This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a prestigious residential property in the heart of Mayfair with the restoration of a grade II listed townhouse in one of London’s most illustrious addresses for the rental market. Working in close collaboration with Schiller Beynon Interior Design, Shape London, and Cumming Corporation, Portview applied their artisan skills in craftsmanship to uncover a plethora of classical, period features that complement the chic, contemporary interior. Spread over five floors, the spacious property is the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of city living, with large, expansive rooms that boast opulent ceilings and ample natural light. Positioned just 0.1 miles from Hyde Park and 0.6 miles from Bond Street, the property offers the city’s most popular leisure destinations just around the corner.
Sector: Residential Design
Company: Portview Fit Out Specialists
Project: Mayfair Townhouse Restoration
Location: London, United Kingdom
What was the client's brief?
The brief was to inject the house with a new lease of life by restoring the beautiful period features throughout the property and combine them with new, premium quality finishes and a contemporary colour palette. Essentially, our task was to mix the old with the new to create a very understated, yet luxurious interior that is compatible with modern living.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
As this was a residential refurbishment for the rental market, we used our experience in restoring listed properties to deliver an interior that retained its historical integrity to uncover and develop period features into a number of unique selling points.
The house comprises of two reception rooms, a large dining room, and a ground floor drawing room that is located just off the main entrance hall where a stunning console table made of marble, metal and painted wood, awaits. The vestibule area on the first floor - dressed minimally with beautiful basket weave oak flooring - is particularly impressive as an ideal space for entertaining guests.
The master bedroom occupies the second floor and benefits from a separate dressing room and marble clad bathroom that has been finished with a bronze trim and matching brassware. An additional three bedrooms are located on the third floor, each tastefully dressed to the same exacting standard.
From top to bottom, elements of surprise await guests at every level. A great example of this is a roof terrace which boasts stunning views of the surrounding area, ideal for relaxing in the sunshine or socialising casually with friends.
For the lower ground floor, a further bedroom (and bathroom) can be found. In addition, the family kitchen offers a more informal dining space and features a rear, private entrance via the patio garden.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
Working with a listed building presents a number of unique challenges. In this case our biggest challenge was the grand nineteenth century staircase, which was actually installed in the mid-1800s from another building. To make it structurally sound, we had to work closely with our engineers and the listed building officer to position the staircase in the correct place, level it out and make it fit for purpose.
In addition, the basement comprised of a lot of small, tiny rooms that needed to be opened out to create more classically proportioned spaces that are in keeping with the architectural style of the building.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
The transformation has really been quite remarkable and it’s all largely down to the great relationships we have with our project partners. The Portview team work tirelessly to ensure every detail is carefully considered and that every finish is crafted to the highest standard. The biggest highlight by far is the fact that we exceeded the client’s expectations and that they are very happy with the finished look.
Questions answered by Simon Campbell, Managing Director at Portview
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring Discovery’s new, inspiring and 5-star green rated head office which stands as an architectural landmark in South Africa, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's residential design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Portview Fit Out
MAISON&OBJET PARIS (M&O) has been around since 1995 as the international trade fair for the lifestyle, decoration and design sector, and today more than ever it has become the not-to-be-missed event for industry professionals seeking clever design solutions to help attract and retain customers.
The workplace revolution: new living spaces
Our new relationship with work, driven by social change, is reinventing the office. Digitisation is making us more mobile and liberating us from traditional work settings. Work is now nomadic. Collaborative and participatory tools have led to the rise of co-working spaces, which offer a more enjoyable and interactive way to work. ln the age of social media and rugged individualism, employees are taking ownership of their workspace and personalising it. Faced with these new challenges, manufacturers, distributors, space planners and fitters are turning to residential design to give workspaces more personality and make them more friendly, comfortable and creative, helping companies attract and retain talent.
MAISON&OBJET: a laboratory for expressing today's new art of working
ln September, MAISON&OBJET will be turning the spotlight on a brand new theme: WORK!, uniting the entire sector. The very best furnishings for today's offices and work spaces will be showcased in a dedicated zone of 1.000 sq.m and accompanied by a special WORK! trail pinpointing all the exhibitors offering work related design solutions. The theme's most exciting new finds, curated by Chantal Hamaide and staged by Philippe Boisselier, will be featured in one of the "What's New" zones, highlighting some of the many furnishings, items and accessories that can help add personality to a new workspace.
This edition will also feature a conference programme dedicated to WORK! and presented by market experts, notably giving visitors the opportunity to discover exemplary projects with an international emphasis. Business meetings will raise bring all those responsible for finding office design solutions face to face with manufacturers and designers over the course of the 5-day event.
Last but net least, an expert will present his architect's vision by staging a zone that focuses on interaction: an immersive experience showcasing today's new sociable work spaces.
Serving up inspiration for Hoteliers and Restaurateurs
Nowadays, anyone who steps through the door of a café, hotel or restaurant is looking for so much more than tasty food or a comfortable place to stay. Today’s customers are demanding, ultra-connected and increasingly aware of how their surroundings look, even if they’re just there to grab a quick coffee! They’re keen to explore new vibes and discover “Instagrammable” venues offering one-of-a-kind experiences that don’t just satisfy their taste buds but stimulate every single sense.
M&O showcases a vast range of solutions that can help hospitality professionals give the 2.0 customer exactly what they want by catering to the industry’s changing needs. The upcoming edition of MAISON&OBJET PARIS is set to celebrate the art of hospitality, sharing and savouring. The perfect opportunity for industry professionals to explore new concepts, make new contacts and discover thousands of brands.
To help café owners, hoteliers and restaurateurs find their way around the abundance of aisles, a special trail has been put together focusing on their specific needs. Not only will the trail enable them to explore cookware and tableware solutions from iconic brands such as De Buyer, Revol, Gien and Serax or furnishings and design solutions from big names such as Normann Copenhagen, Duravit and Bloomingville, but it will also invite them to discover coverings, design pieces and furniture that suit the hotel and restaurant trade’s specific usage needs, including the need for customisation.
Lastly, conference sessions chaired by industry experts will offer a brand new insight into the impact interior design is having on the hotel and restaurant trade. Triple Michelin-starred chef Frédéric Anton and the architect Aline Asmar D’Amman will take to the stage to chat about the design of the prestigious Eiffel Tower-based restaurant, the Jules Verne, whilst the Managers of the La Réserve group will offer an insight into the secrets behind their confidential hotels’ closely cherished identity.
You can discover more about the exhibitors set to attend this year, here
SBID Members are entitled to complimentary tickets to attend M&O!
To claim your free ticket, email [email protected] by midday on Monday 2 September
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the bold architectural statement that is Discovery’s new head office which now stands as a prominent landmark located on the highest point of Sandton in Sandhurst, South Africa. Internally, the building is divided into three carefully designed spaces, namely a central atrium, and one each on the left and right side. Each area is designed to foster an environment of creativity, innovation and collaboration. The main entrance is open and welcoming, to reflect the mores of discovery. The central atrium allowed Paragon Interface to explore the concept of a concourse, driven by Discovery’s requirement for the building to be active. This was not only translated effectively into a dynamic design aesthetic, but also into an active public street populated with seating areas, cafés, streetlights and tree canopies. It served not only as the main thoroughfare of the building, but also constituted a welcoming space for visitors and clients. The development has also scored a 5-Star Green Rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). According to the GBCSA’s report, Discovery’s new home is a clear reflection of the company’s core values, ambition and purpose with emphasis on its rigorous environmental and waste management processes during construction, the building’s “green roof” (partially covered in vegetation), CO2 based demand control of fresh air, and the harvesting of grey and rain water for irrigation and flushing of water closets and urinals.
Sector: Office Design
Company: Paragon Interface
Project: Discovery Place
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
The decision to consolidate all of Discovery's different premises into 1 Discovery Place was based on their commitment to bringing their people together, within a dynamic and collaborative lifestyle driven facility that reflects Discovery's core values. The swooping, curving patterns and shapes that define the architectural identity of the building not only influenced the interior design, but has resulted in it becoming one of the most progressive workspaces in South Africa.
A proud history. A bright future. The start of a new journey, not the culmination of a dream Simple beauty. Iconic, yet simple and beautifully elegant Tangible energy. A hive of activity created by people moving through spaces that encourage unplanned interactions. Instilling a culture of collaboration. Activity-based workspaces that nurture optimum conditions for innovation, balance and personal rejuvenation. Embodying wellbeing and movement. Encourage and enable a people-led culture of wellbeing and engagement. A global player, proudly South African. Our vision is global, while we stay true to our South African roots. Environmentally responsible.
A 5-Star Green building that is energy-efficient, resource-efficient, and environmentally responsible.
This doesn’t make for good media coverage, but the building was so big, with so many variations that the entire team worked tirelessly to complete the project on time, on budget. Taking a base building and evolving it from just a base building that was tailored in a bespoke manner, that became so much more than was originally expected.
I think one of the most memorable highlights from completing this project was winning the SBID Award 2018 for Best Office Design! It really underpinned all the hard work our team had put into this project and showcased our work to a global audience.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
We were very proud of the project and with the support of the client, we thought that it offered a world class solution to a South African scenario in office design.
Questions answered by Claire D’Adorante, Project Leader at Paragon Interface
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a historic high-rise which was transformed into office space with striking elegance, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's office design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Paragon Interface | SBID International Design Awards
SBID Members and pioneering British design brand Bisque has announced Radical 40, an exclusive competition to find the ‘next big thing’ in stylish radiators and celebrate its landmark 40th anniversary.
The company, having transformed the humble radiator from being regarded as merely a technical plumbing item into a desirable design-led product in its own right, is on the hunt for the next generation of stylish radiators. From statement-making pieces to sleek, space-saving towel radiators and compact school-style models, Bisque design luxury radiators to complement and enhance any interior, be it traditional, contemporary or somewhere in-between.
Budding designers and Bisque fans alike will be invited to join the movement and make their mark on the design industry by creating the brand’s newest model.
The competition deadline for entries is in October, where all entrants will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including journalists, designers and Bisque officials. The winning model is then set to be unveiled during an exclusive preview in November. The winning design will be awarded a cash prize; plus, provided the design works technically, will go into production!
Bisque Radiators featuring the Archibald
Eagle-eyed Bisque fans may recall the last time Bisque invited the public to design a new model to join its repertoire of unique luxury radiators. The prize model, the Archibald – designed by Italian Leo Salzedo – went on to win the 2006 designboom competition and is still one of the brand’s most iconic and instantly recognisable radiators today.
Named one of The Observer’s CoolBrands three years in a row, Bisque paved the way for a radiator revolution. Notable models include the Leaf and Cactus radiators, while partnerships with the likes of Paul Priestman have kept Bisque at the forefront of cutting-edge radiator design ever since.
Speaking of the competition, brand leader Ellie Sawdy commented: “We are thrilled to be launching this competition to commemorate four decades of innovative radiators. Here at Bisque we have always maintained that radiators don’t need to be boring, and this philosophy remains a core part of our brand’s ethos. We are equally excited by the fresh, young design talent the UK has to offer, so are incredibly excited to see what the British public comes up with”.
For further information on entering, click here or search #Radical40 on social media to find out more.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a historic high-rise given new life with contemporary design concepts. The new office space is designed with sleek, contemporary elegance and the creation of unique angular dimensions. The design was developed with the preservation of historical monuments in mind as the building was placed under preservation for its historic, architectural quality. The elegance and generous proportions, together with a mix of unusual, high-quality materials and a striking lighting design concept, distinguish the office areas and conference zones across the four floors. With regard to the architectural quality of the building and the demands of the customer, the combination of materials used was inspired by the building's original era - with modern interpretation. Black marble, brass, carbon and glass runs throughout the entire interior design scheme.
Company: Landau + Kindelbacher
Project: Real Estate Office of Landau + Kindelbacher
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
The Swiss branch of a property developer wanted us to take on the interior design for their new representative office. Including office areas and a conference zone over a total of four storeys with an area of about 100 square meters, and at the same time to take monument conservation into consideration.
The Hochhaus zur Bastei, designed by the famous Zurich Architect, Werner Stücheli and completed in 1955, is considered the first high-rise building in the city of Zurich. Situated directly on the Schwanzengraben, the tower block sets an urban development accent and acts as a gateway to the city. As an example of high architectural quality, the Hochhaus zur Bastei was placed under a preservation order a few years ago.
With regard to the architectural quality of the Bastei tower and the representative demands of the customer, a unique material combination of black marble (polished Nero Marquina), brass, carbon and glass was selected for use across the floors, walls and ceilings. As a reminiscence of the architecture of the 1950s, the classical materials are newly interpreted in their use, colourfulness and gloss value. Like a passe-partout, the resulting spatial effect frames the view and allows the low room heights of the existing building to retreat into the background.
Designed with a sleek, contemporary elegance and generous proportions, the mix of unusual, high-quality materials and accentuated lighting systems help to distinguish the office areas and conference zones. In contrast to the black space continuum is the high-gloss furniture, highly polished brass elements and golden lighting channels to make the design features stand out and illuminate against this dark, black backdrop.
The greatest challenge in this project was to combine the conditions presented by the existing situation with the requirements of a contemporary office world.
The furniture and fittings were mostly designed and individually installed on site by Landau + Kindelbacher. A speciality is the floor pattern with the brass seams as a visible, high-quality separation. The subject of ‘seams’ is mirrored again and again in the whole design – from the integration of direct and indirect lighting in the cooling ceiling to the special furniture.
We consider the SBID International Design Awards to be an excellent platform for presenting us and our projects to an international audience.
Questions answered by Gerhard Landau and Ludwig Kindelbacher, Managing Partners at Landau Kindelbacher
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a show home which blends artistic, Oriental concepts with modern design, click here to see more.
Landau + Kindelbacher | SBID International Design Awards
As September approaches and the design industry springs back to life with the newest designs, innovations and inspirations, make sure you plan ahead to get the latest insight into the international design industry - and where it's heading. Kicking off with Maison&Objet with a host of clever design solutions to help attract and retain customers, London Design Festival is set to transform London with the freshest contemporary designs, trailblazing talents and industry trends to celebrate London as the design capital of the world and a gateway to the international creative community.
6th - 10th September
MAISON&OBJET PARIS - Paris, France
MAISON&OBJET (M&O) 2019 will be serving up inspiration for Hoteliers and Restaurateurs. Having been around since 1995 as the international trade fair for the lifestyle, decoration and design sectors, M&O has become the not-to-be-missed event over the past 25 years for industry professionals seeking clever design solutions to help attract and retain customers. This edition is set to celebrate the art of hospitality, sharing and savouring. The perfect opportunity for professionals to explore new concepts, make new contacts and discover thousands of brands. To help café owners, hoteliers and restaurateurs, a special trail is dedicated to focusing on their specific needs. Not only will the trail enable them to explore cookware and tableware solutions, but it will also invite them to discover design pieces and furniture that suit the hotel and restaurant trade’s specific usage needs, such as customisation.
This September, the event will also be turning the spotlight on a brand new theme: WORK! Uniting the entire sector and expressing today’s new art of working, the upcoming event encourages office designers take a fresh approach to the workspace through creative selection of furniture and decorative objects. The very best furnishings for today's offices and work spaces will be showcased in a dedicated zone, accompanied by a special WORK! trail pinpointing all the exhibitors offering work-related design solutions.
Image by THG Paris
18th September
SBID Breakfast Meeting with THG Paris - London, United Kingdom
SBID Breakfast Meetings aim to bring together relevant industry professionals to facilitate business networking and partnerships between designers and suppliers. The upcoming Breakfast Meeting on Wednesday 18th September 2019 will be hosted by the manufacturer of luxury, design-oriented bathroom and kitchen fittings, THG Paris in Belgravia, London.
To attend or register your interest in attending, please email [email protected]
Held on 14th - 22nd September 2019, London Design Festival is an annual event, designed to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world and as the gateway to the international creative community. The event stages several major trade shows, known as 'Design Destinations' throughout the week. These are the commercial pillars of the Festival and are key meeting places for designers, manufacturers, buyers, specifiers, the media and design enthusiasts to discover new product releases and identify current trends.
100% Design featuring Tapio Anttila Collection
18th - 21st September
100% Design - London, United Kingdom
2019 marks the 25th anniversary of 100% Design, the UK’s leading design trade event. Celebrating a quarter century of introducing some of the industry’s most influential designers, makers and producers, the 2019 show will present a stellar line-up of more than 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest products across furniture, lighting, textiles, glazing, surfaces, accessories and more. Striking installations, inspiring collaborations and innovative projects feature thought-provoking experiences and push the boundaries of design. 100% Design will again cover four key areas: Interiors; Kitchens, Bathrooms & Bedrooms; Emerging Brands and 100% Build London. The return of leading brands and presentations from new, emerging talent cement the show's position as a cornerstone event of the London Design Festival.
New for this year, 100% Design will showcase ‘A Sense of Finland’ curated by Finnish/English designer Hanna Laikola, founder of HEMLO in collaboration with renowned Nordic brand Tapio Anttila Collection and Polar Life Haus. Voted the happiest country in the world for the second year running, the Finland pavilion will allow visitors to experience the sounds, sights, touch, smell and taste of Finland in the middle of London, showcasing the Finnish philosophy that simple things make us happy! Other key trends for 2019 are also set to appear with themes of wellness and upcycling taking centre stage.
London Design Fair featuring Armani/Roca
19th - 22nd September
London Design Fair - London, United Kingdom
The London Design Fair is set to open its doors to 29,000 visitors at the iconic Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. With a host of new components, including The Bathroom Gallery in partnership with ELLE Decoration and Crossovers by Adorno, the event is set to present an inspirational, hand-picked line-up of superlative contemporary design, offering visitors a truly absorbing and informative experience. This highly creative exposition will once again transform the Old Truman Brewery into a thrilling centre of original, innovative and aesthetic design.
The Bathroom Gallery will be a bespoke exhibition for world-leading bathroom brands. The aim is to offer a highly-curated glimpse into the brands and products shaping bathrooms today. The bespoke exhibition design by acclaimed architectural designer Ioana Lupascu provides brands with the opportunity to transform a 20-square-metre space with six options of freestanding wall configurations. Adorno will present Crossovers: 10 curators, 10 collections, 10 global design scenes. As a celebration of designers and communities around the world striving to preserve and revitalise local design and craft cultures, Kristian Snorre Andersen, the CEO of Adorno, remarks: ‘The show will highlight the aesthetic traits and beauty of each scene, facilitating a cross-cultural dialogue", showcasing collections from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico and Turkey.
Designjunction 2019 Image Credit: Ruth Ward
Designjunction - London, United Kingdom
The award-winning interiors show, designjunction, is returning to King’s Cross during the London Design Festival, 19 – 22 September 2019. Now in its ninth year, designjunction has proven itself to be the most anticipated event of the Festival, attracting over 27,000 visitors across four days in 2018. This year, designjunction will present a curated mix of over 100 world-renowned furniture, lighting, accessory and technology brands alongside installations, pop-up-shops, temporary structures and major brand activations. These features are set across several key areas throughout the Kings Cross Design District including Cubit House, the Light tunnel, Kings Boulevard and The Canopy.
The event's theme for 2019, (Re)act calls upon exhibitors to act as agents of change, to react to issues and re-imagine opportunities whilst re-connecting with their audiences. The 2019 exhibitors will create challenging products and activations which encourage visitors this year to think differently about the world we are living in and the spaces we inhabit.
This year, designjunction have also launched a brand-new Talks programme at the Everyman Cinema in King’s Cross sponsored by Clippings. Set against the millennial-pink backdrop of the cinema and curated by design and architecture writer and commentator Grant Gibson, the two-day platform (Thursday 19 - Friday 20 September) is set to challenge, provoke and engage with an eclectic range of topical issues that include sustainability and the circular economy; the relationship between dyslexia and design; the need for increased diversity in design; and the importance of wellbeing at work.
Click here to view the entire Talks programme or register now for your ticket.
The prestigious SBID International Design Awards have been accredited to GOLD standard by The Independent Awards Standards Council. The SBID Awards are the first interior design award scheme to be accredited to this standard.
The Awards Trust Mark Scheme was established with the aim of encouraging more award programmes to focus on their own ethics and transparency. The scheme scrutinises everything from criteria, scoring, feedback, transparency and judging.
Considered as one of the most prestigious accolades in interior design by the best in the industry, the SBID International Design Awards are awarded purely on the quality of the design, innovation, aesthetic and value-added to the project. Each entry undergoes an exhaustive two-tier judging process by panels of leading industry experts for both technical content and aesthetic creativity. Evaluating essential elements such as compliance with the brief, budget, health & safety and fit-for-purpose design.
Chris Robinson, Co-Founder of the Independent Awards Standards Council commented: “The SBID International Design Awards scheme is an exemplar in how awards should be operated. Their attention to every detail, from the transparency of the scoring system, to the briefings provided to judges, to the quality of websites, the clarity of the entering process, and the quality of customer service throughout is exemplary. I hope more schemes will aspire to this level of service and also earn the Gold Standard Awards Trust Mark.”
SBID Award categories cover all aspects of interior design including Retail design, Public Space, Healthcare & Wellness Design, Residential Design, CGI, Club & Bar Design, Restaurant Design, Office Design and Hotel Design. The highly anticipated finalists of the SBID International Design Awards 2019 are due to be announced on Friday 16th August, the public will then be invited to vote for their favourite projects which accounts for 30% of the final results.
Last year saw one of the most globally represented editions to date with an astounding 225,000 unique voters during the voting period.
Founder and CEO of SBID International Design Awards, Dr Vanessa Brady, OBE comments “We’re thrilled to receive this accreditation and recognition which is a further endorsement of the value that an SBID Award generates to winners and one of the many reasons why the industry hold the SBID Awards as the ultimate recognised achievement for Interior Design”.
To find out more about the SBID Awards, visit www.sbidawards.com
When it comes to the bathroom, homeowners are increasingly prioritising designs which are not only functional, but also luxurious. Charlie Williams, Interior Designer at Heritage Bathrooms, thinks about how to blend form and function within your clients’ bathroom spaces and shares her expert advice on how best to do so; keeping your bathroom designs ahead of the curve and in line with current client demands and expectations.
Spa-inspired bathrooms are rapidly growing in popularity, providing a relaxing space for homeowners to relax and recharge. But moving away from traditional structures and blurring the lines between vanity areas, bathing areas and the bedroom can be an effective way of creating an immersive space.
You don’t need to knock down walls or reconfigure rooms to achieve this look. Simple additions such as an upholstered chair, statement mirrors or warm metallic accessories can help to redefine the boundaries between different spaces.
Space is a highly valuable luxury and, with smaller homes on the rise, a commodity that is often hard to come by. Storage solutions, such as wall mounted vanity units, like those available within the Caversham range from Heritage, are ideal for providing a sleek finish alongside the storage required for an organised space.
A luxury freestanding bath is the epitome of boutique style, and a popular choice amongst both hoteliers and homeowners for bathrooms of all types. They look beautiful when positioned in the centre of the room alongside a side table or chair.
The Madeira freestanding bath by Heritage is perfect for achieving this look, and combines traditional simplicity with on-trend opulence. The cast iron material is paintable, allowing for designers to select a custom shade of their choice. Or, why not opt for a bath with a metallic finish such as the Holywell from Heritage, which is available in copper, gold and stainless-steel effect finishes. For smaller spaces, opt for ‘baby’ version of the cast iron roll top baths, which are smaller than the standard size and provide spa style that fits the space without compromising on luxury.
Basins are often viewed as a basic essential and can be easily overlooked when bathroom planning. However, a bold, on-trend basin can provide a striking, but subtle focal point for a washroom space, while options like double console basins help to bring a hint of hotel-chic style.
The Victoria double console basin from Heritage Bathrooms is a beautiful example of this style. The design draws inspiration from the Victorian era with beautiful, curved sculpted legs which offer a striking upgrade to a standard pedestal, giving an on-trend twist to traditional styling.
Alternatively, for rooms where space is not an obstacle, two identical basins in a ‘his and hers’ formation can be used to create a Jack and Jill style arrangement. Increasingly in demand, this design will not only aid busy morning routines, but provide users with the luxury of an independent space.
For more inspirational tips on how to create elegant bathroom designs or to see Heritage Bathrooms’ full range of functional yet luxurious bathroom products, visit www.heritagebathrooms.com
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a harmonious blend of artistic, Oriental concepts with modern design. The environment, light and temperament of the space was designed to imbue occupants with a sense of calmness. Elegant materials set the tone while the design strives for simplicity with an undercurrent of Oriental influences. The furnishings are also simple in style, their lightness, outline and clean lines of the interior scheme achieves a perfect balance. The pure colours, rustic materials and changes in light and shadow are unique, graceful and restrained throughout. Together they combine a modern design language with traditional culture, infusing the Oriental artistry with the minimal aesthetics.
Sector: Show Flats & Developments Design
Company: INNEST Interior Design
Project: Foshan Green Island Lake Villa
Location: Foshan, China
This project was designed for our client, YANGO Group. Established in 1995 in Fuzhou city, Fujian Province, China, YANGO has now become the top 500 enterprises in the world, providing services in real estate, business operation and property management. It has now set up more than 30 branch offices around China.
As designers, we think to convey a cultural temperament through a space is necessary for interior design. Every era has its own design language. This particular project brings an oriental artistic conception into each room with unique design techniques so as to enable more people to enjoy its artistic atmosphere, which us designers hope can also exert positive influence on the next generation with a nod to the heritage which inspires it.
Integrating all the design concepts we developed for the space to convey the right tone and impression for the interior. As the images demonstrate, in the shape of modernity, the project portrays Oriental connotations, integrates elements of nature and architecture, as well as cultivate an atmosphere of tranquillity and prosperity. With history and culture reflected in the details, it emphasises the simplicity and low-key oriental luxury. The overall space conveys a subtle and restrained temperament. The project also uses the changing natural light and shade in the space to achieve a balance between oriental perception and fashion.
The environment, light and temperament of the interior creates a supreme sense of calmness and underlying luxury. The materials used create the luxurious temperament of the space while the overall design strives for simplicity. Furnishings, which are also simple in style and structure to complement the minimal aesthetic, are placed in careful alignment together to create synergy; with amiable styling and the integration of oriental design features, we achieved a good balance so this is a key highlight for us.
To share our design concept with others around the world in the interior design industry and to better improve ourselves.
Questions answered by Yu Chao and Guanghui Zeng, Founder and Creative Director of INNEST Interior Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a fun family beach house with a vibrant, colourful aesthetic, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design for show flats and developments! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
INNEST Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards
Member of the SBID Education Design Council and Founder of Super Power Agency, Maxine Sloss shares how her life-long experience as a professional designer and history using art as therapy has shaped her perspective on creative environments and the essential impact they can have on wellbeing and learning. Her current realm of expertise is also informed by the Super Power Agency mentoring centre which aims to improve literacy, foster aspiration and boost self esteem through the most fundamental super power; the ability to read and write.
As a designer for almost 20 years, I saw first hand how aesthetics can change peoples behaviour and how creative environments can transform attitudes from outside in. I found joy in transforming a space into a more delightful environment for an individual, or a group. There is a clear body of evidence and understanding which highlights the direct link between our surroundings and our mental health. This in turn could be described as unconscious therapy, bringing out the best in us without us being aware it is even happening. Creating spaces for a client that use expression and communication is often life changing! Clients often get a clearer understanding of the language of colour, texture, harmony and abundance and also a greater understanding of the art and artisans used in the interiors. Changing the energy of their spaces was frequently very therapeutic for the clients.
After training as an art practitioner, I realised that Art Therapy and Design are one and the same thing. Working with children who needed time away from the pressure of mainstream school and were struggling to keep up in the school system, only confirmed all I had learnt.
The spaces created to help children engage are therefore essential to their wellbeing. There is no difference between the needs of a client wanting a secure, creative space in their home to write or unwind and a child who needs to feel secure and be given a great sense of wellbeing.
There are many aesthetics that are required to help stimulate our brain with emotion and hopefully create a sense of natural wonder and in turn, a feeling of great pleasure and contentment. These are the same elements that were used when transforming a school classroom into a creative space for art therapy, or recently, in transforming a school bus into a creative library space to inspire creative learning for children with low literacy skills.
Colour & Light
Using colour was my signature design trait as it has always had a profound effect on my happiness. Transforming dark spaces using colour into light spaces for learning is key; natural light is essential and can make the best of classroom environments with the right choices of paint colours.
Colour has a very transforming effect on wellbeing. I have watched clients gasp with delight at a newly painted room and we have to ask ourselves, “why do most children paint rainbows and adults do not?” We are often preconditioned to think that as we age, colour is childish and frivolous, with neutral hues often being thought of as the more 'mature'. Colour works on a deep emotional level, mentally and emotionally, changing our mood and sense of wellbeing. Knowledge of colour theory can help us express our feelings in an artwork. The importance of colour has been transmitted into our everyday language; you can be red with anger, green with envy and tickled pink. We often speak of cheerful bright colours, as well as sad and dull ones. A grey day may be depressing and result in the blues. Colour also has immense spiritual significance and has been intertwined into religious ritual throughout time. This can be seen in saffron robes of Tibetan Buddhist monks, to green being the sacred colour of Islam. Colours have the power to symbolise and communicate with an extraordinary immediacy, which words can never match. Colour therapy is a noted form of therapy, which can work alongside art therapy for children. Colour therapists believe that the seven colours of the rainbow relate to the body’s seven main chakras. How does creativity and colour contribute to our emotional wellbeing? It is believed that a catharsis takes place through positive use of colour. For example, if we are feeling sad or let down, wearing bright colours immediately changes our mood and a positive shift of energy occurs.
Red – gives courage and strength and shows a pioneering spirit. Red is the colour of exhilaration and often, a colour of war. For example, Roman Soldiers carried red battle flags and many nations have had red battle tunics. In the western world, red can also mean love/passion, action and dynamism.
Orange – an energetic colour, without aggression. It frees and releases emotions, stimulates the mind; renewing interest in life. Orange can lift spirits and is the colour of laughter and humour of frivolity.
Yellow – is happy, uplifting, optimistic and logical. It is also mentally stimulating and bright. In Jungian psychology, yellow symbolises the flash of insight called ‘intuition’, which seems to come from out of the blue – the visual field of the right side of the brain. It builds self confidence and encourages an optimistic attitude.
Green – creates a feeling of comfort and relaxation, calmness and space, lessening stress. Offering balance and links to nature, green helps us to connect with the natural world.
Blue – is the colour of communication. It is calming, relaxing and healing. Blue is used for the introvert to come out of their shell because it reduces nervous excitement. It relates to self expression, speech and the ability to communicate our needs.
Indigo – is a sedative colour. Soothing. It is believed in certain religions that indigo is the colour of divine knowledge. Indigo children are highly sensitive beings, with a strong sense that they want to make a difference. These children are said to have an indigo-blue aura. The aura is a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person and these auras can be different colours.
Violet – creative, intuitive and stimulates the imagination. It is associated with luxury, e.g. royal purple, as in some early cultures purple dye was extremely difficult and expensive to produce.
The painter who famously taught colour analysis, Wassily Kandisky (1866-1944) used colour to express emotional experience, rather than a reflection of nature. The painter Mark Rothko (1903-1970) used colour to convey a range of sensations near to what he described as a ‘religious experience’ thus illustrating that colour can transcend you to a happy place. Across every continent and every culture, colour dominates and permeates our lives. Colour surrounds us. Feeling and nourishing our senses; our minds, bodies and spirits are profoundly affected by it. Paul Klee (1879-1940), one of the greatest colourists in the history of painting, succinctly summarised its impact upon him; “colour possesses me. I don’t have to pursue it. It will possess me always. I know it”.
Abundance & Variety
Providing a therapeutic space with a variety of sensory stimulation. Our brains cannot develop in isolation. It requires a constant dialogue with its surrounding environment. Children particularly adore the abundance of textures, colours, and shapes. This can be jars of pencils, a variety of books, coloured stationary, jars of badges, buttons, and art material. It is well known in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, where therapy called Snoezelen is used for developmental disabilities to create multi-sensory environments, letting the patients gravitate to the sensations that feel good for them. Watching students rummage through jars and jars of crayons or feeling their way through jars of buttons in an art space is a joy to watch.
Harmony
Harmony offers visible evidence that someone cares enough about the space to invest energy in it. Often the students we work with come from disorder. Disordered spaces have been linked to feelings of fear, anxiety and depression, causing a negative effect on their behaviour. Creating ordered vignettes of beauty with colour and shape can almost certainly lift spirits. For example, the small things make a huge difference; from toys placed with books, to beautiful flowers and plants.
Play
Everyone is born with a huge capacity to play and it’s very important to reconnect with that in a creative space of learning. Our culture needs more play. When we play, we learn without even realising it. Time diminishes and often our fear of self consciousness fades. This is obvious by the amount of adults dying to dress up on the Super Power Agency Bus in our dressing up costumes, releasing their creative inner child. Children go wild with the amount of play costumes available and all books they can touch and read - their joy is wonderful to behold. This play also removes the stigma of the dull, uninspiring classroom as they are blissfully unaware that learning is just about to become a lot more creative!.
Magic & Surprise
The permission to believe in magic is the true joy of childhood, from Santa Claus to fairies living in the garden. This magic is captured in thousands of books from Harry Potter to the Lord of the Rings. Creating spaces with the element of magic gives a huge sense of enchantment. Surprise an unexpected object can be in its contradiction, great for diverting the mind and creates humour and wit. Every student at the Super power agency adores the spider man hanging from the dashboard of the bus. They don a cape and immediately think they can conquer any disability in their writing skills!
Celebration
Reflective materials of all kinds can create sparkle; metallic, glitter, sequins are all associated with a celebration. The dressing up costumes and accessories on the Bus are designed to sparkle to celebrate the children who enter the Bus and in turn, the start of their creative learning with the agency. ‘Glitter celebrates’, Carrie Fisher once said; ‘Its happy. It makes you look like your up for a good time’.
Maxine Sloss Founder of the Super Power Agency
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