit glazed elements and easy-close doors. From £2,900 (neptune.com)
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news THE CORE PIECE
matchma ker 2021 might just be the year of the matching furniture set – that’s if Heal’s has any thing to do with it. Its glorious A mira collection by Adam Daghorn features a double wardrobe, chests of drawers in t wo sizes, a tall chest and bedside table, ready to populate the entire bedroom. From £399 (heals.com)
ONE FOR THE KIDS
bedtime stor y
Tuck your kids into the sweetest of dreams with Forivor’s illustrative bedding range, a delightful array of organic cotton duvet sets, cushions and quilts. Delve into the Enchanted Forest, Legends of the Sea or The Space Above Ground collections and explore underwater lands, woodland creatures and a starlit cosmos. Each piece is reversible, one side showing a sunlight daytime world and the other darker night-time landscapes, to inspire the most imaginative of slumbers. Cushion, £60; quilted blankets, from £154 (libertylondon.com)
THE CRAFTED PIECE
earth ware
Wonderfully tactile, Rockett St George’s Earthy collection of decorative jugs, plates and bowls is made from chunky stoneware, daubed in abstract patterns in a rusty tone. With each piece hand-painted, the collection celebrates imperfections. Jug, £16; bowl, £14 (rockettstgeorge.co.uk)
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point of view
Milan-based design brand MM Company’s Prospettive Fantastiche collection, a set of four rugs for Matteo Pala, is inspired by architecture and geometrics. Each rug teases the viewer with its immersive sense of perspective. From £6,120 (matteopala.it)
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
GLOBAL STYLE
the edited choice
Typhonic rug, from £449, Harlequin at Sanderson Design Group at Brink & Campman
Meriel rug in Jade, from £1,995, William, Yeoward
Flora rug, £1,571, Santi Moix for Nanimarquina at Nest
Love Letter rug, £1,080sq m, Deirdre Dyson
FEATURE LAURA VINDEN
Sanyoto rug, £589, Graham and Green
Harvest rug, from £2,456, Dale Chihuly for The Rug Company
art y rugs
Estival rug in Fresco, from £450, Christian Fischbacher at Floor Story
Bring flair to your floors with painterly, abstract and conceptual designs Bodhi rug in Multi, £269, Made
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news T H E B I G B I R T H D AY
gold standard
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
Many happy returns to Louis Poulsen’s iconic Panthella table lamp, which is celebrating the big 5-0 this year. It’s getting all dressed up for the anniversary in a gleaming new golden coat, and is also available in a medium size for the first time since its inception by legendary Danish architect Verner Panton in 1971. One of the designer’s most loved pieces, the light is an embodiment of Verner’s boundarypushing approach to form, material and colour, the brass finish referencing his fascination with experimental materials and daring colours. The high shine mirrored effect amplifies the lamp’s mushroom-like silhouette, adding warmth and bouncing reflections into its surrounds like an interactive sculpture. Panthella 320mm table lamp in brass, £705 (louispoulsen.com)
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the catwalk look Phoebe cake stand, £42, Anthropologie
Pendant light, £302, EperaraSiapidara at Holloways of Ludlow
Palenque (10200) wallpaper, £167 a roll, Missoni Home at Osborne & Little
FEATURE JO BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHS (ADEAM) KOJI SHIMAMURA
Kintaro dinner plate, £90 for a set of four, Oka
Stripes and Stripes doormat, £55, Hay Adeam SS21 saw vivid stripes taking centre stage Models strutted down the runway in rainbow shades at Dior
Woven bench, £2,910, Max Lipsey at Mint
the bright stripes
Storet cabinet, £4,427, Nanda Vigo for Acerbis at Aram Store
Candy stripe cushion, £49, Heal’s
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Skyline coat hanger, £223, Archirivolto for Calligaris
Glorious colours have given this fashion staple a super-sassy spring update
news Indivi sofa, from £2,599; shown in the golden beige Napoli fabric, £4,752
THE FINISHING TOUCH
spoon boon
First we had artful blown glass straws and now it’s the turn of the humble spoon to get a delicate decorative makeover. Add a flash of colour and excitement to stirring your flat white or your daily almond butter habit with Hay’s elegant handmade spoons, a pretty assemblage of long-handled utensils in playful brights, wrapped in candy-like stripes in contrasting colours. One sugar or two? £35 for a pair (hay.dk)
THE STYLE HERO
cur ve appeal BoConcept’s Indiv i sofa by Danish creative A nders Nørga ard is a shapeshifter. Having evolved over its 22-year life to include customisation options spanning various armrests, legs, upholster y details and a librar y of over 120 fabrics and leathers, it can now be conf igured into designs that are practically custom. The latest addition is a round lounge module, offering loads of reclining options.
GOING GREEN
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
crushing it
The much-lauded Alvar Aalto vase for Iittala has come a long way since its creation in 1936 by the renowned Finnish designer and his wife Aino. The range now includes plates, bowls, chopping boards and napkins, with the original shape produced in a variety of sizes and in a spectrum of tones, ranging from Cranberry to Ocean Blue, Moss Green and Opal White. Vases and tea lights are now being made in 100% recycled waste glass from the Iittala Glass Factory in Finland – blue, green and natural coloured glass is mixed, so each piece is unique. Vases, from £140 (conranshop.co.uk)
T H E P O W E R PAT T E R N S
natural beaut y
Introducing The National Trust Tile Collection by Sarsen Stone Group, a series of nature and architecture-inspired designs drawn directly from historic properties such as Staffordshire’s Moseley Old Hall, Lyme Park in Cheshire and Wiltshire’s Lacock Abbey. The Woodland Glade collection comprises nine patterns drawn from the flora of Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey. Mix and match hexagons covered in softly silhouetted leaves, fronds and dappled shadows in a matt finish. £60sq m (capietra.com)
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the edited choice
Dining armchair, £486, Kartell at John Lewis & Partners
Evelin chair, £1,538, C. Ballabio for Porada
Bobbin chair with upholstered back, £1,015, Julian Chichester
Caillen chair, £448, Amber Interiors for Anthropologie FEATURE LAURA VINDEN
Valmy chair in Divina Vert Foret, £1,196, Ramy Fischler for Ligne Roset
Edit chair, £449, Says Who at Heal’s
car ver chairs Designed for comfort, these beauties make lingering at the table even more of a pleasure Rope Back chair, £565, Soho Home
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Arlo chair in Cream and Blush Pink, £149, Swoon
news JUST LAUNCHED
good news British desig ner Faye Toogood has released her f irst full range of interiors products, Toogood Homeware, comprising t wo capsule collections echoing the studio’s signature st yle of ex ag gerated shapes and material exploration. The Dough collection includes a mug, jug, platter, bowl, vase and a centrepiece, and is named after the act of k neading – common to both bak ing and potter y – with the plump, pillow y and inf lated shapes (ak in to rising dough) formed by hand in the Toogood studio before being cast in earthenware. Plough features t wo handwoven throws, decorated with an abstract broken pinstripe pattern reminiscent of freshly ploughed countr y f ields in eco -friendly merino wool. ‘This has been over two years in the mak ing,’ says Faye. ‘ We’re so excited to share our functional yet sculptural pieces with the world, and are look ing for ward to adding to the pieces over the coming months and years.’ From £38 (t- o - o -g- o - o - d.com)
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
The plump, pillowy and inflated shapes are formed by hand in the Toogood studio
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the meaning of good design D E S I G N E R I N I A R C H I B O N G O N W H AT M A K E S A P I E C E W O R T H H AV I N G I N Y O U R H O M E – S U G G E S T I N G I T E M S T H AT A L L , S O M E H O W , E N H A N C E Y O U R L I F E
i
’m currently in the process of really pinpointing what I buy for my own home. Up until two years ago, my style was dictated by affordability, and I just filled it up with Ikea. Now, for the first time, I’ve truly chosen where I want to live, right on the shore of Lake Geneva surrounded by trees, and my number one criteria is that I don’t want to purchase anything that I don’t intend to keep forever, that doesn’t fit with what, in 2021, counts as good design. Good design isn’t just about a designer’s heritage or a piece’s price tag. It encompasses ideas as varied as the Hästens bed I’ve just bought – the last bed I’ll ever buy, the one I slept on a mattress on the floor for five years so as to be able to afford – it being the most comfortable bed in the world. Good design includes Jean-Marie Massaud’s Terminal 1 chaise longue for B&B Italia, my favourite design piece (and the one I’m now holding a space in my home for when I have saved enough to get it) and a guiding light in my own process. It’s a perfect blend of the chaotic beauty of nature and the delusional rationality of industrialisation. A nd good design includes Ikea, much of which is still in my home, its Kallax shelving one of my favourite design objects – a very minimal, elegant solution of where to put things in a rectilinear space, as all apartments are. What all these pieces have in common is that they elevate the soul. They’re functional, but they manage to conjure the feelings in the user of a Brancusi sculpture, providing wonderment, joy, contentment. My bed does all those things, as does the unbeatable simplicity of that Kallax. Design is ineffective if it doesn’t make a person feel better about their life simply by perfectly providing a f unction. The contemporary Spanish designer Jaime Hayon was probably the first that I came across where I could feel an intentional emotion behind his pieces, and
it was tremendous and sublime. Mass production can do that, too – you just need to find the common good feeling that works for a lot of people. Take Eero Saarinen’s Tulip table – you can see how he’s tapping into elements found in nature that make people feel good. When you create powerfully emotive objects, it sparks the sense of a story, and storytelling is a big part of my design. I learned early on in my career that I could apply the spiritual tenets I’d seen in architecture to everyday items. In the same way that the sacred geometries of Chartres Cathedral, Stonehenge and the Pyramids are spiritually connected to the stars and the earth, so product can be, too. Frank Lloyd Wright managed to do this, encapsulating that spirit in his angles, but it can come via the uplift you get from a surprising use of material, or just in the way something works exactly as you would want it to. I feel I’ve done my job well if a person responds to an object with a feeling. So this is the principle I now use when choosing what to put into my home. My sanctuary from the outside world is also f ull of nonsense, fantasy and beauty. As a creative, my universe needs to be a dream space, so in any moment I can just stop and stare at, say, a little crystal Esk imo play ing w ith a hedgehog. My th ree-yea r-old daughter and I both enjoy fantastical objects – whenever she comes over, she always makes it very clear that magic happens here and not in other places. W hat should you have in your space? Well, I’d say anything that makes your home your version of a sanctuary. Try to determine the intention of what kind of home you want to create, what purpose you want it to fulfil, and anything that speaks to that is good design.
Good design
isn’t just about a
designer’s heritage or the price tag – it needs to be a
solution to the way we live now
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Fallingwater, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
The simplicity of Ikea’s Kallax storage unit can’t be beaten
“Ikea’s shelving is a very minimal, elegant solution to modern life”
AS TOLD TO FLEUR BRITTEN PHOTOGRAPHS (CHARTRES CATHEDRAL, FALLINGWATER) ALAMY
Geometric design at Chartres Cathedral
Eero Saarinen’s Tulip coffee table, available at Heal’s
Ini Archibong on the Circe sofa he designed for Sé
The Superia bed by Hästens offers Ini the best night’s sleep of his life
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W E A LWAY S L O O K T O I TA LY T O S E T T H E S T Y L E AG E N DA . E X P E C T L U X U R I O U S M AT E R I A L S A N D F I N E C R A F T S M A N S H I P F R O M I T S M A K E R S ’ G R E AT E S T N E W I D E A S
SHAKE IT UP From the brand that turned even the humble kitchen kettle into an admired design icon, Alessi’s cocktail kits – designed by none other than 20th-century Memphis design pioneer Ettore Sottsass – are one for the at-home mixologist looking to up the stakes. We’re opting for the models in PVD copper coating for a fresh update on the barman’s go-to stainless steel. Solar Eclipse mixing kit, £274 (uk.alessi.com)
The statement Manto dining table can be customised with a retro-feel lazy Susan swivel top
FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON
BASE DESIRES When it comes to dining, the Italians have spoken; any table without a showstopper base simply isn’t worth h avin g . Ta ke G a ll ot ti & Radice’s Manto dining table featuring a curved base with a brass button. Manto dining table, £5,700, Gallotti& Radice (chaplins.co.uk)
M AT E R I A L W O R L D The candelabra pendant gets a thoroughly cool and modern makeover thanks to Porada. The brand’s ability to marry wooden design with a chic aesthetic is second to none, and its recent Astra pendant pairs Canaletta walnut (admired for its dark veins) with opal glass spheres for a thoroughly modern approach to pride-of-place pendant lighting. Astra 2 pendant, from £2.320 (porada.it)
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KEEP IT SIMPLE Timeless pieces with Italian saddle hide detail made Flexform the mammoth name it is today, yet a recent shift towards new materials proves the design firm has more strings to its bow. Holding the belief that ‘beauty is something that matters but it must be discreet’, designer Christophe Pillet has created pieces intended to quietly fill the gaps, acting not as ‘superstars but good costars’. Add, then, beautiful armchairs woven with paper rush cord to your line-up. Echoes lounge chair, £2,044 (chaplins.co.uk)
LINE ’EM UP While there’s always something charming about a disorderly bookshelf, the Italians’ take on stacking and storing is, unsurprisingly, a little sleeker. Cattelan Italia’s Freeway design can be wall- or ceiling-hung, with its modular units and embossed bronze shelves offering a discreet and impossibly slender storage solution. Freeway bookcase, €5.244 as shown, Giorgio Cattelan for Cattelan Italia (chaplins.co.uk)
Customise the Freeway bookcase with wood and smoked glass units for added display cabinets or position the unit as a room divider CIT Y SLICKER The formula at Diesel Living is simple: create an urban aesthetic and wash it with the blue tones of the brand’s world-famous denim line. A love letter to metropolitan life, the most recent launch from its partnership with Iris Ceramica is City Lights, wall tiles that take their cue from the kaleidoscopic illumination of urban areas. City Lights wall tiles, £63.55sq m (irisceramica.com)
COOL CARPETS New offerings from Calligaris suggest we should be thinking Mondrian-like structures and linear compositions when it comes to flooring. Its new rugs, dreamt up by design studio DLSM, feature architecturally-inspired compositions in modern colour combinations. Eiffel, from £523 (calligaris.com/GB/en)
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SMALL BUT MIGHTY Time to clear a corner for a tub chair – the lightweight way to do lounging. We’ve seen new iterations from Ar flex (pictured), Porada and Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, all with dinky proportions and small footprints that make adding one to your collection an easy affair. Supplì armchair, from €1,590, Luca Nichetto for Arflex (scp.co.uk)
With its enveloping, wraparound shape, a tub chair feels like a warm hug from an old friend B AC K AT I T Dutch designer Marcel Wanders steps back into the spotlight at Poliform, following his popular seating collection, with new bedroom offerings. Subtle curves and an extra high back are reincarnated on the cosy new velvet-clad bed. Gentleman bed, £7,682 (poliformuk.com)
COMFORT CU RVE To recline across the On the Rocks sofa by Francesco Binfaré for Edra is to feel completely supported by both its strength and softness. Made up of four separately shaped pieces that can be fitted together in all manner of ways, the result is a gentle curve made up of several directional and beautiful angles. On the Rocks sofa, price on request (edra.com)
SETTING UP SHOP Nothing compares to getting up close and personal with design in the flesh. Luckily then, luxury brand Giorgetti – known for its walnut finishes and caramel-soft leathers – has opened a 400sq m store on London’s Fulham Road, one of the city’s best-heeled shopping districts. Head to see the new collection in all its glory. 54 Fulham Rd, SW3 (giorgettimeda.com)
S T U DY DAT E Looks like WFH is going nowhere. One way to make the experience a little more palatable? A study space that looks so good, you’re almost desperate to start work each morning. Bonaldo’s Scriba desk should help, with its mix of wood, metal and leather equating to a piece that says ‘mature’ not ‘making-do at the kitchen table’. Scriba desk, £2,290 (chaplins.co.uk)
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G R A B YO U R C OAT We could all do with something bold to see in the new season, and Living Divani’s graphically designed Tonbo coat rack is guaranteed to impress. Its graphic silhouette is made from steel tubes powder-coated in gunmetal grey, anchored with a column of solid Carrara marble. Tonbo coat rack, from £1,656, Junpei & Iori Tamaki for Living Divani (nest.co.uk)
GO WITH THE GRAIN Consult Rimadesio if sleek wall divisions and storage solutions are high on your agenda. The devil is in the detail on its Modulor system designed by Giuseppe Bavuso. Expect a walnut exterior, hinges seamlessly built into its linear pattern, a synthetic leather interior, magnetic closings and discreet aluminium handles. Smooth. Modulor system, price on request (rimadesio.it/en)
The Modulor system taps into the current vogue for all things wood-clad and naturally textured N E AT I D E A This table from Lema might look simple but it’s got a handy mission in mind thanks to an open-on-one side design that allows it to tuck under the base of a sofa, creating a neat surface for hot drinks and laptops. There’s fun to be had in the customisation too; choose tops in different finishes and over 40 lively colours. Ortis coffee table, from £970, Gabriele e Oscar Buratti for Lema (gomodern.co.uk)
FINE DINING If there’s a brand to befriend for dining tables made to get dinner guests talking, it’s Bontempi Casa. Inviting German-Italian design duo Bernhardt&Vella to the drawing room, its Delta model once more takes the talking point down below, featuring a matrix-style, antique bronze frame held together by bronze nuts and bolts-style fixtures. Factor in the matt black marble top and you have a piece worth dressing up for. Delta dining table, €4.474.00 (bontempi.it/it_en)
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news report As cities refocus energy back into outdoor spaces, how can we adopt this mindset for our homes?
FEATURE RODDY CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHS (DEPOT BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN) OSSIP VAN DUIVENBODE
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ay what you will about lockdown - beyond the banana bread there hasn’t been much to enjoy, has there? – but noticing, appreciating and seeking out nature has been one life-enriching side effect. And now urban planners and designers are ensuring this becomes a mainstay by putting the emphasis onto green city spaces. Biophilia isn’t a brand new concept in design, but it’s gathering pace. It literally means the love of nature, and thought leaders are saying this should now be at the forefront of every decision we make. Deborah Spencer founded Planted in 2019, a contemporary design show and digital forum, to encourage the creation of greener urban areas. ‘Even something as small as placing a pot of lavender, which a bee or insect could pollinate, on the windowsill, is a tiny act of caring for the environment,’ she says. Planted partners with design gurus to champion this ethos. Horticus, for example, offers a living modular wall system which is a great way to ‘rewild’ your interior. The Nappula collection of plant pots by Matti Klenell for Iittala is perfect for design lovers with minimal space who want to embrace nature within the home. Not much access to outdoor space? Then perhaps you can create a parklet. Made from small parts of residential streets, local councils are granting residents the right to plant communal gardens – most have details on how to apply for permits on their websites. Or sow a meadow on your roof – both projects help combat the separation from nature that city living often involves. Dutch architect Jan Knikker, of MVRDV, is keen to highlight the role we all have in a greener approach to urbanisation. ‘In many buildings, for instance, we have added small bat caves,’ he says. ‘Not only will this help biodiversity, it also means the bats will feed on mosquitoes, which may be a less pleasant neighbour!’ Jan feels such proposals will bring economic strength to a city. ‘Research reveals that if all flat roofs in the world became green, we could lower global warming by one degree. The payback is much better air quality for all.’ The health benefits will inevitably decrease work-related stress which, according to a report by Interface, costs organisations in the UK an estimated £29 billion each year. ‘This shows the power of individual change,’ concludes Jan. ‘The small scale makes the big scale.’
Even placing lavender on a windowsill, which a bee could pollinate, is an act of caring for the environment
FROM TOP The Hardy Collection, from £495, by Another Country, a partner of Planted. The company sources from sustainably managed forest; Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first fully accessible art depot, will open its doors in September 2021 in central Rotterdam; Handmade from recycled glass, the Canopy collection is a collaboration between LSA International and the Eden Project. Canopy self-watering planter, £70, LSA International; Horticus offers a living modular wall system, which is a great way to ‘rewild’ your interior. Living wall kit, from £264, Horticus
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how to... let more light in It’s spring! Designers divulge simple tricks to make the most of natural daylight – even in the darkest of corners
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go with the flow
The first place to look is at the light reaching your windows externally. Can you increase exposure by trimming a hedge or moving a garden shed to a different location? Sometimes a thorough clean of the windows can make a positive difference immediately. Internally, window shutters are an ideal solution, allowing you to control the amount of light coming through. While they are an investment, they allow you to direct the light as well as having heat and noise benefits within the home. Paul Nulty, founder, Nulty Lighting
FEATURE RODDY CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
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light wells
Where possible, consider expanding the window space within a room. There are many options available, such as interior glass doors, light wells between floors or small windows above doors. If you are working on an extension, consider skylights or a glass wall to maximise the natural light coming into the home. I would recommend a company called Sky-Frame – it offers frameless options with incredibly thin profiles, which again augments the impact of natural light internally. I would also put forward materials such as toughened glass and Perspex in place of partitions and balustrades for staircases. Such details help to complement and enhance the light coming in, especially on darker days. Hollie Bowden, interior designer
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shadow play Moving furniture away from the windows helps to allow as much light as possible into the room. When decorating a space, opt for light-toned textured finishes and furniture which allows contrasting shadows to move across them, drawing the eye to the natural pull of the light from the window. Fred Rigby, founder, Fred Rigby Studio
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mirror image
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tie it back
Mirrors are a great way to bring light into an interior, especially if they are positioned near a window. By reflecting the light and bringing the view inside, it helps to lighten the room and give the illusion of more space. When adding windows or openings into walls, paint the immediate wall area in a brighter colour, which helps to make the light glow when entering the room. Sarah Fox, founder and creative director, Fox Interior Design
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colour test When choosing colours within a space, always test samples to ensure the shade you choose works best with the natural light you have. You can never be too thorough with your selection process - paint large sheets of paper in the shade you think you like and stick them to each of the room’s four walls. Also, adding plants brings natural energy into the home and can tend to feel like adding a little bit of sunshine into a space. Sheena Murphy, co-founder, Nune Design Studio
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When using curtains, ensure the tie-backs are positioned at least 1.04-1.09m off the finished floor level in a standard 2.4m ceiling height room. Placing these too low will cause the top section of the drapery panels to droop. While this can be visually appealing, be mindful it doesn’t cover too much of the window and therefore block light unnecessarily. Tie-back hooks are also a great way of adding subtle decorative details into a room. Nora Chou, interior designer
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all white
The use of white paint does open up a room, however there are a vast number of options to choose from and some are more successful than others. I have used Pearl Colour by Edward Bulmer in many projects and it has a depth and slight tint of colour which reflects the light beautifully back into the room. Natalia Miyar, architect and interior designer, Natalia Miyar Atelier
White Dove by Benjamin Moore also has a lovely softness says Natalia Miyar
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perfect finish
In residential homes, I would recommend an eggshell paint finish on the ceiling. The delicate sheen absorbs light but also allows it to bleed further into the space, giving the ceiling more character and depth. For walls, opt for a matt finish as this reduces the light bleed, therefore creating a contrast to the ceiling and allowing the items on the wall to be more focal. For those who want to take it a step further, try a darker colour on the ceilings to the walls. This pulls in the natural light more effectively, connecting the space closely to its external environment. Alexander Evangelou, founder, Alexander Waterworth Interiors
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in fine form Dress your windows with light, long, flowing sheer curtains, especially in living and dining spaces. Not only do these add softness to a room, they allow light to pass through while reducing any glare from the sun. An open weave fabric also helps to maximise light input while bringing texture and detail to the room. Hannah Birtwistle and Rose Wilkinson, creative directors, Studio Clement
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feel the warmth
In order to maximise the natural light within your home, you must understand the direction of your property and work with the constraints rather than going against it. For example, north-facing properties are often darker and cast shadows around the home. To break this, I would recommend working with warmer tones such as terracotta reds or mint blue-greens. When choosing soft furnishings, remember darker colours absorb light and softer textures, such as linen, will bounce the light around the room. Vanessa Agyemang, founder and creative director, Copper Dust
lifestyle reboot Founder of Detox Kitchen Lily Simpson on how life has changed, her business has adapted and why Zoom is a good thing
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How has work and life changed in the past year? I had never worked from home before so that was a big adjustment for me and the team. But our business has continued to grow throughout lockdown, which has certainly made life easier. What are the biggest changes you have had to make to your business? Doing food development when you can’t be in the kitchen with your head chef is pretty hard, but we managed to work out a good routine of sending dishes to each other through courier! Another big change for us is that we introduced two new products including a veg box. What were the biggest challenges you and your business faced during the pandemic? Simply making sure that our team was working in a safe and comfortable environment. Our kitchen remained fully operational so we had to implement new ways of work ing li ke spreading out shif t pat terns so fewer people were working together, spacing out of work benches and rotating work ‘bubbles’ so there was less interaction between staff. How has the past year affected the way you approach work? I have become more goal orientated. When you’re in the
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office together every day sometimes the focus can shift but on a 40-minute Zoom call you have to be super focused and responsive. It’s had a positive effect on our business. Which stores do you rely on most? Clifton Greens, my local veg shop. They are a family-run business and their veg is always fresh and seasonal and they have a great variation of ingredients. American Vintage is my go-to for clothes, and Liberty London. What are the new ways you have found to relax? I find reading and cooking really relaxing, there’s nothing better than a book in the bath. I have recently read
Where the Crawdads Sing, Americanah, The Choice and The Vanishing Half. I also like cooking a large feast for the family, like a big butternut squash, caper and rosemary stew with pearl barley, or a tomato and caper stew with roasted veggies. What is the biggest business lesson you’ve learnt in the past year? There are so many beautiful things and people around us and sometimes we just need to stand back, take a deep breath and really appreciate them. X
detoxkitchen.co.uk
A Zoom call means you have to be super focused and responsive. It’s had a really positive effect on our business
FEATURE BUSOLA EVANS PHOTOGRAPH DETOX KITCHEN
fter a spell working in property, Lily Simpson launched Detox Kitchen nearly 10 years ago with one simple mission: to get more people eating fresh, healthy food. The business, which started as a meal delivery service, quickly garnered celebrity enthusiasts such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Sophie Dahl. Lily has since gone on to open two London delis and write two successful cookbooks. She lives in Maida Vale with her husband Ed and their three children.
HOUSE TOURS
OPEN
DOOR
House Tours Open Door heads to America J O I N U S F O R L I V E W E B I N A R C H AT S A B O U T S T Y L E W I T H F O U R O F T H E B I G G E S T N A M E S I N I N T E R N AT I O N A L D E S I G N
“Clashing is what makes things interesting” R AYMAN BOOZE R
“Who says you can’t have white paint in a family home?”
PHOTOGRAPHS (ROBERT NOVOGRATZ) MATTHEW WILLIAMS; (RAYMAN BOOZER) KELLY MARSHALL
ROB E RT NOVOG R ATZ
A f ter three successf ul series of live webinars featuring some of the UK’s most stylish homeowners, next month we’re going global.
“I love the overall whimsy of this house” SAR AH SHE RMAN SAM U E L
Once a week, our editors will be coming live to a Zoom near you, interviewing Livingetc regulars Jonathan Adler, Sarah Sherman Samuel, Robert Novogratz and Rayman Boozer about how they’ve decorated their own homes, with the chance for you to pose your own questions, too. They will talk you through all their decor choices, offering tips on how to recreate their looks, insight into sourcing and their favourite styling secrets. Starting on 6 April, you’ll get to take a virtual tour of their inspirational homes and discover the insider design knowledge of some of the most exciting and dynamic people working in interiors right now. Tickets are from £10, and include exclusive access to these big-name designers, as well as a presentation pack of their homes to peruse at your leisure and a digital subscription to Livingetc. Join us across the Atlantic from the comfort of your screen.
BOOK ONLINE NOW AT LIVINGETCEVENTS.COM/HOUSETOURS
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FEATURE MARY WEAVER PHOTOGRAPH NATHALIE DINHAM
Zellige tiles; decorative faux Iznik insert, all Emery & Cie. Reclaimed iroko wood surround, Retrouvius. Bath, re-purposed from within the home. Showerhead and taps in copper, Garef Rubinetterie
fabulous spaces E AC H M O N T H W E C H O O S E O N E R O O M TO G E T YO U I N T H E H O U S E S M O O D
This bathroom in a Victorian house, created by Retrouvius design studio, is like a burst of holiday happiness with its beautiful zellige tiles and decorative faux Iznik insert. It’s finished with a reclaimed iroko wood surround and copper fittings. No suntan lotion required… livingetc.com
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double delight Sharlene and Malcolm’s new build is a homage to modern materials and design – both inside and out
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EXTERIOR
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The expansive outdoor space hovers between the first and second floors and lends itself perfectly to the parties the family enjoys throwing. Objects planter, Kettal. Roll armchair (opposite), Patricia Urquiola for Kettal
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PHOTOGRAPHY Jack Lovel WORDS Amy Moorea Wong
LIVING AREA Furnishings are kept to a minimum but they are all impactful so bring the neutral background to life. Gogan sofa; Phoenix coffee table; Fjord armchair (opposite), all Moroso. Visioni (A) rug, cc-tapis. Stockholm sideboard (opposite), Punt. VV Cinquanta pendant, Astep. Terracotta candleholder, Fritz Hansen
houses
don’t care if I have to sell a kidney, I’m having this house!’ declared Sharlene Lee upon first viewing her new home near Perth. Three days later (and surgery-free!) it was hers. ‘The Shutter House’ was a project between architecture and interior design studio State of Kin and luxury stockist Mobilia, who provided furniture, lighting and accessories by a host of eminent brands. The feature that gives the building its name, and which makes it something of a landmark in the area, is the mechanical linear timber-clad shutters that rise and fall to both shield inhabitants from the blazing Australian sun and create privacy. Shutters up, and views of the adjacent lake flood in; shutters down, and film noir-style striped shadows scatter across the interior. While the exterior certainly makes a statement, it’s what’s inside that gives the home real clout. Although the backdrop is neutral – white walls, stained oak parquetry floors, concrete ceilings – the house is an explosion of colour, executed in the most considered of ways. Shapely furniture, impactful rugs and expressive artwork play key roles, injecting excitement and playfulness into every room and wryly juxtaposing more refined features, such as the monolithic sculptural kitchen island, a hunk of Bianco Chiavara granite, and the delicate timber detailing. State Of Kin’s whimsical touch can be seen throughout, from the circular elements in and around the pool to the rich orange grout in the bathroom and the iridescent accents. Sharlene previously lived less than five minutes away. ‘I’d watched the house being built, but when I walked in I was speechless; it was like every space was built for me,’ she says. ‘If I had to design the dream house this would be it – an ultra-modern, sleek, experimental statement – there is nothing I’d change.’ State of Kin’s interior choices were impossible for Sharlene to resist. ‘I ended up buying pretty much everything in the house,’ she grins, ‘I knew if I took anything from our previous home it just wouldn’t do the house justice, so I sold it all.’ The house is separated into living and entertaining areas, and while the first floor is dedicated to sleep, the second storey and outdoor space exists for parties, barbecues, drinks and dinners. ‘I’m happy to stay home on a Saturday night now,’ smiles Sharlene. ‘I was a bit of a party animal – but why would we go out for a cocktail when this house is better than a bar.’ This is a home destined to be Instagram famous. Sharlene plans to make the most of it for photoshoots for her business. ‘The entrance hall is a photography hotspot as the light is magnificent, and everyone takes a selfie in the colour-changing bathroom mirrors,’ she smiles. ‘The house is a chance to reset and start enjoying ourselves a little bit more,’ says Sharlene. ‘As soon as I walk in, I feel a sense of achievement – this is what we have worked all our lives for.’
home profile THE OWNERS Sharlene Lee, an award-winning hairdressing entrepreneur, her husband Malcolm, a partner in lighting brand Dialight, and their recently graduated son Elliot, 22.
THE PROPERTY A timber-wrapped new build opposite Lake Monger in Western Australia. The ground floor comprises a garage, wine cellar and storage area. On the first floor are four bedrooms, one bathroom, one en suite, a WC and a gallery space. The second floor holds an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space connecting to an outdoor terrace and pool area, plus a WC and scullery.
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Find designers State of Kin at stateof kin.com.au and stockist Mobilia at mobilia.com.au. Follow Sharlene’s business at circlesofhair. com.au and @circlesofhair @sharleelee
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houses the blueprint BED ROOM
BED ROOM
BALCONY
MASTER BEDROOM
BED ROOM
LIVING AREA
FIRST FLOOR
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KITCHEN
DINING AREA
SECOND FLOOR
DINING AREA
KITCHE N
‘The artwork brings a pop of colour and happiness to the space,’ says Sharlene.
A Japanese influence plays into the minimal kitchen island and hidden prep area.
Maestro vase, Bosa. Mathilda table; Mathilda chairs, all Moroso. House on the Swan River artwork by Elle Campbell
State of Kin designed the kitchen, the screen in stained oak and the island. Sculpture (white vase), Jina Lee
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“I love that it doesn’t look like a normal house – it’s creative and completely different” X
T E R R AC E
POOL
A curved, tiled bench provides plenty of seating. Mesh table, Patricia Urquiola for Kettal. Bench designed by State of Kin. Roll dining chair, Patricia Urquiola for Kettal
Steps leading into the pool look like an abstract artwork.
EXTERIOR
ENTRANCE
The shutters are operated remotely and offer different levels of shade and privacy, as well as bringing depth to the building’s facade.
Pool tiling in Inax Sugie SU2031 (surround) and Inax Biyusai (steps), Artedomus
‘As soon as people come in, they feel like they’re in a hotel not in a house and they immediately start to relax like you do when you’re on holiday,’ says Sharlene. Fordite rug, cc-tapis. Pool artwork by Elle Campbell
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MASTER BEDROOM
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The suite comprises a bedroom, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom. ‘I love lying in bed and opening the shutters to take in the view of the lake that’s nearby,’ says Sharlene. Redondo bed; Bloomy table, both Moroso. Double Sconce wall light, Michael Anastassiades
home truths I F YO U CO U LD CU T A N YO N E ’ S H AI R , WH O WOULD IT BE? Bradley Cooper!
W H AT ’ S P L AY I N G O N YO U R AI R P O DS ? Business podcasts – The Grit Behind the Glam and Grow My Salon Business.
G O -TO B E AU T Y B R A N D? Everything by Tom Ford make-up – and Chanel.
FAVO U R I T E T H I N G T O D O A S A F A M I LY ? CrossFit. It really pulls us together.
D I N N E R PA R T Y M E N U ? Antipasti is always a go – and seafood.
G U I LT I E S T P L E A S U R E ? Oh, definitely champagne.
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MASTER EN SUITE Bold terracotta grouting was matched to the ceiling paint. The colour-changing mirror offers Sharlene and her friends endless selfie opportunities. Shimmer mirror, Glas Italia. IOS basins, Victoria + Albert. Sen tapware, Agape. Ceiling in Auburn Flair by Dulux. Morgan grout, Pindan
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scandi grand Photographer Martina and architect David have melded laid-back Swedish style with magnificent period features – to fabulous effect PHOTOGRAPHY Christoffer Regild/Living Inside X
STYLING Maja Regild Interiors WORDS Jenny Tucker
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EXTERIOR The view of the townhouse from the garden highlights the lovely architecture, beautiful iron railings and floor-to-ceiling arched windows on the upper floor
LIB R ARY Martina and David in the doorway to the library, a place to relax and unwind surrounded by superb artwork and books focusing on design and architecture.
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Tacchi lamp by Achille Castiglioni
houses home prof i le THE OWNERS Martina Bjorn, a photographer, and her husband, David Van Severen, an architect, and their two children, daughter, Aliona, nine, and son, Roman, 10, plus two cats.
THE PROPERTY A 19th-century townhouse in the centre of Brussels set over three levels. The lower ground has the master bedroom, two bathrooms, a dressing room and a laundry room. The ground floor holds the main entrance hall, the children’s bedrooms and a bathroom. On the upper level is an open-plan suite of rooms that comprises the living room, dining room, kitchen and library. There is also a small outside terrace overlooking the garden.
HALL This impressive entrance to the home combines the traditional and modern to glorious effect. Marble bench, Muller Van Severen. Concrete blobs, Arno Brandlhuber
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When it comes down to life, people, work projects and, yes, even decrepit buildings, it’s always worth considering the potential. As someone who shoots fashion, architecture and design for some of the hippest European magazines and advertising campaigns, photographer Martina Bjorn is familiar with beauty. But when she first saw this, now, wondrous home it looked nothing like it does today. In fact, back then (four years ago), it was the premises of a law firm, its walls daubed in insipid beige and overpowering red with hefty dark furniture blocking the windows. ‘It was hideous!’ she admits. ‘For decades, this building had been used for commercial purposes, but I could tell that its essence was incredible.’ Fortunately, past occupants had simply added makeshift structures, without losing its original, beautiful bones. ‘When we started stripping it all back, we could see its real glory,’ says Martina. Suddenly, the huge windows could flood the rooms with light and the amazing decorative ceilings and the marble fireplaces could take centre stage.’ Although Martina’s husband, David, is a leading architect who has worked on the interiors at the Barbican and currently teaches at Harvard, the couple focused on the renovation together. ‘He is good on vision and structure; I’m good with detail,’ she smiles. ‘We make an excellent team.’ As work got underway, there were many decisions to be made. Upstairs, with the alignment of their ‘social rooms’, it was simply a case of decoration and the introduction of a kitchen. But the two lower floors required a total overhaul and reconfiguration. ‘We wanted the three different levels to connect in a strategic way so that’s why we built the metal spiral staircase to run through them all. It’s quirky and creates a sense of unity,’ says Martina. The feel of the interiors is cool and collected with shades of silver, grey, black and white, populated by much-loved
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furnishings, inherited pieces (‘like the trophies from my grandpa’s golf tournaments’), family gifts from over the years, and artwork by friends that hold an emotional connection. And when it comes to her predilection for white, it’s all about roots. ‘I am Swedish,’ smiles Martina, ‘Cool colours are in my soul. And as a Scandinavian, light is so important, so I go for all the shades that reflect the light. There’s something so innate about it; I love the calmness it provides. People do wonder how so much white works with children, but because it’s a big space, they’ve got plenty of room to rush around in. But to be honest, our sofa hasn’t survived that well!’ There are many aspects of the house that satisfy Martina’s personal tick boxes: the semi-wild back garden with its hundred-year-old trees, the eclectic 19th-century stucco trimmings that adorn the walls and ceilings, the airy rooms, which are so bright she is able to carry out photo shoots in them, even the fact she could position part of her kitchen hardware in a fireplace. ‘This is an extremely generous house,’ says Martina with a smile. ‘Not only is it a grown-up family home, it stimulates me both creatively and personally. I have this funny trait of moving furniture around at regular intervals. I like to keep the feel of the house fluid as I think a different perspective on life is always exciting. I’ve recently created a small botanical area in the living room with lots of potted plants. Imagining their potential makes me so happy.’ As with the moment when Martina first set eyes on her home, she continues to utilise the possibilities of these rather beautiful walls. Its future feels incredibly bright. X
See Martina’s work at martinabjornstudio.com
LIVING ROOM ‘Our top floor is an enfilade of four generous rooms that we enjoy as one interconnecting living space,’ says Martina. ‘It’s where we relax and commune.’ Daybed, Richard Venlet. Serpentine lamp, Martinelli Luce. Leather chair, Maarten Van Severen. Wall sculpture, Hannes Van Severen
KITCHE N AND DINING AREA A simple table and a mix of chairs contrast with the statement artwork and original features. For similar herringbone wooden floor, try The New & Reclaimed Flooring Company. Artwork (left), Martina Bjorn; (right), Koenraad Dedobbeleer
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LIVING ROOM
LIBR ARY
KITCHEN
DINING ROOM
TE R R ACE
the blueprint
FIRST FLOOR BED ROOM
BEDROOM
GROUND FLOOR MASTER BEDROOM
LOWE R G ROU N D FLOOR
MASTER BEDROOM ‘We like the contrast of a clean sleeping space with the more ornate rooms of the living areas,’ says Martina. Stool, Richard Venlet, Maniera
B AT H R O O M Statement finishes abound, including a reflective high gloss on the ceiling.
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Similar tiles, Fired Earth. Find bespoke marble at Mandarin Stone
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home truths H O W D O YO U K N O W W H E N SPRING HAS SPRUNG? I sit on the terrace outside and listen to the incredible birdsong. As spring turns to summer, I can watch my garden gradually blossom.
W H AT D O YO U D R E A M A B O U T ? Recently, I have been working extremely hard and so fall asleep immediately. I can’t even remember my dreams.
MORNING ROUTINE? I am not a morning person, but breakfast is always important: tea, grapefruit, toast and marmalade.
D O E S N AT U R E F E AT U R E I N YO U R P H O T O G R A P H Y ? As the days get lighter and longer, I love to use natural light in my work. The spring days give me the freedom to work outside more. It’s the best.
FIRST CHILDHOOD PET? A boxer called Sue Ellen, named after the character in Dallas. She was a much-loved family dog.
W H AT D O YO U T U R N TO WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH? My family and my work. Being able to channel my creativity through photography fulfils me and gives me strength.
new horizons Moving to France in 2014 was the beginning of a big adventure for Katie and Oli, who now call a magical 16th-century townhouse home PHOTOGRAPHY Helen Cathcart X
STYLING Katie Lyons WORDS Kara O’Reilly
B AT H R O O M These white stoneware demijohns are among Katie’s many brocantes finds.
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Find similar vintage stoneware vessels at Chez Pluie
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EXTERIOR The ancient hilltop village of Saint-Paul de Vence was a strategic location historically, so the old centre is surrounded by a protective medieval wall. ‘It’s quite rare for properties to come up for sale because the old village is not very big,’ says Katie.
DINING AREA Katie describes her style as sophisticated rusticity. It’s a look in which simplicity reigns. Try Selling Antiques for a dining table. The No 14 chair by Gebrüder Thonet is similar. Dyke & Dean is your go-to for pendant lights like these ones
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w home profile THE OWNERS Interior design and property entrepreneurs, Katie and Oli Lyons, plus their two daughters, Lila, five, and Coco, two.
THE PROPERTY A 16th-century five-storey townhouse within the medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence, South of France. In the basement is a utility area. On the lower ground floor is a double bedroom with en suite and access to the terrace. The ground floor has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space and there is a double bedroom and en-suite bathroom on each of the two top floors.
hen Katie and Oli Lyons sold their London flat to finance buying a townhouse within the ancient walls of Saint-Paul de Vence, it was the marker of their permanent move to the South of France. It was also intended as an expansion of the small hospitality business they had set up, having revamped the tiny house next door to run as a holiday rental. But after nine months renovating the property, Coronavirus hit and the way they have subsequently used the townhouse has changed, with it becoming a bolthole for them to spend time with visiting family and friends – when restrictions allowed. Birthday celebrations and boys’ weekends have been hosted in the townhouse, which Katie has remodelled into her own mini boutique hotel. ‘It’s the perfect getaway to go and escape normality,’ says Oli. It was serendipity that brought the couple to both houses. Katie knew the famous artists’ village – magnet for masters such as Picasso and Chagall – well, having regularly stayed there through her teen years. And, after moving to Nice in 2014, while Oli studied for an MBA, the couple still visited, heading to the legendary La Colombe d’Or hotel for the odd lunch. It was on one such trip, in 2016, that they spotted the first property they bought. A couple of years later the house next door came up for sale and it was too good an opportunity to miss. The townhouse, known as ‘Number 5’, had been pretty much untouched for 60 years and with few original features in situ, the couple had free rein to reconfigure it. Inspired by the light, colours and textures of the area, Katie’s skill has been in seamlessly blending traditional Provençal materials and antique French furnishings with modern comforts. ‘My style is instinctual,’ she says, ‘but I try to create spaces that are timeless.’ The revamp was no small feat – she had just given birth when the builders started and she frequently went on site with a newborn Coco in a sling, to the consternation of the contractors. Katie has indulged in her passion for brocantes, regularly trawling local markets to find pieces. ‘Vintaging has become part of my life in France,’ she says. ‘I love finding treasures.’ One of these finds inspired the look of the dining area. ‘I fell in love with a painting of a dinner party I saw in the Cours Saleya market in Nice. I thought, this is my vision for what I want in this house. That warm feeling of people around a table enjoying food and each other’s company.’ And it’s proven to be a great social space. ‘The nice thing about Saint-Paul is its open-door policy,’ says Katie. ‘People we know will walk past and just stop in for a glass of rosé. I love being there for that reason.’ Future plans for the house include hosting wine tastings and pop-up supper clubs – partly because had life taken a different turn Oli may have become a professional chef. It was through doing this renovation – and visitors’ reactions to it – that the couple realised they were on to something and decided to set up their interior design venture, harnessing Katie’s creative eye and Oli’s business experience. It also means Katie has an excuse to keep trawling those markets, in search of the perfect piece to inspire the next project. ‘You should see our cellar,’ laughs Oli. ‘We’ve got our very own brocante in there!’ X
katielyonsinteriors.com; rent Number 5 via airbnb.com/h/number5
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“I spent a year collecting pieces from brocantes, curating a collection with this house in mind” X
KITCHE N The mix of wood and tiling is faithful to true Provencal style. Units and worktop designed by Katie. Try Love Wood Kitchens for a reclaimed kitchen. Zellige tiles, Art & Sud Déco. Marble top (on island), Marbrerie Baldeschi
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T E R R AC E ‘It’s a very quiet, tranquil and relaxing place to be,’ says Katie of Saint-Paul de Vence. The metal table and chairs were vintage brocante finds; try The Worm that Turned for Fermob bistro sets
“La Colombe d’Or hotel has really inspired my designs and I still reference back to it” X
BEDROOM ‘The lime wall finish was an investment, but everything else is very simple so it was worth it,’ says Katie Bedding and cushions, all Zara Home. Wall light, Jim Lawrence. Radiator, Cast Iron Radiators
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EN SUITE Using one bold piece to focus on in a space is a guaranteed way to understated luxury. Bath, The Cast Iron Bath Company. Tap fitting, Hudson Reed. Cage light, Rowen & Wren
home truths W H AT D O YO U MISS ABOUT THE UK? Oli: Ale in a pub. Katie: The Sunday papers.
SOUNDTR ACK TO YO U R LI F E ? Oli: RadioMonteCarlo2 – very Shazam-able chill-out music. Katie: I grew up in a house where there was always jazz on.
S I G N AT U R E DISH? Oli: Seafood risotto. One reason I will never leave this region is the quality of the ingredients.
TH E M OVI E YO U RETURN TO? Katie: I don’t really like watching films; I don’t have enough of an attention span! Oli: We have children, so it’s all animated films. I like Ratatouille.
M E D I TAT I O N OR HIIT? Katie: Yoga with meditation. It’s my saviour. Oli: HIIT all the way. I love extreme sport and I’m training for the Nice Ironman triathlon.
FAVO U R I T E DESSERT? Oli: A zabaglione cake – which I made for Katie’s last birthday. Katie: Pavlova.
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EN SUITE The antique side table adds a dose of rich character. Bath, The Cast Iron Bath Company. The side table and decorative vessel are vintage; try Selling Antiques for similar
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the blueprint
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
LOWE R G RO U N D FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
BEDROOM ‘These colours are a theme through all my designs,’ says Katie. ‘I think it’s led by Provence – the olive greens and the orange of the terracotta roof tiles.’ Wall light, Jim Lawrence. Find vintage demijohns at Vinterior
happy families A punchy palette, vintage furniture and Victoriana-inspired florals helped interior designer Michelle Kelly turn a beachside retreat into a place full of joy for her crew X
PHOTOGRAPHY AND WORDS Mark C. O’Flaherty
TV ROOM ‘I sourced the old 70s modular sofa to fit all the gang, and recovered it in a poppy-print velvet fabric,’ says Michelle.
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Walls in De Nimes, Farrow & Ball. Velvet fabric, from House of Hackney. Find a similar sofa at Etsy
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LIVING ROOM Sulking Room Pink from Farrow & Ball is neutral enough to handle all the other beautiful colours. Grey sofa from the Sissinghurst Range by Matthew Hilton for Case. Orange sofa and chair, Soho Home. Artwork by Billy Childish from Counter Editions
DINING ROOM ‘This room overlooks the beach and I wanted to reflect that in the sunshine yellow table and sea blue and green shades on the walls and furniture,’ says Michelle. Walls in Card Room Green, Farrow & Ball. Vintage G Plan table, try Vinterior (lacquered in yellow by a car garage paint sprayer). Deco chair, try Pamono for similar, in a fabric by House of Hackney
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furniture, colourful cushions and a ‘We wanted to create a holiday home clever window seat nook in the kitchen. where our children could have regular ‘Our favourite space right now is adventures, in a kind of Famous Five the living room,’ says Michelle. ‘It took way,’ says fashion st ylist turned some time to get it right as initially it interior designer Michelle Kelly. And felt like a waiting room and we simply this house, in a once sleepy English didn’t use it. But I banished the TV seaside town that is fast becoming to the adjoining den for the children a little bit of London-on-sea, has and played around with furniture turned out to provide exactly that – configurations to make the space more for children and grown-ups alike. convivial.’ Now with two sofas facing Michelle and husband Ian, who each other, plus a big armchair it’s an works in music management, bought inviting space that’s always sought out. the detached Edwardian house with ‘It’s where we all relax, sit and chat at two other couples they met when TH E OWN E RS This is a holiday home on the Kent coast the end of the day,’ says Michelle. their children were born nearly 10 for interior designer Michelle Kelly, her When the families are not cooking years ago. ‘We all went on holiday music management husband Ian Watt, up a storm, mornings often start with together to Ibiza and talked about their daughter Iris, nine, and dog Dusty. a coffee and a cinnamon bun and a buying a holiday home there, but They share it with two other families. mooch around the antique shops then we reconsidered: somewhere in town, followed by lunch at the closer to home where we’re all based THE PROPERTY aforementioned Rose. ‘Nuno Mendes of in east London, would mean we could A detached Edwardian seafront house in Chiltern Firehouse fame is overseeing go more often,’ says Michelle. Now Kent. On the ground floor is a kitchen, the kitchen now so it’s hard to resist!’ the families share it, sometimes as a breakfast room, dining room, living room, says Michelle who has discovered that group of six adults and five children, TV den, utility room and WC. Upstairs a bonus of having decorated the hotel or individually. ‘I love it when we’re is a master bedroom with en suite and an is that several regular guests have all there and a typical Sunday revolves enclosed balcony, four further bedrooms (one en suite) and a family bathroom. engaged her to restyle their homes too. around running out of the house across They enjoy it summer and winter the shingle for a bracing dip in the sea, alike. The enclosed balcony off the master bedroom, with followed by cooking up a giant roast together,’ says Michelle. ‘We views out to sea, is where Michelle does yoga in the mornings, go on to stay up way past everyone’s bedtime – kids watching or curls up with a book – ‘often The Great Gatsby.’ ‘We take it in movies in the den, adults drinking wine by the fire – pure heaven!’ turns to stay in the master bedroom and whoever has it has to Since the gang bought the house, Michelle has transformed host cocktails parties on the balcony at sunset,’ says Michelle. it (and the nearby hotel/pub, The Rose in Deal), showcasing her Although the group still holiday in Ibiza together, Michelle pretty, vintage-inf luenced style, mixing William Morris didn’t want to turn the house into a ‘Balearic on the Kent coast’ florals with a modern palette of punchy colour combinations. style home. ‘A huge part of its charm is its old-fashioned British The house’s previously drab, vanilla interior has been seaside vibe, which we would never want to relinquish,’ she totally transformed with mid-century and antique furniture says. As if to prove the point, there are actual Union Jacks, and accessories, mainly foraged from local vintage shops. along with fishermen’s boats, sitting on the beach outside. Unusual colours come together to dramatic effect: think pink and orange, mustard and green, teal and black, along with X lush Victoriana-inspired textiles used in reupholstered michellekellystyle.com
home profile
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“I love unexpected colour combinations. I often find myself wearing them in my clothing too” X
KITCHE N Instead of replacing the cabinetry, Michelle updated it with paint and glorious green marble worktops. Parquet floor, The Architectural Forum. Green marble, J&R Marble
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B R E A K FA S T ROOM ‘There are some great vintage shops around here whose wares have helped give the house its personality and already hold memories for us,’ says Michelle. Ercol chairs and French farmhouse table, from Mileage in Deal; all in Sap Green, Farrow & Ball. Walls and fireplace in Yellow-Pink, Little Greene
home truths I F YO U C O U L D L I V E I N O N E FI LM WH ICH WO U LD IT B E ? The 1982 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Evil Under the Sun – I love the glamour of the era it was set in.
A N D T H E L A N D M A R K YO U ’ D LIKE TO LIVE IN? The Palais-Royal would be a pretty amazing.
I F YO U C O U L D C H O O S E ONE DESIGNER TO MAKE A D R E S S F O R YO U , W H O WOU LD IT B E ? Yves Saint Laurent, circa the late 1960s. It would be something fabulous with a huge pussy bow.
FAV O U R I T E PHOTOGR APHER TO SHOOT YO U R P O R T R A I T ? I want to say Helmut Newton, so I’d look super sexy, but I think I’m more of a Tim Walker girl.
C AT S O R D O G S ? It used to be 100% cats, but we now have Dusty the miniature dachshund I would say I am 50/50.
H I G H H E E L S O R F L AT S ? Heels, of course. Always.
BEDROOM ‘It feels like spring when you wake up in this room with its fresh green paint and pretty decorative bed,’ says Michelle. The brass bed is a vintage find; try Bed Bazaar for similar. Bed cover from Mumbai, try Cloth House Studio for similar. Walls in Yeabridge Green, Farrow & Ball
B AT H R O O M ‘Pink and green is my go-to colour combination,’ says Michelle. ‘I think it’s the ultimate match – punch and fresh at the same time.’ Walls in Bancha; bath in Crimson Red, both Farrow & Ball. The floor tiles are from Fired Earth
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KITCHEN
the blueprint
TV ROOM
B R E A K FA S T ROOM
BEDROOM BEDROOM BED ROOM
LIVING ROOM
MASTER BEDROOM DINING ROOM
GROUND FLOOR
BEDROOM BALCONY
FIRST FLOOR
MASTER BEDROOM ‘I wanted to create a restful room to escape to when there is a full house downstairs,’ says Michelle. Bed, screen and side tables are all vintage, try Etsy for similar. Walls in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball. Rug, The Rug Company. Ceiling pendant, Habitat
Millory has brought a little va-va-voom to this apartment, while honouring its heritage X
parisian renaissance
Interior architect Félix
PHOTOGRAPHY Matthieu Salvaing WORDS Karine Monié
ENTRANCE HALL This is not your average Parisian apartment – unexpected contemporary brass arches, showstopping modern art and playful furniture delight the senses and work beautifully with the period features. Wall lamps by Entrelacs. Artwork by Marion Verboom at Galerie Jérôme Poggi. Sofa by Jouffre; in Mont Blanc fabric in Ivoire by Nobilis
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LIVING ROOM Dramatic punctuation marks, like this oversized Portoro marble fireplace, are designed to catch the eye and ensure that the apartment isn’t just about serene shades of white. Fireplace by Félix Millory Architecture. Vases on top, Tom Dixon. BOB armchair by Christophe Delcourt. Metroquadro rug by cc-tapis. Coffee table, Minotti. Bolle ceiling light, Gallotti&Radice
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b
reathe Paris in, it nourishes the soul.’ This quote by writer Victor Hugo summarises the spirit of this project. Located in a smart, gardenfilled neighbourhood of Paris, the 270-square-metre apartment that Félix Millory designed for a family of five who spend most of their time in Switzerland is in a 1925 Haussmann building historically reserved for the haute bourgeoisie. ‘It had to be renovated to honour the history and setting,’ says Félix. ‘The brief was just to keep the Parisian vibes and add a modern twist.’ Despite this being the first time Félix had worked with this art collector couple, the owners put their trust in him and gave him a lot of freedom. The apartment’s last makeover dated back to the 1960s and featured a classical and simple style, with no ornamentation and only a few allusions to the past – something that Félix wanted to change in order to bring it back to its former glory. Since the beginning of the project — which took nine months to complete — this pied-à-terre facing the river Seine and the Eiffel Tower was all about the view for both the owners and for Félix. ‘The panorama can’t get any better and, as a Parisian myself, I felt quite obsessed about it,’ Félix confesses. ‘I have hundreds of photos taken during the process and works.’ The Eiffel Tower is visible from the living room and one of the bedrooms, and the apartment was designed to make the most of this famous landmark view. ‘The home had to adapt to modern uses and focus on transparency and perspective,’ says Félix, who completely rethought the initially complex floor plan that had many little rooms and a confusing layout. Once the new plan was established, Félix introduced Haussmann-inspired elements and fresh features. ‘We gave priority to a delicate, floral style for the cornices and the decoration of the ceilings, contrasting with a kind of simplicity that we wanted on the wall panelling.’ Several shades of white — such as a stronger white in the living room and a pink-hued version in the dining
room — characterise the living spaces, all connected to a theatrical entrance through brass arches. An intentionally dark corridor, which puts emphasis on the natural light in the rest of the apartment, leads to the master bedroom and three children’s bedrooms – which were designed like hotel rooms – where the soft grey and warm white shades make for a calming atmosphere and give a feeling of peacefulness. Dark smoked wood and grey Portoro marble (for the fireplace) were used along with brass as standout, linking materials. ‘The brass appears through the whole apartment in different guises,’ ex pla ins Félix. ‘It is a typical material of Parisian entrance doors that we patinated and transformed in various elements. For example, we used it to create a transition from one room to the other, to highlight some pieces of furniture and to play with the inserts of bright marble on the entrance flooring.’ Niches, alcoves and bookshelves in smoked oak were integrated into the wall panelling; the original parquet flooring was restored and some doors, that become invisible while blending with the walls, were installed. ‘All the work was orchestrated around the combination of the preservation of old references and the addition THE INTERIOR of contemporary touches,’ says ARCHITECT Félix. Finding the right balance Young French interior architect and designing spaces that honour Félix Millory created this home for an art collector couple with three the beauty of the building and the children who live in Switzerland view of Paris’ most famous Eiffel most of the time but wanted a Tower landmark was not an easy pied-à-terre in Paris. task, but when stepping inside this apartment, there is no doubt THE PROPERTY that the challenge has been a A restored, one-storey Haussmann splendid success.
home prof i le
apartment facing the river Seine
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felixmillory.com
in Paris. It has a double living room, a dining room, a kitchen, an office, plus a master bedroom suite and three children’s bedrooms with en suites.
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KITCHE N The new cook space was designed to be a family hub and has a monumental island that doubles as a dining table. Bespoke units in smoked, aged veneer with brass trim. Try Roundhouse Design for a similar kitchen. Ceramic worktops, Laminam. Beetle stools, Gubi. I-Model pendant light in brushed brass, Anour. Find earthenware bowls at Rose & Grey
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OFFICE This apartment is all about contrast – old and new, bold and serene – as demonstrated by the clean modern shelving with brass trims set against period features. Aston chair by Minotti. Air Desk W desk, Pinuccio Borgonovo for Gallotti&Radice. Clark desk lamp by Lambert & Fils. Elbow spotlights, Tal. Divar wall lamp by Anour
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MASTER BEDROOM Light drapes were used for a soft feel and to highlight, rather than overshadow, original features. Pillar table and Clam lamp (by bed), 101 Copenhagen. Urban wall lamp, Venicem. Stay lounge chair, Gubi. Elouan table, AM.PM
MASTER B AT H R O O M Nothing says luxe and glamour more than wall-to-wall marble. Find Calacatta marble at Rossi Stone Surfaces. Taps, Margot. Bath, Teuco
BEDROOM Each of the sleep spaces is designed with the vibe of a hotel suite – something the children love! Kelly bed, Poliform. Multi-Lite pendant light by Gubi
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home truths A R E YO U M O R E C O U N T R Y S I D E OR BIG CITIES? I was big cities but I am getting more countryside. I need some fresh air and quiet moments sometimes.
DREAM PROJECT ? I would say a hotel by the sea or in Provence, in the South of France.
I F YO U C O U L D B E A N A N I M A L , W H AT W O U L D YO U B E ? An eagle or a bird. We need this change of point of view to realise how small we are and how beautiful nature is.
A Q U I E T S U N D AY A F T E R N O O N AT H O M E O R A PA R T Y O N A S AT U R D AY E V E N I N G ? A quiet Sunday! I work hard and need a lot of rest, as well as quality time with my husband.
B R I G HT O R DA R K CO LO U R S ? I am not a bright colour person so dark hues. But I am into very earthy tones at the moment.
W H AT W O U L D YO U D O I F YO U FOUND A LOT TERY TICKET T H AT W I N S £ 1 0 M I L L I O N ? Well, that would be a first! I’d buy a beautiful property by the sea to refresh, spend time with my husband and my parents, but I’d definitely keep working!
the blueprint
KITCHEN
BED ROOM
DINING ROOM
OFFICE
BED ROOM ENTRANCE HALL
MASTER BEDROOM
BED ROOM
LIVING ROOM
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Walls in Avocado Brunch matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr (claybrook studio.co.uk)
design & decorating FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
A CO O L D E TA I L S E T S T H E TO N E FO R O U R P R OJ E C T S S E C T I O N
Paint name fans – check out the new additions to Claybrook’s palette: six rich tones ranging from the vibrant red Claire’s Lippy to the sophisticated neutral Patsy Stone and the perfectly ripe Avocado Brunch. All in eco-conscious emulsion and eggshell made fresh to order in England livingetc.com
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around the
block
Go big, go bold with shape-shifting geometrics – think grid-like squares of colour that celebrate vibrant, graphic pattern X
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PHOTOGRAPHY Damian Russell STYLIST Claudia Bryant
livingetc.com
decorating
LINE UP An angular chair in a broken ikat block stripe is a happy companion to the geometric wallpaper. The chunky table in a vibrant red delivers a shock of colour and a touch of extra oomph. Kutani vinyl wallpaper W7557-05, £97 a roll, Osborne & Little. Dorothy lounge chair, £1,932 plus 4m fabric, Julian Chichester; covered in Oscillation Cascade/Rose Quartz, £45m, Harlequin at Style Library. Blok side table 2 in Coral, £800, Darkroom. Textured Abstract artwork, £330, M.A.H. Solid table light in Nero Marquina marble base and opal glass shade by Terence Woodgate, £355, Aram. Mohair Border Rose Quartz rug, £990sq m, The Rug Company
L AY E R U P O N L AY E R
SHOOT ASSISTANTS ANGELICA BRYANT AND ISABELLA CHARLSWORTH
A geometric wallpaper sets the scene in this vibrant living space. Block-like furniture and a large-scale grid design rug add to the pattern party. Kutani vinyl wallpaper W755705, £97 a roll, Osborne & Little. Blok console in Forest, £800, Darkroom. Mags three-seater sofa by HAY, from £2,573 plus approx 10m fabric; covered in Nyoka in Mineral, £189.50m, Black Edition. Prism Low table in ‘Colore’ Frisè Walnut and natural aluminium, £2,730; Prism Low table in Travertino Romano marble, £2,280, both by David/Nicolas at Gallotti& Radice. Cushions (from left): Forest Green velvet cushion, from £70, Kirsten Hecktermann. Katachi Shapes Semi Circle cushion in Red, £83.76, The Conran Shop. Cushions in Flag Plum and Flag Green, both £130m, Fermoie. Rectangular Lombard Teal and Natural cushion by Niki Jones, £60, Amara. Eucalyptus & Acacia Square vase, £46, Amara. Tall white ceramic vase with handles, £55, Rockett St George. Lichen branches and dried flowers by Rebel Rebel. Black Grid vase by Anna Beam, £115.20, M.A.H. Bubble tumbler in Petrol, £9, The Conran Shop. Stoned fruit bowl in Pink, £164, Amara. Fergus rug in Khaki, £993, Ligne Roset
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decorating L OW - L E V E L LOUNGING Taking the headboard to the floor makes a divine statement piece. Walls in Slaked Lime absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Bespoke headboard, similar custommade, from £1,200, Hennis Upholstery; covered in Odhani in Terracotta, £89m, Designers Guild. Torrington double bed base, £1,400; double mattress from £985, both Naturalmat. Offshore table in Rossa Cina by Piero Lissoni for Porro, £1,158, Aram. (Small abstract artwork) ART020 Geometric Forms, £300 by commission, M.A.H. Abstract 02 giclée print, £295, Formworks. Washed Double duvet cover, £114.99; double flat sheet, £69.99; pillowcases, £15.99 each, all in Dusty Rose, LinenMe. Cushions (from back): cushion in Brera in Rosewood, £68m, Designers Guild. Borough cushion in Peach, £59, Heal’s. Kensal Check cushion, £70, Tori Murphy. Ecru Black quilt, £235, Toast. Ferm Living Herringbone throw in Aubergine, £105; Ferm Living Ripple Clear tumbler, £35 for 4; counterpoise black marble lamp, £279, all Heal’s. Flatweave runner in New Hadley Figue, £335, Roger Oates
SHINE ON What is black and white and red all over? This fabulous dining space where the painterly blocks of the matt wallpaper contrast with the glossy finishes of the lacquer-like chairs and sleek marble table. Outside The Box Panoramic 3x3m wallpaper by Élitis, £1,054, Abbott & Boyd. Zen table in black Marquina marble with black hand-brushed anodised aluminium base by Massimo Castagna, £3,990, Gallotti&Radice. Carimate chairs in Red and Black by Vico Magistretti, £1,032 each, Fritz Hansen. Monolog stool, £816, Ligne Roset. Ferm Living Haze Vitrine cabinet in Poppy Red, £1,389, Holloways of Ludlow. (On window recess) Wood Marquette objects, from £75 each, Galvin Brothers. (On cabinet) Swirl Small vase, £325, Tom Dixon. Scarab vase in Charcoal, £95, Oka. (On table) Block jug, from £175, Tom Dixon. Ferm Living Ripple Clear glasses, £49 for 4, Heal’s. Toulouse Rosso Minio Large serving bowl, £250, The Conran Shop. Vintage Anatolian wool and goat’s hair kilim rug, £1,620, Larusi
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CANVAS OPINION Stretching a colourful printed fabric over a wood frame creates a dynamic artwork set against a monochrome scheme. The fluted texture of the sideboard pairs with the pattern above. Walls in Slaked Lime absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Stretched canvas artwork in Nelia F3513, £188m, Pierre Frey. Flute sideboard in Dark American Black Walnut, £5,500, Galvin Brothers. Peter chair in burnished metal/brown leather, £3,243, Flexform at Interdesign UK. (On sideboard, from left) Ionica vase, £91.38; Tubini vase, £144.93, both Calligaris. Marie Mosaic Square plant pot, £40, Amara. Contemporary Abstract Shapes Marble table lamp, £220, Rockett St George. Helio runner, £1,100sq m, Jonathan Saunders for The Rug Company
WO R K I T O U T A folding screen in an uplifting fabric not only functions as a practical way to cordon off your work zone at the end of the day, but also brings joy to your desk space. Rectangular three-panel screen, £570 plus 8m fabric, The Dormy House; covered in Mahlangu 4745 02 59, £145.90m, Casamance. Tucano desk in Cowhide 90 Dark Brown/Matt Black by Monica Förster for Zanotta, £1,963, Aram. TMPL green chair, £780, M.A.H. (On desk from left) Uno & Osten Kristiansson table lamp, 1960s, £1,050, Béton Brut. Small Cube vase in Pink, £39; tall Cube vase in Green, £59; both The Conran Shop. Scissors, similar from The Conran Shop. Domed lid storage jar in Green, £28, Darkroom. Small Block Design round tray, £30, The Conran Shop. Artek folding ruler, £16, Tate Shop
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colour insight F A R R O W & B A L L’ S C O L O U R C U R AT O R J O A S T U D H O L M E R E V E A L S H E R FAVO U R I T E S H A D E S A N D S T Y L E A DV I C E
When I combine white with colour, I choose hues that are equally soft – think Green Smoke, Oval Room Blue and Setting P l a s t e r. These colours all have a slig htly historic feel, even though they work really well in contemporary homes, too. A bright white ceiling accentuates the shape of the room – not ideal if your space is small. It also means that you can see where the wall stops and the ceiling begins, which again draws attention to the dimensions of a space. By using the same colour on the walls and ceiling – essentially eliminating any sharp lines – you can make a room look and feel bigger. Before you start a painting project , think about how you intend to use the space and how the colour is going to affect its use. I once made the terrible mistake of painting a small bathroom with no windows in a high-gloss, yellow-based green. I thought it would create a 50s American-style camper vibe, but in actual fact it made the children look ill!
If you want to make a room feel bigger by using more than one colour, the best thing to do is to use the lightest of your colours on the walls and the darkest of your colours on woodwork. The effect of painting the lighter colour on the largest surface area will visually expand a space. Right now I’m enjoying playing with finishes. I use the same colour but I paint the lower half of the wall in gloss (from the bottom of the skirting board to dado-rail height) and the top half of the wall in a matt finish. This is a practical approach to decorating for people with young children as the gloss is tough to mark. It also looks fabulous, like a modern interpretation of the traditional dado rail. My house is in the middle of a field, so I’ve painted my hallway a dark shade of green (Bancha) to bring the outdoors in. From here you move into an open-plan kitchen/living room, which is painted in School House White – a colour I developed specifically for my own home and is now one of Farrow & Ball’s bestsellers. I like the fact that this space feels even bigger because your eyes have been closed down by the darkness of the hall. When it comes to using colour, don’t worry about what everybody else is doing. Do what feels comfortable for you. If you’re nervous, start with a small space, such as the inside of a kitchen cupboard. My other piece of advice is not to panic half way through your painting. Half-painted rooms look terrifying! Hold your nerve and wait until it’s completely done: then you’ll see the beauty of the colour you’ve chosen.
the edit Lime White No.1 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr
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Off-White No.3 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr
Old White No.4 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr
Setting Plaster No.231 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr
Green Smoke No.47 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr
Oval Room Blue No.85 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, all Farrow & Ball
FEATURE SOPHIE BAYLIS
I love colours with longevity, such as Farrow & Ball’s Lime White, Off-White, Old White and Slipper Satin. Although they’re deemed to be traditional in look, this group of colours is perfect for use in contemporary homes, especially for homeowners who want neutrals but also want to steer away from grey tones. Wherever they’re used, the complex underlying grey-green tones of these shades have a softness that produces decorative schemes that feel as if they’ve been there forever.
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Joa suggests using dark colours on woodwork and lighter hues on larger surfaces to help expand a space
pattern book T H E B E S T N E W F A B R I C S A N D W A L L P A P E R S A R E J O Y F U L J O LT S O F C O L O U R A N D S T Y L E , F R O M B I G B O TA N I C A L S T O S O O T H I N G R E P E A T S
VIVID BLOOMS Bold, expansive flowers and trailing leaves in extraordinary colourways are artfully arranged for maximalist effect. Minakari, £89m, Designers Guild
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P A I N T E R LY MOTIFS
FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS
Brush-stroked styles in soft watercolour shades are completely dreamy and of the moment. Find your inner artist. (from top left) Kirigami, £145 a roll, Osborne & Little; Potting Shed in Sunset, £31.50m, Villa Nova; Atticus in Marine, £28.80m, Prestigious Textiles; Wonderland in Pearl, £292 for a two roll pack, Linwood; Bark in Midnight Rose, £97.90m, Parker & Jules
WHIMSICAL WONDERL AND We all need a bit of escapism right now and the imaginative narrative of this design is like an enchanting fairy tale. Il Marchese di Carabà in Bonne Nuit, £119m, Rubelli
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VIBRANT GEOMETRICS Dynamic and daring – what’s not to love? And their symmetry is ever so appealing. (from top left) Matiko in Multi, £189.50m, Black Edition; Kutani vinyl, £97 a roll, Osborne & Little; Condesa in Midnight Cherry, £215m, Serena Dugan Studio at The Fabric Collective; Refuge in Anthracite, £166.30m, Casamance; Cubiste in Mediterranean, £120m, Jim Thompson
style columnist MINNIE KEMP LOVES THE FRESH FRUIT MOTIFS THAT ARE RIPENING BEAUTIFULLY ALL OVER INTERIORS RIGHT NOW
Fruit itself has long been considered in art and design as a symbol of abundance, associated with the harvest and goddesses of plenty. In mythology, fruit represents earthly pleasures, overindulgence and temptation… vices one couldn’t be condemned for enjoying after such a tough year, especially in the comfort of your own home. I want to serve you up my delicious juicy fruit salad dish filled to the brim with colourful bits that will immediately add depth and intrigue to your environment. Gert Voorjans fabric designs for Jim Thompson are bright and playful. Garden Party is one of my favourite patterns, brilliantly coloured on a soft linen ground it looks wonderful either made up as curtains or use it as a tablecloth for the perfect tablescape. While in Antwerp I had the opportunity to visit Gert’s home and studio: a contemporary glass-fronted building facing a cobbled square with high ceilings and filled to the brim with personality. Gigantic drooping leaves, bulging from terracotta pots, lead your gaze up to coloured vinyl windows. The cascading light echoes an installation I was lucky enough to see by French conceptual artist Daniel Buren. An interesting comparison as one is a maximalist and the other a minimalist. That’s Gert’s trick – whatever your collection and no matter how vast, if conscientiously displayed with intent a feeling of calm serenity will prevail.
I often scour the internet, hour after hour on 1stDibs hunting for Ferro Murano 1950s coloured glass grape lights and wall sconces. Yep, it’s my guilty pleasure, kitsch beyond belief but oh-so romantic. Patricia Harvey Antiques in Marylebone sometimes has a stash. If you are looking for a contemporary take on this classic design, I have stumbled upon Greige’s handmade glass grape cluster lights and @threadgoldstudio on Instagram who has a stunning set of Murano glass grape chandeliers for sale. Swoon! One of my all-time favourite fruits is the pomegranate. I want to deck my walls with Mojito in Multicolour by Pierre Frey. In Greek and Persian mythology, pomegranates symbolise beauty and eternal life. I would certainly want to live forever if I could have William Yeoward’s Malati textile brightening up my living room. This fabric is versatile; a contemporary take on a traditional design and it would look fantastic in a country home or a beach house. The Carnival design by Michael Szell for Christopher Farr is the ultimate ode to the pom. It’s my number-one zesty fabric, and with a large repeat it looks mega on walls and cushions alike. What would a fruit salad be without the perfect vessel to serve it up? The DIY Art Market is a great place to discover a new wave of early career and some more established artists. As well as hosting a large fair, it also has an online shop showcasing over 60 ceramicists and potters, and an art shop in east London. Tess Smith-Roberts is a Londonbased illustrator who has been making playful clay fruit plates that will bring humour to your kitchen. Illustrator and ceramicist Laura Bird creates colourful patterned platters that have a strong narrative, each pot tells a story and I’m hooked on every word. She is inspired by ancient medieval, Greek and Celtic art and works mainly with earthenware clay, hand-building all her pieces. Keep healthy, fruity friends, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures – we all know they are usually the most meaningful.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Glass grape light at 1stDibs; Tess Smith-Roberts’ fruity designs; Daniel Buren’s illuminating show at The Baltic, Gateshead
“I scour the internet hunting for Murano coloured glass grape lights. It’s my guilty pleasure” livingetc.com
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garden insight AC H I E V E T H E L O O K O F P U E R T O R I C O ’ S S U C A S A WITH TIPS FROM E LISAB ETH ROGOFF OF CHAMPALIMAU D DESIGN
You can play around curating different looks more easily with potted plants, mixing and matching complementing and contrasting tones, heights, shapes and textures. A Chusan palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) in a large terracotta pot will give height to your display. Combine it with Yucca filamentosa ‘Bright Edge’ with its two-tone, spiked leaves for year-round interest. Finally, ornamental deschampsia will soften the edges of your pot with some grassy texture.
Huge deeplydivided, fan-shaped leaves give Chusan palm its other name – the Chinese windmill palm
Container plants also allow you to zone off space, creating secluded corners for privacy and a secret garden feel. For example, the Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata) is easy to grow and gives the perfect jungle-style look with bold foliage margined and splashed with sunny yellow on huge stems that turn in autumn. In autumn you’ll see impressive sprays of white blossom. It’s a good choice for urban gardens as it handles pollution well. Plant it in a partially sunny border sheltered from wind. This versatile plant can also be kept in pots and even indoors as a houseplant. Whether you consign your plants to pots or a sunny sheltered bed or border, set them in fertile soil enriched with composted manure and at the same depth at which they were previously growing. Water liberally and feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser. If you are in a frost pocket, drape plants with several layers of fleece in late autumn.
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The soft tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica) has large, beautifully sculpted fronds and will thrive in a UK garden
New York studio Champalimaud Design used Puerto Rican artisans to add authenticity to the villa and garden
FEATURE ELISABETH ROGOFF PHOTOGRAPHS (MAIN IMAGE) EMILY ANDREWS; (PLANTS) ALAMY
W hen we were t ra n sfor m i ng t he 192 0 s residence Su Casa we envisioned the gardens as extended living spaces that reinforced the sense of place. The clear approach for us was to treat the potted plants and furnishings as ‘accessories’. Pots are an ideal way to dress up an outdoor space – they can be planted with a single plant or a combination of plants depending on the style you are trying to achieve.
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“The clear approach for us was to treat potted plants as if they were accessories, mixing heights and styles”
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gardening columnist OUR BRAND-NEW WRITER POPPY OKOTCHA EXPLAINS HOW NOT TO MISS OUT ON THE FIRST TASTE OF SPRING
PHOTOGRAPHS (PORTRAIT) POPPY OKOTCHA; (SEEDLINGS) ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
This is my first spring in the new garden. Last summer my partner and I moved from our canal boat in London to a garden (and cottage) in Devon. To say I’m excited is an understatement. I’m entering spring with plans (that I probably won’t stick to) produced while cosily shut up indoors on wet winter days. This month I’ve created a couple of no-dig beds ready for veg, a makeshift germination station and piles of wellrotted manure. An army of seedlings (chillis, tomatoes, kale and more) that are marching towards adolescence and will be clamouring to be planted out before I know it. To me, the pillars of a growing space are compost, water harvest, seed saving and social space. But when working with a new space or growing somewhere familiar for the first time, before we begin changing things the best thing we can do is sit on our hands and simply observe. Check your orientation, how the wind blows, how a tree or building casts shade at different times. Ask neighbours about frost dates and what they find grows best. Notice which plants and animals already call this space home. Indicator plants will tell us lots about the conditions of the site. For example, if you have lots of meadow plants like
poppies, you can be sure you have plenty of sun and may have depleted soil, while moss means moisture and might imply a compacted soil surface. If you’re growing in the earth rather than planters, put your hands in the soil – is it full of life and decaying organic matter? Is it soft, hard, wet, dry? Find out the pH of your soil – you can order test kits online – and this will help tell you what you can grow.
“Before we begin changing things in a new space, the best thing we can do is sit on our hands and simply observe”
Bulbs tucked up last autumn and winter in good faith that spring would return are arriving to the party in waves. At the end of my garden bluebells and wild garlic are creating a carpet of green below the old apple trees, by my front door planters full of daffodils are smiling their happy yellow faces up at me (yet again Narcissus ‘Tête à Tête’ is my favourite, don’t tell the others). By watching and recording our spaces we can choose plants that want to be there and they’ll thrive. When we work with rather than against the forces of nature we are carried along by them, and it all becomes easier. So if you didn’t get a plan together through winter, grab a cup of tea, have a little sit in your growing space and jot one down now – over the next few months I’ll help you create a garden you can enjoy.
THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN 1 Create a schedule for your seed sowing to avoid getting in a muddle.
INDOORS 1 Give your houseplants a rinse to remove any dust accumulated on their leaves over the winter months.
2 Prepare a no-dig veg patch. Select the spot, pull up perennial weeds, put down a 7cm layer of manure and a layer of cardboard, weigh down. Weeds will be smothered while the soil is fed.
2 Sow tender plants like tomatoes, courgette, cucumber, aubergine and pumpkin – they like to be warm with lots of light. Keep them on your windowsill.
3 Prick out seedlings planted in trays or modules as they get bigger and move them on to larger pots of their own.
3 Once germinated, in good weather, take your tender seedlings out for the day but bring them back inside before it gets chilly.
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bathroom news B E I N S P I R E D BY O U R E D I T O F T H E L AT E S T L AU N C H E S A N D D E S I G N S
ALL CLEAR
A clear glass shower screen will always trick the eye into thinking the space is bigger, so is perfect for a bijou bathroom. Designed with a minimal appearance, the Matki-One wet room panel with ceiling brace bar is made of 8mm solid safety glass with a completely frameless base, and is designed to be installed on a shower tray or wet room floor. It has a tubular ceiling brace bar and can be customised in a range of finishes. Matki-One wet room panel, £506 (matki.co.uk)
Crown jewel Her handcrafted table lamps are known for their classic yet curvilinear look, and now artist-designer and sculptor Margit Wittig has extended her t a lent t o bat h room lighting. The new Pearl wall light features her signature handmade resin pearls in unique pigment shades, and since it is made bespoke a colour can be created for any scheme.ThePearlbathroom wall light in brass finish, £930 (margitwittig.com)
Waters Baths of Ashbourne has launched its first space-saving stone back-to-wall bath, £1,995 (watersbaths.co.uk)
FEATURE BUSOLA EVANS
TIED UP
Comfort zone Drummonds has joined forces with acclaimed interior designer Susie Atkinson to create a fresh spin on the classic cast-iron slipper bath. The Whitewater has curved sides and a gentle raised edge so you can soak away in comfort. It comes in four finish options – painted, polished, primed or raw metal. The Whitewater bath, from £4,110 (drummonds-uk.com)
Hand-painted and produced in Oxfordshire, Claybrook’s Festive Ribbon tiles are reminiscent of intertwined ribbon seen on maypoles in spring. Festive Ribbon tiles, £8.94 each (claybrookstudio.co.uk)
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DESIGN DOSSIER
kitchens
All about the cook space – inspiration and innovations
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DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
Beautiful products and ideas for the kitchen
news
EXPERT VIEW
Planning a pantry
FEATURE YVETTE MURRELL
Tom Edmonds, design director, Lewis Alderson & Co When designing a pantry keep it simple so that the space can be kept organised and tidy, even though it will probably be hidden by a door. You don’t want it to become a dumping ground so think about what you will keep in there and design shelving around it. Consider having tiered shelves at graduated heights that are not too deep so you can see everything at a glance and fit different sized packets and tins. A slim spice rack is useful, and a stone or marble shelf is great for keeping things cool. If you shop in bulk, it’s a good idea to leave some f loor space under a worktop for large items like crates of bottled water and dog food. Make sure you install some plug sockets so that smaller appliances and perhaps a microwave can be stored and used in the pantry. Temperature is important as a small space can quickly overheat so there’s no need to heat a pantry and, if possible, install an open vent to keep it cool, like a traditional larder. If there is no space for a walk-in pantry, a larder cupboard within the kitchen will provide plenty of storage, keep your groceries organised and smaller appliances hidden.
AGED TO PERFECTION Quooker’s all-in-one boiling water tap now comes in an antique patinated brass finish that will naturally change and develop over time. Quooker Fusion Round in patina brass, from £1,590 (quooker.co.uk)
Finished with a robust majolica enamel, Staub’s colourful cast-iron pots feature a lily design – an emblem of French royalty. Staub 26cm round Cocotte with Lily lid in Dark Blue, £249; Graphite Grey, £229; Grenadine Red, £249 (staub-online.com) livingetc.com
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HIDE AND SEEK Open-plan and small kitchens alike can benefit from a hidden kitchen design. The innovative and practical BoxLife design by Scavolini is shown here with Oxide Steel textured melamine pocket doors that keep the kitchen and stacked laundry appliances out of sight when not in use. Scavolini kitchens start from £10,000 (scavolini.design)
3 WAYS TO DO…
Geometric lights Switch up your lighting with cool new colours and angular shapes. Here a re ou r top pendant picks, from the top: Hay Bonbon 380 pendant light in Ice Cream, £528 (nest.co.uk) GANTlights K1 porcelain pendant in Mint, £179 (limelace.co.uk) H at t o n 4 p e n d a nt i n Nat u ra l W h it e, £5 49 (originalbtc.com)
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ROLLING STONE Allow your kitchen island to take centre stage by splashing out on a real stone worktop. Not only is the natural detailing unrivalled, but this material can withstand heats of up to 300°C, making it a practical investment too. Lundhs antique worktop, from £970sq m (lundhsrealstone.com)
L I N E A R E Q U AT I O N Four complementary tile designs – Grid 01, Grid 04, Grid Line and Linear – are all iterations of the same linework that make up Bert & May’s latest range. ‘I have long admired the work of artists and designers of the Modernist movement and wanted to bring the pared-back and simplistic aesthetic to Bert & May,’ explains founder Lee Thornley. Mix and match the geometric patterns, as well as the White, Darkroom, Lake or Blush (shown) colourways. Bert & May’s Modernist collection tiles are made to order, from £180sq m (bertandmay.com)
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DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
EXPERT VIEW
Emerging styles Suzy Hoodless, interior designer
LITTLE BLACK BOOK KITCHEN DOOR HANDLES
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Swarf. Design duo Sam Fish and Kate Worthington proudly use traditional manual machining practices to create modern hardware, and also offer a refinishing and repair service for their brass products. (swarfhardware.co.uk) Yester Home. This small family business based in Shropshire has been making timeless wrought and cast iron hardware since 2011. Pick from pulls, knobs, handles and latches, a ll w it h a h i nt of cla ssic Eng lish charm. (yesterhome.com) Dowsing & Reynolds. What started as a website selling industrial-style lighting has quickly transformed into a home decor brand with a huge range of interior hardware. Shop online or visit the show room in L eeds’ Victoria Quarter. (dowsingandreynolds.com)
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Bold as brass
Planning an easy kitchen refresh? Changing your tap can work a small miracle and brass has overtaken chrome in the desirability stakes. (Clockwise from left) Atlas single lever in brushed brass, £309 (abodedesigns.co.uk); aged brass Mayan tap, £360 (devolkitchens. co.uk); Armstrong mixer with textured lever handle in satin brass, £686.28 (perrinandrowe.co.uk)
The kitchen has evolved from a utilitarian workhorse to a more varied living space with paintings on walls where previously would have hung traditional wall units. In my own kitchen, I have a combination of open shelving for close-to-hand storage of everyday crockery, as well as the closed base cupboards for my trusted equipment and the bulkier and often unsightly appliances. Increasingly homeowners are open to a more varied kitchen environment as we move away from a sometimes clinical aesthetic of the ‘built-in’ to a more mixed design with layering of vintage and new; creating a f luidit y bet ween the free-standing and the fixed elements that make up a well-designed and functional kitchen. We frequently combine unique pieces of furniture that were not designed for a kitchen. For a recent project in Mayfair, we worked with highly skilled specialist glass and metal craftsmen to create an entirely new concept and bespoke design for a kitchen inspired by Maison de Verre in Paris. We have never been shy of using colour and textures in new and innovative combinations, and the kitchen provides plenty of opportunities to draw on a varied c olou r pa let t e t o en l iven a ny design scheme. Textiles, rugs and cushions are usually not thought about in the kitchen, but in this new, holistic approach to the room they are a very effective way of introducing pattern and colour.
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DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
Curve ball Sweeping organic curves are the main feature of this striking kitchen, with a sculptural island as the centrepiece. Design architects Kennedy Nolan used Laminex laminate to achieve their vision, cold-forming from flat sheets into surfaces that are soft and round. Neutral finishes were chosen to allow the shapes throughout the design to speak clearly.
FEATURE YVETTE MURRELL PHOTOGRAPH DEREK SWALWELL CREATIVE DIRECTION ORTOLAN STYLING NAT J STYLING EDITORIAL CONSULTANT INFINITE SHAPES
GET THE LOOK Project by Ke n n e d y N o l a n i n collaboration with Laminex
lookbook
The trends cooking up a storm this season
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Up the walls
The mild side
Don’t believe wallpaper should go in a kitchen? We urge you to reconsider. ‘I decorate kitchens the same way I would any room in the house and that involves expressing my love of colour and pattern,’ says Sophie Robinson, interior designer. ‘This way my kitchen feels like a wonderful place to hang out and not just a room for preparing meals.’ Avoid ruining your chosen print by using Polyvine’s Decorators Varnish to add a protective layer.
It’s safe to say we could all do with a little more calmness in our lives. And if your kitchen is the hub of your home, then embracing beige/ecru/taupe could be just the ticket to achieve a sense of zen in the space. To avoid the design from falling flat, incorporate a subtle mix of tones and different textures. Then, complete the look with a pop of natural pieces – put wooden utensils and green herbs and spices out on display.
GET THE LOOK Rabarber wallpaper in Green, £59 a roll, Boråstapeter
GET THE LOOK Ecru Zellige handmade Moroccan tiles, £153.60sq m, Otto Tiles and Design
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PHOTOGRAPHS (UP THE WALLS) TIM YOUNG; (MATERIAL MATTERS) SERGIO LÓPEZ
DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
Material matters Concrete can be a harsh, industrial material that can often feel cold – but there are clever ways of challenging these common preconceptions. The main element to consider is use of colour. Here, Danish design studio Frama turned a dark concrete basement into a relaxed kitchen space with warm tones and textured surfaces by painting the walls and new bar in natural earthy tones. The finishes were left rough to add depth to the space. GET THE LOOK Interior design by Danish design studio Frama
Full display ‘Kitchens are becoming more beautiful, more sociable and more photogenic,’ says Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL . ‘It is the most important room in your home and needs to be functional of course, but being able to furnish it with antiques, art, beautiful old chairs and cupboards makes it much more exciting as a space and much easier to swap around and freshen up as the seasons or your tastes change.’ GET THE LOOK The Classic English kitchen, starting from £25,000, deVOL
DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
Go luxe
Panel discussion
Classic and sophisticated, marble has always equated to luxury. When it comes to the modern day kitchen, however, it is refreshing to see marble and marble-look finishes appearing elsewhere other than worktops. Here, Martin Moore’s New Deco design draws inspiration from the 20s, known for its clean geometric lines and decorative materials. The free-standing cupboards have been clad in a porcelain that mimics the look of book-matched marble and edged with brass for added glamour.
Panelling is the word on everyone’s lips lately as we strive to add character to our nests. But how do you pull off this look in a kitchen? ‘The wall surfaces need to be able to stand up to everything this busy room throws at them,’ says Nerine Vacher, kitchen designer at Neptune Fulham. ‘In place of tiles, we’d suggest timber panelling. Painted in eggshell, it’ll still be wipeable, but it has more warmth. Tongue-and-groove styles will also bring a relaxed, down-to-earth look to the room.’
GET THE LOOK The New Deco kitchen, starting from £35,000, Martin Moore. For a similar wooden bowl, try the carbonised ash wood salad bowl, £50, John Lewis & Partners
GET THE LOOK Suffolk kitchen with Charlecote island in Ink, kitchens start from £8,000; large Byron pendants in Grey, £150 each; Ludlow bar stools, £375 each, all Neptune
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Double measure
Colour contrast
‘Two-tone cabinetry design gives a sense of height to a kitchen that may not have the benefit of tall ceilings,’ explains Tom Howley, creative director of Tom Howley. For those who are prepared to get creative with their kitchens, a pro-tip is to paint your wall-hung cabinetry a lighter colour and your waist-height storage a darker hue. ‘This will break up the room, giving a loftier feel at eyeline and grounding the rest of the room,’ he adds.
An island in a contrasting colour to the rest of your kitchen is guaranteed to make a striking statement, but it doesn’t have to eat into your budget – if you’re clever about it. ‘This was a very economic project,’ says Charlene Mullen, textile designer and owner of this bold kitchen. ‘We kept costs down by using readily available materials for the worktops. I then got a kitchen company to make the carcasses and had MDF cut and spraypainted to match,’ she adds.
GET THE LOOK Serpentine Devine kitchen, from £20,000, Tom Howley
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GET THE LOOK Kitchen designed with Dive Architects
PHOTOGRAPHS (COLOUR CONTRAST) LOUPE IMAGES/JAN BALDWIN
DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
Made to match Creating a cohesive kitchen design is no mean feat when you need to take flooring, furniture, cabinetry, lighting and appliances all into con sid erat ion . B u t t h e balance has been struck with such ease in this distinctly mid-century design by Studio Esteta . The island and splashback were made to match using the same stone material, and are co m p l e m e n t e d by t h e surrounding warm wooden cabinets and unique crazypaving flooring that flows throughout the space.
PHOTOGRAPH SEAN FENNESSY BUILDER BLULINE PROJECTS
GET THE LOOK Portsea House project by architecture and interior design Studio Esteta
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Block party
Statement style
Even the simplest of designs can create a lot of impact in a kitchen. Be bold with your choices and look at ways to colourblock throughout the space – we love how the cabinetry in this space is in a variety of different colours. ‘We think of colour as a material,’ says Muller Van Severen, the designer behind this playful yet minimalist space. You can try this technique by painting your walls, woodwork and flooring too.
Allow the cooking zone to take centre stage in your kitchen. While powerful extraction is needed in large, busy kitchens, many cooker hoods can end up looking cumbersome. Instead, explore the options by brands such as Elica and Falmec, which offer creatively stylish designs. Alternatively consider a bespoke design to match your cabinetry for real wow-factor – allowing you to choose the size, shape and colour of your new extractor.
GET THE LOOK The MATCH kitchen designed by Muller Van Severen for Reform
GET THE LOOK Bespoke cabinetry in Farrow & Ball Black Blue, with island in Antique Brass, prices start from £30,000, Roundhouse
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DESIGN DOSSIER: KITCHENS
There’s a big resurgence of colours and personalit y in kitchens, which is exciting. I really like pushing the boat out a bit when it comes to kitchen design, adding a lot of personality and doing something different that stands out. People always ask me what kitchen colours to look out for. I say soft yellow is having a bit of a moment in kitchens – I’m a big fan of Hay by Farrow & Ball and Aeoli by Paint & Paper Library. The desire is for cook spaces to feel vibrant a t t h e m o m e n t . It ’s gravitating towards a quite traditional, wholesome and crafty feel rather than a shiny and streamlined look.
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
For me, glass-fronted cabinets are definitely the on-trend storage solution right now. They Bold coloured make the space feel bigger cupboards because you ca n see the make this small kitchen sing depth of the cupboard and you can quickly find things. It feels cleaner than open storage, with the pane of glass helpfully reducing dust. I love practical storage. Use larder shelves that pull out all the way so you can get to the back of them, which is usually impossible. Plus, try magic corners for lower corner cupboa rds w ith the shelving mechanism that rotates – I use Hafele. You can add interest to a kitchen by having a bit of fun with handles. You touch them every day a nd they add personalit y. Ours a re made bespoke in Florence, but try contacting your local
brass foundry – it can be surprisingly affordable to have something unique made. I also really like Chloe Alberry and Armac Martin. Chequerboards are great for kitchen floors. I’ve done quite a few in half natural wood, half stained in a colour. Chequered lino flooring can also look cool, especially in a relatively small space, and it’s very practical – try Forbo, which has a lot of choice. My go-to kitchen brands? Plain English is an amazing company; deVOL’s kitchen tap is very beautiful; and I like Smeg for cookers and Dualit for kettles and toa st er s – t hey ’re bot h modern with a retro edge. I have one universal kitchen design rule. Put the sink underneath the window so that you wash up to a nice view and it can b e a p o s i t i ve , c a l m i n g moment – it becomes much more of a sad thing to do staring into a wall.
interview
Interior designer Beata Heuman shares her know-how
Going for cabinet doors that are more than 30cm wide is a common kitchen design mistake. They’re usually 30cm deep and countertops are 60cm, so any wider and the doors jut out – I was in a kitchen like this recently and I kept hitting my head. In my own kitchen I built my tall fridge into a blue cabinet. It looks like a free-standing piece of furniture. In fact, there’s an exact replica of my k itchen in Germa ny because one of my client s loved it so much. X
beataheuman.com
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Let Paul and Robin show you how to grow new plants from your kitchen scraps, including an avocado stone
the lifestyle edit PHOTOGRAPH KIM LIGHTBODY
T H E O N E T H I N G W E ’ R E E XC I T E D FO R T H I S M O N T H
If, by our increased garden pages, you guessed we’d found our green fingers, you’d be right. And new book Regrown by Paul Anderton and Robin Daly (£16.99, Hardie Grant) is setting us off at an easy level – growing plants from kitchen leftovers. Perfect you-time projects or to do with little ones livingetc.com
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spring feasting F R O M TA B L E S C A P E S T O M E N U I D E A S , T H E N E X T F E W PA G E S A R E A L L YO U N E E D T O S E R V E U P A S E N S AT I O N A L S E A S O N A L S P R E A D
Blend terracottas with sky-blue glass for a sun-baked Mediterranean vibe. Finish with wild flower heads for a heady side of aromatics.
FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS
Aleppo tablecloth in Cinnamon, £168; marbled ceramic collection in Brown and White: large plates, £72 each; pudding bowls, £27.99 each; glass tumblers in Green, £24 each; wine glasses in Blue, £24 each; hurricane vase in Green, £72, all Penny Morrison
Vintage patterns collide in mixed and matched abandonment to create an utterly maximalist dining experience. Pick a hero design and duplicate elements across different colourways or incorporate a variety of eclectic patterns – either way, the rule book’s out. Wildbird tablecloth in Verde, £215; Wildbird placemat in Viola, £58 for a set of two, both La DoubleJ
Toast a very special occasion with a peppering of pared-back suave. Neutral linens, organic shaped china, sparkling glassware and dried flower and seagrass accessories evoke an effortlessly elegant aesthetic. Claydon bud vase, £6; seagrass coasters, £16 for a set of four; wine glass; tumbler, both £30 for a set of four; mercury tealight holder, £15; chunky bubbled tealight holder, £6; Portobello stoneware, from £10; Bruton cutlery, £140 for a set of 24; Eat, Drink, Relax napkins, £25 for a set of four; Seville tablecloth, £95, all The White Company
Layer monochromatics for striking impact and add metallics Colourful linen and glassware, handwoven placemats and artisan and pearlescent details for a shimmering, contemporary contrast. ceramics celebrate craftsmanship with a zesty punch of fiesta spirit. Finish with single blowsy flower heads in low-level votives - très chic. Sunbeam plates, £225 for a set of six; Iraca placemats, £125 for a set Magical monochrome tablescape décor package, £330, Truffle Tablescapes at Notonthehighstreet.com
of four; glasses in Purple Pink/Green Blue, both £135 for a set of six; multicoloured cutlery, £275 for a set of 24; triangle star tablecloth, £85; zig zag candleholder, £45; salt and pepper set, £65, all Wicklewood
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dress to impress GET SET, GO – ELEVATE YOUR TABLE TO INSTA-READY PERFECTION WITH THESE GOOD-LOOKING BUYS
painterly platters
Large oval Splatter platter, £60, Emma Cerasulo
Jenny platter in Green, £105, Designers Guild
Silver Lining platter, £345, Judy McKenzie Ceramics Platter in Pink x Lime, £394, Takemura Yoshinori at Two Persimmons
Blue marbled platter, £58, Bisila Noha at Heal’s
Bohême platter in Blue and White, £170, L’Objet
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serving sets
Resin Seed servers in Pink Guava, £100, Dinosaur Designs
Kaba servers, €30, Caravane
Cook servers, 169 SEK, AfroArt
Eve servers, £128, Jonathan Adler
Sirkali servers in Brushed Gold, £39.95, Nkuku
Heidi servers, £30, Anthropologie
Olive wood bunny rabbit servers, £38, Artisans & Adventurers
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round place mats
Scallop place mat, £17.50, Birdie Fortescue
Handwoven Iraca place mat, £125 for set of 4 (multicoloured), Wicklewood
Woven Fringe place mat, $45, Von Gern Home
Tiger Touch place mat in Pink, €28, Lisa Corti
Place mat in White Terrazzo, £58 for 4, MAiK Handwoven place mat in Natural/Blue, £7.25, Artisanne
Greta waxed Italian linen place mat in Antique Rose, £160 for 8, Rebecca Udall
neat napkins
Gone Rural acacia woven grass place mat, £12, Hadeda
(From left) S&B x The River Cafe, £50 for 2, at Summerill & Bishop; Mexican handwoven, £12, Montes & Clark; Transylvania, £90 for 6, Gallery Von Bartha x La DoubleJ; Ruby Stella, £24 for 4, Sarah.K; Indian Tulip, $130 for 2, Elizabeth Lake; Blackberry, £64 for 4, Yolke; Beatrice, £45 for 2, Cabana Magazine
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bee happy N O T H I N G S AY S C O M F O R T I N G A N D C O N V I V I A L L I K E T H E S W E E T F L AV O U R S O F T H E S E D I S H E S , A L L W I T H H O N E Y A S T H E I R S TA R
FENNEL AND CHESTNUT SALAD WITH A HONEY DRESSING
serves 4 reserved
2 tbsp chestnut honey
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
180g cooked chestnuts
2 tbsp lemon juice
(vacuum-packed is fine),
6 tbsp olive oil
roughly chopped
FOR THE SALAD
½ tsp dried chilli flakes
2 tbsp walnut halves
1 tbsp chestnut honey
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and
Large handful of rocket leaves
halved, any fronds chopped and
120g Caerphilly cheese, shaved
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Use either a mandolin or a very sharp knife to slice the trimmed fennel as wafer-thin as possible. Submerge in a bowl of iced water for a few minutes to crisp up. Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a large frying pan set over a high heat. Add the chestnuts and chilli f lakes and cook, stirring often, for a couple of minutes, until browned. Add the honey and cook for a few seconds more to glaze. Remove from the heat. In a mixing bowl, combine the well-drained fennel with the rocket, any chopped fennel fronds and a few spoonfuls of the dressing. Gently tumble the Caerphilly and hot chestnuts through. Divide between serving plates, scattering with the toasted walnuts and spooning the remaining dressing over.
RECIPES ALICE HART PHOTOGRAPHS JAN BALDWIN/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
FOR THE DRESSING
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To make the dressing, whisk the honey, mustard and lemon juice together with a twist each of salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil to make a thick dressing and finish by whisking in a tbsp water to lighten the consistency. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6 and spread the walnuts out on a baking tray. Toast in the oven for 6-8 minutes, until golden. Set aside then roughly chop.
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The jointed chicken is particularly good on a bed of soft polenta with steamed greens
ROAST CHICKE N WITH THYME, GARLIC, LEMON AND HONEY
serves 4 2kg chicken, untied 2 large lemons: 1 zested and juiced; 1 sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 4 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped and chopped, plus extra to serve 3 tbsp honey 2 tbsp olive oil Handful of small shallots, peeled 300g baby carrots, scrubbed, tops left on 300g baby parsnips, scrubbed and trimmed 200ml chicken stock
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Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Combine the lemon zest and juice with the crushed garlic, thyme, honey and olive oil. Pop a few lemon slices inside the chicken cavity, tie the legs together loosely with kitchen string and nestle it in a sturdy, roomy roasting tin, su rrou nded by the remaining lemon slices, the shallots, carrots and parsnips. Pour the honey mixture over everything and season well with salt and pepper. Roast for 50 minutes, basting once or twice, then add the stock to the tin, give everything a good stir and roast for a further 20 minutes, covering the chicken with a layer of foil if it’s browning too much.
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Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 15 minutes. Scatter fresh thyme leaves over the chicken, then joint it into pieces. Serve the chicken with the vegetables and the simple roasting gravy from the tin (spoon off most of the fat first).
H O N E Y, O R A N G E A N D R H U B A R B S H R U B
ma kes 10 -1 2 serv i ngs 400g rhubarb, trimmed and roughly chopped 150g blossom honey ½ vanilla bean, split with seeds scraped out 300ml freshly-squeezed orange juice Ice cubes and sparkling water, to top up Bourbon, if liked Rhubarb shavings and orange peel, to decorate
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To make the rhubarb purée, combine the rhubarb, blossom honey and vanilla bean half in a saucepan with 50ml water and simmer gently, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft and broken down. Let cool then stir in the orange juice. Pass the mixture through a sieve, first removing the vanilla pod and scraping at the mixture well to push as much through as possible.
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Div ide the compote bet ween ser v ing glasses, aiming for it to fill each glass by a third or so. Add ice cubes and top up with sparkling water to taste, adding a shot of bourbon to each glass too, if liked. Decorate with shaved rhubarb and orange peel.
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D A R K C H O C O L AT E M O U S S E W I T H H O N E YC O M B A N D A CRUSHED HONEY AND HAZELNUT PRALINE
serves 6 FOR THE PRALINE A little sunflower oil 100g blanched hazelnuts 2 tbsp light brown sugar 2 tbsp honey Large pinch of fine salt FOR THE MOUSSE 300g dark chocolate Large pinch of fine salt 2 tbsp runny honey 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract 100g honeycomb, to serve
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Start with the praline. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4 and lightly brush a medium baking tray with oil. Combine the hazelnuts with the brown sugar, honey and salt in a bowl, and toss well to coat. Spread out on the oiled baking tray and bake for 5 minutes. Stir and bake for a further 3-4 minutes, until caramelised. Leave to cool, then crush roughly in a pestle and mortar. For the mousse, put the chocolate, salt and honey in a saucepan with 260ml water. Set the pan over a low heat and warm the mixture through, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate has just melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla paste or extract. Pour the mixture into
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a bowl and start to whip with a balloon whisk. Keep whisking until the chocolate thickens and looks shiny, like a ganache. This can take a while, but keep watch closely and stop before you think it looks like a mousse as it will continue to set. If you take it too far and the mixture stiffens up, re-melt the mousse over a gentle heat with a tsp water and start all over again with the whisking. Put a small amount of praline in six small serving glasses. Top with enough mousse to reach the halfway point then repeat the praline and mousse layers, reserving a little praline. Spoon pieces of honeycomb onto each mousse and scatter a little of the remaining praline over.
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in and out
T H I N G S T O D O , S E E A N D H E A R – AT H O M E O R O U T S I D E
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THE BOOK TO READ
Enjoy the literary event of the year
FEATURE RORY ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHS (1) SARAH-JANE AXELBY; (3) ED SCHOFIELD
Klara and the Sun is novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel since winning the Nobel Prize in Literature four years ago so the anticipation around his new offering is huge. Thankfully it lives up to expectations, not least of all for its eye-catching cover and illustrations. The book tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities. The signed hardback is available from waterstones.com, £20.
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THE PL ACE TO DINE
Seasonal produce to delight in
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T H E I N S TA FOLLOW
The Old Pharmacy is the new wine bar and epicerie gracing Bruton in Somerset. Taking its name from the building in which it is housed, this is a venture from Merlin Labron-Johnson, who previously launched the farm-to-table restaurant Osip. Call in to partake in a coffee, edible delights or shop from the shelves – Merlin grows many of the vegetables on offer himself on his veg plot. There’s also quality meat, local dairy produce, pickles and preserves. Oh, and wine from Sicily. Follow @oldpharmacybruton on Instagram for the latest news.
For your interiors radar Like many of us, Sarah-Jane Axelby (who goes by SJ) was triggered into a different way of working and keeping active during lockdown. For SJ this meant embarking on a ‘sketch a day’, which got her noticed on Instagram leading to ‘a stream of private drawing commissions, book illustrations and a whole new career.’ Look out for SJ’s work in the new book from designer Kit Kemp, Design Secrets, launching May 2021. Follow @sjaxelby to be kept up to speed with SJ’s latest projects and commissions.
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THE SOCIAL MEDIA S E N S AT I O N
In bloom
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THE PODCAST
For inquisitive minds A revelation for the curious, You’re Wrong About looks at key moments and figures – from Anna Nicole Smith to Diana – and re-examines how they were perceived from the perspective of 2021. Episodes on Yoko Ono and, surprisingly, acid rain are particularly great. Download it on all podcast apps.
California dreamin’
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THE C U LT U R E FIX
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Seeking sunshine? Indulge yourself in a slice of California culture, with a trip around the new Henry Taylor exhibition at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset. You’d be mistaken to label Taylor as a portrait artist. Sure, he often paints portraits of people, but Hauser & Wirth are quick to point out that his subjects ‘are only one piece of the larger cultural narrative that they represent.’ Henry, who lives and works in Los Angeles, is known for working on a variety of materials, including cigarette packs, suitcases and stretched canvas. His work is often bold, colourful and his subjects are captured with empathy. Henry explains his pursuit of representational truth: ‘It’s about respect, because I respect these people. It’s a two-dimensional surface, but they are threedimensional beings.’ Henry’s work is on display until June 2021.
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THE EXHIBITION
Full of wonder The ultimate escapism? Nothing beats the original parallel universe, Wonderland. Capturing a diverse selection of Alice In Wonderland artwork and ‘moments in time’, the V&A is launching an exhibition dedicated to the wonderfully imaginative world that author Lewis Carroll penned in 1865. Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser displays artworks and memorabilia spanning Alice’s 157 years and there are examples of original artwork illustrations sitting alongside Alice themed and inspired photography by fashion photographer Tim Walker, produced in 2018. It is truly an inspiring melting pot of objet, advertising and art.
PHOTOGRAPHS (4) NATIONAL TRUST; (5) YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT; (6) PORTRAIT OF MY COUSIN GF: DANA GALLEGOS, 2020 BY HENRY TAYLOR. COURTESY THE ARTIST AND HAUSER & WIRTH; (7) ALICE IN WONDERLAND. THE ROYAL BALLET. ZENAIDA YANOWSKY ©ROH, JOHAN PERSSON, 2011. COSTUMES BY BOB CROWLEY. THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON
Cherry blossom trees are known worldwide for their beauty and for heralding the arrival of spring. Associated with brightness and optimism, blossom trees tend to flower for only a short period of time between March and May, so keep your eye out during the coming weeks, not least because after a hugely successful Blossom Watch campaign – where people tag their blossom tree finds on Instagram – The National Trust are running Blossom Watch 2021. The conservation charity is encouraging everyone to take a moment to pause, notice and enjoy the fleeting beauty of blossom. Simply use #BlossomWatch when posting your photo to Instagram.@nationaltrust
room at the inn FO U R FA B U LO U S R U R A L P U B S W E P L A N TO CO SY U P I N
FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY
The Brisley Bell
The Talbot Inn
NORFOLK A popular local institution, The Brisley Bell has
SOME RSET This coaching inn dating from 1480 delivers a
history dating back to the 17th century. The current owners greatly expanded the proposition adding further dining spaces, restoring the gardens and converting some of the stone barns into guest rooms. Interiors have been kept classic and are most lovely in the garden room (above) and green room (left). The bedrooms provide a relaxing bolthole for guests, complete with roll-top baths and homemade biscuits. Rooms from £105 a night. thebrisleybell.co.uk
traditional pub experience with modern flair. Bedrooms are simple but well executed, variously kitted out with contemporary four-poster beds and large soaking tubs. The food makes the most of the kitchen garden and nearby farms, and there’s a stock of local real ales on offer. The village setting of Mells is a chocolate-box idyll of churches, village shops and even a cafe that was opened by Mary Berry herself. Rooms from £100 a night. talbotinn.com
The Bull Inn
The Pheasant Inn
DEVON This stylish pub in the pretty market town of Totnes
BERKSHIRE Jack Greenall began his inn-keeping journey
is Geetie Singh-Watson’s labour of love, where she has created a haven committed to the highest ideals of ethical sustainability. Everything that enters the kitchen is certified organic and comes from mostly local suppliers who share Geetie’s food philosophy. Interiors haven’t been forgotten: the building’s chic, pared-look is courtesy of an edit of reclaimed, recycled and handcrafted pieces. Rooms from £120 a night. bullinntotnes.co.uk
four years ago after the acquisition of The Pheasant, a much-loved local landmark. Coming from a family with publican experience dating back to the 1750s, Jack had a clear vision for the picturesque tavern. Following a sensitive but smart restoration, the interiors have a modern feel but retain a cheerful, unpretentious ease that lets you know you’re still very much in a country pub. Food is a highlight here. Rooms from £125 a night. thepheasant-inn.co.uk
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globetrotter JEPPE CHRISTENSEN, FOUNDER AND CEO OF REFORM, TA K E S U S O N A S P I N A R O U N D B E R L I N
so is the furniture, tableware and cutlery, which makes it far from an ordinary canteen.
riginally from Copenhagen, Jeppe Christensen is the founder and CEO of the Da nish desig n bra nd Reform, formed with Michael Andersen back in 2014. He moved to Berlin a couple of years ago with his fiancé, Anne, and their two kids, Winston and Barbara, to give Reform a kick-start in Germany. With showrooms in Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and a second opening in Berlin, Jeppe reveals his favourite spots in the city he now calls home.
Reform kitchens
Best gallery in town? Neues Museum. They’ve managed to mix new and old in a sublime way. Their choice of materials is unique – even just looking at the architecture of the museum leaves me inspired.
First things first, where should we stay? Hotel Oderberger in Prenzlauer Berg – a boutique hotel desig ned in 1898, originally made to serve the public as a bathhouse but reopened its doors as a hotel in 2016. The highlight is the impressive and majestic pool hall that tells the story of the monumental protected building.
Berlin Wall
Best place for a coffee? Kajumi – I would go there every day if I could. The owner, Ibrahim, is the nicest guy who makes my favourite cortado. What’s your favourite eatery? Lokal at Linienstraße in Mitte. It’s a charming corner restaurant focusing on locally sourced ingredients and a menu that changes accordingly. It’s perfect for those looking for a buzzing, unpretentious atmosphere and a modern yet simple German meal. Best spot for the ’gram? Chipperfield Kantine merges beautiful architecture and lunch cuisine in a contemporary way. Not only is the building designed by one of my favourite architects, David Chipperfield, but
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Where would you go for a shopping moment? Take a stroll down Kantstrasse. Start by visiting perfumer Harry Lehmann, a charming time warp shop, offering all handmade unique vintage fragrances and open for almost a century. Then, pop into our latest addition of Reform showroom and finish with dinner at Paris Bar.
Most iconic building? Head to Museum Island and you’ll be surrounded by five s t u n n i ng ex a m ple s of ne o cla s sic a l a rchitect ure – A ltes Museum, BodeMu s e u m , Pe r g a m o n m u s e u m , A l t e Nationalgalerie and Neues Museum – alongside views of the river Spree. It is t he idea l de st i nat ion for t hose who want a day full of cultural impressions in uncluttered and calm surroundings.
Körnerpark
Favourite outdoor place in the city? Körnerpark is a picturesque Frenchinspired park filled with creeper plants, fountains and f lowers, which makes it an interesting contrast to the rough and vibrant area and scene in Neueköln.
Neues Museum
Don’t leave without visiting? Art Biesenthal, a big open-air art exhibition in a rural residency featuring international artists in the north-eastern part of Berlin.
FEATURE YVETTE MURRELL PHOTOGRAPHS (BERLIN WALL, KÖRNERPARK, THE NEUES MUSEUM) ALAMY
O
Jeppe with his daughter Barbara
secret address book The Livingetc team flicked through its Rolodex to find the textile maker you need to know HOUSE OF QUINN As seasonal palettes come and go, one trend has emerged as an overarching theme of last year and now. That trend is beige, in all its guises, and the draw is its comforting, cool and cosy vibe. House of Quinn’s textiles fit this mood to a tee. Founded by craftsman Julius Arthur, his designs centre on playful daubs in a brown palette with beige at its heart, like this En Tir quilt, £620. They create a subtle exuberance you just want to wrap your home in. houseofquinn.co.uk
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