This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a sleek, clean-lined kitchen design that is quietly impressive and elegantly understated. Using a Taj Mahal Quartzite clad island, teamed with wall cabinetry in a dark pigmented concrete finish and combined with a hot rolled steel worktop, Eggersmann Design created a beautifully bespoke and contemporary open plan kitchen to provide the food-loving family with style and complete functionality.
SBID Awards: KBB Design finalist sponsored by VitrA UK
Company: Eggersmann Design
Project: Wimbledon
Location: London, United Kingdom
What was the client's brief?
Our brief was to create a sleek and elegant kitchen that didn’t compromise on functionality. As the owners love to cook and entertain, their requirements extended beyond looks so we included easy-clean surfaces, considered storage and hardworking appliances. As the kitchen is situated in a large open-plan dining / living space it was important to consider this brief with a wider, holistic approach. It was essential that we took these surrounding zones into consideration when designing the new kitchen.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
The property was only 10 years old when the current owners bought it from a self-builder. They lived with a kitchen they hated for a further decade before the old-fashioned timber cabinetry and awkward layout got the better of them. The space itself was light, airy and generous so there was no need to extend but the kitchen was long overdue an update. Specific bug-bears included a cooker facing the back wall and seriously uncomfortable pew-style seating below the beautiful Crittall-style windows, which were the first step in redecorating the space. We didn’t change the layout hugely, we just made it more intuitive to use. We switched cooking to the island to provide a nicer outlook and designed upholstered seating that’s a pleasure to recline on. The upholstered banquette area brings colour and shape to the kitchen. The sensual shape was inspired by a sofa the client had spotted while travelling, the rest of the house is very colourful, filled with the owners’ quirky accessories and cheerful artwork, so we used these accent materials to connect everything – the kitchen should never have a separate identity within any home.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
A key part of the brief was that they wanted a large stone-clad island with as many clever storage solutions as possible. The client wanted a sleek and elegant kitchen that didn’t compromise on functionality. The island unit, clad entirely in Taj Mahal quartzite, showcases our precise engineering skills – the cabinet fronts are made from solid quartzite cut to slabs just 11mm thick. The same stone is wrapped around a steel sub-structure to create a 4.3m long worktop with intricate details such as 45-degree mitre joints and recessed grip areas to create a monolithic appearance.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
The eclectic use of materials: natural stone, resin, concrete, hot rolled steel, brass and American walnut. The cabinetry is made from dark pigmented concrete, which is hand-trowelled and built up in layers like polished plaster. For the sink area worktop and splashback, the owners opted for hot-rolled steel featuring two artfully welded-in sinks and draining board. The finely textured matte steel surface is resistant to fingerprints and scratches making it perfect for this young family.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
The SBID International Design Awards are important as a global showcase of creativity. Not only do the awards provide a great platform for us to communicate and illustrate our company’s points of difference but to also hopefully inspire and inform style within the industry and beyond.
Questions answered by Gary Singer, Founder and Creative Director at Eggersmann Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring contemporary healthcare and wellness design by the XDH Design Firm for Five Fitsport fitness centre, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's Kitchen design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | KBB Design finalist sponsored by VitrA UK
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a clean and minimal kitchen design, evoking the fresh and inspiring environment that is Scandinavia. Taking inspiration from Sweden, Norway and Finland, Mark Taylor Design produced a kitchen design scheme that was both practical and beautiful to complement the client's taste and lifestyle.
Sector: KBB Design
Company: Mark Taylor Design
Project: Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen
The clients wanted a large kitchen and entertaining space, where the children could have their playroom and sitting area, leading into the dining area, and then onto the kitchen. The kitchen needed to feel large but take up only enough space to allow the rest of the living area to feel spacious and fluid - the garden also needed to be very accessible from the kitchen and dining area, as this would also form an important part of the living space in the summer.
We talked to the wife and husband together. She is Scandinavian and likes simple, clean, light spaces, uncluttered. She and her husband are interested in fresh food and entertaining, so lots of space was required for fresh food storage and preparation, while they didn’t want a long worktop run. We needed to find a space for the walk-in larder and extra large double-width fridge, so we changed the building plans to incorporate them. This allowed us to build the rest of the kitchen around these core features. The space needed to be as free-flowing as possible at worktop level. The clients were very keen to have a large island and we used this as the metamorphosis between the dining area and the kitchen.
The hardest part was positioning the tall units so that they didn’t impinge on the rest of the space.
The horizontal dividing bi-folding doors with hidden magnets that keep them in an open position when required is our highlight of the design features. Also receiving our clients glowing report, "We absolutely love our MTD kitchen, down to the last detail. After working close with the MTD design team, we now have the kitchen that we feel perfectly fits our wishes and the style of our house. Aside from the look, what we enjoy the most is the quality of the workmanship which is outstanding! The MTD team were a pleasure to deal with throughout. They were responsive to what we wanted, creative and gave us some well needed advice on the design and layout. We were grateful that they were flexible to our timelines and coordinated well with our builders. Also, the installation team were great; meticulous, tidy and enjoyable to deal with."
Questions answered by Mark Taylor, Managing Director of Mark Taylor Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a super stylish, yet exquisitely comfortable interior for a residential development in Berkshire, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's KBB design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Photography Credits: Jonathan Bond Photography.
SBID caught up with this year's SBID International Design Awards sponsor for the KBB Design category. Margaret Talbot, Marketing Manager at VitrA UK shares more about the story behind the brand; from its very beginnings as a Ceramic Factory in Turkey to it's current standing in the international sanitary and brassware market, VitrA highlights some of the incredible work they do with interior designers and the industry.
What are the origins of your brand?
VitrA’s heritage can be traced back to 1909, when the renowned Turkish pharmacist Süleyman Ferit Eczacibaşi began producing bathing and cologne products in his pharmacy in Izmir. The Dr Nejat Eczacıbaşı Ceramic Factory, as it was then called, was the forerunner to VitrA. After the Second World War, there came economic revival and an increased demand for ceramic sanitaryware. In 1958 the company opened its first modern production plant and by 1966 became known as VitrA. In order to diversify the company, a brassware plant was opened in 1979. The brand, now an uncontested force in the market, was launched internationally in 1983.
How do you work with interior designers?
When working with an interior designer, a clear and open dialogue is crucial. The VitrA team immerses themselves in each project, gaining full understanding of the designer’s aims, as well as the challenges that any individual project may pose. To ensure the VitrA team clearly understand the designer’s vision, the first step is for them to provide a brief and an initial mood board to define the scope of their work and provide valuable details on materials, colours and their initial considerations for the bathroom design.
Then follows the conceptual development stage. At this point, a layout design with more technical information and specifications is produced. A specification manager from the VitrA team will use their technical expertise to anticipate and solve any potential problems before they arise to ensure the project runs smoothly all the way through to completion. The designer is heavily involved and works closely with the VitrA team at every stage – this means that both parties, as well as the end client, are pleased with the finished project.
What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?
VitrA is passionate about challenging traditional views of the bathroom as a purely functional space and enabling designers to express their creativity in an often-overlooked area.
Led by our Design Director, Erdem Akan, VitrA’s highly accomplished in-house creative team represent the backbone of our design philosophy and culture. They are supported by the multi-disciplinary teams at the VitrA Innovation Centre, which was built as a place for architects and designers to free their imagination and express flair in their product design, while also feeling safe in the knowledge that our specification managers are on hand to ensure that all products meet both the technical and aesthetic demands.
This creativity manifests itself in VitrA’s collaborations with world-renowned designers such as Claudio Bellini for Equal, Ross Lovegrove for Istanbul, Terri Pecora for Plural and Matteo Thun & Partners for Water Jewels.
How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?
Superior quality, supply of product and reliable versatility are hallmarks of the VitrA brand, and every component of the bathroom benefits from VitrA’s strong focus on advanced technology and imaginative design. The dedicated team of VitrA product designers collaborate with top global experts to establish new and innovate ideas that enhance not only bathroom aesthetics and functionality, but also each interior designer’s projects.
What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?
The new ‘Living Bathroom’ concept presents the bathroom as an informal living space. This evolution of the bathroom ritual celebrates wellness and the joy of spending time in the bathroom. American designer Terri Pecora’s Plural collection for VitrA presents the bathroom as a social hub where people can meet and reconnect. Another big trend of note is the use of geometric shapes and monochrome tones, as used in the Equal collection by Claudio Bellini. Using clean, minimal borders and industrial, metallic accents, Bellini’s designs emulate the structures found in modernist architecture.
Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?
We are pleased to be a sponsor of the SBID Awards as they are one of the most prestigious interior awards in the design calendar. VitrA is keen to support interior designers and their fantastic work in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom sector.
The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2019 will be announced on Friday 25th October!
To book a table to attend this year's prestigious Awards, click here
To find out more about sponsoring the SBID International Design Awards next year, click here
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 contemporary London kitchen design in sleek, bold tones to blend into the distinct style of the surrounding architecture within a recently extended building. Halcyon Interiors designed the kitchen with symmetry and clean lines as this was the client’s desire, yet the architecture of the finished building would be asymmetrical and on differing levels. Along with Architect, Jason Coleman at Robert Dye Architects, Halcyon developed a dramatic, monolithic design in a graphite hue, with wood elements to add warmth. Precision planning of the lines of the furniture and appliances create the desired symmetry of this space. A striking effect, fitting with the bold architectural style of this newly extended home.
Company: Halcyon Interiors
Project: Warwick Road
Project Location: Pinner, United Kingdom
Our London-based client briefed us to design a kitchen with symmetry and clean lines to work with the asymmetric architecture of the new building layout, and balance tonally with its surroundings.
The monolithic look of the kitchen was inspired by the striking architecture of the building, which was instrumental in deciding on the layout and design of the overall kitchen. Working closely with the Architect, Jason Coleman at Robert Dye Architects to develop the design, we achieved the dramatic look we were aiming for by choosing a dark graphite for the wall units and continuing the colour and lines of the design up and over the ceiling and into the skylight, which further emphasised the architectural elements. Over hanging the doors to completely hide the plinth and create a small shadow gap between the doors and the poured concrete floor added further to the striking effect.
The main hurdle was getting everything lined up. As any designer will know, working with materials such as plaster and brick means there is no such thing as a dead straight wall or perfect angle. It was key to have everything perfectly in line, without this the monolithic look would have been interrupted. We worked extremely closely with the builders and architects working on this project, and were able to ensure the entire project was supremely exact, maintaining the project’s perfectly aligned look.
Seeing the final result! As wonderful as CAD images are nowadays it never completely captures the end result in all its glory. Especially once the external details had been completed. It’s not just about seeing our work complete, it was seeing the hard work of the whole team bringing together the completed look. This was such a great project to work on.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
We truly believed this was a great project to show our skills as a team. It took a lot of organisational skills, design knowledge and a fantastic fitter to take it from an inspirational design on paper to an inspirational kitchen in real life.
Questions answered by Louise Reynolds, Lead Designer at Halcyon Interiors
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a luxurious residential refurbishment with an elegant design scheme imbued with character, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's KBB kitchen design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Halcyon Interiors | SBID International Design Awards
February has been packed with product news across the industry, specifically focusing on innovations in the realm of KBB (Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms). From the latest innovations launching in intelligent water management and SmartControl technology; new ranges of paints, units and exquisite marble materials for uplifting kitchen interiors; to new colourways of quirky dinosaur-themed wallpaper to ignite the imagination within children's bedroom designs. Browse what's new this month to give your KBB designs a competitive and design-led edge.
Mark Taylor Design launch MeThD
Mark Taylor Design has launched a new kitchen collection, MeThD, consisting of three beautiful custom kitchen ranges, all of which are available with a number of bespoke adaptations and in standard or special paint colours. MeThD combines the quality, beauty and aftercare of bespoke with the affordability, speed of production and ease of installation that befits a custom range. With MeThD, we are also leading the trend for movable island units.
Find out more
Heritage Bathrooms test the trend by making a monochrome statement with the new Granley Suite
Monochrome styling is a timeless and versatile trend, and as 2019 hails the return of geometrics and bold matte black accents, Charlie Williams, interior designer at Heritage Bathrooms, uses the Granley Suite range to test the trend for creating a standout monochrome bathroom; from using statement tiles and matte black features, to adding subtle, warmer coloured accents to ensure a softer feel without comprising the sleek monochrome styling. The Granley Suite from Heritage Bathrooms is designed to provide the perfect backdrop for a bold monochrome bathroom.
Click to shop
PaperBoy launches new colours to match your dinosaur to your decor
Dinosaurs. But not as you know them. ‘D’ya-think-e-saurus’ was PaperBoy’s first wallpaper, lovingly sketched by as a gift to Jurassic-minded twins. For 9 years it’s been their best-selling design: what dinosaur nut doesn’t want to imagine the exhilaration of flying through the air with the pterodactyls or beating the T-Rex in a running race?
This March they're introducing three soft new hues to fit into even more design schemes. ‘Confetti’ – if only pink will do, this version will make the room blush; ‘Warm grey’ glows with subtle colour while still being a neutral option; and ‘China blue’ for a cooler tone, without the dullness. As in all their papers, the inks are non-toxic, sustainable, made in England and lovingly hand-crafted in Accrington.
GROHE is set to shape the future of water with record number of innovations at ISH 2019
GROHE will showcase a record number of innovations at ISH 2019, the world's leading trade fair for the responsible use of water and energy in buildings. For the first time, GROHE will position itself as a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions, kitchen systems and intelligent water management. The brand will reinforce its philosophy; Water. Intelligence. Enjoyment by bringing the element of water to the forefront of its new innovations.
The GROHE Blue water system provides filtered and chilled water that is either sparkling, semi-sparkling or still, while GROHE Red delivers kettle hot water directly from the tap. The SmartControl technology, which has already been successfully launched in the bathroom, will also make its way into the kitchen...
New for 2019: Introducing Empira White by Caesarstone
For a thousand years marble has been appreciated and desired as one of nature’s most luxurious stones, immediately adding grandeur and glamour wherever it is used. As a material, it is timeless. Today marble is as desirable as ever, albeit with a somewhat more relaxed, softer and more organic appeal; a chance to bring nature into urban interiors, a connection to the earth around us and a natural contrast to other man-made materials. Of all marbles, Calacatta is perhaps the best known and Empira White is Caesarstone’s newest interpretation of this most famous material.
Creating spaces and buildings that are as eco-conscious as they are design-forward is becoming a pressing requirement for the interiors industry. Russell Owens from Zip Water UK explains why the future lies in making sustainable design beautiful. ‘Sustainable design’ aims to reduce or eliminate negative environmental impact through thoughtful design. This means working to create buildings and products that are more energy-efficient, reduce waste and use limited resources throughout their life-cycle. Further to this, specifiers and designers can give preference to materials that will contribute to people’s health and wellbeing – another important element of sustainability that is often overlooked. . .
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This week SBID interviewed Michael Seum, VP Design at GROHE to discover more about his journey through the interior design industry; from a vision for architecture to finding his calling in product design. Michael gives us the inside scoop on his role as VP Design, the importance of motivation, and even shares his secret for inspiring and maintaining creativity!
Can you describe your current job?
As VP Design for GROHE, my job is to connect creativity with commercial for the company and be the creative horsepower and the biggest advocate of Grohe’s excellent design team. It’s my job to lead a team that focuses not just on consumer needs, but consumers’ desires and we put a lot of passion and emotion in our work.
What is your background and how did you get into interior design?
My background is in industrial design and I started my career with the intention of going into architecture. As a child I was always very curious and a creative nature which I was fortunate enough to have fostered by my parents. However, I have always felt an affinity for space and experience and it was actually this that brought me to product design. I have always been interested in the relation of people to an object or an experience, just like an interior designer does; in this role, I am bringing products that work within the interior space wherever there is a water experience.
Describe an average day in your job role..
Whilst there is no such thing as a truly ‘average’ day in my role, an ideal day would begin with breakfast with my children at home at 7am. I then head to the office at 8.30am where I have a cup of coffee. I’ll check my to do list and walk through the office to see my team. From 10am I jump straight into project work and meetings to make sure projects are moving. This takes most of the morning. I always eat lunch at my desk, around 1pm, for efficiency and in the early afternoon I will spend time catching up on the latest world design news and developments. The rest of the day will revolve around further project work and meetings until I leave the office at 6pm. I go to the gym religiously and believe a healthy mind is good for creativity. I then go home and recharge for the next day.
Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most and/or find the most rewarding?
Working with a talented team that actually operates as a team and a collective community is incredibly rewarding, especially as it shows in our work.
What are the latest plans for Grohe? Is there anything new you are working on?
We are focused on reframing the relationship we have with water. Whether you are consuming water or using it for hygiene, it’s always going to re-energise us. Without revealing too much, we’re focusing on really meaningful innovations that reframe our relationship to the precious resource of water. You will see this in the coming months, especially as we get closer to the ISH show in Frankfurt.
What do you find the most challenging aspects of your job?
For me, the challenge is the same as the reward; keeping the team motivated. It’s not easy to get a product from a price of paper to a world-wide marketed product and sometimes that can mean working behind the scenes to break down barriers to keep the focus on the long-term design plan. I find keeping a positive mindset helps with this.
What do you wish you knew before working in the field?
I came into the field knowing it would be different every day. But I guess it would have been nice to have known just how diverse it could be. I never expected that I would have the opportunity to work all over the world!
What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?
That extra hour at lunch is not a bad idea!
What has been your favourite project to work on?
The next project, always! For me, the whole reason for being a designer was to take on the challenge of the next project. I love not knowing what could be next, and then drawing inspiration from my experiences so far to make improvements on the next project.
What do you think is the biggest problem the interior design industry faces?
Instagram! There is so much digital influence on a daily basis now that consumers are seeing similar styles echoed. I find that if I want to seek new inspiration then I need to look outside of Instagram. It also surprises me how so many inspiring interior design shots are void of people when, ultimately, these spaces are designed for people.
Which people do you admire the most in the industry and why?
The people I admire most in the industry are very humble; they are the people working behind the scenes, avoiding the limelight but still producing amazing work.
What are you most looking forward to at Sleep + Eat 2018?
I like that Sleep + Eat focuses on a big design topic – the hospitality industry. This interior design sector encompasses a lot of design considerations and, whilst GROHE has a lot of expertise in the sector, I go to the show to learn.
If you were inspired by Michael’s story and want to learn more about interior design, click here.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series comprises of a spectacular penthouse set across two buildings and a charming garden apartment. The Eaton Place residence offers an unparalleled level of luxury and sophistication; with a fusion of opulent style and functional design, this period property has been thoughtfully re-designed to epitomise luxurious modern living. An iconic address in the heart of Central London, Belgravia is one of London’s most vibrant and prestigious destinations, with grand Georgian architecture surrounded by the green open spaces of both Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens. Working in close partnership with developer and interior designer, Fenton Whelan Design, Nulty Bespoke assisted with the completion and installation of several stunningly custom-made lighting pieces throughout this luxury residential apartment. The overall interior design skilfully mixes contemporary finishes with the building’s classical proportions, giving a homely yet truly inspiring sensation to each space. The sympathetic treatment of the listed building’s key rooms ensures that the historic grandeur of the property is not only retained but enhanced. Céline Gehamy, Product Designer at Nulty Bespoke comments,
‘We immensely enjoyed working on this residential project with its high spec and elegant design. From designing a creative, beautiful and practical solution for a chandelier in the tall, thin stairwell, to overseeing the colour combinations of the glass pendants within the dining room, this was just the kind of project that the Nulty Bespoke team thrives upon. Throughout the design, manufacture and installation every detail was diligently considered - from the positioning of each individual element in the design stage to the threading and fastening of every tiny crystal’.
We interviewed Celine Gehamy and Ollie Yates, Product Creation at Nulty Bespoke about their collaboration with Desariot Ademaj, the Creative Director at Fenton Whelan Design to produce bespoke lighting solutions for a project of this luxurious magnitude!
Company: Fenton Whelan Design & Nulty Bespoke
Project: Eaton Place
Project Location: London, UK
The client requested a selection of unique and individual luminaires designed for a luxury residential apartment in London. There were a number of spaces that we had to create bespoke pieces for ranging from the living room, dining room, entertainment space, stairwell and bedroom. The project was very high end and the design of the pendants had to reflect this, whilst supporting the individual style of each room.
What inspired the design of the project?
Each space required its own identity, and this is reflected in the design of the luminaires. Such as the finishes, the shape, light source and colour temperature.
A light sculpture in the main entertaining space of the apartment, incorporates 22 mouth-blown dish-like glass shades made in London. Each shade is a combination of different hues of purple and white. The sculpture consists of two separate polished champagne-gold-coloured metal frames, which seamlessly blend together as one. Each section has two ceiling plates incorporating the same metal. The LED light source is housed in an oval-shaped detail accommodating the natural, variations of glass thickness. The underside of the glass resembles an oyster shell with a pearl nestled within.
Three large tailor-made Art Deco inspired luminaires add a stylish touch to the top floor entertaining space. The refined light fittings, each measuring 1.6m x 0.25m have been handcrafted with sandblasted reeded glass, a material reminiscent of the Art Deco era. Each luminaire exudes a diffused light, and a warm temperature of 2400k providing a soft radiant effect within the ceiling cove. The trio of elegant handmade luminaires brings a sense of perspective to the room and demonstrates that simplicity can most definitely be striking. The quality of the luminaires complements the rich materials used in the interior design, adding a classic touch to the gentleman’s club-feel of the room.
A statement cluster of 19 hand-blown glass shades made in England hang above the dining table, complementing the sense of drama in this opulent space. Dimmable filament bulbs, produce a warm colour and the shades have a variety of finishes (diamonds, ribbed, smooth) and colours (amber, grey, purple and light brown).
A handcrafted seven-metre chandelier is suspended from a precision engineered, polished nickel structure positioned directly below the elliptical skylight within the stairwell. The frame is purposely simple and open in a design to make sure the flow of natural light is not restricted. The impressive lighting installation resembles a waterfall and comprises over 100 handmade Italian glass twists and 1500 faceted crystal spheres. The glass twists have a rippled texture, an opaque centre and a pointed tip for added definition, and they complement the crystal droplets beautifully. Cascading through the centre is a spiral of 22 frosted glass lanterns housing LED lamps, which provide a soft, warm glow of light to the space, while highlighting the sculpture's intricate glass work and sparkling crystals.
A glamorous chandelier hangs from the centre of the bedroom ceiling. Two bronze-plated rings form the base of the chandelier and over 100 triangular Italian glass prisms hang from the rings and refract the LED light within, producing a warm colour temperature. Dark brown fabric envelopes the cables leading to the bronze-plated ceiling plate. The entire piece has a drop of 400mm from the ceiling
Adapting to the construction constraints on site proved tricky at times but we managed to work closely with the client to provide quick and efficient solutions to deliver the project on time and to a high standard.
A highlight of the project for us lies within the attention to detail of each piece. Each luminaire was a labour of love from the initial design sketches to the final installation on site. To see our creations come to life and fit within each room perfectly brings a great sense of satisfaction as designers.
Questions answered by Celine Gehamy and Ollie Yates, Product Creation at Nulty Bespoke
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring an extravagant mansion in the gated 'Karma' compound overlooking the luxurious quarter in Cairo, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Nulty Bespoke | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an extravagant mansion situated at the top of a cliff and surrounded by an incredible landscape in the gated upscale 'Karma' compound overlooking the 'Sixth of October' luxurious quarter in Cairo, Egypt. Nihal Zaki had always been acclaimed for her talent in mixing period classic styles and making them blend lavishly, so when commissioned by a mature couple with this mansion to fulfil their retirement dreams, the design unsurprisingly embraced the client's love of travel, antiques and art collecting; merging traditional period style features combined with Chinese and Tibetan influences for an elegant and eclectic interior scheme.
Company: Nihal Zaki Interiors
Project: KARMA Mansion 'Chinese Bathroom'
Project Location: Cairo, Egypt
The ‘Chinese bathroom’ located in the KARMA Mansion comprised of a powder room and guest bathroom in the ground floor. The client didn’t give us a brief design-wise. They only specified that they wanted to achieve a classically inspired design style.
My client travelled a lot and was a big antiques collector! One day they sent to our office an ancient Tibet wooden piece with a magnificent dragon carved into it, and the moment I laid eyes on it I knew that this would be my pièce de résistance for the guest bathroom and hence the ‘Chinese bathroom’ came to life.. We suggested ‘Chinese’ as a concept because we wanted to create a diversity of styles and our client was fond of Chinese art as well as Tibetan heritage.
The concept revolved around warm yet vivid red and earthly colours while introducing indirect LED lights with subtle reflections and shades. Glass orange mosaics were used to enrich the overall experience and black granite sinks were carved and mounted in both the powder area and bathroom. This bathroom is mystical, boasting magnificent Eastern essences.
The walls! The shape of those two joint spaces (powder room and bathroom / toilet area) were diagonal and irregularly shaped! The powder room was more of a triangle whilst the toilet area was a narrow corridor.. We overcame that by panelling and framing coloured rattan inspired wallpaper with wooden Asian-style frames in keeping with the traditional, Chinese inspired design vision.
The clients were a mature couple who chose this heavenly spot as their retirement place and they were passionate about travelling and collecting all sorts of antiques and vintage items from all over the world. It was our job to design and build interiors that would complement their precious acquisitions which was a rewarding challenge! The Tibet prayer chair was another problem piece acquired by my client that was later added to the bathroom space, greeting the guests as they entered!
Because of its incredible reputation and the versatility of entries and designs, submitted from all over the world. The SBID Awards feels like the champions league!
Questions answered by Nihal Zaki, CEO of Nihal Zaki Interiors.
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a country home which married together a traditional façade with a contemporary and sumptuous interior, click here to see more.
Nihal Zaki Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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