With the aim to turn this apartment into a truly luxurious gentleman’s private office, Juliettes Interiors was commissioned to design a working environment that wasn’t only practical and professional for Zoom and in-person meetings, but a space that was also strikingly beautiful and sophisticated. The option to stay late at the ‘office’ as well as provide an overnight base was also required, with a living-style zone added for maximum comfort.
Due to the apartment’s compact size, spatial planning was not an easy task, so Juliettes Interiors chose to introduce customised pieces of furniture to ensure the right flow was achieved throughout the space with each piece working in harmony together. In one small living space, Juliette and her team needed to create three zones: a living area, kitchen/dining and office.
With detail at its core, the design scheme needed to be cohesive. Dark tones and luxurious fabrics have been skilfully layered, paired with a variety of textures and bold brassware accessories – from the striking pendant light above the table to the dressing table in the bedroom. The large windows allow for plenty of natural light to flood the rooms, adding depth and interest to the dark décor.
The living area has been designed with a strong entertaining social element in mind, with a variety of different zones. Each zoned area was as important as the other. Bang & Olufsen equipment has been installed for a high-tech finish, ideal for meetings, and the client wanted a perfect backdrop from behind as a Zoom screen for international meetings. The office is set up in the living space at the centre of the apartment. A premium Italian leather desk and chair complement the dark wood and brass detailed designer desk, blending together for an incredibly opulent final product.
About Juliettes Interiors
Award-winning interior design studio, Juliettes Interiors brings a level of creativity and exceptional customer service to every project. As well as offering interior design services, the brand is a luxury furniture retailer – specialising in residential, high-end, luxury interiors and property. Offering both personal and trade accounts, services range from supplying a single item of furniture to full project management, new build and property development.
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What strikes you about this West Sussex kitchen on first glance is the sheer number of finishes and techniques on display. Testament to the craftsmanship and skill involved in creating it, the space has been transformed from its previous incarnation. “When I first visited the house, the kitchen was dated but the room as a whole was bursting with potential,” remembers Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. Here, he reveals how he channelled his client’s love of antiques and eclecticism to turn it into a sociable space designed for serious cooking.
The couple are keen on entertaining, but the kitchen also has to function as an ad-hoc office, as our client’s partner works from home. And then, because our client works in an auction house and loves antiques, they wanted us to take an eclectic approach to the design with a rich mix of materials and finishes. In this case, less is not more! My brief was to create the feel of freestanding furniture, rather than of a fitted kitchen – so it looks like somebody has gone out and bought lots of lovely pieces. As such, the kitchen we designed for the couple is a beautiful, informal, living, dining and kitchen space that ticks all boxes.
When the couple visited our Notting Hill showroom, they instantly fell in love with our signature Metallics Collection copper-fronted cabinets. Naturally, we integrated two into the design — either side of the window for a lovely framing effect. The copper is a living finish that will mature over time, developing a rich patina.
The painted cabinets were given a primer in our workshops and then hand painted in situ by our artist Emma, in close collaboration with the client. The beautiful burnished paint effect was inspired by the grey-green elements in a favourite copper vase. There are four hand-painted layers, one of which is a tinted pearlescent. This makes the paint shimmer, so the colour isn’t flat, and it’s this that unites all the finishes in the kitchen.
This tall freestanding piece acts as a breakfast cupboard housing a coffee machine, toaster, kettle and all other breakfast paraphernalia. It has the aged-pewter finish on the doors, over which we’ve put a protective finish so that fingerprints don’t mark it and the surface is easy to clean.
The cabinets below the breakfast cupboard feature a pattern we call Choppy Water. Solid oak panels were carved and then stained dark to create the effect. If you look carefully, you’ll see that it’s been finished with gold-leaf appliqué, which injects a dash of glamour into the kitchen. Both the wood and the appliqué are protected by a 5% sheen lacquer. The Choppy Water finish has also been used on the appliance housing opposite.
We used the same work surface throughout, which is a man-made quartz called Arabesque from Stone Italiana. It is a very practical solution — non porous, hard wearing, resistant to heat and scratching, and does not require sealing. What’s more, it allowed us to seamlessly incorporate a sink, also in Arabesque. Losing the join lines between the worktop and the sink lends the kitchen a sleek look.
Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £50,000.
About Ledbury Studio
Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
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This month’s product news highights from SBID members explores the latest luxurious textures and captivating prints, with new smart technologies for the bathroom and functional design solutions for the workspace; from ergonomic office chairs to intelligent toilet technology.
New for 2021, Kinesit Met is a sophisticated evolution of the Kinesit office chair, now available in a refreshed palette. Created as Arper’s first regulatory-compliant office chair, Kinesit Met is available with metallic finished armrests and in new, rich and nuanced materials, colors, and textures. Inspired by the contemporary moment and the evolution in our workplaces and spaces, Kinesit Met is designed for how (and where) we work today – softer, adaptable, and from anywhere. This new palette selection adds refinement and style to imbedded soft technology, marrying performance and style in a sleek silhouette. Design has come home.
Light and minimal in design, Kinesit Met features built-in mechanisms hidden discreetly under the seat. An invisible, adjustable lumbar support is concealed within the backrest’s thin frame to give additional flexibility and comfort. Kinesit Met is available in a low or medium back option customisable in a range of textured and shaded fabric options. Aluminum armrests and base are available in metallic finish options of copper, light grey and anthracite.
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The rimless, wall hung Veil WC by international bathroom brand, Kohler integrates motion-activated hands free opening, closing and flushing for a complete sanitary experience. For a personalised user experience, a stainless steel cleansing wand adjusts the water spray temperature, shape and position; whilst a UV light and electrolysed water sanitises the wand’s surfaces providing a fully-integrated self-clean system.
The intelligent Veil toilet incorporates a warm glow nightlight and a heated seat that is made from antibacterial materials. Front and rear wash modes and a warm air-drying system also benefit from adjustable temperature settings to ensure a comfortable experience. With an ergonomic seat design to ensure complete comfort, Veil’s seamless finish offers a luxurious yet practical addition to any high-end bathroom.
Sleek woodgrains are combined with a subtle overprint. LACEWOOD takes inspiration from classic oak, ash or cedar. Smooth and unadorned Lacewood provides a seamless pared-down backdrop, while LACEWOOD GEO features geometric lines in matt and burnished metallic inks to give a contemporary twist with biophilic pattern.
Driftwood white and the warmth of oak are offered alongside the rich, intense hues of mahogany and ebony. Combined with classic woodgrain and a simple structured overprint, Tektura creates a visual connection to the patterns, colours and textures found in nature.
A deep viscose pile, super soft feel and vivid colours elevates these printed velvets to the pinnacle of luxury. The nine designs, which celebrate fantastical dreamscapes, are enlivened with a bold, contemporary colour palette with the occasional glint of glamorous metallic. This is Linwood’s premium printed velvet collection… not only is it sumptuous in look and feel, it’s also durable and water repellent.
From capturing the serene beauty of an ornamental garden which are perfectly expressed in scenic designs, to recreating the charm of the 1920s with whimsical printed velvet fabrics to celebrate the mystery and magic of the Orient; this exuberant collection of patterns offers a versatile choice for any kinf of upholstery.
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The arrival of COVID-19 has brought with it countless changes. Within the world of interiors, home schooling and working from home has transformed homeowners’ priorities. According to a recent Home Builders Federation survey, two-fifths of Britons would prioritise space for a home office if they were searching for a new property. Unsurprisingly, there’s also been a huge rise in the number of people keen to convert existing space into new home office designs.
“There has been a real hunger to refurbish rooms that were formerly on the back burner,” director of Mark Taylor Designs Mark Taylor agrees. “People have had more time, fewer places to go – and in some cases, more disposable income. This has acted as a major incentive to embark on some home TLC. The ‘I’ll sort that one day’ rooms have become a priority.”
It’s fairly obvious why demand for home office designs has escalated since the pandemic began. Adults need a quiet place to work and talk to clients, ideally separate from where children are being home-schooled. But Mark maintains that the need for a specialist office space is fuelled by more than mere practicality. “Psychologically, many of our clients have felt they had to create a specific space to ‘go to work’,” he explains. “They need this in order to focus, and switch on and off effectively.”
Space certainly wasn’t an issue for this stunning study, which also doubles up as a home cinema and gaming room. The client, an IT consultant, wanted a ‘closed door’ space with plenty of storage, to help keep the area paper-free. “This room needed to work as both a home office and a family space, so we created bespoke pieces of furniture to allow this,” Mark explains. “We also incorporated wall lights from Jim Lawrence that didn’t make it look too ‘officey’.”
LED light strips at picture rail height complement the dark walls (painted with Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue). This versatile combination helps to create an atmospheric ambience when the homeowner uses the room for gaming and family time.
“The SMEG drinks fridge was something that the client specifically asked for,” Mark notes. “So, we decided to make it a feature rather than hide it away.”
Interestingly, Mark has noted demand for home office designs that will accommodate two people. Also, it seems study areas attached to bedrooms are becoming more important. And that, of course, is where bespoke manufacturers such as Mark Taylor Design excel. Bespoke furniture, combined with superlative interior design skills, are the key to making spaces work – whatever is required. Creating the perfect workplace involves many challenges: some obvious, some not.
“Bespoke furniture can fit the space,” states Mark. “Often, we have to carve home office environments out of small or awkward niches and corners. Home office areas within kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms should take the rest of the space into account – not take it over. However, that can be difficult for off-the-shelf solutions.” He continues: “We design bespoke furniture to fit, in terms of size, shape, material and style. A well-designed bespoke desk and shelving area, built in sympathetically, means that less of the existing space needs to be adjusted.”
This fabulous study, which forms part of Mark Taylor Design’s extensive Riverside Home project, is a case in point. “We created this for one of our clients who wanted space to work from home. This would become an area they could work in at least once a week away from their office,” explains Mark. “Obviously, things have changed somewhat since the arrival of COVID-19!”.
He continues: “The design brief was simple: to create a working space that was as efficient as being in an office environment, but blended within the home. We created a tall unit behind the bespoke desk, which has a huge capacity for filing drawers and storage. The large panels with decorative lights also house a printer, reference books and office supplies.”
Mark adds: “The open shelving, with subtle lighting, creates a perfect space for showcasing decorative objets d’art, to soften what is essentially an office space. The elegant blue velvet day sofa offers a perfect seating alternative when the client doesn’t want to be behind the desk.”
The best home office designs are created to fit the space you have, not the reverse. “Force fitting furniture is like wearing shoes that don’t fit,” Mark observes. “After a while, you just stop using them. A badly designed/fitted desk means that people will migrate back to the kitchen table. So, you end up with a piece of unwanted furniture that nobody uses.”
Conversely, the best bespoke solutions can create a room. “They feel natural to be in and work at,” notes Mark. “They encourage you to stay. We always aim to create as many spaces as are needed, so every household member can work in comfort.” Adaptability and flexibility are also vital. “We can create permanent home office designs for those clients who want to make these spaces permanent,” Mark confirms. “Or we can make everything removable or changeable for those who want life back to normal once lockdown is over.”
The team at Mark Taylor Design produced this moveable desk for a client in Hertfordshire, which illustrates clever design solutions perfectly. “The client brief asked for an office space within the kitchen and dining environment,” Mark explained. “But it needed to be hidden when entertaining. So, we designed a desk on wheels, that could be pushed away neatly under part of the kitchen peninsula. This suited our client, who liked to leave everything out on the desk, and simply tuck it away when necessary.”
Detailed communication is key to ensuring a home office design suits a homeowner’s individual needs. “As with any project, we spend time speaking with our clients,” Mark explains. “We find out what they do, how they like to work, what sort of noise levels they anticipate. Do they prefer working solo or with others, how big a desk area do they need, and how many monitors will they use? We assess their preferred seating (for example, flexi- or standing desk) and what sort of lighting will protect them from eye-strain. We ask about storage and equipment, too. Only when you understand every element of a client’s working day can you create a truly relevant bespoke solution for them.”
Of course, not all home office designs have a stand-alone room or spacious area to accommodate them. Luckily, Mark and the team are resourceful and adept at considering all possible options. “We look at garages, annexes under the stairs, room corners, cupboards that can be converted, even landing spaces!” Mark confirms. “The end result is up to the client, how they work best, the space itself and what’s available. Making desks, units, shelving and lighting useful beyond their primary purpose is always worth considering. If desk heights can change, they can be used by children, as well as mum and dad. Adjustable lighting makes night working easier. For multi-use rooms, shelving units with fronts, which can be closed, are much less intrusive.”
This under-stairs space, created for a residence in Marlow, illustrates exactly what is possible with vision and skill. “We designed the whole space in this house, and looked everywhere for home office options,” Mark explains. “As we were modifying the staircase, it became clear this was the perfect area. Because we wanted it to fit with the rest of the house, we padded the walls with fabric. We also used lighter colours, to relieve any harshness, and added LED strip lighting to counter darkness.” He adds: “We utilised every inch of possible space for storage – and not only for office stuff. They store the Christmas decorations there too!.”
The practicalities of home office designs are just as important as the aesthetics. “We look carefully at power and heat sources,” notes Mark. “Nobody wants to work in a cold corner of an unused room. Creating warmth with an added radiator or under floor heating makes a work space much more appealing.” He adds: “Wires and plugs are also important. Trailing laptop leads are a trip hazard (and household pets can view them as a chew toy). We work hard to eliminate disincentives to work in a space. We even include places to put cups and bowls in a work desk. That means fewer spillages – and a safer environment for expensive laptops and PCs.”
Projects photographed are undertaken by Mark Taylor Design Ltd.
About Mark Taylor Design
Mark Taylor Design is a British manufacturer of bespoke furniture, cabinetry, specialist joinery and interior design. Craftsmanship, attention to detail and superlative service are central tenets of the business. The company is renowned for its use of innovative materials and for transforming clients’ homes into truly extraordinary spaces.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.
SpeakEasy with Geoff Wilkinson
Following on from Geoff Wilkinson’s first appearance on the SpeakEasy podcast, this episode revisits the topic of garage conversions with Building Inspector and managing director of Wilkinson Construction Consultants, as Vanessa Brady presents key questions submitted by SBID members.
Converting a garage into a usable home office sounds simple enough, but there are considerations you must bear in mind before you start picking up the power tools and knocking down walls! Geoff offers his wealth of expertise in the construction industry to answer a series of follow-up questions on the topic of garage conversions, addressing some of the more technical considerations from plaster boarding, air conditioning and effective energy supply, to window applications, security systems and insurance.
Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.
In this episode of the SBID podcast series, SBID founder, Vanessa Brady, talks garage conversions with Geoff Wilkinson, Managing Director of Wilkinson Construction Consultants.
Despite the easing of lockdown measures, our daily lifestyles may never be the same. As lifestyle patterns continue to shift, and we’ve had plenty of time to re-assess our new working environments and re-consider what is important in our homes, the need for functional and comfortable home offices comes to the forefront.
Finding that all-important extra space can be a challenge, but construction specialist, Geoff Wilkinson shares his expert advice and outlines some of the important considerations to bear in mind if you’re thinking of turning an old garage into a usable office space!
From discussing planning permission practicalities and insurance to ventilation and window fittings, Vanessa provides a unique, professional perspective on converting garages with respect to achieving effective interior design that is compliant and fit-for-purpose.
Remote working is far from a new concept and has been rapidly on the rise for the past decade. In fact, according to Global Workplace Analytics, 80% of employees want to work from home at least some of the time and over a third would take a pay cut in exchange for this option.
Although many of us may already be familiar with working from home as a part of our regular work-life routines, most companies have been forced to test-drive remote working on a mass and unexpected scale (where possible). As working from home now becomes the ‘new normal’ under these very abnormal circumstances, we start to wonder what this means for the future of flexible working and how this could alter the landscape of the way workspaces operate.
Looking to the future with great uncertainty and wondering what life will be like post-lockdown, both employers and employees may be considering if working from home is a viable practice for them moving forward, and we may see even more companies adapting this operational flexibility into its business model with a more long-term view.
Cheng Sheng Interior Design
Whether an increasing number of us plan to continue working from home on a full-time or part-time basis after the lockdown has lifted, our daily lifestyles will have a significant impact on the interior design industry in many ways. For interior designers, consumer lifestyle trends are a significant influencer on how they design and curate interior environments for their clients. Is there likely to be an increased necessity for incorporating home offices into the designs of our homes? Will carving out space for study areas become an essential part of our new interior requirements? A report on the ‘State of Remote Work’ by Buffer showed that though remote workers have location flexibility, 84% of respondents still choose to stay at home as opposed to using co-working spaces, coffee shops or libraries.
From a dedicated office space to the corner of a bedroom, home studies can come in many shapes and sizes, and like most environments, there is an art and expertise to designing an effective workspace to suit your home, meet your needs and inspire productivity. The impact that social distancing measures will undoubtedly have on business and lifestyles is far reaching, but how we embrace remote working when the lockdown lifts – only time will tell. In the meantime, we pulled together a selection of inspirational home office designs from previous SBID Awards finalists to help keep you feeling inspired and start planning for a potential rise demand for home offices post pandemic.
Elicyon / Chiltern Place Apartment
INNEST Art Design / Foshan Green Island Lake Villa
Douglas Design Studio / Ravine View Home
HBA London / Piramal Aranya Pavillion
JOI Design / Der Öschberghof Hotel
Melanie Hall / Drayton Manor
BLAINEY NORTH / 666 NEW SOUTH
Ricky Wong Design / Noble Mansion YI Residence
Win Win Design / Glory Mansion Villa
LIYICHONG & ASSOCIATES / Fortress Villa
Morpheus London / The Lodge
Nu Infinity / Opulent 30
YoDezeen / Art Filled Apartment
NATIVE LAND / Holland Park Villas
Goddard Littlefair / The Lowry Presidential Suite
The SBID International Design Awards 2020 is now open for entries, visit www.sbidawards.com to find out more!
Cover image credits: Ippolito Fleitz Group / Chromatic Spaces Show Apartment
As we all adjust to a lifestyle of remote working amid the coronavirus outbreak, confined to our own homes, we begin re-evaluating our new working environments. SBID Accredited Designer, Katie Malik, founder and creative director of Katie Malik Interiors offers her expert advice for how to make home offices work for you or your clients, no matter the space or size.
Many of us face the challenge of the limited spaces we inhabit. In addition to this, our needs usually change with time as our jobs, likes and family life continues to evolve. This means we might need to transform an existing space to ensure it is suitable for new activities that have to take place there. This brings us to the current situation, while a lot of us are facing the reality of remote working. So, I’m sharing my tips for designers and homeowners, to help us create working spaces as efficient and as pleasant as possible, even without a dedicated ‘office’ room.
When planning a home office, we must consider a few important factors:
1) Position – where is the best place to make office space; consider distractions, surrounding noise etc.
2) Comfort – how to make the space as comfortable as possible.
3) Lighting – how should the space be lit; consider working hours and access to natural light.
4) Overall Look & Feel – how to make the space still look and feel like an extension of the home.
Ideally, you would have a separate dedicated space which you can lock at the end of the day. However, many of us, don’t have that luxury and need to think ‘outside of the box’. First of all, if there isn’t a spare room we can convert into a home office, we need to be realistic about where we can fit everything we need in order to be able to work. Do we have a big screen or maybe even two? Can we work on a laptop? How much space are we going to realistically need? This is a number one question that’s going to determine a lot where you can or should position a home office.
The next big factor to take into consideration is where you can actually afford to ‘spare’ some space for a desk? By desk, I mean any form of desk, which doesn’t need to look like a traditional top with four legs. If you have any flexibility here, it’s advisable to choose a place in the back of the house, or the place where people tend not to flock to all day long. This could be part of the living room or a corner of a bedroom. For some of us, it might be a guest bedroom or other part of the house. We’ll develop this point further, but whenever possible, chose a space with plenty of natural light; filling the space as much natural light as possible is better for your eyes and mental well-being. We have designed small home offices where they were either part of the joinery and disappeared when they had to, or were freestanding multi-functional pieces that blended in with the surroundings.
Asking questions will help you understand what is needed to make the space comfortable and fit for purpose. Ask questions like; Do you have a comfortable chair to sit in? Can you regulate the chair’s height? Does the chair have the armrests? Do you have enough space on your desk to put all the essentials out without being disrupted or creating the mess?
I would say planning and organising space is one of the most important factors. Make a list of everything your client needs and then think about what would make them happy working there. Is it having something on the desk, such as a photo that brings back nice memories? Or maybe you just a few pens and a coaster for a cup of tea? Do they need a pinning board to pin ideas/reminders etc? Knowing these things can help you plan and execute the right space for a home office.
Apart from ambient lighting, a task light and informed light selection is a must. Opting for a flexible energy efficient LED reading light is ideal for use as a task light for specific areas. A type of lamp with dimming features is also suggested, so the strength of light can be regulated for different purposes / times of day. Look for lamps which produce natural white light (especially if your access to daylight is limited). Another handy tip is to use a lamp with a base or shade that can rotate 360 degrees to facilitate more flexibility over the positioning of the light, allowing it to be directed wherever it is needed.
Especially if it’s part of a bigger space. In this case, consider blending the working area as much as possible with the existing design of the room; think similar finishes, colours, shapes etc. If you use completely different pieces style and colour wise, they will stand out more, and probably become an eye sore with time. Whenever we have designed a home office space, no matter how big or small, we would always blend it in as much as possible so it looks natural in its surroundings.
Solution 1:
The client purchased a beautiful one bedroom flat in Cambridge and wanted a space where he could occasionally work from. Due to space constraints, we proposed a small lean-on desk with shelves that blended in beautifully with the rest of the room.
Solution 2:
The clients didn’t want a home office, but still needed a desk space and a filing storage facility. We proposed a desk in the entertainment area, directly overlooking the views of the sea. Behind, we designed clever joinery for A4 files, that blends in with the kitchenette design. When not used for remote working, it’s a perfect entertainment room width adjacent terrace.
Solution 3:
The clients were in need of a multifunctional space, which would cater for many functions, one of them being able to work from home (doing homework to be more precise). Their daughter loved doing homework while her parents were watching TV or reading, and because the room we were designing was pretty small, we found a way to incorporate the desk into the built-in joinery with a clever solution; using a pull-out drawer, the desk could disappear completely when it was no longer needed.
Solution 4:
The client needed a space for working from home and for playing and studying music. The challenge was not only for this room to be designed in a way that caters for these activities, but also, not to feel as office. We suggested incorporating a foldable desk with clever built-in bookshelves to house a large book collection, and a seating bench which doubles up as housing for his amplifiers.
To support the community, Katie Malik Interiors are now offering FREE design consultations for those struggling with the design and organisation of their home office during the Coronavirus pandemic to help us find/create suitable spaces to work from home.
To arrange your consultation, drop an email to [email protected]
About the Author
Katie Malik is the creative director and founder of Katie Malik Interiors; an award-winning Cambridge and London based interior design studio, specialising in private residential, developments & hospitality interiors. Katie’s aim is to bring authenticity to each project.
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