This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a dining and late-night venue design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Novo Design.
We were brought in as the design team to assist with the delivery of Inca, an exotic dining and late-night venue situated under the London Palladium at Oxford Circus. The turnaround on the project was unheard of for its scale but the project manager knew we were the right team to do this and would be able deliver an outstanding design under challenging time scales. And that we did. We worked through the specification process pragmatically with the client prioritising the longest lead items and bit by bit, and lots of late nights and specification meetings later we started on site with 90% of the design information signed off. The last elements were worked out easily as a team on site. After 16 weeks of possibly the most intense project we have ever worked on the final results were outstanding and it was credit to the client for putting their trust in us and being decisive with decisions and sign off, the contractor for working tirelessly through the build and offering pragmatic solutions to problems if they occurred whilst on site and a fantastic project and cost manager for keeping it all ticking and making sure everyone was where they should be.
SBID Awards Category: Club & Bar Design
Practice: Novo Design
Project: Inca
Location: London, United Kingdom
To create a high end, premium environment to act as a backdrop to world class Latin America shows and performance and an exceptional food and drink offer.
A journey through Latin America. Colours, textures, landmarks and environment were all huge factors that inspired the design decisions.
Lead time, covid and Brexit. We were briefed in July and delivered the project at the end of October. We didn’t have the usual lead in to organically develop the design it had to be done on the fly so there were lots of intense meetings making decisions quickly to ensure contractors had information ahead of starting on site. Limited to selecting UK stocked items/materials as we didn’t have time for European transit times which was limiting and more challenging to create such a high-end premium feel with limited options.
Going to the launch event. It was amazing delivering such a unique design, but it really comes to life when the space is full of people, the performers are on stage and the food and drinks are theatrically delivered to your table. A dining experience like no other.
This was such an intense project due to the timing and tight turn around. The team were working on drawings and details until the early hours of the morning regularly and then heading to site the next day, they put so much into the project to ensure it was delivered perfectly and it would be great if they could get some recognition for the time and effort put in.
Questions answered by Abbie Smith, Founder and Creative Director, Novo Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an open-plan kitchen design by Concepts by Gavin Hepper, click here to read it.
Canadian luxury handmade furniture and lighting brand Gabriel Scott has launched its latest lighting collection, Welles Reimagined, in collaboration with six global designers and architects to celebrate Gabriel Scott’s tenth anniversary in 2022.
The established designers have reinterpreted the studio’s most iconic fixture, the Welles Chandelier. The six fixtures, first showcased at Milan Design Week 2022, have now been formalised into six capsule collections which include chandeliers, sconces and pendant lighting.
Scott Richler, Gabriel Scott’s Founder and CEO, explains: “The Gabriel Scott brand launched on a manifesto to furnish the architectural community with exactly what they needed, and we’re still doing this through material, size and form ten years later. Inspired by jewellery, the Welles Chandelier is a true representation of our design philosophy – to design and make modular products to custom specifications. The Welles Reimagined capsule collections celebrates our brand ethos and the collaborations we undertook with each designer perfectly demonstrate how we like to work together with our design and architecture clients to achieve something really special and tailored to their requirements.”
The David Rockwell capsule collection celebrates the Welles Chandelier’s classic geometric form, while creating a contemporary light fixture inspired by clusters found in nature, such as crystals, chemical compounds, and clouds. Ultimately, Rockwell drew from botanic forms to create an organic assemblage. The hollowed glass polygons act as metallic light points that come together at varying heights and dimensions to form a floating light cluster. The feature chandelier is defined by its luxe volume and organic nature.
“The collaboration allowed us to create something very special that combines Gabriel Scott’s modular approach to lighting and expert craftsmanship with our focus on storytelling and materiality. We experimented with volume, color, texture, and scale to create organic assemblages of light that have a dramatic impact on the atmosphere and our perception of space.” – David Rockwell.
Crafted from white clay and inspired by a collection of ceramics she is currently designing, the Kelly Hoppen capsule collection comprises a single flush-mount sconce suitable for both wall and ceiling installation, a pendant light, a single sconce on a banded arm and the Welles Long Chandelier in three sizes. The overall form has been scaled down from its original size to create an elegantly delicate aesthetic.
“When I was asked to do it, obviously it’s a very iconic piece already, but instantly I knew I wanted it to be a chalk white, clay, very organic piece, because that would make it incredibly different from anything Gabriel Scott had done before.” – Kelly Hoppen, CBE.
Alessandro’s capsule collection has a beautiful narrative infused with dynamic and bold fashion references inspired by rhythmic dance. It includes the 12-module central chandelier as seen in Milan, a scaled down 8-module chandelier, a larger 18-module chandelier and an arm sconce. While its volume is radically different, the modular qualities are still able to extend for extra tall ceilings and multiply for larger spaces. This flexibility makes it a truly versatile and playful product that invites designers to create bespoke configurations.
“One of the key features that inspired us was how architectural the Welles is, yet extremely detailed and jewellery-like – even the slightest of components like the bracket is beautifully designed. It felt like a sculptural piece of art. So, we drew inspiration from couture fashion, from dance, and when we immersed ourselves in this world, we thought about deconstructing the original piece and rebuilding it in a completely different way.” – Alessandro Munge.
Michelle turned to nature to add a floral element that represents growth and bloom, alluding to a rebirth of a classic Gabriel Scott design. Uplifting and joyful, Michelle Gerson’s capsule collection includes a vertical sconce and small, medium and large versions of the chandelier first seen in Milan.
“The vision is nature. We tried to take a more geometric, modular, masculine type fixture and break it up and create what we thought would be blossoms, branches and leaves. We mixed up the materiality a little by using mesh to create a lightness, we wanted it to feel spacey, alive and happy.” – Michelle Gerson.
As a contrast to the sharp metal and glass silhouette of the original Welles, Sybille’s interpretation reveals the feminine side of her signature design style. Couture-inspired, elegant and smooth, the capsule collection shows a gradient composition from emptiness to full, with a variation of hollow and plain shapes. It comprises a sconce, cluster sconce, the standard chandelier as seen in Milan, and a smaller version. All fixtures include padded vegan leather to create a subtle 3D effect and rounded corners to add softness.
“We love leather because we find it’s a very elegant finish and combined with a soft bronze, this is our vision of luxury which is very understated.” – Sybille de Margerie.
Guan’s design is a striking floor installation, illuminated by light bulbs and made from POLiROCK, a new material developed by Material Architecture Lab. The fired clay has unique characteristics, somewhere between ceramic and rock. It appears natural but is made by recycling manufacturing waste. Due to the nature of this design, it can be customised from the original form that was shown in Milan. For commissions, Guan and the Gabriel Scott’s design team will work with the client to deliver something bespoke.
“The first thing I thought was that it would be nice to have a contrasting material, so instead of something transparent something solid that allows light to go through in a very particular way.” – Guan Lee.
Cover image: Sybille de Margerie for Gabriel Scott
About Gabriel Scott
Gabriel Scott is a design house and production studio creating contemporary collections of fine furniture and lighting. Led by founder and CEO Scott Richler, all Gabriel Scott pieces are proudly handmade in a Montreal-based studio where an in-house team of industrial designers, engineers and manufacturers work together to create and oversee each piece from inception to production. Established to blend Scott’s design experience developed over many years working in architecture, fashion and jewelry design, Gabriel Scott’s furniture and lighting collections are designed in line with the studio’s three principles: timeless, customizable and versatile aesthetic.
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As designers and creators of floorcoverings for over 30 years, Crucial Trading continuously looks at innovative ways to work with sustainable and natural fibres. Adding to their constantly evolving collections, their technical and creative teams have recently created three new designs in wool – Collage, Weather Watching, and Balance – while adding new colourways to the popular wool Mississippi collection.
Collage provides a dynamic mélange of pattern and texture in a choice of five colourways that are inspired by modernist art. With names such as Soft Focus, Modernity, Juxtaposition, Paper Layer, and Mixed Media in a collage of blended hues, they are works of art in their own right!
Woven from 100% New Zealand Wool, Collage is a chunky 6 ply tufted Loop Pile so definitely one to sink your toes into whether your creativity takes you in the direction of a bespoke rug or wall-to-wall fitted carpet.
Balance is a curation of quiet colour and texture designed to encourage reflection and restorative living. Extending mindfulness to how we exist in our interiors, this design champions beauty in the simplistic. Available in a choice of seven earthy and considered colourways; Timeless, Pause, Silence, Intuition, Clarity, Philosophy, and Grace, Balance is quite literally something to meditate on.
Woven from 100% New Zealand Wool, chosen for its pureness of colour, Balance introduces an element of cut-pile/twist to Crucial Trading’s offering. A gentle balance between the cut and the loop results in an almost two-tone finish to the floor covering.
Weather Watching is inspired by our British obsession with the weather. Earthy, subtle tones take direction from atmospheres and the unpredictable with enticing and atmospheric names such as Soft Rain, Thunderstorm Play, Overcast Day, and Indian Summer. Some days it storms, some days it shines, this is how the flower grows.
The palette of calm colours gives the home a sense of grounding whilst creating a backdrop with which to live our lives. The collection is woven from hank dyed 3 ply tufted loop pile British Wool and comes in a choice of 11 different colourways.
Mississippi has become a design classic since it was introduced 18 years ago as a result of the creative team playing around with fragments of coloured wool fibres that were available on the floor of the workshop. This hero design welcomes eight new colourways into the collection bringing the total offering to 16. The new palette is inspired by natural dyes, providing softer, more muted tones for an earthy feel that becomes rich through application. Pale blues and greys combine with gentle tones of green, red, and brown for a relaxed interior that still has the edge.
Mississippi is woven from 100% New Zealand wool which is chosen for its purity, enabling consistency and depth of colour.
Crucial Trading’s floor coverings can be ordered as bespoke rugs, runners or as meterage for a fitted carpet.
Cover image: Balance – BA503 Clarity
About Crucial Trading
Crucial Trading design, manufacture and distribute the finest carpets and rugs. Leading the way in creative floorcovering since 1986, the brand continuously explores innovative new weaves, textures and patterns using 100% natural materials. Designed in-house, the textiles are made from natural plant fibres or wool, always sourced with the environment in mind. With an almost endless choice of versatile designs and colourways, the floorcoverings can be ordered as wall-to-wall carpet or as a bespoke rug or runner.
Founder of Ledbury Studio Charlie Smallbone has stepped back in time for his latest project, creating the beautiful Stroud Kitchen for the owners of a 16th century Cotswolds home. The results speak for themselves – but the quirks of a home built when the first Queen Elizabeth was on the throne nonetheless provided Charlie and his team with a few challenges. Here he talks us through the project.
Our clients sought us out because they wanted a kitchen that would be in sympathy with the age of the house but that also had a contemporary look. Our projects range from Georgian townhouses to warehouse conversions, so we’re accustomed to striking this balance with many of our kitchens. This is why the owners came to us the minute they’d exchanged on the house.
The original kitchen had a small scullery attached. We knocked through the dividing wall to create one large space for cooking, eating and entertaining. However, the age of the property meant that none of the walls were straight and there were a lot of original features to account for. Plus, the low windows and doors, original brickwork and huge fireplace all had to work in harmony with the kitchen furniture.
We designed the island as the main working area and this houses the hob, prep space and plenty of storage, as well as a breakfast bar. As you stand behind the island, you can see a central dividing wall ahead, which is where the oven housing is situated (see image 4). The sink is in the corner and the fridge-freezer is on the other side of the dividing wall, next to the door to the garden (see image 5). At the other end of the island there are steps down to the utility room and a door into the dining room. Although it’s one large space, there are clearly defined zones of activity in the kitchen
We used a range of finishes so that the various elements of the kitchen have their own identity. However, there is also a unifying theme: they are all designed to look like pieces of furniture. From the island to the oven housing, the fridge-freezer and wine storage, and the sink area – each resembles a bespoke freestanding piece. These include some clever design ideas: for example, to hide the electricity meters, we designed a shallow-depth cupboard (see image 6) that we’ve turned into a feature as a bar area with aged brass shelving above.
The ‘Choppy Wood’ carving on the back of the island cupboards and meter cupboard is a signature Ledbury Studio finish. It’s created by hand-carving stained oak to form a textured surface that chimes well with the unevenness of the dark wooden beams in the room.
For the oven housing and fridge-freezer, we selected a patinated copper. The oven housing is visible from the breakfast bar, and there is a small drinks area next to the fridge (see image 7), so both pieces needed to be decorative. However, they are also practical: there is pan storage below the ovens and a large breakfast cupboard and larder sits alongside the fridge-freezer and wine storage (see image 13).
Adding contrast to the dark oak furniture, the sink area is in white-painted oak, while the worktops are Stone Italiana Ambra quartz, an excellent hardwearing choice for the working areas of the kitchen.
To add some glamour, the sides of the island are in Verdigris copper, which ties in beautifully with the oven and fridge-freezer housing. Meanwhile, the worktop on the island is edged in aged brass (see image 9), mirroring the handles used throughout. Finally, possibly my favourite feature, is the aged brass and oak screen (see image 10) that sits beside the stairs to the utility room. It’s for safety, but who says it can’t be a sculptural piece at the same time? Overall, I think the kitchen looks like it has always been there, which was what we intended, but it also adds a large dose of contemporary wow factor!
Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £70,000.
About Ledbury Studio
Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design.
As we approach the end of another busy year, Sofa.com shares their favourite projects and reflects on their achievements from 2022…
For us, working collaboratively with various designers has been a real highlight – helping to bring their creative vision to life and seeing our products in a range of gorgeous spaces. The breadth of projects this year has been wonderful, from larger hospitality work, to commercial settings and a wealth of boutique hotels; this is where sofa.com product really comes to life, with bespoke elements and extensive fabric choice meaning no two projects look the same. Here’s what they had to say!
We have compiled some of our favourites of the year, from the hills of Edinburgh to the coastal waters of Cornwall and everywhere in-between, featuring design specifications that we’re most proud of and are thrilled to see completed to such a high standard.
One of our most recent collaborative projects has just recently completed in time for the holidays. It was a joy to work with Unique Homestays on the renovation of The Hatch, a pared-back coastal property next to the glimmering seas in Cornwall. Finishing touches in the dining room convey the aesthetic of the property perfectly, but with a slight bias our favourite room has to be the Scandi-inspired living room, featuring our bestselling Isaac sofas.
Another key project with Unique Homestays was the completion of Little Inka, a cottage finished with trending combinations of black and brass. This modern farmhouse aesthetic is the perfect setting for our Chesterfield style Patrick loveseat in beautiful vintage leather.
Additional highlights include working with The National Trust Scotland, Alice Leigh design, and The Bath Arms to name a few.
It’s wonderful to look back and celebrate with our customers on the completion of their projects. Thank you to all for working with us, and we look forward to collaborating in the future. As we look towards 2023 and exciting projects on the horizon – we’ve are thrilled to be part of such a vibrant industry.
Cover image: Emma Gurner
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.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an open-plan kitchen design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Concepts by Gavin Hepper.
SBID Awards Category: KBB Design
Practice: Concepts by Gavin Hepper
Project: Oxford Project
Location: Sydney, Australia
We were engaged to transform the interior spaces of this new build into an elegant Australian home, reflecting a modern European luxury. To bring a WOW factor, being a family home the kitchen in particular needs to be durable and functional for a large extended family that enjoy cooking and entertaining. The client also requested a specific ‘morning’ zone for a coffee and juice bar, and that the space is able to be occupied by multiple people simultaneously. And where possible, the use of products with a sustainable nature was preferred.
Drawing on the materiality elements of traditional European luxury interiors of beautiful marbles and metallic finishes and ornate details, we have then interpreted these materials for a modern Australian lifestyle. With a background in joinery, I wanted to bring a handcrafted bespoke furniture element to the project. Specifying a Neolith Sintered Stone in a modern 12mm profile has facilitated some great detail within the design, working with a family run Australian business with a strong sustainability focus to handcraft the timber features and panels really highlight these elements. Working the design to achieve a balance of the scale of the island, anchoring the kitchen within the open plan living area whilst keeping the rest of the space light and provide a seamless transition and flow throughout the home.
Being engaged in the project well into construction of the property set some challenges for us, as there had been several significant oversights that we had to deal with.
Collaborating with some great brands and suppliers to deliver such a detailed orientated project, working alongside our team of trades to deliver our clients forever home, having clients that welcome you into their homes with such faith and trust to build a space for them to be able to create new memories with their family in, this is the ultimate highlight on our Oxford Project.
To provide an international platform for great functional and beautiful Australian design.
Questions answered by Gavin Hepper, Creative Director, Concepts by Gavin Hepper.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a minimalist monochrome residential design by MOON bureau, click here to read it.
Celebrating 35 years of luxury design, Arteriors is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest collaboration collection with renowned American interior designer, Jay Jeffers. As part of the brand’s successful Guest Designer programme, Arteriors welcomes Jay back for a third collection. The range features 28 new furniture, lighting and accessory designs launched as part of their Autumn 2022 collection, debuted at Focus/22.
Jay’s collection prioritises versatility while embodying his “liveable luxury” approach to interior design. Influenced by mid-century décor, from designers including Carlos Scarpa, Franco Albini and Jena-Michel Frank, the collection embraces classic masculine elements including antique and polished brass and pairs them with etched glass and pierced metals.
“With each collaboration, I prioritise quality and craftsmanship. This third collection with Arteriors reflects the skill of their network of artisans that make each product come to life, a hallmark I wanted to celebrate as part for the 35th anniversary. Each piece is handcrafted and meant to feel collected over time. This new offering introduces lighting and accessories that are adaptable to different environments, whether it be a sprawling luxury resort or a compact apartment.” – Jay Jeffers, speaking on the collaboration.
The final result is a beautiful mix of sculptural silhouettes, vintage metal elements, and 20th century inspired design. Expanding on his past two collections, Jay and Arteriors developed new pieces across a variety of categories, including furniture, accessories and lighting created with signature Jay touches.
These design elements can be found throughout the collection, notably in the Trento Mirror, crafted with hand-formed brass, and the Holm Sconce, created with two separate layers of glass for a beautiful diffused light. The Carl Pendant blends smoked glass with pewter and multiple layers of glass for a fixture that can be shown long over a kitchen island or shortened for hallway or bedroom fixture. Finally, the handsome Cantu Cabinet boasts a rich ebony stain and tapered legs for a beautiful addition to an entryway or living space.
“We are thrilled to have Jay return as a guest designer. What better way to celebrate our 35th anniversary than with one of our longest-standing collaborators?” says Barb Fuller, Vice President of Marketing & Visual Merchandising for Arteriors. “Jay’s eye for designing entertaining spaces can be seen across his three collections for Arteriors, from accessories to seating and casegoods designed for comfortable and stylish gatherings at home. For this newest assortment, we worked together to expand on this theme with lighting that creates a warm ambiance and accessories that offer chic touches to interior spaces.”
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.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a minimalist monochrome residential design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, MOON bureau.
SBID Awards Category: CGI & Visualisation
Practice: Moon Bureau
Project: The Hills
Location: Odesa, Ukraine
“THE HILLS” is a home project for a young family of programmers who love to travel around Africa. The main design challenge was to create a barrier-free space with plenty of natural light. The clients wanted the atmosphere of their home to be reminiscent of their travels in Africa. They also wished for a monochrome interior with natural materials in mind and a minimum amount of furniture.
We were inspired by photographs and stories about the magnificent nature of Namibia, where the endless ocean borders the desert. Our team has recreated this mesmerizing atmosphere within the interior design. The entire interior is made in pastel colors that resemble dunes and do not distract from the beautiful view outside the window. An original palette of natural shades, materials and panoramic glazing has erased the boundaries between the living room and the surrounding landscape. In this endless space, we have located a cozy lounge area, combining it under the dome of an ultra-stylish, modular Pole lamp.
We used kitchen model Artematica. Materials such as decorative plaster, glossy glass facades, brushed metal and natural stone were used. The central part of the working surface is closed by a lifting mechanism. In the center of the kitchen is a multifunctional island. We represent how pleasant it will be to meet the first rays of the sun with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
In the bedroom in we used textured travertine and decorative plaster, and in the dressing room – transparency changing smart-glass panels. Smart glass is a multi-layer product in which the middle layer is made of a liquid crystal film. When the smart glass is impacted by electricity, the glass instantly becomes transparent.
I decided to take part in the competition because I wanted to show the creativity and talent of Ukrainian designers to a wider audience. It was an internal challenge to compare myself with modern European designers, to see how my work stands in the context of the current world design.
Questions answered by Tetiana Sytova, Founder and Chief Designer, MOON bureau.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a creative restaurant and bar venue design by DesignLSM, click here to read it.
Angel O’Donnell were asked to interior design a penthouse and sub-penthouse inside One St. John’s Wood, a new luxury development in NW8. Both residences enjoy the rarest of London views: big skies, treetops as far as the eye can see, golden sunrises, showstopping sunsets and, of course, the legendary Lord’s Cricket Ground.
This happy blend of nature and iconic architecture inspired many choices – from hand-drawn floral motifs to sculptural furniture and geometric patterns. Each apartment, while different, feels part of an exclusive collection, something our client was keen to achieve.
The rippling bronze coffee table base. The oscillating lines on the rug that resemble light-dappled water. The dimpled vase. The curled wooden bowl. Even the folds and twisted leather piping on the cushions. These fluid and irregular shapes balance the clean-lined simplicity of the joinery.
While the sofa Angel O’Donnell designed – with its walnut plinth base and mix of textured linen and multi-yarn weaves – is low-slung to maximise the views outside.
The designers upholstered these two Vladimir Kagan armchairs in a soft Edelman leather. They love their shape, like the flukes of a whale’s tail emerging from the watery deep.
Arranging shapes, textures and colours is a way of forging relationships between seemingly disparate objects. It could be a conical lampshade paired with a pyramidal sculpture. Or a set of mixed-media collages that share tonal similarities with wood, brass and marble finishes. By selecting pieces with commonalities, the team brought an unsuspecting corner of the living room to life.
Striped cushions of multi-coloured linen yarns. Stone-washed cushions with handmade leather straps. And a superabundance of pillows and throws. It’s what every bedroom deserves.
Artwork depicting Singapore’s Garden City – with its intersecting lines and architectural supertrees – complement the elliptical shapes and parallel lines elsewhere in the room.
Against the cool calm of the white cotton sheets, dove-grey headboard and evergreen cushions, sit two bold fabrics inspired by Native American iconography. The mix of print and embroidery, geometric motifs and bright colours invigorate the warm neutrals in the scheme.
The flourishing mural of large leaves, delicate pods and long grasses has been hand drawn and printed onto panels. The design is exuberant and life-affirming – and a pleasing counterpoint to the measured fumed oak side tables, and cushions with their neat arrangement of teal, mint and ochre circles and crescents.
The large bronze table lamp resembles a Stonehenge monolith. Its substantial frame provides a visual backbone to the mix of soft, plump and lean shapes in the room. Whether it’s the reassuringly rounded profile of the Marenco sofa or the shiny accents of the glamorous Hollywood Regency coffee table – there’s plenty to savour.
Like Disney’s Pixar lamp, our thin-stemmed floor light has an animated quality. As it leans over the two bespoke lounge chairs, its posture appears inquisitive. Its reflective copper shade mirrors the gleam of the coffee table. While its angled rod echoes the diagonals in the wool, mohair and alpaca fabric of the chairs.
The glass- and ash-wood table was designed in-house. The base, which pays homage to miyadaiku Japanese carpentry, is cunningly simple. No bolts or nails. Just five interlocking pieces of wood that form a top with four triangular legs. It looks architectural, skeletal even. The precision of the half lap joints combined with the drama of the scorched wood are beautiful to behold.
Structural forms and materials continue to flourish throughout the apartment. In particular, the Roman-like arches of the headboard and the ziggurat-inspired shape of the lamps. These speak to the riot of architectural genres found in the neighbouring Lord’s Cricket Ground. We especially love how the lamps’ teeth look wincingly sharp against the smooth, burgundy velvet.
In the same bedroom, vintage drawers painted a pale buttercup, a flower-like wall light and an impressionist landscape create a bucolic scene. It’s a surprising contrast to the industrial-looking lamps diagonally opposite. And that’s what St. John’s Wood is all about: village sensibility mingled with a little raw-edged urban style.
A dark, moss velvet headboard further endears us to nature. So, too, do the opal-glass wall lamps and chunky hand-knotted throw. There’s a soft, rounded wholesomeness to these pieces, which is gently counterpointed by the geometric patterns of the cushions, and sharp detailing of the art deco bedsides.
A large piece of art – coppery, elemental, strong – provides a striking focal point in a room filled with houndstooth and lightly stippled pear-hued cushions, linen and lambswool throws, and pale grey upholstered walls.
Just as nature ages, the pleated brass pendant lights will patina over time and develop some of the dark, rich tones present in the artwork.
Photo credit: Taran Wilkhu
About Angel O’Donnell
Since launching our London interior design studio in 2018, Angel O’Donnell has won a variety of international awards – both for our designs and for our outstanding client-focused work ethic. Our portfolio features a diverse mix of projects – from Deco-inspired penthouses and traditional country retreats to contemporary Greek villas, modular student accommodation and luxury show apartments in multi-unit developments, including the rapidly popular Build to Rent sector. And that’s what we’re all about: creating an assortment of styles that elevate, enhance and embolden every project we do. There’s no signature look. Just exquisite design and impeccable quality.
If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more.
The Rigby & Rigby Interior Design Studio are one of six standalone departments that form Rigby & Rigby, a multi award winning design and delivery Studio based in London. Led by Studio Director, James Ashfield has over seventeen years of international experience in the Luxury Residential sector.
The Rigby & Rigby Interior Design Studio has gone from strength to strength and James has been instrumental in the successful growth and creative vision of the department.
We interviewed James Ashfield, Studio Director of Interior Design at Rigby & Rigby to find out more about his background and insights on the residential design industry!
Rigby & Rigby Interior Design projects are detailed and diverse and the Studio has an impeccable reputation with many confidential ‘under radar’ projects. These leading international projects include a flagship residential development Lancelot House in Prime Central London; two Ski Chalet’s in Lapland, Finland; The Maybourne Riviera Hotel in the South of France and a recently completed award winning Private Family Office in Oslo, Norway.
Rigby & Rigby started as a developer in Prime Central London, and we have since become an internationally acclaimed design and delivery studio. The business was predominantly architectural and used to work with external interior designers but quickly realised the streamlined benefit of an in-house interior design team. Since then, Rigby & Rigby expanded, and now we offer six stand-alone departments that operate as individual services or one combined turnkey solution. Our teams still work with external consultants, for example the Rigby & Rigby Interior Design Studio is working with an external architect and contractor on two apartments in Mayfair. We’re one big family and we design and deliver projects together or with other families too.
From a design perspective, our style has evolved from the architectural origin. We believe that simple, refined and well executed design is the foundation for creating beautiful and luxurious interiors.
I regularly attend SBID CPD’s and supplier events to see, hear and experience the latest products and technology. I also enjoy expanding my design knowledge via theory and research. My team and I share regular design articles on a wide variety of subjects such as design movements, specialist luxury spaces, lifestyle practices, product design and unique materials and finishes.
As a small child I was fascinated with stained glass windows in churches – the combination of colour, a story and light in a grand oversized setting grabbed my attention. Through school, college and university I loved drawing and technology, and I made choices that pointed towards architecture and design. I joined a small architecture, interior and development practice that was very forward thinking and gave me the opportunity and confidence to test and experiment with design. Since then, I’ve been very lucky and led some incredible projects across the globe and I’ve enjoyingly experienced different cultures. It’s great when design has a context and thought, this is very much connected to where it all began for me with the stained glass windows and the colour, story and light.
The main ingredient is time, we streamline the project process and provide a space that answers our clients brief. All of our clients define personal luxury differently, so once we understand what they really want, and how we can help them to achieve it, we can strive to create an elegant environment where they can live an efficient and happy life.
The market is continuing to grow with major new luxury developments such as Battersea Power Station in London, UK and Atlantis The Royal Residences, Dubai, UAE, to name two.
At a micro scale, we have seen an influx of technology into the home. Everything can be controlled and monitored from afar and technology is affecting the way we create spaces too. Its use is beneficial to the environment, with greater control and efficiency of utilities and systems.
The use of 3D design and Virtual Reality has enhanced our process and changed the way that we develop and present a project. Within our team we recruited 3D designers to model space and product, streamlining our offering and further engaging the client in the design process.
At a macro scale, the world has a vast abundance of development happening across the globe. With so much development and strain on the environment it’s critical to implement good design and avoid unnecessary waste. Quality and craftmanship are everlasting. Colour and trend are transient. If the bones of a project are well considered and efficient, and a combination of good quality and sustainable products are used, then our impact on the planet is minimised.
UHNW clients’ tastes have changed too. There is more appreciation of ‘less is more’ and a greater concentration on quality and attention to detail. We curate interiors that combine both custom and branded furniture. When installing a sofa from a top Italian supplier we buy into the history and culture of furniture making, and the years of experience that have gone into designing and manufacturing a perfectly executed product. The elements adjacent to the sofa, such as the rug, tables and artwork, are products we custom design to create a truly unique product and arrangement. This same principle is applied across a project, and this creates a new luxury, one that is personal, refined and less pretentious.
I’m inspired by so many people, places and objects. I’m particularly fascinated with Brazil, its outdoor lifestyle and the rich abundance of design. I love the sea, sun and sand. Brazil is a country of continental proportions, with regional differences in biodiversity, society, economy and industrialization. From Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture to The Campana brothers reclaimed furniture, the multiple interpretations of function and beauty, along with the manufacturing processes, result in a varied production of design.
Our interior design studio has a strong year ahead with some incredible projects coming live next year. One of our flagship projects, Lancelot House, a one-minute walk from Harrods in Knightsbridge, is due for completion. This project has been in our department for five years so I’m very excited to see it realised. We are also delivering a number of UK projects, two apartments in Knightsbridge, two show homes in Mayfair, a townhouse in Chelsea, and our international projects too, a villa & two apartments in Dubai, UAE, and a residential development in Tokyo, Japan.
This is a very exciting period for our team and it will build on the success of the award-winning projects we’ve delivered over the past year.
During my stay in the Middle East I dedicated time to an animal welfare charity and rescued stray and injured animals – at one point I had 12 rescued animals in my home and then returned to the UK with three pets, Vanilla, Pudding & Pie, who are all formerly strays.
Questions answered by James Ashfield, Studio Director, Rigby & Rigby.
About Rigby & Rigby
Rigby & Rigby is an award-winning multi-disciplinary design and delivery studio based in London. With full-service capabilities spanning across development management, architecture, interior design, construction, and private client services, Rigby & Rigby offers clients a complete turnkey solution from concept through to completion.
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