With the flurry of social networking sites and apps that have emerged in recent years, traditional face to face networking has taken a backseat as we continue to navigate the new, commercial environment spawned by the technological advances of our modern society. As time becomes more of a valuable commodity, we’re far more frugal with how we spend it – and let’s be honest, sending a mail merge to 1000+ leads in one fell swoop to see what sticks sounds simple and convenient enough - and can still be considered a viable and effective way to reach potential clients… But this grossly impersonal approach doesn’t always reap the right rewards and with new GDPR policies in place for storing data, relationship building is more imperative than ever.
Vanessa K. Bohns, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the ILR School at Cornell University is also a proponent of getting ‘up close and personal’ when it comes to doing business. In an article published by the Harvard Business Review, she advises that ‘if your office runs on email and text-based communication, it’s worth considering whether you could be a more effective communicator by having conversations in person.’ A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, found that people tend to overestimate the power of their persuasiveness via text-based communication, and underestimate the power of their persuasiveness via face to face communication.
The importance of face to face networking in an increasingly digital world, should therefore not be overlooked – with most of our professional communications in this day and age conducted online, SBID believes it’s more vital than ever to take things offline and carve out time in our busy schedules to establish meaningful connections, build lucrative business relationships and identify opportunities more efficiently. With the annual Meet the Buyer event, SBID aims to facilitate direct networking opportunities outside the depersonalised nature of cyberspace – with a whole day dedicated to just that!
The event works by bringing together world-class interior designers, architects and specifiers to the table, to meet face to face with the most advanced and design-led products and suppliers from around the world. Aside from the wealth of networking opportunities, back-to-back meetings and direct contact with key decision makers, the event also presents a series of business seminars for designers and manufacturers to gain valuable insight - as well as the chance to engage in discussions about key industry topics with the most respected and experienced experts in the field.
The one-day annual networking event is set to return this year on 24 October 2019 with a brand-new location in Grosvenor House, Park Lane in London.
What’s in it for you?
Generating genuine leads or sourcing trustworthy suppliers can be a time-consuming and often laborious task. With SBID’s professional network encompassing a global community of designers and manufacturers; SBID open the doors, facilitate the introductions and let you take the reins!
The event provides exclusive access to typically difficult to reach decision makers on a global scale. For Andrew Walker at John Lewis for Business the benefits seem clear; commenting on the event, he said “SBID has established a global network of design professionals across a broad range of sectors. Meet the Buyer attracts a really diverse range of people that we might not necessarily reach with other forms of marketing”.
For designers however, the event creates a relaxed and informal environment where everyone involved is open to learning from and engaging with each other in a comfortable setting; encouraging interaction and most importantly – mutually beneficial business opportunities. Zophia Amey, Co-Founder and Director of Minnie & Grouse Interiors shares her experience; “everybody is really friendly – very knowledgeable about what they do in their sector and willing to want to learn about other things that maybe isn’t particularly in their wheelhouse but could be’.
Advantages of face to face networking
What makes SBID Meet the Buyer so unique?
One of the elements that make SBID Meet the Buyer so unique is the carefully structured meeting format. By pre-arranging concise, back-to-back meetings throughout the day with designers who have travelled far and wide for the announcement of the SBID International Design Awards winners, suppliers can reach a truly international clientele - all under one roof and in a very short space of time! Last year saw designers fly in from a range of countries, from New Zealand and New York to China and the Middle East. With a desire to specify and source new suppliers for their upcoming projects, not only can the event save you time, but it will also expose you to a host of new business opportunities…
“The event really exceeded my expectations, I had over 15 meetings back-to-back today! Very happy with the result” – Adam Hult, Perennials & Sutherland
A chance to engage with the Industry
Alongside networking opportunities, the event will host a series of business seminars and talks from industry experts. This year’s seminars include an insightful talk about what makes a Superbrand, as well as a revealing and honest panel discussion designed to uncover the industry’s ‘dirty little secrets’; addressing challenges such as non-payment and offering advice on how to protect your copyrighted designs post-EU exit!
It’s apparent that the benefits of face to face communication can be significant, and far more conducive to establishing long-term relationships; providing opportunities for deeper client engagement. In fact, a survey of 760 business executives conducted by Forbes concluded that a staggering 84% actually preferred business communication in person over other forms of technology-enabled interaction. Of those, 85% agreed their reason was because it builds stronger, more meaningful business relationships.
Adding value to your marketing activities
Another notable advantage of being face to face which is worth mentioning centres around the personal contact you simply cannot obtain through online communication. The nonverbal component which comes solely with physical, human encounters is touch. Author of “The Silent Language of Leaders", Carol Kinsey Goman quotes a study on handshakes by the Income Center for Trade Shows, which demonstrates that people are twice as likely to remember you if you shake hands with them!
In light of this - and contrary to the new, global era of digital convenience, we believe investing in face to face interactions alongside other channels of communication can only add value to your marketing objectives. So, if you think it’s time to broaden your horizons beyond the constraints of a computer screen; whether you are a manufacturer wishing to showcase your latest products to professional designers, or a designer wishing to expand your catalogue of trusted suppliers with a good old-fashioned face to face, click here to find out more or register your interest.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a striking beach house, created for a family who expressed a strong desire for the design to be vibrant, yet contemporary; creating spaces for both adults and children to have their own private areas, without being too disconnected from each other. The bright colours and stunning views make for a wonderful place to enjoy some time together with family and friends as the open plan design ensures an unobstructed flow within the main area of the property. Particular elements, such as the introduction of polished concrete, was key to this project as it’s very easy to clean and hard wearing – important as guests will be in and out often. The feature stainless steel slide, which runs from the games room upstairs into the living room was a fun element to add and highlights the playful manner of this family and their new home.
Sector: Residential Design
Company: Iggi Interior Design
Project: UK South Coast Residence
Location: South Coast, United Kingdom
What was the client's brief?
To create a fun, family holiday beach home on the UK South Coast.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
The family spends a lot of time in this location as they are keen windsurfers. They often spend weekends here with friends which meant that we needed to create a large open entertainment space that satisfies the needs of both adults and children.
A contemporary feel throughout was requested - without appearing too 'cold'. The family love colour and wanted this added into the project in an elegant way. As the house is right on the beach it was important that they be able to see the ocean.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
Creating a fun, functional space for families that also looked clean, contemporary and relaxed all at the same time!
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
The entrance was particularly key to this project, a bespoke spiral staircase was created. This needed to look like a piece of art in itself. We added a mirrored wall to reflect both the curated artwork as well as the architectural sweep of the staircase.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
At IGGI Interior Design, we believe that community is so important and design awards give us the chance to share our work with the wider community so that we can all learn and be inspired by each other too. Plus, it’s nice to win every now and then and be recognised for your work.
Questions answered by Susan White, Founder of Iggi Interior Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a blend of Hollywood glamour and Art Deco to create a luxurious feminine home, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's residential design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
IGGI Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards
Entering interior design awards can be a great way to showcase your work and network with others in the industry, but not all design awards are the same. With so many creative competitions out there, you need to look closely at what you’re really getting into. Here are our top tips for determining which awards are worth your time – and which are not!
Who’s really the winner?
It’s easy to get carried away with daydreams of clutching that prized trophy on the podium but what is the true cost of winning? Some Awards charge successful entrants’ extra fees for exposure, for example to be featured in a winners’ book. We’ve even seen competitions require the winner to pay for their own award! Attending the awards ceremony can be a caveat of ‘winning’ too. If there are hidden fees, you know the award is not really about creative merit. Find out before you enter what is included in your entry fee and weigh up whether it’s really worth it.
Stay focused
Achieving success in industry awards is an opportunity to maximise your professional exposure and reputation. With so many competitions around, you want to ensure you’re targeting the ones that will really allow you to shine. Don’t be seduced by the glitter and instead look at the organisation behind the competition. Are they an industry specialist? Do they really understand the business of interior design? Do previous winners embody the creativity you want to be known for? Why win a vanity trophy when you could collect a prize that resonates in your industry?
Something old, nothing new?
Awards should celebrate the latest and best talent. They are a chance to see how the interior design industry is innovating and discover the rising stars. If the entries include projects that are a few years old, the list of finalists can be a bit of a let down. Imagine a film from 2011 winning the 2019 Oscar for Best Picture? Check the T&Cs clearly to ensure your latest work sits side by side with the freshest creativity out there.
Disappearing deadlines
Pressing the ‘submit’ button ten minutes before deadline is a common (and stressful) aspect of awards entries, but some competitions mysteriously lack a deadline. This is confusing for entrants, not to mention unfair, and indicates that the entry process will continue until a category has been filled. Great design competitions exist to reward creative achievement, not to fill sales targets. Ensure the deadline date is clear and avoid the stress by not leaving your submission until the last minute!
Call in the experts
Interior design awards should go to innovative and exciting projects, but who exactly is making that call? Any honour worth its salt should be awarded by an independent panel of experts who display excellence in their own careers. Find out who the judges are: what is their experience? Do they work for reputable companies? Look closely at the judging process – does it note technical or creative excellence, or both? Understanding who the judges are and what they are looking for allows you to submit a project with a greater chance of success.
Use our tips every time you’re considering submitting an awards entry to ensure you’re only entering prestigious awards. If you do win, you’ll know your project has been judged by the best to be a truly inspiring example of creative excellence.
Good luck!
To find out more about the SBID International Design Awards, visit www.sbidawards.com
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the residential design for an elegant 3-bedroom apartment in London's prestigious One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge. The alluring combination of soft neutrals with accents of burnt orange, petrol blue and dusky plum melt together in a holistic blend of Hollywood glamour, balanced with Art Deco styles to create a luxurious and contemporary feel for this timeless, feminine home.
Company: Elicyon
Project: Project Vera, One Hyde Park
Location: London, United Kingdom
The layout, flow and final dressing of the apartment was hugely important to the client as this was the first time she was creating a home purely for herself. This is now her main residence and it represents a moment of self-discovery for her through design. The space needed to be multi-functional in order to work for her when she is there alone but also cater for when her children and grandchildren stay.
The exquisite residential space is designed in a Hollywood Deco inspired scheme of soft neutrals, enriched by strong accents of burnt orange, petrol blue and dusky plum. Central to the living area is an elegant twisted glass chandelier with polished 24kt gold. Striking geometric patterns and bespoke marquetry joinery flow throughout, creating a contemporary feel to this timeless and feminine home.
This is our seventh project in One Hyde Park and so we always have to truly challenge ourselves and push the boundaries in order to make each apartment we design in the building unique.
I loved working on the dining room in the apartment – it featured a silk wallpaper with an hexagonal print, referencing the art deco period, which was challenging to install but created a beautiful end result. I was also very happy with the glamorous glass chandelier we added to the reception.
I actually ran into the client recently and she told me how much she was enjoying living in the space – hearing such positive feedback and knowing we were able to deliver exactly what a client was looking for in their home is very meaningful.
Questions answered by Charu Gandhi, Founder and Director of Elicyon
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring an impressive Shanghai office design which focuses on the wellbeing of employees, click here to see more.
Elicyon | SBID International Design Awards
Founder and Managing Director of Velvenoir, Alexandra Schafer talks to SBID about the role of art within space and shares how she and her team work with interior designers at a global level.
Photo Credit © VELVENOIR
My professional background is in hospitality and PR/marketing while my passion is art. I love hospitality because it’s all about creating an experience for the client and art is all about the feeling. I lived in London and Sydney, working in hospitality, and when I was in Australia I was introduced to Aboriginal art. It really struck me how wonderful it would be to have access to those artists but if you’re not knowledgeable about the scene it can be intimidating. People have also told me they feel intimidated going into galleries. I launched Velvenoir back in 2014 to bridge that gap between art and the client.
Photo Credit © VELVENOIR.
Ideally, we introduce art consultancy at the beginning of the process because then we know the budget, the direction of the project and the design brief; we can then work hand in hand with the designer to select pieces, discuss framing and any other topic that may arise and is relevant. We’ll look at the space and understand the client and the budget then propose anything from painting, fine-art photography to bespoke art installations to make the space unique. We then put a tailored proposal and presentation together, showing both the art and design – so the designer can present it to the client for discussion.
In Collaboration with Steininger Designers for a beach villa in Zadar © Catherine Roider Photography.
We can train the designer to present the work confidently, especially where a designer might not be so used to working with art, or if they are presenting highly priced pieces. We make sure they understand the art and equip them to be able to stand by the proposal or have one of our experts on the ground join the designer to his/her client meeting.
In Collaboration with Interior Designer Simone Jüschke. Photo Credit © VELVENOIR, Art Installation Collectors Home.
This is more of a challenge. We receive all the renders and materials in confidence and based on those we can create renders or share videos from the artist studio of the art, so the designer and client can envision the art. It’s about feeling the art and understanding what it can do to transform your space. Well-chosen art really makes or breaks a room, so this process really helps both the designer and client to understand the look and feel. It´s a time-consuming process – yet I´ve experienced it in the past, our clients do enjoy and appreciate the open and transparent communication and insights into artist studios.
Photo Credit © VELVENOIR, Private Collectors Home.
People confuse art and design, the design is so important, of course, but art is also vital to give the space a soul and character. This does not only work for residential projects, I also believe contemporary art from career artists will add a character and soul to the corporate and hotel space too. Again, you have to look at the bigger picture – In a hotel, if you have a good strategy for your artwork you will get a good return on investment. We’re finding that increasingly designers are speaking up and educating the client about how art plays a role in the project and how it’s important to consider it from the beginning. These designers will push to allocate a separate budget for art and not just have artwork covered under the FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) budget. If no one thinks about art until the final stages, the designer could have an empty wall to fill. It does happen in both the residential and commercial sector. In the end, you have to ask yourself what service and quality would I like to create for my client…
In Collaboration with Andrea Rodman Interiors. Photo Credit © Ema Peters Photography.
I do feel that clients are taking more creative risks and becoming more open to buying different types of work. Designers are also starting to explore different options and understanding that engaging artwork is more than just decoration. I think it’s about using all sorts of mediums, not just paintings and the trend I can see now, is most designers do enjoy working with dedicated art consultants at their side since art sourcing and buying is quite time consuming – but a great service to add on to.
Andaz Prague Art Collection, procured on behalf of UBM Development AG. Photo Credit © VELVENOIR.
More designers are approaching us because they want to add value to their business. They can offer their client an art consultancy service to create an art concept tailored to their project. With so much reproduction in the art world, many clients want to own something unique. Also, if they use a consultancy, the designer or client can reach out and access art or art expertise instantly. It’s a time-consuming process to source art, to keep up with who the emerging artists are and to build relationships with galleries so we can manage the process. We also provide international access and curate a selection based on the client, the design concept and the given a budget and brief. We have independent art consultants around the world who we can bring in as we see fit. Each one has their own expertise, know-how, focus and we’ll bring them in to help us find the best artworks for our clients – internationally of course. This way, we provide different opinions and art suggestions, from different cultures and markets and at the same time, truly make art accessible at a global level for all of our clients.
Cover Image: In Collaboration with Interior Designer Laurence Carr © Kelly Marschal.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an impressive new office space for a large Chinese gaming company based in Shanghai. For BNJN Design, designing an office is about creating a space that is interesting but not theatrical, efficient but not dreary. Concerns about spatial identity, the mental wellbeing of employees, and social interaction were all important areas to address in the design. No longer simply a workspace, the office features an art gallery, studio and music room which serve as spaces to socialise, relax and stimulate the mind. Other social spaces are scattered throughout the building to propagate interaction, allowing for a more pleasant working environment.
Sector: Office Design
Company: BNJN Design
Project: Giant Interactive Group Office
Location: Shanghai, China
The Giant Interactive Group is a Chinese gaming company for massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. The company is located within the Shanghai SongJiang Giant Campus and is otherwise known as the “Mini Silicon Valley.” Thus, when BNJN was approached to design an office to house the company, they envisioned the corporate space to be one filled with marvel and wonder and one that corresponds to the present gaming culture of the world.
For a working environment, light is of uttermost importance. This project, which encompasses everything from the ground floor to the skylight on the fourth floor, transforms the atrium into a lens that lights up the entire office space and creates a space of serenity. This “gray space” blurs the boundary between inner space and outer space, allowing the two to merge into a single unit of reality.
The space is carefully divided into compartments that ripple rhythmically throughout the building. Connecting the four levels of the building is a floating conference room. This gravity-defying room is analogous to a castle in the clouds. The pockets of positive and negative space surrounding this hanging castle become individual islands. Each pocket frames a different area: the open patios, the intersecting flight of stairs, and the singular tree that penetrates through the space and juts out on the top floor similar to a landmark. By simply looking at the tree, anyone in the building can orientate themselves accordingly. Its roots spread across the second floor, the stem penetrates the third floor, and the treetop blooms on the top floor. Every individual pixel of a virtual tree is brought to life here in the form of real foliage and bark that fill the space with creativity and novelty. Serving as a symbol for life and wisdom, the tree is also where one can look to for contemplation and meditation.
Unimpeded by the modest budget allotted for this project, the designers used this chance to introduce the theme of nature into this space by using environmentally friendly materials to create an unpretentious space free from extravagance. The design is centred around the use of ivory lacquer panels, lush green carpets, and lightly-coloured wood patterns. While the certain details vary more in colour, the interior stays clean, bright, and transparent.
A common concern in office spaces such as this is the wellbeing of the employees. The average person working at Giant is a computer geek under thirty-five. Their day to day activity is unchanging: they sit in front of computer screens typing out sequences of coding all day. Now, right beyond their screens lies a vast stretch of space that frees their mind from the numerical constraints in front of them.
The office is no longer simply a workspace. On the ground floor by the entrance is a media wall spanning 10 meters in length, composed of photographs of the individuals who make up Giant. Each figure towering and unwavering, a reminder of the company’s growth. Behind the wall is an art gallery where people can socialise, appreciate art, and relax. Furthermore, there is a music room as well as an art studio that serve as spaces to stimulate the mind during the average working day. Other pockets of social spaces are also scattered throughout the building to propagate the interaction between people to allow for a more pleasant working environment.
When designing an office space today, efficiency and organisation are simply the most basic principles to keep in mind. From a psychological point of view, designing an office is about creating a space that is interesting but not theatrical, efficient but not dreary. Concerns about spatial identity, the mental wellbeing of employees, and social interaction all become issues that must be addressed, and they most certainly are in Giant’s new office. This is the new standard.
Upon first entering the office building, a stream of light trails behind in the form of a ten-meter-long ribbon of light embedded in the ceiling, leading to an open atrium that has been carved into the middle of the four-story building and finally culminating into a skylight on top. This atrium acts as a focal point in a building that consists of individual floor areas that measure more than 4,000 square meters each. As the heart of the building, the atrium naturally becomes the centre of attention where all points of view in the building converge.
The SBID Awards are recognised by architects and clients alike, and winning an award would mean our work gains international exposure to help us make global connections.
Questions answered by Ben Goh, Chief Designer of BNJN Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a glamorous and modern California-esque show home in Poole with colour and character, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's office design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
BNJN Design | SBID International Design Awards
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a glamorous and modern California-esque show house in Poole with three storeys of striking angles and imposing architectural features. From a blank canvas finished in a palette of neutral grey and white tones, Nykke Jones Interiors injected the property with splashes of vibrant colour and contrasting materials in their choice of art deco soft furnishings, contemporary artwork and retro inspired furniture. The interior scheme brought the property to life with an abundance of colour, personality and character - no mean feat for a soulless and (temporarily) un-lived in show house!
Sector: Show Flats & Developments Design
Company: Nykke Jones Interiors
Project: Ceres
Location: Sandbanks, Poole
The brief was very simple. And serendipitous! But long story short…I was contacted by Dimitri with the furniture company MY Furniture, based in Nottingham. He had a marketing idea that he wanted to run past me. ‘’How would I like to design and stage a showhouse using his furniture collections?’, and he would lend it to me for free! The only stipulation was, I had to let him take photos of the property for marketing, print and social media purposes. And have a big open day. It was a no brainer! I contacted Shan at Amirez Developments, in Poole, and asked if he had a show house in need of designing & dressing. Sure enough he did! The timing was sheer perfection! Ceres is based in the superb Sandbanks area of Poole; and simply needed dressing with furniture - and lots of it - it’s a big house. I wanted to fill it with contemporary pieces, and lots of lush soft furnishings. It needed warmth, colour and character. I wanted to create a home.
Ceres is stunning. Three storeys of striking angles, and imposing architectural features. Typically modern for the area, with a nod to that California hilltop facade. The property is surrounded and almost hugged by trees, tall, tall trees, and it’s just beautiful. Upon first inspection inside the property; which at this stage was already done as far as the finishes were concerned. It was essentially a blank canvas. Ready to go!
Instantly your attention is brought to a generous sweeping staircase that winds up the three floors to the master bedroom, which bestows the best sea views. Rain, hail or shine, the views are wonderful, in any kind of weather. I knew I wanted to add colour. I didn’t want to be safe. I wanted to create a space that said, ‘this is a happy joyous place’. I took my initial inspiration from the actual house. The style, and architectural features said a hint of art deco, coupled with 1950s retro. The trees outside, the colours of the leaves, and bark, the sea in the distance. The changing colours of the sky. A house talks to you if you listen. All the surfaces were perfect shades of grey, which was the ideal backdrop for my colour scheme, which quickly became Peacock Blue, Blush Pink, Navy Blue, Moody Grey, and Mustard Yellow. They don’t sound like they’d work, but they really did - I wanted to stay away from just grey.
I believe the colour scheme in a home should marry in with each other from room to room. Each should in some way, connect to the other. That way the house flows, and there’s unity in the design. Each room compliments the other without being the same. It’s a pleasant transition from space to space. It's calming and comforting. It brings it all altogether.
The main hurdle with a project like this, is how to ground the design. Even with a big grown up serious property such as this, I wanted the design to be joyous, happy, fun even. And to ground it I had to ensure the theme of the furniture, along with all the colours, were working together as one. So I added deco style pieces, and retro 50s pieces together. This included the use of materials, so lots of silk and velvet were used in the fabrics. They're both very tactile materials, you can’t help but reach out and touch them, especially the velvet which has seen a massive revival. One can’t help but caress the fabric pile. It’s so warm to the touch and ever so relaxing and sumptuous. I like the idea that an interior can stimulate all your senses. The visual, the touch, the sounds, the smell and taste. All this should be home. Instantly recognisable and safe.
Another hurdle, is how to pull the scheme together? It's one thing to introduce a beautiful selection of furniture to a space, it’s another tying it altogether to make it pop and come alive. This is simply done by adding all the little elements that create a home. Personality. Character. Whilst it’s often difficult to do this in a show house, as there are no personal items as such, one can still achieve this by cleverly adding lots of accessories that bring the design together; cushions, artwork, books, candles, treasured pieces from your travels, antiques, recycled items, upcycled items.
I added what seemed like a ton of cushions to the sofas. They brought together the colour scheme in the big family room on the first floor perfectly. Resting with pride position on the plush grey modern chesterfield style sofas are the most gorgeous, big feather filled, flame stitch design cushions in cut velvet. The base colour is black with blades of teal, yellow, orange, pink, and turquoise. Grouped with soft velvet peacock blue cushions, and the rectangular accent cushion is mustard yellow. These simple cushions bring all the colours of the room together in one hit. The large area rug is awash with all the colours. like a painting. and sitting all alone by the window is the grooviest, big bright mustard yellow chair, that says ‘’yes I'm the statement piece’’ ‘’aren’t I fabulous!’’. On the far side of the room there’s a big, beaten-up, washed grey oak dining table, teamed with funky 1950s style dining chairs in soft teal velvet. Silk yellow cushions adorns the side chairs, and all sitting pretty on a rug that is like a beautiful piece of abstract art.
Difficult to pinpoint any one area that highlights the project, however, I do love the kitchen dining area. The big beaten-up grey oak table works so well with the 50s velvet chairs, it shouldn’t…but it does. And I like that. Mismatched pieces. I don’t like ‘matchy-matchy’. I don’t want anything I do to look like something out of a catalogue. What’s the point of a show house? To sell it of course. But in the process, by dressing and staging the property to look and feel like a home, visitors can glean some inspiration of their own. And ultimately go away and think about their own interior design ideas. The best highlight of the project, Ceres sold, and the icing on the cake it that it sold with all the furniture too! So a job well done by everyone.
Questions answered by Nykke Jones of Nykke Jones Interiors
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a timeless residential design inspired by classic, art deco architecture and interior style, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's show flats and developments design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Nykke Jones Interiors | SBID International Design Awards
This week SBID interviewed Charu Gandhi, Founder and Director of the award-winning luxury interior design studio, Elicyon. Charu talks about her feelings of disconnect between architectural training and architecture in practice; particularly, how this influenced her decision to pursue a successful career in interior design. From just a childhood vision to become an Architect, Charu now shares her professional insight into the industry with concerns for the issue of waste within the interior design profession as a whole.
Can you describe your current job?
I am the Founder and Director of interior design studio, Elicyon. Based from our studio in Kensington Village, I lead an expert team of 21, working across ultra-luxury developments and private homes in the UK and around the world.
What is your background and how did you get into interior design?
I originally trained as an architect at the Architectural Association in London, which led to seven years of formal training. I went on to work at Allies & Morrison Architects in 2006, working with luxury residential clients, as well as contributing to large-scale projects like the Doha National Library and the London Olympics Masterplan.
Whilst the allure of architecture was certainly all-consuming during my training, in practice the vocation didn’t really give me the satisfaction I had expected. I was critical of the fact that everything had to be post-rationalised. Everything had to have a gravity to it, which I feel interior design doesn’t overly do. It doesn’t complicate. In architecture, you can’t say something is beautiful for the sake of being beautiful, it’s too blasé and surface-level and architecture tends to think more intellectually than that.
At that point, I thought I would leave design and become an investor. I was planning on going to business school, and I got into a school in France, but at the same time a friend of mine who worked at Candy & Candy had rediscovered her love for design and convinced me to apply. There, I worked on the private commissions team on projects in India and Africa, as well as residences in the prestigious One Hyde Park development in London. A connection at One Hyde Park was the catalyst for my decision to start my own interior design business, when I was offered a refurbishment project in the development.
Describe an average day in your job role..
Every working day is completely different, which I love but which can also be challenging in terms of time and diary management. During a ‘normal’ day, I catch up with the team to discuss ongoing or upcoming projects; I will then usually have one or more meetings with our suppliers in our new studio, going through their latest products and discussing how they could work for a project. Clients also love coming into our new studio as we have a very impressive sample library where they can take the time to look through all of our exquisite stone samples, carpet, furnishing fabrics and wall coverings. I will sometimes have a dinner or after-work function, but I do try not to go to more than two evening work events each week so that I can spend quality time with my family in the evenings.
Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most and/or find the most rewarding?
Our work is all about storytelling and taking the client on a journey. We want them to fall in love with design, with the craft, to have a sense of self-actualisation – when this is achieved on a project, it is hugely rewarding.
I also greatly enjoy working with our esteemed and trusted suppliers. The craftsmen and artisans that we work with – some of the world’s leading glass makers, crystal makers and innovative producers of plaster work, finishes and furniture – are my single biggest inspiration. Understanding how something is put together, the process it undertakes, the precision of the craftsmanship, lights a creative fire for me.
Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?
I am really looking forward to completing our first hospitality project – a boutique hotel in Sri Lanka – as well as completing our stunning penthouse project in Dubai later this year. We are also excited to be working on our second project in China – an incredible residential development.
In London, we are working on a number of very exciting projects including a lateral duplex apartment in Knightsbridge for a private client. Here, we are reinstating period features whilst creating a contemporary family home. Another private client project in Knightsbridge on Ennismore Gardens also involves working in a period environment – the two apartments we are designing are both set within a listed building. One is a duplex apartment with a beautiful feature staircase and the other is a large lateral apartment with expansive windows and stunning ceiling heights of 4 meters.
We are also working in the super prime Clarges development in Mayfair – our design for one of the apartments within the building celebrated the Art Deco theme of the wider scheme but adds a modern twist and focuses heavily on artwork with prints, photography and sculptural works dotting the property.
Whatever comes our way, we’ll continue our adventure with design, beauty, craft and innovation that enables us to take clients on an incredible journey of exploration and enjoyment. As we remain a boutique studio, it’s a pleasure to work with our select few discerning clients who are ready to go on the adventure with us.
What do you find the most challenging aspects of your job?
I always say that our biggest challenge is the next one. We are always striving to learn, grow and push the boundaries so that both our skills as designers and our projects are in an ever-evolving state.
I am constantly developing as a designer, a studio lead and businesswoman, and am very self-critical with both myself and the team on any lessons learnt. We are always questioning how we could do something more special, more groundbreaking with each project.
What do you wish you knew before working in the field?
I had already trained as an architect when I made the very conscious decision to move into the interior design industry, so I felt quite well-informed about the filed at that stage. However, before going into architecture, I was definitely unaware of how much the work of an architect is influenced by governmental legislation, policies and funding, as well as a myriad of conflicting stakeholders. Luckily, during my training I studied at the Architectural Association in London which fostered much more of a creative, idealist and visionary concept of architecture, which I rediscovered when I moved into interior design. I knew then that maintaining a strong sense of idealism was important in my career.
What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?
I would have told myself that resilience and developing ‘scar tissue’ from enduring a few knocks along the way comes with time. I would have allowed myself to be a paranoid optimist sooner – which is what I am now. It means I am really particular about the design and execution work in the studio. I would have been brave enough to surround myself from the start with a team of people who are better than me. This can seem very scary at first, but it’s one of the most important things I’ve learnt in running a studio. When I come to self-reflect, I often refer to a line from a poem by Maya Angelou:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
What has been your favourite project to work on?
All of our projects are significant to me, each for a different reason. We recently completed a three bedroom apartment in One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, London – our seventh project there. The building holds a special meaning for me as it’s where Elicyon began – we did our first ever project there in 2014. I enjoy making each apartment we work on at One Hyde Park unique, even though the spatial environment and layouts are similar.
Having grown up in India and retaining strong roots, working in my home country had been a long-cherished ambition that I achieved through working on a new, luxury residential development in Mumbai. It was wonderful to combine my knowledge of the city, culture and way of living to the project with a strong influence from my design studies, which are European in origin. The project’s vision represents a moment in my personal design journey; a confluence of east and west, celebrating both without detracting from either.
What do you think is the biggest problem the interior design industry faces?
An article in the FT back in 2018 reinforced my view that we need to lend some common standards in our pricing models for the sake of clients. The article was titled ‘how to see through the smoke and mirrors of architects’ and designers’ fees’ and it very succinctly described what we often see; a lack of transparency, clarity and consistency which leaves our client base feeling baffled, unsure and in the worst case, cheated.
A shared sense of self belief so that we price our fees better and also pay our staff better. I hate hearing of a young designer who has invested into their education only to be told they have to work for free to get a foothold into the industry - that has to stop.
I also think we need to address the issue of waste within interior design. So often, designers sulk when a client wants to reuse or re-purpose an existing piece of furniture or a fitting, but I think this presents an excellent opportunity to restore and respect older, used pieces, rather than just throwing them away and starting afresh. It can take a lot more time and effort to do this, but it is hugely important. For example, when taking out an existing kitchen or bathroom, we try to salvage as much as possible to use in the new design or ask the owner if we can auction or donate the parts so that they are reused. I’ve never had a client say no to this when asked. When we build, we also build to last - longevity is a key part of our design process.
Which people do you admire the most in the industry and why?
When I was a child in India, my parents decided to build us a new home and worked with architect Sujata Kohli. I would watch Sujata walking around onsite, instructing construction teams and implementing her vision and I was very enamoured by her. For me, she combined a scientific, analytical mind with creativity and this became my goal for my future career.
Sujata is still my mentor and someone I greatly admire. She encouraged me to attend the Architectural Association in London, which was the beginning of my training and career, so she has played a big part in my life.
If you were inspired by Charu’s story and want to learn more about the role of an interior designer, click here.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a timeless residential design for a young family of three. Inspired by 1930's American luxury interiors, the apartment incorporates stylistic Art Deco influences as well as classic New York city design qualities throughout in light of the family's vision after returning from a recent trip to NYC. Alexandr Shepel Architecture and Design worked closely with the client to create a design scheme which complimented their needs, requirements, lifestyle and tastes, whilst also reflecting Alexandr's signature style as an interior designer.
Company: Alexandr Shepel Architecture and Design
Project: Private Apartment
The project was designed for a young family of three. At that time, the owners of the apartment had recently returned from a trip to New York and were still fresh in the memory of the impressions, designs and inspirations found in the local interiors, architecture and atmosphere of this fascinating city so naturally, they wanted us to capture this ‘New York city vibe’ in the design of their new family apartment.
Based on the client’s travels, the inspiration for the project was found in the American luxury interiors of the twentieth century, namely the 1930's and the rapid flowering period of Art Deco with bright memories of Manhattan and New York.
The client's fully shared and provided us with their stylistic vision and gave us full freedom to its realisation that in result was embodied in a perfect and verified, modern but classic interior.
I had a goal to create a timeless interior within my signature style as an interior designer. I worked closely with the clients to ensure the process from initial concept to final completion were both easy and to their requirements.
We were given very short time frame to implement the design of the project. We had only one year from project's inception itself to develop the concept, designs, logistics, implementation and final fit-out.. Just 12 months and a 200 m2 space in which also needed some repairs before proceeding to implement the final interior design scheme.
Our task was to develop a design project and place orders at all factory contractors so that they could produce products and deliver them on time. All departments of our bureau worked cohesively and together, so that we coped and delivered with the task on time!
Luckily, despite the time constraints, our client trusted us completely so our work was easy and successful. To me, it is very important when the customer can fully trust the creative flow of the designer and not make adjustments during the implementation of the project. I think this is the greatest achievement!
Throughout the design process our priority is always to exceed our client's expectations and to ensure that they enjoy the journey as much as we do. And with this project, we certainly achieved that!
Questions answered by Alexandr Shepel, Chief Designer at Alexandr Shepel Architecture and Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring stunning CGI visualisations for an apartment building near the sandy coastline of the Baltic Sea, click here to see more.
Alexandr Shepel Architecture and Design | SBID International Design Awards
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features stunning CGI visualisations for a 12-apartment residential building located 100 metres from the sandy coastline of the Baltic Sea. Neoklasika designed a welcoming entry lobby and hallways for the project; enclosed by the pine forest, the glass facade of the building lets nature flow in through the windows. The elegant proportions, nuanced colour palette and natural materials give the gallery-like interior a timeless touch. The lobby will work as an in-house library and host temporary art exhibitions and installations to give a dynamic atmosphere. The 3D model includes full interior visualisation of three floors and the surrounding landscape. The masterful and accurate representation of the interior project and the visualisation of the lighting scenography in both day and night-time views invites the viewer to imagine the future lobby in great detail and at different times of day.
Sector: Public Space Design
Company: Neoklasika
Project: ER Clubhouse
Project Location: Jurmala, Latvia
Neoklasika was commissioned to design a welcoming entry lobby and hallways for a twelve apartment residential building located hundred meters from the sandy coastline of the Baltic Sea. The lobby is planned to function as an in-house library and to host temporary art exhibitions, providing a dynamic creative ambience and contemporary space.
Being enclosed by a pine forest, the glass facade lets the nature enter through the windows. The inspiration of drawing visual parallels to the shapes and textures of the surrounding coastline landscape came quite naturally. The elegant proportions, nuanced colour palette and natural materials give the gallery – like interior a timeless touch. The wooden wall panels and the metallic structural beams resemble the tree trunks in the nearby forest, the mirror and glass reflections resemble ever-changing water surface and the light stone floor brings the feeling of seaside into the interior. Passing through the lobby, the art-déco-inspired leather furniture is reminiscent of seashells washed up on the shore.
We wanted to reflect the dynamics between the inside and outside to the maximum, showcasing the essence of the project. An intricate 3D model was created to visualise the multi-layered composition of materials, interior elements and colours. It includes full interior visualisation of three floors and the surrounding landscape. The representation of the interior project and the visualisation of the lighting scenography in day and night-time views invite to imagine the future lobby in the greatest detail. Detailing and modelling the vast amount of interior details, custom-made elements and furniture in our in-house rendering studio was a time-consuming but very rewarding part of the project.
Achieving the balance between the grand scale of the lobby with a light and welcoming atmosphere was a personal success. One of the main project goals was to create a space which acts as a platform for highlighting the dynamics of the surrounding nature. The large mirror panel was used strategically to reflect the changes in seasons and the weather, creating an ever-evolving live painting.
Neoklasika has been taking part in the SBID International Design Awards since 2015 and over the years seen SBID become a truly global, diverse and highly professional institution uniting the best industry experts. Each year the awards competition showcases the best of the interior design world and we are honoured to be a part of this community. Last year’s event was remarkable in its warm and welcoming atmosphere and the attention to detail in all the networking events was exceptional. The number of world-class companies that have taken part is an indicator of the quality and reputation of this event in the design world.
Questions answered by Karina Abike, Founder of Neoklaika
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a unique public space designed to create a world-class visitor facility for Triumph Motorcycles, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's CGI visualisation for public space design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Neoklasika | SBID International Design Awards
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