A coveted statement space and inner sanctum, the dressing room has become an essential element of any high-end interior.
It’s a place to pull together the perfect outfit, whether you’re heading to training, to drinks, or to the airport. Thoughtful design and premium materials mean you can keep suits, shirts and shoes in immaculate condition while securing valuables like watches, jewellery and cufflinks in custom-built safes.
But this most intimate of rooms is no longer restricted to sartorial pursuits, as a growing demand for his-and-hers dressing rooms indicates. This newly shared space is now being designed for comfort and pleasure as well as practicality – many dressing rooms incorporate seating, entertainment and even a dry bar or coffee machine. Add the latest tech-enhanced features like heated drawers and sub-zero drinks stations, and you’ll soon have yourself a space you’ll never want to leave.
We caught up with Oliver Deadman, Head of Design at Clive Christian Furniture, to discuss designing your first dressing room and wardrobe, trends he’s seeing in the space and what can be expected from brand’s upcoming London Townhouse launch:
“It’s all about comfort in the dressing room: integrated seating, dry bars, entertainment systems, is also something we’re seeing of late. These spaces are being designed to spend time in, and they are evolving into entertaining spaces – much as we saw the kitchen evolve all those years ago.” – Oliver Deadman, Head of Design.
Speaking historically, the best timber to use for clothes storage is cedar, particularly cedar of Lebanon, which has fantastic antifungal and pesticide qualities. This means you can safely store your winter cashmere without the threat of moths. We have recently produced a lined subterrain clothes store for a London client, which was lined in cedar of Lebanon. A particularly nice project, this was a prized gem for the gentleman owner who is a very proud Lebanese patriot. The raw material cannot legally be cut down, which makes it very precious – the tree must fall naturally.
Design wise, what’s the first step?
Understand usage. As with all our client work, dressing spaces are extremely personal. How do you want to use it? Who do you want to be in the space with? At what times of day? All these factors hugely affect the flow and specification.
Collectors – whether sunglasses, hats, watches, shoes, or handbags –a huge number of our clients are collectors and we’re integrating more ways of displaying, protecting, and preserving their finds. Whether it be designing moveable shelves that can change and stagger in height depending on the size of an item or low-iron presentation glass. We are serially integrating custom-built safes.
Comfort in the dressing room: integrated seating, dry bars, entertainment systems, is also something we’re seeing of late. These spaces are being designed to spend time in, and they are evolving into entertaining spaces – much as we saw the kitchen evolve all those years ago.
We have seen an influx in dedicated decorative security. A fine example of this is the Buben & Zörweg safe which is to feature in the new Clive Christian Furniture Townhouse, housing watch winders, jewel pads and currency drawers all behind the finest quilted leather and German steel. In LA we recently specified a safe product, which lives discreetly behind a push-to-open, mechanically operated full-length mirror. On a smaller scale we have a fast-drop integrated drawer safe, which allows clients to drop keys, daily jewellery, wallets, passports, etc. – operated by fingerprint recognition.
Appliances are becoming more present as spaces become more entertainment-led. We’re integrating beverage centres (Sub-Zero), Kaelo bottle systems within islands and even warming drawers used to preheat your linens and bathrobes.
As with most modern approaches to room layout, functional aspects are neatly hidden to preserve clean-cut decorative outer linework. Drawer separation, cable management for beauty appliances, pullout/up/down storage (for increased accessibility) – even dual-sided cabinets. Interior options are about balance, increasing functionality and workflow – without detracting from the desired aesthetic.
The room plays a trick on the eye – a large central opening appears to cast a reflection of the cabinetry from left to right. Each space (hers and his in this instance) features a fitted tall run of metro deco inlay furniture with a central dressing island. Hers is frosted maple, while his is black walnut to create a fantastic yin yang effect. Hers concentrates on decorative storage for shoes, bags and long flowing garments (through fluted glass), while his has a beautiful central feature of the Buben & Zörweg leather-appointed safe.
“Appliances are becoming more present as spaces become more entertainment-led. We’re integrating beverage centres (Sub-Zero), Kaelo bottle systems within islands and even warming drawers used to preheat your linens and bathrobes.” – Oliver Deadman, Head of Design
The dressing room lends itself very well to personalisation. This is ever present in the fashion industry – we naturally adopt terminology like ‘tailored pieces’, ‘bespoke design’, ‘client monogram’ – we could quite easily be discussing a suit, when in reality it is about the space it is housed within. Why wouldn’t you want to adopt the same character and level of detail? A previous conversation I had when discussing a client brief likened the cabinetry in question to a Paul Smith suit: business on the outside, party on the inside! Cabinetry can be customised with bold leather, exotic veneers and glass work to pack a discreet statement.
I think the integration of creature comforts within the space is fantastic, bringing the feel of a hotel stay to the everyday. A dry bar for the evenings, coffee facilities for the mornings, all set just off an adjoining wet room – with soft music and a comfy chair arrangement… blissful.
About Clive Christian Furniture
Clive Christian Furniture Co. collaborates with discerning clients keen to create the world’s finest spaces. It’s about elevating the everyday to make the places you live, work or entertain feel truly exceptional. By combining creativity, innovation and the very best of British artisan skill, they help you craft an environment as unique as you are.
If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
Emily Parry, Interior Designer at CMS Group has given her insights into the industry. With 16 years’ experience as an interior designer, Emily has worked on a wide range of projects including home interior redesign, healthcare design, interior design for education, and styling for show homes. Particular highlights have been the £500k re-design of a Malverns country manor and complete project management and design of an 18th Century chapel conversion. A talented designer with an artistic eye and great attention to detail, Emily has the creativity to find unique solutions to client briefs and is committed to ensuring smooth progress from start to finish. Emily now specialises in designing and sourcing for residential clients.
My Dad was a furniture designer, Mum a soft furnishings designer and one of my brothers an architect, so a career within the design industry was almost inevitable. I grew up surrounded by fabric samples and paints, watching my Dad work in his workshop, attending showrooms and trade shows, and helping Mum cut fabrics for curtains. I spent school holidays in Dad’s furniture factory (now one of the UK’s leading upholsterers) – as a child roaming around and chatting with the upholsterers (mostly causing mischief) and as a teen watching and learning the design process from concept through to completion.
Whilst completing my A-Levels in Art & Design I worked alongside Mum for a period which gave me more experience in interiors. As a soft furnishings professional, her work was centred around upholstery, curtain making and styling and I would often help her to hang her beautiful curtains and add the finishing touches to a scheme. I took on my first paid project at the age of 17, completing a show home for a high-end development of apartments in Sutton Coldfield – I loved every second of the design process and knew this was the career for me.
Above all, I love the staging side of design, being creative and making things look beautiful. I’m a bit of a maximalist with a love for having lots of things around that look visually aesthetic. I really enjoy working with textures, textiles, patterns and colours, and have a keen eye and love for fabrics which is definitely influenced by my Mum.
Another part of the profession I enjoy is, of course, meeting people! I love to chat to clients, work out what they like and don’t like, and understand their vision. With every client and space being different, some projects take me out of my comfort zone, but this is something I love about my work. For instance, working with a client who’s looking for something minimalist is not what I might go for myself, but what a wonderful opportunity for learning, innovating, and broadening my design portfolio. Every project offers its own unique challenge!
The most rewarding thing I’ve worked on recently was a manor house in the Malvern Hills. I completed the interiors for a handful of rooms within the main house and post-completion the owner decided they were going to convert a barn into an annex. I oversaw the whole whole project, converting the barn into a modern country cottage and whilst it took me out of my comfort zone in terms of style it provided the perfect opportunity to merge my creativity together with the client’s vision to create something truly wonderful. We were both thrilled with the result, and it is one of my favourite projects of all time.
I love working on residential projects the most, where you have a brief and end up producing something completely different to what you first imagined. My favourite projects are not necessarily high-end residential. I really enjoy designing where there’s a conservative budget and you have to supply items and furnishings in creative ways and make them look beautiful. You can find some real treasures in places like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace!
I’ve also loved working on some projects at schools. I recently designed a school library, which was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding process. It’s nice to do something that you know is improving children’s educational experience and surroundings and will be enjoyed by many for many years to come.
Since working as an interior designer within an Architects practice the most challenging aspect has been getting to grips with the specialist CAD side of design. As someone who was trained in, and enjoys, drawing freehand I really enjoy getting out my drawing board and rainbow assortment of pens and paints, transitioning into working digitally has been a journey!
As a designer I believe it is really important to see schemes in the flesh, see the colours and feel the textures, and whilst I don’t believe it is the end of the ‘mood board’, working digitally is becoming much more relevant in the world of interiors. There are however so many benefits to working with CAD including higher degrees of accuracy, reduced timescales and easier channels of distribution, to name but a few.
I was incredibly fortunate as I had an insight as to what it was like to work in this industry long before I began my career, as I grew up surrounded by it. I entered the world of design with my eyes very wide open.
Growing up with parents always out and about, I saw first-hand that being self-employed can mean working long hours, often meeting with clients in the evenings and at weekends. Though whilst this didn’t come as a surprise, I still had to develop my ability to be malleable and able to work around other people’s availability and schedules.
My top tip would be to be adaptable to your clients. Sometimes a client won’t want a little piece of you – they’ll want you to deliver a little piece of them into the scheme. So having the ability to listen to them, understand their vision, and adapt your design approach to fit the brief is essential.
I think there’s going to be a lot more environmentally friendly design and biophilic design. Largely stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re seeing a renewed desire across populations to improve their health and wellbeing at home, work and leisure which interior design can contribute to in many ways. We are also seeing much more ‘flexible living’ incorporated within design; people are working from home more often and are generally spending more time within the home environment and we are seeing a rise in multi-generational living. These changes within our social world reflect on the world of design and we are seeing more and more products related to this such as eco-friendly and low carbon footprint lighting and suites to multi-functional storage solutions.
People are becoming increasingly conscious of the environment, upcycling, reusing, and making more sustainable in all areas of their lives. Second hand selling websites such as eBay and Vinted are soaring, and the interior design industry has great potential to evolve in line with these developments.
I’m really proud to have become an SBID Accredited Interior Designer. Although I have years of experience and a wealth of knowledge, I have spent many years being a mother to my three children and it has been great to finally return to my career and my passion.
About CMS Group: Emily Parry
With a long background in the design industry Emily Parry has an exceptionally diverse portfolio of work from her previous roles, both as a freelance and employed interior designer. These have included complete home interior redesign, specialist healthcare design, Interior design for Education and styling for show homes. With a history in kitchen & bathroom design and hailing from a family of renowned furniture designers, and having more recently diversified her experience as a project manager, she currently specialises in designing and sourcing for residential clients, regardless of the size or complexity of the project.
Following the success of the award-winning Armstrong kitchen collection, the British brassware and sanitaryware manufacturer Perrin & Rowe has taken this design DNA into the bathroom. Combining an industrial aesthetic with a designer’s eye for balance and proportion, Armstrong offers a luxurious take on a pared-back design trend, with distinctive knurled handles and raised levers paying homage to our industrial past.
Perrin & Rowe’s foundry in Wolverhampton is just a short walk from the former site of the Stafford Road Railway Works. From 1858, it produced over 800 steam engines for the Great Western Railway. Most were designed by two brothers, Joseph and George Armstrong. Intended as durable workhorses, their locomotives still stir the emotions today. Perrin & Rowe’s Armstrong bathroom collection has been inspired by these brothers, transforming the purely functional into a model of timeless elegance.
Beautifully proportioned with restrained detailing, the Armstrong bathroom collection is one of the most comprehensive ranges Perrin & Rowe has ever launched. For basins, there is a single lever mixer and a dual lever mixer, both available as wall-mounted or deck-mounted. There is a complete Shower Set with hand-shower and overhead rose. Accessories include robe hooks, a paper holder, a towel bar or towel ring, and a matching built-in soap dispenser for a cohesive design. The standout piece is perhaps the freestanding bath-shower mixer. It takes 4-5 hours of skilled polishing to bring this glorious bathroom centrepiece to final perfection.
As with all Perrin & Rowe brassware, the collection is designed by the in-house design team at Rainham in East London. Tap bodies are forged at the Perrin & Rowe foundry in the Black Country using the highest quality brass, poured by hand at 1700° Fahrenheit into moulds. After machining, specialist polishers develop the deep, lustrous finish. It’s a time-consuming and painstaking task.
Armstrong can be specified in Chrome, Nickel or Pewter or a choice of special finishes; 24-carat Gold, Polished Brass, Satin Brass, and English Bronze. Perrin & Rowe’s two brass finishes are unlacquered, so will develop a unique patina over time, enhancing the beauty of the surface. For a true industrial look, English Bronze offers a darker metallic finish that brings out the detail of the knurled handles.
In discussions at House of Rohl’s London showroom, interior designers expressed a strong interest in a range of luxury bathroom brassware with an industrial edge. The Armstrong bathroom collection has been created to match this demand. Previewed earlier this at ISH in Frankfurt and Design Week in London, the initial reaction to the bathroom collection was as positive as it had been for the kitchen collection, some 2½ years earlier. It has already been shortlisted for an international design award by the Society of British & International Interior Designers (SBID). Armstrong is now available in the UK and most EMEAA markets.
About Perrin & Rowe
The World’s finest range of bathroom and kitchen fittings. Perrin & Rowe is a British-based brassware and sanitaryware manufacturer with an unrivaled reputation internationally – bringing together traditional craftsmanship and manufacturing methods with precision engineering. Perrin & Rowe is a distinctive member of the House of Rohl.
The company’s founder, Reghina Ivanco, shares more details with us: “The story of Art Focus Studio and my business, which eventually led me to set up my own company, started when I was still in college. The graduation took place under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin at that time. The topic of my diploma thesis was the reconstruction of the Luceafărul Theatre. I was awarded first place and a prize of 30,000 lei for the best diploma thesis. Thanks to this, I got a job at a big architectural firm, ARD, whose director was the famous architect Gheorghe D. Telpiz. He became my mentor and teacher, who taught me not only how to draw, but also how to run a business. All in all, working at ARD was a great experience for me. Gradually, I expanded my clientele. Then, at some point, I realized I was ready to work for myself and started my own company, Art Focus Studio based in Chisinau.”
Currently, the company specializes in interior design. We also help the client with the choice of materials. Apart from design, we also carry out turnkey projects. The main types of services we offer are the design of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings; 3D development and visualization, as well as project supervision.
The Art Focus Studio team consists of responsible and creative people, designers, or architects. In total, the team comprises six highly qualified professionals. Each of them is involved in the realization of individual projects. I carry out the functions of a project manager, generating new ideas, managing the project, and supervising the construction site.
Our work is based on several fundamental principles. First of all, we follow the rule “Less Talk, More Action”. Secondly, trust and empathy between the designer and the client are very important to us. We also value the ability to solve problems quickly and work on results. And, of course, the aesthetic side is essential for all of us.
We have a number of successful projects in our portfolio, both in Moldova and abroad. Basically, we deal with interior design and design in residential and commercial projects. Among the large-scale projects implemented in Moldova are Zity Mall and Oasis Mall. Both projects have been very interesting for us. For example, Oasis Mall is a luxury project. There will be stores of premium brands in the mall, i.e. the interior of the mall had to be representative and direct the visitor to a certain standard. We designed the interior in an Art Deco style and completed it with brass and bronze elements. As for the Oasis Mall project, it is still in the realization stage.
Successful projects include the Aquaterra Resort Holercani clubhouse on the banks of the Dniester River. On the site of a destroyed nine-story building, we designed the interior design of the apartments, restaurant, and swimming pool. We also did the interior design for the TREND chain of stores. As for projects abroad, our team designed a two-story residential house in St. Petersburg. Another project, no less interesting, is in Shanghai. We designed a showroom for the Italian furniture factory DV Homecollection.
For the second year in a row, our company was ranked in the top three in the category “Best Residential Interior Design of the Year” at the DAS Interiors Awards.
We are targeting the international market. I can definitely say that Art Focus Studio will assert itself on the international market more.
The uniqueness of Oasis Shopping Mall lies in the monumental character of the project. The interior of the mall has been designed in the Art Deco style. The construction was started in 2018 and the completion date is scheduled for the end of 2021.
A 170-square-meter apartment in the HIGH PARK clubhouse. The interior is designed in a modern style, close to luxury minimalism. The decor of the bedrooms is enriched by geometric textile panels, while colourful mirrors create a visual effect of infinite space. The LED lights, installed across the apartment, lead the eye from the central scene to the background, creating a wave-like effect. A pleasant haze of soft light envelops the space.
A 165 sqm duplex penthouse for a young couple in minimalist style. The main decoration of the living room is the luxurious fibre concrete cupola, which creates an unusual light show that also delimits the space and creates a special atmosphere. The conceptual interior fulfils the basic objective of minimalism – conciseness.
About Art Focus Studio
Reghina Ivanco’s dedication to her craft and her team’s impressive achievements make Art Focus Studio a true standout in the world of art and design. In addition to their numerous accolades and achievements, Art Focus Studio also offers a wide range of high-end design services. From space planning to construction administration, their team provides the full scope of design services necessary to bring their clients’ visions to life. They specialize in design concept development, presentation, construction drawings, specification, purchasing, and installation of materials. Art Focus Studio’s commitment to providing exceptional design services is evident in their attention to detail and dedication to delivering exceptional results.
Lydia Robinson, Creative Director at Design Storey has given her insights into the industry.
I’m a qualified architect and between my first two architectural degrees spent a period working in London where I worked on the conversion of a Grade I listed Wren church tower into a private home. This was a pivotal project and inspired a love of historic buildings. After completing my architectural education I moved to Vancouver, Canada. It was just supposed to be a working holiday but myself and my partner ended up staying there 7 years! I worked at a medium sized practice which had a large variety of projects from airports to homes but with a focus on interiors.
On returning to the UK I had a short spell working at the Bristol office of a large commercial architectural practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, where I was involved in some high profile London projects including the fitout of the new google headquarters in St Pancras and the reception area of the White Collar Factory in Old Street. I was also the project lead for the interiors of the new ward for the Teenage Cancer Trust in the Bristol Haemotology centre.
However, my passion for historic buildings still burnt strong, and setting up my own architectural practice, Design Storey, with my partner Lawrence enabled me to get back to smaller-scale domestic work and historic buildings. Our first project was the Miner’s Cottages, our own project and home, where we reinstated several “lost” historic features. Despite not being listed, our sensitive approach was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects, and the project was the recipient of two awards, including the special award for Building Conservation. This enabled the launch of Design Storey
I’m a qualified architect and worked for several years in Vancouver, Canada in an architectural practice which also specialised in interior design. One of the directors was an interior designer and even the architectural projects also had a strong interiors focus. When I returned to the UK and started Design Storey, I always felt it was important to ensure the interiors worked with the architectural design and I try to ensure that the two work seamlessly together. For example, our first project as a practice was the extension and refurbishment of a c18th miners cottage. It was probably more of an interiors project than an architectural one and being the recipient of two RIBA awards, gave me the confidence to promote that we can also work on interiors.
Meeting a wide variety of clients in their homes and getting to know them personally. We have worked with a diverse range of clients from ones in media and sport, through to those that are at the top of their profession. We feel privileged that they entrust us with the design of their homes and be part of their team. I also enjoy the fact that due to the range of building types and projects that we work on, from houses to gyms, contemporary to historic buildings, every day presents a new challenge and opportunity for learning. We really enjoy working with the suppliers to understand how we can get the most out of their products and push the boundaries, for example, working out how to backlight the polycarbonate walls at the most recent LUXE fitness site. We had to make mock-ups and work closely with the lighting designer to demonstrate to the client that the design would work and provide the desired effect.
Going to the client’s birthday party in the barn at the cotswolds retreat and seeing the bar used by a professional barman as well as the owners looking so relaxed and enjoying the space. It was a long and complex project as the design and construction work was done in lockdown so it felt such a relief to come out of the pandemic and be able to socialise again of course the project getting short listed for an SBID award was the icing on the cake!
I have been fortunate to work on quite a large variety of interiors projects from an airport, to a university bookstore as well as private houses in my career. Since we founded design storey the focus has been private residential and it is always humbling to be chosen to work on someone’s own inseparable space as each one is unique and personal to the individual. It is always lovely to be invited back to a house you have worked on for dinner or drinks and see people using the space or just visit a family that have settled into the building and the owner and home become fused together.
As a counterpoint to the houses we have also worked on a number of gyms – these are rewarding as the projects are accessible to a greater number of people not just a single individual. The concept for the interiors also has to be strong and appeal to a variety of people so it is a good design challenge.
I think one of the biggest challenges is helping clients to narrow their focus and prioritise their requirements. There are so many options out there from cover plates to kitchens that it can be quite overwhelming for clients, and there is so much visual stimulus online and the media that people can easily lose focus. Interior designers are providing a service and part of that service is talking through the brief with the client and finding out what makes them tick, you can then create a space that is bespoke to their requirements.
The fact that you can expect a fresh challenge everyday and every client and project is unique so be prepared to be challenged on a daily basis. Having a good design portfolio from your studies does not necessarily translate to being a good designer in practice; emotional intelligence and empathy can take you a long way and ultimately win you work or sell your ideas to the client. The world is not fair and don’t take things personally; when clients or planners don’t feel you have got the best design be prepared to work through it and justify your design better or recognise that the concept isn’t right. Its cliche but getting knocked back does make you stronger and if you are not prepared for that then working in subjective design-led profession might not be the right environment. I wish I had also understood the difference between being good at running a business vs being a good designer; my design education didn’t prepare me for understanding balance sheets, HR, marketing and selling your services which are all important part of being a design professional.
Projects can take quite a while to come to fruition, sometimes several years. When a project finishes, take time to revisit it and celebrate the successes and learn from your failures. Returning to a finished project multiple times after completion can provide valuable insights as to whether the design performed as you were hoping and you can learn valuable lessons from the aspects that didn’t.
AI is going to become more prevalent as well as an increasing need to be sustainable in terms of the way we design buildings, the material choices we are making and the long term vision for the building. I’m a big believer in “repairing, reusing and recycling” and working with the fabric of a building. I think the consumerism we have seen in recent years is going to slow down and people are going to make more considered choices and not treat interiors as disposable. A lot can be done with recovering furniture, refinishing flooring, refreshing rather than throwing away into landfill.
To be accepted by a prestigious organisation is always an honour and a validation of the work you have done to date. As I trained as an architect, being registered as an interior designer enables us as a practice to champion the interiors elements of a project and demonstrates to clients that we have expertise and capability in that field.
About Design Storey
Design Storey are an award winning architectural and interiors practice known for high-end homes, heritage and lifestyle projects. They design beautiful homes by repurposing old buildings, or creating new ones, to enhance their client’s everyday lives. Based in elegant Oxford, their designs are inspired by experiences working in both London and Vancouver, as well as the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds. They are selective about the projects they work on, offering a high level of personal service, so the directors remain directly involved in projects, to ensure that each design is individually tailored to the client and its context.
Chris Holwell, Owner and Designer at Domus Design and Build has given his insights into the industry. Domus, is a small company that specialises in home interior design and remodelling internal spaces.
While studying for a potential career in architecture after leaving school, I found myself drawn to the sculpture department at my local college. The creative freedom I discovered in the fine arts had a profound effect on me, and it wasn’t long before I found myself studying for a degree in the discipline. After graduating, I relocated to London, where I pursued my role as an artist and also took on a number of part-time jobs in theatre design. I was becoming more interested in “created environments”, my art had taken on more of an installation feel and, as we know, the theatre is all about a designed environment. In the early 2000s, I was lucky enough to meet clients who were interested in what I could create in their own domestic space, and it was at this juncture that I became what I would call a creative builder. At this early stage, it never occurred to me that I could call myself an interior designer. After completing a number of successful contracts, I took up a position as a construction project manager for a development company. While I found this role very rewarding, I felt frustrated at having to put my creativity on the back burner. However, the Covid pandemic and lockdowns gave me an opportunity to reassess my career, and I took the decision to set up Domus as a dedicated home interior design and build company.
What I enjoy above all in this profession is the challenge of coming across an unloved or misused space, and creating a scheme that exceeds my client’s expectations. Suggesting elements that were not thought possible while sticking to a set budget is truly rewarding.
I recently had a project to remodel a large Edwardian reception room, which had been divided into separate zones in the 70s, and where a significant proportion of the original ornate plaster moulded ceiling had been destroyed. Not only was the room remodelled to create a self-contained studio flat, but the ceiling was totally restored and left exposed above the different modular living spaces, ensuring it could once again be admired and enjoyed.
Every project presents its own challenges, and finding the solutions to these challenges is a very positive process. I particularly enjoy working on period properties, restoring and enhancing original features, often introducing modern themes to add to the overall success of the desired look and feel of the space.
I believe that interior design is an artform, and I would therefore expect designers to exercise their discipline with passion and determination. However, aligning this determination with the client’s own aspirations and enthusiasm can sometimes be challenging. In my experience, the end result is always better when a good deal of effort has been made upstream to avoid unnecessary compromise – and that is where the expert guidance of a professional designer comes into play.
Entering a new field of work can be very intimidating and the thought of not knowing enough can feel overwhelming. However, I believe that we all should start a profession with an uncluttered mind, and that holding onto this candour is essential, so that every project can be approached with an open mind. One never stops learning, especially in this field.
Time and time again, I have come to realise that one needs to be totally comfortable with one’s own abilities. So my advice to an aspiring designer would be to be confident in your own abilities, to accept good advice, and to approach every project with an open mind, so as to let the building “do the talking”.
Personal space is becoming increasingly valuable and moving house is not always a viable option, so designing spaces around these parameters has never been more important, and achieving maximum creativity within limited spaces is an absolute must. The industry also needs to continue to embrace the current challenges faced by the planet, through careful selection of materials, through recycling and restoration, and by minimising transportation when sourcing materials. I also believe that it’s important, whenever and wherever possible, to work within the local community, developing strong links with local trades, suppliers and makers.
Being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer is important in a number of ways. It provides independent professional recognition and credibility, which clients can trust. It improves my understanding of the industry through professional development, information and advice, and enables me to keep in touch with my peers.
About Domus
Domus specialises in remodelling, restoring or simply redecorating internal spaces to ensure they reach their full potential. Embarking on a project to enhance any room in your home can be daunting. And while you may have an overall idea of what you want, bringing these ideas to fruition, with the multitude of practicalities that need to be put in motion, is a skilled operation. We work with you to bring your vision to life, offering ideas and CAD to complement your own proposals, with a fully project-managed service from design to completion.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an idyllic villa design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Balan and Nambisan Architects.
Balan and Nambisan Architects was commissioned to design a luxurious villa in a warm contemporary style. Drama is created in the powder room with a ceiling mounted Gessi faucet over a floor standing washbasin in a surround of onyx. A Bulthaup open kitchen is the heart of the home. In the master bedroom flawless white statuario marble is contrasted with dark walnut wood. A bespoke leather headboard serves as a fitting backdrop to the Capital bed. The master bath uses Stonewood marble contrasted with vanities in wood with brass details.
SBID Awards Category: KBB Design
Practice: Balan and Nambisan Architects
Project: Villa A09
Location: Bangalore, India
A custom designed villa for a close knit family with a considerable extended family who spend lengths of time together during festivals, celebrations and holidays. Bangalore, India is a dense, crowded urban city with a population of 11 million and life for a high achieving family can be extremely stressful and chaotic. Our clients desired the home to be a complete sanctuary from the chaos, tailored to their lifestyle. An absolute necessity was the home offering multiple entertaining spaces with the ability to entertain across three generations simultaneously. Equally important was the sanctity of the private spaces. An abode to withdraw from the chaos of city life, a home with spaces for physical fitness and one to entertain. A luxurious home with a careful integration of design, materials, detailing and technology.
Keeping the home private was a key driver of the design. The design of the home wraps around external spaces that are scooped out of the plan, ensuring that outsiders do not have the ability to look in. Yet the home is always connected to the outdoors with landscaped courtyards and planters wrapping around on the upper levels. We used three materials – stone, wood and metal, these three materials are mouled in different ways to either block, semi open or open up views to spaces. The journey begins with the solidness of road-facing external form cladded in sandstone panels cut to a bespoke size and finished in 2 textures to create a dynamic facade. A facade that changes through the day with the play of light and shadow. As one moves through the home, these three materials take on different forms of detail to embellish spaces.
One of the most challenging aspects of the home was executing the staircase around the lift volume. An elliptical metal staircase wraps around an elliptical glass lift within a 5-storey atrium volume. The only areas of support for this grand staircase was at the main landings, spanning 3.6 – 4M floor to floor. We went through 3 metal fabricators and multiple mockups before we were able to eventually execute the structure. The steel stringer beams were laser cut and bent into a curve, the balustrade was bespoke designed laser cut panels, each section precisely cut, bent and labelled for each run. A challenge was executing and sequencing the entire space.
The design and execution of the staircase and executing this home through Covid.
Having recently opened our office in London, it was only natural that we would become members of SBID with SBID representing the UK interior design industry, one of the world’s leading design industries. Entering the SBID awards has allowed us to showcase our design capability to the design community as a whole here in the UK, as well as allowed us to gauge where we stand within the UK and International design community. This is an important step for any practice especially for one that has decided to open its first international office.
Being nominated as an Award finalist is a huge honour for us. It is an affirmation of our design skills from the international design community and this means the world to us especially as we take the next step to build our practice here in the UK.
Questions answered by Nilanjana Roy, Partner at Balan and Nambisan Architects.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a joyful home design by AMC Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a joyful family home design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, AMC Design.
AMC Design was commissioned to create and design a space for a growing family. The design brief was a combination of function and flexible living within the beautiful bones of this historical property, bringing out the family’s personality with colour and pattern, and making the space joyful, child friendly and stylish. AMC Design ’s ethos is to do a house once and do it right.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Budget Up To £50,000
Practice: AMC Design
Project: St John’s House
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom
The main focus of this project was to create more space for a growing family, by extending the living area via a loft conversion. AMC Design’s ethos is to do a house once and do it right – leaving space for a family to grow. The design brief was a combination of function, flexible living within the beautiful bones of this historical property. The family expressed their interest in converting the loft space, which led to the creation of two further bedrooms, an office, bathroom and playroom for their three children. The clients were drawn to neutral palates but were keen to add more colour and pattern, being brave with AMC Design’s guidance. AMC Design wanted to create a space that brought colour into their lives but didn’t take over. To make the space joyful and child friendly. It was also important that the space worked for them as a family of five and could accommodate visiting friends and family.
A creative family, their excitement to bring colour and style into their traditional home was the main impetus for engaging AMC Design and really inspired the design of the project. Storage was the focus throughout, with the family highlighting the need for flexible, hidden space as key within the initial brief. The magic of the historic houses prevalent in the West Yorkshire area, of both Victorian and Edwardian heritage, is the abundance of nooks and crannies available in which bespoke storage can and was installed, to work for family life. From chimney breasts to recesses in attic bedroom eaves, practical and usable spaces were found throughout, adding function and form to this colourful redesign.
With a young family comes different personalities, which we were keen to reflect in the throughout the home. The bold flair and true family personality is prevalent throughout the project, with colour and texture punctuating the airy and bright spaces. Throughout this iconic northern property, the magical combination of bright, sumptuous colours and textured bespoke cabinetry, in the context of this historical house, has created a functional and yet luxurious family home, which can be grown into and enjoyed for decades to come.
Without doubt, it was the ceiling height in the newly created third floor, loft conversion. With limited head room, we had to identify how best to use the space so it could be enjoyed by all members of the family.
When we handed over the keys on completion of the project, the clients were really pleased and delighted to tell us how much they enjoyed the process. Over the following weeks, we received videos of the two youngest seeing their rooms for the first time, which was just wonderful.
The SBID Awards are a great celebration of global creativity and design, and we are very excited to be part of that.
To be an Award Finalist in the Residential Budget Up to £50,000 category is extremely exciting for myself and the wider team. We are competing with some very talented and creative designers, and we feel honoured to be considered against these titans of our industry.
Questions answered by Ann Marie Cousins, Founder of AMC Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxurious care home design by Catalyst Interiors, click here to read it.
Nayerra Maher, Co-Founder and Interior Designer of NayeRRa Novelty has given her insight into the industry.
I believe that I have a creative, futuristic, imaginative, and artistic approach to the things around me, I can definitely think of interior design as a career path. Interior design offers a unique opportunity to combine creativity, functionality, art, and personal taste to create beautiful, comfortable, and inspiring living spaces. A profession in interior design can turn out to be extremely lucrative, entertaining, and secure. Creating something that makes others feel comfortable and serene is a very enjoyable thing to me, and it makes me happy about what I do. I found my passion in the interior design profession, and all the time I want to learn more skills about it, gain more information, learn tips and tricks, etc. It’s a Cool Profession, the fact that you can create something from scratch and bring out a unique look in someone’s house and their life is art in itself. Plus, you can start building your interior design career even after completing a bachelor’s degree because there is much to learn once you are in the field.
I enjoy the form, colours, light, artistic lines, textures, and impactful patterns. That the form in interior design is an element of art. Form is the backbone of any interior design, which is the prime element in any design project. It helps to create an external impact on things like patterns, colours, and textures. Lighting is the ‘secret weapon’ of a stunning and practical space. It helps to create depth, height, and style while drawing attention to the areas that are most impressive. Especially natural light gives very good vibes and plays an important role in a human’s serenity. Also, enjoy using texture to create a specific feel in a room. Rough and coarser textures like reclaimed wood or terracotta have more ‘visual weight’ and create a cosy, rustic aesthetic, while smooth or shiny textures, including metals like chrome, reflect more light and create a more contemporary finish.
Completing a high-profile project: We successfully completed a high-profile project. These projects often come with unique challenges and opportunities to showcase creativity, innovation, and attention to detail. Successfully completing such projects can elevate the designer’s reputation and open doors to further exciting opportunities.
Positive client feedback and satisfaction: we strive to create spaces that meet our clients’ needs and vision. Receiving positive feedback and testimonials from satisfied clients can be incredibly rewarding. It not only affirms the designer’s ability to translate clients’ desires into reality but also strengthens the professional relationship and can lead to referrals and future projects.
Residential projects: Designing homes, apartments, or condominiums allows me to create personalised and intimate spaces that reflect the lifestyles and preferences of the homeowners. Residential projects often offer the opportunity for creativity and customization to create a unique space for everyone.
Sustainable projects: Designing spaces with a strong focus on sustainability and ecoconsciousness can be fulfilling for me because I’m passionate about environmental issues. These projects involve incorporating sustainable materials, energy-efficient solutions, and environmentally friendly practises.
Commercial projects: Designing commercial spaces such as offices, retail stores, restaurants, or hotels can be exciting due to the potential for creating unique and engaging environments that cater to specific needs and target audiences. Commercial projects often involve considerations of functionality, branding, and customer experience.
Cost management and time management are some of the challenging things to deal with as an interior designer – especially when clients have massive expectations! There may be times when designers come across clients that want luxurious designs at affordable costs. For interior design firms, time management skills are a must. There are only so many hours in a day and dozens of things need to get done. Organizing your time allows you to budget your hours effectively, prioritize projects, and stay on schedule to meet your forever looming deadlines. One of the hardest roles of interior designers is introducing the latest trends while maintaining a sense of timeless style. You don’t want your client to feel frustrated when a space is outdated after a few months. Staying on top of trends and knowing how to tastefully introduce them is one of the greatest creative skills for designers to master.
I wish I knew about the history of design, the structural integrity of buildings, local codes, regulations, and standards, anthropometry, ergonomics, spatial concepts, psychology, and the execution of everything from the construction to the turnkey space. Interior designers, like architects, are supposed to be jacks of all trades. They need to have interpersonal skills because they need to interact with other interior designers, homeowners, builders, architects, government agents, etc. To become a good interior designer, one needs to be well-rounded.
Make your own design sketches to be sure that your design is unique. Hone Your craft. The only way to improve your design skills and refine your aesthetic is through hands-on experience. Offer design assistance to family and friends; work on projects in your home, anything that will build your portfolio. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Become familiar with your local furniture and lighting stores: go inside, ask questions about where the pieces are manufactured, who is their target audience, what are the types of fabrics, etc. In the real world, these are the questions your clients will ask you. Learn about the cost of items. Once you begin working at a design firm, the first thing you will need to know is how to establish and follow a budget. Start learning now, so the selection process will be much easier.
Sustainability and eco-consciousness: The focus on sustainability and eco-friendly design is expected to continue growing. Consumers are increasingly demanding environmentally responsible materials, energy-efficient solutions, and sustainable practises in interior design.
Biophilic design: Biophilic design, which incorporates natural elements and a connection to nature, is expected to gain more popularity. Introducing elements such as indoor plants, natural light, and organic materials can enhance well-being and create a calming environment.
Technology integration: Technology will continue to play a significant role in interior design. Smart home systems, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and home automation are becoming more prevalent, allowing homeowners to control various aspects of their interior spaces.
Minimalism with warm accents: Clean lines, simplicity, and minimalism have been popular in recent years. However, there is a growing trend towards adding warm and inviting elements to balance the minimalist aesthetic. This can include the use of natural textures, warm colour palettes, and cozy textiles.
Being accredited as an interior designer by a recognised international organisation can provide a certain level of recognition and credibility within the industry. It signifies that the designer has met specific standards of education, experience, and professionalism, which can enhance our reputation and instill confidence in clients. Accreditation typically requires adherence to a code of ethics and professional standards set by the accrediting organisation. This can include principles such as maintaining client confidentiality, practicing sustainable design, and conducting business with integrity.
Being an accredited designer demonstrates a commitment to upholding these standards and aligning with professional best practices. Accredited interior designers may have access to a range of resources and support services provided by the accrediting organisation. This can include access to industry research, design tools and software, legal and business guidance, and networking events. These resources can contribute to the designer’s professional development and assist in delivering high-quality design services.
About Nayerra Novelty
Experienced in creative designing, we are architects, interior designers, product designers and artists who simultaneously believe in tradition and in breaking it. Our aim is design excellence, space planning, interior design, visual merchandising and a dash of art to create cosy environments with functional practicality. All our achievements are credited to hard work, concerted efforts, and exceptional vision, going above & beyond everyday into the foreseeable future.
Launching in the brand’s relocated Design Centre showroom ahead of Focus/23, Arteriors are thrilled to present a sixth instalment of their successful collaboration with renowned US interior designer Barry Dixon.
A 19-piece collection of furniture, lighting and decorative accessories, each taking elements of inspiration from the natural world, joins the wider AW23 product showcase this month.
Part of Arteriors’ successful guest designer programme, this collection marks Dixon’s 6th with the brand, having worked together previously for more than 10 years. An expert of residential interior design, working with clients across the US, Dixon is well-known for his mastery of opulence and use of decadent drama within his interior design projects, and has brought elements of this into his product design over the years, creating objects that are classic yet curious.
This season sees designs inspired by the natural world infused with a contemporary twist – for instance the delicate curve of a mosquito’s leg fashioned from blackened iron on four furniture pieces, the mixed metal finishes on overlapping cloud formations seen in the design of the mirror, intertwined vines threading their way through the fire screen, and details on lamps reminiscent of a shepherd’s staff.
These natural influences combine with masculine elements and Arteriors’ fine craftmanship to form a beautiful offering, perfectly suited to Arteriors’ wide network of residential and hospitality interior designer contacts.
Speaking on the collection, Barry Dixon: “We look back to see our way forward… And we look outside to find what we need inside. Each detail unfolds to reveal a world of organic glamour, inspired by nature, that provokes the senses.”
To view the collection, visit the new showroom at 206 Design Centre East, Chelsea Harbour.
About Arteriors
Arteriors began 35 years ago as a boutique accessories company and has evolved into a global force in the design industry. With premier lighting, furniture and accessories, Arteriors redefines interior spaces through unexpected creativity and meticulous craftsmanship.
Join SBID
Find out more about our flexible membership structure.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
By subscribing, you agree to be added to SBID’s mailing list. As an industry’s standard bearer organisation, we strive to bring you the most up to date news and access to exclusive industry content through our various newsletters.