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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious bar-restaurant design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Albion & East.

SBID Awards Category: Restaurant Design

Practice: Albion & East

Project: Teatro Hall

Location: London, United Kingdom

What was the client’s brief? 

To create a 300 cover bar-restaurant with a grand, centre-piece bar, a very open kitchen integrated into the space and two iconic outside terraces.

What inspired the design of the project?

The building is the former 1930’s Forum Theatre, designed by Mr Stanley Beard who specialised in cinema architecture, but had long since closed and remained abandoned for 15 years until we resurrected it as Teatro Hall. The original interior had an Italian Renaissance style design with high ceilings and large columns. Our inspiration was to resurrect the building in ‘Stile Liberte’, an Italian variant of Art Nouveau and named after Arthur Liberty and the store he founded Liberty’s. We were rediscovering, resurrecting and reawakening and building of grand proportions in a subtle, not slavish, mind to its history.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

With new Brexit laws, delivery of bespoke items made for us in Europe needed careful planning and challenged budgets. Coupled with increases in raw material costs we had to focus hard on design elements which were stand out. Having to work harder than ever before, we didn’t compromise on design and hit budgets through planning and extending our network of suppliers of bespoke and hand made items.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

A grand island bar takes centre stage with a tall backdrop of etched blue Venetian Glass housed in cherry wood, marble bar top and pale parchment under tiled counter. Our Clock Tower is reminiscent of seating in the Waldorf Astoria lobby in NYC. Banquets, with rich midnight velvet seats and pale cream linen curtains, create intimacy. Four handmade Murano glass chandeliers, with over 100 glass columns each, create grandeur that the space demands.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Having followed the awards for several years, I have always been impressed at the quality and diversity of the finalists. It has been a source of interest and inspiration for me over the years as I have been developing my company. SBID is a well recognised and prestigious organisation and it’s an honour to be a finalist with you.

Questions answered by Sarah Weir, Lead Designer and the Founder & Managing Director, Albion & East.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a modern and relaxing jetsetter design by Greenpoint Technologies, click here to read it.

The subject matter of elaboration was interior design of Barbara’s Apartment located in Warsaw, Poland. The scope of the design service included interior design of the entrance hall with open reception with study place and open kitchen area together with the bedroom. The background of the design service was interior partly built with architectural design solution already implemented, as well as the bathrooms. The main goal of the assignment was to create amazing the most important areas and bring soul to this place, 80 sqm apartment on the 14th floor in residential building in Warsaw.

The realisation of this project was a multi-level challenge, in particular the incorporation and neutralisation of the found elements in the project which, as it turned out, were contrary to the owner’s expectations and expression. Following the dream of our client Barbara, we immersed ourselves in the postmodernism of the Italian group “Memphis” and, on the other hand, in the Popart aesthetics of the 1960’s and 1970’s. It was quite a difficult and unconventional combination, but it turned out to be a platform for a lot of interesting ideas: full of intensity, colours and details mostly ending up in very individual furniture designs and patterns.

The architectural base of graphite and beige structures, which existed here before, was complemented by the client’s favourite combination of grant-green-purple-carmine, which introduced a visible boldness of colour, evoking associations and an atmosphere like in the world of Almodovar, whom she has appreciated while inspired this place.

This combination, intense and variable in intensity and proportion, became the main basis for material and colour choices. Thus, within this framework, shades of these colours appear in the form of varied and contrasting textures, shiny blue and green mirrors contrast with silk and velvet wallpapers, furry gradient fabrics are combined with nubuck matte leather, patterned fabric ornaments with an intense, almost ethnic expression are juxtaposed with glossy anthracite wood.

The intensity of the colours is combined with the finesse of the shapes of the sophisticated and designed furniture. As a tribute to the style of the Memphis group, Robert Majkut has designed a dedicated collection of furniture inspired by them, such as a console in the entrance, a TV cabinet and table in the living room and a chest of drawers in the bedroom. This coherent and bold collection of sculptures-objects fulfils its concentrating, colour-sculptural role, giving a distinct character and unambiguity to this effusion of intensity. A number of distinctive forms and juxtapositions were used in the design of the console located in the lobby, including the most popular Memphis pattern – the squiggle, otherwise known as ‘bacterio’. A table and TV cabinet using ornaments typical of the style were also designed in the convention of the Italian group. The collection was created in collaboration with the Dawidczyk Brothers carpentry workshop.

The whole is complemented by the owner’s furniture and meticulously selected additions in the form of Casina armchairs, Minotti sofa, or other furniture from companies such as Porada, Ekstorm, Bosa, Pouenat, Takeushi, Kundalini.

The living room and bedroom interiors are dominated by fleshy fabrics with thick weaves and colours from well-known and respected brands Kirkby Design, Zimmer+Rohde professionally stitched and upholstered to order in collaboration with Ardeco Studio and silk and velour textile wallpapers of high quality by Vescom, Phillip Jeffries, individually selected and made colourful mirrors, shades and carpets made to order by CS rugs factory from the Cameleon Collection. Finally, the highlight of the project is a kitchen ceramic wall made based on inspiration from a selected painting by a Canadian artist, whose transcriptions into the language of ceramics were first precisely designed and then crafted. It is an expressive dominant feature of the interior created by means of traditionally fired, sophisticated colours, realised in collaboration with Ardea.

The hand-formed work has been transferred into the kitchen space providing an artistic respite, but also a backdrop to the urban life of the house, blending in with furnishing details such as the Gessi kitchen tap with its ceramic stem in the colour of carmine certainly.

Robert Majkut appreciates the sensitivity and artistry of other artists and seeks out original and unobvious works that complement his vision of a place, which was the case in his collaboration with the OAK Gallery in Paris. For this project, an Art Object – Mirror by Christophe Gaignon/Signature Collection was created with a special dedication to the owner of the interior.

From the Author:

“This beautiful living space came out as an intense mixture of colors, bold forms, a tribute to the joyful, colorful times of artistic design – it was and it is all about playing with conventions and joy liberated from the obvious. Just like the person who lives here! Thank you, Barbara.”

About Robert Majkut Design Ltd

RMD is a repeatedly awarded, international design practice in interior design, branding architecture & design strategy, focusing on highly creative and quality solutions for private and commercial investors. For more than 25 years we have been working for courageous people and strong brands, generating new market standards with them, creating sustainable values, embracing our insight and experience. During the design process, we always look for authenticity, we want to narrate real stories. The core is the power of art to create beauty, we use creativity to move forward and experience to fulfil. The company is featured best numerous editorials in consumer and trade magazines. Robert Majkut Design Ltd is based in London and has a representative office in Warsaw.

If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an elegant and sophisticated residential design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, CHIL Interior Design.

The romance of discovery is found in all aspects of life if you are willing to explore. Travel, culture, design, music, fashion all inspire life, and none are more influential than seeing these aspects through the refined cultural lens of a city like Paris. Through the distinct European architecture, fragrant French gardens, and the overall appreciation of the finest details in living, CHIL Interior Design created a design for Chloe Kerrisdale that celebrates these unique Parisian and European details within.

With soft palettes and sophistication, the result is unforgettable spaces that express the effortless elegance, grace, and joie de vivre of Paris itself. A balance between indulgence and restraint, between measure and proportion and between structure and abstraction, the Chloe Kerrisdale display suite is an exquisite jewel standing out within the community.

SBID Awards Category: Show Flats & Developments

Practice: CHIL Interior Design

Project: Chloe Kerrisdale Display Suite

Location: Vancouver, Canada

What was the client’s brief? 

The client wanted us to create an aspirational living space that is inspired by the classical architecture and Parisian lifestyle. It was also important to the client that the show suite is a direct replica of a purchasable unit to showcase luxurious living through high end materials, furniture, artwork that appeals to the a well-travelled and affluent demographic.

What inspired the design of the project?

We began with the classical architecture of the building that is reminiscent of established European cities like Paris. We wanted to pay homage to the well-recognized details of these buildings while still providing a clean and modern perspective as a balance. The design for Chloe Kerrisdale celebrates the Parisian lifestyle in the heart of Vancouver.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle for this project is fitting a unit floorplan into a pre-existing space and avoiding as many columns in the display unit as possible. While we were successful in avoiding some, unavoidable columns were used to the design’s advantage with added floral arrangement displays.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Every material, furniture, accessory and lighting selection reflects to the luxurious Parisian living concept with a modern take on traditional details. The locally commissioned hand carved 3D rose artwork that adorns the reception area tells the Parisian story right when the buyer walks in, transporting them into the state of mind immediately. Attention to various levels of lighting to create a soft ambient atmosphere in the space. We are also proud of the way we overcame unavoidable columns by beautifying them with floral arrangements.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards is one of the most prestigious international interior design awards. It is always an honour to be recognized by such a high calibre of industry expert panel and we look forward to submitting our entries every year. This year is also our first time submitting to the Show Flats & Development category and we are immensely grateful to be shortlisted as a finalist!

Questions answered by Danielle Clarke & Adèle Rankin, Design Director & Principal & Global Design Lead, CHIL Interior Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a dynamic restaurant design by DesignLSM, click here to read it.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Residential Budget Up To £50,000 category, Co-founder of ID4U Studio, Viktoriya Moshchynska shares the concept and decisions behind the design, approach to enlarging a small space and working within the budget.

This small apartment was made for rent. It was important to create space that would fit a lot of people’s expectations but preferably for a young couple. The building is situated in beautiful place surrounded by nature.

SBID Awards Category: Residential Budget Up To £50,000

Practice: ID4U Studio

Entry: Sunny Riviera

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

Because this property was made for renting the main idea was to create a simple design which can easily meet expectations of working singles or a couple. We also wanted to replan the space so it could look bigger and lighter and every inch of it could be functional. Our work started with layouts and constructive documents. Because our budget was limited I had to use some materials that were in stock at that moment. For example, we chose this simple white textile for the kitchen but decided to put it in a chevron way and make the black seams.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

We never thought about this project as of a special one. We just tried to create a nice place. Our client gave us full freedom within the budget and this worked out very well. This means that the best result is achieved when your client trusts you.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

We are from Ukraine. We know that there were 16 Ukrainian projects that got into the final in 2022, two of them won a category. I think, it shows that the interior design sphere is well developed in my country, and the work of our architects, designers and manufacturers, as well as my work personally, meets international standards and trends. It’s an important message that we as Ukrainians send to other European countries.

How do you approach design projects with a limited budget? Do you have any tactics you use to get the most out of it?

After 14 years of work I now know exactly which parts of an interior are worth spending on and which are not.

Space changes that require constructive works are worth spending on. I also never use cheap bathroom sets and taps, etc. The rule is simple: you shouldn’t save on things that are in-built within the apartment.

The other important rule is never buy fake. I can always find interior objects within the budget. I like to buy small furniture and decor from mass market producers. At the same time I only use authentic Art for my projects. It’s my favorite mix of something expansive and something cheap. Like when you wear an H&M t-shirt with a GUCCI skirt.

The wall inside the apartment was replaced with a glass one – what was the inspiration behind it and were there any difficulties/considerations that came with that?

In my strong opinion, inner architecture is the main thing of future interior. Standart planning never works. Rooms in this apartment were divided by a wall. It made them small and dark. Decision with a glass wall came to my head the first moment I entered the apartment. I instantly knew that we needed it. The only thing that stopped us was the price. But we assured my client that it was worth it. And she never regretted it. The wall completely changed the space by making it look bigger and lighter.

The space, although small, seems spacious and airy. How did you achieve this effect in this project?

Apartment used to have a covered separated gallery. We decided to add it’s space to the living room. We demolished the wall between the living room and the gallery. The living room became bigger. But the most important thing is that we could now enjoy this wonderful view over the Dnipro river through big windows which we didn’t see before. A lot of natural light now fills the whole apartment through the windows and the glass wall and makes it look airy.

Questions answered by Viktoriya Moshchynska, Co-founder, ID4U Studio.

Viktoriya Moshchynska

In 2008 together with her best friend, Olga Gryban, Viktoriya founded an interior design studio ID4U Studio in Kyiv, Ukraine. Since that time they have been working as an interior designers on full-cycle projects covering the whole process from idea till the final realization. ID4U Studio worked mostly with contemporary residential interiors creating functional but cozy, long-living spaces.
In 2022 because of the war Viktoriya moved with her family to London and launched her own brand ID4U Interiors specialising in interior renovation, home furnishing and home styling.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern and relaxing jetsetter design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Greenpoint Technologies.

Greenpoint curated the Retreat interior for a distinguished jetsetter focused on health and self-care priorities. The client requested a modern, serene, and nurturing interior. Greenpoint Design drew inspiration from biophilic design and wellness trends to create the experience of a luxury spa retreat. The Retreat interior seamlessly balances sustainable details, live greenery, and progressive, intuitive technology. The result is a wellbeing haven wherever you are in the world!

Guests enter the aircraft through a rotunda featuring a topographical-inspired accent pendant and an internally lit terrarium housing a tropical environment. Inspired by flowing water, the cabin features a ceiling panel system with a high-gloss metallic finish reminiscent of a river meandering throughout the interior.

Greenpoint’s Retreat interior achieves a modern, relaxing atmosphere ideal for the sophisticated world traveler. Each room offers an opportunity to unwind and relax, with advanced technology discretely concealed within the bespoke cabinetry. Whether traveling for business or leisure, the Retreat interior offers a sophisticated oasis for all owners and guests onboard.

SBID Awards Category: CGI & Visualisation Finalist

Practice: Greenpoint Technologies

Project: Retreat

Location: Washington, United States of America

What was the client’s brief? 

Greenpoint curated the Retreat BBJ MAX8 aircraft interior for a distinguished jetsetter focused on health and self-care priorities. The client requested a modern, serene, and nurturing interior with live greenery and sustainable details. The process began with an undulating river-like floorplan catering to the client’s nature-inspired vision. Greenpoint Design detailed the interior architecture and furniture standards, then modeled and sketched all interior elements. Lighting and soft materials including fabrics, colors, and textures finish the interior and are presented to the client for final approval.

What inspired the design of the project?

Greenpoint Design drew inspiration from biophilia and wellness trends to create the experience of a luxury spa retreat. Greenpoint Design focused heavily on biophilic design; the creation of living indoor spaces using organic, natural design elements. The team studied the benefits of biophilic design including stress reduction and a positive impact on one’s mood, energy, focus and productivity. The Retreat interior is comprised of organic, sustainable materials throughout.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the biggest hurdles was working the lighting on this project. This was the first airplane interior that we completely blocked the windows, and all natural light, in order to provide the cabin more adaptability of scenery through OLED screens. In blocking the windows, we lost the sunlight that so often provides shadow and dimension to the cabin. We solved the issue by providing layers of lighting, highly reflective materials, and depth with the use of backlit terrariums.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing all the new ideas that everyone brought to the table. It really showcases our team’s willingness to push the boundaries to create such a unique interior. Greenpoint Design continues to imagine and conceptually design interiors with emerging and advanced technology, pursuing exploration and innovation.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards provide esteemed recognition to interior designers from all industries across the globe. The Awards encourage innovation by offering the opportunity to draw inspiration cross-industry and propel designs into the future.

Questions answered by Annika Svore Wicklund, Design Director, Greenpoint Technologies.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a kitchen renovation design by Celia Visser Design, click here to read it.

Sylan Mirror Box Units are an expression of innovation, design and function. They are the complete package combining space saving concealed storage and minimalistic, stylish design to create the perfect final touch to any washroom. The inside boasts a fully customisable behind the mirror accessory system along with a full range of configurable accessories which can be adapted to clients’ requirements or to complement the project environment.

Designed with elegance, safety and sustainability in mind, the minimalist mirror panel design with polished mirror glass and back lit lighting reflect the aesthetics of contemporary styling of today’s washroom interiors.

Features:

  • Utilises wall space providing a space saving solution
  • Minimalist design
  • Polished mirrored glass
  • Infill panels are available to complement the mirror box units
  • Lockable

Special Features:

  • Customisable behind the mirror accessory system with a full range of configurable accessories available
  • Complete with a concealed built in shelf for consumables
  • Liquid soap, paper towel dispenser and hand dryer accessories available
  • Back lit Cool White LED lighting
  • Gas strut hinges enables effortless access
  • Freedom to incorporate own accessory icons
  • IP67 waterproof electricals

To find out more visit our website or contact our Sylan team on 01763 276200 who will be happy to help.

About Sylan

A Sylan washroom is the ultimate expression of precision. This is because we are obsessive about detail. Every Sylan washroom we create is a luxuriously crafted, beautifully engineered product. But more than that, every one is bespoke built and individually customised around your needs. Your Sylan journey will start with our Project Managers and stay with you for years to come. It will be so well built, so precision crafted and so detailed in its design that we are fully confident to offer a 10 year guarantee across the whole range.

If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Biophilia can be defined as an inherent human desire to connect with the natural world and elements of Arteriors’ interior décor encourage this. Biophilic design isn’t just trendy from an aesthetic perspective – surrounding ourselves with nature has additional benefits elevating our mood and creating a holistic environment.

In residential design, a biophilic environment can encourage relaxation and a separation from bustling outside life. In an office space, benefits include increased productivity and creativity. In both instances, including elements of nature into the design of a room boosts overall physical and mental health.

Margot Lounge Chair, £2771; Nemby Lamp, £900; Morgan End Table, £2078
Palma Pendant £2,486; Palmer Dining Chair £2,175; Palista Lamp £1,088

Natural materials are the obvious addition and just one of the ways we can ensure we are benefitting from mother nature’s touch. Materials such as rattan, wicker, and various woods are great additions and can be used in furniture, lighting and accessory design. Season upon season we’ve seen more brands offering designs that integrate natural weaves and raffias, making it easier for designers and their clientele to create a grounded, organic décor scheme.

The positive influence on people is paired with the sustainable credentials of using these materials. Inherently biodegradable and regenerative, the resulting products are crafted with the future in mind.

Palmeda Lounge Chair £4,661; Serrano Floor Lamp £2,020
Eleanor Lounge Chair, £2,824; Omega Cocktail Table, £1801

Striving to further our connection with nature, our design team has endeavoured to include additional materials such as corn husk, coconut shell and abaca fibres that give a varied aesthetic but provide the same benefits. We’ve always wanted to ensure we honour the ingenuity of master artisans, where skills are passed down from generation to generation – particularly in places such as Southeast Asia, where the incredible artistry has inspired our collection of natural materials where we’ve weaved in inventive details (pun intended). Combining contemporary form with rich texture and traditional craftsmanship evokes a warm, welcoming aesthetic.

Palmer Dining Chair, £2,175
Ronaldo Chandelier, £4,040

Another key element to consider is the colours used in a space – neutral tones, and earthy hues are grounding and provide an effective canvas to incorporate additional elements of biophilic design. Pops of green are also proven to reduce heart rate and promote calm whether selected as a key colour in furniture choice or across a statement wall.

Raffie Vase, £777
Itiga Dining Chair, £1524

Final additions make a world of difference, with planters and hanging baskets, dried flowers and fresh posies quite literally adding an element of the living natural world. More than aesthetic, plants and flowers work like gentle air purifiers moderating temperature, humidity and levels of toxins present to create a more pleasant living environment.

Midori Pendant, £2,771
Spaulding Box, £311

Key to a positive outlook and beneficial to health in all senses of the word, it’s no wonder designers are keeping this as a priority for residential, commercial and hospitality design. Each season, we want to make sure we’re creating products that work with, not against the environment and encourage biophilic living.

About Arteriors

For over 30 years, Arteriors delivers impeccable style and artisanal quality craftsmanship within the lighting, furniture, wall décor and home accessory categories to discerning customers worldwide. This three-decade journey in pursuit of extraordinary product – from the understated to the unexpected – had been and remain at the core of what Arteriors do each day. Arteriors’ business has matured and expanded into a timeless lifestyle brand that has become premier resource for interior designers and retailers worldwide.

Today, Arteriors continues to reinterpret materials, forming objects of perfect proportions and scale, resulting in bold interiors that bring ease to everyday luxury.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

No bathroom is complete without a mirror, and RAK Ceramics ensures that including this essential accessory as part of a purchase is no hard sale, with several new additions to its collection.

RAK-Picture Oval

In a choice of stylish finishes to combine seamlessly with any décor, the new RAK-Art and RAK-Picture mirrors come with Chrome, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel and Brushed Gold. This enables them to be chosen to match the bathroom’s brassware, extending the sale and ensuring retailers can value up.

RAK-Ornate

Both ranges feature four shapes – Round, Square, Soft and Oval – and have LED lighting, a demister pad and touch sensor activation, bringing the latest bathroom technology into the home in a seamless way.

Also new to the RAK Ceramics mirrors collection is RAK-Ornate, available in the same choice of finishes and with the same technological features. The RAK-Ornate mirror has an integrated shelf for handy storage of bathroom essentials, making it the perfect addition to a master ensuite for a hotel-inspired look.

RAK-Arc Round

About RAK Ceramics

RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics’ brands in the world. Specialising in ceramic and grès porcelain wall and floor tiles, tableware, sanitaryware and faucets, the company has the capacity to produce 123 million square metres of tiles, 5 million pieces of sanitaryware, 24 million pieces of porcelain tableware and 1 million pieces of faucets per year at its 22 state-of-the-art plants across the United Arab Emirates, India and Bangladesh.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, RAK Ceramics serves clients in more than 150 countries through its network of operational hubs in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, North and South America and Australia.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a kitchen renovation design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Celia Visser Design.

SBID Awards Category: KBB Design

Practice: Celia Visser Design

Project: Oriental Industrial

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

What was the client’s brief? 

The expat owners of this 1990s architecturally designed home returned to New Zealand for their retirement and called upon the designer to renovate their kitchen living area. They wanted to ensure it would fit with the home’s existing architecture and, as avid cooks, needed a much larger space to comfortably use. The wanted to enhance the harbour views the room enjoyed which was constrained by walls on entering the space.

What inspired the design of the project?

The Clients brief & the house architecture. The home had quite industrial and native NZ timber features, especially the open stairwell which can be seen from the front and larder.

The clients had lived in a lot of Asian & Arab countries & had brought back a lot of treasures and special objects they had collected on their travels and wanted them to be displayed in the kitchen. The open shelves were designed to match the stairs, like a commercial kitchen having all products on display.

The colour Palette was chosen to blend all these elements together.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the main challenges for this project was that the kitchen’s size in proportion to the house size and function was very small. There was also an unused room behind the existing kitchen that could be incorporated, but the three dividing wall and posts were a major structural support for the three-storied home.

The removal of the structural and supporting walls was a big undertaking, this meant employing an engineer to redesign the house foundations and constructing new supporting steel beams.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight was viewing the opened kitchen to the adjacent room for the first time. This increased the space to double in size while exposing the beautiful harbour views which had been hidden from many areas of the entrance & living room. It was a very special moment when the client saw what a difference the larger space would have on their lives & especially being able to see the harbour from all angles while she cooked – a moment to remember.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

I entered and won the SBID award KBB category in 2018 & love that these Awards have grown to be such a force globally & I feel they are so prestigious and recognised now. It helps my credibility as a designer both in New Zealand & Internationally. I can market my award as being at the top of my career globally so it’s a very special award for me.

If I have a great project I want to enter for the recognition it gives, even to be a finalist is a great accolade.

Questions answered by Celia Visser, FNKBA, CKD/CBDNZ PDINZ, Celia Visser Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a modern residential development design by Yuan-Art, click here to read it.

Consistently expanding on its contemporary custom designed offering sofa.com is delighted to introduce the launch of the SS23 Collection to a trade audience.

Launched on February 7th, the new season collection at sofa.com is a celebration of bespoke, high-quality comfort and sleek, shapely style. The collection comprises two hero upholstered seating options, new dining and storage furniture, and expansions of best-selling ranges, with a focus on growing bedroom and dining categories as well as presenting range expansions for the residential areas. Catering for a range of design specifications across commercial and residential projects, the collection introduces two main trends, with elements of coastal charm and modern rustic weaved through new product design.

Sofa.com Seattle accent chair in Oyster boucle £940 each and Alexandria side table in black £310
Sofa.com Memphis round table £1,000 and Piper dining chairs Cosmopolitan in smart velvet £270 each

The overarching palette for Spring is one that calms and comforts. Relaxed shaping and minimalist detailing are present throughout. Thirteen additions to the already vast assortment of fabric options include new varieties of velvet, subtly patterned weaves, and trendy tweeds, with a myriad of seascape blues central to the selection. All pieces of the expansion are also available as COM to create bespoke options to allow designers breadth of choice.

  • Carmel joins the upholstered furniture family as the all-encompassing comfy sofa choice, with a relaxed slouch and bulbous features. Extra cushioning creates oomph and a welcoming squish. Available as armchair, sofa, chaise and footstool to create a complete and streamlined aesthetic.
  • Memphis plays with negative space with shapely open detailing core to the new dining table design. Available as rounded, square or rectangle, with a wooden top – configure to suit varying dining requirements from intimate meals to family gatherings.
  • The perfect occasional chair for modern design lovers, the Seattle armchair, with clean lines and a simple silhouette, is a statement seat that epitomises sofa.com’s new contemporary design handwriting and a desire to cater for countless décor schemes.
Sofa.com Carmel Chaise in Santorini Easy Care Velvet £3,300

Speaking on the collection, trade development manager Laura Tarratt comments:

“We have seen a slight uptick in coastal and rustic styling and predict these themes to be the trends for 2023. Our new SS23 collection perfectly caters for these re-emerging themes with relaxed and minimalist shaping present throughout the collection. This season seating is at the core and we wanted to ensure each sofa, dining seat or armchair would stand alone as a beautiful, functional residential piece but also work to create a statement within restaurants, bars, office meeting room or set the scene in a hotel lobby.”

Sofa.com Seattle armchair in Oyster luxe boucle, £940

“The overarching palette for spring is one of light tones and natural materials that embody comfort.  Beautifully represented with plush velvets and subtle patterned weaves, we are expecting coastal themes to emerge in hotelier commercial and residential projects. Complementing this neutral colour scheme is the presence of rustic textures and solid fabrics rather than patterns.

Modern rustic radiates a relaxing and comfortable feel, which fits in with people’s desire for cocooning furniture.  Boasting over 75 fabrics and the option to upholster all pieces in COM, our in-house team can fulfil any project brief becoming a one-stop shop for our growing interior designer clientele base.”

Sofa.com Memphis Table with Metal Detail, £1,000

Cover image: Sofa.com Seattle accent chair in Oyster boucle £940 each and Alexandria side table in black £310

About sofa.com

Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

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