Today’s post is dedicated to the second installment about the recently opened The Wellesley hotel in Mayfair.

A lot has happened since Part 1 when A-Gent of Style reviewed the ground floor public areas of the already prestigious hotel.

But first and foremost, congratulations are in order: The Wellesley and award-winning Interior Design company Fox Linton Associates have been shortlisted for three awards at the 2013 European Hotel Design Awards; The Jazz Lounge and Oval Restaurant, The Crystal Bar and also The Suites are now in competition.

What an impressive achievement. Highly deserved.

A-Gent of Style was granted access to all floors of this 5-star ‘new kid on the block’ (The Wellesley itself confirmed it is not a 6-star hotel despite the media hype before its opening) and is taking you today on a private tour of the guest rooms.

Above the public areas of the ground floor, The Wellesley is graced with 36 guest bedrooms spreading over seven floors, the last two culminating in the signature Wellesley Penthouse offering a private terrace with stunning views of Hyde Park.

Every room offers 24-hour-butler-service and is individually finished with sumptuous décor and amenities, equipped with the latest state-of-the art technology ( electric curtains, 52″ flat screen TVs, in-room laptops, Samsung control tablets and complimentary Wi-Fi), all cleverly integrated in the bespoke elements.

The rooms are sheathed in a palette of cream, ivory and off-white – mostly faux leather panels on the walls, luxurious wall-to-wall carpets and beautifully drapes of pleated fabric on the windows – with different accent colours (gold or burgundy in the Deluxe rooms), and some of the bespoke joinery designed by Fox Linton Associates is made of Art Deco-favoured ebony Macassar in a high gloss, veneer-finish. There are hints of brass and bronze in the custom-made lamps by Dernier & Hamlyn (who also created the chandeliers on the ground floor) and also the ribbed lever handles by Joseph Giles (but polished nickel on the bathroom side). The stepped, coffered ceilings provide soft and flattering glow that complement the colour schemes. Elegant black and white framed photographs from Vogue and Vanity Fair archives, probably shot by Blumenfeld, are scattered around the rooms (and the corridors). The headboards are upholstered in leather and the deluxe king-size beds are enveloped in customised luxurious bedding.
A perfect night, no doubt, to be had in the arms of Morpheus.

The Penthouse floors comprise the Churchill Suite, Wellesley I, Wellesley II and Penthouse Suite which are the jewels in the crown of The Wellesley. The latter is situated over the top two floors which are linked by a private leather-panelled staircase. This suite can boast its own private terrace, boardroom and personal humidor.
All the rooms are interconnected and give a great sense of rhythm, fluidity, privacy and exclusivity.

Here, the rooms are wrapped in a palette of champagne and pearl, the accent colours on the sensuous mohairs and velvets are rich, saturated midnight blues and browns, and there are hints of silver and gold to express the glitzy “Roaring Twenties”/Hollywood feel.

A-Gent of Style found the stepped, travertine Art Deco fireplace simply sublime.

A humidor and a wine cabinet, both in high gloss Macassar, are flanked on both sides of the dining table.

All the bathrooms at The Wellesley are equally stunning: the focal point is unquestionably the beautiful, deeply veined Italian Carrara Arabescato marble on the floor and on the walls which give the rooms great character, substance and grandeur. The shiny mirrored, silver-polished vanity units and shelves add a sense of elegance. Top-end bathroom fixtures and accessories by Dornbracht and Villeroy & Boch finish off the décor superbly well.

So, whatever takes your fancy – a top-notch cigar, Cognac, cocktail, intimate meal, celebratory Afternoon Tea or romantic stay in a suite (A-Gent of Style will happily settle for all of them. At the same time) – The Wellesley is the latest ultimate hideaway in London to ‘Chanel’ your inner Agatha Christie in stylish and tasteful surroundings.

A-Gent wishes Fox Linton Associates and The Wellesley good luck on November, 19 at the EHDA awards ceremony.

Situated opposite Hyde Park at Number 11 Knightsbridge where the famous jazz club Pizza on the Park used to be (oh the memories!) and tucked away between the equally opulent ‘grande dame’ hotels The Lanesborough and The Berkeley, the 1920s townhouse is the new contender amongst London’s luxury hotels.

Now owned by Arab Investments Ltd, the hotel was named after Sir Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, a fine military leader who served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain twice between 1828 and 1834, and later as leader of the House of Lords

The beautifully restored and lavishly refurbished hotel is the result of the award-winning Fox Linton Associates who transformed and crafted the interiors of the 36 suites and bedrooms residence with a modern Art Deco feel and sumptuous finishes.

The six-floor hotel is comparatively smaller compared to the more imposing aforementioned hotels but still offers its residents traditional glamour, contemporary luxury and an uncompromising service. Where else do you get a complimentary 24-hour butler service and the courtesy of a Rolls-Royce drop off service within a 1.5mile radius!

The existing, historical aspects of the current building – above the infrastructure of the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground -  were preserved. The orignal facade decorated with stone and faience was retained but a new one was added and constructed this time with brickwork and slate.

A-Gent of Style was given special access to the hotel especially the suites and penthouses but this first part will focus on the ground floor and its common areas.

As soon as you step in past the heavy bronze entrance doors, you know that you are dealing with opulence and excellence. A long, colonnaded, vaulted corridor bedecked in marble welcomes you and invite you to discover the interconnected rooms on either side. Everything here has been custom-made and the craftmanship and attention to detail are second to none: the glitzy crystal ceiling lights, the bespoke art work on the walls, the big stud-patterned desks with leather, marble and metals, and the etched, mirrored arcades above the walls.

But what is special about The Wellesley is that the common areas are relatively small and it hasn’t got the overwhelming grandeur some of its counterparts have. It is very much in a class of its own. For instance, there isn’t an imposing lobby and reception area as such with squads of staff milling about with suitcases or trays. It is contradictorily quite simple yet luxurious and feels very intimate and serene.

The first room on your right is the Crystal Bar which showcases a wall of the finest whiskies, armagnacs and cognacs where you can sip languorously at the wondrous 1920s-like, lit-up, glass and marble bar from the midnight-blue faux-crocodile stools. The floor is covered in Moonlight Grey and Noir St Laurent marble

The Wellesley attracts tobacco enthusiasts as it has one of the largest bespoke humidor in the UK.

On the left, you will find the dark and moody  Humidor Lounge opposite the bar which proved to be the perfect spot for us to have an apéritif the evening I visited. The look of these two rooms is very masculine, sultry and moody a bit like Claridge’s The Fumoir and has the feel of a Gentlemen’s Club. Here the deep-buttoned, Chesterfield black leather sofas and chairs complement well the imposing painting of Winston Churchill and the modern sculptural lights (or is it light sculptures?). The imposing circular blue glass chandelier is undeniably the pièce de résistance. The light fittings in the public areas were made by Dernier & Hamlyn.

There are two outdoor, covered Cigar Terraces (with rugs and art on the walls!) which provide an intimate yet spacious environment to indulge in a fine cigar. The furniture is made of teak and the upholstered in dark blue leather.

Then, on the left-hand side at the end of the corridor, guests will find The Jazz Lounge where they can enjoy a selection of high teas while listening to daytime jazz or settle back with a cocktail during the evening in an intimate, Gatsby style and atmosphere. I liked the palette of soft pinks on the chairs (leather on the seats but silk on the back; great detail) and particularly the bronze screen – I do love a screen – adorned with festoon-shaped pearl strings, mixed with the deep blue on the Gunta Stölz-esque, square-patterned carpet.

Pic. Ivory faux ostrich wall panelling

The Oval Restaurant, on the right, is an intimate hideaway which can seat up to 28 customers offering refined Italian cuisine. Once again, the room is smoothly enveloped in sugar-almond pinks found on the hand-crafted mahogany chairs upholstered with leather on the front and horsehair on the back and deep-buttoned banquettes and is replete with glamourous references to Art Deco from the sunburst-shaped, 2-toned glossy marble on the floor to the cream, fan-shaped leather panels on the walls with brass detailing, the glitzy chandelier on the circular, coffered ceiling and the concertinaed mirrored wall that reminded me of the iconic staircase at the Paris Chanel store, Rue Cambon.

Stay tuned for Part 2 where A-Gent of Style will be taking you on a private tour of the suites and penthouses…

For many interior designers, life at home and life at work are one and the same. Some spend long hours at an office, while others blur the lines between their job and life by working from home. Dedication as an entrepreneur is essential, but at a certain point, everyone needs to find a way to feel like more than just his or her professional title. Here are five tips to help you develop a balance between work and life in the realm of interior design.

1. Understand Your Limits. From designing to client relationship management and keeping up with small-business trends, interior designers may easily find themselves working long hours each day and into the night. Small-business owners and freelancers often throw themselves into their work, thinking that the success of an enterprise depends entirely upon them.

Working long hours when a deadline is approaching is logical, but consistently pulling 12-hour shifts for months on end will likely result in burnout. As any interior designer knows, it’s difficult to be creative and produce high-quality work when feeling like you’re at the end of your rope. Rather than overdoing it, Forbes recommends protecting your private time, such as when taking walks, driving to meet clients, or even grabbing a quick bite to eat in between searching for design materials.

Even with designated time to take a mental break, long days can still be exhausting. If you find yourself getting toward your maximum work abilities, remember that it’s okay to say no. There’s no rule that says you need to take on every design opportunity that comes your way, at least not right away. Tell a client you’d be happy to take on a project—starting next week.

2. Create a Schedule. Many people envy interior designers who work from home; they can set their own hours, dress how they please, and are free of the burden of a morning commute. However, there are some downfalls to operating from home. As opposed to onsite staffers, who leave an office and can immediately mentally detach themselves from work, self-employed or home-based interior designers live where they work.

That’s why it’s particularly important to set a work schedule while at home. Whether a designer prefers to wake up early and begin working or meeting clients at their homes for consultations by 8 a.m. or would prefer to sleep in later and take more evening appointments, the important thing is to establish a steady schedule, and adhere to it.

Use time-management techniques and schedule time specifically for searching for fabrics and other materials, schedule another allotment for returning client emails, and set an end time to your workday. Then stick to it. That might mean calling it quits while in the middle of a search for the perfect light fixture for a home, or emailing a client that you’ll get back to them with a full update the next morning.

It may be difficult to step away at the end of the day, but soon this will become a habit that will keep you healthier, happier, and more balanced.

3. Designate Space. Creating a home office that is conducive to productivity can make a huge difference in attempting to strike a home and life balance. A small spare room is perfect for an office where an interior designer can spend their time and even meet with clients; then once they’ve completed their work, they can shut the door to their office, marking the end of a workday. A home office is another great place to show off your eye for style, and clients who meet you at your office will be able to see how effective design can be when you’re in charge. Check out Janelle McCulloch’s Library of Design blog for design insights and home-office tips.

Some find it too difficult to fully separate home and work life when designing in their living room or even a spare office. For those designers, shared workspaces are a great option. Shared workspaces are designed for freelance and independent workers; interior designers can rent out a desk in a communal space where others will also be working. You can reserve a desk for a day, week, or even months, and you will be able to keep your physical home separate from work.

4. Get Organized. You’re a creative, dynamic interior designer managing a small business, and… your workspace is a mess. You have fabric samples in stacks on your desk, binders full of design ideas on top of a spare chair, and notes stuck to your computer monitor reminding yourself to call to vendors. One of the easiest ways to free up time for a healthy home life is to keep work documents, files, and contacts neat and orderly. Use binders to store contracts, keep the surface of your desk tidy, and clean up your hard drive.

Take an afternoon to look through your desktop and sort everything out. Designate folders for projects by client name, and label important emails so you never have to spend precious time searching through disorganized files again. If you don’t use this method already, try setting reminders for yourself using an online calendar that you can access from your office or on your phone. It’s amazing how many hours a bit of organization will free up, leaving time for family and friends.

5. Develop New Passions. Working as a freelance interior designer or running a small firm requires passion and dedication, which is why it’s no surprise that it’s hard for many designers to think of anything else. However, to find a balance between life and work, it’s important to consider life outside the world of design.

Think about something you’ve always wanted to try, or a hobby you used to have when you were a kid. Now get out of the house and do it. Take a painting class, go for a run, or become a member at a museum and keep up with new exhibits. Not only will these activities help you feel balanced and relaxed, they’ll also clear your head. When you return to your desk the next day, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on a new day of design.

How do you balance work and home life? What do you do to make sure you step away from your desk at the end of the day? Let us know in the comments below.

Author Anne Bouleanu, Line//Shape//Space  

Following the success of last year’s Design Your Bin challenge, Brabantia has launched its ‘Pimp Our Print’ competition  which is open to budding designers across the globe regardless of age, experience or location.

Those entering the Pimp Our Print competition can really let their imagination’s run wild. The panel will be giving full consideration to entries of all graphic styles from street and modern art though to photography, illustration, textiles and traditional forms. I anticipate some heated discussions during the judging process!

And there will certainly be plenty to discuss as to date there are already 750 entries with more arriving daily. These are displayed in the Gallery which is updated as the entries come in and members of the public can peruse the designs and also vote for their favourites.
The International Design Panel,  (SBID President Vanessa Braday is one of the 10 international acclaimed judjes) will be creating a shortlist from which the overall winner will be chosen. Their print and name will appear on a range of Brabantia canisters, and potentially a whole product range including Bread Bins, Touch Bins and Pedal Bins.

What a fantastic chance for a designer to launch their ideas to the world. It’s a big responsibility for all of us to shortlist only the best designs. I can’t wait to get started.
The winner will also receive a three day trip for two with tickets to Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014 in Milan, luxury hotel accommodation, transport and spending money for this trip of a lifetime (11-13 April 2014).
But the public get a chance to have their say too in the "People’s Choice" category which runs separately from the main competition.

Check out the ‘Pimp our Print’ website for details of how to vote.
So it’s going to be an exciting few weeks - last entries need to be in by 22nd October. Keep an eye out for what the SBID decides!
Enter today: www.brabantia.com/design

Although modern interior design probably conjures up images of fancy homes in glossy magazines along with some high-class designer websites such as Lampcommerce.com, when studying the history of interior design, it becomes apparent that perhaps there is more than meets the eye. Here is a quick guide to interior design through the ages, starting from the very beginning.

The beginning

The earliest evidence dates back to when early prehistoric humans first started to settle and either found or built up stable communities using elemental tools. Although the focus back then was function and necessity, the fact that these cave men used to decorate their dwellings with basic drawings could lead us to believe that interior design and looking after our homes is actually a primal instinct as well as a sign of our intelligence. Tribes to this day still use natural materials such as wood, mud and animal skins to fashion themselves a comfortable and functional home.

Egyptians, Greeks and Romans

Egyptians were known for their ornate murals which acted at beautiful documents that detailed their beliefs, history and way of life. Life was a mix of stark parallels for the Ancient Egyptians. While many workers lived in primitive houses, the magnificent buildings they are best known for were usually for one ruler or a royal family to signify their wealth and to please their gods. This early civilisation set the trend for superb, ornate interior design in the name of religion which is still plays a big part in society today.

After Ancient Egypt fell to the Romans and Greeks, cities were drastically changed due to the Greek and Roman tastes in architectural style. Democracy and a more civilised way of life allowed normal citizens to show their personal tastes through interior design. The Greeks in particular employed strict rules for constructing their massive, pillared buildings and often used beautiful vases and paintings in their homes.

Design progression in Europe

After these influential periods in history, other distinctive design styles emerged in Europe, particularly Gothic architecture alongside the indulgent beauty seen during the Italian Renaissance. Again, the focus for many large scale buildings was based around religion with carvings, tapestries and murals which stretched over entire ceilings and walls. Beauty and function were equally important.

18^th and 19^th centuries

From Baroque’s artistic exaggeration to the industrial revolution to Art Deco and Art Nouveau, interior design opened up to the common man, as fashion magazines and prints hit the shelves during the industrial revolution. Interior design was influenced by a mixture of styles from around the world as travel became more accessible. This eventually led to the age of eclecticism which drew these styles together to create personality and character.

20^th and 21^st century

Modernism and post-modernism soon followed. Designers became famous faces rather than behind the scenes workers. As countries recovered from war, there was a return to prosperity and a large influx in suburban sprawls. More people started to indulge in interior design as a form of escapism and personal interest. Makeover shows such as Changing Rooms also started to influence our homes and old, vintage styles were starting to be revived.

Today, it can be fair to say that we are still in an eclecticism era, as old vintage continues to be teamed with modern features. After thousands of years of groundwork, people can now play and experiment with a whole host of styles to create their perfect homes. Rather than uniformity, interior design is now fast paced with seasonal trends and forecasts for the coming year.

 Written by SBID guest blogger Mike Lesse

Can you imagine just five years ago , the human race embracing technology in such a dynamic and dramatic way , Smartphones have become a way of life, young and old now have the world wide web at their fingertips and digital cameras at the ready!

Along with tablets (mobile computers) communication with loved ones and friends is now a breeze with the help of apps such as Face time , Skype , etc.

YouTube for me is for sure the future if you haven’t got a  YouTube TV channel make sure its high on your list of priorities before the year is out , YouTube is the world’s second biggest search engine and the biggest growing video sharing  website in the world at the moment  and since it was purchased by Google, this popularity is showing no signs of stopping. Video is an important feature of maintaining a web presence, and is a highly effective marketing tool.

YouTube receives somewhere in the region of 3 billion searches a month. Some of the people making these searches will be potential clients of yours, and it is important not to miss out on this market. As with any other aspect of SEO, your use of keywords is vital. Make sure your video title features your strongest keyword, and that it is relevant to the content.

I realised the phenomenon of video back in 2011. A couple of years earlier in 2007 I was introduced into the sport of kite surfing after falling in love with the sport on a trip to Rhosneigr in Anglesey Wales, I followed the sport closely through the power of video and soon became familiar with the professional athletes and brands associated with them.

A couple more years passed and I finally found the time to go and learn to kite surf , all my research and brand awareness was found through the internet, It got me thinking the power of video is such an amazing tool I could use this in my own industry and so I did! I  employed a fantastic company Shutterbox Films to come and film and produce a short movie in my showroom owners Lee and Dawn are so cool their portfolio of work is immense , they did a fantastic job for me.

Fast forwarding to 2013 I now employ a small in-house team to look after my websites, blog, social media, publications and now new YouTube TV channel we have now produced our own videos showcasing client case studies, bringing to life photographs potential clients can now actually get a feel of your portfolio along with your beautiful photographs of your work.

We have plenty more case studies lined up for later this year together with a launch of a brand new resource publication dedicated to Architects , Designers and Interior Designers this will include augmented reality driven by Aurasma bringing video to printed media our next edition of Revealed Design Home Interiors is due out too later this year.

Obviously it’s not quite so easy to just make a video and pop it on YouTube or another video sharing site like Vimeo , you have to promote it to get views social media comes in perfectly and with the help of your clients , followers and peers you can soon spread the word.

Written by SBID Member and Interior Designer Lisa Melvin

Check out Lisa Melvin's YouTube TV channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/LisamelvindesignTV?feature=watch

The use of reclaimed and recycled materials is starting to become relatively standard, with many designers embracing the challenges that using a non virgin material brings.

There are myriad advantages to using any type of reclaimed material, but despite ecological and sustainable design becoming part of any discerning design studio’s working practices there can still be the misconception that ‘eco’ design does not necessarily mean ‘refined’ design.

Even though there can be distinct limitations to the reuse of an object or material, these can, and should inform the design process, with the clearest and strongest qualities being developed for the new object.

What is encouraging to see is that there are more and more products being developed along these lines, with a recycled foundation but a refined end result.

An example of this developing strand of design is beautifully illustrated by Canadian designer Tat Chao with the BIPOLAR range of pendant lights.

At first glance, these pendants appear to be lit glass lozenges which have been pinched around the middle with a metal ‘belt’, possibly during the glass blowing process.

But their appearance is rather deceptive. These are not hand blown glass shapes. They are recycled wine glasses.

Forming part of Chao’s IN VITRO range, the BIPOLAR light uses two reclaimed wine glasses to form each of the pendants. Their bases are removed and used in another project and the stems are shaped to a point before they are joined about the rim with a thin anodised aluminium band, housing a strip of LED lights.

The result is a simple, glowing pendant light which ticks not only the sustainability boxes but excels at being a piece of elegant design.

Whilst this is not a ‘bespoke’ piece as such, the fact that reclaimed materials are used in the process of construction ensure that each BIPOLAR is different from the next, with each light varying in glass design, shape and size.

Plus, this is a project where the concept can be carried across a range of found materials with ease, ensuring that the design is adaptable – an essential element of any true ‘sustainable’ product that uses recycled pieces. There is no point designing a product which becomes so popular that virgin materials have to be used. Design a process which can adapt.

The BIPOLAR light succeeds on all of these main points – it is simple yet elegant - in conception, construction and when finally suspended and lit. A great example of a truly beautiful, sustainable lighting design.

Visit www.tatchao.com for further information on the range.

Written by eco interior architect & designer guest blogger Claire Potter

The energy saving bulb has been with us for a number of years, but even though many of us elected to purchase them when our old bulbs blew, the phasing out of the incandescent bulb has meant that it is one of the cheapest and most readily available replacement choices for consumers.

Not that this is at all a bad thing – changing just one fitting to use an energy saving bulb could save around £3 a year in electricity. Multiply this across the fittings throughout the home and the savings soon begin to add up.

New lighting technologies are being developed and released very regularly, with highly efficient LED technology being packaged into a bigger and bigger range of fittings available to the industry and directly to the public. Price does still pay a big factor in the design and bulb chosen, but the increase in purchasing inevitably creates lower prices over time.

But the one bugbear of many a designer and client has been the overall design of the energy saving bulb – namely the ‘standard’ range available at the lowest prices.

The ‘column’ type bulbs can look rather stark and the ‘ice cream’ style bulbs also have a particular look which any not contribute to your scheme. This is, of course, a very personal decision between the designer and the client and we have used both of these low cost fittings to great effect – making no apologies for their shapes.

There is however, another choice for the energy saving bulb which addresses this design issue – the Plumen 001 bulb by Samuel Wilkinson for Hulger.

Working on the logic that the glass tubes that make up all of the standard energy saving bulbs can actually be bent in a whole variety of shapes, the Plumen 001 (and newly launched, smaller sized ‘Baby Plumen’) has rethought what an energy saving bulb can be.

Using ‘plumes’ of feathers as inspiration, the bulbs two twisting tubes create a sculptural form which changes shape as you move around the fitting.

The simplicity of the design actually creates a very complex and aesthetically pleasing form, which has been designed to sit, completely unclothed in a space, making it perfect for a statement ‘bare bulbs’ scheme.

It can however, be used to great effect when paired carefully with pendants – especially simple pieces which really let the bulb’s shapes shine, or enclosed glass fittings which ‘frame’ the bulbs like little pieces of art.

And this is exactly what Plumen’s new shade sets to achieve. The ‘Pharaoh’ shade has been designed for Danish firm Lightyears, specifically for the Plumen 001 and was launched at the recent Stockholm furniture fair. The simply shaped shade is mirror finished and appears a solid piece when the bulb is off, but as soon as the piece is illuminated the shade becomes transparent – enhancing the silhouetted shape of the bulb as the focus of the piece.

Alternatively, if you want to go super simple, the Plumen 001 can be paired with one of their newly developed pendant / drop sets, which are available in a series of colours and have been designed to completely contain the black section of the bulb, meaning that the form of the bulb sits directly beneath the fitting.

The beautiful thing about the Plumen 001 is just that – its beauty of sculptural form which brings energy saving bubs out of the ‘required’ box and into our ‘desired’ box when designing and specifying.

Visit www.plumen.com for details on their bulbs and pendant sets.

Written by eco interior architect & designer guest blogger Claire Potter

ROBIN GIBB CBE

22nd December 1949 – 20th May 2012
SBID AMBASSADOR OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

On Sunday 20th May Robin Gibb passed away peacefully after a long fight against ill health. Leaving behind a mother, wife, children, brother, family, friends and fans I can only say that sometimes someone who is unseeingly very special comes along and changes your life – Robin was one of those special people.

His music is timeless, catchy, haunting and recognised by all age groups anywhere in the world. His true celebrity is simply that, anywhere in the world, at any time of day, you can hear a Bee Gees song being played on the radio.

SBID was not singled out, Robin fought for the rights of many things for the underdog, he campaigned for recognition of the Bomber Command, arguing with planners for several years that the RAF Bombers had not been recognised for their winning efforts and the lives lost during the war. After much hard work, consent was finally provided by Westminster Council, and fundraising began. Without cutting out the hard work that so many have contributed to that campaign to date, it is indeed something that will for me be the legacy of the work Robin described as the work among his achievements, that he was most proud of. I suppose that describes ROBIN GIBB perfectly. Talented, generous, giving, fighting and very funny. Robin was highly intelligent, always interested in what you had to say, he loved politics, people and had a great sense of humour.

Robin Gibb on the scaffold of the Bomber Command Memorial

Throughout his wealth, celebrity and achievement, he didn’t change, he didn’t try to be someone else, he remained a real person. I am grateful for what he, his team, his family and friends have done for the benefit of protecting and promoting British interior design around the world, but specifically in helping me personally take on a hostile business sector.

On 28th June Her Majesty the Queen will open the Bomber Command Memorial at Green Park, facing Hyde Park Corner and the RAF Club on Piccadilly.

To me, it will forever be a memorial shared with Robin.