A kitchen by ‘Kitchen Retailer of the Year’ 2021 KBB Awards winner The Myers Touch was designed within a period home in Southsea, Hampshire.
The client had previously lived in the US and loved Sub Zero & Wolf Appliances – she wanted to incorporate them into a pure and modern combined look kitchen with American-style bench seating.
Designer Keith Myers worked with the client to create a kitchen that would create the ‘wow factor’, so they could cook and entertain for their large extended family. Danetti bench seating was installed against the island unit.
SieMatic classic SC10 range cabinetry mixed with SieMatic S2 handleless kitchen range were included in the design, as well as Silestone and Dekton worktops and a Kohler Sink & Tap.
Photography credits: Phil Green
About The Myers Touch
The Myers Touch specialises in the holistic design of luxury kitchens in the Winchester area, creating truly bespoke living spaces that offer far more than conventional cooking environments. Established in 2003 and based in Winchester, they enjoy long-standing partnerships with the iconic German manufacturer SieMatic and other leading brands including Gaggenau, Wolf, Sub-Zero, Miele and Siemens.
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The beach house in sunny Barbados, on which Celia Sawyer and her design team had been working on, was a total refurbishment. The house was dated, with a pitched roof and internally not very beach like.
In charge of the whole design inside and out, Celia wanted to create a really simple, textured beach house, contemporary and cool. Her vision was that outdoor living was key here as the days and nights are very warm, so she wanted to create an outdoor living and dining area. The original house was completely opened up and the only areas existing were the exterior side walls. Everything was kept light and a stone effect tile was used to create some texture on the front and back of the house.
The bedrooms were given a recess so that the room could be given a four-poster type of feel without the four poster bed, using elegant soft curtaining on each corner giving the room height combined with glamour.
Wishing to add some drama in this room Celia decided on a very dark brown – almost black back feature wall, which was textured plaster, creating interest. The artwork was a large piece of coral in a large perspex box, and thankfully it made it in the container all the way from the UK in one piece! In fact as Barbados is an Island with limited supplies, Celia had to ship out every item, including taps, w/c’s sinks, lights, even the w/c flush and all the furniture and kitchen.
Celia used white in colour and loose covers for much of the furniture, and the bathrooms were made white with textured walls, to keep it with that cool, beach vibe. She also created a bar area outside, as it is the perfect country for outdoor entertaining; the outside areas were put into zones, so that there was faux grass in one area with a four poster bed, a jacuzzi tub in another and then, of course, the bar and the outdoor living and dining rooms.
The six-month project was a labour of love and a real success, and just in case the client wanted to put another floor on top, Celia designed the upper floor so that everything is in place for that if it happens. Another trip over to Barbados could be on the cards for Celia very soon!
About Celia Sawyer
Founded some 20 years ago, Celia Sawyer Interior Architecture And Design have been discreetly providing both private and commercial clients with bespoke, ground breaking luxury interiors, turning dreams into practical day-to-day reality. Their ethos is clear, distinct and straightforward – “To interpret their partners’ ideas, ambitions and requirements with flair, passion, innovation and excitement, executing and delivering projects with diligent attention to detail and timely professional execution”.
The Myers Touch designed a new-build family home based in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire for owners that wanted a sociable, connected, family kitchen space with neutral tones that they could entertain and cook in.
Designer, Keith Myers worked with the client and builder to propose a solution to the kitchen living space that involved knocking down a wall, redesigning a larger kitchen space and relocating the utility room to another area of the house.
Siematic S2 handleless furniture was chosen for the cabinetry with 12mm Silestone Niebla and Dekton Fossil worktops.
Three unique zones – cooking area, prep area and storage that connected the kitchen within the dining space.
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This London pied-à-terre is a masterclass in open-plan living. Despite its relatively compact proportions (5m x 7m), the homeowners wanted to slot in a well-equipped kitchen, dining and living areas. Charlie Smallbone of Ledbury Studio was tasked with designing a kitchen that would both furnish the space and enhance its overall look.
“Just because a kitchen is bijou, it doesn’t mean it can’t be big on style, and I think this project perfectly demonstrates this,” says Charlie. “We have hidden much of the functionality behind closed doors meaning that all you can see is a collection of handmade pieces of furniture. So, whether the family are dining at the table or lounging in the living area, they always have a beautiful view.”
To ensure the kitchen is a seamless extension of the living area, Charlie opted not to install wall cupboards above the base cabinets. This created space for floating glass shelves, allowing the homeowners to weave in a touch of character with plants and decorative objects. A hanging rail was also added, retaining the much-coveted open feel whilst keeping kitchen paraphernalia close to hand.
Charlie’s greatest challenge was to fit all the functional aspects of a kitchen into the single wall of furniture. “It was tricky but I am happy with the final arrangement, which incorporates a lot of storage as well as all the essentials,” he explains. “It features a stone sink and Miele induction hob sandwiched between a tall, integrated fridge-freezer and larder cupboard at one end, and a dropped-down worktop with storage above it at the other.”
The cupboards themselves feature pewter fronts, which speak to the homeowners’ eclectic style. Made from sheet metal that is hand textured with hammers and heat, and given an aged patina using acid, the surface is then sealed with lacquer so that it stands the test of time. The cupboards are finished with concave stainless-steel handles that have been blasted to dull the shine and darken their appearance.
Bianco Macaubas Quartzite was specified for the worktop; a hardwearing but stunning natural stone with rich marble-esque veining. Charlie paired this with a Verre Eglomise splashback, whereby pure gold leaf was applied to the reverse of toughened glass and antiqued. Not only does it look stunning, but its reflective properties help to bounce light around the room and increase the feeling of space.
Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £50,000.
About Ledbury Studio
Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
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This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a contemporary loft apartment situated above the famous Soho Theatre. Angel O’Donnell redesigned and reconfigured this central London duplex apartment on behalf of a private client. The apartment, which spans 1750 sq ft across two floors, boasts a generous open plan living and entertainment space with a spacious kitchen centred around an island and a large, yet cosy living room providing the perfect place to relax above the hustle and bustle of Soho. The show stopping centrepiece of the space is an 20 ft tall retractable roof which can be pulled back almost entirely, opening the room up and flooding it with natural light, creating a sense of inside/outside living.
Practice: Angel O’Donnell
Project: Soho Loft Apartment
Location: London, United Kingdom
What was the client’s brief?
The client hadn’t touched the property for 15 years and needed to bring it up to date before putting it on the market. They wanted a fresh looking scheme that reflected the location of the apartment and were concerned that the apartment lacked proper zoning – currently arranged as a totally open plan, one bedroom, totalling 1750sqt – they wanted our help to maximise the cost per sq ft.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
Soho provided us with a wealth of inspiration, from its architecture, nightlife, creativity and its unique blend of old and new that works so perfectly in this part of town. We took inspiration from nearby venues like Soho House Dean St which is directly opposite as well as of course the theatre downstairs. We don’t have a ‘house style’ as such, we prefer to take our lead from the properties we work with and the nearby surroundings to create an environment that we believe best suits each particular project.
To further enhance the feeling of bringing the outside in, we adopted an organic and natural colour palette in the living room with green, blue and turquoise hues. A dramatic feature wall was painted in Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue and creates ambience at one end of the room, whilst bar stools in a forest green velvet provide a subtle reminder of Soho’s nightlife. An ivory coloured sofa is also decorated with a mix of cushions in Mulberry and Zinc textiles.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The toughest hurdle was how to turn the huge open plan space into something more commercially viable without breaking the bank & keeping that airy, light filled feeling. Our proposition was to build a wall across the original snug area, with sliding pocket doors. This created a separate room which was multi-functional; snug, study or second bedroom. We also advised the client to keep the kitchen and spiral staircase. These looked dated but by adding the dramatic dark paint colour behind them, gave them a new lease of life and made them look contemporary once again.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
Really the highlight was the client’s reaction at the result. They were literally lost for words when they saw the transformation and even though we had created a second room in an open plan space they thought that the space felt bigger. They genuinely felt like this was the home they had been wanting to create for years. Hugs all round !
Questions answered by Ed O’Donnell and Richard Angel, founders of Angel O’Donnell
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s Residential design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring beautifully bespoke, authentic and consciously curated interiors for a boutique hotel in the mountains of Italy, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features Interior design that synthesises Eastern and Western styles. The interior design plan of this luxury property unites the Eastern and Western classical elements, giving it a bold and alluring character. The captivating Roman vault structure built at the entrance creates impact thanks to its remarkable detail and decor. The achromatic colours soften the visual impact, the soft whites, which serves the main colours, blend with oriental natural landscape scenes. YZ Environment Design used decorative details diversely to incorporate elements from the oriental architectural while infusing the Western design style with ink-based art, creating a blended and innovative Chinese classical style.
SBID Awards: Residential Design Over £1M finalist sponsored by THG Paris
Practice: YZ Environment Design
Project: Synthesis of Eastern-and-Western Classical Styles
Location: Beijing, China
The proprietor is China Resources Group, a respected developer in China. This case is a model room of high-end luxury apartments, located near Beijing Medical University – which is an excellent location. The main customers have rich wealth and knowledge. The proprietor’s request is to make the clients feel elegant and to provide a unique experience.
Chinoiserie is a decorative style in Western art, furniture, and architecture, especially in the 18th century, characterised by the use of Chinese motifs and techniques. European countries absorbed the Chinese culture; particularly the symbols and cultural elements, however, the meaning and value of the elements are often ignored. Such surface-level cultural input made “Chinoiserie” not able to be widely applied and it eventually disappeared into the history of design. Although the Chinoiserie style represents the Europeans’ yearning for China, the imitation of Chinese art crafts and the shallow understanding of the culture make it hard to get deep into and extend the Chinese culture. People just see what they want to see about Chinese culture instead of the whole picture of it. Capturing the essence of Chinoiserie therefore was a key inspiration for this project’s design scheme.
The toughest challenging was how to let the engineers and product processing staff understand the concept of the theme and intrinsic classic detail to create a transformation which is great enough to compete with the classics. The design involved many important craft processes such as hand-printed wallpaper, stairs, and mosaic with a large number of sketches and 3D drawings to develop.
Visitors are introduced to classics from different periods and different regions when they enter the property. There are design distinctions and differences among the classic features, but they have been curated to blend so naturally and elegantly they are not noticeable. It gives people a whole new feeling. At the same time, exquisite and rigorous technologies have helped provide technical support to creating these new classics.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
We found SBID Award is a high-quality competition when we entered the award in 2015 for the first time. The judges are concerned not only about technology, materials and the undergoing changes in them, but also value highly culture and art and human spirit.
Questions answered by YZ Environment Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a Victorian family home with modern, industrial aesthetic & open plan living, click here to see more.
SBID Awards 2019 | Residential Design Over £1M finalist sponsored by THG Paris
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an exceptional new build residence with 5 ensuite bedrooms, off street parking and leisure suite in the heart of Notting Hill. Fenton Whelan redeveloped and designed the property to create a boutique mansion townhouse, complete with a wellness centre comprising of a gym, sauna, steam room and Notting Hill’s longest swimming pool at 15 metres! The 6,225 sq.ft house is designed with a fresh colour palette and eclectic, contemporary interior pieces, to reflect the properties geography and the vernacular architecture of the surrounding area, whilst still retaining bespoke, luxury detailing throughout.
Practice: Fenton Whelan
Project: Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill
The brief was to redevelop and redesign the traditional Victorian property and create a 6,225 sq ft boutique family town-house whist retaining the original facade. The interior design juxtaposes the traditional and heritage elements of the property by introducing clean lines, large volume spaces and modern pieces to create a luxury family home.
Inspiration was drawn from the buildings historical proportions and the vernacular architecture of the surrounding area, which has been emphasised in the design and married with meticulously designed and crafted pieces for an elegant and contemporary interior style. By combining these two inspirations the design has created a fresh and light home whilst still retaining the bespoke, luxury feel throughout.
Capitalising on ceiling heights and adding large bi-folding doors to the rear of the property on both the ground and first floors, we maximised the amount of light that flows through the property. The design and layout of the property, notably the creation of a dual aspect reception room, further emphasised the architectural volumes, making spaces feel open and bright.
The property was originally a Victorian era pub for which the façade was listed and therefore had to be retained. The process of transforming this into a modern luxury five bedroom home with leisure suite and home cinema came with a number of planning and spatial hurdles that our design team had to overcome By adding additional floors, both above and below ground, the volumes of key rooms could be maintained, and allowed spaces to remain open, maximising the flow of light throughout. Light was on the lower floors was managed through the addition of beautifully designed light wells creating private outside areas below ground. The introduction of a 4 floor sweeping staircase gives a sense of space and volume, from the first moment on entering the property.
Our team’s highlight of the project was our success in creating a unique design that harmonises a contemporary and luxurious feel whilst enhancing the buildings attributes. One example of this is the entrance hall and its sweeping four-storey staircase, fitted with made-to-measure balustrades and housing a full height drop chandelier, with custom-made lights inspired by the leaves from the tree-lined road outside.
The SBID International Design Awards are a recognition of talent and achievement, which is very important to use being placed amongst world recognised design companies who are all leaders in their respective fields.
Questions answered by Desariot Ademaj, Creative Director of Fenton Whelan
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a design which emulates the eclectic scene of downtown Frankfurt with an urban aesthetic and cool, artistic flare, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a stunning Shanghai residence located in the heart of Shanghai’s Pudong district. Elicyon was commissioned to design a luxurious apartment in a contemporary British style. With sophisticated colour palette, lacquered veneers and marble, the design scheme blends perfectly with the existing architecture of the building, and by using joinery, furniture and lighting crafted exclusively in the UK – Elicyon created a home true to the client’s vision.
Practice: Elicyon
Project: Shanghai
Location: Shanghai, China
The client was a young Chinese professional who wanted to create an apartment with a real sense of British craftsmanship within this prestigious residential development. The client had a very strong design ethos with long-term vision – it was very important that the fittings, furnishings and palette chosen would be impactful but at the same time, wouldn’t date. It is always exciting to work with a client who has a defined vision and makes highly informed, considered design choices.
British craftsmanship definitely inspired the design of the apartment. This translated into our choice of suppliers – we worked with a lot of British and European artisans and suppliers. We also chose a colour palette with quite a British sensibility – lots of dove grey and pale blues which were then given a twist through contrasting against areas of high black glossy, lacquered veneers. We were conscious of not creating a cliché or pastiche of British design, so we also took inspiration from the Shanghai location, paying homage to the river and incredible views, to create a marriage between east and western influences in the final product.
This project was very special for many reasons – the fit-out of the apartment was almost entirely built in Britain and then flat packed and air freighted to Shanghai. It was an incredibly challenging and exciting brief to transpose a completely British-made design for the client. The end result was absolutely fantastic, true to the initial vision of a space with a limited, and in most part, high contrast palette.
Questions answered by Charu Gandhi, Founder and Director, Elicyon
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a timeless explorer’s lodge in Botswana built with sustainability and nature in mind, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a truly magnificent residential design for a home befitting of its prime location in Wentworth; one of the UK’s premier private estates. This 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom detached house offers inspiration and excitement at every turn. Having worked extensively with the client over the last twelve years on multiple overseas properties and a limited edition Oyster yacht, Hill House Interiors were the natural choice to transform the home, using inspiring fabrics, innovative textures and complementary tones to seamlessly integrate the 3,000 sqft extension into the rest of the home.
Company: Hill House Interiors
Project: Private Estate, Wentworth
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Hill House Interiors were commissioned to design the interior scheme for this prestigious property in 2006, since which, they have further worked with the owners on their stunning villa in Zagleta and limited edition Oyster yacht. It was, therefore, sheer delight to be contacted again to revisit the client’s Wentworth home to devise the scheme for a vast refurbishment and 3000 sqft extension of the already sizeable 9000 sqft home.
Initially born from the desire for a much larger, walk in closet and dressing area for the master suite, the clients swiftly realised their dream of considerably larger entertainment spaces to include on the wishlist; a stunning new dual aspect fireplace, feature bar, and sumptuous cinema room.
Hill House drew inspiration for this remarkable space from the Art Déco era – that fascinating period in history when bold geometry, artistic mirrors and exquisitely rich materials started to be incorporated into private homes.
The hallway is the first thing guests see when they enter a home, so it is always a key feature and starting point of any scheme. This transitory spot was the perfect place to sweep guests off their feet and was utilised to add elegant décor details that helped to elevate the overall ambience of the home.
Upon entering, guests are met with a stunning Jerusalem crema grey marble staircase with glass balustrade and leather handrail. This installation is a beautiful contrast to the bespoke, hand sculpted artwork – a single bonsai tree – spanning the 20ft wall. Specially finished in a shimmering hand-applied pearlescent coat, subtle, soft recessed lighting enhances the incredibly intricate detail of this favoured far eastern tree. The sublimely elegant hand-blown floating crystal leaf chandelier that presides over the space – apart from making a stunning sculptural visual centrepiece – creates a beautiful light and shadow play across its surrounding surfaces, enhancing the space further.
The SBID Awards are highly respected within the design industry, and every year it’s incredibly inspiring to see such a wide variety of skills and styles represented across the various categories, showing the amount of diversity within the interior design industry.
The projects that take home an SBID accolade are truly the best in the business, and the awards evening is an event we look forward to every year. We continue to be delighted to take part in the SBID International Design Awards, and are keeping our fingers crossed for 2020!
Questions answered by Jenny Weiss, Co-founder of Hill House Interiors
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring luxurious, golden age glamour for the Hilton Imperial Hotel Dubrovnik, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a total interior renovation which was designed to create a residence that better reflected the family’s dynamic and appeal to their personal tastes. Nestled in picturesque Forest Hill, Toronto, this Georgian styled 10,000 sq ft house has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms for five children and two adults; an upgrade from their previous three bedroom home! Powell & Bonnell incorporated a blend of pattern on pattern, bold furnishings and courageously contemporary art pieces into this playful residential design to enrich each space with unique character and charm. The result is a home fit for family fun and entertainment, for all that pass beyond the threshold of this lively, design-led home.
Company: Powell & Bonnell
Project: The Well Hued Home
Location: Ontario, Canada
A total interior renovation, to create a residence that better reflected the family’s dynamic and appeal to their personal taste. The client called for an abundance of colour and whimsical personality as a principal inspiration for this new residence. An inventory of existing furnishings, mostly from the previous residence, also needed to be restyled and upholstered to be incorporated into the new design. Our goal was to mix pattern on pattern, bold furnishings and courageously contemporary art pieces to enliven every room.
Without a doubt the client’s love of art and travel. Family trips to London and New York with stays in boutique hotels had exposed the client to an informal more effervescent design style and helped their curiosity for contemporary art and design blossom. Much of the art was selected by the homeowner themselves which gave us a starting point for colour schemes and concepts for each room, making this residence just right for showcasing the client’s eclectic interests!
To think back, the idea of making all those colours work in one house was really the biggest hurdle! We knew the house, we had worked with the client before, the contractor we worked with also executed the family’s first renovation with us, so the usual difficulties that arise in those “getting to know you” areas, wasn’t a problem when it came to working on this project.
The house is entertaining, even the “serious” rooms like the dining room and living room, which children are often discouraged from using have a youthful and fun loving flair, without being juvenile. The key is in the fabrics – we used quite a bit from our collection of textiles when upholstering items for this house. The Powell & Bonnell textile collection is made of commercial grade fabrics that have a residential feel and appearance.
We were attracted by the opportunities and potential exposure for international design in the competition. It is well run and well respected. We have entered it many times, and love the awards presentation!
Questions answered by Fenwick Bonnell, Partner and Albert Limshue, Senior Designer at Powell & Bonnell
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring SBID Award winners for the stunning residential design which showcases sophisticated luxury for a 19th century apartment, click here to see more.
SBID Awards 2019 | Residential Design Over £1M Finalist sponsored by THG Paris
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