Serene and Peaceful Home Connects the Family to Nature

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a contemporary family home design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, RS Interiores & IDA SRL.

The inspiration of this Project came from the very first call with our clients, it’s a design inspired by Mid century décor. In Marba Haus we implemented much warmth of the environment to instill peace and serenity within the design.

The use of wood is shown in the many elements of the design, for example, the wooden ceilings, or in the many modern pieces of furniture. The color coordination of the greens and terracotta inspires organic design. We used textured techniques for the wall finishings creating different dimensions and earthy sensations.

All these combinations in the design have created a warm, peaceful and serene home, a true space for a family to live.

What was the client’s brief? 

The clients wanted a family home that reminded them of nature.

What inspired the design of the project?

The inspiration came from a phone call when discussing the project with my clients, they were speaking about how they loved to be outdoors and nature. Colors like greens and earthy tones, textures all came into place.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle for this project was creating new texture techniques on the walls with plaster and sand. We used a brush in order to create arched movements and patterns on the walls. After completing this process we decided to paint over it. The overall aspect of this organic creation was a true work of art.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of this project has to be the combination of the materials and finishing and how they all come together in design. We were able to mix furniture, textures and fabrics to mesh the mid century feel with contemporary design.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

As a SBID Member and past winner of the 2020, I believe in sharing and competing in design. It makes us stronger as designers and inspires others in our field to grow as professionals.

Questions answered by Rosadela Serulle, CEO and Founder, RS Interiores & IDA SRL.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the CGI & Visualisation category, II BY IV DESIGN, Dan Menchions talks about working on sustainability-focused projects, integrating sustainable initiatives into the design, as well as making wellness the main priority of the space.

In a world threatened by the climate crisis, The Residences at Central Park offers a better future. Nestled between Toronto’s protected ravine and one of the city’s hip urban areas, it is a vibrant nexus—focused on wellness and sustainability.

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

Central Park is an ambitious 12-acre master-planned neighbourhood in Toronto that promises a connected, healthier future. Focused on wellness and sustainability, it connects the urban and natural worlds, raising the bar for design excellence. Green initiatives are integrated throughout the complex. We worked collaboratively with the entire project team to align the interior design with the development’s vision: refining the contemporary lifestyle, using natural materials and framing views of the ravines, extending the harmony of the natural world inside. This strategy is also implemented in the design of the permanent Presentation Pavilion, where a composition of natural materials and future-forward immersive experiences emulate the proposed lifestyle for the prospective inhabitants of Central Park.  

Designed holistically, the Presentation Pavilion for Central Park is built as a permanent space with the potential to transform into a multi-purpose cultural hub for the community. Wrapped in a soaring 4-storey window façade, this architectural glass box is positioned on the site as a billboard to sell the development and its breathtaking views. With an orchestrated, powerful retail experience, we weaved culture and lifestyle stories, thoughtful moments of theatre, and a series of vignettes, creating the forthcoming environment at Central Park for the prospective residents while they visually merchandise the selection of future-forward finishes, furniture, and products. 

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

Witnessing the positive reaction of those who visit the site—and the pavilion—has been a joy for us since completing the project. We are pleased to see the formation of a community that cares about wellness and sustainability; and have come to appreciate how significant the integration of nature and natural elements (including natural light) plays a part in creating a healthy, future-forward residence. It is also encouraging to gain insights about how much the prospective residents of Central Park delight in someday living where they have ease of access to the nearby ravines, urban living, public transit, and robust indoor/outdoor amenities. We aim to incorporate these insights into our future projects, designing healthy, wellness-focused, and connected residences for our clients.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

Since its inception in 2009, SBID has been instrumental in propelling the interior design industry forward. As a global platform—attracting entries from across the world—it is truly an honour to win an SBID award. It is a sign of industry recognition for our project to get evaluated by leading experts for technical content and aesthetic creativity. Together with our clients, team, and collaborators, we get the boost of encouragement to continue designing beautiful spaces that connect and elevate people. We also love that the design-conscious public has a say in voting for the most inspiring projects.

What is the most important thing to keep in mind when working on sustainability-focused projects?

When designing a sustainability-focused project, the design principles of functionality, accessibility, and aesthetics revolve around environmental considerations, so in a way, the project is both eco-centric and human-centric, which includes humans too. The longevity and durability of the finishes are key, especially for high-traffic areas. It is also important to work collaboratively with the entire project team to accommodate for systematic Green features that are new in residential developments. For Central Park, we reached further and emphasized the significance of integrating the natural world into everyday life by incorporating natural materials and views of the surrounding ravine areas and using energy-efficient technology throughout the interiors.   

The development’s vision is to refine the contemporary lifestyle. What does contemporary lifestyle mean to you? How do you think our lifestyles and, therefore, design choices are changing?

To mitigate the climate crisis, we need to refine our current lifestyle as a global society. We need to become more efficient and eco-conscious, mainly for our benefit.

The Residences at Central Park connect the urban back to nature. The design and development team has integrated Green initiatives like reflective solar panels, Green roofs, and a thermal building envelope. A next-generation mechanical system incorporates advanced airflow and filtration for the entire building. Moreover, there is direct access to public transit, on-site bicycle/car-share service, and EV (electric vehicle) charging stations for every spot in residential and visitor parking spaces, promoting safe, clean travel—free of emissions. As interior designers of Central Park, we decided to reimagine how we can live better: what aspects of today’s lifestyle could be refined for a better tomorrow. We then reflected our insights onto every part of the project and delivered a robust amenity program, spa-inspired bathrooms, energy-saving light fixtures, and everything in between. The Presentation Gallery for this development even confirms the team’s commitment to sustainability, designing it as a permanent building. Envisioned as a multi-purpose cultural hub in the future, it is suited up in a composition of natural, enduring, high-quality materials and high-tech features for posterity.

What makes an interior design project wellness-focused? How do you account for it as a designer?

By its nature, interior design projects are always focused on wellness as we create spaces that improve the human experience through ergonomics, style, light, layout, and finish palettes/materiality. When designing vertical living projects, like The Residences of Central Park, we include activities for wellness in the amenity program. Moreover, a timeless composition of elements, materials, and furnishings in warm tones and delightful textures creates a harmonious feel for wellness. The attention to detail and quality cohesively begins at the entrance, continuing to the resort-like amenities and offering an urban oasis in each suite, including low water—and electrical—systems/appliances. There are also available provisions for cutting-edge automation, enabling residents to control temperature, lighting, or other items from their smartphones that make life more efficient and convenient, contributing to the quality of the residents’ everyday experience and, therefore, their wellness.

Questions answered by Dan Menchions, Partner, II BY IV DESIGN.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards’ Overall Winner, Clara Lleal Interiorista, Clara Lleal explains how they achieved displaying a number of different art pieces in a cohesive design, and discusses the experience of working on a space for an artist.

Art Gallery House is located in the historic centre of Badalona, a city near Barcelona. The brief was to strategically place the sculptures created by the owner of the house himself, the artist and sculptor Juanma Noguera. In short, an Art Gallery house.

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

One of the challenges when it came to the layout of the project was to strategically place the sculptures created by the owner of the house himself, the artist and sculptor Juanma Noguera. In terms of general aesthetics, the idea was to give the whole space an industrial atmosphere, maintaining and recovering the building’s original materials. The solid brick walls were uncovered, the vaulted iron-beamed ceilings were respected, and areas with the original hydraulic pavement were maintained.

The materials used subsequently also follow this industrial premise, concrete, black iron sheet, herringbone floor of recovered wood, and teak wood furniture to break the cold of the greys.

The construction of the house dates back to the 19th century, coinciding with the industrial period in Catalonia. Therefore, the house has many architectural elements typical of that period, which we wanted to maintain and even restore. The walls were chipped to leave the brickwork exposed, the original cast iron columns were restored, the hydraulic mosaic floor tiles of Mediterranean origin were kept, and the Catalan vaulted ceilings were left exposed. In short, we wanted to recover the industrial essence of the house and give it value.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

One of the main challenges was to gain natural light. It must be said that in an area of 200m2 there was only one window. Skylights were opened in the roof and in the inner courtyards, as many openings as possible were made so that the house would be bathed in light. We wanted to convey the feeling of wellbeing and warmth that natural light provides. In addition, from the beginning we wanted to include a lot of natural vegetation that can only live with light.

Another challenge was that the spaces were very large and there was a risk that they would not be welcoming, which was of paramount importance to the client. With the combination of materials such as teak wood and dark colors, a cozy atmosphere was definitely achieved.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

It was a big honor and symbolic for me. It was the first big international contest where I had taken part, and I can confirm that is also one of the few contests that is honest and where it is very difficult to get an award. That is why I cannot describe how happy I was when I heard my name. It was amazing!

For my business, winning this award represents an excellent opportunity to take a leap to grow and be able to access more interesting projects, and perhaps even have the opportunity to expand my business abroad.

You managed to display a lot of artworks of different mediums, while also using a few open storage units. How did you achieve this without the space looking cluttered?

The placement of the art pieces was well thought out from the beginning, and in fact the distribution was based on the strategic placement of each one of them. Initially we knew which pieces were going to be exhibited, so we only needed to determine where each one was going to be placed and design a setting and lighting to make them stand out. In this way, even though they are of different formats, the paintings and sculptures keep a visual order within the space as a whole as part of the same design.

Have you, as a creative, learned anything new from designing a home for an artist?

Perhaps I have learned to better appreciate works of art in general, but especially sculptures. Personally I have always liked the world of art and crafts and whenever I can I try to include works of art in the projects. Since I was a child I have practiced artistic painting in different techniques and ceramics is one of my hobbies.

In the case of this house, I have been able to work with some sculptures that I really like, pieces created exclusively to be observed and beautify the place where they are located. It is clear that the design, without these sculptures and paintings would not have the same result.

How did you find the process of working with an artist? Did they have their own vision of the space? Do you think the design process is easier or more difficult, if a client is set on a specific design concept?

The design process with the artist Juanma Noguera, the owner of the space, was very easy. This was the third project I had done with him, and not by chance, because aesthetically we speak the same language. Working with a client with this profile makes the work of choosing colors and combining materials and textures much easier, because his aesthetic sense is highly developed. I would insist, then, that part of the success of this project is due to his good taste and the inclusion of his artwork, which, by the way, is beautiful.

Questions answered by Clara Lleal, Creative Director, Clara Lleal INTERIORISTA.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Residential Fit Out Project of the Year category, Laila Interiors, Laila Shour discussed how the team uses design elements to separate open spaces into different areas, talks about designing spaces to suit any taste and lifestyle, and the power of light colour palette.

Kensington court was a neglected mix of multiple vacant flats that were in a state of disrepair for many years. It lays in a conservation area within the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

A complete refurbishment was carried out that transformed this prestigious building into 10 high ceiling luxury apartments and the key idea was to develop a unique design concept of living that aligns with the majority’s style, preferences and functional requirements in keep with the surrounding neighbourhood.

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

When and during the refurbishment, the contemporary style which our design team introduced in the interiors was to incorporate modern design elements, such as choosing metallic accents, geometric shapes, neutral color palette to complement wooden flooring and wall finishes.

Our goal was coordinating the interiors with developers and managing most aspects of the project, to ensure a successful outcome for the client.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The biggest highlight of completing this project was the transformation of the space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment and feeling like we have exceeded all expectations.

The biggest takeaway of the completed project was the satisfying feeling in creating a unique empty space that reflects the style, personality, and lifestyle of everyone and anyone.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

Winning the SBID award was a great honour that gave our company recognition in the UK and on an international level. It elevated the credibility and reputation of the business, making us stand out in a competitive market while attracting new clients and opportunities.

This award boosted the morale of the team and instilled a sense of pride and motivation for us to maintain high standards in future projects and to continue pushing towards creative and design boundaries. We felt highly rewarded and valued for our achievements and hard work in this project from the public and SBID.

How do you design rooms that have lots of open space? What approach do you use to separate those spaces into different areas?

Separating a space that has lots of rooms can be achieved by using furniture such as sofas, armchairs or ottomans to create separate seating areas and define different functions within the space. We also use colour to differentiate between spaces, introducing textiles such as curtains, cushions, or throws to create a visual separation between different areas.

Bringing in nature with indoor plants, natural wood flooring, natural stone, sustainable rugs and lighting added to the separation within areas too. By using a combination of these techniques, it is always possible to create a functional and visually pleasing space with clear divisions, while still maintaining an open and airy feel.

How do you ensure the properties you design will be suitable for all occupants?

In order to ensure that the properties we design are suitable for all occupants, we incorporate universal design principles, such as easy to reach controls, ergonomic design, to make the space usable for people of different ages, abilities and to meet the needs of all occupants.

By following these steps, we promote inclusiveness and comfort for all occupants with adequate lighting, multi-functional spaces and furniture that could be flexible and adapted to accommodate changing needs and requirements over time.

What was the inspiration behind choosing a light and neutral colour palette?

The inspiration behind choosing a light palette in this particular project was due to a few reasons:

a) The 19 century building has an elegant red brick exterior, therefore a neutral palette was chosen for the interior to contrast yet complement the outside. Its purpose was to also draw attention to other design elements, such as textures, patterns, and artwork, and make them the focal point of the inside space.

b) To create a calm and serene atmosphere throughout the interior of the flats we enhanced natural light that seeped through the Kensington gardens to create a cohesive look.

c) The Neutral colors is an additional backdrop for more statement pieces throughout an interior.

d) The property is timeless hence light and neutral colours are seen as classic and timeless, and this was a versatile choice for our design to stand the test of time.

Questions answered by Laila Shour, Founder, Laila Interiors.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern and minimalistic family house design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, ND Studios.

Natascha Dartnall, Founder & Director of ND Studios: We completely reconfigured an existing property, retaining only the listed front façade while building a modern house behind. It was important that we had lots of options when it came to marbles, stones and woods. For our client, the materials were just as important as the furniture, fixtures and fittings themselves.

Our clients shared our own commitment to sustainability and wanted to, where possible, make environmentally conscious decisions during the design, build and install. ND Studios will always seek to employ sustainable practises where possible. One of the main ways we achieved this on this project was to install a ground-source heat pump which is more environmentally friendly than alternative options because it recycles heat between seasons and it releases fewer carbon emissions.

What was the client’s brief? 

Our client wanted their new house to be a family home suitable for both relaxation and entertaining – with a spa, cinema room and home café all on the client’s shopping list. We were asked to create fresh and contemporary interiors with a nod to minimalism. Our clients were keen that we embraced an aesthetic that had longevity and that would age well while also ensuring that it was as sustainable as possible.

What inspired the design of the project?

Given that this was to be family home but with a modern, minimalist aesthetic a main priority was to ensure the house would work, practically speaking. How could we ensure there was a sense of home while staying true to the very pared back concept?

The bedrooms are an ode to modern comfort: clean lines, muted shades and plenty of light thanks to floor to ceiling windows. The guest bedroom includes a plump, fabric headboard which extends all the way across one of the walls, serving as a backdrop to the nightstands as well as the bed itself. This adds some softness to the room. The abstract paintings above the bed with vivid cerulean blue and scarlet red markings also adds vibrancy – just another example of how we made this modern house a family home.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The first hurdle for us was ensuring we had planning in place to knock down much of the existing property and build its modern replacement. The façade of the original property was listed and as a result it had to remain intact. This didn’t jeopardise our client’s vision or our execution of the project: we all felt it added character and a sense of history to the new home. While this held us back, it was only a matter of time before we got the go-ahead. It was a chasing and waiting game.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

One of the most exciting spaces to work on was the home café which has an industrial vibe with a sculpted slab of White Fantasy marble serving as the bar area. We kept it neutral but monochrome with lots of angles and lines which made for a contemporary socialising space you’d expect to see in a busy metropolis but is a brilliant surprise to find within a leafy suburban home.

The cinema room was another exercise in making a space both relaxing, physically comfortable but also chic. There is plenty of softness thanks to the silk carpet by Loomah and the abundance of cushions, but we ensured the space has plenty of hard lines and angles too, so that the room has a sense of structure.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

To have recognition for our work from an established industry body is an honour, and one which we hold in high regard.

Questions answered by Natascha Dartnall, Founder & Director, ND Studios.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a complete refurbishment of a family home by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Novo Design.

Abbie Smith, Founder and Creative Director of Novo Design: We started discussing this project back in 2018, the masterplan was designed and the planning applications commenced. Knock back after knock back and 2 years later approvals were finally given and we could start working on developing the interior concept and specification. The family would be moving in with clothes and toys only and everything from bed linen to champagne flutes and potato peelers had to be specified and procured. The building was stripped back to the shell and then put back together meticulously, no corner was cut on quality of finish and the client continuously pushed for unique bespoke items so the home would be truly unique.

What was the client’s brief? 

To create a beautiful family home and maximise the potential of the space by reconfiguring the internal layout, converting the unused loft space and adding a large kitchen extension and orangery to gain more space that can be enjoyed and utilised.

What inspired the design of the project?

Contemporary styling fused with lots of texture and natural materials. Vibrancy was brought through in artwork and furniture to represent the characters of the family living there.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Obtaining planning permission. 2 years of rejected applications were hard for morale but the client wasn’t willing to compromise so kept persisting and it finally paid off.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The grand reveal, welcoming the family back into the home once we had completed (they didn’t come to site during the build). There were lots of tears of joy and disbelief around the transformation and finished results. It exceeded their expectations and they couldn’t have been happier.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We feel this is by far our most considered and most beautiful residential project we have ever delivered. The client gave us complete ownership of the design so it represents our company style perfectly. A great project to showcase what we can deliver and would be amazing for the team to get recognition for all the hard work that went into this project.

Questions answered by Abbie Smith, Founder and Creative Director, Novo Design.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an expansive seven bedroom villa design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, LW Design.

What was the client’s brief? 

LW Design was tasked to redesign an expansive seven-bedroomed villa in an exclusive neighbourhood of Dubai. The owners wanted the designers to create an extraordinary space for their family and create a seamless flow from each room onto the large terraces and gardens beyond. The space was to be soft, feminine and understated so that the family felt at ease and comfortable at home.

What inspired the design of the project?

LW Design was tasked to create a soft, light and inviting scheme with neutral colours, warm timbers, and soft grey marble mixed with subtle accent colours to create the ultimate retreat. The spaces were designed to link and connect to the vast landscape. In particular, the majlis and formal dining feel like contemporary garden rooms as you are surrounded by full-height glazing with immaculate landscaping beyond. This connection to the outdoors also continues throughout the inside, with large plants placed in the corners of the rooms and some ground floor areas open onto the terrace giving an indoor-outdoor experience.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The main challenge was the sheer scale of the property, not just the number of rooms but also the various ceiling heights ranging from 4 metres to 9 metres in some key areas. The main goal was to ensure that all rooms felt comfortable and warm, each having their own identity but ensuring the design flowed from space to space. With the space being so vast, LW hand-selected and carefully placed unique pieces of furniture that filled the space rather than selecting additional furniture and accessories that would have caused over cluttering. The design team had to coordinate with multiple furniture suppliers who delivered their own finishings and fabrics to ensure they were all coordinated and aligned to maintain the eclectic and considered feel. With a property of this size, it was essential to identify the character of each room and ensure nothing too themed or obvious.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The general ceiling height around the villa is 4 metres while the entrance ceiling height is an impressive 9 metres. The sheer height creates a grand first impression when walking into the villa. The hallway leads into the living spaces that consist of a soft colour palette that creates a serene and bright feel throughout the villa and seamlessly connects the rooms to the surrounding landscape, adding life and depth to the space.

The his and hers master bedroom has oversized artwork shaped like a screen which acts as a headboard and provides a focus to the room. The master bathroom has wall-to-wall soft grey marble complemented by bronze metal screens and a feature freestanding bath. Intimate seating areas, a workspace, and a TV zone help fill the room with beautifully crafted pieces.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

To showcase the project on an international platform and get the recognition this project deserves.

Questions answered by Rachel Kidd, Partner & Design Director, LW Design.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a spacious feng shui-inspired house design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, 7K Design.

What was the client’s brief? 

The client wanted to change the lifestyle of their home because it had not been changed in over 20 years. Their home was not built with the intention of maximizing space functionality and flow. The client desired a change and wanted to revitalize their spaces not just to make them more practical and flow better, but also to ensure that each space was created with feng shui in mind to bring the family good fortune.

What inspired the design of the project?

As the circle was an important cultural symbol, feng shui was an important component that we wanted to incorporate into the design. It represents yin and yang harmony, as well as the balance of nature.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

There are precise feng shui principles for each house, and we must incorporate those criteria into our design while still maximizing space, flow, and staying within budget.

Feng shui goes beyond comfort and aesthetic. We had to have a very good understanding of what elements to bring into the space without causing the project’s integrity to be disrupted.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The team’s highlight of the project is designing the custom spiral stair bookcase. The bookcase incorporates important elements of feng shui: the garden that signifies the growth of life, and the book case signifying growth through knowledge.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We are hoping that SBID will aid in raising awareness of the importance of incorporating cultural identity into designs.

Questions answered by Fianne Zi-Yan Yu, Principal Designer & PM, 7k Design.

In this week’s interview with 2021 SBID Awards winners for the Fit Out Contractor of the Year – Residential category, ALTER EGO, the designers discuss creating interiors that perfectly align with the clients’ desires and blending the architectural style of the residence into its interior design.

How important is it to enter the SBID Awards & receive industry recognition for your work? What are the benefits?

We are absolutely delighted and honoured to become a winner of the SBID Awards in the Fit Out Contractor of the Year – Residential category. Receiving recognition from one of the most prestigious and renowned awards in the global design industry brings not only status and global promotion but also inspiration for new incredible projects and hopefully the future victories.

What do you think made this particular design an award winner?

This project on the Cote d’Azur is an example of successful synergy when the wishes of the Client and their willingness for innovative ideas coincided with our creativity and experience in the realization of unique and complex turnkey projects.

One of the customer’s key desires was a house exposed to nature so in this coastline villa we implemented the concept of a space with blurred boundaries, open to light and air. The seascape of the French Riviera inspired our team and became the main visual component of the interior. From certain angles it seems transparent. Each room faces picturesque views from panoramic windows.

A high point and best illustration of the concept is a sophisticated light composition – a flock of glass birds “hovering” in the central room of the villa. These bespoke pendants of different shapes and sizes were created according to our designer’s sketches by outstanding glass artisans. The functional content of the house and all storage systems are designed to create a feeling of completely unfurnished space, where nothing distracts from the purity of lines and the beauty of proportions.

The exterior of the residence is an architectural statement in itself. How far did this inspire the design of the interior?

A good interior is always a consequence of high-quality architecture. The villa blends perfectly with the surrounding landscape and the design solutions correspond to the context of the place. Bionic forms present in façade design, inside the house turn into large-scale arches, the curved wall panels set up a unique plasticity of the space and create a feeling of perfectly smooth surface. The decorative effect is enhanced by Onyx Rainbow inlay of extraordinary colours and patterns, perceived as stunning pictures created by the nature itself. A mesmerizing Calcite Blue picked up as the main bathroom finishing material captivates the observer with the charm of its sugary tones that, on one hand, suggest the perception of ethereal beauty and, on the other, symbolise freshness and clarity. White colour, prevailing in the interiors, acts as a joint background, emphasizing the continuity of spaces.

When taking on a turnkey project, what is your approach to establishing a successful design scheme that achieves the client’s vision/brief?

Our first responsibility and aim are to hear and understand the client properly. We do our best to ensure that our architectural or interior design concepts hit the customer’s wishes on the first try. This is a very ambitious goal, but there is no other way to start working on a complex, unique project.

Accurately hitting the client’s wishes on the first try means that an invisible connection has been found, a person has been heard and understood, and understood not only at the conceptual level, but at the level of further interaction – we already know which project timeline to build, which team will be most effective in working on this project, which contractors will be able to meet the client’s expectations, and much more.

How to achieve such an understanding from the first minutes? It is probably easier to answer how to be a human…

But there are simple ingredients: experience, good education, wide vision, and most importantly – passion for what you do.

Now that you’ve won an SBID Award, what are the next steps? Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

Among new directions for the company’s development, we could highlight the sphere of hospitality. Our deep knowledge and many years of experience in private premium sector are highly demanded by hotel developers, allowing them to embody the principles of unique comfort and exclusivity in commercial hospitality projects.

Due to the change of travel conditions, that we are witnessing now, people’s requirements for a hotel are also changing, as they often have to spend more time there. So, new boutique hotels more often make use of the experience of bespoke residential construction, creating the most comfortable and thoughtful living conditions for their guests. And we are very pleased and excited to cooperate with developers in this industry.

What advice can you give to young designers starting out in the design industry?

Starting work with a potential Customer it is important to place the person in the centre stage, to hear and understand them. Therefore, in order to more accurately determine their concerns, interests, hobbies, favourite places and preferences, designers should listen to the Client more than talk about themselves.

Do not focus only on your ideas and sources of inspiration, always put the interests and wishes of the client first, and do not forget that the ideal interior is always created exactly for a specific customer and takes into account the smallest details, like a tailored suit, made exactly to measure.

Questions answered by Julia D. Lantieri, Founder and CEO and Vyacheslav Labzin, Architect and Creative Desirctor, ALTER EGO Project Group.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a light luxurious show home design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Elicyon.

Elicyon designed the three-bedroom show apartment situated on the 31^st floor of One Casson Square, one of Southbank Place’s tallest and most striking landmark buildings. The floor to ceiling windows that wrap around the property, led to a brief that focused on enhancing these incredible city views influenced by the location and history of the site. To complement the abundance of natural light, a warm sandy colour scheme was adopted interspersed with darker autumnal accent colours of burnt oranges, mustards and rusts, creates a space that is rich, warm and heartening. The rich, woven, and natural textures of linens, cottons, and boucle wool, add to this overall natural theme, contrasted with details in blackened metal and leather adding an extra dimension of interest and a touch of luxuriousness to the space. The furniture throughout  is  bespoke and highly detailed design making each piece feel timeless, and seamlessly incorporated within the space; a clear but subtle harmony flowing throughout.

What was the client’s brief? 

This was a show apartment on the 31st Floor of One Casson Square, the three-bedroom apartment had views of the city skyline via wrap around, floor to ceiling windows. The client wanted us to draw on these views and inject some soul into the apartment by looking at the area’s industrial skyline. Being a show apartment, the brief inevitably was to create a space that would have wild appeal whilst at the same time being visually exciting.

What inspired the design of the project?

The project was inspired by the area’s history as a centre of manufacturing, Art and craft, with the space featuring a range of bespoke furniture and specially commissioned artwork reflecting that heritage. A palette of ivory burnt orange and ochre, gold, teal, and sandy tones was chosen to create a warm ambience. ‘We wanted to subtly reference the vibrancy, eclecticism and culture of the area
and its history as the home of woollen cloth manufacturing, potting, and weaving,’ said Charu Gandhi, Elicyon Founder & Director.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

If we had to think of one, then the planning and logistics of installing for a project on the 31st floor of a building – in order to ensure the installation would run smoothly large pieces of furniture had to be manufactured in smaller sections to fir the dimensions of the lifts.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We used some eclectic and contemporary furnishings, as well as designing our own tailor-made pieces. The entrance console table was spotted by the team during their last sourcing trip to Paris and is by Portuguese furniture maker Jose Leite de Castro. A retro modular joinery piece in the study meanwhile spans two walls and was designed in the 60s. It accompanies a freestanding desk and tub chair to provide a beautiful space to work from home.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

SBID is the most well-regarded and prestigious design community within our industry, and so to be recognised and accredited by such an establishment is to achieve support and acknowledgment from a well-respected and reputable platform.

Questions answered by Charu Gandhi, Director, Elicyon.

Photos Credit: Patrick Williamson