This May, Graham & Brown brings art into the home with the launch of its exclusive TATE collection, in the form of 32 fully customisable wall murals. These showcase some beautiful works of art by artists, including J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, Ethel Walker, Jessica Dismorr and Vincent Van Gogh.
Rosey Blackmore, Licensing and Merchandise Director at TATE:
“We are thrilled to be working with Graham & Brown on a collection of murals which gives people the chance to live with the art they love. Our mission at Tate is all about encouraging the enjoyment of art- and we believe that these products will truly do that.”
Alan Kemp, Head of Brand at Graham & Brown:
“We [Graham & Brown] are privileged to have had the opportunity to browse the TATE collection and choose some exquisite works of art to create some of the most stunning custom murals available. It has been a truly exhilarating project to work on. As TATE has a vast archive containing some of the most iconic pieces of art in the world, we had some tough decisions to make, but we are thrilled to be able to bring these great pieces into the home. Why frame your favourite painting when you can have a wall full of it, or your very own ceiling mural? Your favourite piece of art your way, is only limited by your imagination.”
This exclusive range of murals includes works from Dutch pioneer of abstract art, Piet Mondrian, who developed from early landscape pictures to geometric abstract works such as Composition with Yellow, Blue & Red (1935). Contrastingly, Victor Pasmore’s Spiral Motif in Green, Violet, Blue and Gold: The Coast of the Indian Sea (1950), presents a harmony of colourful curvilinear forms, a striking piece, perfect for creating a focal point in any room.
British artist, Jessica Dismorr’s, Abstract Composition (1915) features a series of pastel-coloured geometric forms, reminiscent of architectural components, overlapping on a black ground. A dark yellow triangular prism with a curved side provides a vertical focus and splits the composition in two. Another mural featuring Dismorr’s works is Related Forms (1937), an abstract nature of works comprising of cooling blue hues.
Fully customisable to meet customers’ specifications and dimensions, Graham & Brown’s online easy-to-use, made-to-measure tool allows customers to personalise each of Graham & Brown’s unique mural designs to their walls, making them easy to hang with minimal waste.
The range of Graham & Brown paper substrates allow the mural to be personalised even further. Handpicked by Graham & Brown studio, the selection of premium paper finishes each offer a key feature or benefit. From ‘Premium Fabric Effect’ , a woven textured finish perfect for masking existing wall imperfections, to ‘Mica Fibrous’ a luxurious lustre which shimmers in the light, you can choose a finish which is guaranteed to suit your personal style. The mural production is powered by renewable energy, it uses water-based inks and all papers come from sustainable sources.
Cover image: Sleter – A Representation of the Liberal Arts. Designed for the ceiling of the State Dining Room of Grimsthorpe Castle, this early 18th century oil painting created the illusion of a golden, coved ceiling which spills into the godly world. It features Minerva, goddess of wisdom and the arts, and Mercury, identified with reason and learning.
About Graham & Brown
For over seventy-five years, Graham & Brown has inspired people to think people differently about their walls through continuous innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship. Graham & Brown has created an extensive archive of over 30,000 pieces, comprising of in-house designs and historic works, some dating back over two hundred years. Each day this archive grows as the Graham & Brown design team create artwork in Blackburn, Holland, and France. The UK’s leading wallpaper manufacturer, Graham & Brown has expanded its collection to include paint, murals, wall art and soft furnishings. The brand leads the way in technology and innovation with an augmented reality app that enables users to visualise pattern and colour on a wall.
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SBID member Kay Hare Art creates unique art pieces by mixing different eco-friendly materials and using unusual techniques. Her art brings liveliness and positivity to the overall ambience of interiors, inspiring the clients and shaping their awareness to make more environmentally conscious choices. The oil on linen paintings reflect dream landscapes with natural gemstone diamonds and gold leaf.
The paintings are not so much a brand as each one is quite different and as I work to the specification they do change. However, the roots lie in nature. I am inspired by trees and especially enjoy long walks getting lost in the woods. I love all the seasons and find beauty in the cold, wet weather of winter with frosty mornings. All my time spent outdoors is absorbed on a subconscious level and then translated into oil paintings. I work quietly alone in my studio with the paintings almost meditations in themselves often detached from reality.
I work on commission and enjoy the challenge of turning abstract ideas into a plan I can discuss clearly with clients. I enjoy offering paintings I already created. If these are not quite to the style ie. the right colours or often the right size, I will go to length to sketch out what I think the client wants, sometimes it being watercolour on paper. Once the client is happy we decide on a deadline and I make sure to stay in touch throughout the working period. Providing weekly and sometimes daily updates.
I think I bring much more than just the painting. I often suggest ideas that the client has not thought about. I am keen on working with local materials and can often suggest more environmentally conscious ways of doing things. Working with nature and natural colours can really enhance an environment as well as remind people that the natural world is precious and something we have to take care of. I like my paintings to radiate positivity and I like to bring my own enthusiasm to the project, hopefully uplifting others and providing inspiration.
I am quite direct when I am working with clients as I find this approach saves time and money. I also like to recommend other services or sometimes artists that perhaps may work better or as well as my own work. I am disciplined enough to know right from the start if the project is something realistic or not. I can bring to the table many past projects and the experience of thirty years of working on commission. My outlook generally is a Pollyanna mindset that anything is possible, however, we do have a responsibility to be aware of our carbon footprints and find economical, non-polluting, and eco-friendly ways of working that can still be luxurious and comforting.
I think the trend is very much in the natural world and it should be. We all have to monitor our consumption habits, choose biodegradable products, be accountable for our travel habits and conscious of our environments. How can we work harder to sustain an organic world? We can use more organic products and this can be hinted at through fabrics, prints, and décor generally. Encouraging eco-friendly environments through the way buildings are designed and then running this theme through to the interiors can influence and shape an individual’s awareness and an entire community. Making natural product-based materials and overall styles that hint at the salvaged, second-hand market is important to influence and support the younger generation who will have to embrace more sustainable ways of living without giving up on beautiful interiors.
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This week’s instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features an arty biophilic Oriental restaurant design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Deckora Design.
Yakuza is the most buzzed-about Asian restaurant of Lisbon set at the ground floor of Hotel AVANI AVENIDA and offering the best selection of creative sushi in town. Deckora Design assisted the wider Minor hotel group in shaping a refined yet eccentric environment featuring fine walnut details, polished stone superficies and hand-painted art murals.
The original commercial space, situated amid a dense urban context in the back yard of a busy high street, represented a challenge of great complexity for the designers due to the lack of natural light. The tailored made labour of Deckora Design’s team transformed a difficult space into the trendy Oriental restaurant of the Portuguese capital where art and biophilic design play a crucial role.
SBID Awards Category: Restaurant Design
Practice: Deckora Design
Project: Yakuza Restaurant
Location: Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Portugal
The brief is the creation of a cosy yet seductive interior where dark fittings, comfortable furniture and warm lighting contribute to a truly unique experience for the guest.
The project’s holistic approach, rooted in systematic design research, is considering all aspects of the environment: from architecture and lighting, to furniture and art. The concept was a modern and irreverent reinterpretation of the Japanese restaurant. The overall emblematic proposal shows how good quality design, and the successful transformation of a space, can have a successful impact and provide an authentic experience that goes beyond dining.
Yakuza Restaurant represented a great challenge, starting from the location situated amid a dense urban context with lack of natural lighting. Deckora Design delivered a flawless design enhancing the intrinsic characteristics of the property. The design team managed to exceed the expectations of the different stakeholders by respecting budget constraints and demanding deadlines during a world pandemic. The final outcome satisfied the client’s complex brief and requirements, integrating motifs and key elements of the pre-existing Yakuza brand into a new, unique and innovative concept.
Art played an important role in the project; we commissioned hand-painted murals from the local artists. Art is also present in the main highlight of the project and the main attraction of the commercial space – the sushi counter, a 5×10 meters rectangular central artefact representing the beating heart. The austerity of the walnut louvers and the rigorous central slate are juxtaposed to the playfulness of the backlit ceiling canvas. This distinctive piece of art, hand painted by the urban artist Smile, is characterised by vibrant tones and portrays a huge Japanese koi, providing indirect lighting to the entire room.
The SBID Awards is one of the most influential and well organised awards in the Architecture and Interior Design industries. Being part of this programme is definitely something to be proud of, and being a finalist is already a great reward for us after the great amount of care and time our project required. I also believe that getting personally involved, contributing to the community and being exposed to the work of other colleagues is an important part of our professional development.
Questions answered by Camilla Degli Esposti, Director, Deckora Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a spacious penthouse design by Lori Dundas Interior Design, click here to see more.
Art In… announces a new partnership with international award-winning interior designer Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID).
Art In… represents an international portfolio of multi-disciplinary artists and will partner with SBID’s Vanessa Brady to provide art for the yacht, hospitality and private homes of discerning clients. Art In… provides a bespoke ‘white glove’ art service. They match the most suitable artist with a client’s requirements in order to ensure a seamless process from the initial design brief and art selection through to delivery and curation.
Art In… says: “The collaboration is a really exciting next step for Art In… In true 2020 style, we started the conversation during the height of the lockdown on Zoom and during our many video calls realised there was a real synergy.
We believe that integrating art at the earliest stage possible in the design process significantly enhances the overall result. Whether we are working with interior designers on a hotel or a superyacht, a private collection for a family office, or a luxury hotel or members club, art should never be an afterthought. The collaboration with Vanesa Brady offers us a real chance to achieve our vision.”
Vanessa Brady says: “It is very important to dress a space with complimentary art to really set off what is often a neutral canvas, art focuses the eye and sets a theme. I would like to see the selected artist and designers coming together with an owner more at the beginning of a project so that the final result is truly a 360-degree design.
Art should relate to the space in which it is installed and the lifestyle of the people using it. It should also link with the function the space is used for, such as a wine cellar, a bedroom etc. making each interior as unique as the owners, their guests and the design. It is important not to leave stylising to chance at the end of a project. Quality art pieces should be considered as part of the overall installation from the concept of the design process.
It is SBID’s role to source unusual providers of interior products that are efficient, as well as beautiful to adorn such exclusive interiors – the final design presentation always requires a very special piece of art to ‘dress’ the design, and so we seek equally adventurous and exclusive partners to provide the broadest selection of art. As soon as we met, we knew it would be a perfect match”.
Cover image credits: SBID Awards Finalist 2020; Rockwell – 15 Hudson Yards
Founder of HomeSmiths and member of the SBID Healthcare Council, Jacqui Smith shares her expertise in the art of care home design as an experienced healthcare designer with a deep understanding of dementia-friendly design.
Relevant and engaging art makes an enormous difference to communal areas in care homes. Whilst colour contrast, good lighting and furniture layout are key to supportive design for older people, well considered art will elevate a scheme from one that works to one that truly enriches the lives of residents. To me, art has a key role to play in making an environment homely and relatable. Whether you are designing a care home or a retirement living scheme, carefully chosen art will help to provide the building with its personality and often enable it to stand out from the competition. For new builds I think that this is especially important since art will help to root the building in the local community by establishing links with what was there before or what residents will know the area for, and therefore be familiar with. I would also say that in some cases, engaging the wider community within the content of the art can be an advantage, not only by reinforcing those community connections but by engaging with a group of people who otherwise might not have necessarily welcomed the upheaval of construction on their door step!
Whilst budget of course plays a role with art, there is so much material to be found on eBay and in charity shops. Art provides a fantastic opportunity to re-use and recycle. At Henley Manor Care Home we commissioned Soozi Jenner from Stitch Creative to create some tactile art panels for the sensory lounge in the dementia community. Using remnants of Sunbury Design, Panaz and Agua fabrics, kindly donated by Steve Nixon at Edison & Day, Soozi created two stunning pieces of art including features such as removable clouds and boats.
One of our clients, a recently opened home in Middlesex, asked us in to transform one of their residential areas into a dementia friendly wing. Pinner Fair has a history dating back to 1336, so we adopted this as a theme for the main lounge. We again engaged the services of Soozi for this project, asking her to create some colourful bunting using remnants from the upholstery fabrics. Hanging the bunting on two levels so that both mobile residents and those in wheelchairs could interact with it, the bunting leads you from the corridor into the lounge. Keen to make this as sensory as possible, we used tactile fabrics and of course the anti-microbial properties of the material will help the bunting to withstand regular touching.
Plenty of famous people hail from Pinner so we were rather spoilt for choice when it came to notable people. Framed Elton John and Tony Hatch albums feature in one of the corridor areas as well as black and white vintage photographs of Ronnie Barker and The Shadows.
At Great Horkesley Manor in Colchester, we embraced a cricket theme for their newly refurbished front of house communal areas. Comprising two adjoining rooms we designed one area with a bar/pub feel and the other as a tea room. Scouring the internet for Essex County Cricket Club memorabilia which we could put to good use, rewarded us with some fantastic old team photographs, a signed cricket bat as well as a vintage cricket sweater, all framed to suit the pub style of the scheme.
Framing vintage catalogues, magazine spreads, books or knitting patterns can provide another sustainable and cost effective way of producing engaging art. An Extra Care scheme we designed in Reading for Home Group, included some 1970s seed catalogues which we found on eBay. Sutton Seeds started life in Reading so one of the corridor wings took on this theme with old black and white images of the original headquarters, an historical time line detailing key points in the company’s past, botanical art and spreads from flower and vegetable pages. It actually took me right back to my childhood where I would sit in my father’s greenhouse, soaking up the warm and the comforting scent of tomato plants, flicking through the Sutton Seeds catalogue, helping him make his selections for the next season.
At Henley Manor, as part of the craft themed lounge and corridor end in one wing of the dementia community, we framed old Patons and Sirdar knitting patterns as well as copies of 1960s and 1970s women’s magazines. Sifting through my eBay haul of crochet and knitting patterns from Women’s Weekly, I came across one of those perfectly posed “catalogue man” shots, sporting a blue cable knit sweater which my mother knitted for my father many moons ago. I also remember us popping into the local newsagents each Thursday after school to collect my mother’s reserved copy of said magazine. Engaging art will prompt memories and start conversations so much more than a generic hotel style watercolour.
Working with Hallmark Care Homes, throughout the dementia community we added framed questions in simple and easy to read, black on white text. These questions encourage engagement with the art by asking questions of the residents. For example, in the Farmhouse Kitchen at Henley Manor, we framed vintage Family Circle magazine covers with classic 1970s dinner party recipes, next to which the question of “Magazines like these were full of recipes, what did you enjoy cooking most?” So the art prompts memories and the question encourages engagement.
Not all projects will have the budget for bespoke and locally themed art, nor the talent within their client team which we had at Henley Manor Care Home, but having an element of it within a design scheme, makes an enormous impact to both residents, care team and people visiting the home. Hollie Allen, Assistant Designer at Savista Design and Build, is hugely creative so it made complete sense to engage her talents for this project. This 80 bed care home, with accommodation over three floors offering residential, nursing and dementia care, presented many opportunities for bespoke art. Hollie’s work included watercolours of iconic Henley shops, vintage tea pots and cake stands for the Riverside Café, to suit the soft green and blush pink of the scheme and soft botanical drawings for the hair salon to echo the fig design of the curtain fabric. Hollie’s work also extended to the Farmhouse Kitchen in the dementia community, with art featuring bread baskets, old fashioned weighing scales and traditional mixing bowls.
Arguably, in the pursuit of interesting angles and approaches to the art, I do spend a great deal of time researching themes, delving into the history of the local area, but the feedback from care teams, residents and relatives does really make it worthwhile. Who knew that Edward III, frustrated that all the Romney Marsh wool was being exported to Europe to be woven into cloth, invited the weavers and dyers from Flanders over to Tenterden in Kent, to teach the local men their art, heralding the start of a decade-long prosperous weaving industry? Or that George Orwell was from Henley-on-Thames? I certainly did not until I started researching themes for an assisted living scheme and care home. Never thought that my role as an interior designer would boost my pub quiz knowledge but there you go!
About the Author
Jacqui Smith, founder of HomeSmiths, is an SBID Accredited interior designer who permanently lost vision in one eye in 2012. Jacqui specialises in healthcare design and uses her experiential knowledge of visual impairment in her designs for care home projects.
Founder and Managing Director of Velvenoir, Alexandra Schafer talks to SBID about the role of art within space and shares how she and her team work with interior designers at a global level.
Photo Credit © VELVENOIR
My professional background is in hospitality and PR/marketing while my passion is art. I love hospitality because it’s all about creating an experience for the client and art is all about the feeling. I lived in London and Sydney, working in hospitality, and when I was in Australia I was introduced to Aboriginal art. It really struck me how wonderful it would be to have access to those artists but if you’re not knowledgeable about the scene it can be intimidating. People have also told me they feel intimidated going into galleries. I launched Velvenoir back in 2014 to bridge that gap between art and the client.
Photo Credit © VELVENOIR.
Ideally, we introduce art consultancy at the beginning of the process because then we know the budget, the direction of the project and the design brief; we can then work hand in hand with the designer to select pieces, discuss framing and any other topic that may arise and is relevant. We’ll look at the space and understand the client and the budget then propose anything from painting, fine-art photography to bespoke art installations to make the space unique. We then put a tailored proposal and presentation together, showing both the art and design – so the designer can present it to the client for discussion.
In Collaboration with Steininger Designers for a beach villa in Zadar © Catherine Roider Photography.
We can train the designer to present the work confidently, especially where a designer might not be so used to working with art, or if they are presenting highly priced pieces. We make sure they understand the art and equip them to be able to stand by the proposal or have one of our experts on the ground join the designer to his/her client meeting.
In Collaboration with Interior Designer Simone Jüschke. Photo Credit © VELVENOIR, Art Installation Collectors Home.
This is more of a challenge. We receive all the renders and materials in confidence and based on those we can create renders or share videos from the artist studio of the art, so the designer and client can envision the art. It’s about feeling the art and understanding what it can do to transform your space. Well-chosen art really makes or breaks a room, so this process really helps both the designer and client to understand the look and feel. It´s a time-consuming process – yet I´ve experienced it in the past, our clients do enjoy and appreciate the open and transparent communication and insights into artist studios.
Photo Credit © VELVENOIR, Private Collectors Home.
People confuse art and design, the design is so important, of course, but art is also vital to give the space a soul and character. This does not only work for residential projects, I also believe contemporary art from career artists will add a character and soul to the corporate and hotel space too. Again, you have to look at the bigger picture – In a hotel, if you have a good strategy for your artwork you will get a good return on investment. We’re finding that increasingly designers are speaking up and educating the client about how art plays a role in the project and how it’s important to consider it from the beginning. These designers will push to allocate a separate budget for art and not just have artwork covered under the FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) budget. If no one thinks about art until the final stages, the designer could have an empty wall to fill. It does happen in both the residential and commercial sector. In the end, you have to ask yourself what service and quality would I like to create for my client…
In Collaboration with Andrea Rodman Interiors. Photo Credit © Ema Peters Photography.
I do feel that clients are taking more creative risks and becoming more open to buying different types of work. Designers are also starting to explore different options and understanding that engaging artwork is more than just decoration. I think it’s about using all sorts of mediums, not just paintings and the trend I can see now, is most designers do enjoy working with dedicated art consultants at their side since art sourcing and buying is quite time consuming – but a great service to add on to.
Andaz Prague Art Collection, procured on behalf of UBM Development AG. Photo Credit © VELVENOIR.
More designers are approaching us because they want to add value to their business. They can offer their client an art consultancy service to create an art concept tailored to their project. With so much reproduction in the art world, many clients want to own something unique. Also, if they use a consultancy, the designer or client can reach out and access art or art expertise instantly. It’s a time-consuming process to source art, to keep up with who the emerging artists are and to build relationships with galleries so we can manage the process. We also provide international access and curate a selection based on the client, the design concept and the given a budget and brief. We have independent art consultants around the world who we can bring in as we see fit. Each one has their own expertise, know-how, focus and we’ll bring them in to help us find the best artworks for our clients – internationally of course. This way, we provide different opinions and art suggestions, from different cultures and markets and at the same time, truly make art accessible at a global level for all of our clients.
Cover Image: In Collaboration with Interior Designer Laurence Carr © Kelly Marschal.
This week SBID delved behind the scenes with one of our student design competition judges, Jane Hay, the International Managing Director for Christie’s Education. As students across the UK have been celebrating the announcement of the Designed for Business category finalists, revealed on Monday 29th October 2018, Jane shared her advice about curating creative careers and how she would choose to spend the £30,000 prize fund to help kick-start a career in the competitive industry.
Can you describe your current job?
I am the International Managing Director for Christie’s Education, a global division of the world’s leading art business, Christie’s.
Christie’s Education is a specialist provider of higher and continuing education, and an internationally recognised centre of academic excellence in the study of art business and the art market, art history and art world ecosystems, curating and connoisseurship. We offer master’s degrees in London and New York, and are dedicated to preparing students for entry into the art world, placing great importance on analytical skills, object-based learning, research and scholarship, and the practical experience of art and business as the keys to professional success. We also offer a wide range of continuing education opportunities, both online and on location in London, New York and Hong Kong, designed to introduce the fundamentals of art, collecting and art business.
What is your background and how did you get into your industry?
My father was an art teacher and latterly an antique dealer. Appreciation of art and design, and its role in creating our social fabric, was a theme running throughout my childhood. I was very lucky to secure a job at Christie’s by writing to them and asking if there were any positions available. Since then I’ve held several positions in the company, including Specialist, Auctioneer, Global Divisional Director and UK Managing Director of Christie’s. I have now been at Christie’s for thirty years, including six years at Christie’s Education.
Which people do you admire most in the industry and why?
I most admire those who have deep knowledge and expertise in their chosen field, are generous with that knowledge, and continue to look for ways to challenge and innovate.
How do you feel about being a judge for SBID’s new student design competition?
I welcome every opportunity to support young creatives. The Designed for Business student design competition should have a significant impact for the eventual winner’s career prospects, so I am excited to be part of it.
How did you find your judging experience?
We considered works of a very high standard from across all categories. I was impressed by the dynamism of the entrants and their ability to connect deeply and creatively with topical issues and to use their talents to communicate ideas in ways that could have real commercial potential.
What advice would you give a young designer starting out in the industry?
Immerse yourself in the creative hub in your city, live where the creative people live and work, and insert yourself into their world. Spend six months listening before you start selling yourself – you will learn a lot. Any job is better than no job; it’s about being there and gaining visibility. Be part of the conversation.
If you had won £30,000 just after graduating from University, what would you have done with it?
I would have rented live-work space in the creative hub I just referred to and got to work! There is no substitute for hard work.
Click here to find out more about this year’s Designed for Business judging panel or visit our website here for further announcements and information about this inaugural student design competition!
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