HOME ABSOLUTELY
HOME
FEBRUARY 2018
F E B RUARY 2 01 8
ELEGANT LIVING
£4.99
IN THE KITCHEN New looks for the hub of the home
MAKING
SPACE London’s best extensions
PLU S
DONNA WILSON • ROSIE BIRKETT MARTA NOWICKA
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Cast iron radiators hand made in England UK stores in Chelsea, Wimbledon & Manchester +44 (0) 20 3397 7295 | +44 (0) 161 439 9350 Book a home consultation or visit one of our showrooms for bespoke heating www.castrads.com
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Open House
We would be delighted to show you how we turned a victorian terrace house into a bright contemporary design home at Lysia Street, SW6
Viewing times
on Saturday and Sunday: 17th-18th/ Feb - from 10am to 12pm For booking your visit just call us on 0203 405 6820 or email us at info@yourarchitect.london Your Architect London is an award-winning Fulham architectural firm. We offer a range of architectural services, from planning permission, project management, design and build, through to completion, specializing in contemporary design and modern architecture.
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Open house 17th-18th/ Feb
965 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5JJ T: 0203 405 6820 E: info@yourarchitect.london www.yourarchitect.london
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HOME FEBRUARY 2018
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42 24 THE TOP TEN
Accessories with faces on them
26 MARTA NOWICKA
FEBRUARY 2018
31 TILE TRENDS 12 CALENDAR
Diary dates for the coming months
14 NEWS
Snippets from the interiors industry Why you shouldn't be afraid of it
DESIGN 23 CREATIVE REVIEW News from the design world
6
33 CUSHIONS AND FABRICS Tom Dixon shows his softer side
ELEGANT LIVING
£4.99
IN THE KITCHEN New looks for the hub of the home
MAKING
SPACE London’s best extensions
34 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Florist Nikki Pierce's beautiful styles
PLU S
DONNA WILSON • ROSIE BIRKETT MARTA NOWICKA
38 VASE APPEAL
Our selection of decorative vases
42 SPACE MAKERS
Six pages dedicated to London's most striking domestic extensions
49 THE LEGACY
Parker Knoll and the Statesman Chair
z e s t .l o n d o n
18 TREND - PATTERN
Bert & May's founder talks us through 2018 F E B RUARY 2 01 8
INSIDER
HOME ABSOLUTELY
HOME
A house tour of the interior architect's impressive urban live/work space
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COVER
de Gournay hand painted ‘African Savannah’ wallpaper, in Crystal Grey colourway on scenic paper. Photography by Dan Marshall. From £ 1,269 per panel (915 mm width)
FEBRUARY 2018 HOME
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70 HOME EDITOR
Pendle Harte
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Georgia McVeigh
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Nancy Alsop, Pearl Boyd, Helen Brown, Hannah Hopkins, Joy Montgomery
HOME SPECIALIST
Rebecca Lee
GROUP SALES MANAGER
Craig Davies
SALES MANAGER
Rollo Dennison
ART DIRECTOR
Phil Couzens
SENIOR DESIGNERS
Pawel Kuba, Linsey Cannon
MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER
Rebecca Noonan
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DESIGNER
Catherine Perkins
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Chris Couchman
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Alexandra Hvid
DIRECTORS
Greg Hughes, Alexandra Hunter
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Alexandra Hvid
24
LIVING 52 CREATURE COMFORTS A home tour with Donna Wilson
57 NEON BRIGHTS
Accessories to light up February
INSPIRE
58 ROSIE BIRKETT
84 KNIFE EDGE
67 SHINE A LIGHT
88 ROOM WITH A VIEW
70 THE ROOM
98 MY STYLE
In the kitchen with the food writer All the best task lamps
Anna Burls' bedroom design
Nancy Alsop visits the Blenheim Forge A Budapest apartment tour
Janette Reid of Eclect Design
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
Sherif Shaltout
For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing kerry@zest-media.com. For editorial enquiries please email pendle@zest-media.com
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OUR OUR BIGGEST BIGGEST EVER EVER OUR BIGGESTSALE EVER JANUARY
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*Terms and conditions apply, ask in-store for more details. *Terms and conditions apply, ask in-store for more details.
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FROM THE
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EDITOR
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re you afraid of pattern? Many people are. Given the choice between plain white plates and ones with a pattern on, many would choose white without a second thought. Patterns clash with each other, they might think, or people might not feel confident choosing one over the others. Of course patterned things aren't always better than plain ones, but there are a lot of very beautiful patterns and prints around, and often they can serve to highlight a white plate's drabness. And particularly so in February, the drabbest time of all, when we could all do with a boost of some kind. Since probably the best thing to do in this most miserable month is to stay in, it makes sense to create a home environment that you actually enjoy spending time in. Winter evenings in are made infinitely more pleasurable when you are surrounded by beautiful things – and in these pages there's plenty to covet (patterned and plain). We also look around some interesting London homes, including designer Donna Wilson's stylish and characterful house (it features many of her own creations) and interior architect Marta Nowicka's reconfigured Victorian factory home. We also meet food writer Rosie Birkett in her own kitchen. I hope you enjoy the issue.
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Pendle Harte p e n d l e @ z e s t - m e d i a .c o m
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Things we like this month 1 House of Rym's beautiful Honeycomb throw; page 18 2 Desk lamps. It's important to work in a properly lit space; page 67 3 Olli Ella's stylish ideas for kids' rooms; page 27
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4 Anything with a face on it; page 24 5 Also, anything fluoro; page 57 6 Vases of flowers. Especially when designed by Nikki Pierce...; page 34 7 ...and especially when the vase is by Jonathan Adler; page 38
HOME FEBRUARY 2018
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Bespoke Wardrobe Design www.neatsmith.co.uk 0800 1956 595
Neatsmith quality
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design
service
FINCHLEY ROAD 6-8 Frognal Parade NW3 5HH
HATCH END 471 Uxbridge Road HA5 4JS
TEDDINGTON 3 Broad Street TW11 8QZ
30/08/2016 16/08/201615:42 12:09
INSIDER NEWS • PEOPLE • DESIGN • EVENTS
p. 14
. Focus: pattern and why you shouldn't fear it
p. 18
Harmonics in Space by Fred Butler, NOW Gallery
Diary Dates p. 12 . News
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A D AT E W I T H
DESIGN Art fairs, festivals and events for your calendar By H E L E N B R OW N
SIXTIES STYLE From 2 February Proud Central Recognised for his exemplary collaborations with David Bowie, photographer Brian Duffy recorded modern Britain and London's Swinging Sixties, exploring the youth-driven cultural shift within art, music and fashion. This diverse collection of photographs encompasses fashion editorials, celebrity portraiture and advertising campaigns as Duffy captured the trends of this momentous decade. 32 John Adam Street, WC2N; proud.co.uk
Paulene Stone, Colour Gels, Town Magazine, 1963; courtesy of Proud Central; Photo Duffy ©Duffy Archive
POEMS OF OUR CLIMATE
Unt i l 17 Feb r uar y Marian Goodman Gallery In his latest solo show, Matt Saunders applies painting, photography and print-making to the moving image, with references to film, the history of cinema and fiction. Expect new oil on chiffon paintings, copper plate etchings and large-scale animation, featuring his usual themes and inimitable quirks. 5-8 Lower John Street; mariangoodman.com
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FIRST AND FOREMOST
Still from Townhouse (The Intricate Alps), 2017
From 2 5 Ja n ua r y Hicks Gallery In vibrant works that bridge generational divides, Sir Peter Blake reflects his fascination with all streams of popular culture and the beauty found in everyday objects. In its first show of 2018, Hicks Gallery showcase his rarely available prints and offer a truly unique opportunity to purchase iconic pieces by the ‘Godfather of British pop art’. 2-4 Leopold Road, SW19; hicksgallery.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2018 HOME
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I N S I D E R | WHAT’S ON To Napolean, Jason Brooks; courtesy of the artist and Marlborough Fine Art
HARMONICS IN SPACE Fro m 28 Feb ru a r y N OW G a l l e r y Learn to find joy in light and colour at NOW Gallery as it's transformed into a destination for wellbeing. Fred Butler’s Harmonics in Space will see the venue metamorphose into a therapeutic retreat comprising immersive sculptures that invite visitors to peer inside to discover the interplay between the conscious and unconscious psyche, stimulate the imagination and release creativity. The Gateway Pavillions, Peninsula Square, SE10; now gallery.co.uk
MADE IN NORTH KOREA
From 2 3 Feb r uar y House of Illustration In a UK first, House of Illustration reveals a graphic style honed over decades in a closed society with an impressive array of design from North Korea. Over 100 common objects including food packaging, ticket stubs and stamps provide a rare insight into this most curious country. 2 Granary Square, N1C; houseofillustration.org.uk
The Subject is Not the Subject 9 February - 10 March
Invitation to the 55th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK, 2003, collection of Nicholas Bonner; courtesy of Phaidon
Marlborough Fine Art In his third solo exhibition with Marlborough Fine Art, Jason Brooks looks at how the language of painting can take one object and turn it into another with three different sources of art: hobbyist paintings collected from junk shops, 18th century romantic paintings brought at auctions, and composited photo images taken by Brooks of fellow image makers. 6 Albemarle Street, W1S; marlboroughlondon.com
SURFACE DESIGN SHOW THE BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE 6-8 FEBRUARY
This annual extravaganza returns with the very best in new and innovative surfaces. These are the top trends to look out for this year: surfacedesignshow.com
TRENDING TERRAZZO
BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
Italian producers, Lithos Design (stand 638) embody this style with an extensive range of coverings, wall partitions and natural stone flooring.
Grestec Tiles (stand 596) contribute to this trend, as they create a number of patterned tiles which allow the user to create their own unique interiors.
NATURALLY CREATIVE V4 Flooring (stand 200) embrace the natural beauty of their materials with a range of easy-to-install, striking panels available in a range of colours and patterns.
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I N S I D E R | NEWS
Interiors
NEWS Updates from the industry Compil ed by
PENDLE HARTE
PA R LO U R GAME
Th e M y s t e r y Mansion Laurence King's beautifully illustrated storytelling card game features a house that's full of intrigue and clues. If you love interiors, and a good whodunnit, then stay in and play this. laurenceking.com
SCENTED TA L E S
BLUE PL ANET Marimekko Celebrating its 50th birthday this year, Marimekko is launching several collections over the coming months. We love the spring collection of blue ceramics and co-ordinating textiles and accessories. skandium.com
ARMCHAIR COMMENTARY
Lola James Harper These candles tell a story, literally, as their packaging shows. Each scent is based on a specific time and place and designed to spark emotions. lolajamesharper.com
C o nt e nt b y C o n r a n The new Salone armchair in this black and white square pattern is stylish and comfortable. A deep feather-filled seat and a button back offers cosiness despite the angular, cubist look. contentbyconran.com
M A N H AT TA N STYLE
Catchpole & Rye The new collection of hand-tufted rugs by designer Jaime Hayon for internationally celebrated rug company Nani Marquina seem to feature a chaotic tangle of colours but closer inspection reveals turtles, hands, fish, birds and more... gomodern.co.uk
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FEBRUARY 2018 ž HOME
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An enduring British classic designed by Rodney Kinsman RDI in 1981, the Orbit mirror is a practical as it is refined. The orbiting vanity mirror has both a regular and magnifying surface.
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FOOD FRESHER FOR LONGER
At the heart of Fisher & Paykel refrigerators is the ability to sense and respond to daily use in an intelligent way. The combination of temperature sensors with smart electronics and variable speed fans creates a controlled environment and optimum
temperature
for
better food care. We call it ActiveSmart™ Technology.
fisherpaykel.com/UK sales@fisherpaykel.co.uk 08000 886 601
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I N S I D E R | NEWS
SCR ATCH THE SURFACE
O l i v i a As p i n a l l Olivia Aspinall Studio is an emerging surface design brand, offering fresh and exciting surface finishes are characterised by their colour, pattern and craftsmanship. All products are hand-made in the UK. olivia-aspinall.com
Interiors
NEWS News from the industry Compil ed by
PENDLE HARTE
RETRO TUMBLERS
Wa t e r f o r d The Short Stories Whisky & Water tumblers celebrate Waterford heritage with the original Waterford ‘W’ logo based on the seal of the city and its Viking history. These retro tumblers feature the words ‘whiskey’ and ‘water’ in the same historical design with unique crystal cuts. waterford.co.uk
PURPLE REIGN
COLOUR WAYS
B r a b a nt i a
Now that purple is officially the colour of 2018, Brabantia's bins are
really coming into their own. They come in a huge variety of shades but these purple, berry-hued ones are top of the bill. brabantia.com
Rubelli Rubelli’s 2018 collection features vibrant colours spanning lime, aquamarine, dusky pink and Tiffany blue as well as an oxidised bronze and the return of red. rubelli.com
CURIOSITY SHOP
Li b e r t y L o n d o n Liberty's new homewares department is full of quirky finds and stylish accessories. Beautifully displayed, the ceramics, glass and vintage pieces are all highly covetable. libertylondon.com
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… AND REPEAT Pattern, whether geometric or abstract, remains huge for 2018, even if many people fear it Words
EVE HERBERT
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any people would say that they are afraid of pattern. They might profess to prefer a minimalist look or a monotone palette, with no busy detailing. Consider the woman who has been vilified on social media recently for displaying her books pages outwards on her shelves in order to remain consistent with her neutral colourscheme, something that many of us might consider an extreme anti-pattern stance. People might fear pattern because they are picturing a hellish 1970s airport lounge with patterned wall coverings, headachey patterned carpet and endless patterned upholstery, all of it clashing to create a nightmarish sense of graphic overload. But the new breed of geometric patterns can appeal to even the most enthusiastic minimalist's sense of order when pleasing proportions and attractive colours combine to create a perfect repeating motif. And it's not just geometry - we love the random repeat of splatterware as well as abstract block prints on ceramics and cushions. So for 2018, lose the fear and add some pattern to your space.
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HABITAT Duplo large rug £650 habitat.co.uk
CERAMICHE FASANO Splatter collection, from £10 notanotherbill.com
FEBRUARY 2018 HOME
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I N S I D E R | TREND HOKOLO Ceramics tea sets, £45 holoko.com
HOUSE OF RYM Go Undercover throw, £59 eclectdesign.com
HAY
Mean Machine notebooks, from £4 hay.dk
‘People might fear pattern because they’re picturing a hellish 1970s airport lounge’
HABITAT
Quadra cushion, £35 habitat.co.uk
MARIMEKKO Oiva Mynsteri teapot, £75 connox.co.uk
DICKENS & JONES Freida triangle vase, £20 houseoffraser.co.uk
OVEIDO DESIGN
Stoneware plate, £12.95 dotcomgiftshop.com
HAY Kaleido trays, from £13 reallywellmade.co.uk
HOME FEBRUARY 2018
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CATCHPOLE & RYE KENT ENGLAND
EXCLUSIVE
LUXURY
BATHROOMS
L O N D O N • T U N B R I D G E W ELL S • A S H F O R D
T. 020 7351 0940
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DESIGN NEWS • PEOPLE • DESIGN • EVENTS
p. 30
. Tile trends for 2018
p. 31
. London's best extensions
p. 42
tomdixon.net
At home with Marta Nowicka
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Exceptional British made stoves 01983 537780 www.charnwood.com
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D E S I G N | NEWS
G R APH IC DESIG N
Th e R u g C o m p a n y The Rug Company has teamed up with award-winning German designer Sebastian Herkner to launch two new rugs inspired by cityscapes in handknotted silk and Tibetan wool. Prices start at £2,210. therugcompany.com
Creative
REVIEW News from the design world Compil ed by
PENDLE HARTE
SOCIALIST ST YLE
Th e E a s t G e r m a n Handbook Taschen's comprehensive new volume on East German design includes intriguing examples of everyday ephemera from behind the Iron Curtain. From hairdryers to cigarettes via furniture, gadgets and posters, this is a must for design lovers. taschen.com
OFF THE WALL
MAPPING OUT
Th e C i t y Wo r k s Contemporary design brand The City Works creates surface patterns based on maps and cityscapes. Pictured is the London in Gold print, a round design in gold hot foil designed to be hung any way up. thecity.works
Fa r r o w & B a l l Three of the brand’s most popular wallpapers have launched in bold and vivid new colourways. Pictured is Wisteria in Red Earth, French Grey and Churlish Green. farrow-ball.com
B O O K TA L K
Penguin Huddle SCP and Penguin have joined forces to create a new home for books, and the result is Jasper Morrison's versatile book clamp. Named the Penguin Huddle, it holds between 18 and 27 paperbacks and is available for pre-order now before its launch in April. scp.co.uk
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Facial features
TEA LADY
The face on this Ferm Living teatowel is bright and cheery enough to make washing up a joy. fermliving.com
There’s always someone looking at you Compil ed by
PENDLE HARTE
HOME Loves AMERICAN BOY
Jonathan Adler's playfully chic Utopia mugs feature spectacled characters in brown stoneware with a sheer white glaze. uk.jonathanadler.com
FLOWER HEAD
Bjorn Wiinblad's sweet flower head vase features the designer's classic woman's face. scandinaviandesigncentre.com
I’M YOUR VENUS
This pair of bookends features Venus, the goddess of love, handcrafted in ceramine, a mixture Of earthy and marbled powders that imitates an ancient Greek recipe. audenza.com
SOFT FACE
This merino wool cushion cover by Giannina Capitani is made in collaboration with Alice Dansey-Wright and it's a simple line drawing that creates a wry expression. gianninacapitani.com
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D E S I G N | INSPIRATIONS
EYES WIDE OPEN Kinska’s quirky ceramics feature lots of faces, and their expressions are inscrutable. These weeping cups are particularly sweet. kinska.com
BOWL CUT
House of Rym's Seriously cereally bowl features a sweet woodland imp. houseofrym.com
CHARACTER STUDY
The Face It throw from Danish brand Luckyboysunday has a big happy face woven all the way through it. rume.co.uk
FAMILY DINNER
Donna Wilson's characterful plates feature child-like drawings of faces. Collect them all and create a new ceramic family. donnawilson.com
LOST GIRL
Arabia's Finland 100 mug was designed to celebrate 100 years of Finnish independence. finnishdesignshop.com
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D E S I G N | PROFILE
U R B A N
RETREAT
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Interior architect Marta Nowicka shows HOME around her impressive live/work space
rchitects are often fans of upside-down living. Why waste the natural light on sleep? Upper floors offer better light and better views, yet traditionally we spend our waking hours downstairs. When interior architect Marta Nowicka first moved into what is now her spacious and stylish (upside down) family home/office, it was a derelict lithographic print factory on a small site off Old Street, wedged in a tight urban plot between buildings of different sizes in a deserted part of town. It wasn’t an obvious home. That was 1998; now Nowicka has a large property portfolio consisting of homes she’s bought and renovated – but instead of selling them on, she keeps them, either as rental properties or as holiday homes for her family. It's not just that she's clever, though, it's also because each project is such a labour of love that she's too emotionally involved
Words P E N D L E H A R T E
to sell. The holiday home idea led to her newest venture, an online business called Dom Stay & Live that works as a showcase for her own projects as well as a recommendations network for people looking for stylish and architecturally interesting places to stay around the world. There’s a lot of story behind her Old Street home. When she first bought the Victorian building, stretching herself to afford it, they lived on the ground floor with a makeshift kitchen while they planned the space. ‘We wanted to go down a storey and up a storey,’ she explains, showing me around the finished product. "But one day we climbed onto the roof and realised that this is where the space is," becuse of the spectacular views and the light, and that's when she formed the idea to put the living area upstairs. But
“Upper floors offer better light yet traditionally we spend our waking hours downstairs” HOME FEBRUARY 2018
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Tel: 01306 712 262 Email: info@iggi.co.uk Iggi Interior Design, The Old Parlour, Unit 6, Ockley Court Farm, Coles Lane, Ockley, Surrey, RH5 5LS
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D E S I G N | PROFILE
“There are no lights up here. It’s all lit by light pollution” inevitably the project was beset by problems including rotten joists and sagging foundations, as well as Nowicka's then undeveloped budgeting skills. "We forgot to budget for the scaffolding and that was £27,000. Can you imagine?" The whole thing took four years. Starting on the ground floor, she shows me the basement before we make our way upstairs to the house’s tour de force. Downstairs it’s all concrete and steel, in what she calls her ‘industrial car park aesthetic’ and the staircase is brutalist metal and concrete. The bathroom is completely mirrored, to the extent that you can't find the door from inside because you're surrounded by infinite reflections. Why so confusing? “I’d seen an installation at the Venice Biennale like this," she explains breezily. The top floor is breathtaking. Essentially a glass box built on top of the original flat roof, it's a comfortable and stylish open plan living
room and kitchen, with sliding doors opening onto a roof terrace, and somehow it's cosy, even though it could feel very exposed. “I call that my kitchen clock,” Nowicka says, gesturing at the church spire of Saint Lukes, which dominates one side of her vista. “There are no blinds up here, or lights – it’s all lit by light pollution. People often ask whether we feel exposed up here, surrounded by so many other windows, but I think that when you’re eating in a restaurant you’re often very visible – and anyway most other people do have curtains so they're not looking in. In
fact, I’m always surprised at how many people have theirs shut, even during the day.’ This room changes enormously with the seasons: in winter you’re aware of the close, urban environment, surrounded by other houses, blocks of flats and people and windows, while in summer the trees create a sprawling green canopy that gives a sense of seclusion, says Nowicka, and also belies the urban location. It must feel like being in a treehouse. In the eight years she's lived here, she has amassed several more properties, ranging from a Grade II* listed building in Hoxton that was the former headquarters of the Labour Party to a garage in Dalston that she bought without seeing in real life and is in the process of converting into a small home. She has a cottage in Camber Sands that she rents out and has converted a former fire station in Rye into a family home for her, her partner and her son, where they spend half the week. "I like working with existing buildings and tickling something out of them," she says. "I appreciate calm, neat, rational design." Having started out working for developers and reworking existing structures, London-born Nowicka soon saw that working for herself would make more sense. Buying the Old Street property was a gamble, not least because the area was off the beaten track. "There was nowhere selling coffee here then, and no restaurants. It was a bit of shock when it became commercial," she says. But standing in her kitchen today, it feels like the top of the world.
HOME FEBRUARY 2018
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CONNAUGHT KITCHENS LONDON
New CONCRETE finish in various colours
www.connaughtkitchens.co.uk • 02077062210 design@connaughtkitchens.co.uk CONNAUGHT.indd 1
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D E S I G N | TILE TRENDS
Tile counsel
Lee Thornley, founder of Bert & May, looks ahead at surface trends for 2018
PINK AND GREEN
Greens and subtle pinks will be seen throughout 2018, especially on tiles (like an updated twist on the subway tile). It’s easy to think of pink as a summery colour, but you can take it through to autumn by balancing with warm woods and patinated metals.Green has been the designer’s choice this year and is a great way to make a room feel contemporary – however, be sure to use muted shades.
MARBLE AND PAINTERLY EFFECTS
Marble in the home is nothing new, but seeing marble effects in new shades such as pink, green and blue is really exciting. They take on a whole new appearance and are perfectly matched to contemporary spaces. All Bert & May tiles are handmade, but the painterly effects on the Marbled range new for 2018 are particularly suited to any space that wants to achieve an artisan look.
COBALT
Jump into the blue with this vibrant hue. From Yves Klein to Henri Matisse, this shade is set to dominate our homes this year. Working exceptionally well in contemporary spaces, it adds personality and fun, working well when juxtaposed against contrasting shades, particularly neutrals and yellows.
“Greens and subtle pinks will be everywhere in 2018” CURVES
We’re seeing a move away from boxy geometric shapes on tiles –however, this doesn’t necessarily mean a return to fussy or floral designs.Instead, curves and soft pastel shades will be gaining ground, especially in understated fluid designs, like the Curve design from our collaboration with The Conran Shop.
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299 Munster Road, Fulham, London, SW6 6BJ 020 7381 1880 • tilesandbeyond.com
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D E S I G N | TEXTILES
Soft
Machine Tom Dixon is mostly known for his stark metals and angular accessories but now he has a new range of textiles Words P E A R L B OY D
A
bstract is the name given to a pair of cushions made using techniques from the rug and carpet industries. Thick, wooly, harder wearing and generally more substantial than most cushions, these are hand tufted in India by extraordinarily skilled craftsmen. Urban perspective sketches and hippy wall hangings of the 70s were the initial inspiration for the variety of textures and blocks of saturated colours that come through in Abstract. Details of a cityscape watercolour from textile artist Josephine Ortega were blown up in scale and separated on graph paper to create a grid a technique familiar in tapestry pattern, but supersized for this project. The loops, tufts and the variety of pile heights accentuate the hand-crafted nature of these cushions impossible to create by machine. Made from 100% New Zealand wool, backed with natural linen and generously filled with Danish duck feathers outstanding materiality and a human touch. Paint is a set of cushions with a subtle painterly print of abstracted urban landscapes rendered onto super soft canvas. Tom Dixon commissioned young upcoming British talent Josephine Ortega to create a set of abstracted architectural watercolours based on scenes of British urbanism. Pigment of pinks and indigo were then ink jet printed onto a textured canvas of off-white linen to form stackable landscapes. Woven from natural linen mixed with lightweight viscose for a soft and natural feel, Paint is digitally printed, sewn, stuffed and finished in Britain. Embroidered graphic illustrations inspired by the natural geologies of rock formations and layered sediment, Geo is restrained yet expressive pattern making across two cushions and a double-sided throw. Celebrating the decorative qualities of natural phenomenon in bold embroidered strokes, Geo is the no-fuss monochromatic that packs a graphic punch. Geo cushions are embroidered by hand and machine on a base of natural linen and cotton mix, then filled with Danish duck feathers, Geo is a lightweight collection with superior comfort. Tomdixon.net
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FLOWER
GIRL Florist Nikki Pierce tells HOME how flowers can transform a space Words G E O R G I A M C V E I G H
GEORGIA MCVEIGH: Tell us a little bit about
Q&A
yourself? NIKKI PIERCE: Well, I’m originally from Canada but now
call Portobello Road home. I live right above the most vibrant market street with my husband and black pug and spend way too much time window shopping vintage finds from my living room window. I’m also an avid meditator and do a ten day silent Vipassana retreat every year to rebalance and renew. GM: Where did the idea for Petal and Grace stem from? NP: It came mostly from an urge to be surrounded by more nature after spending a few years living in the centre of London. Once I started working with flowers, I quickly realised the wonderful impact they can have. They can completely transform any space and it’s so nice to see the wonderful reactions we get to our arrangements.
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D E S I G N | FLOWERS
“We had pink roses tumbling from suitcases and pouring out of bookshelves”
GM: What tips would you give for flower arranging at home? NP: Allow nature to do its thing. Try not to restrict flowers and foliage too much. Sometimes allowing flowers to sit naturally in a vase is enough. GM: Do you have a favourite flower? NP: This changes about every five minutes. Right
now I’m loving the deep burgundy colour of Bordeaux Anemone. GM: Which flowers do you prefer to use in the winter months? NP: We are so lucky to have the most beautiful spring flowers in the winter. It seems a bit odd to have hyacinths and ranunculus in January but they are such a wonderful reminder that spring is around the corner. GM: Do you stick to working with brands, or do you do private events as well? NP: I do so many private events. Private parties and weddings can be so much fun and a great way to work creatively with some wonderful people. GM: What has been your favourite project and why? NP: We had such an amazing time creating florals for
Coach to help them launch one of their new fragrances. As the event was based around scent, we were asked to fill Morton’s club in Mayfair with an abundance of the most beautifully scented garden roses. We had pink roses tumbling from suitcases and pouring out of bookshelves. The space was absolutely transformed and the scent was heavenly.
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D E S I G N | FLOWERS
GM: You often use art to influence your designs. Is there any particular artwork that you draw influences from? NP: I think art can influence florals in so many ways. Yes, the still life portraits are an obvious source of inspiration, but I believe that inspiration can come in so many different forms. Colour palettes, textures or even a tension within a piece of art. All of these can translate to floral design. GM: How does the environment you’re working in impact your designs? NP: I absolutely adore being in different environments to work with florals. Different event and wedding venues and private homes can be so full of character and can bring so much inspiration to the final design. The colour of the space, the feel and the light can all determine how we design our florals. We can completely transform a space or add a little touch of light to a dark corner. H What are your plans for the future? NP It’s really exciting to be in the third year of our
business and to see that we are growing at such a fast pace. We are already booked out for so much of 2018 and as tempting as it would be to expand we plan to keep the business artisanal and really focus on providing the most amazing service to our clients. www.petalandgrace.com
GM: How has your upbringing had an impact on your work? NP: I grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where a 20 minute drive would bring me to the edge of the most vast and dense wilderness. I like to think that there is an element of the untamed in a lot of my work that probably comes from growing up surrounded by this type of nature. GM: Have flowers always played an important part in your life, or was it something that developed over time? NP: I wish I could say that I had access to a cutting garden when I was young, but I think a full appreciation for flowers came at a later stage. So much of my admiration came from studying 18th century still life paintings. Spending time pouring over those images then turned into a desire to make my own floral creations.
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D E S I G N | ACCESSORIES
AUDENZA
EDITOR’S PICK
Imperial glass bottle vase, £38.95 audenza.com
BRISSI Rosa vase, £36 brissi.com
JONATHAN ADLER Palm Springs bow tie vase, £525 uk.jonathanadler.com
KAHLER Hammershoi vases, £30 heals.com
BRIDGMAN Lucius Medium Amethyst vase, £55 bridgman.co.uk
MARK MCGINNIS Megatropolis pitcher scp.co.uk
REBECCA UTH FOR RO Hurricane No 26 vase, £74.95 urbanavenue.co.uk
HAY Colour vase, £39 utilitydesign.co.uk
ste M ce ll s Pretty flowers need beautiful vases By P E N D L E H A R T E TOM DIXON Bump short glass vase, 55 tomdixon.net
DESIGN PROJECT BY JOHN LEWIS Pleated glass vases, from £25 johnlewis.com
HABITAT Claudia patterned vase, £30 habitat.co.uk
ANNABEL JAMES Large Polka vase, £59.95 anabeljames.co.uk
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The Subscription
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D E S I G N | FLOWERS
Flower
P ower Cate St Hill’s arrangements for FlowerBe are fresh, stylish and simple
Words P E A R L B OY D
“Simple arrangements can create a clean, fresh interior”
F
lowerBe have collaborated with Cate St Hill, a design and interiors writer and stylist who has a passion for light, Scandinavian-inspired interiors. Cate believes in an understated and minimal aesthetic as a background for everyday life, with natural, honest materials that appeal to the senses and improve over time. On her dining room table, Cate prepared a ‘fika’ – a custom in Swedish culture with the basic meaning 'to have coffee', often accompanied with pastries, cookies or pie. She created a natural, woodland-inspired scene, with lots of different sized vessels forming a relaxed, informal centrepiece along
the table. Vases of various heights and textures create layers, and give a sense of depth. Candlelight provides a soft glow in the darker days, while each person’s place setting is made a little bit special with a decorative dish of ranunculus. Cate said: “My table arrangement is all about appealing to the senses and feeding the soul, with fragrant smells from the narcissus and eucalyptus.” Cate also created a beautiful living flower installation, arranging stems in simple picture frames. Within each frame she chose lemon-coloured Aztec Lillies, pale lime Eustoma and soft pink Hypericum berry,
which together form an art piece positioned on a minimal white shelf. Cate said: “You could also press flowers and use dried stems to last through to spring. Letting the stems extend outside the frame creates a wilder arrangement and a beautiful focal point in the room.” Cate’s ethos is sharing simple design that lifts the spirits each day. The simple everyday means seeking a moment of calm amid our busy lives – to slow down and appreciate the little things. Cate has shown how simple flower arrangements can lift the spirits and create a clean, fresh interior. flowerbe.co.uk
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SUN RAIN ROOM TONKIN LIU
This two-storey extension and restoration of a Grade-II Listed Georgian townhouse reframes the rear of the building by amplifying the characteristics found within its fabric.complex.
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D E S I G N | ARCHITECTURE
“Timber, in various forms, seems to be making a comeback as a wall finish” CORDUROY HOUSE MANALO AND WHITE Dark Welsh slate is used in an economic and direct way to provide a rugged, natural backdrop to the garden foliage and a foil to the calm, light interior.
BUILD IT New London Architecture’s annual focus on London’s best extensions returns with an exciting and diverse lineup Words P E A R L B OY D
READING ROOM STUDIO CARVER This small extension is designed around a large picture window projecting out into the garden with bespoke joinery and desks carefully integrated into the building.
f 2018 is set to be the year that you build an extension onto your home, there is inspiration and advice to be found at New London Architecture’s (NLA) ninth annual display of London’s cleverest and most beautiful designs. Don’t Move, Improve! is a wide-ranging focus, promoting the work of emerging practices and encouraging the best design in everyday life. The competition highlights the importance of high-quality design and multi-functional spaces in Londoners homes, where space often has to work twice as hard to deliver everyday needs in a condensed footprint. Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA, said: “Entries ranged from designs that enhance the interior spaces with better layouts and daylighting to intricate additions that responded to the interests and lifestyle of the occupiers. The huge variety of approaches makes it difficult to point to particular trends, although timber, in various forms, seems to be making a comeback as a wall finish.”
Over 200 family home extensions, studios and garden rooms were submitted to the competition. The 30 best projects were chosen by an eminent jury including Carl Turner of Carl Turner Architects, Cany Ash of Ash Sakula, Zohra Chiheb of Levitt Bernstein, Amy Frearson of Dezeen, Philippa Stockley of the Evening Standard and Peter Murray, Chairman of New London Architecture. Amy Frearson of Dezeen called Don’t Move, Improve! one of her favourite design competitions, “as it focuses on an area of architecture that so many people, particularly in London, have either experienced themselves or have aspirations towards, and provides a real source of inspiration." Winners will be announced at NLA on Thursday 25 January 2018 to an audience of 400, launching a major three-month exhibition and the 2018 Don’t Move, Improve! magazine. The first of four public Design Surgeries will be held in February, for homeowners in London looking to extend and improve their homes featuring free consultations with architect practices.
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POP UP UTE FRIEND AND COMPANY Friend and Company are adept at finding imaginative solutions to complex architectural problems, and have a particular interest in exploiting the structural possibilities of materials.
GARDEN LIBRARY TURNER ARCHITECTS A library, under a tree, at the end of the garden. The brief was for a study, spare room and storage for a growing family, where an extension to their flat was prohibitively complex.
COLUMBIA ROAD THE D*HAUS The brief was to maximise space and light, opening up the entire rear facade but at the same time keeping an outdoor courtyard space, leaving the Columbia Road facade untouched.
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D E S I G N | ARCHITECTURE
ARBOUR HOUSE NIMTIM ARCHITECTS This addition was formed with a series of lightweight timber portals running front to back and side to side. This timber grid extends both into the garden and into the house blurring the boundary between inside and out.
PITCH PERFECT NIMTIM ARCHITECTS An exposed timber structure holds a playful sawtooth roof with rooflights flooding the new spaces with natural light. The new extension is clad in diagonal Larch timber, referencing the still visible cladding of the existing house. The use of timber externally and internally creates an extension both fun and contemporary while the natural effect of weathering will allude to the passing of time.
SLOPE HOUSE POULSOM/ MIDDLEHURST With a relatively small budget, the works to this property aimed to reveal the existing but hidden architectural features of this unusual house while keeping costs to an absolute minimum.
KEELING HOUSE WATER TANK BRIAN HERON Conversion of the former water tank space on top of the Grade II* listed Keeling House into a light-filled onebedroom duplex penthouse.
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ROMAN ROAD GALLERY THREEFOLD ARCHITECTS The brief for the project was to create a dynamic new gallery that was connected to the curators house and garden which are themselves an extension of the gallery space.
TAPER HOUSE MUSTARD ARCHITECTS This house's original Edwardian layout with its dark interiors and cellular, disconnected spaces was transformed into a home of lightfilled, free flowing spaces with a bold design and connection to the garden.
BLACK RIDGE HOUSE NEIL DUSHEIKO ARCHITECTS This extension to an existing 3-bedroom Victorian terraced house creates a light-filled spacious extension with an open plan kitchen, dining, living area at ground floor plus a green sedum roof blanket.
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D E S I G N | ARCHITECTURE
GREVILLE ROAD STUDIOS
VALETTA HOUSE
Office S&M This Victorian house was extended to create a generous living space on the ground oor and a new bedroom in the loft. A palette of colours and materials were used.
SYTE ARCHITECTS The project entailed the insertion of a floating mezzanine into the sevenmetre vaulted studio space. The new floor was designed so that it kept free of the perimeter walls and kept clear of the tall studio doors. Glass floor panels run along two sides of the mezzanine to maintain the sense of openness.
AMHURST ROAD POULSOM/MIDDLEHURST This two bedroom basement maisonette of a four storey Victorian terrace in Hackney was generous in size with large rooms and high ceilings. The room proportions were suited to the original single Victorian house the property had once been, but felt underutilised in its current form as a maisonette.
MANOR ROAD PAUL ARCHER DESIGN A Mies van der Rohe inspired glazed kitchen extension with a cantilever roof stretches outdoors on a raised plinth, creating a garden link between the basement conversion and the ground floor living spaces.
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C LE ON PA G A T R IB ID L O FE UT E N S IO SE & N LE ST TO C TE AM WA P R D D PL DU S T O TS Y *
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CHISWICKHIGHROAD@REDROW.CO.UK 500CHISWICKHIGHROAD.CO.UK
Journey times and distances are approximate. Sources: TfL and Google maps. Show home photography of 500 Chiswick High Road. *Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Help to Buy is a Government-backed initiative in partnership with housebuilders. Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions. Help to Buy cannot be used in conjunction with any other scheme. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Redrow offer. Images typical of Redrow homes. Price correct at time of going to press. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. CHECK THAT THIS MORTGAGE WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS IF YOU WANT TO MOVE OR SELL YOUR HOME OR YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO INHERIT IT. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT, SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE. Should you wish, and for a swift, smooth transaction, Redrow Homes can recommend from a panel of highly specialised mortgage advisers and/or solicitors. Ask for details.
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D E S I G N | LEGACY
THE LEGACY British upholstery brand Parker Knoll has relaunched its most iconic armchair STATESMAN CHAIR, 1969 Words P E A R L B OY D
The Statesman’s classic curved shape is designed to cradle the body
L
aunched in 1969, the Statesman was hailed as revolutionary and quickly became an icon of the age, responding to the consumer demand for bold colours and contemporary shapes. Primary shades and velveteen finishes became part of its signature look, and an ergonomically designed curved outline helped this model to quickly become a best-seller. Today, nearly 50 years on, it remains as popular as ever and is recognised around the world as a design classic.
Offering the same deep levels of comfort, the new contemporary model has been manufactured using similar techniques in order to retain signature elements of the chair’s design, such as its button-back detailing and wooden base. The Statesman’s classic curved shape has been specially designed to cradle the body, offering a supreme level of comfort. Paired with a matching footstool, it still offers the ultimate relaxation experience. Parker Knoll’s in-house design team have selected an exclusive range of fabrics in a cool, calm pastel palette and rich leathers for Statesman. From tactile weaves through to soft, sumptuous Italian designs, there are plenty of luxurious textiles to choose from, which can each be previewed using the Design Your Parker Knoll tool on the website. For the wooden base, choose from two beautiful wood colours– washed oak and walnut. Upholstered now in luxurious leather and other contemporary fabrics, the chair has been given a beautiful modern twist, without compromising on its iconic status.
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HANDCRAFTED SOFAS FROM THE MAKERS OF DUREST , G PL N & P RKER KNOLL
DISCOVER THE COLLECTION AT OUR FLAGSHIP STORE - 104-108 CHISWICK HIGH RO D, LONDON W4 1PU OR AT ANY OF OUR 21 GALLERIES NATIONWIDE
www.theloungeco.com Absolutely_TLC_FP_0118.indd 1 LOUNGE.indd 1
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LIVING NEWS • PEOPLE • DESIGN • EVENTS
p. 52
. Rosie Birkett and her kitchen
p. 58
. A listed bedroom
p. 70
marimekko.com
At home with Donna Wilson
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Creature COMFORTS Designer and mother of two young boys Donna Wilson shows us around her stylish family home Words T H E M O D E R N H O U S E
W
e moved here four years ago, from a small rented flat just off Brick Lane. We were looking for about a year, trying to find a family home that we could make our own, but it proved very challenging – I think we were pretty unlucky. We started looking around Walthamstow as lots of our friends were moving there, and increased our search to the surrounding areas too. My partner Jon saw this on another agent’s website, but it was photographed really badly and looked run down and overgrown. I saw it was a detached house, so I decided to take a punt and see it anyway. As soon as I walked through the door into the hall I fell in love with it. And that was that. I think the hallway might still be my favourite part of the house actually. It feels like such a luxury to have that space. It’s turned into a bit of a full-time job to keep it clear of jackets and shoes, but it’s the one space that I like to
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L I V I N G | LIFESTYLE
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keep really empty. The house was a complete blank canvas when we moved in. Both my partner and I are designers, so it was an exciting project for the two of us to take on. We’ve been working on it pretty continuously since we moved in. That said, we still have loads of plans for it, but very little time to put them into action. We’ve got two young boys, so they keep us pretty busy. So far, I think my favourite additions inside are the two log burning stoves – we’ve got one in the living room, and the other in kitchen, next to the dining area. There’s nothing better than a real log fire to keep you cosy through winter. Actually, John also recently made two amazing bunk beds for the kids. Their height can be adjusted as they grow; they’re pretty great too. We worked with an award-winning garden designer – Howard Miller – to redesign our outside space. He came up with a plan that made it feel like a country cottage garden. I grew up on a farm in rural Aberdeenshire, so it’s amazing to have a tiny piece of that in London. We’ve got a hedgerow, paths and flowers beds that echo the sur-
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Reproduced courtesy of The Modern House. For more home tours and interviews, visit themodernhouse.com
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L I V I N G | LIFESTYLE
“A lot of the textiles in our house are my designs, especially in the kids’ rooms – the trees and big knitted random things” rounding allotments. I can’t wait to see what pops up in the spring. The next idea is to install a wooden Japanese hot tub… I really like Leytonstone. We’re on a lovely street in a conservation area, which means it’ll never really change; it’s almost like stepping back in time. There’s a great sense of community, it’s more like a little village than a London suburb. We use the kitchen for pretty much everything. It’s really high and spacious, and it’s a perfect family space. We play games, make clay sculptures, do homework and eat all around the table, sometimes all at the same time. I work from home sometimes too, but only when I really need to concentrate. My studio is open plan so there’s always a lot going on. The studio’s been running for 12 years now. A lot of the textiles in our house are my designs, especially in the kids’ rooms – the trees and big knitted random things. The armchair in the kitchen is one of mine too. I guess a lot of the artwork is also by me; the framed prints and the mounted plates in the kitchen. Actually, it’s really lovely to look at it all and realise how much the studio has grown over the years. There’s also a lot of stuff in the house that I’ve collected. I have a weakness for anything tactile, regardless of what it is, if it’s got an interesting texture it always draws me in. There’s a red and black Finnish textile in the living room that I discovered recently in a shop in Hastings – I instantly fell in love with the strong colour and repeating pattern. I’m always trying to stimulate creativity in my family, and myself, so that means we always have lots of art materials around and we keep lots of stuff around that people might generally throw out. Our house has lots of little ‘installation areas’ on shelves or in the cupboards, which are a mix of nice found objects and things we’ve all made.
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L I V I N G | ACCESSORIES BERRY RED Acacia chopping board with neon edge, £19.50 berryred.co.uk
THE FOREST AND CO Festival pleated pendant light, £39 theforestandco.com
HAY Colour plaid blanket, £185 utilitydesign.co.uk
JONATHAN ADLER Acrylic neon chess set, £75 uk.jonathanadler.com
AVENIDA HOME Animaux placemat, Simius, £12 eclectdesign.com
FLUORO FEVE R
TOM DIXON Offcut fluoro high stool, £250 tomdixon.net
IAN SNOW Candy colours embroidered pouffe, £129 iansnow.com
Neon brights to inject some colour into February By P E N D L E H A R T E
RED CANDY
EDITOR’S PICK
Block neon drip vase, £21 redcandy.co.uk
THE NURSERY EDIT Neon tassle storage basket, £29 the-nursery-edit.com
SEP JORDAN KORRIDOR Pyramid storage box, £22 theorganisedhome.co.uk
Koutoubia embroidered cushion, £111 sepjordan.com
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A COOK’S
TABLE Food writer and stylist Rosie Birkett shows us around her London kitchen
Words E L L I E S T E WA R T F O R H A B I TAT
Q&A ELLIE STEWART: Tell us a bit about yourself. Can you summarise what you do for a living? ROSIE BIRKETT: All things food. I’m a food writer, cookbook author, food stylist and cook. ES: Is this your dream job? RB: Pretty much yes. Of course all jobs have their
off days but I feel incredibly lucky to do something I’m so consumed by. The beauty of my job is that it’s incredibly creative and I do so many different things, so no day is the same, but each day invariably involves some good food and drink. ES: What inspires you to do what you do? RB: A Growing up, it was all about food and
cooking. My family are a greedy bunch and we always came together over my mother’s delicious home cooked food. I think this, and the fact I was so aware of us growing our own veg, keeping chickens and fishing etc has had a big influence on my love of food.
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L I V I N G | HOME TOUR
“WHAT DREW ME TO OUR HOUSE IS THAT THE KITCHEN IS PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE OF THE DOWNSTAIRS.”
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plan and flooded by natural light by a glass ceiling, so I’m really happy cooking here. There are plenty of units for storage and I love being able to display my props on top of the cupboards. I’m very proud of the marble tiling and hexagonal tiles behind the sink, as well as the second hand stainless steel catering cupboard which is an island and storage solution in one. ES: What would you change about your kitchen space? RB: I would love a big range cooker. ES: Where do you find interior inspiration? RB: Elle Decor, Remodelista and interior design
books. Instagram too of course, including Habitat’s. ES: Which instagram accounts would you
recommend for interior inspiration? RB: As above. Apartmenttherapy and Jungalow
too. ES: What’s your favourite interior trend at the
moment? RB: I love the pink trend. I’ve never been a girly
girl or that into pink but recently something has changed and I can’t get enough of little hints of pink, particularly when it’s dusky, faded, pastel or stone washed. ES: Which habitat products do you love
and why? RB: I adore my new pink stonewashed
ES: What exciting projects have you been working on lately? RB: I’ve been doing lots of events and pop up dinners, including a collaboration with the fab cinema supper club, Kino Vino, during which we screened an old Ealing Studios film called It always rains on Sunday set in and around east London; the second was a charity banquet organised by Bristol chef Romy Gill for Action Against Hunger with a load of other female chefs and food writers. We had to serve eight courses to 112 in a hall in Borough Market we weren’t cooking in, so it was very challenging but great fun and we raised over 10k which was amazing.
bedspread which sits atop our gorgeous new wooden bed, both from Habitat. Having a wooden bed is a real statement and brings so much character to an otherwise simple room. The grain of the wood on the bed is beautiful. I really love the gorgeous green marble of the coffee table too.
ES: How would you describe your interior style? RB: Whimsical, eclectic and natural. I love
collecting beautiful objects and handmade treasures such as ceramics, vintage furniture and art. Also, you’ll notice I’m a sucker for a house plant. We don’t have a garden so I definitely like to bring the outdoors in. ES: You must spend a lot of time in the kitchen. What’s your favourite thing about it? RB: I spend at least four days a week in the kitchen. What drew me to our house is that the kitchen is pretty much the whole of the downstairs. It’s open
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L I V I N G | HOME TOUR
Watch out for many Instagram food shots featuring this. Also the marble lamp is just dreamy – bringing a hint of luxury to the spare room.
ES: Where is the heart of your home? RB: The kitchen of course. ES: If you could re-live one moment in this
ES: What’s your favourite thing about your
home? RB: The light and sense of space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and our double-height glass ceiling make it a really light, airy space. ES: What was your last interiors project and purchase? RB: Doing up our spare room and putting in some shelves for my huge library of cookbooks.
house what would it be? Tell us about your favourite memory. RB: Our first Christmas party in the house was pretty epic. We got an 13ft Christmas tree, I made venison stew and there was a lot of prosecco and mulled wine. It was so brilliant to finally have our own space and be able to host our friends whose houses we’ve been partying in for years. ES: What would complete your home? RB: I would love a wood fired log burner but
ES: How have you made this house your home? RB: By filling it with our most-loved objects and
unfortunately it’s not possible in this house.
people. We are always hosting dinners and drinks at ours and we’re such home bodies.
ES Tell us something interesting about yourself
or your home that not many people know. RB Cyril our dog calls the shots. Seriously, he
ES: Tell us about your most treasured possessions? RB: The rug in the spare room was brought in Argentina. I was really broke at the time and really agonised over whether to buy it but I’m so glad i did, it makes me so happy. Our vintage Ercol dining set was a total bargain from Ebay and I’m so thrilled we found it, even though we had to hire a van and drive to the middle of nowhere to this really posh lady’s country house, it was so worth it.
thinks the sofa, our bed and the spare room bed all belong to him. ES Who would you invite to your dream dinner
party? RB My late dad, I would love to cook for him and
catch him up on the last 12 years. For more cool habitats visit habitat.co.uk/blog
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Kitchen sink
DRAMA Choosing a new kitchen is one of the hardest decisions you’ll make. Start with picking an initial style, we say Words GEORGIA MCVEIGH
1 Mark Taylor kitchens are created with you in mind. Using the space available, designers work based on your inspirations to create a truly bespoke kitchen. marktaylordesign.co.uk/
No kitchen is complete without a stylish yet practical work surface No kitchen is complete without a stylish yet practical work surface. Lundhs Real Stone is made from all natural materials and withstands everyday wear and tear mostly, though, it looks fabulous. lundhsrealstone.com
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L I V I N G | KITCHENS
CHOOSE GORENJE
Y
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The String system can offer a stylish kitchen solution with its simple and flexible versatility that suits traditional as well as contemporary kitchens. Pictured is the String system in oak with white wall and floor panels, from £42.
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string.se
From traditional country cosiness to quirky colourful combinations, and occasionally a mix of the two, John Lewis of Hungerford has it all. Both the classic and the contemporary are great everyday spaces. john-lewis.co.uk
ou've found the perfect kitchen - it's finally fitted, installed and the builders have cleared out. Now to fill it. With six decades of experience, Gorenje is the luxurious stylish and simple answer to your large appliance woes. Minimalist, suave and sleek, their ovens, fridges, washing machines and dishwashers are made with over 90% recyclable materials, making them the eco-friendly must haves that look great. The multitude of designs mean that you can find the perfect fit that works for your new kitchen. gorenje.co.uk
Classic or contemporary? Open or closed storage? What appliances? Colourful or neutral? Choosing a kitchen is a minefield, even without thinking about appliances
FERM LIVING
T
rue to its Scandinavian roots, Ferm Living blossoms in its minimalist simplicity. Their kitchen collection is a combination of beautifully crafted appliances and furniture which, by their easily adaptable nature, fit perfectly into any kitchen design whether contemporary or classic. Pictured is a pan rack featuring several of their designs: the classic Fein Measurement spoons, the modern cork coaster, and the simple Plant Box, showing the diversity and adaptability of these products in their full glory. fermliving.com
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KETTLE HOT WATER STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP INTRODUCING NEW GROHE RED It’s time to say goodbye to the kettle. Introducing new GROHE Red - a beautiful and convenient system that delivers kettle hot water straight from the tap - with childlock and automatic stop for guaranteed GROHE safety. grohe.co.uk
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L I V I N G | ACCESSORIES
KITCHEN KIT Our selection of stylish and practical new pieces Compil ed by
PENDLE HARTE
50 SHADES
MEASURE UP
B r a b a nt i a As well as storing food safely, these stylish measuring cups help you to cook just the right amount. Plus, for every jar sold, Brabantia will make a donation equivalent to training one person to The Hunger Project - a global, non-profit organisation committed to the sustainable end of world hunger by 2030. brabantia.com
SICILIAN STYLE
Smeg Smeg has teamed up with Dolce&Gabbana to launch its second collection of small domestic appliances. The spectacular ‘Sicily is my Love’ range includes a blender, citrus juicer, stand mixer, coffee machine, toaster, kettle and slow juicer, all adorned with vivid decorative Sicilian motifs. smeguk.com
Dualit Dualit works with trend forecasters to determine the exact shades that contemporary kitchens require, and the resulting toasters come in similar but subtly different shades of Porcelain, Feather, Shadow and Powder. Yes, they're all pale neutrals, but getting it exactly right makes all the difference. dualit.com
H OT S H OT
DeLonghi The slimline Dedica espresso machine heats up quickly, produces an excellent creamy shot and comes with an integrated milk frother for a no-fuss barista-worthy coffee. Taste test a variety of grinds or use mess-free coffee pods for an even easier brew. This machine is set to improve your lives. £220, delonghi.com
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S FO F C RC ER AETA OTROSRO EO WROLR D’S T HT E HW DL’ S I RBALBEL E M OMS O T SDTED SE I RS A F I RFEI R PE LP ALCAECSE S We created our unique FIRE RIBBON We created our unique FIRE RIBBON BURNER technology in 2003 with a large, BURNER technology in 2003 with a large, glamorous and distinctive flame quality glamorous and distinctive flame quality
CVO Fire | Unit 4 Beaumont Square CVO Fire | Unit 4 |Beaumont Square Newton Aycliffe County Durham | DL5 6XN Newton Aycliffe | DL5 6XN 01325| County 301020 Durham | sales@cvo.co.uk 01325 301020www.cvo.co.uk | sales@cvo.co.uk www.cvo.co.uk
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L I V I N G | TREND RUME Flos Goldman, desk light, £321
POOKY CANTONA
rume.co.uk
ATKIN AND THYME
NORTHERN LIGHTING
Hettie angled desk lamp in copper, £65 atkinandthyme.co.uk
Desk Lamp in burnt orange, £98 pooky.com
Buddy table lamp; £186
skandium.com
WILD AND WOOLF Home office lamp in grey wildandwoolf.com
HOME Loves
MADE.COM Cohen table lamp in blue, £55 made.com
ALEXANDER AND PEARL Loft Cream Table Lamp
alexanderandpearl.co.uk
LIG HT WORK
LOAF Gaston desk lamp, £115
loaf.com
IDYLL HOME Mustard desk lamp, £69
idyllhome.co.uk
GRAHAM AND GREEN Mouse lamp, £60 grahamandgreen.co.uk
HOME’s round up of desk lamps By P E N D L E H A R T E
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R E C L A I M ED
THE HANG OF IT George Amos of LASSCO Ropewalk, talks HOME through three popular types of lighting Words A N N A S U L A N M A S I N G Illustrations A I M E E S A J JA N - S E RVA E S
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ighting can sharpen our appreciation of furniture or decorative items, elevating the overlooked and highlighting the truly unique. George Amos understands the importance of well-sourced lighting and that it is essential to know and appreciate the most common forms.
L
1. COOLICANS The coolican shade began life in post-war factories, predominantly in the North. The finest examples are reclaimed industrial lights made from enamelled, pressed steel. Coolicans have been re-produced in huge numbers. The most well known original designers are Thorlux and Benjamin, in the traditional colours of white, grey and green. The rarest and most desirable shades are ones that have retained their makers marks, which are often silvered, shimmering stickers. They work well paired with bulkhead lighting, Chesterfield sofas, leaded windows and reclaimed wood floors. Technical tip: Hang these lights in rooms with high ceilings, so that there is a good length of lighting cord.
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L I V I N G | RECLAIMED
3. CHANDELIERS The chandelier is most often utilised as a statement light, the sole source of light for a grand room. English chandeliers are often adorned with glass drops, the Dutch are known for their brass branches and the Italians revolutionised the design with their use of enamelled conical forms. As there are so many varying styles of chandelier, personal preference plays a huge part in the choice of chandelier. Gone are the days of matching rooms with an era. You’ll often see modern chandeliers in grand Georgian properties or Danish midcentury chandeliers in ex-local authority council homes. Whatever your preference, chandeliers need a lot of space around them so that they can be the focus. Design idea: A large ornate plaster ceiling rose can take a chandelier to the next level, so it would be a mistake to overlook this feature, which is worth investing in.
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2. INDUSTRIAL BULK HEAD WALL LIGHTS Bulk head wall lights are the most functional of the three lighting styles. Whether leading the way, wall mounted, down stairs or placed centrally in living rooms, kitchens or bathrooms, the industrial wall light adds an edgy raw energy to the space they illuminate. Often caged or ‘explosion proof’, like their Coolican cousins they were often salvaged from factories, warehouses and other places of an industrial nature. Things to look out for with original bulk heads is ease of access to the bulb. Some industrial lights have bulbs that are encased in glass and steel cages, which can be difficult or time-consuming to reveal. Technical tip: Be sure to familiarise yourself with the IP rating system before attempting to install reclaimed lights yourself, or simply rely on a qualified electrician.
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Suite talk Interior designer Anna Burles talks us through this recent project, the master bedroom in a Grade II listed Islington townhouse Words A N N A B U R L E S
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ur interior design brief was to create a beautiful master bedroom and en-suite on the light-filled first floor of our client’s Georgian townhouse in Islington. We needed to preserve the beautiful original features of the Grade II listed building to stay within the bounds of the Listed Consents secured to make the changes we wanted during the project. Working within the boundaries of the historical restrictions meant coming up with highly creative solutions for adding contemporary functionality to a space steeped in so much history. The clients wanted a huge amount of storage, which we fused discreetly into the fabric of the design. Our bespoke wall panelling design cleverly disguised acres of hidden cupboards and wardrobes. The panelling structure also served as the backdrop to the feature master bed.
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The cabinetry was carefully detailed to look like fixed Shaker panelling, but in fact it wasn’t fitted at all in certain areas, to stay within the bounds of the Listed Consents. The cabinetry and panelling was handle-free, with push/ catch opening and in-built lighting. Dedicated cubby holes either side of the headboard for extra nightstand storage ensure that the main bedside tables could be kept tidy and uncluttered. Carefully positioned power sockets and media outlets were installed discreetly for the clients to easily charge devices at night without filling their side table. We sourced some stunning vintage pieces for the suite. A gorgeous rosewood chest of drawers with beautiful brass handle details nestles in an alcove. Statement period fireplaces in both rooms display beautiful found objects, art pieces and elegant accessories. As a special quirk to the project, all furniture sourced had to be customised to sit correctly on a very old and wonky wooden floor which undulates wildly across the rooms. The clients love the story it tells, so it was retained in the scheme and furniture had to be taught to sit nicely upon it.
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L I V I N G | THE BEDROOM
“Working within the boundaries of the historical restrictions meant coming up with highly creative solutions for adding contemporary functionality to a space steeped in so much history” HOME FEBRUARY 2018
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L I V I N G | THE BEDROOM
“The shower enclosure took months of planning to fit around the Listed Building regulations”
Collection. The ‘grotesco’ antique brass taps are from a wonderful Swedish company. Not a touch of chrome in sight – and all the better for it. For the vanity, we decided the metal shower needed to be contrasted with something natural. So we repurposed a midcentury sideboard to create a freestanding washstand. We designed a mild steel frame to house two floating mirrors above his-and-hers Carrara marble vessel sinks, working with the joinery team to ensure the antique unit could take the weight of the enormously heavy sinks. An engineering feat. The scheme makes the very most of the double aspect first floor, with light streaming in from both sides of the house. The design is the holy grail combination of hugely practical and glamorous, integrating beautifully with the rest of the townhouse. We worked with a whole range of wonderful artisans and specialists on the project, teams accustomed to working within the restrictions and boundaries of Listed Building Consents. The resulting scheme respects and preserves the beautiful original features of the Grade II listed townhouse without diminishing the very contemporary and fashion-forward feel of the design scheme, balancing the history of the building with the way our clients live their lives in a modern city. annaburles.com
Between the two windows we placed a beautiful antique cigar cabinet, with a fun JuJu feather hat sitting above. And at the end of the bed, we added a 1950s low bench, upholstered in cool black leather, with the most amazing legs. Our scheme included the design of a fully bespoke, steelframed shower enclosure, housed within a beautiful lightfilled part of the overall suite. The structure is wonderful in itself, but the addition of beautiful handmade ceramic tiling and lovely brass accents make it the focal part of the en-suite master bathroom. Our custom design for the highly contemporary shower enclosure featured both clear and urban style reeded glass, which added visual interest and also offered some privacy for the couple within the bathroom. The enclosure was created in collaboration with Fabco and took months of planning to fit in and around the Listed Building restrictions. To offset the industrial style metal enclosure, we clad the main shower wall in beautiful artisan tiles, in a bespoke pattern (one of six designs we played with). Extra softness was added with an antique brass showerhead and controls by the amazing craftspeople of Watermark
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After 8 years in the Cotswolds, Symes is now operating in London and the Home Counties. Specialising in bespoke kitchens and joinery, fine interiors and renovation works, we are dedicated to your vision of creating a beautiful home. Offering full design services, we compliment this by also providing a complete design and build option. Whether you are wishing to add a bespoke kitchen, a climbing frame in your garden or undertaking building and interior works, we will not only create the look you want, but deliver your project with the greatest attention to detail, efficiency and professionalism.
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For a complete and comprehensive tailored solution to your property needs, please contact us. info@symesinteriors.co.uk 02085422334 07917086199 www.symesinteriors.co.uk
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WHITE HOUSE HOME visits Grace and James Tindall, founders of Scandibørn, in their pale and minimal family home
Photography: M A RYA N N E S C OT T P H OTO G R A P H Y
Q&A
HOME: What came first - decorating your own nursery or launching Scandiborn? GRACE TINDALL: We launched Scandiborn in 2016, but with a year of preparation the year before. I was on maternity leave at the time which gave me some space to think about life plans and also think about how I wanted to decorate Harry’s nursery. It was at this time, I noticed a gap in the market for Scandi-inspired homewares for children which wasn’t IKEA. H: How would you describe your style? GT: I like a minimal, pared-back look with simple but chic designs with a focus on the detail. For us it’s important for products to be beautiful, functional and built to last. H: Why the name Scandiborn? GT: Neither of us are actually from Denmark (which is where Scandibørn began – it means Scandi kids in Danish). We have a few close friends that live in and around Copenhagen, so it’s been our go-to summer destination for about six years now. H: How did you launch the store? GT: We launched the business in autumn 2016. It was definitely a combination of factors that came together at the right time to give us the final push to just get on and do it. Maternity leave gave me some muchneeded headspace to think about my career and the life we wanted to build post-kids and it also allowed me
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L I V I N G | FAMILY
“There was a gap in the market for people who wanted to create playful and stylish spaces for their children”
to formulate the business plan that I had thought so much about when I was pregnant. Simultaneously my husband, James, got made redundant and we decided (against the advice of pretty much everyone) to invest the very small payout, take a leap of faith and go for it. We love the whole ethos that surrounds Scandinavian living and interiors. It places value on buying products that will last years and fulfill different needs as our lives change. We’d spent a long time getting our home just perfect and having children seemed to open the door into a whole range of eyesores that I didn’t want lying round our living room (don’t get me wrong – Harry still has a whole lot of plastic toys; they are just stowed away in stylish storage bags). We felt there was a gap in the market for people like us who wanted to be able to create beautiful, playful and stylish spaces for their children that fitted with their contemporary homes. H: What are your backgrounds? GT: Previously I was a management consultant for a big US-based IT firm. Obviously this is a totally unrelated industry so it took me a bit longer to work out the dos and don’ts of running an online retail store. In the same vein that’s given us advantages too – I had to go with my instinct and I used the skills I’d already gained – project management, contract management, delivery to tight timelines and, importantly, never accepting ‘no’ as a final answer. James’ previous experience is in PR and marketing, so our combined skill set has worked well when launching the business. H: Talk us thorough your house. You have a slide in your living room. How did you live before you had your son? GT: We bought our house from Jessica Ennis-Hill, the Olympic athlete in 2013. It’s a 1930s semi-detached house; since moving in we’ve extended it with a large kitchen extension plus a loft conversion and restored lots of 1930s features (picture rails, fireplaces and coving). The atmosphere and decoration are a combination of modern Scandinavian style teamed
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*WIN A STUNNING ABINGDON DOUBLE BED FROM THE CORNISH BED COMPANY WITH ABSOLUTELY HOME*
*INCLUDES
The Abingdon is one of the most popular beds in the collection. Offering 2� side posts, exceptional strong framework including our signature knuckle joint, which is everlasting. The bedstead is then softened with white crackle finish ceramics, which are hand spun into its brass fixing with ornate lower brass petal. Hand cast at our Cornwall Foundry and made with all the traditional fixings.
Visit www.absolutely.london to enter. Competition closes 01.03.2018
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L I V I N G | FAMILY
“Have as little clutter as possible – I feel so much better when the house is tidy” I adore our Ercol furniture in our front room. And something to hide all of Harry’s plastic toys. I also love the Hubsch leather strap shelving, No Fred table and chair and the Oliver Furniture cot in Harry’s bedroom, which are all available in our store. Clean lines, minimal and Scandinavian style at its best. H: You are very free of clutter. How do you maintain that? GT: It’s important to us to have as little clutter as possible - I feel so much better when our house is tidy. There are a few ways we maintain it… 1. Storage 2. Not putting things in cupboards that you ‘might’ use in the future when you know you won’t. 3. Making sure present buying occasions aren’t an excuse to buy lots of stuff no one really wants…Harry is getting a few specially selected toys (mostly wooden) for his birthday, although I’m sure one of the grandparents will buy something that’s far too big for our house.
with features which stay true and sympathetic to the era of the house. We’ve kept neutral tones throughout but have gone with some bold colours like the LigneRoset orange sofa in our lounge. We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from Danish design - flats are generally pretty small in Copenhagen yet everything has its place. Storage is plentiful and their decor really generates a sense of calm. We’ve tried to emulate that by building in enough storage in our key family spaces - some permanent, some portable (storage bags and baskets including those from Liewood, Fabelab, Olliella from our store). Like lots of families, our kitchen is the hub of the home. We have a small snug off the kitchen which has turned into Harry’s playroom. After he goes to bed we migrate into our front room, which at the moment is a child-free zone most of the time. We love the bay window and we’ve installed a log burner - it’s my favourite place to be in winter.
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Life with
CHILDREN Every tot deserves a stylish bedroom. Here’s what to put in it Words GEORGIA MCVEIGH
OLLIELLA.COM
FRESH COAT EDWARD BULMER
• Made from entirely natural ingredients, Edward Bulmer's Nursery paint is the safe and special choice for your nursery. No toxins, no VOC's, no plastic, no odour, and no chemicals mean that it's safe to sleep in the room on the same day as painting. Choose from a wide range of pastels and add a splash of colour to your nursery that's not too overwhelming. Better yet, the paint is durable enough to be wiped down, and easily applied in just two coats - a safe and easy alternative to the harsher paint available. Evie Paint, 2.5l, £45; edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk
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AC C E S S O R I Z E YO U R S T OV E … DJECO
WALL MAGNET
Leo's cooker, £85 smallable.com
SIAN ZENG
• Marrying European illustrations and authentic Chinese painting, if Sian Zeng's new wallpaper range isn't innovative enough already, it's made with magnetic lining so your littlies can add their personal stamp. sianzeng.com
BRIO White stove, £46.40 smallable.com
WORK HARD KRETHAUS
• Our latest furntiure fix is
Krethaus' range of handmade wooden kids furniture, including this mini desk with matching milk stool. The legs are crafted from natural and solid Patagonian wood for friendly, sustainable minimalism that's built to last. Orient Mini Desk, £231 & Orient Stool, £24 krethaus.com
SEBRA Kitchen grey, £178 smallable.com
DESIGN LETTERS
CONVERTIBLE COTS
Children's cooker, £25 smallable.com
SEBRA
• This versatile cot is a simple and stylish addition to any nursery. As your child grows, the cot does too, with an adjustable bottom which turns into a bed as your baby goes from infancy to childhood. It's guaranteed to look great as a cot or a first bed, and its durability and style means it can be passed down from generation to generation. £725 themodernnursery.com
JOHN LEWIS Country play wooden kitchen, £125 johnlewis.com
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Grate Expectations - A Family run business established for over 30 years The UK’s leading suppliers of luxury gas fireplaces, wood burning stoves and bioethanol fires manufactured by DRU, Spartherm, Ebios, Dik Guerts, Gazco, Stovax and many more.
1-3 Station Buildings, Kingston Road, Wimbledon Chase, SW20 8JT 020 8540 8387 | info@grateexpectations.com | grateexpectations.com
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INSPIRE NEWS • PEOPLE • DESIGN • EVENTS
p. 84
. Apartment living in Budapest
p. 88
. A villa in Puglia
p. 92
farrow-ball.com
Making knives in Peckham
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LOOK SHARP HOME meets the trio behind Blenheim Forge, artisan makers of exquisite chefs’ knives using the techniques of Japanese sword-making Words N A N CY A L S O P
J
ust within sight of Peckham Rye station, three young gentlemen are, at all hours of the day, found huddled around a Japanese whetstone grinder in a railway arch. Their purpose? To make the most beautiful knives known to mankind. It wasn’t always thus; five years ago the trio, in a moment of boredom, had decided to try their hand at the process in their garden. Impressed with their early effort, they tried again. “Yeah, that first attempt was a bit of a curse, to be honest, laughs James Ross-Harris, one third of the triumvirate behind every in-the-know chef’s favourite forge, along with Jon Warshawsky and Richard Warner. “We tried to repeat it and it was a disaster. It was only after a year that we managed to return to some sort of consistency – I’m not saying they were good by that point, but there was at least some improvement.” The tipping point came when the box marked “not f*cked” eventually began to at least equal that marked “f*cked”. Taking this as their breakthrough moment, they started selling their creations, strictly to friends, on the understanding that they could be replaced later down the line. Has any of those friends claimed a more refined substitute? “No, they haven’t actually! They were all people close to us, and although those old pieces are funny looking things and kind of embarrassing to look at now, they also
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“These creations owe much to a relentless fascination with method” have a certain charm. There are only so many potatoes you can peel before you have to start selling some. If we were to get anywhere, these knives had to go out in to the world, so they’re part of the story.” For Ross-Harris, that narrative began with a job as a high-end bespoke furniture maker, working for a company who had recently vacated the Peckham workshop before the guys took it over. Working with metal had fostered in him a keen interest in blacksmithing, though as he reflects with hindsight, there was a certain – probably necessary – naivety about what making knives for a living would entail. “I had a fairly broad knowledge of blacksmithing,” says Ross-Harris, “but it turns out that there weren’t actually a whole lot of transferrable skills between working with metal in furniture and creating these knives. There is a whole other world of things you need to know about – and to be honest, the only thing they actually have in common is that the process is hot.” For Warshawsky and Warner, the departure was even greater: the former was pursuing
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I N S P I R E | CRAFTSMANSHIP
a PHD in Philosophy, while the latter had hitherto been building roads in Australia. Given that it took a year to match up to the beginner’s luck that saw the trio create their first blade, they must, I venture, have been possessed of some fairly serious selfbelief to have so doggedly persisted until they got it right? Ross-Harris waves away any such charges. “I’m not sure that we did have any particular great drive so much as a sort of blind belief that, based on our first knife, it would be easy. And then you get to a point where you’ve done it for so long and invested so much time in something that you can’t really go back.” But if their early efforts, created in the railway arch on a pile of firebricks with a fan, weren’t the product of great ambition, they were certainly creations that owe much to a relentless fascination with method. What marks Blenheim Forge out is its pattern-welded knives, which is to say that they are created using Damascus steel. Each blade is shot through with rivulets of different metals, bearing its own uniquely mottled fingerprint – the signature that has garnered this Peckham-based forge a legion of devotees in high-end restaurants all
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I N S P I R E | CRAFTSMANSHIP
“The process is important...what we do actually mimics Japanese swordmaking”
over the world as well as through its beautiful Instagram account. “It was creating something using Damascus steel which actually interested me in the first place,” says Ross-Harris. “It was the reason we tried to make that first knife. The process was the important thing. It’s a Japanese technique, and so what we do actually mimics Japanese sword making.” The Damascus method is, by all accounts, exceptionally difficult to get right, even for the most experienced of practitioners, because it leaves much to chance. Created by fusing layers of different steels together, it is the hardest process in blacksmithing and, although Japanese bladesmiths have used it for centuries, as Ross-Harris points out, they left no magic instructions for posterity. It is simply a case of trial and error – not just for the neophyte blacksmith, but forever. Using nickel and iron, fused to a steel bar, the metal is folded until they achieve 300 or 400 layers before being ground into shape. It is this laborious method that creates the mesmeric mottled patterns that are the signature that unites all Blenheim Forge knives. For Ross-Harris, there is a certain beauty in element of the unknown. “There is a mystic quality to the process, definitely,” he says. “There are a huge number of variables. Temperatures are critical, but because there is no recipe as such, you just have to be able to gauge by eye – and you can’t see the pattern until the blade is complete. At the very end of the process, you dip the blade in acid, which exposes all the layers. It’s only at that point that you see what it looks like,” he explains, adding: “Sometimes of course that’s really disappointing. You can spend hours doing really elaborate folding only for it to turn out bad.” Despite garnering a huge number of fans, among them famous chefs (“always totally surreal but really gratifying”),
the trio remains winningly humble. Ross-Harris alludes to the healthy serving of luck that has smoothed their path – an ingredient, I suggest, that is a part of all success stories. “Well, maybe. But we were definitely fortunate to have started at a time when there was this increased awareness of the value of things that are well made.” Now, five years down the line and a few inevitable burns later (though happily no hospital visits so far), Blenheim Forge is settling into its success. Where once they would take on bespoke commissions, Ross-Harris says they are doing rather less of that these days (“I much prefer to sell something that we’ve made already, rather than a knife that exists only in mine and the customer’s imagination”). Crucially, he tells me that there are no plans for expansion – perhaps ever. “We are happy doing what we do. The numbers of knives we create will probably stay roughly the same – anything more and the quality would be compromised.” In a world where every business model seems to be to expand and mass-produce, there could be little bolder and more telling of integrity than that.
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RHAPSODY
HUN GARIAN
The couple behind Margeza Design introduce their beautiful Budapest apartment Words M A R G I T S Z I N G E R & GEZA HAMORI 88
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I N S P I R E | FOCUS
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he building lies in the historical centre of Budapest, near the Castle of Buda. It was built in 1928, for a family. Later on it was divided into four apartments, then with the refurbishing of the attic, two more were added. There is a small garden attached to the building. The most beautiful view of the city is available here, and showing this off was a primary consideration. The Parliament and the river that splits the city is in full view, and we wanted to emphasize this. The Parliament is visible even from the bath. We found our own style. Many people said that they can instantly recognise our apartments. We like minimal design, but a softer version is more pleasing for us. Our spirit reflects on our apartments. We do not have to confirm to any rules. We like curved furniture and walls, livened up with vivid colours. Irregularly shaped spaces create a playful feel. In the living room a living green wall brings nature into the apartment and a glass wall shows the city. All the walls in the flat are white, there is a lot of light. Little spots of colour create a sense of energy. (The green wall in the living room is fed by an automatic irrigation system.) The window is made from triple-layered safety glass. The bench in front of it floats
“All the walls are white and little spots of colour create a sense of energy”
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I N S P I R E | FOCUS
on glass legs. The two yellow armchairs are Italian designs from the 80s (Girotonda). A white wool carpet decorates the living room, a unique item designed specifically for this apartment and shows a map of Budapest, with the different districts rendered with different wool lengths. In the middle, the Danube is in blue and on it is a little red dot, marking the location of the flat itself. The kitchen surrounds the chimney like a peninsula. The cupboards under the stairs hold kitchen appliances and storage space. (Washing machine, wine cooler, microwave.) Every electrical device was chosen to minimise the consumption of electricity. For the same reason, we used LED lights everywhere. The kitchen counter and the stairs are made of Corian. The stairs were designed by us, as well as the kitchen and the furniture, which were made to size by a carpenter. The doors were similarly fabricated. The dining room hosts a Leolux table surrounded by Kartell chairs like the petals of a flower. The arched windows were a given, but previously they had many small panes with dividers breaking up the view. We had special window panes made here, supported top and
bottom by anchors, leaving no dividing lines to draw the eye away from the beautiful park seen through them. It is rare that a loft apartment has a view of a park, but thanks to the hill that is the case here. There’s no need for curtains. The ‘floating’ bed and curved cabinet in the bedroom on the bottom floor were drawn up by us, too. The red radiator brings dynamism and energy to the attached white bathroom. The giant mirror enlarges the space. The upper floor bedroom is the place of relaxation and recharge in the home. We put both a bath and a shower here, as well as a toilet. There are many hidden storage spaces behind sliding doors, and in the wardrobe at the end of the room. On this level is also a little guest area. One should work at the desk here, but people would much rather enjoy the sight of boats floating on the river. There are two terraces attached to the apartment, which makes this place even more extraordinary. There is a roughly 200 degrees panoramic view for us to enjoy. Breakfast with the rising sun, or a glass of wine in the evening are outstanding experiences.
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DESIGN Modern architecture meets traditional charm at Montaltini, a modernist holiday home in Puglia that’s perfect for a family Words H E L E N B A R O N
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t wasn’t until we’d been parents for a year or so that we learned how to ‘do’ family holidays properly. Before our first child arrived, any worries about future travel plans centred on flights – would our daughter-to-be scream and annoy fellow passengers? Would she wriggle and fight to be free of our laps? In the event, we still travelled a lot in her first year, and the flights were rarely a big deal. Even a long-haul trip to LA with a newly walking thirteen month-old – eager to toddle up and down the aisle for the full 11 hours – was, ultimately, bearable. By that time, of course, we’d figured out the real key to holiday happiness when you have little ones in tow: the right accommodation. Our first trips during the summer following our daughter’s birth were shorter hops to Marseille and Provence, where we (naively) stayed in small hotels highly regarded for their luxurious amenities and air of stately repose. That is, until we pitched up with a nap-hating six monthold already possessed of a firm grasp on the power of a well-timed shriek. We felt terrible every time she cried or complained, and resolved to do things differently in future – from that point forward, it would be private lets all the way. When our second daughter arrived, shortly before our first turned two, it cemented our certainty – which was why we found ourselves enlisting the help of the experts at The Thinking Traveller when planning our next family holiday.
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I N S P I R E | TRAVEL THE GUESTHOUSE HOUSED IN A TRADITIONAL TRULLO
“Puglia is blessed with new and historic villas, masseria and trulli, built or renovated to the highest standards"
THE POOL SURROUNDED BY CENTURIES-OLD OLIVE TREES
We wanted a destination that was conveniently accessible, naturally beautiful, blessed with an air of authenticity and – importantly – that offered a choice of private accommodation that didn’t compromise on design or comfort. Our consultant’s answer was immediate: Puglia, the southern Italian region famed for sprawling olive groves, white hilltop towns, tumbledown walls of creamy stone and magnificent beaches. Happily, Puglia is also blessed with a large number of new and historic villas, masseria and trulli, built or renovated to the highest standards – and often with family life in mind. Heedful of our love of contemporary architecture, the Thinking Traveller recommended Montaltini, a modern property close to the coastal town of Monopoli, designed by Luca Zanaroli Architects. An elegant L-shaped building comprised of two oldstone wings joined by a black cubic lodge, Montaltini features four spacious double bedrooms as well as a separate guesthouse in the form of a traditional, cone-roofed trullo. Set in gardens scattered with centuries-old olive trees, the house is framed by cacti-bearing gravel beds, a pale concrete terrace and an infinity pool surrounded by sun-bleached decking. We fell in love with the photos and were even more impressed by the real thing: only an hour’s drive from both Bari and Brindisi airports, situated along a dusty gravel track among almond trees laden with fruit – extremely well-connected yet with a pleasing sense of privacy and calm.
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Window shopping Replacing beautiful timber Window shopping
windows and doors, beautifully Replacing beautiful timber windows and doors, beautifully
ORANGERIES
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CONSERVATORIES
www.ayrtonbespoke.com
GARDEN ROOMS |
020 8877 8920 www.ayrtonbespoke.com enquiries@ayrtonbespoke.com 020 8877 8920
OAK BUILDINGS
Call for a complimentary design consultation or visit our Chelsea showroom
01278 764444
406 Merton Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 5AD 61- 63 Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, London N8 9BE
davidsalisbury.com
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406 Merton Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 5AD 61- 63 Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, London N8 9BE23/01/2018
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I N S P I R E | TRAVEL
The villa was also ideal for our children, then aged eight months and 2 and a half: large enough for our elder daughter to explore and enjoy a little freedom; small enough that we could always keep an eye on her. Her sister, not quite crawling yet, enjoyed playing at the pool’s edge under the shade of the olives while the adults enjoyed long meals prepared in the outdoor kitchen and eaten at the huge al fresco dining table. The villa, which sleeps ten adults, was the perfect size for two or three couples or small families to share; we had an entire wing to ourselves while friends took the remaining rooms. The bathrooms were fit for a luxury spa, while the designer furniture (much of it with a Seventies Milanese vibe redolent of Luca Guadagnino’s movie I Am Love) proved remarkably resilient to all the rough and tumble an excited toddler could throw at it. The languid September days were spent lazing beside the pool or visiting local towns including picturesque Alberobello, famed for its winding streets and central
PLENTY OF OUTSIDE SEATING AREAS
Villa Montaltini is available to book through thethinkingtraveller.com Prices start at £4,032 per week.
“The house became a frame through which to look out onto the timeless country beyond” THE TRULLO INTERIOR THE KITCHEN FORMS THE MEETING POINT OF THE HOUSE
huddle of white trulli, and Monopoli, with its imposing historic centre serenely overlooking the bluest sea. The beaches - even those close to town centres, are still possessed of a ‘golden age’ charm (think The Talented Mr. Ripley) and there are several large coastal nature reserves within an hour or two’s drive for those seeking a little more ruggedness or isolation. A highlight of our trip was a four-course meal at the villa, provided by two local cooks with a definite flair for Puglian classics: unforgettable pasta and irresistible tiramisu. But while the food was superb, the villa itself was ever the star of the show: its clean, geometric lines and minimalist sophistication ingeniously integrated into the surrounding landscape. Indeed, the house and garden became a frame through which to look out onto the timeless country beyond, and we loved showering al fresco in the pool showers, out of sight below the garden, looking out across the groves as the rosy glow of dawn gave way to another blazing morning. Later we would sit out together beside the pool, the children playing as we watched the sun fall and the moon come up behind the twin cones of the trullo. There is a traditional Puglianese tongue-twister that runs, ‘Si ce n’amma scì, sciammu’ncinn. Si nun ce n’amma scì, nun ce ne sciàm scénn’. It means: ‘If we have to go, let’s go. If we don’t have to go, let’s stay.’ Alas, we couldn’t stay at Montaltini forever. But we’ll definitely be going back.
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T H E N AT U R A L WO O D F LO O R The Natural Wood Floor Company has a reputation for the best quality wooden flooring in London. It boasts over 140 designs, including; parquet, engineered, solid wood and a pre-finished range. Be inspired with a trip to the Wandsworth showroom, 20 Smugglers Way, SW18, or view the complete collection online. The team of experts are always on hand to offer their help. Tel: 020 88719771 naturalwoodfloor.co.uk
PULLMAN EDITIONS These striking original limited edition posters from Pullman Editions capture the enduring appeal of Art Deco. Their newly commissioned posters feature glamorous winter sports, summer resorts around the world, as well as the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Evoking beautiful memories, their modern take on the Art Deco classics provide an affordable way to decorate your home. Priced at £395 each. pullmaneditions.com
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BELLA INTERIORS Bella Interiors offer a one-stop service for all your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom needs. They feature brands such as Miele, Neff and Schroder. Whether you would like to update with new appliances or a complete design and build service, visit the showroom for advice on the perfect solutions for your home. 137 Kew Road, TW9 020 8332 9898 bellainterior.co.uk
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I N S P I R E | PROMOTION
THE CORNISH BED CO
THE LOUNG E CO
D AV I D S A L I S B U R Y
A timeless expression of classic style, our distinctive iron beds look perfect in both traditional and contemporary settings. They’re hand crafted in the heart of Cornwall by our team of skilled artisans using the same methods championed by their Victorian forefathers. Each bed is hand poured using gravity casting and then individually numbered, creating a bespoke product for every customer.. cornishbeds.co.uk
A stunningly subtle edition to any space in your home the Joshua is a classically inspired chair flavoured with contemporary freshness. The innovative design offers relaxed comfort and a timeless charm. The supportive foam seat and back ensure total comfort for you in your home. Available in over 100 beautiful fabrics visit www.theloungeco. com for more information. theloungeco.com
David Salisbury designs and manufactures precision-made Orangeries, Conservatories, Garden Rooms and Oak Buildings. An experienced designer will visit your home to establish what you want from your new extension. We take responsibility for planning permission, project manage your build and once completed, we will ensure you have complete peace of mind. davidsalisbury.com
T I L E S & B E YO N D
J U S T A D D WAT E R
PIGLET
Taine Silver - £60 per sqm inc vat. Available in varying sizes and colours. Created with untamed nature in mind, this textured porcelain tile brings the characteristics and personality of the outdoors into the home. The richness and depth of this tile results sophisticated, harmonious interiors. Perfect for use in bathrooms and living spaces to create enveloping atmospheres. tilesandbeyond.com
Complete your New Year bathroom renovation with this stylish sink unit from Bauhaus Castellon. White, fine fireclay ceramic with a high gloss platinum exterior glaze. Combining elegance with its compact design, it is the perfect edition to your space with its stunning visual appeal. Just Add Water's showroom stocks more than 30 brands and can provide advice and design services for projects of any size. justaddwater.co.uk
Keep warm and cosy this winter with Piglet’s natural stonewashed linen bedding. Available in all sizes from single to king-sized, and in a range of colours that includes this striking indigo blue set, Piglet linens get softer and softer with wear and washing. Skip the iron and embrace linen’s natural texture for an effortless and modern update to your bedroom style. New to the collection is sage green and it's a popular choice. pigletinbed.com
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I N S P I R E | PEOPLE
My Style JA N E T T E R E I D The owner of online interiors boutique Eclect shares her inspirations eclectdesign.com
YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION
I’m not sure I would call it a holiday, but I once went horse trekking in Mongolia. It was as painful as it was memorable, but it was a profound experience I feel very privileged to have had.
YOUR STYLE ICON I spend most of my time in jeans and plain tops, though when its time to dress up I enjoy wearing quite bold, colourful patterns. Who would my style icon be?
YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER
Lucienne Day. She brought fresh, optimistic designs to the living rooms of post-war Britain. Her lively, patterns continue to be an influence.
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM THE SHOP’S CURRENT COLLECTION I have a soft spot for the Russel Wright American Modern collection. It combines a sophisticated Midcentury design with a comic quality.
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF ART
Anything by Charley Harper, the American modernist artist. He had such an original way of converting the complexity of what he saw into a distilled style he called “minimal realism”. His illustrations of birds are perhaps the most recognisable.
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YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING
I have often walked my Westie in Crystal Palace Park and stared at the ground where the magnificent palace once stood. I imagine how exciting it would have been to walk amongst the crowds at one of its exhibitions.
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