Studio 95 Interiors Design a Homely Family Apartment

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a family apartment design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Studio 95 Interiors.

This project entailed designing a new three bedroom apartment for a family that was downsizing from a large five bedroom property nearby. The apartment was located on the tenth floor giving spectacular views of the River Thames and the city beyond. The clients wanted to use some of their existing furniture and artwork in the new schemes and this resulted in a pleasing mix of old and new.

What was the client's brief? 

The brief was to make the most of the amazing views, create a homely and comfortable space, use some of their existing antique furniture and artworks, cater for extra guests as needed (extendable dining table & sofa beds). Plus create space to store and display their large collection of books, make the most of two large storage cupboards to keep all clutter out of sight, a calm restful colour palette for their master bedroom, and design a multi-functional space in their third bedroom so that it would work as home office/guest bedroom/lV room and Yoga space.

What inspired the design of the project?

My inspiration for this project was it’s amazing location and it’s prime view over the Thames. As you essentially receive a blank space with white painted walls, I added character and personality by way of some mid-century styled furniture to the main living area with pops of strong colour and adding some Japanese themed elements to the master bedroom to bring some calm and zen.

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

There really weren’t too many hurdles on this project. Maybe one that comes to mind was the specification for the window blinds as controlling the light coming in to this south facing apartment was a key part of the brief. The big challenge was to meet the functional requirements while also being visually attractive and blending with the interior schemes.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

At the very beginning of the project, before the client had moved from her Edwardian home, I advised her which existing pieces of their furniture, antiques and artwork would work in the new apartment in terms of style and space. The highlight was seeing how these antique pieces worked so well alongside the new décor. Lastly but certainly not least is seeing that the client and her family are very happy in their new home.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Although I’m an experienced interior designer and have previously worked for well respected interior design studios in London, my studio in Ealing is relatively new and I wanted to see how a project of mine faired against other interior designers in the UK.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an Award Finalist has meant a great deal to me. Although I have worked as an interior designer for over 20 years and have had many successful projects and very happy clients, having your work recognised by fellow design professionals feels really good.

Questions answered by Stephanie Gilsenan, Director of Studio 95 Interiors.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a masculine flat design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Diego Correa Interior Design.

Diego Correa Interior Design was instructed to design this flat for a single gentleman who wanted his home to be inspired by the Industrial Chic style with a relaxed feel, stylish and masculine where all the items proposed reflected his interest and individual lifestyle.

What was the client's brief? 

My client wanted me to get inspiration from the Industrial chic style, keeping it masculine, casual, and welcoming.

What inspired the design of the project?

I would say two things: The client: his lifestyle, interests, and character, and second: the use of colour in many metal structures of Victorian times.

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

Due to the modest dimensions of the space, the toughest challenge was to find pieces that work well together, that have the right dimensions without being small, and finally that there is a good flow between them so the flat feels and is comfortable visually and in spacial terms.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Being able to create a specific space for every use in the flat but at the same time feeling that smooth transition between them makes the flat feel, having the right proportions and is rich to experience.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The excitement of believing that there is something positive being said by the project and wanting to share that with colleagues and a bigger audience is really important; acts of creation are to be shared.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It means a lot to me; the fact that an ethically well-chosen jury has found elements that they consider either good, beautiful, consistent, or unique in my project so they together offer a solution in interiors that is attractive and hopefully rounded is a recognition of the skills needed to achieve that outcome and as such it increases exposure, credibility, and recognition as a good and creative professional. There is no professional that does not want this endorsement.

Questions answered by Diego Correa, Director of Diego Correa Interior Design.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a bespoke bedroom suite design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Bayswater Interiors.

Bayswater Interiors provided full service interior design for this project which included all aspects of the design of the Principal Bedroom Suite. An extension was added to this magnificent period country home which enabled the space to be reconfigured. Bayswater Interiors scope began with the initial space planning to ensure the layout fulfilled the brief and continued through to lighting design, design of all bespoke joinery, selection of all finishes and fixtures used and finally with accessorizing and styling of the space.

What was the client's brief? 

The clients were building their dream home and this was to be a once in a lifetime project. They wanted a comfortable family home that was perfect for entertaining friends as well as spending time together as a family, and they were keen on sports and fitness so a gym was a necessity. They wanted high quality materials that would last and stand up to the rigours of pets and teen children and wanted the interior design of their home to be welcoming and casual rather than a stuffy show home.

What inspired the design of the project?

The clients had lived in the USA for a few years previously and liked the West Coast style so American interiors were an influence. The architecture of the property meant that there was extensive glazing with views to the gardens so we also used a calming neutral palette but with soft and natural colours to try and link the indoor and outdoor space.

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

A delay to the window delivery meant that there was a knock on to other elements such as plastering and decorating but the builders did a sterling job to try and keep to the overall schedule. We had a couple of stock issues with chosen items but we managed to find alternatives. Overall this was a lovely project to work on and we had fabulous clients!

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The handover day was definitely the highlight, seeing the client’s reaction to the finished home, complete with all the furnishings and accessories. They also had a party not long after which I was invited to, and to see the reaction of their friends and family to the interiors was wonderful.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID awards recognise excellent design, both in the UK and Internationally. I am always inspired by the projects that are shortlisted and have gained immense pride from being shortlisted for the awards previously too. I am incredibly proud of the work that we do as a small Interior Design Studio and wanted a chance to share our work with a wider audience, including our peers.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

I’m delighted to be a finalist and so pleased for our clients too that their home has been shortlisted. Whilst a lot of our work is from repeat clients or via word-of mouth, I think new clients in particular are pleased to know that your work is recognised as being at a certain level, and from a business perspective that makes being the awards very helpful.

Questions answered by Gemma Hill, Creative Director of Bayswater Interiors.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern and collaborative office design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Elkus Manfredi Architects.

AEW Capital Management asked Elkus Manfredi’s team to design a culturally transformative workplace for its office in Boston’s Seaport District. Company leadership sought to offer a rich mix of options for employees to encourage collaboration, remove hierarchy, and enable people to work in an environment suited to their individual working styles. The design approaches the workspace in a new way­ – not as a container for staff, but as a tool for success and a model for health and wellness.

Well Gold and Well Health & Safety-certified, the reimagined 75,000-sf office features abundant daylight, sweeping views, a wide variety of work settings, and a collection of original artwork that speaks directly to the depth of AEW’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Designers turned AEW’s office inside out, moving offices to the interior and positioning workstations, collaboration areas, and the employee café nearest the windows, where views can be enjoyed by the most people. A mix of meeting rooms, offices, workstations, and collaboration zones form work “neighborhoods.” Throughout the office, the ongoing dialogue between upscale and industrial elements creates an environment that is sophisticated while still comfortable and unpretentious, capturing the firm’s leadership position as well as its inclusive, approachable culture.

What was the client's brief? 

AEW Capital Management asked Elkus Manfredi Architects to design a culturally transformative workplace for its office in Boston’s Seaport District. Company leadership sought to offer a rich mix of options for employees to encourage collaboration and mentoring, build community, and allow people to work in environments suited to their individual working styles so they could do their best work.

What inspired the design of the project?

From the start, our design team was inspired by the commitment of AEW leadership to their employees, by their open-minded and collaborative exploration of new ways of thinking about workspace, and the trust they put in us to achieve their vision. They were deeply immersed in exploring new ways of supporting their employees through design, from the choice of furniture for each neighborhood “back porch,” to the investment in the HELP art portfolio as part of their art collection, to pursuing – and achieving – WELL Gold certification. AEW stressed that they had a great firm culture and wanted to preserve and strengthen that. So their goal for the design was to create an office that was comfortable and casual enough for their unpretentious culture, while also upscale enough to reflect AEW’s global leadership stature for visiting investors and clients. We designed and built the project during the pandemic, so the employee engagement process was more important than ever.  

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

The client team and the design team needed to figure out together how to complete the project during the pandemic. Pivoting to remote work during design presented challenges for designers because there were finishes not fully selected at the time construction began as soon as the City of Boston allowed. To make selections as a team and get approvals from the client when we were not all in a room together, the design team had daily Zoom meetings and samples were sent to designers’ homes, clients’ homes, or to the office, where team members would go separately to review them. During construction, there were delays due to supply chain problems and construction site protocols, which, although necessary, took time away from the schedule­ – when someone tested positive for the virus, the general contractor had to send that crew home for a week. Pulling together under such adverse conditions was inspiring for both the client and design teams, which helped move the project forward in spite of obstacles.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

A huge highlight was how excited AEW’s employees were to come into the office when construction was complete. The design team was still going through punch list items and the AEW workspace was already filled with staff. This was before returning to the office was taking hold in any meaningful way, so the packed office was a testament to the success of the project. We all felt that a big part of the staff’s enthusiasm arose from the employee engagement co-creation process we utilized during the design period, which allowed everyone to become invested in the outcome.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The office that grew out of our partnership with AEW combines the best strategic design thinking about the workplace of the future with the quiet integrity of AEW’s mission, the firm’s inclusive culture, and the leadership stature of its brand. It is a timeless but timely investment in the company’s future that will inspire AEW’s acclaimed workforce and attract top talent for many years to come. We wanted to share the AEW office with SBID’s audience as an example of a “magnet” workplace, an office co-created with employees where they choose to be because they know it’s where they can do their best work.

Questions answered by Elizabeth Lowrey FIIDA, RDI, Principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a glamorous bathroom design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Jasmin Reese Interiors.

What was the client's brief? 

The brief of the Project was to create a hip "powder room" in this industrial loft space that also doubled as a guest bathroom.

What inspired the design of the project?

At the beginning of each project, I meet with clients for a "Style Session" meeting, it is a meeting to determine the programmatic requirements of the project, budget, and I also try to see how high octane the client would go. In this case the client responded to a lot of sexy hotel interiors, black chic rooms, and moody interiors, so we went in that direction.

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

Our biggest hurdle was getting the materials, it was during Covid so information was not as fast as we were used to and reselecting materials when they became out of stock was challenging to keep the project moving forward.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The wallpaper was the biggest highlight! It was really fun to be able to wrap a large scale print on the walls and also the door in a small space.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

I think the SBID awards showcase designs that are unique, colorful, and fresh.

Questions answered by Jasmin Reese, Owner, Jasmin Reese Interiors.

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.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an immersive exhibition space design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Torden & Lynild.

The museum Øhavsmuseet is situated in Faaborg, surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes of Denmark. The nature around Faaborg is unique and very varied with ice age landscapes, wooded areas, and the archipelago. In the summer of 2021, Øhavsmuseet opened a new, innovative exhibition concept ‘Discover Yourself’. The exhibition is about the importance of nature for humans of today and for our ancestors.

Discover Yourself’ consist of five immersive spaces: ‘The Hill’, ‘The Bog’, ‘The Forest’, ‘The Sea’ and ‘The Human Nature’ which also represent five ages: the Stone Age, the Iron Age, the Middle Ages, the 19th century, and the present. Throughout the exhibition sound, light, films, scents, artefacts, etc. give the visitor a varied experience.

The exhibition is designed to convey both cultural and natural history. But it is very much a sensorial experience, which also takes elements from the science center tradition and mixes this with a very aesthetic approach to exhibition design. This way the exhibition has attracted a wide audience, including many guests who do not belong to the ‘usual museum segment’.

What was the client's brief? 

The design brief was to create a new, innovative exhibition concept in a disused warehouse at the harbor in the atmospheric old town. The aim of the exhibition was to give the audience a sense of the importance of nature for humans of today and for our ancestors. Nature has always played a central part in the lives of humans. However, in course of time, industrialization and urbanization have estranged us from the very same nature. Part of the design brief was to give the visitors an opportunity to reconnect with nature as well as with our common roots.

The client wanted an immersive experience, where guests would have no need for prior knowledge to visit the exhibition. Everyone should be able to walk in from the street and have an exciting and educational experience. It was also important for the client to create an exhibition which stimulates all senses. An exhibition that addresses the body, the brain, and the imagination.

What inspired the design of the project?

The landscapes of this part of Denmark is amazing. One of the most inspiring experiences during the development of the exhibition was a trip to some of those magic nature places.To inspire us at the beginning of the process, two of the museum curators took the design team from Torden & Lynild on a see to the highlights of the region. They showed us a very atmospheric forest with a lot of burial mounds, a beautiful place by the see and a large area with ice age hills. This experience truly kicked us off creatively.

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

A bit more than halfway through the process we had a big hurdle, as the construction company which were supposed to build the whole exhibition told us that they could not manage in time. Luckily, we found another very skilled contractor and with only a minor delay we managed to complete an exhibition of extremely high standard.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We are very happy that the public has received the exhibition so well. The museum had set their success criteria to reach 10.000 visitors in the first half year and they reached this goal.  As part of the qualitative evaluation of the project carried out by an external consulting firm, it has also been concluded that the audience is very enthusiastic about the exhibition and especially happy with the sensorial, physical, and engaging elements. Also we are proud and honoured that the exhibition received four nominations for international design awards including the SBID International Design Award.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We had noticed SBID Awards because some of the most esteemed Design Companies have had the honor of winning the prize, which inspired us to submit this project. SBID is a very prestigious award and it seemed like a great opportunity to present the work of Torden & Lynild.

Questions answered by Sigrid Bennike, CEO and Scenographer, Torden & Lynild.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious residential villa design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Emara Design.

We still remember the joy of the customer and his family when they saw the design; only then did we feel that we did what we had to do. Emara Design worked on the architectural design and the interior decoration of a residential villa with a 250 m2 total floor area in the heart of the Dyar park compound, which consists of a reception space, a living area, a master bedroom, and three bedrooms for children. We used natural materials such as wood and marble and mixed them with warm lighting in addition to using simple straight lines on the ceiling that gives a sense of luxury mixed with warmness. Our philosophy is that design is not just a piece of art but it should represent the house owner and meet his needs.

What was the client's brief? 

The client’s requests of the re-design of the villa were so that it contains 3 bedrooms for the children and the expansion of the living area on the last floor, as well as creating a roof garden for summer sessions and barbecues.

One of the most important requests which the client focused on was the use of natural materials such as wood and marble with the addition of luxury and warm lighting in the place.

What inspired the design of the project?

After some sessions and discussions with the client, we have agreed on using marble on the floor and on some walls and bathrooms, and grafting wood in the ceiling and on walls with hidden warm lighting which gives a sense of warmness for the family members.

The use of large glass surfaces in the main reception area on the ground floor overlooking the landscape gives a sense of spaciousness and visual connection with the landscape of the villa and the compound.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

One of the most important parts that we have taken into account is the use of technology to achieve a sustainability criteria. From the use of the power generation system to solar cells and the use of the smart systems to control all power sources, to water sprinklers and irrigation of trees and grass in the garden, where Smart systems work according to set times of the day to save energy and reduce electricity consumption.

The smart systems also helped solve the customer’s problem of traveling abroad. He can fully control the villa and the garden through an application on his iPad. He can not only control the power and the garden, but he also has full control of the surveillance cameras and door locks.

Questions answered by Ahmed Fathi, Designer, and Osama Eltaweel, Site Engineer, Emara Design.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a unique bar design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Adam Hunt Ideas and Gemma Lin.

At the start of the Covid Pandemic, the Australian Government sealed its borders shut - even to Australian Citizens - for more than 2 years. The Australian/Taiwanese Artists & Interior Designers Adam Hunt & Gemma Lin were visiting family in Taiwan when they became two of the tens of thousands of Australians unable to return home.

With their Sydney Bar/Restaurant locked down for nearly 8 months & no prospect of going back, they decided to keep themselves busy by creating a unique venue based on their Interior Design Philosophy: that the future is best served by reimagining the past. They call it “The Art of Extreme Sustainability”.

The Plan was to have no Plans. Once the location was secured - a 150 year old derelict building - a 3 month journey began to collect recycled building materials from the beaches, the rocky coast, abandoned dwellings & fishing villages around the ancient Port City of Keelung. They harvested wood from old fishing boats, rope & plastic floats from fishing nets, rusty old anchors, driftwood, buoys & abandoned broken furniture from the streets.

The Interior Design evolved from whatever they found - all furniture, light features, vanity units, decor & art was recycled, up-cycled, repaired or created from scratch. It sure beat doing nothing.

What was the client's brief? 

The Art of Extreme Sustainability.

What inspired the design of the project?

The ancient Port City of Keelung on the wild North Coast of Taiwan has been inhabited by The Ketagalan Tribe of Aborigines (who share DNA with the Samoans) for over 6,000 years. And they’re still here - despite having been invaded, occupied & pillaged over the centuries - starting in 1544 by The Portuguese, followed by The Spanish, Dutch, French, The Qing Dynasty Chinese, and then the Japanese Colonial Era from 1895 until the end of WW2.

The Japanese began the historic Kànzǎidǐng Night Street Fish Market in Keelung over 120 years ago, and our location is right in the middle of its fully chaotic midnight to dawn hustle & bustle - sandwiched between the Red Light District and the 17th Century Temple to The Great Goddess Mazu - Patron Saint to Seafarers everywhere.

So we decided to build our Bar out of an old Fishing Boat - to honour the Great Goddess Mazu, who was particularly Badass. According to Legend the Demons Qianliyan ("Thousand-Mile Eye") and Shunfeng'er ("Wind-Following Ear") both fell in love with her - so she conceded that she would marry the one who defeated her in combat. Being a supreme Martial Artist, Mazu easily dispatched them both & thus remained single. That’s Girl Power right there. Our portrait “Wall Of Bad Mamas” celebrates strong, fierce, independent Women - from a local Female Pirate, to Frida Kahlo, from the first Woman in Space, to Amy Winehouse - because let’s face it… well behaved women seldom make history.

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

Anyone can have a crazy idea like: “Let’s build our Bar out of an old Fishing Boat” - but you have to be truly mad to believe you can actually pull it off.

The challenge was not only to find a Fishing Boat exactly the right size for the room, but also to somehow fit it up the incredibly narrow alleyway behind the enormous 17th Century Mazu Temple, that’s literally just 38 inches across from our front door.

I could literally write an action adventure novel about that 2 day journey to get the boat… or… you could just watch this.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We found God! Our ‘Rescue Deity’ was discovered sitting in an abandoned derelict Seaside Hotel. He seemed pretty happy to see us, so we built him a plinth out of old wood from a fishing boat, as well as his very own Bamboo forest & garden of ocean-tumbled rocks in a light well.

Now anyone who visits Bad Mama can also find God - whenever they need to find the bathroom.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We wanted to see if a Husband & Wife Team - with zero education or Training in Interior Design - could mix it up with the big guys on the Global Awards Stage.

We are Artists, Painters, Sculptors, Designers, Builders, Furniture Makers, Chefs & Cocktail Specialists. We have a passion for Sustainability & a fresh vision for the Future based on how we reimagine the Past. Cheers!

Questions answered by Adam Hunt, Founder, Adam Hunt Ideas.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International.

Uniquely situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Hard Rock Hotel New York offers a backstage pass to the city's historic Music Row, honouring its legacy through intricate design, curated amenities, and award-winning guest experiences. Sitting atop the 36th floor is the jewel of the Rock Star Suite, a glass-enclosed penthouse with expansive city views, original contemporary artwork, bespoke music memorabilia, and one of the largest terraces for entertaining in New York City at 1,600 sq. ft. The sleek interior design includes double height ceilings and rich tones and textures creating an inviting and timeless space. On its first level, the suite features an open-plan living and dining area with a bar and butler pantry, an outdoor bar, VIP direct access to the RT60 rooftop bar & lounge, and more. Guests can retreat upstairs to a luxurious bedroom area with a walk in closet and contemporary bathroom featuring a red free standing bathtub.

What was the client's brief? 

The double story suite is to be used as both a guest room and an event space as well. We therefore designed the separate bedroom on the upper level, as well as created a direct access to the public bathrooms on the floor below. Last but not least, the space exemplifies what the guestrooms are about: to make the guest feel like a rockstar.

What inspired the design of the project?

The rich history of New York’s Music Row, as well as the culture of the Hard Rock brand. The city’s energy at dusk, when the Marquee lights of Times Square come out, also inspired our design.

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

Creating maximum impact with a reasonable budget. Also every material has to be high quality and resistant without feeling commercial. Being the only Rockstar Suite it has to be ADA accessible.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The red bathtub with a view feels very unique.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is a wonderful honour to be recognized by an internationally focused design award. We also greatly enjoy the opportunity to visit London for the awards event.

Questions answered by Pierre Josselin, Associate Principal, Jeffrey Beers International.