Bhyujn

Made in Britain, Built to Last www.roundhousedesign.com West End | Clapham | Fulham | Richmond | Cheltenham | Guildford telephone 020 7297 6220 | sales@roundhousedesign.com

march 2020

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OUR EDIT OF THE BEST NEW CHAIRS

live life in colour H O W T O C H O O S E E X A C T LY T H E R I G H T S H A D E O F PA I N T HOMES FULL OF BRILLIANT HUES TO ENERGISE, SOOTHE AND INSPIRE N E W S E A S O N , N E W PA L E T T E , N E W D E C O R AT I N G I D E A S

LONDON & SOUTH EAST

EAST & EAST MIDLANDS

NORTH & NORTH EAST

Edwins Plumbing & Heating Supplies, London

Pure Bathrooms, Cambridge

B Morland & Co Ltd, Leeds

www.edwinsbathrooms.co.uk

www.purebathrooms.co.uk

www.morlandbathrooms.com

Upfields Complete Bathroom Ltd, Eastbourne

P & R Interiors, Bedford

W Halmshaws, Beverley

www.upfieldskitchensandbathrooms.co.uk

www.pandrbathrooms.co.uk

www.halmshaws.co.uk

Cuckfield Bathrooms, Cuckfield

GB Willbond Ltd, Derby

Ripon Interiors, Ripon

www.cuckfieldbathrooms.co.uk

www.willbond.co.uk

www.riponinteriors.co.uk

Burge & Gunson Ltd, London

CGL Design Ltd, Snape

PT Ranson, Gateshead

www.burgeandgunson.co.uk

www.cgldesign.co.uk

www.ptranson.co.uk

Ware Bathroom Centre, Ware

QP Interiors, Bedford

www.warebathrooms.co.uk

www.qpinteriors.co.uk

NORTH WEST

CP Hart, Various Branches

WEST MIDLANDS

www.cphart.co.uk

Smart Bathrooms Ltd, Warrington www.smartbathroomswarrington.co.uk

Kitchen, Tile & Bathroom Gallery, Alcester

Purely Bathrooms, Lancaster

www.plumbase.co.uk

www.ktbgallery.co.uk

www.purelysimplylovely.com

WC ONE, Bromley

Elite Kitchens & Baths Ltd, Cheadle

Harry Bates Ltd, Stockport

www.elitekbb.com

www.harrybates.co.uk

County Tiles & Bathrooms, Ludlow

Draw a Bath Ltd, Wirral

www.countytiles.com

www.drawabath.co.uk

Walter Tipper, Lichfield

IRELAND

Plumbase Ltd, Heathfield

www.wcone.co.uk

www.tippers.com

Waterloo Bathrooms, Dun Laoghaire www.waterloo.ie

WWW.SWADLINGBRASSWARE.CO.UK DESIGNED AND MADE IN HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND

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+44 (0)203 960 8744

Part of Lux Group Holdings Ltd.

WINTER SALE

march 2020

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16 20 COVER PHOTOGRAPHY JAKE CURTIS

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news & shopping EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT Hot spice shades, West African flavours, visiting Georgia and exploring surrealism at Dulwich Picture Gallery NEWS Celebrate Ercol’s 100th birthday, fall in love with Ana Kerin’s terrazzo-style ceramics, take your pick of H&M’s new homeware, feast your eyes on Pierre Frey’s scenic wallpapers and discover cutting-edge lighting by Rachel Bussin THE CATWALK LOOK Warm to scarlet, pink and every pretty blushing shade in between THE EDITED CHOICE Get switched on to these colourful table lamps that shout for attention THE EDITED CHOICE Lounge around on sumptuous upholstered armchairs LIFE . ST YLE .ETC Textile designer Nancy Parker’s inspiration for her ‘Poison English’ style

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fabulous spaces ROOM OF THE MONTH Deirdre Dyson’s rugs fill floors and walls with exquisite texture D U B L I N A B O D E Ever y room in Maura McLaughlin’s Victorian semi-detached house is saturated with daring colour choices SU FFOLK HOUS E Lush William Morris wallpapers work a treat alongside ice-cream shades in this Michelle Kelly designed semi CHICAGO HOME Designer Jen Talbot’s vision for this house channels the very best of 1980s sophistication to polished, playful effect OSLO PAD Deep moody shades bring dramatic new meaning to Scandi style in property developer Per Ove’s period apartment LONDON COTTAGE Interior designer Kim Stephen transformed her compact city home with a bold palette of rainbow hues

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Kickstart your career in design by entering our #inclusivityetc competition on page 30

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design & decorating DETAIL OF THE MONTH Confident colour pairings for kitchen-sink drama CENTRE STAGE A cool blank white canvas sets the scene for dramatic furnishings STYLE FILE Chirpy wallpaper, storage, rugs and lamps to revamp kids’ bedrooms PATTERN BOOK Tactile and graphic cut-velvet fabrics for a brand-new aesthetic WHAT’S HOT The latest kitchen and bathroom launches, from brass taps to monochrome tiles BATHROOM TREND All-over delicate pink DESIGN PROFILE The Connor Brothers reveal the story behind their thought-provoking art

colour dossier NEWS Latest launches for dynamic statements SHOPPING Kitchen chairs to stand out in a crowd SHOPPING Vibrant cushions to pep up your sofa LOOKBOOK A whole spectrum of ideas to help you pick the perfect paint shade INTERVIEW Interior designer Beata Heuman on striking the right colour balance

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the lifestyle edit PLACE OF THE MONTH The cool interior of Bethnal Green coffee roasters Ozone GOING OUT OUT Diaries to hand – our pick of the must-see places to visit this month COOK Food writer Kalpna Woolf mixes a fail-safe spicy adobo marinade DOWNTIME Essential sights, sounds and reads for the ultimate you-time HOTEL HOT LIST Chic retreats on our radar GLOBETROTTER Interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard on his Palm Springs hotspots M Y H A P PY P L ACE Our shopping editor Holly Phillips reveals why Tintagel is such a draw

and the rest…

DESIGN COMPETITION Win the chance to have your product made and sold by Habitat

NEW COLOURCARD - AVAILABLE NOW A NUANCED PALETTE OF TWELVE BLACK AND WHITE SHADES. FREE COLOUR CARD | PAINT TO ORDER Nationwide Stockists | paintandpaperlibrary.com | +44 (0) 161 230 0882 | info@paintandpaperlibrary.com Find a stockist at paintandpaperlibrary.com

be

bold Years ago, I interviewed the interior designer Abigail Ahern in front of a large audience. ‘Just paint every wall black,’ she cried, to gasps f rom the crowd. ‘Or sludg y dark g reen. The more pond water-like, the better.’ It sounded pretty revolutionary – after all, this was the era when 95% of rooms were swathed in grey and more daring colour only appeared in dow nstairs loos. A nd, for many, this felt like a step too far.

Back then, Abigail said that the joy of sludgy shades was that brightly jewel-toned accessories shone out when placed in front of them, and I sense this idea has now gone mainstream. For doesn’t it seem like today, in 2020, any hue can be a neutral?

T here is a feeling that even the strongest of pigments can be used to fade into the background, a mere highlight to what’s inside the room. Yes, I’m talking floor-to-ceiling terracotta, brown and even pillar-box red filling the slot that was once the preser ve of Elephant’s Breath. Our Design Dossier Lookbook, starting on page 117, will help you choose exactly the right tone for each room of the house, depending on its light, ceiling height and your personal taste, which will inject a feeling of joy and richness into

your home. And nowhere is the happiness that a bright decor can create more apparent than in our shoot on page 88. I’ll admit, I was nervous about ramming such a kaleidoscopic array of colour into one space, but the incredible interiors stylist Hannah Franklin has proved it can be done. She decided to use white walls to allow standout furniture and accessories to do the talking – and the louder they are, the better.

Spea k i ng of wh ich , news ed itor Maud ie Manton’s edit of the best and brightest cushions on p116 ma kes me particularly cheerf ul. In our pla nning meeting for this issue, I sur prised everyone by saying I thought we should include more of them. Cushions are normally so common in home-interest magazines that we shy away from devoting whole features to them for fear of overkill, but an extra layer of comfort just felt very right for this month’s collective mood.

Of course, boldness is about more than colour choices – a feeling I’ve had to run with since stepping into Editorial Director Sarah Spiteri’s shoes. She’s off adding colour into her own world via a new baby and maternity leave, and I’m delighted to say she’s doing really well. I hope she – and you – like this issue as much as we do.

Pip McCormac Acting Editorial Director

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TI MEDIA LIMITED, 161 MARSH WALL, LONDON E14 9AP. TELEPHONE: 020 3148 7154 EMAIL: livingetc@ti-media.com

editorial

publishing

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Spiteri

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, LIFE & STYLE Angela O’Farrell

ACTING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Pip McCormac

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kate French

Michelle Briant

ACTING EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kate Burnett

MANAGING DIRECTOR Mark Winterton

GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emma Williams

BUSINESS DIRECTOR Grainne McKenna

ACTING GROUP CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Jennifer Spaeth

DIGITAL DIRECTOR, LIFE & ST YLE Sarah Rafati

COMMERCIAL EDITORIAL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jane Akers

advertising HOMES CONTENT TEAM EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rhoda Parry

PUBLISHER Joanne O’Hara (020 3148 7642)

HOUSES EDITOR Mary Weaver

BRAND DIRECTOR Ruth Roscorla (020 3148 7639)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Busola Evans

INTERNATIONAL AND LUXURY ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

INTERIORS EDITOR Emma Thomas

Carole Bunce (020 3148 7620)

NEWS EDITOR Maudie Manton

HOMES DIGITAL DIRECTOR Ellie Naber (020 3148 4253)

NEWS AND FEATURES EDITOR Thea Babington-Stitt

INSERT SALES – CANOPY MEDIA Michael Davie (020 7611 1062)

TRAVEL AND NEWS EDITOR Patrick Hamilton Courtney

ITALIAN OFFICE Studio Villa, Graziamaria Grillo, Ilaria Prato

SHOPPING EDITOR Holly Phillips

(0039 0231 1662, graziamaria@studiovilla.com)

CONTRIBUTING STYLE EDITOR Hannah Franklin

DANISH OFFICE Morten Petersen (0045 2143 7518, mpe@jbmedia.dk)

DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Holly Boultwood

SPANISH OFFICE Maria Maisey (0034 9131 99015,

ACTING DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Stephanie Wood

mariamaisey@spectramedia.es)

DIGITAL EDITOR HOMES GROUP Amy Cutmore

CLASSIFIED SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE

ONLINE EDITOR Lotte Brouwer

Charlotte Beckett (020 3148 2511)

ACTING ONLINE EDITOR Jacky Parker

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Katrina Hutchison (0161 601 3720) REGIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Kim Milroy (07967 590362)

HEAD OF ART OPERATIONS Alison Walter

INSERT SALES MANAGER Katherine Brown (07464 544375)

ART EDITORS Melanie Brown and Paula Jardine

HEAD OF MARKETING Sian Cupid (020 3148 6487)

SENIOR DESIGNER Christina McQuillan

DEPUTY HEAD OF MARKETING Laura Timms (020 3148 6239)

HEAD OF SUBS OPERATIONS Maxine Clarke

MARKETING EXECUTIVE Sally Dominic (020 3148 6237)

ACTING HUB CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Catherine Law

SENIOR SUBSCRIPTIONS MARKETING MANAGER

SENIOR SUB-EDITORS Marian McNamara and Karen Wiley

Anita Baghapour (020 3047 1985)

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO Mel Algar

CIRCULATION EXECUTIVE Kira Gorman (020 3787 9017)

EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Nicola Tillman

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

DEPUTY EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Clare Willetts

Sam Viggers (020 3148 3466)

ART PRODUCTION DESIGNER Chris Saggers

HEAD OF BRAND PARTNERSHIPS David Abbott (020 3148 5474) SYNDICATION Efi Mandrides (020 3148 5485) PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Bill Argent (020 3148 2683) ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Nick Williams

MISSED LAST MONTH’S ISSUE? If you require any other issues

(020 3148 2676)

of Livingetc magazine, these are available for purchase by calling

GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER Steve Twort

01795 662976 (lines open 9am-1pm Monday-Friday). Or order online at: mags-uk.com/browse-by-publisher/ti-media.html.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TI MEDIA LIMITED Marcus Rich

This issue of Livingetc is published on 30 January 2020 by TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP and distributed by MarketForce (UK) Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU (020 3787 9101). The contents of the magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted without permission. All prices are approximate © TI Media Limited, 2020. Printed and bound by Walstead Bicester.

Repro by Rhapsody Media, 109-123 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4LD. Cover printed by Walstead Peterborough. Livingetc is sold subject to these conditions: that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first given, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price on the cover, and that it shall not be lent, re-sold, hired out or disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or annexed to or as part of any publication or advertising literary of pictorial matter whatsoever. Send subscription orders and correspondence to: TI Media Limited, Oakfield House, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3DH. Publisher’s subscription rates for 12 issues (prices include postage): UK £60.40; Europe €171.70; USA $196.70; and rest of world £188.80. All subscription enquiries and orders: phone 0330 333 1113 or email help@magazinesdirect.com. Credit card hotline: 0330 333 1113. Send orders and correspondence to: TI Media Limited, PO Box 272, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3FS. Cheques payable to: TI Media Limited. All prices correct at time of going to press. Paint matching: printing processes may change colour reproduction, so it is advisable to use tester pots first. Building quotes: while we try to cost building work, prices vary widely. Never rely on one quote.

EDITORIAL COMPLAINTS We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email us at complaints@ti-media.com or write to Complaints Manager, TI Media Limited Legal Department, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code. We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within five working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible.

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CONNECT, CONVERSE & CREATE WITH MASTERS OF DESIGN

OVER 10 0 EVENTS + NEW COLLECTIONS TR ADE PREVIEW 8 – 10 March | ALL WELCOME 11 – 13 March

w w w.dcch.co.uk | @designcentrech | #LDW20AtDCCH

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B O O K YO U R I N - H O M E C O L O U R C O N S U LTA N C Y TO DAY

everyone’s talking about...

WEST AFRICAN F L AVO U R S There’s no shortage of worldclass eateries in London’s Fitzrovia, yet Akoko (opening this spring) sets itself apart via influences from Senegal, Liberia and Nigeria. Expect Jollof Rice with Steamed Mussels, Nigerian Export Guinness Bread and Bofrot (Ghanaian donuts).

Across town, check out Nigerian tapas restaurant Chuku’s.

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FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON PHOTOGRAPHS (GEORGIA) BIN WANG/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; (WEST AFRICAN FLAVOURS) JULIAN GEORGE

DO THE DOUBLE If it’s nice, use it twice.

Such was our takeaway from Glossier’s London pop-up boutique, where a room featured one wacky wallpaper used in two colourways (with matchy-matchy carpet to boot). Same same, but different.

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GEORGIA

Fancy wondering the labyrinthine streets of Tbilisi, marvelling at its art nouveau district and pastel houses? Us too, and so we’re naming this relatively underthe-radar destination one-to-watch for 2020.

Pack your hiking boots for Georgia’s breathtaking mountains and check in to the designforward Stamba Hotel.

SURREALISM

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Get to know your Dalís from your Duchamps as we celebrate 100 years of the art movement. First stop, explore the unconscious mind by way of Francis Bacon and Leonora Carrington at Dulwich Picture Gallery before heading to Liberty for its just-dropped womenswear (right) – an ode to 1930s female surrealists.

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SPICE COLOU RS Hot tones in interiors, from cumin to nutmeg, are enjoying a flash in the pan.

Kelly Wearstler’s new Willoughby stool (pictured) is a saffron triumph, while Luke Irwin’s Botanical rugs have been dyed using natural turmeric colouring, and Designers Guild’s Cardamon Pod 103 paint is just the right shade of green.

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L O N D O N

It’s the big annual sale. Don’t miss out.

Up to 40% off 0333 011 3333 |

news Aldbury chair, £1,120; Ore lamp table (at back), £325; Ore side table, £399; Ore coffee table, £475 (ercol.com)

ONE FOR THE KIDS

inside stor y From MinaLima, the graphic design team behind the Harry Potter films, comes two new gorgeous editions of Lewis Carroll’s best-loved classics. Open Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the LookingGlass and what you’ll find is ‘curiouser and curiouser’ indeed; vivid illustrations and interactive elements.

Utterly charming. £25 (harpercollins.co.uk)

T H E B I G B I R T H D AY

centenar y st yle L o and behold, Ercol is turning 10 0. Yet we’re hardly sur prised: with a k nack for crafting elegant pieces worthy of ‘design classic’ status, the brand holds a special place in many a heart and home. Celebrations will be marked by launches, such as the A ldbur y chair (pictured), and a new model of its W indsor sideboard.

WE’RE CHANNELLING

oh là là FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

JUST LAUNCHED

into the wild You’ve got to hand it to The Conran Shop for its ability to discover cool, overseas talent. This weighty candle from Belgian brand ONNO is influenced by the warm colours of Tanzania and its ‘spicy fragrance of sun-baked earth’.

How’s that for some winter sun? Cape Ivory scented candle, £269 (conranshop.co.uk)

Those looking for something quintessentially French (read: chic) need look no further than La Manufacture Cogolin. Celebrating one of the country’s most influential design talents, the Saint Tropez-based rug makers have partnered with the Fondation André Arbus to create five designs emblematic of the furniture designer. From top: Planier in Charbon; Planier in Pinède and Matignon in Brume, all £1,825sq m, available at Sé, Fulham Road (manufacturecogolin.com)

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the catwalk look Prado sofa in Coral Red, £3,885, Christian Werner at Ligne Roset

Handwoven pink and vivid red alpaca throw, £1,200, Catarina Riccabona at The New Craftsmen

Flare glass candle holder in Pink, £25, HAY at Couverture & The Garbstore

Models at Molly Goddard put their best foot forward in rose-tinted ruffles

Make like Roksanda and pack a two-tone punch with widewidth stripes

pink & scarlet Ant Deco Silhouette chair in Orange, £380, Fritz Hansen at Chaplins

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Woven ceramic lamp in Blush Pink, £280, Matilda Goad.

Scalloped Ramie Liberty print shade in Annabella, £200, Matilda Goad at Liberty

Clashing colours have never felt so right as pretty blush shades go deep into the red

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

Wave pitcher, (pictured with tumbler), $215, Sophie Lou Jacobsen at Coming Soon NY

Posh striped cushion, £48, Normann Copenhagen at Smallable

news T H E PAT T E R N

THE FUTURE CLASSIC

spot on

f ine form

Love it or loathe it, leopard print is well and truly back on the agenda.

In a brushed 100% cotton satin, Casamance’s Marakele fabrics are not just a feast for the eyes but sumptuously soft to boot. Use generously and with all- out abandon. Marakele 43050200 (to p) a n d 4 3 0 5 01 9 9, b ot h £64.20m (casamance.com)

There are colours to coo over at every turn in the winter collection from Julian Chichester (high-gloss Azure Blue vellum, jewel-toned leathers and this pretty pink upholstery are among highlights). Yet the small touches are just as nice; notice the stitched black leather adorned with brass rings on the Dorothy lounge chair’s impossibly slender arms and legs. £1,932 (julianchichester.com)

THE CORE PIECE

mirror, mirror

Wa l l m i r r or, £ 58 0 (f r it z h a n s en.c om)

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THE COOL CRAFTSPERSON

dish of the day Ceramicist Ana Kerin’s new Paradiso collection by Kana x Copson takes a palette lifted from Italian interiors of the 1970s as its starting point and adds in terrazzo and marble effects to make a line of one-off plates, bowls, serving boards and cups intended for intimate dinners with friends and family. What’s not to love? From £15 for an espresso cup (kanalondon.com)

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

T her e’s s ometh i ng ab out the pure pr actic a lit y of Fr itz H a n s en’s w a l l m i r r or th at h a s u s ho oke d.

F i r st i s s ue d i n t he 195 0 s a nd de sig ne d b y A mer ic a n Paul Mc C obb – fa med for h is no -nonsense, f unc tion -f i r st appr o a ch – it s up d ate fe at u r e s g r e en or wh ite C a r r a r a m a r ble option s for it s h a nd y, ne verlo s e -your- c a r-ke y s a g a i n shel ve s.

SALE NOW ON

LUXURY BATHROOMS NATIONWIDE

To book a showroom appointment, call 0345 600 1950 or visit our website www.cphart.co.uk

the edited choice

Frome lamp, £245, Soho Home

Heather table lamp with charcoal velvet shade, £70, Habitat

Char lamp base in Mimosa Yellow, £196.20; Pink and Yellow Star Anise shade, £99.60, both Rosi de Ruig

Montana table lamp in Emerald, £69, Graham and Green

Matin table lamp, £189, Inga Sempe for Hay at Holloways of Ludlow

Wrappling table lamp base, £116; 30cm straight empire shade in Blue Shibori linen, £60, both Pooky

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

Hebe lamp in Deep Blue with shade in Natural, £214, Ferm Living at Utility Design

Mani lamp, £415, Britta Herrmann at The Conran Shop

look-at-me lamps Naoshima table lamp in Blood Orange, £375, Oka

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Punchy tones mean these tabletop beauties shine bright in more ways than one

news

HOT RIGHT NOW

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

h&m home There’s been no rise quite like that of the high-street home department in recent times. Once a mere retail afterthought offering bedspreads and bath towels en route to the checkout, the big brands like Zara and French Connection are turning out increasingly covetable homeware lines – some now presented in stand-alone stores – to reel in the crowds. H&M Home, meanwhile, is not just fast-tracking footfall by way of designer collaborations (think Jonathan Adleret al), but throughbeautiful, timeless pieces that defy what you might expect for their price tags. Take its new line of acacia wood and rattan furniture, part of the brand’s ‘conscious’ offering, fully FSC-certified and likely to be met with cries of ‘I can’t believe it’s high street’.

Wooden folding chairs, £79.99 each (hm.com/home)

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news THE STYLE HERO

scene stealers

THE WEEKEND BUY

Think of Pierre Frey’s spectacular Galerie II panoramic wallpapers as windows into imaginary worlds, with antiquity-feel frescoes, sun-scorched sand dunes, jungles and desert islands just some of the far-flung sights to be seen. Try Canopee, pictured, for fantastical folksy-feel walls at super scale.Available from March. Canopee in 001 Indigo, £1,092 per 280cm panoramic (pierrefrey.com)

material matters Found across all the fan favourites from its autumn collection, French Connection Home is dropping a fresh batch of cane-clad offerings for spring.

Cute and undeniably chic, make room for this lamp on your desktop. £95 (frenchconnection.com)

THE BOLD TOUCH

super stripes Need a sofa but torn between a traditional or contemporary look? Swedish designer Amelia Widell’s Blanca brings together the best of both with its classic, button-back shape brought bang up to date with upholstery in striped linen. Blanca Yin/Yang sofa, from £1,995 (attpynta.com)

JOIN OUR PANEL DISCUSSION

The digital age has transformed the lives of interior designers, creating impactful new ways to imagine and communicate their vision for living. Livingetc acting executive editor Kate Burnett will be in conversation with three leading interior designers – Emma Pocock, Elnaz Namaki and Sheena Murphy – and asking them to share what this revolution means for them and their clients, and what the future holds. As we start a new decade, do we need to get ready for yet more innovation in how our homes are designed and seen?

The arrival of social media and design apps have meant big changes in interiors: everything from small details

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to entire homes are now in the digital realm, ready to be liked and shared. Digital is democratising the design process, allowing everyone to share in the creativity.

This special event is taking place as part of the Conversations in Design series at London Design Week 2020 where visitors can connect and converse

meet the panel EMMA POCOCK, co-founder, Turner Pocock ELNAZ NAMAKI, founder, Elnaz Namaki Studio

with masters of design.

SHEENA MURPHY, founder, nune

WHEN Thursday 12 March, 11.30am WHERE TALK, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour TICKETS Livingetc readers can book tickets at a discounted price of £7.50 (usually £10) Visit dcch.co.uk or email tickets@dcch.co.uk and quote ‘LIVE’. Tickets are limited. Advanced booking is recommended.

KATE BURNETT, acting executive editor, Livingetc

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

A new vision: what does the digital era mean for interior design?

since 1908

Individual tailormade solutions for luxurious kitchens 0207 078 9640 | EGGERSMANN.COM

the edited choice

Elbu linen armchair in Stone, £595, Nkuku

Marianne Accent chair, £998, Anthropologie

Lilo Wing armchair, £3,000, Patricia Urquiola for Moroso

Suzenne chair, from around £2,216, Chiara Andreatti for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna

Ortigia armchair, from around £3,138, Flexform at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

Elba tan leather sling-back chair, £395, French Connection

Sabrina Clam chair, £995, Graham and Green

Aiden armchair in Bellevue Terracotta, £599, Marks & Spencer

Howie armchair in Cadet Blue Studio Rich stain-resistant velvet, £941, Love Your Home x Livingetc Collection

upholstered armchairs Plush seating to satisfy maximalists (hello, orange) and laid-back loungers

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news

THE NAME TO DROP

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON PHOTOGRAPH ARSENI KHAMZIN

rachel bussin This Montreal-based designer is one worth keeping an eye on, not least for her knockout Sainte series of pendant lights created for Canadian firm Lambert & Fils. Surprisingly simple in construction, each is made up of laminated glass panels, an internal lighting box and nylon thread for suspension. Hang them in multiples and their colours – a soft pink, burgundy red, vivid green and 1970s-feel yellow – overlap and intensify in Mondrian-like grids. ‘I had a slightly backwards approach to the collection, says Bussin. ‘I wanted to create a beautiful object first and then figure out how to make it a luminaire.’

More of her self-stamped ‘visceral’ aesthetic can be seen at Studio Kiff – the commercial design agency founded by Bussin and Helene Thiffault – whose debut project is an intensely coloured, heavily carpeted boutique jewellery shop. Closer to home, head to cutting-edge design gallery Mint to see the Sainte collection in the flesh. (rachelbussin.com); (studiokiff.com)

Sainte Classic 02 and 03 lights, from £7,750 each (mintshop.co.uk)

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SALE NOW EXTENDED

ENDS SATURDAY 29TH FEBRUARY HANDMADE IN THE UK SHOWROOMS NATIONWIDE Request a free brochure 0800 389 6938 harveyjones.com

news THE INVESTMENT PIECE

stone’s throw W hen y ou he a r wor d t h at G ubi h a s r eu n ite d w it h G a m Fr at e si (the y pr e v iou sl y joi ne d for c e s for the p opul a r B e etle ch a i r s), y ou k now y ou’r e i n for s omet h i ng g o o d. T he E pic c of fe e a nd d i n i ng t able s a r e a l l ab out sculpt ur a l It a l ia n tr aver ti ne, show i ng it s u n ique p at i n a a nd vei ne d sur fa c e a cr o s s c olum n -l i ke sh ap e s i n spi r e d b y St Pet er ’s B a si l ic a a nd t he C olo s s eum . E pic b y n a me, epic b y n at ur e. E pic t able s b y G a m Fr at e si for G ubi, f r om £1, 272 (ch apl i n s.c o.u k)

THE HIGH-STREET HERO

easy does it ‘Global craft meets modern British design’ is the strapline for the SS20 collection from Habitat – and the result is a cross-continental melting pot fusing Indianfeel textiles with pieces inspired by Vietnamese rattan workshops and the ceramics gardens of Thailand.

Pushed to pick just one piece, our money’s on the Otton shade with its natural fibres, statement silhouette and easy-fit installation for the DIY dunce. Otton natural easy-fit shade, £130 (habitat.co.uk)

THE QUICK CLICK

handle w ith care Nkuku’s hand-embossed straps in black and brown leather are just the ticket for tired-looking kitchen cupboards or perhaps that charming but scruffy antique dresser in need of some TLC. ‘Add to basket’ immediately.

Dinka stamped leather handle, £5.95 (nkuku.com)

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

THE NEW HUES

roger that Turns out Roger Oates Design’s flat-weave floors look as good today as they did 30 years ago. The proof? Celebrating three decades in the business, the firm has delved into its impressive archives to relaunch a selection of its original designs in a series of new colourways. Shown here are Lennox in Shark, left, and Charleston in Turkey Red, right. £132m (rogeroates.com)

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A STAGE FOR LIFE’S MOMENTS visit us at arloandjacob.com call us on 03300 945 855 London | Bristol | Harrogate | Marlow

Clara Sofa from £1,000

life.style.etc Textile designer Nancy Parker on pinch-me moments, her ‘Poison English’ aesthetic and the hunt for a good leopard print

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FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM PHOTOGRAPH KIRSTY JONES

n established fashion print designer, Nancy Parker runs an 18-strong design team in London supplying to clothing brands that span high end – think Etro and Donna Karan – to high street, such as Zara and J Crew. Two years ago, she moved into the world of interiors after teaming up with interior designer Juliet O’Carroll to launch award-winning Parker and Jules, a collection of exuberant fabrics for the home inspired by British heritage and modern fashion. Nancy lives in Stroud with daughters, Unity, nine, Georgia, five, and Cecily, three, and their Rhodesian Ridgeback Malo.

Sum up your business in five words…

Heritage, pattern, print, fashion, colours.

Was there a light-bulb moment that led to you launching Parker and J ules? Chatting with Jules about the difficulties of trying to find patterns that would play together in our own interior projects – and realising that this was something we could do together, combining her br i l l ia nt i nt er ior st yle w it h my experience as a print designer.

What’s your proudest achievement so far? Having our collection accepted by Penny Morrison at The Fabric Collective.

She is a real industry beacon, so we were incredibly honoured.

Biggest risk? A few years ago, I set up a fashion label that was being sold in the States and produced in China. As a textile designer, that was definitely out of my comfort zone.

What’s been your pinch-me moment so far? Being awarded Best New Product for our Ziggy wallpaper by Irene Gunter and Henry Prideaux at last autumn’s Decorex.

Describe your favourite print… This is so hard as it’s like choosing a favourite child.

If pushed, I would say that right now it is our

Leopard print, as finding a good leopard pattern that is soft and really flows is tricky.

Which colour trend should we look out for in 2020? Apricot with moss. Also, lemon… some people are slightly scared of yellow but it’s such a lovely way to bring a bit of sunshine into a British interior.

What is your biggest extravagance?

A lovely scented candle or bubble bath, such as Abahna’s Frangipani & Orange Blossom.

My favourite moment at the end of a stressful day is to light a candle and run a bath.

Describe your own interiors style…

Updated British heritage, which Jules

has cleverly coined ‘Poison English’. I like to use interesting colour combinations, such as olive green, electric blue and pale pink… trust me, they work.

Last thing you bought for your h o m e? Lots of paint for the cot tage conversion behind my house and some lamps with printed shades from Pooky.

W h a t a d v i c e w o u l d yo u g i v e your 20-year-old self? Life is long so don’t go for a quick fix. Build on your experience and persevere.

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parkerandjules.com

Some people are scared of decorating with yellow, but it’s such a lovely way to bring a bit of sunshine into a British interior livingetc.com

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INCLUSIVIT YETC COMPETITION

break into FINAL CALL TO E NTE R OU R COMPETITION AN D HAVE YOU R PRODUC T CRE ATE D AND SOLD BY HABITAT

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meet the judges SAY HELLO TO THE CREATIVES WHO WILL SELECT THE RIGHT CANDIDATES AND RECOGNISE THE HIDDEN POTENTIAL REQUIRED FOR THIS AND PROJECT

KATE BUTLER is head of product design at Habitat and oversees all product development.

PIP MCCORMAC is the acting editorial director of Livingetc and has a lifestyle journalism background.

MELANIE EUSEBE is a business strategist and chair of the Black British Business Awards.

KEVIN GREEN founded STORE School. It helps people from all backgrounds get into design.

YINKA ILORI is an acclaimed Londonbased designer who works internationally.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

e know that the routes into the design world are not open to everyone; that the industry is not as diverse as the nation, and that there is work to be done on getting a good representation of the country into creative fields. So we are excited to be partnering with Habitat for an inclusivity initiative, opening doors to everyone. If you have a bright idea for a piece of furniture, some lighting or textiles, now is the chance to have it created, sold and be paid fairly for your work by Habitat, one of the UK’s leading retailers of contemporary design.

We’re looking to champion new talent: people who have never had their work put into production before and who have the potential to become the next big stars of our industry. Three winners will get to work closely with Habitat and develop their submissions into real-life designs. They will see their pieces make it into store, be offered mentorship by Livingetc, Habitat and relevant designers from our networks and have this unique opportunity to learn and develop… all while being paid an industry-standard fee for their ideas.

We want to help redress the balance by making design more democratic, rewarding ideas over privilege and ensuring it is open to all. Good luck!

For an entry form and details on how to apply, visit livingetc.com/inclusivityetc Standard Livingetc terms and conditions apply. For details go to ti-media.com ⁄ standard-competition-terms. Entry implies acceptance of these rules. Competition deadline is 31 March 2020

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livingetc.com

FEATURE MARY WEAVER PHOTOGRAPH JAKE CURTIS. SEE THE DEIRDRE DYSON CARPET GALLERY AT DEIRDREDYSON.COM

The Glass Cubes (hanging) and Transparent rugs were inspired by the hues, shapes and patterns of decorative glass vases

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

Rug designer Deirdre Dyson’s latest collection was motivated by the act of looking through glass. The aim was to simulate a ‘glassy’ appearance using wool and silk. Deirdre says: ‘If I failed to achieve this, my hope was to still create exciting effects.’ We think she’s scored on all counts… livingetc.com

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boldly go Maura McLaughlin’s once magnolia Dublin abode is now a daring riot of colour and pattern that is pure joy

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PHOTOGRAPHY Barbara Corsico WORDS Claudia Baillie

LIVING ROOM ‘I adore this room,’ says Maura. ‘It’s a snug space where you can curl up, listen to music, read or watch TV.’

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Halabala armchairs, Atelier Caruso at Artemest. Teagan stool, Made Goods. Walls in Copenhagen Blue CP1033, Fleetwood Prestige. Italian Sputnik chandelier is a vintage find. Billiards wall light, Cuckooland.com

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H A L LWAY ‘The rich, glossy paint reflects light, making the space feel really bright,’ says Maura.

Walls and woodwork in Aged Wine SW6299, Fleetwood Prestige.

Nagano Sputnik chandelier, Mullan Lighting. Pouffe, Ferm Living. Josef Albers rug (on wall), Heal’s.

Moroccan encaustic floor tiles, Best Tile

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t didn’t’ really need any work, which is why everyone thought I was crazy,’ laughs Maura McLaughlin as she describes how she decided to bathe her new home in vivid colour. The Victorian semi had been rented out for about 10 years, then decorated to sell, so the walls were magnolia, the floors were cream and the kitchen was plain white. ‘It was all fine,’ says Maura, ‘but after years of looking for the right property it wasn’t quite what I was after in the way of a home from a decorative point of view.

After such a long wait, I wanted to make sure I created a house I really loved.’

Mau ra cou ld see plent y of excit i ng possibilities in the four-storey, red-brick property that ticked so many other boxes.

Located in a quiet, tree-lined street close to local shops, restaurants and a park, the house is only a mile from Dublin city centre. ‘And all the neighbours know each other, which is lovely.’ When it came to introducing a bold colour palette, Maura, who is a lawyer, knew she would need help. Quite by coincidence, one of her clients suggested she look at Dublinbased studio Kingston Lafferty Design. ‘I had spent a while searching for someone I felt would relish the brief,’ says Maura. ‘A nd Roisin Lafferty and her team did. It was also attractive to me as a woman in business to hire another woman in business, so the female-led studio was the perfect choice.’

A keen traveller, Maura’s brief for Roisin wa s heav i ly i n f luenced by some of her favou rite cou nt ries, i nclud ing Tu n isia , Morocco and Egypt. Another stipulation was that her collection of treasures and artwork picked up from expeditions would be woven into the schemes. ‘Pastels and muted colours aren’t my thing; I like bold shades, pattern, tiles and geometric shapes,’ says Maura. ‘The studio was able to take all the things I love,

which is a lot, and use them in the project. It has made this place feel very personal.’

Step into the once plain hallway and the walls a re painted a hig h-sheen shade of aubergine. Move into the living room and the punchy palette continues, thanks to a bold blue walls, plum curtains and a multicoloured, c h a ndel ier. B e s p oke c or n f lower blu e panelling is given a playful twist with an unusual curved design, while in the adjoining dining room, the same panelling is a high-gloss royal blue. ‘The room feels really glamorous, says Maura, ‘plus it creates an interplay with the glossy fireplace in the living room.’

The no-holds-barred approach continues in the kitchen, where dark-purple cabinetry is teamed with brass trims and topped with polished concrete, and a curved teal sofa and yellow armchairs sit on a circular marble ‘rug’.

One of the things Maura was keen to exploit, having lived in an apartment for so long, was t he way t he k itchen con nec t s w it h t he outdoors. So the newly designed garden with a plethora of colourful tiles is a favourite place. ‘I come home from a day indoors and go outside with a cup of tea or a glass of wine.’

Upstairs, layers of green evoke a soothing atmosphere in the generous master bedroom, while a change to the original layout means the small fourth bedroom has been turned into a large en suite. ‘Many people would think I’m mad having a bright-green, polished plaster bathroom,’ says Maura. ‘But all the good feelings from my travels are tied up in that aesthetic. To have something so indulgent a nd beaut i f u l “ju st bec au se ” i s such a luxurious thing that gives me a lot of pleasure.

It’s one of my favourite places in the house and has made it a truly wonderful place to live.’

home profile THE OWNER Maura McLaughlin, a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions.

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, three-bathroom Victorian semi-detached house in south Dublin. On the ground floor is an entrance hall, a living room, dining room and an open-plan kitchen and seating area that leads out onto the garden. There is also a utility room. On the first floor is a study and on the second floor is the master bedroom with en suite plus a further guest bedroom and a family bathroom. On the third floor is another bedroom with en suite.

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Check out t he work of t he desig ners at kingstonlaffertydesign.com

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houses

KITCHEN D E TA I L S ‘I’d seen an aubergine kitchen in a house I’d viewed,’ says Maura.

‘It was so distinctive and something I wanted to emulate.

When you switch on the lights, there’s a wonderful twinkling effect as light bounces off the tiles.’

The circular marble ‘rug’ (far right) defines the kitchen’s living space and echoes the shape of the teal sofa.

Bespoke joinery, Moore & O’Gorman; painted in Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal. Tilde pull handles, Alice Tacheny. Wall tiles,Mosaic del Sur. Custom marble floor tiles (far right), Rocca Stone

DINING ROOM/ LIVING ROOM D E TA I L S ‘Initially, the idea of panelling filled me with horror, but when Roisin showed me the curved design I was all for it,’ says Maura.

‘You can’t place it in a particular era, so I feel it won’t date.’

The circular brass shelving was a vintage find. The Betty dining table is from Made and was sprayed pink in a custom finish

“Roisin and her team encouraged me to do things that I wouldn’t have dared to otherwise” X

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DINING ROOM ‘When you turn the lights on in the cabinets, the light shines through the reeded glass and gently illuminates the bottles,’ says Maura.

‘It feels glam without shouting “here’s the bar!”’

Bombazine 7 light is

by Där Lighting.

Wall and cabinets in Farrow & Ball’s Drawing Room Blue

H A L LWAY A rug based on a Josef Albers modernist painting is used as artwork and ties in perfectly with the blue in the living room.

Rug, Heal’s. Pouffe, Ferm Living. Moroccan encaustic floor tiles, Best Tile. Walls in Aged Wine SW6299 and Copenhagen Blue CP1033, both Fleetwood Prestige

KITCHE N ‘The brass cabinet at the end of the worktop was originally going to be a wall,’ says Maura, ‘but we changed it to make the most of the garden view.’

houses

Bespoke joinery, Moore & O’Gorman.

The curved sofa (just seen) was made to order by Orior Furniture.

Lalegno chevron flooring, Floor Design.

Tables, Zara Home

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home truths I F YO U CO U LD G O A N Y WH E R E TO M O R ROW, WH E R E WOULD IT BE? Marrakesh. I love the colours, the architecture, the sounds and smells that all transport me a million miles away.

FAVO U R I T E M U S I C T O L I S T E N T O AT H O M E ?

Classic Motown. The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations – it’s like listening to sunshine.

T H E AT R E O R G I G ?

Gig. I love it when a crowd gets swept up in the music and the whole venue comes alive with the energy.

I F YO U WE R E A P I E CE O F C L O T H I N G W H AT W O U L D I T B E ?

Such a difficult question to answer! Hopefully a Hermès scarf – colourful, classy and comfortable to have around.

BEST PL ACE IN DUBLIN FOR A FUN NIGHT OUT? No Name Bar pre- and post-dinner is a great place.

GO-TO DINNER PARTY MENU? Curries and casseroles. Anything that goes in the oven and lets you focus on the guests and not the cooking!

MASTER BEDROOM ‘Kingston Lafferty designed the headboard to wrap around the bed,’ says Maura, ‘which makes it feel cosy.’

Headboard made by Moore & O’Gorman. Bed with similar detail, HK Living. Penelope bedside table, West Elm. Green light, Anthropologie

houses

BEDROOM ‘I had no idea what to do in this attic space,’ says Maura.

‘It was very plain and I doubted we’d be able to fit a bed in, but it has turned out to be amazing.

Builders discovered the brick wall and Kingston Lafferty suggested we make a feature of it and add the amazing wallpaper to the walls and ceiling.’

The wallpaper is Color Field by Gio Pagani for Wall&Decò. Reema bed, Made. Hexagonal crystal hanging lamp, Out There Interiors

MASTER EN SUITE ‘The bathroom makes grey Mondays so much easier,’ says Maura. ‘You get up and think, “This is pretty cool!”’

S H OW E R ROOM Maura’s love of Moroccan style is evident in the rich tile colours here.

Eske chandelier, Mullan Lighting.

Disc and Sphere wall light, Atelier Areti. Bath and taps, Crosswater at Versatile Bathrooms + Tiles. Floor tiles, Romanesque range

by Original Style at Richardsons Ceramics

Tiles, Mosaic del Sur. Fired Earth has similar shower fittings

LANDING A rich blue wall colour provides a strong statement background for art and objects.

Walls in Copenhagen Blue CP1033, Fleetwood Prestige

PLANS LIVING ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

GROUND FLOOR

S T U DY

FIRST FLOOR

GUEST ROOM

SECOND FLOOR

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Kitchen featured: Hockley Mirror Gloss Handleless

New Year New kitchens Our designers will work with you to realise your vision.

Visit howdens.com for a copy of our new brochure.

Or, pop into one of our 700 depots and ask about our free design service.

We won’t be beaten on price* *Trade only. For more information, visit howdens.com/promotions-terms-and-conditions

S T Y L E TA K E AWAY S

Rich hues and statement furnishings fill Maura’s home

Trikonasana black multi-arm light with clear bulbs, £265.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

Zellige S056 tiles in colour 1079, £129sq m, Mosaic Factory

Componibili storage unit in Blue 15, £79, Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell at Utility Design

Parky armchair in Ochre, £995, Soho Home

Theatre Red (192) intelligent gloss paint, £31 for 1ltr, Little Greene

Cedak end-of-bed rattan bench in Black, £210, La Redoute

Robertson narrow shelving unit, £395, Habitat

Pieced Fabric framed wall art, £349, West Elm

Sicilia small lamp, £329, Maison Sarah Lavoine at Made in Design

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sorbet for the soul Designer Michelle Kelly has mixed mid-century style with ice-cream shades to create a soothing take on seaside living

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PHOTOGRAPHY AND WORDS Mark C O’Flaherty STYLING Mary Weaver

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KITCHEN ‘I treat the way I create an interior the same way I create a fashion look,’ says Michelle. ‘I take something vintage and mix it up and make it modern.’

The table is vintage G Plan from Vinterior and the ceramics, glass pieces and brass taps are from eBay. The glass pendant over the dining table is 1960s Murano and the pendant lights are the same era. Try The Hoarde for similar

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home profile THE DESIGNER Michelle Kelly, who created a seaside home on the Suffolk coast for media couple Rob Newland and Jo Lavender and their children Ivy, 10, and Margot, seven.

THE PROPERTY A late-Victorian semi with an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, plus a wet room and pantry, on the ground floor. There is a bedroom for the children and a media room in the basement, and two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.

ENTRANCE/ L I V I N G S PAC E Most of the furniture on the ground floor is vintage, which has been tweaked or reupholstered

by Michelle. ‘Rob and Jo said they would have played it safer, but I really pushed them to go with brighter colours,’ says Michelle.

Walls in Setting Plaster and woodwork in Cooking Apple Green, both Farrow & Ball. The rug is a vintage find from Pakistan – try London House Rugs

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y taste is for ice-cream colours, William Morris and Liberty florals – a mix that’s refreshing and unexpected but also cosy,’ says Michelle Kelly of the Suffolk seaside home she has created for media couple Rob Newland and Jo Lavender. ‘They didn’t want the usual coastal house with blue-and-white stripes. They liked the way I wanted to mix up greens and pinks and unusual colours. I think there’s a place for something different by the sea now.’

Rob and Jo first saw Michelle’s design work when they stayed at the plaudit-winning T he Rose hotel in Deal on the Kent coast. She had restyled it with an eye for bold and surprisingly complementary colours, plush upholstery, vintage finds and wild patterns.

Her design eye has been forged from 20 years as a fashion stylist, working wi t h p ho to g ra p h ers including Ellen von Unwerth and Miles Aldridge, and creating looks for Rihanna and Taylor Swift. She is constantly in demand for her flair for mixing high-end, new-season glamour with offbeat archive pieces.

‘I take a lot of my colour inspiration from my favourite designers – I particularly love all the work Celia Birtwell did with Ossie Clark. I’m also inspired by Californian, David Hockney-style colours.’

Michelle took her design cues for the Suffolk house from the family, but also from the location.

‘When you have a sea view, you want to make the most of it so the master bedroom upstairs, facing the beach, is furnished fairly sparsely,’ she says. It is decorated in a soft lambent pink – Sulking Room Pink from

Farrow & Ball, which is one of her favourite colours.

‘There was a question over whether it was going to be too much,’ she says. ‘But actually it’s really serene and draws your attention out to the horizon. ’ The gelato-like colours of the house include some green elements that read as pistachio, while the wood flooring brings a chocolate base note to the ground floor. Like a lot of Michelle’s favourite aspects of the house, all the wood on the ground floor was a vintage find. ‘We had planned to put new parquet down,’ she says, ‘but I found an old theatre floor while I was looking at architectural salvage and it felt right.’

Originally a cosy two-bedroom house, Michelle reconfigured a few key elements to get a third bedroom in the basement for Rob and Jo’s daughters, alongside a super-comfortable media room. A new wet room was also squeezed into the ground floor.

Rob and Jo told Michelle from the start they didn’t want anything ‘whitewashed and shabby chic’, like so many homes nearby, but that they had also intended to rent the house out for periods while they weren’t using it. Michelle’s design had to be durable and family friendly. ‘I put a lot of thought into what people would do here,’ she explains. ‘It is a place for big dinners and entertaining, drinking wine, relaxing and looking out to sea.’

This part of the coast still very much has an authentic feel. ‘It’s a really sweet area to spend time and switch off. It’s somewhere to play a game, cook and chat and go for long walks. That’s why I used things like William Morris and vintage china – it’s nice to embrace elements from the past, but in a modern way.’

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Check out Michelle’s work at michellekellystyle.com

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BEDROOM ‘I adore this wallpaper, which is a modern take on an original William Morris print,’ says Michelle. ‘It’s bright and busy but chic – and it totally transforms a small space.’

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Wallpaper, House of Hackney.

The Anglepoise lamp and sideboard were found in Kempton market – try Vinterior for similar

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home truths FAVO U R I T E P L AC E F O R A NIGHT OUT?

W H AT D I D YO U W E A R T O GET MARRIED?

Anywhere that calls for an excuse to dress up and put on

A backless silk crepe dress. It was modern, made in the

a pair of heels! Preferably somewhere with inspiring

1970s, but looked as if it was inspired by the 1930s.

decor. I love Gloria, the Italian restaurant in Shoreditch.

HOTEL OR AIRBNB?

WH I CH F I LM WO U LD YO U MOST LIKE TO LIVE IN?

Although I love snooping around houses, I prefer

Tom Ford’s A Single Man has amazing interiors, but my

the luxury of a good hotel. I recently stayed in

all-time favourite for glamour is The Great Gatsby.

a dome in the desert in Joshua Tree.

M O D E R N O R V I N TA G E ?

FAV O U R I T E H O L I D AY D E S T I N AT I O N ?

Vintage always rules for me, but never shabby chic. I love

I like to go somewhere I can be inspired to shop. I

to mix super-modern with vintage touches.

recently found the most amazing pottery in Marrakesh.

MASTER BEDROOM ‘Even though the beds are all vintage, I made sure we bought the best mattresses we could afford from Simba,’ says Michelle.

Try Pamono for a similar vintage ceiling light. Bedside lamps, Pooky. Bed in fabric by Liberty.

Walls and woodwork in Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball

WET ROOM ‘We wanted to create a functional shower room for guests,’ explains Michelle. ‘The upstairs bathroom is the place for having a leisurely bath and relaxing.’

The tiles are from Fired Earth and the black shower fittings are from Hintons Bathrooms

PLANS

WET ROOM

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

MEDIA ROOM

LIVING/DINING S PAC E

LOWE R G ROU N D FLOOR

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GROUND FLOOR

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

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B AT H R O O M ‘Our aim was to make this space feel really luxurious, and I always think you can take more risks with design in a bathroom. We went for this William Morris paper from the 1910s called Leicester.

It’s such a lush dark green.’

Taps, Perrin & Rowe. Bath, The Cast Iron Bath Company.

Woodwork in Bancha, Farrow & Ball

ST YLE TAKE AWAYS

Pastels and power patterns rule in the schemes Michelle designed

Small gold and glass raffia base jewellery box, £29.50, Oliver Bonas

Crimson Red estate emulsion paint, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

Karla mid-century armchair in Honey Plush Velvet with an oak frame, £649, Swoon

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Arbutus wallpaper in Thyme/ Coral, £71 a roll, Morris & Co at Style Library

Antoinette double bed frame in oak and Powder Green Clever Linen, £1,505, Loaf

Aurora lamp base in Orange, £95; Empire gathered lampshade, £58, both Pooky

Bronx mono Berber rug, from £50, Next

FEATURE JESSE HARRIS

Green palm leaf pendant light, £74, Idyll Home

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design for this Chicago home – mining the past has created the style of the future

Rounded shapes and strong shades update the 1980s aesthetic in Jen Talbot’s

head of the curv

PHOTOGRAPHY Dustin Halleck

and Margaret Rajic

WORDS Jo Leevers

MASTER BEDROOM The 1980s artwork plays with geometric shapes, while the wallpaper has echoes of op art.

Chair, Jonathan Adler; reupholstered

by Jen Talbot Design. Artwork, Susan Sensemann. Wallpaper, Osborne & Little. Gräshoppa floor lamp by Gubi, available at The Conran Shop

ENTRANCE The illuminated curves of Ettore Sottsass’s Ultrafragola floor mirror are still groovy after all these years.

Vintage Ultrafragola mirror, similar at 1stdibs

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Designer Jen Talbot’s reinvention of this modern house is proof that the 1980s is a surprisingly rich source of inspiration.

However, Jen points out, in looking back on the design process, selectivity was key. ‘The client and I were both teenagers in the 1980s, so we still had vivid memories of neon, pink squiggles and triangles. Not to mention big hair and too much eyeliner…’ But by keeping a tight focus, Jen has dipped into the decade of excess and picked out its greatest, most elegant hits. ‘I was very conscious of keeping things sophisticated,’ she says. ‘That way, the rooms will still feel relevant in the future.’

Getting into the right 1980s groove, Jen says, ‘was a fantastic challenge. It pushed me into seeing things in a different light and putting pieces together in fresh ways.’ Her client was Carrie Meghie, her husband Terry and their two sons. Carrie is co-president of Becker Ventures, which oversees high-profile luxury property developments, so the design bar was already set pretty high. ‘Carrie has incredible taste, but she also gave me free rein. And that’s definitely when and how I work best.’

Built in 2013, the house – and its style – was a change for the designer. ‘I usually feel at home in houses with period features, rather than a sleek box,’ says Jen. Without fireplaces or mouldings to shape the spaces, she had to create her own focal points, but once the research and sourcing stage was done, she was not short on standout statements. Jen consciously avoided anything too faddy because, even when you’re referencing an era or a style, ‘you’re still looking for an element of timelessness’. She equates it to the allure of vintage fashion. ‘If you find a 1980s suit by Gucci or Dior, there’s a quality to its cut that elevates it and keeps it relevant.’

Jen updated her vintage finds by setting them alongside pieces by new international designers, but also customised many of the late-1970s and 1980s furnishings she sourced. A brilliantly bulbous bed base, shapely Giovanni Offredi chairs and a three-piece suite

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houses home profile THE DESIGNER Jen Talbot, principal and creative director of Jen Talbot Design.

THE PROPERTY A contemporary house in Chicago. The ground floor has a kitchen and adjacent living room, then a sitting room and formal dining room, plus a cloakroom and entrance area. The basement has a family room, cinema room, three bedrooms (all en suite), and a home gym. Upstairs are two further bedrooms, three bathrooms, the master suite, an office and a utility room.

LIVING ROOM Orbs, curves and cylindrical shapes create one supremely comfortable scheme.

Vintage cream Soriana sofa, Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Sunset sofa, Kelly Wearstler. Black swivel chairs, Cuff Home. Marquis Collection 1980s Et Cetera coffee table, 1stdibs. Moroccan rug, custom-made for Jen Talbot Design. Wall artwork, Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

FA M I LY R O O M Jenny reupholstered many of the 1970s and 1980s pieces she sourced, including this sofa.

Wall art, Angela Chrusciaki Blehm. Coquette wallpaper, Kelly Wearstler

ENTRANCE Graphic outlines and sugarcoated colours collide to create a new kind of harmony.

Vintage bench, South Loop Loft.

Artwork, Martial Westburg

encased in geometric frames all saw the benefit of her elegant revamps with fresh upholstery. ‘I love being able to see the potential in a piece of furniture that other people have overlooked simply because the fabric is sludgy and dull,’ she says. And by bringing out the beauty of a design by recasting it in a deep-teal or blush-pink fabric, Jen has added another layer to its story. ‘To see the shape emerge again in a fresh colour is amazing,’ she adds.

Colour is a large part of this home’s personality, with shades of turquoise, blush, camel and rust setting a luxurious mood, alongside expanses of granite. Jen’s approach to colour is fearless – and stems from her art-school training and previous career as an installation artist. ‘I approach adding colour to a room in the same way as a painter approaches a canvas,’ she says. This means that rather than use bright colours as a shock tactic, Jen always maintains a sense of the overall composition, be it the room or the house as a whole.

‘Colours will sometimes be applied in large sweeps with a wide brush; other times, a tiny, delicate touch is all that’s needed,’ she says. ‘Those brushstrokes depend on the room itself and the client.’

Whether her strokes are large or small in scale, Jen errs towards muted or deep tones rather than simplistic primary colours. ‘That way, colour feels more nuanced,’ she explains.

In the designer’s schemes, scale and texture also play their parts. ‘I’m always thinking in terms of balancing proportions and visual textures,’ she says. With plenty of high-impact designs in each space, Jen keeps her compositions uncrowded, so neighbouring pieces of furniture don’t vie for attention. ‘You have to let some items in the room be the understudy,’ she adds.

The final 1980s element that brings this beautiful home to life is a superb selection of curves. They are at work everywhere, from t he f low i ng fold s of t he Sor ia na sofa by Tobia S c a r pa to contemporary tables by Agnes Studio and Sarah Ellison. In part, the 1980s are responsible, but Jen is also thinking of the future. ‘To me, they soften the hard angles in this home and keep it feeling contemporary,’ she says. As the designer demonstrates, when delving into the 1980s, moderation is everything…

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See more of Jen Talbot’s work at jentalbotdesign.com

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SON’S BEDROOM The wallpaper takes a line for a walk in an abstract free-fall pattern, while a rainbow hints at Peter Blake’s pop art motifs.

Memphis style lives another day in the vintage side table.

Wallpaper, Drop It Modern.

Vintage side table; 1960s rattan bed, both 1stdibs.

Owl table lamp, Target

MASTER BEDROOM A curvaceous 1980s bed base had the sculptural shape Jen wanted, but was previously covered in an uninspiring mottled grey. Jen reupholstered it in a woven teal fabric to create this luxe centrepiece.

Vintage bed; ceiling light (seen in mirror, both 1stdibs. Bedside table, 214 Modern Vintage. Linden table lamp, Kelly Wearstler. Mirror, similar at John Lewis & Partners.

Wallpaper, Osborne & Little

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home truths W H AT W E R E YO U W E A R I N G IN THE 1980S? Penny loafers, bright shirts with cut-outs, black rubber bracelets and lots of hairspray.

DREAM DINNER GUESTS? Salvador Dalí, performance artist Matthew Barney, Kelly Wearstler, and Barack and Michelle Obama.

V I N TA G E D E S I G N S O N YO U R W I S H L I S T ?

Chairs by Pierre Paulin and I’ll always have space for another Ettore Sottsass floor mirror.

W H AT W O U L D YO U H AV E WOR N TO STU DIO 54?

Hot pants and a crop top… and lots of eyeshadow.

FAV O U R I T E 1 9 8 0 S F I L M S ?

The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Back To The Future, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

MOST UPLIF TING COLOURS? As humans, we are most comfortable with colours we see most in nature, such as green and blue.

I find these to be the most calming.

DINING ROOM Jen customised key vintage pieces, including this table, which has a bespoke oak top and a 1980s base. Statement dining chairs are similarly refreshed with a pretty-in-pink pattern.

Vintage Giovanni Offredi chair, 1stdibs, reupholstered in fabric

by Kelly Wearstler. Custom-made console table, Agnes Studio

C L OA K R O O M ‘In this smallest space, we just decided to go for it and have some fun,’ says Jen of this nightclub-worthy powder room.

Heron wallpaper, Gucci. Basin, custom-made in stone. Floor tiles, bespoke by Kelly Wearstler

S T Y L E TA K E AWAY S

Bollo lounge chair, £2,455, Andreas Engesvik for Fogia at Nest

Loop candlestick holder, £38, BoConcept

Circle and Anglelines rug, from £550, Floor_Story

Dotted vase, £58, &Klevering at Amara

Obilque Three A2 framed print, £235, Formworks Studio at Swoon

Tria overlapping circles mirror in Gold, £230, John Lewis & Partners

Hepworth bed frame, from £1,384, Love Your Home x Livingetc Collection

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Minimal stone side table, £185, Rose & Grey

FEATURE JESSE HARRIS

Jen’s design project got into a cool 1980s groove

In e amily ince 1974

A N EMP O R I UM O F T R E AS U R ES F O R YO U R H OME Find us in Walcot Street, Bath, and in Bayswater, Notting Hill and Primrose Hill, London.

WWW.GRAHAMANDGREEN .CO.UK

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new nordic Breaking the conventional Scandi mould, this Oslo apartment combines a cocktail of styles and materials to dramatic effect

PHOTOGRAPHY Filippa Tredal X

STYLING Tone Kroken WORDS Serena Fokschaner

H A L LWAY The ceiling was papered a metallic bronze, setting the tone for the new look of the apartment.

Ceiling wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries. Walls and woodwork in Dark Teal, Jotun. Artwork, Morten Qvale. For a similar bench, try Virginia White Collection

here are two sides to Scandinavian style. The first is the familiar: walls as white as fresh laundry, lashings of birch ply and sculptural lights glowing over low sofas. Then there’s the newer take that owes everything to travel and the aesthetic pluralism of social media. The pared-back, breezy spaces are still here, but instead of glacial whites or leaf greens there are moody lagoon-deep blues and velvety blacks.

It’s not hard to work out which category this Oslo apartment falls into. Set on the first floor of a late 19th-century block, it’s the result of a collaboration between the owner – Per Ove, a property developer – and interior designer Hanne Gathe. Per is an entrepreneur with precise tastes who oversees every detail of his projects. ‘But making decisions on your own home can be harder, so Per asked me to help,’ says Hanne, who previously worked with Norman Foster and Fiona Barratt Interiors before setting up her own practice in Oslo. ‘He wanted somewhere cool and different. This apartment was very much a joint project; every finish or piece of furniture was the result of shared ideas,’ she says.

Set in a residential enclave near the city’s castle, it was the location – and views of the

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cherry blossom in spring – that drew Per to the apartment. He has retained its classical feel, but made subtle structural tweaks to bring the space up to date. ‘By the time I saw the apartment, Per had made the main structural changes. I was someone to bounce ideas off, that’s how the project started,’ explains Hanne, whose latest projects include the Nobel Prize winner’s suite at Oslo’s Grand Hotel.

The small kitchen, next to the front door, is now a guest bedroom and one half of the double reception room has become the large kitchen. ‘We worked to design a kitchen that won’t date as we both feel it’s important to be able to refresh a home without ripping things out. Here you can change things with a new colour, or a light fitting,’ says Hanne.

The focus is not the joinery, but the swathe of marble splashback, and walls painted in a chalk mix which creates a glossy, plasterwork effect. The oven and fridge are tucked into a tall cabinet, so your eye is drawn to the bespoke dining table – a Danish addition.

The focal point of the next-door living room is the stately antique ceramic wood burner, which Per found in Stockholm.

It was assembled on site, tile by tile, by

specialist craftsmen. As a counterpoint to its traditional feel, the seating is low and the walls, cornicing and woodwork are washed in a dove grey. ‘Painting the mouldings and woodwork white would have felt too predictable,’ explains Hanne. ‘In winter, the all-over colour brings cosiness, while in summer, sunlight softens the tones.’

The hallway feels untraditional, too: lagoon-blue walls offset by a metallic wallpaper that brings lustre to the ceiling: ‘Per wanted a mural, but we agreed that this wallpaper adds drama,’ says Hanne.

Hanne and Per connected through social media and a shared devotion to dogs (their pets, Prince, a Spanish rescue dog, and Brinkley, a Cocker Spaniel, have become firm friends). Decisions about objects and furniture were made digitally. ‘Per would send me photos from galleries; he knew exactly what would work. And I saw the etched brass Belgian coffee table on a dealer’s website, sent Per the link, and he agreed.

This is the modern way of doing things: it’s all about collaboration,’ says Hanne.

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See more about Per at realpartner.no and Hanne at studiogathe.com

LIVING ROOM Contrasting finishes, all of which are tactile, bring glamour.

Cloud pendant by Apparatus.

Mr Big sofa, Bolia. Pacha chairs, Gubi. Painting, Aleksandra Niemczyk at Galleri Ramfjord

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home truths H A N N E , W H AT ’ S YO U R FAV O U R I T E SECRET SPOT IN OSLO? Lille Herbern, a small restaurant on an island. It’s wonderful to sit there in summer, drink rosé, eat seafood and watch boats go by.

I F I N A H U R R Y, W H AT ’ S T H E F I R S T T H I N G YO U R E A C H F O R T O W E A R ?

Black, coated jeans. They go with everything in summer and winter.

C A N YO U S I N G L E O U T T H E B E S T D E C I S I O N YO U H AV E E V E R M A D E ?

Moving to London to study, where I lived and worked for 11 years.

I F F R I E N D S C O U L D N A M E YO U R M O S T MEMORABLE DISH? I make a mean spicy prawn ceviche apparently!

T H E B E S T P I E C E O F A D V I C E YO U WERE EVER GIVEN? Don’t rely on anyone else for money. Get an education, work hard.

D O YO U H AV E A S I G N AT U R E S C E N T ?

I’ve been using Burberry’s The Beat for many years now.

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KITCHE N

home profile THE DESIGNER

One half of the large reception room (far left) was turned into a kitchen-diner. The walls were painted in a chalk mix for a rich plasterwork effect.

Dearborn chairs, Eichholtz.

Charlton wall lights, Aerin. For similar marble, try Lapicida

Hanne Gathe, who created this home for property developer Per Ove.

THE PROPERTY An apartment in central Oslo, set in a late 19th-century block. There is a living room, kitchen with dining area, two bedrooms and one bathroom.

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PLAN KITCHEN DINER

LIVING ROOM

BEDROOM BEDROOM

MASTER BEDROOM The upholstered bed was chosen to accentuate the room’s height.

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Similar bed, Love Your Home.

Quincy pendant, EF Chapman at Visual Comfort & Co

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MASTER BEDROOM Hanne liked the vintage, shopfitting feel of the drawers.

Guadeloupe chest of drawers, Jotex. Abstract painting, Trudy Wiegand

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B AT H R O O M Marble flooring softens the strong black-and-white colour scheme and adds to the room’s timeless aesthetic.

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Venus wall light, Cedar & Moss.

Tage 50 pendant, Rum21.

Basin tap, Tapwell

S T Y L E TA K E AWAY S

Hanne and Per gave a period property modern credentials

SCS espresso mug, £19, Kinto at Goodhood

Hobson pendant, £250, Abigail Ahern

Echasse vase in Smoke, £149, Menu at Utility Design

FEATURE JESSE HARRIS

Extra-large Smooch sofa in Timeless Teal Vintage Velvet, £2,365, Loaf

Fawn chevron solid-wood flooring, £99.54sq m, Ted Todd

Etta chair in Dark Blue velvet, £95, Habitat

Rubin coffee table in Antique Gold, £320, Perch & Parrow

Moroccan frost driftwood tray, £159, Notre Monde at Houseology

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in the detail Small but beautifully formed, it’s the little touches that turned Kim Stephen’s cottage into a home with big ideas

PHOTOGRAPHY Elsa Young/Bureaux X

PRODUCTION Sven Alberding/Bureaux WORDS Jenny Tucker

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H A L LWAY Repeating the black of the front door on the banisters and rug was a pared-back way to bring pizazz to the compact space.

Abstract artwork and mirrors, CĂŠcile & Boyd. The Broste Copenhagen Rotin rattan bench from Trouva is similar

LIVING AREA Walls were taken down in the petite worker’s cottage to create one big room that incorporates the living, dining and cooking spaces. The glazing makes the room feel bigger than it is.

Custom-made dining table, Moorgas & Sons. Dining chairs, Sika Design. Light, Estiluz.

Rug, Gonsenhausers Fine Rugs.

Bespoke island, designed by Kim and topped with Carrara marble

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i

t takes a certain amount of chutzpah to experiment this boldly with colour and texture in the home. Being an interior designer, Kim Stephen has the benefit of years of experience when it comes to trying out varying hues, but she also has a natural affinity with bold decisions. This partly comes from growing up in South Africa, where a rainbow palette is part of the fabric of life. ‘I also had a mother who owned a textiles showroom representing all the significant international labels,’ says Kim. ‘Being around that amount of texture and colour from a young age means it becomes part of you. Often the design decisions I make now are simply intuitive.’

When Kim and her family first moved to London in 2017, they weren’t necessarily looking to buy a house. But then they stumbled upon this home and were smitten. ‘It had just been renovated by a developer,’ reveals Kim, ‘and to be honest, I was bowled over by it. I am pretty confident about the interior styles I like, and when I walked in here I realised there wasn’t a bathroom tile, a paint shade or a kitchen tap that I would have done differently. I loved it all, and so, obviously, we pounced on it.’

After a life in South Africa, where open space is as generic as the springbok antelope, the main adjustment for the family was their more condensed living. This home – a former worker’s cottage – is compact and while clever design has opened up the ground floor to incorporate the kitchen, dining and living space into one integral room, changes to the way the family live – and decorate – invariably had to be made. ‘In Cape Town, we owned a sprawling house,’ says Kim, ‘so this is very different. Some of our original furniture is a little oversized for this space, but I was so attached to certain pieces that I’ve made those ones work. But, I must say, the change hasn’t been an unhappy one. We’ve downsized generally and that’s made life simpler. I’ve been Marie Kondo-ed without even trying!

Plus, it literally has brought us closer together as a family as we have no choice but to gather together in the main living space.’

When discussing one of the elements she loves best – colour – Kim reveals she was equally as delighted with the choice of paints used when the house was initially developed. It turns out that Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball’s primary colour consultant, was brought in on the project to decide what shades to select. There are clever details everywhere, with doors appearing charcoal grey on one side and white on the other. Even in the laundry room the walls are painted in different blocks to add a hint of interest to what is an otherwise functional area.

‘The paint colours gave me an incredible backdrop so I could experiment with my interiors,’ says Kim. ‘Although I love strong shades and patterns, I believe that you have to temper that with neutrals. For example, in the living

home prof i le THE OWNERS Interior designer Kim Stephen, her husband Graham, an intellectual property licensing agent, their son Jamie, 14, and daughter Anna, seven.

THE PROPERTY An extended worker’s cottage in south-west London. The ground floor has an open-plan living/ dining/kitchen area, an office, a laundry room and a WC. The first floor has the master suite and Anna’s bedroom and en suite. The second floor has Jamie’s bedroom, a bathroom and a guest bedroom.

area of our main room I’ve added a textured dark grey wallpaper to enclose that section. It adds interest and also works as a way of defining that space while giving the artwork an amazing setting.’

Taking a more daring approach could feel daunting but Kim encourages others to try it out to see what hues a re instinctively appealing.

‘Basically, if it makes you happy, then it’s working,’ she says. ‘Dip into different combinations and don’t be afraid of adding just a touch of something vibrant and working up to experimenting with more. I love yellow and in every room I’ve got a touch of it.’

Kim often journeys to South Africa to visit friends and family, but when it comes to returning to her London home she admits she loves walking back through the door. There is an innate sense of belonging and while this house might be smaller than others she’s owned, she says it feels the most special. There’s a simple reason for this... ‘It’s easy living,’ she admits. ‘Because it’s a compact space, it’s a breeze to manage. Plus, I am so relaxed here.

There is a deep sense of happiness in these walls and who could ask for anything more than that?’

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KITCHEN Kim’s distinctive interiors style is seen clearly here. She describes it as being ‘playful, colourful and a little bit daring’.

But the striped splashback repeats the black accents that punctuate all of the areas downstairs for a cohesive look.

Sorrento Turro tiles, Fired Earth

home truths W H AT P U T S A S P R I N G I N YO U R S T E P ?

When the trees bloom, the flowers blossom and it’s the first real warm day of spring, walking around London I feel like I have been transported to another planet.

There is such a tangible difference in the atmosphere.

BEST THING TO DO OUTDOORS? Riding my mint-green bicycle! Come spring I am on it daily – either to run errands locally or with

LIVING AREA As the kitchen, dining and living spaces are all in one room, Kim used a textured wallpaper to define this section. The TV is hidden in a gallery wall.

the whole family riding long stretches of the Thames towpath, which is right on our doorstep.

W H AT D O YO U L I K E T O WAT C H ?

I’m loving all of the music biopics that have been released recently – a look into the often crazy lives of these musical geniuses is fascinating.

Textures Végétales wallpaper, Élitis. Wooden armchairs, Cécile & Boyd; reupholstered in Carriacou

by Pierre Frey. Drum side table, Cécile & Boyd. The three sculptures on the wall are

by Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe

EXERCISE OF CHOICE? We have a Peloton. I love it and am on it about five times a week. It takes up precious space in our home, so that’s a constant reminder that it needs to be put to use.

G U I LT Y P L E A S U R E ?

Food and wine! And food and wine!

NICKNAME? I grew up as Kim Blakemore and became known as Kim ‘Breakmore’. Plenty of glassware has been shattered by my clumsy left-handedness.

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KITCHEN There are no wall cabinets to encroach on space – just the vibrant artwork, dated 1974,

by Stephanie Watson that Kim found in a shop in Cape Town.

For similar blue-and-white chairs, try the Isabell bar stools

by Sika Design

GARDEN In the warmer months, the Crittall-style doors are thrown open and the scent of jasmine fills the main living area.

Outdoor rattan sofa, Sika Design.

Throw on sofa made from Fujin fabric in Juane by Pierre Frey.

Cushions, Designers Guild and West Elm. Side table, Block & Chisel. Planter, Habitat.

Outdoor rug, Pappelina

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C L OA K R O O M ‘This is my favourite space, decoration wise,’ laughs Kim. ‘Because people are in and out of a WC quickly, you can afford to go a bit crazy. I’d encourage you to try it.’

Ikat Azul wallpaper, Gastón y Daniela. Mirror, Habitat.

Artwork, Kurt Pio

B AT H R O O M Kim’s mantra has always been ‘why stick with one colour when you can add another?’. ‘The basic tones here are simple,’ she says, ‘but the shower curtain adds a bit of extra excitement.’

Shower curtain, Jonathan Adler. Basin and showerhead, Lefroy Brooks

‘Having the kitchen and living area together means my family are usually hanging out in one place. I love that!’

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MASTER BEDROOM Every design choice is thought out – from the decorative mirror in the alcove that enhances the sense of space to the bedside table with baskets for storage and the upholstered headboard that establishes a focal point.

Mirror, Block & Chisel. Headboard upholstered in The Wave in Mineral, Linwood. Bedside table, West Elm. Table lamp, Oka. Throws, H&M Home. Artwork, Etsy

PLANS

OFFICE

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

KITCHEN/ DINING/ LIVING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

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S T Y L E TA K E AWAY S

Calabash table lamp in Saffron with Babur Empire card lampshade, £260, Oka

Aged brass classic handle, £45, deVOL

Large Crimson Cassis rug, £220, French Connection

Pelican Paradise fabric, £118m, Andrew Martin

Blake marble-top dining table, £2,099, Heal’s

Vintage Coral II framed print, £79, Natural History Museum at Made

Old style Dutch pot in Blue/Green, £8.50, Petersham Nurseries

Chawton low double dresser in Ink, £4,414, Neptune

Rattan indoor/outdoor bistro chair in Navy, £178, Anthropologie

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FEATURE JESSE HARRIS

Kim’s compact cottage is all about going bold and big

loveyourhomeuk www.love-your-home.co.uk

THE NEW COLLABORATION WITH

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON PHOTOGRAPH DEVOL KITCHENS

Classic English kitchen by deVOL. The kitchen in a custom pink starts from £25,000

design & decorating A CO O L D E TA I L S E T S T H E TO N E FO R T H E P R OJ E C T S S E C T I O N

Your quickest route to a cook space with style confidence? Start with complementary colour pairings. Let deVOL’s New York showroom be your design inspiration and mix glossy green metro tiles with flamingo-pink cabinetry for a look that dials up the domestic drama livingetc.com

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Leaving walls as a blank white canvas allows approach that deserves a round of applause

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PHOTOGRAPHY Jake Curtis STYLING Hannah Franklin

entre s a

bright furnishings to be the stars – a dramatic

decorating

B I T PA R T S Get closer to the action with a table of vibrant small pieces that provide a change of scale and focus. These rounded objects pick up on the curves behind, but avoid repetition by telling their own separate story in shapes and colours.

Large Rock vase in Honeycomb, £240; round Skipping Stone vase in Melon Swirl, £85; Boulder pepper grinder in Pink Guava, £260; oval Skipping Stone vase in Forest, £90, all Dinosaur Designs. Circle vase in Dark Red, £40, &Klevering at Amara. AU_34 floor-standing plant light, £599, Massimo Cappella Studio. Contour artwork, 1.1x 1.9m, £980, Formworks Studio

H O T S E AT This red chair needs to take the lead, so paint the set white and surround it with strong supporting players each with a colour character of their own.

Paipai loveseat, £2,476, Lucidi Pevere at Ligne Roset Westend.

Cushion in Echo in Bourgogne, £139.80m, Métaphores at Abbott + Boyd. Transparent speaker in White, £450, Transparent Sound at The Conran Shop. Muuto Halves side table, £299; Toulemonde Bochart Ettore rug, 200x 300cm, £1,512, both at Chaplins. Sign bedside table in high-gloss lacquer finish, £1,237, Studio Kairos at Lema.

Divaar screen, £2,700, Kam Ce Kam at Monologue. Dipping large LED lamp, £1,052, Jordi Canudas for Marset at Aram.

Large resin Modern Tribal platter, £240, Dinosaur Designs

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decorating

FA M I LY D R A M A Love all your pieces equally for their shapes as well as their shades. If the shapes work together – as they do here, with an assembly of low-slung pieces – the colours will fall into line.

Modular sofa, £6,880, Erik Rasmussen at Paustian.

Stanford armchair, £5,153; Bellport pouffe, £3,905, both Jean-Marie Massaud at Poliform. Plain side table in Tobacco hide, £1,906, Antonio Citterio at Flexform. Bibendum chair, £3,727, Eileen Gray at Aram. Cushions in (from left) Echo in Automne, £139.80m, Métaphores at Abbott + Boyd.

Matara Lucida in Ocean, £42m, Designers Guild. Caspian Weaves Madhu in Celeste, £79m, Sanderson. Okavango in 0501, £104.70m, Terre d’Aventure collection at Casamance. Matara Lucida in Crimson, £42m, Designers Guild. Echo in Bourgogne, £139.80m, Métaphores at Abbott + Boyd. Confiserie Triangle mosaic tiles in Blush (on mantlepiece), £79.88sq m, Claybrook. (On mantlepiece, from left) Calli Muses vase, £69; Ania Muses vase, £59, both Ferm Living at Amara.

Sculptural vessel, £180, Noe Kuremoto at A New Tribe.

Pampas grass, £10 for six stems, Rockett St George. Contour artwork, 1.1x 1.9m, £980, Formworks Studio. Water Optick rug, 160x230cm, £1,500, Kitty Joseph at Floor_Story.

Serax tray with brass handles, £120; Serax Zig Zag tray, £105, both Studio Grint at Borough Kitchen. Swirl Dumbbell candleholder (on side table), £130, Tom Dixon. Hanging lamp No 3, £717, Muller Van Severen at Viaduct.

Column in Bronzed Red intelligent matt emulsion, £50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

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decorating

D UA L R O L E S Colours take sides here: in the blush corner, the pink-red of the pillar, chairs, stool and mirror. In the white corner, the kitchen, the walls, the table and rug. The accessories bring in new shades to heighten the tension.

Molten/Melting Pot table, £4,500, Dirk Vander Kooij at Mint Shop. Basil wood chair, £169, Calligaris. 0414 armchair in Ash Pink velvet, £1,643, Gallotti&Radice at Harrods.

Cork stool, £960; Swirl vase, £550, both Tom Dixon. Large resin Modern Tribal platter, £240, Dinosaur Designs.

Matégot bowl, £132, Mathieu Matégot for Gubi at Aram.

Medium recycled bottle glasses, £21.95 for two, Graham and Green. Cactus juicer in White, £24, A New Tribe.

Round velvet frame mirror in Ochre Gold, £69, Rockett St George. Quadric rug, 300x260cm, £1,409, René Barba at Ligne Roset Westend.

Column in Bronzed Red intelligent matt emulsion, £50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

CASTING CALL With a bleached-out backdrop, you’re free to stage a new drama every night. The white in the patterned pieces creates a link with the surrounding space, or try strong shapes in solid matt colours that attract light and attention.

Plissé electric kettle, £79, Michele de Lucchi at Alessi.

Atollo 235 large table lamp in glass, £1,225, Vico Magistretti at The Conran Shop. Cutting board, £714 set of four, Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen at Viaduct. Fingers-crossed object, stylist’s own. Swirl multi candelabra, £325, Tom Dixon.

Small resin River Stone vase in Lagoon, £77; Temple vase, from £170; Column vase, £110, all Dinosaur Designs. Similar glass banana, Devon Made Glass Fruit

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decorating

THE BIG REVEAL Find a show-off piece – like this metal-lined bar – and use colour to take it centre stage.

Here, the solid panel of fabric on the wall catches the eye and a glossy screen caresses the bar’s curves. The different shapes – flat and curved – work together to complement the bar.

Mary bar unit, £11,050, P Jouin at Porada. Rose Pink/Gold champagne coupes, £21.95 for two; Rose Pink/Gold water glasses, £32.50 for four; Clear glass tumblers with gold rim, £22.50 each, all Rockett St George. Gray screen in Deep Green, £1,164, &New. Resin Flow dessert bowl in Dark Turquoise, £75, Dinosaur Designs. Fabric on wall, Athénée in Ember, £95m, Parisienne collection at Zinc.

Eliott stool, price on request, Liang & Eimil; covered in Sheepskin in Natural, £500m, Sheepskin collection at Zinc.

Light Between rug, £1,320sq m, Deirdre Dyson

LEARN YO U R L I N E S Every piece here adds an experimental graphic element, giving the scheme a postmodern vibe. The rug’s blue and green hues echo around the room from the large blue sculptural pieces to the delicate frame of the chair.

Zig Zag chair, £1,440, Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina at Aram.

Rocking chair, £2,189, Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen for Valerie Objects at Viaduct.

Sound Rack storage unit in Tangerine, £439, Ludovica and Roberto Palomba at Kartell. Pleat sculpture No 1, £3,650; Pleat sculpture No 2, £1,750, both Phil Cuttance. Abstract vase, £130, LRNCE; Totem candles, from £14 each, Grain at A New Tribe.

Resin Flow dessert bowl in Dark Turquoise, £75, Dinosaur Designs.

Orrizonti rug, 230x300cm, £4,099, Eligo Studio at Silvera

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STYLING ASSISTANTS JESSICA JUNG, AREESHA RICHARDS, ISABELLA CHARLESWORTH

decorating B R AVO !

Why match everything when you can be bold and daring? Leaving space between patterns and colours avoids overloading the eye with too much detail, while the rich colours of the bed, table and artwork create focal points.

Group bed in Midnight Velvet, from £3,299, SCP at Heal’s.

Giuliette acrylic bust table, £1,495, Jonathan Adler. Beetle seat (used as bedside table), £2,160, Imperfetto Lab at Silvera. All Over Fringe table lamp in Mustard Yellow, £120, Rockett St George.

Geranium Optick rug, 160x230cm, £1,500, Kitty Joseph at Floor_Story.

Column in Twirl 87001 wallpaper, £259lin m, Velveteen collection at Arte. Hanging lamp No 3, £717, Muller Van Severen at Viaduct.

Composition No 7 artwork, 1.1m x 1.9m, £980, Formworks Studio. Fraser Stripe silk pillowcases, £110 each; Windsor silk double bedspread in Nude, £620, all Gingerlily. Kantha velvet quilted throw in Ochre, £210; (On bed, from left) Cushion in Echo in Automne, £139.80m, Métaphores at Abbott + Boyd.

Alvore Squiggle cushion cover in Black/White, £65; Slub cushion cover in Ochre, £50, both The Conran Shop.

Cushion in Okavango in 0501, £104.70m, Terre d’Aventure collection at Casamance.

Tonal velvet cushion cover in Berry/Red, £45, The Conran Shop. Tassel cushion in Ochre, £125, One Nine Eight Five at Amara. Red and white throw in Rif, £110m, Anatolia collection at Nobilis.

D O U B L E AC T Two colour dynamics are at play here. Primary shades connect the table to the plinth in the foreground, while the softbrown hue of the chair connects with the patterned pillar. Keep palettes distinct to avoid blurring boundaries.

Eydo chaise longue, £6,217, Francesco Rota at Lema.

Nangara Anangu wallpaper, £69.90 a roll, Casa Deco.

Hanging lamp No 3, £717, Muller Van Severen at Viaduct. Net side table, £972, Benjamin Hubert at Silvera. Bellhop table lamp in Brick Red, £175, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby at Chaplins. Sunglasses, £135, Longchamp. Paint on platform, Middle Buff, £50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Paintbox Berry tiles, from £30sq m, Mandarin Stone. Custom-made shelf, Barnaby Reynolds Design

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style file: kids rugs Adventurous little ones adore to explore tactile textures and bold colours and patterns

Esme bright rug, 80x150cm, £75, Next

Tetra rug in Blush, 140x 200cm, £384, Scion at Funky Little Darlings

Cherry rug, 91x152cm, £210, Oeuf at Nubie

Graphic design rug in Green, 140x200cm, £395, Linie Design at Nuastyle

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Trace washable rug in Vintage Nude, Dia160cm, £129, Lorena Canals at This Modern Life

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Cotton rug with fox, 150x200cm, £159.99, Zara Home

decorating

desks Smart designs that really work Nido collection Smart desk, from £730, Krethaus

Bourbon vintage compact desk in Dark Blue and brass, £229, Made

Fynne desk in mango wood and Duck Egg, £149, Swoon

Régine kids’ desk in Dusky Pink, £160, Les Gambettes at Smallable

Brooklyn child to teen desk, £545, Oeuf NYC at Lulu & Nat Kids’ wooden table, £89.99, Zara Home

wooden toys Lead them on a positive path to mindful living

Wooden piggy bank in Pink, £14.95, Cottage Toys

Shapes building blocks, £84.52, Raduga Grey at Kyddo

Hammer bench toy, £22, Kid’s Concept at Kidly

Amechan bubble wands, £22 set of three, Liberty

Blockitecture Garden City mega set, £85, Areaware

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storage It’s never too early to instil some Kondo-style values, helped by these contemporary solutions

Wooden Dashy biplane shelf in Natural, Up! Warsaw at This Modern Life

Elephant storage basket, £56, Rice at Kidly Storie stool in Rose, £49, Olli Ella

Harri storage box, £249, Swoon

Storage sack in Liberty fabric Queue for the Zoo, from £44 (can be personalised), Coco & Wolf Funkis large shelf, £179, Ferm Living at Made In Design

Oh, the places they’ll go with these wondrous coverings

Ella rabbit fabric basket in Mustard, £24, Liewood at The Kid Collective

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wallpapers

Brick by Brick wallpaper in Glimmer & Gold, €30sq m, Mr Perswall. Cactus mural, 250x250cm, £284, Funky Little Darlings. Pleasure Gardens wallpaper in Pale Verdigris & Copper, £65 a roll, Mini Moderns. Scallop shell wallpaper in Red, £87 a roll, Barneby Gates. Dusky Amazon mural, 3mx3m, £175 a roll, Frann Preston-Gannon at Villa Nova

decorating

lamps Playful luminaries that put the fun into functional

Ambience lamp in Warm White & brass, £244, Warm Nordic at Royal Design

Finchley table lamp in Yellow, £50, Habitat

Blue stegosaurus mini LED lamp, £13.99, House of Disaster

Winston night light Cat in Rose, €35, Liewood.

Rainbow children’s night light, £9.99, Lights4Fun

Tipi LED table lamp, €105, Buokids at Nedgis

Balloon Bubble Dog desk lamp in Pink, £175, Sompex at Trouva

Pelarboj LED table lamp, £25, Ikea

Type 75 mini desk lamp, £165, Paul Smith Edition 4 at Heal’s

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Dimension Wallpaper www.prestigious.co.uk

decorating

pattern book

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

G R A P H I C M O T I F S O N V E R S AT I L E C U T V E LV E T S TA K E TEXTURE AND AESTHETICS TO A NEW DIMENSION

1 2 3 4 5

Shimmery grey metallic tones help this fabric emanate an ethereal air.

Pelican Storm, £118m, Andrew Martin

Interlocking blocks of colour stack up in the style stakes.

Cybèle Sarabande, £104.70m, Casamance

Scaled hexagons with a unique woven ground make a bold statement.

Manipur in Coral, £95m, Designers Guild

One of the Tube’s moquette patterns travels to our interiors.

Northern in Burnt Orange, £99m, Kirkby Design

Here, ‘new neutrals’ parade in repetitively addictive pastel unison.

Felicia, £105m, Osborne & Little

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Green A new collection of authentic National Trust colours including original shades from the homes of Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Beatrix Potter. Available now. littlegreene.com 0161 230 0880

Order your free colourcard, or find your nearest stockist at littlegreene.com

design

W hat ’s hot: kitchens and bathrooms I N S P I R E D N E W P R O D U C T S A N D D E S I G N S T O K N OW

SOMETHING’S AFOOT Baths are becoming increasingly leggy, which not only looks elegant but works wonders in smaller bathrooms. The Vigore from Clearwater, with its distinctive sculptured feet, is a stylish and contemporary addition to any space. Made from natural stone, it retains heat – making it energy efficient – and the soft curved design is a nod to one of the new season’s biggest trends.

Vigore bath, £2,699 (clearwaterbaths.com)

Hex appeal Our love for brass is showing no sign of abating, and it’s not surprising with on-point designs like this tap from Abode.

T he monobloc m i xer ’s hexagona l detailing will add industrial style. It’s all about the antique brass finish with a patina that will only get better over time.

Hex tap in a ntique brass, H36.9 xW22cm, £339 (abodedesigns.co.uk)

Cooks will love Bora’s Classic 2.0 wok cooktop, which promises even heat and precise control.

From £4,697 (bora.com)

FEATURE BUSOLA EVANS PHOTOGRAPHS (VIPP STYLE) ANDERS HVIID-HAGLUND

VIPP STYLE

Mono magic

Danish company Vipp has unveiled a grey version of its modular kitchen. The design is made from powder-coated aluminium and has a stainless steel worktop. Think of the kitchen as building blocks – there are four modules, including the Island, which gives versatility in an open-plan space, and the Tall for maximum storage. Kitchen Lego for grown-ups – we’re ready to play!

From £12,500 (vipp.com)

If you want the look of marble without burning a hole in your pocket, Ca’ Pietra’s new Eclipse porcelain tiles are perfect for walls and floors. The monochrome design will add interest to a white kitchen or bat h room , whet her it is a st r i k i ng splashback or a statement floor, or you can use it with pastels or bold colour for more drama than an episode of Succession.

Eclipse porcelain tiles, 20x23x0.8cm, £75.24sq m (capietra.com)

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bathroom trend: single-use colour A L L - OV E R D E L I C AT E P I N K AC C E S S O R I S E D W I T H C O P P E R A N D

Designed for the youngest member of a family of three, this whimsical en suite benefits from the generous proportions found in traditional properties. Featuring high ceilings at approximately 3.2 metres and large picture windows, this dream-like bathroom is accessed directly via the two-year old’s bedroom. ‘My client requested that I create something that would be unique using pink colours. She wanted her daughter’s bathroom to be girlish, but not too childish,’ says Maria Kalina, from Maria Kalina Interior Design.

As requested, pink has been used as a base, and diluted with subtle accents of blue in the form of the wall-mounted radiator and a freestanding bathroom cupboard.

‘The focus of the composition is a bath on the podium, which is further highlighted by the LED illumination that surrounds it,’ says Maria. Playfulness is achieved with an original soap bubble-style chandelier that hangs above the bath, which was designed to evoke a feeling of lightness and airiness.

‘What also helps set a soft mood is the main material of Atlas Concorde dusty-pink tiles from the Mek collection,’ says Maria. ‘It is a very delicate shade.’

One of the most unique aspects of this project is that the designer has been able to use so much pink without it overwhelming the space. ‘It can be difficult to persuade clients to use bright colours, as they believe they will get bored of one hue,’ says Maria.

‘This project goes to show that with the right design, colour in a bathroom can be great.’

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The brushed copper of the mixers brings in added luxe

need to know THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

DESIGNER Maria Kalina Interior Design.

KEY FEATURES Pink bathtub, £3,518, Aquatica Corelia. 316 Meccanica 708 brushed-copper PVD mixers, £474.36, £1,694.89, Gessi. Cielo basin and vanity unit, £1,214.87, CP Hart. Equilibrio electric towel warmer, £782.78,

Cea Design. Planet PV70 vertical radiator, £375.73, Tubes Radiatori.

Toilet and bidet, £1,409, SDR Ceramiche. Bolle 24 Bubble 2 Clear/Gold chandelier, £1,366.73, Giopato & Coombes. Rondo lights, £665.36 each, Antonio Lupi. Mek tiles, £46.97sq m, Atlas Concorde. Wood tiles near the bath, £31.31sq m, Italon.

Bespoke mirror made from brass and tinted in Rose Gold, £583.95

FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPHS MARIA KALINA INTERIOR DESIGN

C U R V E S C R E AT E S A N I M PAC T F U L Y E T P L AY F U L E N S U I T E

design

A fantastical Giopato & Coombes chandelier highlights the bubblegum pink bath, which has views to die for

DESIGN PROFILE

the connor brothers X

FEATURE Rachel Leedham

w

ith their reworkings of vintage Mills & Boon book covers accompanied by witty texts that capture the preoccupations of our millennial world, The Connor Brothers burst onto the art scene in 2013. The Missouri-born twins, Franklyn and Brendan, were raised within a secretive Christian cult called ‘The Family’, running away at 16 and travelling across America on freight trains before settling in Brooklyn. Their art, they explained, came about as they tried to ‘make sense of the world’ they’d been deprived of.

All pretty compelling stuff. Except that, just like a Mills & Boon romance, the story was pure fiction.

The pair, Mike Snelle and James Golding, are in fact childhood friends who both share troubled pasts: Liverpool-born Mike had suffered from bouts of severe depression since childhood, while James, who was raised in Cambridge, had battled with anxiety, resulting in heroine addiction and run-ins with the police. The fictional pseudonym, which they maintained for two years, was developed to shield them from the public glare.

Meeting them in their studio in Hackney, east London, Mike and James are both warm, articulate and remarkably candid about the real people behind their mythical personae. ‘In 2012, I was depressed and suicidal and I called up James who encouraged me to get professional help; I was diagnosed with bipolar,’ recalls Mike. ‘During that time we ended up living together and we were talking about very difficult personal things. We began making these collages out of counter-cultural comics from the 70s and Mills & Boon covers. It was a distraction, we were making each other laugh.’

Inadvertently, the art provided the pair with a form of therapy that helped them gain some much-needed stability – and when they finally broke cover, they were able to use The Connor Brothers’ name to highlight issues surrounding mental health. ‘We did a TED Talk in Hong Kong and we were both terrified but afterwards people came up and shared their stories; you realise that there’s something useful in doing this,’

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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT Mike Snelle (right) and James Golding in their Hackney studio standing in front of two limited-edition prints created exclusively in collaboration with TI Media and Runway Gallery; works in progress; a large-scale oil on canvas is juxtaposed with a print version

notes James, who together with Mike has become an ambassador for male suicide prevention charity, CALM. Unsurprisingly, The Connor Brothers’ art often explores truth and fiction, as witnessed in one of the two exclusive limited-edition prints they have created in collaboration with Livingetc’s parent company TI Media and contemporary art platform, Runway Gallery, where the works are available to buy. The pair were invited to plunder the magazine archives of TI Media, and one of the images they have refashioned – taken from a 1960 edition of Woman’s Realm – depicts a beautiful blonde with the message, ‘There’s nothing so seductive as a dangerous idea’. ‘I’ve always been a bit obsessed with a hoax that was done in the 1970s by American novelist Clifford Irving who wrote a fictional biography about the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes; it was the most expensive book ever sold,’ recounts Mike. ‘In an interview he explained that it was never about the money, it was the elegance of the idea that made it undeniable.’

For the pair, the process of working through the archives was fascinating: ‘There are literally thousands and thousands of magazines,’ says Mike. ‘We tended to focus on illustrations that had been put into print using lithography; there’s something a bit more real, more visceral, maybe, about this style.’

Mike and James are currently working on a body of work that celebrates Britain’s young, inspiring people, and will see a departure with the introduction of photography.

‘The covers we have used in the past tended to feature white females, and we wanted to create work that is more representative of the diversity of contemporary Britain, so we’re using photographs to recreate vintage book covers,’ explains James. ‘There is a lot of negativity about Britain at the moment but we look at the young and they are so politically aware and awake to social injustice,’ adds Mike. ‘This new generation is exciting – I actually think there’s a lot of hope for the future.’

For more about The Connor Brothers, visit theconnorbrothers.com.

PHOTOGRAPHS ALUN CALLENDER

X

The Connor Brothers’ exclusive limited-edition prints in collaboration with TI Media and Runway Gallery are available to buy at runway-gallery.com. There are only 25 of each available so head online now to secure yours.

We began creating these collages out of counter-cultural comics. It was a distraction, we were making each other laugh livingetc.com

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COMING SOON

NEW ROMAN BLINDS COLLECTION MARCH 2020 CALL 0800 587 6480 OR VISIT HILLARYS.CO.UK

DESIGN DOSSIER

An entire spectrum of bright and beautiful ideas

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WALL & FLOOR TILES / BATHROOMS / PAINT / DESIGN SERVICE To find out more visit our London Studio or claybrookstudio.co.uk

DESIG N DOSSIE R : COLOU R

Pressing matter

news

The latest launches for creating a dynamic statement

Light switches needn’t be so serious.

Katy Paty has retro-feel porcelain, while Jung has reissued its 1968 LS fittings in Le Corbusier’s iconic Les Couleurs.

Porcelain switch in Red, £90, Katy Paty (dykeanddean.com); LS 990 dimmer switch and frame in Vert Foncé, £42, Jung (conranshop.co.uk)

FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

Danish designer and ‘colour-alchemist’ Margrethe Odgaard came on board to work her magic on the newest collection from Montana. Storage by Peter J Lassen in Flint, Turmeric and Balsamic, from £488 (aram.co.uk)

ART OF GLASS

HIDE AND CHIC

The fastest route to a joyful tabletop? Murano glassware.

Reigniting its partnership with Laguna B, CampbellRey has released a new line of tumblers, wine glasses and champagne coupes that are convivial chic personified.

Cosimo collection, from £95 each (campbell-rey.com)

Digital innovations aren’t just making our homes smarter but opening up new ways in which to furnish them, too. A case in point is the work of Bill Amberg Studio, whose project with world-renowned creatives, including Matthew Day Jackson (pictured), has produced hides that can be digitally printed in intricate colours.

1969 series for Bill Amberg Print, price on application (billamberg.com)

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DESIG N DOSSIE R : COLOU R

FEATURE MARINA COMBAL

shopping

Standout chairs for a kitchen pick-me-up

TOP ROW Black ash Latis chair with Phlox upholstery, £995, Samuel Wilkinson for The Conran Shop.

Originals stacking chair in Forest Green, £420, Ercol.

Facett chair in Purple, £842, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset MIDDLE ROW Hot mesh chair, £152, Blu Dot at Heal’s.

Madeleine chair in Raspberry, £195, Ceraudo. Amalyn dining chair in Pine Green Velvet, £229 for two, Made BOTTOM ROW CH24 Wishbone chair in Berry Red, £685, Carl Hansen at Utility Design. Sophie Blue dining chair, £85, Habitat. Zayne iron and leather armchair, £128, Graham and Green

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DESIG N DOSSIE R : COLOU R

TOP ROW Linwood cushion in Lagoon, £95, Wicklewood.

Herringbone pillow, £85,Raw Edges for Vitra at Nest. Perci cushion, £25, Habitat MIDDLE ROW Endymion cushion, €160, Luke Edward Hall for Svenskt Tenn. Tapestry pillow, £90, Viso at Selfridges. Java cushion, £59, Raft BOTTOM ROW Indus Multi cushion, £79, Andrew Martin.

Cove cushion, £75, Laura Slater for Soho Home. Zig Zag cushion in Old Rose/Berry, €168, Christina Lundsteen

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FEATURE MAUDIE MANTON

shopping

Vibrant numbers to sit comfortably on your sofa

DESIG N DOSSIE R : COLOU R

Sky’s the limit This classic shade needs sunlight to bring out its full potential, so use it with abandon in south-facing rooms.

Avoid in spaces that only have northern light, as you run the risk of all its happiness fading away

FEATURE ALISON DAVIDSON

GET THE LOOK Powder Blue breatheasy coloured matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5ltr, Crown

Our in-depth guide to picking the perfect paint

Evoking clear skies on a warm summer’s day and the startling brightness of a holiday sea, pale blue is an instant mood enhancer. Easy to live with, it’s a calming hue that is just as at home in a modern setting as it is in a period house. It’s an enduring choice that can feel calm and relaxed or vibrant and energised. Studies show that people are most productive in blue rooms, too, so it’s a clever option for a home office.

lookbook

light blues

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whites Bright, clean and light-enhancing, there is such a wide variation in the different types of white. From soft and chalky to hard and brilliant, there’s a whole spectrum of tones in between. As a guide, for living rooms, white with a touch of yellow or orange will give a vibrant feel.

For home offices, choose white with a dash of blue to help concentration. In bathrooms, a pink-based white will add a spa-like warmth and for bedrooms choose one with a blue or green hint for a calming vibe.

Grey matter (Main picture) The subtle smoky tones in this wall paint soften the natural brilliance of white, perfect for a relaxing room.

GET THE LOOK Pale Smoke Grey matt natural emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Edward Bulmer

Twilight zone (Top left) This colour also has grey pigment but more of it, so it veers towards lilac. It works well in this north-facing Banda Property project, injecting warmth into an otherwise cool space.

GET THE LOOK Ammonite estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

Natural touch

PHOTOGRAPHS (GREY MATTER) PHOTOPIA PHOTOGRAPHY; (TWILIGHT ZONE) PHILIP DURRANT; (CLEAR VISION) PAUL RAESIDE

(Top right) A hint of verdigris creates a timeless warm white, a good choice for an east-facing room that’s brighter in the morning. Add house plants to bring out its richness.

GET THE LOOK Wall in Metropolitan AF-690; cabinet in Hale Navy HC-154, both regal select interior paint matte, from £23 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore

Clear vision (Bottom right) This pure white, with no other pigments, creates a bright, clean base onto which you can add other colours. It’s perfect for south-facing spaces, where sunlight stops the shade feeling too cool.

GET THE LOOK Wall in Clean White; ceiling in New Black, both pure flat emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library

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DESIG N DOSSIE R : COLOU R

pinks Such a strong trend and so versatile, pink is an easy colour to pair with others and works particularly well when used with ochre, green, mulberry, coral or orange. At the stronger end of the palette, fuchsia or ruby are impactful, while the softer tones are ideal for a bedroom. A room painted red or pink will look warm and inviting all day long, regardless of how much natural light is present, and at night the same space will be wonderfully cosy. Try in a north-facing space to warm up that cool light.

Calm & collected (Main picture) Muted pale pink would be a good choice for a west-facing room, where the tone will change from moody in the morning to warm in the evening.

GET THE LOOK First Light 2102-70 regal select interior paint matte, £23 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore

Colour story (Top left) Beata Heuman chose a saturated, hot shade of pink for this living room because she knew that the soft, east-facing light would cool it down.

GET THE LOOK Ash Rose mixing paint matt emulsion £29.16 for 2.5ltr, Dulux

True blush

PHOTOGRAPHS (COLOUR STORY) SIMON BROWN; (DREAM KITCHEN) PAUL MASSEY/TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

(Top right) This raw plaster shade is so restful that it would also work perfectly in a bedroom. Evening light will bring out the violet tones in the chalky finish.

GET THE LOOK Kate Blush matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr, Claybrook

Dream kitchen (Bottom right) Choose a pink at the cooler end of the spectrum if you don’t want the room to feel too warm or dominated by the colour, as with in this scheme by Field Day Studio. Lilac tones bring vivacity to a space even when there isn’t much natural light.

GET THE LOOK Rouge II architects matt, £55 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library

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greens The colour that most reminds us of nature, the varying shades of green are the most restful to the human eye and create a calm atmosphere in any room. Blue-green aqua and teal are associated with emotional healing and protection, so work well in living spaces and bathrooms, while deeper greens create a dramatic atmosphere, perfect for dining rooms. Look at integrating the colour into east-facing spaces, as it will help calm the brightness of morning light.

Green day (Main picture) Dense forest shades are warm and welcoming due to the red pigment, so won’t need a lot of natural light to feel vivid.

Use in a north-facing room to vibrant effect.

GET THE LOOK Yeabridge Green estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

A lot of bottle (Top left) You have to be brave to choose bottle green, as its black tones can feel all-enveloping. Use in a dark room when lights are low and inviting at night.

GET THE LOOK Botanical Noir, from £14 for 2.5ltr; Khaki Twist, £18 for 2.5ltr, both matt emulsion, Crown

Creative space (Top right) A room with plenty of natural light reveals the depth of this shade. The moody feel of its blue pigments suits an east-facing study, where it will feel bright in the morning and cosy in the afternoon, helping to aid creativity.

GET THE LOOK Veronese Green O4 soft touch matte, from £11 for 118ml, Century Collection, Benjamin Moore

Pale & interesting (Bottom) This barely there shade benefits from morning light, when its white pigments come alive.

Use in a room in which you like to eat breakfast for an enlivening start.

GET THE LOOK Tranquil Dawn mixing paint matt emulsion, £29.16 for 2.5ltr, Dulux

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inky blues Navy has had a huge resurgence in interiors, seen in designer kitchens through to high street furniture and everything in between – and it’s easy to see why. It brings with it a sophistication that’s easier to live with than black, more richly toned than turquoise or sky.

This end of the blue spectrum is generally suited to smaller rooms that are starved of natural light, where you can embrace – and make a virtue of – the darkness.

When the same shade is continued from walls onto the ceiling, it can actually add to the illusion of height. It’s an inviting colour and miraculously goes with anything, becoming a luxe foil to natural textures or a gleaming backdrop for jewel tones.

Classic look (Main picture) A good choice for rooms that are north-facing, this deep-blue shade has enough vibrancy to find the light in any space.

GET THE LOOK Thistle T1 soft touch matte, from £11 for 118ml, Century Collection, Benjamin Moore

Go matt (Top left) With its chalky finish, this is the paint to use continually over walls and floors. The variations in the pigment stop the colour from appearing like a block, and introduce some levity to its darkness.

GET THE LOOK Oxford Navy chalk paint, from £19.95 for 1ltr, Annie Sloan

Modern love

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLASSIC LOOK) JOHNNY MILLER; (AND RELAX) PAUL CRAIG/TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

(Top right) The purple tones in this rich blue shade add heaps of warmth, making it the ideal choice for a brighter room; daylight will make it sing.

GET THE LOOK Into The Blue flat matt emulsion, from £35.99 for 2.5ltr, Crown

And relax (Bottom right) The yellow tinge to this petrol blue makes it a good choice for the bedroom. A low reading light will make it gleam, creating a feeling of being cocooned.

GET THE LOOK Hicks’ Blue absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

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terracottas Orange, ochre and brick are warm, friendly and enthusiastic colours said to stimulate mental activity.

These tones work well in kitchens and family areas.

Bright orange or tangerine was of ten used in 20th-century interiors, particularly the 1980s and 1990s, so it’s a good choice for retro schemes. Yellow inspires optimism and confidence and boosts the spirits, but be careful using it in a bedroom as it can be too stimulating. North-facing rooms, especially, can benefit from these warm tones lifting the cool light.

Seeing red (Main picture) Dominant crimson and brown tones give this paint colour a gleam that’s enhanced in light-filled rooms and will glow in sunny spots.

GET THE LOOK Lady Bug claypaint, £43 for 2.5ltr, Earthborn

Pocket full of sunshine (Top left) This buttercup colour boasts the richest of pigments, meaning it can withstand the coolest of rooms. In a light, northfacing space it will seem like an injection of summer.

GET THE LOOK Dutch Orange estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

Split level (Top right) The sandy tones of the lower wall are more red than the yellow above, meaning it sits well in darker spaces. Hallways, bathrooms or awkward corners can all benefit from its heat.

GET THE LOOK Lower wall in 1974; upper wall in Hay Bale, both matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr; shelf in Peach Juice eggshell, £30 for 1ltr, all Claybrook

Gilded touch (Bottom) Brown and gold tones in this rust shade will bring lustre to a cool, north-facing room. Brass accessories bring out the shine in the pigment for a rich feel.

GET THE LOOK Malahide matt natural emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Edward Bulmer

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warm neutrals From oyster and beige to sand and grey, the secret to neutrals is to pick the right tones for the type of light coming into your room. Cool light works well with warmer neutrals, while south-facing light has a yellow hue, so cooler shades are best. Layers of similar tones keep a scheme from feeling flat, while accents of dark grey, brown or black can be used to punctuate.

Hidden depths (Main picture) There’s a chalkiness to this finish that helps to suggest texture, an added bonus when decorating a darker, north-facing room.

GET THE LOOK Walls in Minim architects matt, £55 for 2.5ltr; units and stripe in Opus architects eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr; island in Kohl architects eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, all Paint & Paper Library

Just creamy (Top) It doesn’t take much light to pick up on the delicate yellow-leaning clotted cream shade of this paint, perfect for a north-facing room with a high ceiling.

GET THE LOOK Architects White elite emulsion, £49 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany at Style Library

PHOTOGRAPHS (BLENDED TONES) SEAN FENNESSY

Blended tones (Bottom) The subtle hint of green in this neutral wall paint makes it ideal for a space that looks out onto the garden, picking up the richness of outdoors.

Designer Tamsin Johnson has combined neutral shades on both the walls and ceiling to great effect.

GET THE LOOK Pearl Colour Pale 167 absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

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browns There’s a shade of brown that works in nearly every light, but in a south-facing room this colour will be warm all day long and super-cosy in the evening. The many different hues range from the warm russet shades of chestnut to silky dark chocolate, and these deeper tones work hard to create a sophisticated entertaining or dining space.

Panel game (Main picture) This chestnut shade contains undertones of purple, adding a rich, luxurious feel. Soft daylight brings out the subtle variations in this colour, making it a surprisingly calming hue to wake up to.

GET THE LOOK Wall in Pontefract pure flat emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr; door in Pontefract architects eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, both Paint & Paper Library

Plum job (Top left) More aubergine than brown, but in the same colour family, the red and blue tones in this shade bring a welcoming zeal to spaces with little natural light. Use in a hallway.

GET THE LOOK Brinjal estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

PHOTOGRAPHS (PLUM JOB) PAUL RAESIDE/TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

Vintage vibe (Top right) A touch of red makes this brown feel homely and means it works beautifully in a cosy scheme.

It would be a good choice in a west-facing room, coming alive in the blaze of a sunset.

GET THE LOOK Brown Betty matt emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Atelier Ellis

Subtle spice (Bottom right) Blended with hints of yellow, this soft brown is vivid and versatile. The rich yet understated tone looks great in south-facing rooms, but will bring a warm feel to a darker space.

GET THE LOOK Cardamom U2 soft touch matte, from £11 for 118ml, Century Collection, Benjamin Moore

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blacks No longer the preserve of your bedroom during that teenage goth phase, when used in the right way blacks are chic and elegant and make the perfect partner for white. Where black is dark and receding, white is light and advancing. Again, there are a myriad of tones of black – blue-black, warmer graphite, earthy ebony and luminous jet. Embrace these shades in the cool light of north-facing rooms, or in spaces like dining rooms that tend to be used in evenings.

Half and half (Main picture) If you’re looking to pick out details, then jet black is best – it pairs well with contrasting brilliant white, meaning you can show off your favourite features.

GET THE LOOK Kohl architects matt, £55 for 2.5ltr; Minim architects matt, £55 for 2.5ltr, both Paint & Paper Library

Light in the dark (Top) This is the perfect example of how dense black can be, but also friendly and versatile and able to work with most colours.

Technically a deep blue, the variations in this shade buck conventional wisdom applied to black and prove that it can work well in a south-facing room, creating a warm, glowing effect.

GET THE LOOK Claybrook Blue matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr, Claybrook

All over (Bottom) The grey tones in this graphite shade of black pick up the cool light of this room perfectly, glowing in the colder sunshine.

GET THE LOOK Charcoal matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Neptune

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There’s no magic formula to the number of colours that comprise a palette. It’s simply about striking a balance. You c a n do t h i s by creat i ng a moodboard: this will let you experiment with different colour combinations. If you’re decorating the whole house, make a moodboard for every room.

That way, you can create a cohesive look throughout.

entrance hall white to temper the hot pink in the drawing room and sage green in the library.

White paint can have blue, red, yellow and even green undertones, and these influence its final look. My go-to white for ceilings and woodwork is Strong White by Farrow & Ball. That said, if I’ve used a dark wall colour I may go a tad darker with the woodwork so the white doesn’t pop too much against the walls.

It’s up to you how much detail you put into your moodboard, but there’s no need to specify every piece of furniture or fabric. When I decorated my home, I started with the walls and layered in colour over time. This feels much less overwhelming. It also lets your home evolve gradually.

I’m often asked which room I start with when I’m planning a colour scheme for a client’s home. The answer is whichever room I enter into when I walk through the door. I also tend to decorate in the order you’d see the house if you were shown it by an estate agent. So, the living areas and kitchen first, before working upwards to the more intimate spaces.

Colour adds interest and vibrancy, but think carefully whether you’ll be able to live with it. I once painted my bedroom dark red but realised it was overpowering to wake up to.

Dark red works better in a space where you spend less time, such as a small loo.

The best way to dabble in colour is to keep walls n eu t ra l , t h en a d d a splash with furnishings.

This also works if you have a large open-plan space.

Keep walls light, then layer in colour – the more the better. If there’s a bit of ever y thing nothing looks out of place.

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A home should ebb and flow. For example, if you use a stronger colour in the bedroom, balance it out by taking a neutral approach to the bathroom. I painted my open-plan kitchen-living-dining room off-white.

I then made a strong statement in the hallway with a rich brown seagrass wallpaper, which looks fabulous.

Our eyes need a rest from saturated colour, and you can do this by keeping connecting spaces neutral. For one of my clients, I painted the

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beataheuman.com Come and hear Beata Heuman being interviewed by our Acting Editorial Director Pip McCormac. As part of the Conversations in Design series at London Design Week 2020 she’ll share her interiors insights.

WHEN Sunday 8 March, 11.30am WHERE TALK, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour TICKETS Readers can book tickets at the discounted price of £7.50 (usually £10) Visit dcch.co.uk or email tickets@dcch.co.uk and quote ‘HGN’. Advanced booking is recommended as tickets are limited.

FEATURE SOPHIE BAYLIS PHOTOGRAPH SIMON BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

interview

Interior designer Beata Heuman on choosing colour

LIVINGETC / PARTNERSHIP

Collaborative art W E ' R E D E L I G H T E D TO P R E S E N T T H E CO N N O R B R OT H E R S ’ L AT E S T WO R K S I N CO L L A B O R ATI O N W I T H T I M E D I A A N D R U N WAY G A L L E RY. T H E S E L I M IT E D - E D I T I O N P R I N T S A R E AVA I L A B L E TO B U Y E XC LU S I V E LY AT R U N WAY- G A L L E R Y. C O M

One minute with The Connor Brothers

Inspiration? Ideas start as conversations, usually in taxi rides or at the pub. We have on-going themes that interest us, such as prison reform, addiction, mental health and the nature of reality.

Tell us about the collaboration It was a fascinating process.

There are literally thousands of magazines in the archives. We focussed on illustrations that had been printed using lithography; there’s something more real, visceral maybe, about this style Artists you love? James Turrell, who creates light installations – he’s a genius –and emerging German artist, Oskar Rink .

Artwork display advice? Stay true to your style and personality and arrange pieces to appeal to you. We love the cluttered ‘old salon style’ displays, where pieces are mixed and matched, floor to ceiling.

The Connor Brothers were invited to plunder our archives at TI Media to find images they could refashion to create the two exciting new limited-edition prints, shown here. There are only 25 of each available at runway-gallery.com, so head online now to secure yours.

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FEATURE TARA KING ARTWORKS (MAIN PICTURE) ALL SHE WANTED; (ABOVE) A DANGEROUS IDEA, BOTH THE CONNOR BROTHERS 2019

Describe your style. It’s a mix of dark humour and philosophical insight. Our collages explore the boundaries between truth and fiction, and raise questions about how we construct meaning from experience.

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY PHOTOGRAPH BIANCA TUCKWELL

This is Ozone’s second roastery and eatery opening in London, offering an all-day, globally inspired menu and top-notch coffee

the lifestyle edit T H E O N E T H I N G W E ’ R E L U S T I N G OV E R T H I S M O N T H

We can’t think of anywhere cooler to satisfy your coffee cravings than Ozone, the new artisanal coffee roasters in Bethnal Green. Whether it’s a morning meeting or catching up with friends over brunch, the airy warehouse conversion promises a moment of pause at the start of your day livingetc.com

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Your bit on the side.

Shop thousands of designs at swooneditions.com

Pearl side table

ÂŁ149

going out out PL ACES TO GO, THINGS TO SE E . . .

eat

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY PHOTOGRAPHS (NORMA) MILO BROWN; (STEVE MCQUEEN) TATE

WHAT… Norma, a hit new Italian eatery.

WHERE… The ever-chic surrounds of Charlotte Street.

WHY… This new pasta house is setting London’s foodie folk all aflutter with deep-fried spaghettini fritters and orangepork pappardelle served up in a lean Fitzrovia townhouse. Norma comes courtesy of the Stafford Group – the people behind the popular poultry spot Game Bird – and chef Ben Tish, formerly of Salt Yard Group. It’s a warm, inviting restaurant and an excellent address to have up your sleeve when only Italian will do.

drink WHAT... Biodynamic wines at Tillingham.

WHERE... A vineyard in rural East Sussex.

WHY... This bucolic countryside winery has roots dating back to the 13th century, but it’s far from behind the times. Mixing heritage fermentation techniques with modern technology, Tillingham produces organic wines from grapes grown in ecologically optimum soils. There’s an on-site restaurant, bar, wine shop and recently converted farmstead offering stylish boutique accommodation for those extended boozy stays.

visit WHAT… Steve McQueen’s Year 3.

WHERE… The rarefied surrounds of Tate Britain.

WHY… Earlier this year, Turner Prize-winning artist and Oscarwinning filmmaker Steve McQueen invited every Year 3 pupil in London to have their class photograph taken in one Herculean effort to capture a moment of childhood and a peek at what the capital’s future will look like. The results will be exhibited until the May 3 and run alongside a public installation programme that will throw the images on to billboards in underground stations and across the city.

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Put yourself on the perfect pedestal.

Shop thousands of designs at swooneditions.com

Penfold footstool from ÂŁ199

cook A D D A K I C K T O YO U R S U P P E R W I T H S T I C K Y, A D O B O - S P I C E D P O R K C H O P S

serves 4 2 medium pork chops, trimmed and any fat removed FOR THE ADOBO MARINADE 3 small ancho chillies, finely chopped or 1tsp chilli flakes ½tbsp ground paprika ½tbsp ground cumin 1tsp ground turmeric 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 1tsp dried oregano 1tbsp apple cider vinegar 3tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice 2tbsp runny honey 2tbsp olive oil ½tsp salt

PHOTOGRAPH CLARE WINFIELD

Once you’ve mastered the adobo mix, it will be your go-to marinade when cooking meat or fish

1 Spice Diet: Spice Up Slim Down by Kalpna Woolf (£12.99, Pavilion Books)

Combine a ll the ing red ient s for the adobo marinade in a bowl. Add the pork chops and mix well, making sure each pork chop is coated with the marinade. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or overnight.

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2

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Preheat the grill to high. Sha ke the marinade off the pork chops and set aside to use as a baste when grilling the meat.

Place the pork chops on the wire rack in the grill pan and cook under the grill for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until cooked through, basting regularly with the marinade. Ma ke sure the meat is cooked through and not pink.

Slice the chops thinly and serve with a fennel, cucumber and pomegranate side salad.

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S IT E S , S O U N DS A N D R E A DS FO R M O R E I N S P I R I N G YO U -TI M E

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SMALL SCREEN

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY PHOTOGRAPHS (SMALL SCREEN) LARA SOLANKI/NETFLIX; (APP ALERT) NICK FOX/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

American actress, comedian and general favourite funny woman Tiffany Haddish has released her first all-singing, all-dancing Netflix comedy special. Detailing her life as a woman of Eritrean Jewish descent, Black Mitzvah recounts Haddish’s road to her ethnic and spiritual roots by way of barrier-bashing stand-up, Saturday Night Live gigs and clothes sharing with Beyonce. Streaming on Netflix now.

APP ALERT

2

BOOK CLUB

Kate Watson-Smyth, a perennial oracle of interiors, has released her latest book Mad About the House: 101 Interior Design Answers.

An encyclopedia of no-nonsense solutions to some of the biggest decorating dilemmas, everything from layouts to lighting is tackled in an easy-read, light-hearted style. Out 5 March (£14, Pavilion Books).

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Recently named as the iPhone app of the year, Spectre is a camera app that uses AI to take quality long-exposure photos.

A must for snapping landmarks on nature hikes.

PODCAST WAT C H

Raised in country music mecca Nashville, Jad Abumrad had known the platinum tresses and diamante-adorned get-ups of Dolly Parton all his life, but paid little attention to her cultural output. After the animosity of the 2016 US election, Abumrad saw the positivity radiating from Parton as a unifier – a woman who could bring together evangelical Christians and West Village drag queens.

His Dolly Parton’s America podcast – the result of months of research and interviews with the star – delves into her life and the America of today.

5

YO U ’ V E G OT M A I L

Natasha Lunn’s email newsletter, Conversations on Love, features thought-provoking, often outlook-changing interviews on the most pondered of all human emotions.

Lunn’s heart-warming back and forths with guests such as Hilary Mantel and Alain de Botton are so searing that she was involved in a bidding war for the book, out next year. Sign up via Instagram: @conversations_on_love

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hotel hot list T H E C H I C R E T R E AT S L I G H T I N G U P O U R D E S I G N R A D A R

A get-away-from-it-all destination where guests unwind in serene, understated luxury surrounded by stunning desert landscapes

Those in the know are already familiar with Texas’s thriving art communities. From hipster Austin and its gallery and café culture, to off-the-beaten-track outposts such as the sculpture-dotted desert landscape of Marfa, it’s not all cowboy boots and country music in the Lone Star State. And the latest hotspot is Terlingua, thanks to Willow House, a wilderness and art retreat by first-time hotelier Lauren Werner. The design haven consists of a small scattering of Donald Judd-inspired, concrete, modernist cabins set in 250 acres of arid plains. The experience is matchless. Guests can mingle with like-minded souls in the main house, or find total isolation to immerse themselves in a reflective pause beneath crystal-clear skies, surrounded by a curation of American contemporary art.

IN THE KNOW Explore the majesty of Big Bend National Park and its dramatic rugged terrain, right at the hotel’s doorstep.

Dine on huevos rancheros at local institution Chili Pepper, a down-to-earth local diner.

Book it Rooms from £180 a night (willowhouse.co).

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FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

Willow House, Texas

In a quiet location in the Dorsodouro, Il Palazzo swaps the Venetian trend for opulence for a brighter, breezier feel, with a refreshing palette that reflects the city’s sky blue, pale yellow and terracotta tones

Il Palazzo Experimental, Venice The sixth hotel opening by the Parisian trio behind Experimental Group, Il Palazzo is their first step into Italy and the competitive Venetian boutique hotel scene. Continuing a partnership that’s so far born fruit, designer Dorothée Meilichzon was given charge of the interiors at the 16th-century Renaissance palace. She has circumvented the opulent style most common in the city for something altogether more revelatory. Expect airy common spaces with pastel-washed walls outfitted with sleek, modern furniture in jewel-tone upholstery. Original Gothic architectural features remain, but they’re invariably painted in colour blocks and stripes. The finished effect has enormous respect for the history of the place, while adding a stylish breath of modernity.

IN THE KNOW Check the tide forecast if travelling in the winter months, you might need your wellies if acqua alta hits.

Visit Venetian glass legend Carlo Moretti’s flagship store, L’Isola, on Calle de la Botteghe for a coloured glass treasure.

Book it Double rooms from £110 a night (palazzoexperimental.com).

The hotel’s chic rooftop bar is a tempting space to sip a cocktail amid lush greenery while taking in panoramic views of the city – then head to the restaurant to enjoy authentic Portuguese cuisine

The Vintage Hotel, Lisbon Another address for your Lisbon list, confident colour and retro vibrations are the serving of the day at the recently rethought Vintage Hotel. This tucked-away gem in Principe Real was given a design overhaul by Quiet Studios, who’ve taken the mid-century brief and run with it, placing unique Danish armchairs and gin-heaving brass drinks trollies in all the rooms. Public spaces are full of art, much of it special commissions, including a magnificent portrait of a female Portuguese fado singer by Margarida Fleming that keeps mischievous watch over the buzzy bar. There’s a great street-level restaurant, but in summer months hotel guests should bypass it for the tropically planted roof terrace – a must-visit hangout high above the city.

IN THE KNOW Pack your comfiest trainers. Lisbon is a city built on steep hills, but you’ll be desperate to explore them.

Relax weary bones in the hotel’s subterranean spa, complete with a ‘water lounge’ – aka a plunge pool in a blissfully darkened room.

Book it Double rooms from £120 a night (thevintagelisbon.com).

Blissful Bali takes some beating for anyone yearning for a barefoot, beach getaway. This luxurious five-bedroom, five-bathroom villa in a tropical island haven provides the ultimate chill-out holiday

Mandala. The Bay, Nusa Lembongan, Bali Not strictly a hotel, but offering all the frills and superfluities of one, Mandala. The Bay is the fourth villa opened in Bali by Singapore-based M Development. The group’s raison d’être has been to design high-end accommodation for those who prefer to holiday in a self-contained house. Located in the quiet serenity of Nusa Lembongan, it offers unobstructed ocean views to be enjoyed from the comfort of hand-carved timber armchairs. James Brown of Australian design studio UFO Agencies came on board with the decor, even adding on-trend line murals reminiscent of a Picasso portrait. Informal, but beautifully dressed, Mandala offers a chance to stay in a sunshine-drenched pad that could easily grace Livingetc’s pages as an enviable private home.

IN THE KNOW Book dinner anywhere on the island with Mandala’s concierge, or have a private chef rustle up something in your villa.

Explore the island’s fascinating landscape, from the chilled vibe of Mushroom Bay to the wildlife-rich Mangrove Forest.

Book it From £500 a night for the five-bed villa (mandala.house).

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Let’s design together

WINTER SALE 13 Showrooms Nationwide

Aldeburgh 3 seater sofa in Linara Spice

0808 178 3211 www.sofasandstuff.com

globetrotter M A R T Y N L AW R E N C E B U L L A R D S P I L L S H I S PA L M S P R I N G S S E C R E T S

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY PHOTOGRAPHS (PALM CANYON DRIVE) PETER SCHICKERT/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; (KAUFMANN HOUSE) DORLING KINDERSLEY/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; (SANDS HOTEL AND SPA) JAMIE KOWAL; (COACHELLA VALLEY) MIHAI ANDRITOIU/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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os Angeles-based, British interior design maverick MLB has been on the list of superstar decorators since rethin k ing the Bel A ir home of supermodel Cheryl Tiegs more than two decades ago. Since then he’s cultivated the houses of everyone from Cher to Tommy Hilfiger. We caught up to find out what’s happening in the original American oasis.

First thing’s first, where should we stay? Of course I’m biased here as I have designed several hotels in the Palm Springs area, my latest being the Sands Hotel and Spa in Indian Wells (sandshotelandspa.com).

Being a little outside of old Palm Springs you get to see and experience more of what the valley has to offer. Other hotspots include the Sparrows Lodge and the Parker.

Shopping fix? For a Mad Men fashion moment (and home goods, too) head to a Trina Turk boutique (trinaturk.com). Her

Interior design hotspot? The west end of Palm Canyon Drive is full of fantastic vintage, design and antiques stores. A great spot for mid-century furniture and art is A La Mod (alamodps.com), while amazing Italian and American mid-century lighting can be found at Fabio (fabioltd.com) located next to another favourite furniture store, Modern Way, which has ever-changing vintage stock (psmodernway.com).

Modernist icon Kaufmann House

The table to book in advance? Birba is one of the buzziest spots in town , serving up changing weekly specials featuring organic Californian ingredients (birbaps.com). Plus the outdoor seating, set under twinkling lights, balmy skies and olive trees makes it feel like a modern desert oasis.

Sip a cocktail or two at? Melvyn’s, the famed watering hole frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor back in its heyday, has such a quaint ambiance that it’s hard not to feel like one of the Rat Pack when nursing a Martini within its red leather-clad walls (inglesideinn.com).

designs exemplify the Palm Springs vibe, with bright colours and a nod to vintage styling.

Palm trees sway on Palm Canyon Drive

Sands Hotel and Spa

Where to head for the MLB look?

Christopher Anthony is my first go-to spot for vintage furniture (christopheranthonyltd. com); it often carries signed pieces by both American and European masters. I have bought so many things I have used on my jobs around the globe as well as for my own home.

The iconic building to snap for the ’g ra m? The Kaufmann House, made famous by Slim Aarons’ Poolside Gossip photo, designed by iconic architect Richard Neutra. They won’t let you in, but you can get a great shot from the outside gates.

Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Coachella Valley

Don’t leave without visiting? Take the funicular tram to the top of the mountain and see the National Park (pstramway.com).

With breathtaking vistas on the way up of the Coachella Valley, you also get to experience a whole other climate and scenery that is unexpected in the desert. You never know whom you might meet on the way up there... on my first visit I ended up in the tramcar with the Dalai Lama and his retinue!

For more travel ideas and hotel inspiration, visit the thecaribou.com livingetc.com

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Albany 3 seater sofa was £669 - Sale price £499

We use a 3D model of your space to utilise every inch of storage in your garage, wardrobe, dressing room, utility spaces and cupboards. Elfa is a design classic, the “must have ” storage system across Europe and America for over 70 years.

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my happy place The dramatic cliff-top views that shopping editor Holly Phillips escapes to for a windswept lift

I’ve always found something magical about land meeting sea – a breath of fresh air to fire the imagination. Perched high on Cornwall’s rugged north coast, Tintagel Castle (supposed birthplace of King Arthur) is an immersive swirl of romance, myths and spectacular coastline. As I climb my way between history and legend, I ponder all the stories exchanged in the wild swirling waves beneath and never fail to be enamoured by the atmospheric landscape.

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