The Fundamentals of Space Planning in the Design Process with Matthews Rea Interiors
This episode of the SBID podcast welcomes the interior design masters behind the award-winning practice, Matthews Rea Interiors. Founders, Lauren Matthews and Louise Rea address the fundamentals of spatial planning and tell us why it's so integral to the interior design process.
Matthews Rea have quickly gained a reputation for their timeless interiors. The founders share their individual backgrounds within the industry, and how the successful Surrey and Hampshire-based design practice was formed.
Highlighting integral differences in interior architecture, design and decoration, Lauren and Louise bring their years of design experience to offer professional insights on spatial planning. Addressing the fundamental role of space planning when it comes to the interior design process, Matthews Rea stress the importance of collaboration and timing when it comes to project development.
Covering effective approaches to space planning and discussing essential elements, they explore the core design considerations, from ascertaining the brief and understanding client's lifestyle, to developing the design narrative and ensuring the internal spaces are maximised, utilised and zoned in a way that is functional and fit for purpose.
Lauren and Louise offer their exclusive design tips for designing and planning spaces, from building narratives and storytelling, to working on balance, sightlines and symmetry. The team share some key visual tricks to zone and configure interior spaces to create intrigue and harmony.
Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.
Louise Rea
Louise Rea has over 20 years of experience in the interior design industry, working in high-end residential and hotel design across the UK and abroad. With in-depth knowledge designing bespoke furniture and joinery, she works with artisans and craftspeople to bring individuality to a client’s scheme.
Lauren Matthews
Lauren Matthews’ First-Class Honours Degree in Interior Architecture and Design, combined with many years of hands-on experience in the field, means that she understands the importance of practicality when it comes to creating everyday living and functional working environments.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a truly magnificent residential design for a home befitting of its prime location in Wentworth; one of the UK’s premier private estates. This 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom detached house offers inspiration and excitement at every turn. Having worked extensively with the client over the last twelve years on multiple overseas properties and a limited edition Oyster yacht, Hill House Interiors were the natural choice to transform the home, using inspiring fabrics, innovative textures and complementary tones to seamlessly integrate the 3,000 sqft extension into the rest of the home.
SBID Awards: Residential Design Over £1M finalist sponsored by THG Paris
Company: Hill House Interiors
Project: Private Estate, Wentworth
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
What was the client's brief?
Hill House Interiors were commissioned to design the interior scheme for this prestigious property in 2006, since which, they have further worked with the owners on their stunning villa in Zagleta and limited edition Oyster yacht. It was, therefore, sheer delight to be contacted again to revisit the client’s Wentworth home to devise the scheme for a vast refurbishment and 3000 sqft extension of the already sizeable 9000 sqft home.
Initially born from the desire for a much larger, walk in closet and dressing area for the master suite, the clients swiftly realised their dream of considerably larger entertainment spaces to include on the wishlist; a stunning new dual aspect fireplace, feature bar, and sumptuous cinema room.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
Hill House drew inspiration for this remarkable space from the Art Déco era – that fascinating period in history when bold geometry, artistic mirrors and exquisitely rich materials started to be incorporated into private homes.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
The hallway is the first thing guests see when they enter a home, so it is always a key feature and starting point of any scheme. This transitory spot was the perfect place to sweep guests off their feet and was utilised to add elegant décor details that helped to elevate the overall ambience of the home.
Upon entering, guests are met with a stunning Jerusalem crema grey marble staircase with glass balustrade and leather handrail. This installation is a beautiful contrast to the bespoke, hand sculpted artwork – a single bonsai tree – spanning the 20ft wall. Specially finished in a shimmering hand-applied pearlescent coat, subtle, soft recessed lighting enhances the incredibly intricate detail of this favoured far eastern tree. The sublimely elegant hand-blown floating crystal leaf chandelier that presides over the space - apart from making a stunning sculptural visual centrepiece - creates a beautiful light and shadow play across its surrounding surfaces, enhancing the space further.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
The SBID Awards are highly respected within the design industry, and every year it’s incredibly inspiring to see such a wide variety of skills and styles represented across the various categories, showing the amount of diversity within the interior design industry.
The projects that take home an SBID accolade are truly the best in the business, and the awards evening is an event we look forward to every year. We continue to be delighted to take part in the SBID International Design Awards, and are keeping our fingers crossed for 2020!
Questions answered by Jenny Weiss, Co-founder of Hill House Interiors
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring luxurious, golden age glamour for the Hilton Imperial Hotel Dubrovnik, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Residential design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Residential Design Over £1M finalist sponsored by THG Paris
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