SBID Accredited Designer and Founder of London-based design firm Ana Engelhorn Interior Design, blends the old with the new to create charming and characterful interiors. Ana's practice utilises the imperfections of natural building materials such as a original hardwood floor and emphasises rich textural sensations like silk, cotton and oxidised metal; combining the innate authenticity of a room with its objects through antique furnishings and traditional features. Read more to discover Ana's secrets to sourcing antiques for her 'rough luxe' interior designs.
At Ana Engelhorn Interior Design, we take a perfectly imperfect approach – uniting old with new to create fresh, timeless interiors for residential and commercial properties. We approach all of our projects with a sustainable mindset and love working with natural materials and furniture in its raw state. Celebrating imperfections found in natural objects and building materials, we especially love antiques – and have become somewhat of an expert in pieces of furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries and the 1950's and 1970's.
This past month I headed over to Madrid to discover some of their antiques. Although I’m half Spanish, half German and was born in Switzerland, I have always been drawn to British antiques so don’t have much knowledge of the market in other countries. Antiques here in the UK, where we’re now based, are highly prized and shops exist in abundance. The price, as you might expect, is high, so it can be a challenge to find amazing pieces with the right price tag.
I was thus very keen to explore abroad and see what I could find. Travelling through Madrid and making contact with suppliers there, I was amazed to learn the quantity as well as quality of what is there. As interior designers, we are only as good as our suppliers, so we spend a good deal of time finding like-minded crafts and tradespeople who sell or produce quality products or salvage and up-cycle older items. We try to encourage our clients to restore and reuse their furniture or donate it to charities or who will re-purpose it, so going to Spain was a real opportunity to potentially expand the number of pieces we could recommend and learn more about sourcing antiques in other countries.
When young people in Spain leave their parents’ home, they usually want to make their own mark. The last thing they want, therefore, are interiors that look like their grandparents’ house. They tend to live in apartments that are more contemporary or lean toward furniture from the 1950's, which is highly coveted across the country. Thus, those from wealthy families who inherit large stately homes or palacetes often find antique dealers like Anticuarios Alcolcer to buy their heirlooms and resell them in stores across Spain and the United States.
I was delighted to find that the prices for antiques are generally lower in Spain – you can find truly beautiful pieces, well-preserved and documented but at much more accessible prices. The biggest barriers to finding these suppliers are usually time, money and lack of knowledge. However, with the internet and in the globalised world we now live in, these hurdles can easily be overcome. One particularly straightforward option is to use a Travel Consultant like La Españolita. They will organise the trip for you and make introductions. Your days are then clearly mapped out and you can really make the most of your time.
Another way to find antiques dealers is to search for Architectural Digest guides on the specific region you want to visit. Usually, where there is one there are many. For example, when I visited El Modernario, the owner recommended two other stores: Tesla Antiques and Concha Ortega. I found it heart-warming how eager most owners are to share their clients with their competitors. In this industry, there really are people who believe that when one does better, everyone benefits.
Antique shop owners are also keen to have coffee or a drink to talk about the trade and swap stories. I speak Spanish so it makes that part easier! I find that with antiques in general, and Spain specifically, people want to get to know you and find out who you are – you can then start to build a relationship and work together to help each other.
Sourcing antiques from foreign countries doesn’t need to be daunting. The antiques mission I just underwent in Spain is one I will try to repeat for France, Sweden and Italy (my current favourite countries for older pieces). I’m looking forward to what I might find!
This article was written by Ana Engelhorn of Ana Engelhorn Interior Design.
If you'd like to become an SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features luxurious, golden age glamour for the Hilton's Imperial Hotel design in Dubrovnik. The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik was originally built in the 1890's, situated just above the UNESCO World Heritage site of Dubrovnik’s old town. Originally named ‘The Grand Hotel Imperial’, it was an immediate hit with a French Riviera feel and the glamorous cachet of an international clientele. The hotel was shelled during the Yugoslav war and subsequently brought back to life in 2005, when it was rebuilt in its original style. However, costly building works meant that the interiors weren’t the main priority at that time and were primed for a completely new treatment this time round.
When Goddard Littlefair was first commissioned, the hotel was already very well established and incredibly popular, with a wonderful location overlooking the old fort and the Adriatic. Drawing inspiration from the romance of the hotel’s former glories, the new design scheme sought to re-inject golden age glamour into one of Europe’s most historic hotels.
SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space / Bedrooms & Suites finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon & Yves Delorme
Company: Goddard Littlefair
Project: Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia
What was the client's brief?
The brief was to unlock the true potential of the four-storey hotel’s spectacular location, architecture, reputation and history, in order to appeal to today’s sophisticated and cosmopolitan traveller. Goddard Littlefair was initially commissioned towards the end of 2016 for a phased set of redesign works, with the first two now completed and including the reception and lobby, The Lobby Lounge, The Imperial Bar, The Executive Lounge, all connecting and guest-room corridors and all of the hotel’s 149 standard and executive rooms and 9 suites. A refurbishment of the hotel’s existing restaurant, Porat, on the lower-ground floor, will follow in late 2019.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
Inspiration for the new interiors was drawn from the hotel’s incredible history, in both alluding to and recreating its glamorous heritage, whilst also ensuring it had a thoroughly contemporary sophistication. This was achieved by honouring the hotel’s existing architecture and romance throughout, layering glamour into each individual space via a Riviera palette, soft detailing and a 1920's yachting influence, whilst at the same time balancing this with clean and contemporary lines.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The toughest hurdle was dealing with the missing architectural quality of the existing interiors that didn’t do justice to the charming exterior. The former Lobby Lounge and Bar were connected as one continuous and vast space that lacked warmth and intimacy. By breaking up the space with the use of a bespoke see-through brass shelving unit we have created a cosier transition between the two spaces. The double-height and long Reception was also addressed with regards to the lack of a solid architectural language by breaking up the height and length of the space with painted mouldings and timber panellings.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
It felt like everyone was proud to be working on such a prestigious and well known historic building. From the local contractors to the joinery manufacturers, everyone involved on the project was very communicative and responsive whenever the deadlines were pressing. The quality of materials and skills involved were very high throughout the process.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
As well as respecting the industry standing of the SBID and the reputation of the SBID International Design Awards, it’s also a real pleasure to have our designs recognised and admired by peers!
Questions answered by Jo Littlefair, Director of Goddard Littlefair.
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a sleek, clean-lined kitchen design, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Hotel design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space / Bedrooms & Suites finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon and Yves Delorme
Lalique represents timeless luxury and the French ‘art of living’. Supplying decorative glass and crystal interior homeware, jewellery, perfume and art, it has become the ultimate symbol of French luxury. As a proud sponsor of the SBID International Design Awards 2019 for the Residential Apartment Under £1M category, we interviewed the UK Managing Director of LALIQUE, Frederick Fischer to share insight into the origins of this high-end luxury brand.
What are the origins of your brand?
It is over 130 years since Rene Lalique founded the company in 1888. His career began as a designer working for Cartier and Boucheron, amongst others, and was regarded as the master of jewellery design in the Art Nouveau style. By the 1890s he was making jewellery for celebrities and public figures of the day including Sarah Bernhardt, who wore Lalique on the stage, which is where the term ‘costume jewellery’ derives.
His encounter with Francois Coty in1907 heralded his entry into the world of perfume bottles which led to Rene Lalique working entirely in glass by 1912. In 1935 he opened his boutique in Rue Royale, Paris. He died in 1945 and his son Marc Lalique replaced glass with crystal and raised Lalique’s profile to become the greatest crystal producer in France, if not the world. His granddaughter, Marie-Claude Lalique took the helm of the family enterprise in 1977, marrying modernity with tradition.
In 2008, Lalique was acquired by Swiss entrepreneur, Silvio Denz who has ensured continuity in its development, respecting traditional know-how centered on crystal, jewellery, fragrances, home accessories including furniture, lamps and decorative panels and most recently hotels and restaurants – a wide ranging orchestration of the brand’s timeless creations.
How do you work with interior designers?
Most designers come to Lalique with specific requests concerning pieces from existing ranges. If we receive detailed ideas of bespoke pieces that they would like to be created by us, we then work closely with our studio and the designer to tailor their requirements to the project. We may also adapt current lines to personalise a private interior.
What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?
Lalique is a timeless and elegant luxury that befits any interior. Be it a house, hotel or yacht that is adorned with Lalique, it instantly gives off an essence of a ‘prestige property’.
How do your services/offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?
We provide bespoke solutions and build relationships based on trust.
What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?
Our clients are not really driven by specific trends. However, I would say recently we have noticed more homes investing in large statement pieces such as the Mossi Vase in XXL for hallways and entranceways to make a bold statement. Our lighting range – chandeliers, sconces and table lamps are eternally popular. Lalique crystal panels are also hugely in demand – back lit in a wall or framed - whether the Merles & Raisins which adorned the interior of the Orient Express or the Eternal butterflies in vibrant colours by Damien Hirst – they are works of art.
Why did you want to become a sponsor of the SBID Awards?
To support and enhance the interior design community, which we are honoured to work with.
Sponsorship for the SBID International Design Awards 2020 is now open.
To find out more about becoming an SBID Awards sponsor, click here or email [email protected]
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a sleek, clean-lined kitchen design that is quietly impressive and elegantly understated. Using a Taj Mahal Quartzite clad island, teamed with wall cabinetry in a dark pigmented concrete finish and combined with a hot rolled steel worktop, Eggersmann Design created a beautifully bespoke and contemporary open plan kitchen to provide the food-loving family with style and complete functionality.
SBID Awards: KBB Design finalist sponsored by VitrA UK
Company: Eggersmann Design
Project: Wimbledon
Location: London, United Kingdom
Our brief was to create a sleek and elegant kitchen that didn’t compromise on functionality. As the owners love to cook and entertain, their requirements extended beyond looks so we included easy-clean surfaces, considered storage and hardworking appliances. As the kitchen is situated in a large open-plan dining / living space it was important to consider this brief with a wider, holistic approach. It was essential that we took these surrounding zones into consideration when designing the new kitchen.
The property was only 10 years old when the current owners bought it from a self-builder. They lived with a kitchen they hated for a further decade before the old-fashioned timber cabinetry and awkward layout got the better of them. The space itself was light, airy and generous so there was no need to extend but the kitchen was long overdue an update. Specific bug-bears included a cooker facing the back wall and seriously uncomfortable pew-style seating below the beautiful Crittall-style windows, which were the first step in redecorating the space. We didn’t change the layout hugely, we just made it more intuitive to use. We switched cooking to the island to provide a nicer outlook and designed upholstered seating that’s a pleasure to recline on. The upholstered banquette area brings colour and shape to the kitchen. The sensual shape was inspired by a sofa the client had spotted while travelling, the rest of the house is very colourful, filled with the owners’ quirky accessories and cheerful artwork, so we used these accent materials to connect everything – the kitchen should never have a separate identity within any home.
A key part of the brief was that they wanted a large stone-clad island with as many clever storage solutions as possible. The client wanted a sleek and elegant kitchen that didn’t compromise on functionality. The island unit, clad entirely in Taj Mahal quartzite, showcases our precise engineering skills – the cabinet fronts are made from solid quartzite cut to slabs just 11mm thick. The same stone is wrapped around a steel sub-structure to create a 4.3m long worktop with intricate details such as 45-degree mitre joints and recessed grip areas to create a monolithic appearance.
The eclectic use of materials: natural stone, resin, concrete, hot rolled steel, brass and American walnut. The cabinetry is made from dark pigmented concrete, which is hand-trowelled and built up in layers like polished plaster. For the sink area worktop and splashback, the owners opted for hot-rolled steel featuring two artfully welded-in sinks and draining board. The finely textured matte steel surface is resistant to fingerprints and scratches making it perfect for this young family.
The SBID International Design Awards are important as a global showcase of creativity. Not only do the awards provide a great platform for us to communicate and illustrate our company’s points of difference but to also hopefully inspire and inform style within the industry and beyond.
Questions answered by Gary Singer, Founder and Creative Director at Eggersmann Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring contemporary healthcare and wellness design by the XDH Design Firm for Five Fitsport fitness centre, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Kitchen design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | KBB Design finalist sponsored by VitrA UK
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a modern fitness centre which proves that working out can be a stylish experience! The circular reception area is surrounded by wooden grids which curve towards the ceiling, meeting at the centre. This arresting design feature acts as a point of focus, creating instant visual intrigue as you enter into the space. A feeling of openness is created by circling multicoloured glass which is designed to divide (but not completely separate) internal spaces with its transparency. The glass panels also add an air modernity and vibrancy as the light shines through, casting colourful shadows. Huge semicircular lampshades and sturdy triangular prisms also punctuate the space. Other features include black iron artwork studded with metal rivets and cement walls clad in wood which come together to create an industrial aesthetic and evoke the feeling of strength.
SBID Awards: Healthcare and Wellness Design finalist sponsored by Stone Federation
Company: The XDH Design Firm
Project: Five Fitsport
Location: Guangxi, China
Five Fitsport is located on the fifth floor of the National Film City in Nanning ASEAN Business District, Guangxi. It is a fitness centre combining sports and leisure, with an area of 3578㎡.
The design inspiration of the project was to combine the strength of fitness with materials in the form of an industrial style, so as to express the theme of exercise. The space is interspersed with coloured ground glass, reflecting light and shadows to convey movement and the rhythm of the movement.
The most difficult obstacle to be overcome in the project was that the overall design needed to optimise the structure by combining the factors such as mechanics and considering the connection and grade of steel structures to achieve the practicability of the structure.
The highlight of the project is that the design scheme of the space is fully open plan but zoned in a creative way using coloured glass, so the design fits the modern yet industrial aesthetic with design elements which introduce colour and vibrancy. The special design feature of the suspended ceiling in the fitness area also adds to the visual focus.
The SBID International Design Awards is one of the most prestigious and interesting activities in the industry, and the competition is also very fierce. Participating in such a competition has been a very interesting and valuable experience for us!
Questions answered by Denver Hsu, Chief designer at The XDH Design Firm
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring SBID Award winners for the sustainable retail design for cosmetic brand, Lush with the opening of their largest global store in Liverpool, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Healthcare and Wellness design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Healthcare & Wellness Design finalist sponsored by Stone Federation
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the SBID Award winning project for Retail Design with leading fit-out specialist, Portview, after completing the retail design for the biggest Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics store in the world. Situated in the heart of Liverpool, Lush Liverpool opened its doors after a nine-month transformation into the biggest Lush in the world. Five times bigger than the previous store and spread over three customer-facing floors, the new Lush Liverpool boasts 1,380 sq m of retail space that’s big enough to fit over 9 million of its famous bath bombs. The characterful scheme created by Lush’s in-house Design team with international architecture firm, Hyphen, was executed by Portview with an emphasis on enhancing the building’s original features to achieve a look inspired by the character of traditional departments stores and be both sustainable and synonymous with the cosmetic brand.
SBID Awards: Retail Design winner sponsored by BloomsArt
Company: Portview Fit-Out
Project: Lush Liverpool
Project Location: Liverpool, United Kingdom
The brief was to marry the old with the new by creating a space that was reminiscent of a traditional department store, whilst incorporating new materials and services that have never been seen before in a retail setting.
There was a huge focus on using sustainable materials such as reclaimed FSC certified timbers, brick, and cradle to cradle silver tiles to keep our carbon footprint down to a minimum. We also introduced cherry wood style panelling to give the space a sense of warmth and sophistication, with the fresh, citrus colours of the 300 new products on display giving it a modern twist. The carefully crafted, contrasting textures of new and old furnishings help to add visual weight to the space and create an overall feeling of wholesomeness.
The goal was to create a destination store that brings more innovation and creative personal experiences than ever before to the high street.
The design was inspired by a photograph of an old section of a department store, similar to that of Lush’s building in Church Alley.
We worked closely with Lush’s in-house design team and international architecture firm, Hyphen, to execute a characterful scheme that enhanced the building’s original features by playing on the character and charm of traditional department stores, whilst staying true to Lush’s strong environmental ethos.
Paradoxically, when working with old, historic buildings you will always be faced with new challenges. In this case, we had to install two new lifts, refurbish the existing 1920s-style staircase and replace the whole of the ground floor level façade - all within a tight programme. The central stairway was added late in the project and was our most challenging task, involving an oak over-clad of the existing old stone, with relining of the open string and soffit, along with a new steel balustrade complete with curved cherry timber handrails. The stairwell also required secondary fire glazing of the existing windows, with bespoke moulded architrave details scribed from original profiles on site. The whole stairwell needed to be lined and fitted with period doors and cherry wall panelling to the lower level.
Overall, there was a huge amount of construction before the fit-out could even commence, including the manufacturing of columns clad in Portland stone to enhance the 60m long, anodised bronze shopfront. This required very detailed surveys of the existing stripped façade to allow us to draw and schedule with complete accuracy the Portland stone, granite, structural steel and shopfront glazing system, so all could be produced in parallel and fit together without a hitch.
Another challenge was executing the design of all the individual service areas - such as the spa, hair lab, florist, perfumery and shop floor – under the one roof, without it looking disjointed or disturbing the natural flow of the overall space. The design was continuously evolving with various teams working on each area, so a holistic approach to communication and client engagement was absolutely key in ensuring everything came together in a cohesive and collaborative way.
We worked in close collaboration with both the client team and Hyphen to ensure that Lush’s high environmental standards were upheld at each stage of the process, from the sustainable design choices through to the responsible sourcing, restoring and repurposing of recycled materials to help reduce our environmental impact and this has been both hugely rewarding and enlightening.
This has been one of our most iconic retail projects to date and it’s a proud moment for us to see it come to life.
Questions answered by Simon Campbell, Managing Director of Portview Fit-Out
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the SBID Award winners for KBB Design with a fusion of Oriental and commercial modernity for a contemporary New Zealand home, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Retail design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Retail Design Winner sponsored by BloomsArt
Sponsors of the SBID International Design Awards for the Club & Bar Design category, Oxley's Furniture provide durable outdoor furniture solutions which are premium in quality and timeless in design. The Managing Director, Simon Hudson tells us more about how their products and services help designers extend the interior design vision to encompass exterior environments.
Oxley’s was started 28 years ago to create timeless outdoor furniture impervious to the weather. Inspired by the longevity of classic cast English garden furniture the company developed ways to personalise aluminium furniture for each customer. In the years since, Oxley’s has developed a worldwide niche market providing a service for interior designers to take their design ideas outside. Large residential and boutique hospitality projects are our forte.
From site visits to prototyping bespoke furniture, the Oxley’s team can be as involved with a project as much or as little as our customer wishes. Designers choose which Oxley’s collection works best for their project, then every item is made specifically for every job with the aluminium frame finished in exactly the colour specified. With cushions added, made with any exterior grade fabric from any of the fabric houses, each project is unique.
We also have an extensive portfolio of curated products from elite brands and often work closely with our clients to select items for their projects. Our services range from producing all technical drawings for bespoke projects, to personally organising and supervising shipping and installation.
Where the client has not included the outside as part of the interior project brief, working with Oxley’s can demonstrate how the interior design can be extended to the exterior environment, thereby enlarging the project.
How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?
Outdoor living & entertaining is often part of the design brief. Oxley’s offer designers a service which allows them to extend their ideas from the inside to the outside, or even create a completely different feel to the project's exterior spaces.
Although every project is different, there does seem to be a trend away from the sleek minimalist look outdoors to a more classical feel, particularly encouraged by the amazing profusion of fascinating outdoor fabrics from all the major houses.
Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?
Interior Designers are our partners in everything we make. Their creations are our business, so it is right that we should support them by sponsoring an SBID Award which recognises their incredible achievements.
To find out more about becoming an SBID Awards sponsor next year click here or email [email protected]
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the SBID Award winning project for KBB Design. Masterwood Joinery designed this kitchen with a delicate fusion of Oriental and commercial modernity within this magnificent Queenstown home. Clean, straight lines, natural materials and simple monochrome tones set the scene. With traditional Chinese sliding screens separating the kitchen from an informal lounge area, heavy duty steel box section legs support two islands with a commercial stainless steel kitchen extractor suspended above the chef’s island. The chef’s island has a cantilevered teppanyaki grill mounted in Ceasarstone, while the pastry island has an outstanding marble work surface, while the self-contained coffee station affords sweeping views of the range. Storage was also effectively integrated into the design with a glass fronted display cabinet and fully equipped pantry areas. True to the Oriental theme, form and function are in perfect harmony throughout this contemporary kitchen design scheme.
SBID Awards: KBB Design winner sponsored by VitrA UK
Company: Masterwood Joinery
Project: Slopehill Road
Location: Otago, New Zealand
Our Client was specific and very focused during the brief for this project. Being a Hong Kong born, British subject he was wanting a very oriental feel, yet still trying to retain the beauty of the New Zealand landscape within this magnificent home. Both he and his wife are avid cooks so every aspect of culinary creating had to be achieved. Perfection was a prerequisite with no tolerance for anything but.
Basically, the clients love of Hong Kong and the orient, and the challenge of achieving this by using modern techniques to give the oriental elements a contemporary twist.
Definitely the installation. There was a significant use of steel beams and panelling which required precision placement internally without the use of cranes.
The first highlight was standing back at the end and seeing what we had created and looking at the faces of our very happy clients. The second was winning the SBID International Design Awards in London.
We were advised by the judges of the 2019 NKBA awards that our design had won convincingly, so they suggested that we enter the SBID Awards. And now here we are! We couldn't be more proud of what we have achieved with this project.
Questions answered by Jim Cleveland, General Manager of Masterwood Joinery
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring SBID Award winners for Healthcare & Wellness Design with the quirky and artistic aesthetic for a halotherapy Salt Room, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's KBB design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | KBB Design Winner sponsored by VitrA UK
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the SBID Award winning project for Healthcare & Wellness Design. The Salt Room encompasses innovative, receptive and modern design reflected through a prism of artistic and quirky vision. The actual halotherapy areas feature rare Himalayan salt decor accompanied by a relaxing café/retail unit and kids play area. The walls of the hallway and kids play area were hand created by an artist using all-natural paint to recreate a jungle themed fairytale trail. Diana Interiors Group used a creative approach to create space that promotes rest and calm, yet features a modern and artistic style.
SBID Awards: Healthcare & Wellness Design winner sponsored by the Stone Federation
Company: Diana Interiors Group
Project: The Salt Room
Location: Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
The project was located in the heart of the city centre with a complete refurbishment required as the venue was previously a casino. The prime, busy location meant that a catchy design is needed to attract passing footfall. Overall the key factors outlined in the brief included:
Nowadays we live in dynamic, often stressful environments which impacts our wellbeing significantly, hence more spaces which encourage relaxation and care for our health should be created. With this project we recognised an opportunity to demonstrate that interior design can influence sustainability and has environmental impact. Our inspiration came from the theme of organic nature and personal wellbeing. For that reason, we intentionally used animal and plant wall drawings, as we believe children should be inspired to look after the planet from a very early age. Our studio was very keen to undertake a project within the Healthcare & Wellness sector as it shows that private commercial organisations can be responsible and promote sustainable practices. We believe this is one good of example of it.
The Salt Room required enhancements to the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems in addition to the installation of a halogenerator to ensure that there is an effective, unchanging amount of the dry salt to be dispersed, and mitigate any corroding of the salt in the environment.
Harmonising zones with such a different purpose and infusing The Salt Room brand into the interior design. Certainly, the highlight of the project was the art work. Every single element of the wall drawings were hand created by an incredibly talented artist using all-natural paint. We wanted to recreate a fairytale from the entrance to the kinds zone, so we followed the animal pattern all the way through. It took us months of work, but we are very proud with the final result.
Winning a SBID International Design Award is truly a high achievement, not only because these awards are recognised as one of the highest accolades in the interior design industry but also because they are an opportunity for a designer to find out what the public and technical experts think about their work.
It allows an artist to be at the forefront of design ideas and this is exactly what we aim to do in our studio. SBID Awards carry credibility and help build the reputation of a business, so every successful interior design studio would be thrilled to be among the arena of the finalists. The competition was very stiff, but we faced the challenge positively, and are extremely proud and honoured that our project was awarded.
Questions answered by Diana Shimbova, Group CEO and Lead Interior Designer at Diana Interiors Group
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a playful residential design with bold colour schemes and striking artwork, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Healthcare design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Healthcare & Wellness Design Winner sponsored by Stone Federation
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a total interior renovation which was designed to create a residence that better reflected the family’s dynamic and appeal to their personal tastes. Nestled in picturesque Forest Hill, Toronto, this Georgian styled 10,000 sq ft house has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms for five children and two adults; an upgrade from their previous three bedroom home! Powell & Bonnell incorporated a blend of pattern on pattern, bold furnishings and courageously contemporary art pieces into this playful residential design to enrich each space with unique character and charm. The result is a home fit for family fun and entertainment, for all that pass beyond the threshold of this lively, design-led home.
SBID Awards: Residential Design Over £1M finalist sponsored by THG Paris
Company: Powell & Bonnell
Project: The Well Hued Home
Location: Ontario, Canada
A total interior renovation, to create a residence that better reflected the family’s dynamic and appeal to their personal taste. The client called for an abundance of colour and whimsical personality as a principal inspiration for this new residence. An inventory of existing furnishings, mostly from the previous residence, also needed to be restyled and upholstered to be incorporated into the new design. Our goal was to mix pattern on pattern, bold furnishings and courageously contemporary art pieces to enliven every room.
Without a doubt the client’s love of art and travel. Family trips to London and New York with stays in boutique hotels had exposed the client to an informal more effervescent design style and helped their curiosity for contemporary art and design blossom. Much of the art was selected by the homeowner themselves which gave us a starting point for colour schemes and concepts for each room, making this residence just right for showcasing the client’s eclectic interests!
To think back, the idea of making all those colours work in one house was really the biggest hurdle! We knew the house, we had worked with the client before, the contractor we worked with also executed the family's first renovation with us, so the usual difficulties that arise in those "getting to know you" areas, wasn't a problem when it came to working on this project.
The house is entertaining, even the "serious" rooms like the dining room and living room, which children are often discouraged from using have a youthful and fun loving flair, without being juvenile. The key is in the fabrics - we used quite a bit from our collection of textiles when upholstering items for this house. The Powell & Bonnell textile collection is made of commercial grade fabrics that have a residential feel and appearance.
We were attracted by the opportunities and potential exposure for international design in the competition. It is well run and well respected. We have entered it many times, and love the awards presentation!
Questions answered by Fenwick Bonnell, Partner and Albert Limshue, Senior Designer at Powell & Bonnell
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring SBID Award winners for the stunning residential design which showcases sophisticated luxury for a 19th century apartment, 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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