January

2025

FUN HOUSE
T H E O N LY E N T E R TA I N I N G I D E A S YO U N E E D

CO LLEC TO R ’ S COVE R
 January

News 56 LIVINGETC DESIGN, 102 B E L G I A N V I L L A Comfort

& v iews DIRECTE D Zoe Feldman was key in this airy modernist pad

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY FELIX SPELLER ART DIRECTOR & INTERIOR STYLIST HANNAH FRANKLIN
filled with tactile natural materials
60 D E S I G N I C O N Timorous
Beasties’ sig nat u re f la i r 110 NEW YORK CITY TRIPLEX
10 90S MINIMALISM T h i s rem o del le d a pa r t m ent
REINVENTED The pared-back balances the raw with the smooth
aesthetic gets fancy Houses
23 E V E R YO N E ’ S TA L K I N G
A B O U T. . . Bold hues, seating 62 H A A R L E M H O M E Playful,
Decorat i ng
with platform bases and more creative and rela xed interiors
perfectly suit a fun-loving family 120 DOUBLE TAKE Create impact
27 DESIGN REPORT The people,
with double drenching
FASHION STYLIST MARIE-LOUISE VON HASELBERG

places and looks to know in 2025 72 LO S A N G E L E S H O U S E A

classic Californian Craftsman 126 C O L O U R D E C O D E D A
32 INTE RVIEW Emilie Sénéchal
b u n g a l ow w i t h a c o nv i v i a l , playful and inviting hallway scheme
34 PROFILE Tola Ojuolape laid-back vibe
130 H I D E A N D S E E K Built-in
39 H E RO PIECE A beautiful bed 82 LONDON PROPERTY furniture offers sleek solutions
Bespoke f it ti ngs a nd v i ntage
48 O F T H E M O M E N T Wall-to- classics in a home designed to be an
wall carpets and designers turning
studios into shop fronts
understated expression of joy Sou rcebook
92 NEW FOREST RETREAT A
51 TH E E DIT Last-minute gifts showstopping bar brings the fun 140 L I T T L E B L A C K B O O K
factor to this glam weekend bolthole Where to source window dressings

4 livingetc.com
 CONTENTS

143 G L O B A L O U T L O O K Our 15 4 DESIGN FEATURE OF THE takes us on a tour of Paris to explore

New York editor reports on all the M O M E NT Kitchen islands with his favourite spots
design news from the USA smart seating
178 NEXT BIG THING Glassmaker
14 4 TH E S POTLIG HT… WHAT 160 D E S I G N N O T E S Ex per t Emsie Sharp
T O B U Y N O W A n edit of advice on kitchen flooring
beautiful pieces – from plates and
plat ters to c a nd le st ick s a nd 164 A R C H I T E C T U R E N E W S
We showcase the versatility of
A nd t he res t
crackers – for stunning tablescapes
timber-framed homes
148 O N T H E R I S E The creative 7 E DITOR ’ S LETTE R
furniture maker bringing a surreal
edge to design L i fes t y le
Clever 168 H O T E L H O T L I S T Beautiful Subscribe
escapes with dreamy interiors
today
151 IN THE KNOW The latest looks
in kitchens and bathrooms
172 S O M E T H I N G O L D ,
SO M E TH I N G N E W Unwind and save
in style at this beguiling Menorcan
153 SECRET ADDRE SS BOOK
The brand that offers a range of
home saunas and hammams, as
well as other spa-esque additions
private residence

174 H I D D E N T R A I L S Architect
and interior architect Hugo Toro
45%MORE DETAILS ON P128

livingetc.com 5
 FROM
THE
EDITOR
As a 90s teen I’m very excited about the return of the decade’s
style. It’s a chance to right some wrongs, to forgo the baggy
trousers and the curtained haircut I clung to so dearly and
instead pick out the cool minimalism that came with the rise
of brands like Ikea and Tom Dixon and Habitat’s resurgence.
Because what this aesthetic does so beautifully is create the
perfect backdrop for a party. Gleaming silver, artfully curated
tableware and room to dance on a metallic coffee table. If
that doesn’t sound like a look that’s exactly right for right now
then let me direct you to our cover shoot, from page 10, that
sets the tone for the year ahead.
Our January issue always straddles a couple of moods –
celebrating the party season while looking ahead to see what’s
next. I’m intrigued by Roddy Clarke’s report on page 27 and
The Space agree that the colours and materials he has picked out will
Copenhagen be the key to maintaining the cool and uplifting vibe of our
Gravity lamp for
Gubi, page 39 shoot. In fact, throughout the issue you’ll find plenty of new
ideas for a new year, from names to know like Tola Ojuolape
on page 34 to how to use wall-to-wall carpet in 2025 – and
why you’d want to – on page 48.
I’m also looking forward to my trip to Maison&Objet in
Paris in late January, a chance to reinvigorate myself after
the holidays with a burst of design energy. There is still time
John Lewis & to book a ticket – if you’re in the trade – on the Maison website,
Partners’ Striped
Frill cushion, and, if not, I’ll be reporting on what I’ve seen and how it will
page 39 shape things to come. Happy New Year!

Pip Rich January

2025
January
2025

Executive Editor
@pip.rich
FUN HOUSE
T H E O N LY E N T E R TA I N I N G I D E A S YO U N E E D
FUN HOUSE
T H E O N LY E N T E R TA I N I N G I D E A S YO U N E E D

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8 livingetc.com
90s minimalism
reinvented
This aesthetic saw pared-back compositions, sculptural shapes
and plenty of steel and here it’s given a 2025 glow-up with fancy
frills and decorative flourishes – let’s party like it’s 1999

PHOTOGRAPHY Felix Speller ART DIRECTOR & INTERIORS STYLIST Hannah Franklin
FASHION STYLIST Marie-Louise von Haselberg
 DECOR TREND
HAIR AND MAKE-UP ARTIST CLAIRE RAY MODEL YULIYA DARKOVICH PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT HARRY
BRAYNE FASHION ASSISTANT LORENZO DI GIROLAMO PRODUCER ISABELLA CHARLESWORTH INTERIOR
ASSISTANTS BILLIE BROWNE, ELLIS MORGAN, HENRY SCOTT, SAM LANGLEY SET BUILD TIM WARREN

Camaleonda modular sofa, B&B Italia at Aram. Daydream Studio ottoman, Buchanan
Studio. Puffy armchair in Green leather, Faye Toogood at Hem. Asola floor lamp,
Ligne Roset. Vintage Fritz Hansen aluminium screen, Monument. Grand rug in Walnut,
Nordic Knots. Skirted Seven chair, Trove by Studio Duggan. Cassia wall lights in Nero,
Porta Romana. Artisan metalwork side table, The Peanut Vendor. Deriva No.3
stoneware by Canoa Lab at M.A.H. T console table, Julian Chichester. Aspide table
lamp, Gubi. Walls in a similar colour to Paper IV, Paint & Paper library. (On model)
Tank top, American Vintage. Trousers, WED. Shoes, Sauvereign. Bag (on model’s
shoulder), Clara Pinto. Rings, Georg Jensenh

livingetc.com 11
DECOR TREND

Recycled metal bench, Jamps Studio. Grand rug in Walnut,

Nordic Knots. Art deco side table, Béton Brut. Charcoal
budding orb by Julie Nelson at M.A.H. Doodles mortar and
acrylics on cotton canvas by Josefin Tolstoy. Cascade 1 silk
boucle by Christina Hesford at M.A.H. Loopy 1 acrylic on canvas
by Sharon Drew at M.A.H. Kaori armchair, Poliform. Wire chair,
A.Petersen at Aram. Canaletto display cabinet, Ligne Roset at
Heal’s. Tableware in Citrus, Mud Australia. Tassel vase V by Mimi
Kerpel at M.A.H. Stone sculpture, The Peanut Vendor. Sumac
kilim in Natural, Knots Rugs. (On model) Shirt and trousers, both
palmer//harding. Coat, Nanushka. Shoes, Sauvereign h

12 livingetc.com
 DECOR TREND

Hurley round dining table, Burbeck at Home. Cubist steel back ebonised chairs,
Monument. Paper bag gong pendant, Beata Heuman. Tableware in Citrus, Mud
Australia. Porcelain frill tableware, Every Story. Martini glasses, The Table. Koppel
pitcher, Georg Jensen. Contrepoids candlesticks, Alexander Lamont. Textural midi
vase, Talia Nidam Warshawsky at M.A.H. Cassia wall light in Nero, Porta Romana.
Sacha chair, Resident at Viaduct. Grand rug in Lilac, Nordic Knots. Glassware, The
Table. Poem table lamp in White and Cashmere, Ferm Living at Heal’s. Walls in a
similar colour to Paper IV, Paint & Paper library. (On model) Jacket, Buerlangma.
Trousers, Noon by Noor. Shoes, Jennifer Chamandi h

livingetc.com 15
DECOR TREND

Sonder frill slipcover sofa, Maro. Grand rug in Walnut, Nordic

Knots. Steel and glass coffee table; black stoneware bowl, both
Monument. Wine glass, The Table. Daydream Shape table,
Buchanan Studio. Curio 2 vase by Jo Modern Potter at M.A.H.
Large Tabac pendant, Cox London. Velvet frill cushion in Butter
Yellow and Pistachio, Projektityyny. (On model) Bomber jacket,
palmer//harding. Trousers, Rue Agthonis. Shoes, Manolo Blahnik h

16 livingetc.com
DECOR TREND

Reed dressing table, Cox London. Fold wallpaper in Silver, Bodo Sperlein at
Coordonné. Tiffany ruffled wall lights in Oatmeal, Beauvamp Studio. Exton mirror,
Vaughan. Stone sculpture, The Peanut Vendor. Night Owl table lamp in stainless steel,
Fritz Hansen at Heal’s. Shiro Kuramata Sing Sing Sing chair, Béton Brut. Lucens rug in
Amber, Linie Design at Heal’s. Salvino Marsura headboard, Béton Brut. Valance,
Imogen Pope London. White ruffled bed linen, Sukun at Anthropologie. Lily of the
Valley eiderdown, Gingerlily London. Anna floor lamp, Aelfred. Daydream Shape table,
Buchanan Studio. Cocktail glass, The Table. (On model) Blazer, Filippa K. Tights,
Falke. Shoes, Manolo Blahnik. Earring, Georg Jensen. Ring; cuff, both Retro Chic.
Dress, Eudon Choi

18 livingetc.com
 Ophelia floor
lamp in plaster,
£4,200; Compton
Octave chandelier,
£7,536; Otto stool
in vintage brass,
£3,240, all
Porta Romana

THE RIGHT LIGHT

We were like kids in a sweet shop at Porta
Romana’s Chelsea Harbour showroom at
London Design Festival back in September,
running from new launch to new launch to
marvel at the brand’s endlessly creative
ways with lighting and other furnishings.
But it was the Ophelia floor lamp, with its
Medusa-like six arms, that made us stop in
our tracks – this is a work of art if ever we
saw one. Delicate, sculptural and bold all at
the same time, it sets the tone for a new
season of majestic beauty and brilliant
artistry, and a subtle, golden light.

G E T S E T FO R A N E W Y E A R O F D E S I G N – F R O M T H E M AT E R IA L S TO WATC H
O U T FO R TO TH E H OT T E S T FU R N IT U R E TR EN DS , WE’ R E E XCITED FO R 202 5
 E V E R YO N E ’ S TA L K I N G A B O U T. . .

Rainbow brights
Bold, joyful colour is big news right now – and these
dopamine-boosting launches are sure to make you smile

R E I M AG I N E D
BEAUT Y VISUAL FEAST
Celebrating the work of
Bring table settings to life with this vibrant and spirited tableware
Finnish designer Yrjö
collection from Yinka Ilori, titled Epin Rere – the Yoruba phrase
Kukkapuro, Zurich-based
for ‘My Destiny’. With its ribbed form and ombre hues, this
gallery THE D.O.N.U.T.’s
uplifting collection is hand-painted, with the gradient inspired
exhibition saw designers
by the coastal sunsets of Lagos, Nigeria. Mix multiple colours
reimagine his A-504 chair.
together for maximum impact – the perfect statement for
Two of the chairs featured
convivial dinner parties and a great way to brighten up the long
a bespoke embroidery
winter months. From £135, Yinka Ilori Objects
created by London-based
artist John Booth and are
available via auction with
a donation going towards
Planet Kukkapuro –
the legacy programme of
Yrjö Kukkapuro. CHF
3,917, John Booth x
Yrjö Kukkapuro

SUPER-SIZED
Maximalist in size, colour and
comfort, the Sowden Maxi Club
chair by George Sowden makes
a statement for all the right
reasons. Produced exclusively
by SCP, it is part of a collection
conceived by George, one of
FEATURE RODDY CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHS (REIMAGINED BEAUTY) ROLAND TÄNNLER

the founding members of the

Memphis Group, featuring
unique combinations of bold
hues. Handcrafted in SCP’s
Norfolk factory, it is made using
100% natural materials. £5,381,
George Sowden x SCP

Floor show
British rug studio Sonya Winner has collaborated with
American architect Kevin McClellan on the Sedona series,
inspired by the canyons and colours of Arizona. The two
new rugs are available in six sizes with bespoke options on
request. From £1,772, available at sonyawinner.com
and in the flagship London showroom

livingetc.com 23
 E V E R YO N E ’ S TA L K I N G A B O U T. . .

Platform bases
The foundation for seriously stylish seating, this feature
adds pleasing weight and lots of gravitas

SITTING
COM FORTAB LY
This Mila armchair by Soho
Home has all the angles
covered. With its hexagonal
form and multifaceted solid
oak swivel platform base,
the sumptuous design is
inspired by the interiors
of 180 House, bringing the
aesthetic of this renowned
members’ club venue right
into your home. Thanks to
its comfortable proportions,
it works well as a reading
chair in a library or bedroom
or styled as a pair in a large
open-plan living space.
£1,395, Soho Home

SHAPE OF THINGS
Compact yet also rather grand, owing
to its dignified proportions, contoured
shape and sophisticated materials, the SOFT AND STRONG
Stamp stool by Bryan O’Sullivan makes Inspired by Bauhaus architecture, the Wham seating
a splendid addition to the home. Used collection by Hermann August Weizenegger is as
as a footstool or neat extra seating, the bold as its name suggests. The solid metal base gives
combination of the elegantly grained each chair and sofa a commanding presence, while
oak burr veneer and Mustard velvet the soft lines of the upholstered seat juxtapose it
upholstered top ensures it makes a beautifully. With many fabric options and a choice
striking statement wherever it is placed. of swivel or fixed base, the dynamic design works in
£4,000, Bryan O’Sullivan Collection living rooms, bedrooms and the home office. From
€2,800, Hermann August Weizenegger for Pulpo

TV time
Give your box-set binge a stylish
new look with this tech brand’s
covetable new launch
FEATURE RODDY CLARKE

For good-looking tech, don’t sleep on Loewe’s newest

launch, Stellar – a TV with a brushed aluminium frame
and a handmade concrete back panel. That crafted
nature means that every one is unique – another win
for the German brand, which continues to deliver on
genuinely beautiful high-end designs for the tech-
centred way we live now. From £3,299, Loewe

24 livingetc.com
 DESIGN REPORT

The now and the next

A new year sparks fresh ideas and exciting change – so what’s in store
for 2025? These are the materials, colours, places and names to know
FEATURE Roddy Clarke

Clayworks
plaster in a
project by
architectural
studio Hutch

The
mater ia l
C L AY P L A S T E R
Thanks to its breathable qualities,
organic aesthetic and air quality-
enhancing properties, the use of
clay plaster is once again on the rise in
both interior and exterior settings.
With experts such as Clayworks
manufacturing unique blends of unfired
clays with minerals and pigments to
create a superior, non-toxic finish, the
multiple benefits are attracting the
attention of interior designers and
PHOTOGRAPH HELEN CATHCART

architects. Bryan O’Sullivan applied it to

the walls and ceiling of his showroom,
while architectural studio Hutch used it
in a recent barn project, combining it
with local elm joinery for an earthy
interior palette. The result of centuries
of knowledge and experimentation, it is
set to become a regular feature
h in our
future-focused living spaces.

livingetc.com 27
 Walls in Copper
Beech by Paint &
Paper Library in
an interior by A
New Day studio

The
colou r
RICH B ROWN
Exuding an organic luxury, brown has
been making its way back into homes in
recent months. Now, as designers
elevate its use through darker, richer
tones, it’s bringing added comfort to
interiors, helping to ground us in
uncertain times. Its sophistication adds
a crisp, modern flair, says Jane Boddy,
trend forecaster and member of Pantone
Color Institute. ‘Brown transcends
categories, functioning both as a trend-
driven fashion hue and a versatile
neutral,’ she explains. ‘It continues to
be a practical option, serving as a
reliable base that seamlessly harmonises
with any colour scheme.’

28 livingetc.com
 DESIGN REPORT

The bra nds SOMER

Somer has been turning heads in the industry thanks

to k now to its circular approach to furniture design. The

creative venture of furniture-maker William Floyd-
Maclean, Somer offers a modular cabinet system
that can be arranged in multiple configurations –
from kitchen units to standalone storage cupboards.
Handcrafted from sustainably sourced solid timber,
this customisable system is designed to adapt and
evolve with the user, helping to minimise waste.

RENO
Seeking to make it easier for homeowners to
navigate renovations and home improvement
projects, Reno offers an easy-to-use design and
planning app that guides the user through
every step of the process. From planning
layouts to practical tips, the intention is to
minimise the confusion and mistakes that come
from miscommunication when asking for
quotes or briefing suppliers and tradespeople.
Saves time and money? Tick. Reduces the risk
of things having to be redone? Tick. We just
know this is going to make your life easier.
PHOTOGRAPHS (THE COLOUR) ANNA STATHAKI; (KEEP) ALEKS BELOV; (SOMER) ELLIOT SHEPPARD

KEEP
Motivated by a mission to
contribute towards a
circular future for the sofa
industry, Keep is a new
sofa brand of fering
modular designs that can
adapt and change with
the user. Co-founder
James Rubin-Smith’s
previous experience at
M&S and Made influenced
this venture. ‘The brand
a i m s to e n co u ra g e
homeowners to love their
sofas for longer,’ he says.
While the understated
and timeless aesthetic
complements an array of
interior styles, the real
benefits are inherent
within . From easily
removable upholstery to
the foam-free fillings and
durable, stain-resistant
fabric options, the sofas
are designed with

h
multiple lives in mind.

livingetc.com 29
 The t ravel
dest i nat ion
T YROL , AUSTRIA
According to Google Trends data, 2024
saw a 300% rise in searches for cooler
holidays, with mountainous regions
becoming increasingly popular as we
seek to reconnect with nature. The
Austrian state of Tyrol makes for an ideal
‘cool-cation’ destination, with hiking
trails to explore, wildlife to observe and
a sense of serenity away from our daily
lives. Elevating the experience even
further is eriro, a secluded nine-bedroom
retreat high up in the Ehrwald region.
From its sustainable Alpine architecture
to the luxurious and soothing interior
design, this is an escape like no other,
with signature experiences including
yodelling and learning to craft from the
local materials of the area.

30 livingetc.com
 DESIGN REPORT

The na mes
to k now DAR R E N A PP I AGY E I
Wood artist Darren Appiagyei creates
unique vessels from naturally felled wood
and has exhibited his work at plenty of
exhibitions and galleries, but 2025 will see
him take the next big step in his career: he’ll
be curating his own standalone exhibition
(28 Februar y-2 March at Somerset
House for Collect 2025) featuring 10-16
pieces representing the years his mother
suffered with health problems before her
passing in 2020. This immensely personal
presentation pays homage to the artist’s
mother while exploring scale, clusters and
textures relating to growth, deterioration
and death. The wood used in the collection
will be from the Greenwich borough, where
Darren’s mother lived.
PHOTOGRAPHS (TYROL) ALEX MOLING; (INDIA HOLMES) MILO BROWN; (DARREN APPIAGYEI) JENNY CATLOW

INDIA HOLMES
Creative director of rug and
homeware design studio
Pelican House, India Holmes
is embarking on a new venture
alongside her current
endeavours, designing and
selling luxury backgammon CHARLOTTE KIDGER
boards under her own name. The London-based maker, renowned for her sculptural work made using recycled materials
India says the idea came from leftover from industrial processes, has launched a new creative practice in partnership with
wanting to upgrade her own Katie May Boyd, titled Studio TIP. Centred on her circular values, the platform is helping to rehome
personal set, as well as her discarded materials through local solutions by salvaging construction materials – from tiles to
desire to experiment further facades and aluminium ducting – and reimagining their application through artistic collaborations.
with painting faux malachite, Each material has a digital passport that states its origin and makes it available for others to use.
which clads the casing’s We applaud this new innovation towards a circular future.
exterior. It’s niche, but we’re into
it: cosy winter games nights are
a chic way to entertain, and
even more so when you pull out
a design like this (plus it makes
an incredibly beautiful gift).

livingetc.com 31
 INTERVIEW

Live well
With the right mix of materials, textures and hues, homes can evoke genuine
feelings of wellbeing, says Emilie Sénéchal of French fabric editor Camengo

t he idea of desig n i ng for

wellbeing really came to the
fore of the design conversation
a year or so ago – around the time we
coined the term ‘minimaluxe’ to describe
Curtain in Hyalin in
Ocre and armchair in
Limonite in Ocre

a new, more holistic way of decorating.

French fabric and wallcovering brand
Camengo knows the value of placing the
focus on feelings: its AW24 collection,
Evanescence, took the idea as a starting
point for its soothing palette and cosseting
textures. We spoke with brand manager Chair upholstered
in Hekla in Craie
Emilie Sénéchal to find out more.

Camengo has always managed to

create designs that embrace bold
pattern while still feeling refined.
What’s the key to striking this
balance? It’s part of our promise to find
the perfect balance of a bold, easy-to-
live-with interior. Our aim is to create
harmonious, inspiring settings. Delicacy
is present in every pattern, every shade,
every choice of material and technique.

What feeling did you want this palette, too. Why did you opt for Limonite in particular leans into
season’s collection to evoke? The these warm, mainly neutral hues? the trend towards highly textured
key theme is Evanescence – a return to We worked with a palette of neutral fabrics. What’s the story behind
the essentials. It’s a collection connected colours that are both soothing and this design? Limonite is a magnificent
to the earth, with a central place for the luminous. Ochre is a fascinating colour: velvet that elicits a lovely mineral-like
expression of raw, mineral or organic it brings a sense of warmth, earthiness texture. The velvet pile is very dense,
materials. The aesthetic is refined, and depth. Shades of linen and white and the wef t thread of the chenille
luminous and soothing. Evanescence are easy to match, ideal for creating a texture produces a soft, mellow relief.
creates a space where modernity blends comfortable, elegant decor that will The colour palette is gentle and natural,
with nature, in an atmosphere that is stand the test of time. Tones of sage green with a few powerful hues. This fabric
both elegant and enveloping. and horizon blue evoke the colours of makes it possible to design sofas and
FEATURE ELLEN FINCH

nature, cultivating an impression of armchairs that are suitable for everyday

Elegant and enveloping – that’s freshness and tranquillity. Aubergine is use – and it truly embodies the feeling of
the perfect shorthand for how ma k ing a comeback as a precious, wellbeing we wanted for our collection.
we want to live right now! We can timeless classic colour, adding a hint of
see that in the collection’s colour mystery and elegance to the collection. camengo.com

32 livingetc.com
34 livingetc.com
 PROFILE

Great expectations
It feels like designer Tola Ojuolape is on the cusp of stardom – and thanks to
several recent projects and her skill at using colour this is going to be her year
FEATURE Pip Rich

t he architectural interior designer

Tola Ojuolape is about to make
2025 her year. ‘I’ve been busy,
trying to get to the next level, to reach
success,’ she says, of a hustle that, from
the outside, looks to the world like she has
already achieved it. She set up her own
studio in 2021, having previously worked
for the primarily commercial design
agency Blacksheep on hotel projects, and
then grabbed attention with her overhaul
of The Africa Centre in Southwark.
Daubed in textural finishes and using
designers and makers from Africa and the
diaspora, it’s a soothing haven that at once
champions the culture of the continent it’s
named after and also cemented Tola as a
force to be reckoned with. ‘I was surprised
how visible it made me,’ she says, of a job
that quickly led to many more. ‘In itself,
it was a symbol of positivity and suddenly
everyone wanted to talk to me.’
One of the
vessels from
Like all the work Tola has completed Odò, Tola’s
own line of
since – a luxury show apartment in the products
Nine Elms estate in Battersea, the
Spanish restaurant Boca a Boca in
Fitzrovia and Odò, her own mini-line of The bedroom
vessels – The African Centre shows how in the show home
at Nine Elms in
she is able to blend luxury sensibilities London that
with a homely touch. ‘Comfort is always Tola worked on
PHOTOGRAPHS (PORTRAIT) GRANT FRAZER

king,’ she says. ‘A nd it ’s the earthy

palettes I’m drawn to that provide that
cosiness, lifted with pops of bright colour.
But the real key comes from how I source
materials and how much thought goes
into how pieces will sit next to each other.
That element of curation is integral.’

Having grown up mostly in Ireland but Tola’s cosy

h design for the
with Nigerian parents, Tola is part of a living area
 PROFILE

tones in the clay seen in Namibia, the use

The dining of blue dye in the woven, textured fabrics
area in Nine
Elms is of Mali, they all work so well here.’ She is
beautifully just as informed by a year spent studying
composed
in Milan while at university, where her
taste for refined luxury began. ‘The
Italians have a sharp eye, everything is so
thoughtful and considered, and that’s
something I’ve carried with me,’ she says.

Now, following the recent unveiling of

Bloom East at Nine Elms, Tola is primed
to take on more residential projects,
imbuing them with her luxe and liveable
lightness of touch. ‘A home should
make you feel looked after,’ she says. ‘It
should be the perfect combination of
functionality and beauty, and you should
be able to reach the things you need.’

A nd so to next year, and two brand

partnerships she’s itching to talk about
but ‘can’t reveal quite yet’, along with a
hoped-for revival of Odò, her product line,
turning it into a full collection. A Yoruba
word for both mortar and stream, it has
so far included some sensually beautiful
pots inspired by the everyday bathing
rit uals of A f rica n women. ‘I loved
learning about how women traditionally

I T ’ S T H E E A R T H Y PA L E T T E S I ’ M D R AW N
TO T H AT P R OV I D E CO S I N E SS , L I F T E D
W I T H P O P S O F B R I G H T CO LO U R

growing band of British-based designers looked after their family, and how tactile
w ith simila r heritages who a re that experience was,’ Tola says. Feeling
transforming decor with their modern looked after, and wanting to touch the
PHOTOGRAPHS (THE AFRICA CENTRE) NICK REES

take on use of colour. Yinka Ilori and Eva things around you? This could easily
Sonaike are both regulars on these pages, sum up the effect all of Tola’s schemes
and Tola says she’s not surprised that have. ‘I want quality and craftsmanship
African decorative flavours are starting to be visible in all my projects,’ she says,
to take hold over here. ‘When I think of citing Ilse Crawford as a role model for
Tola’s design Nigeria, it’s the drive and ambition I the way she leads a brand, and Nigerians
of The Africa see in the country’s people that is the genera lly, for ‘ma k i ng t hei r ma rk
Centre in
London’s SE1 most inspiring to me,’ Tola says. ‘But everywhere they go’. An approach you
has helped aesthetically speaking, I think of my can be sure Tola will be taking this year.
raise her
profile no end influences as being African rather than
strictly Nigerian. The richness of the tolaojuolape.com

36 livingetc.com
 E V E R YO N E ’ S TA L K I N G A B O U T. . .

Fi v e a d a y
Meet the fruit and veg that are in season – and in style –
on the catwalk and in our homes

Giant Pea candlestick holder,

Banana Tree
£145, Minnie-Mae Studio
Leaves ceramic
pouffe, £765,
Ceramiche
Ceccarelli
at Artemest

Loewe’s show
featured
Botanist veg-themed
Mushroom Field looks
beaded
cushion, £295,
Jonathan Adler Balmain
offered a
glitzy take
on the Mini Cactus Maze
fruit bowl mushroom stool,
£450, Assieds-Toii

Small Radish
bowl, £14,
Rockett St George

Botany table
lamp, £246;
shade in Ian
Mankin Avon
Check, from
STEPHANE CARDINALE - CORBIS/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES;

£177, David
Hunt Lighting
(LOEWE) GIOVANNI GIANNONI/WWD VIA GETTY IMAGES
FEATURE AMY NEASON PHOTOGRAPHS (BALMAIN)

Armchair 568 in Vegetable

Tree by Josef Frank, €6,600,
Svenskt Tenn

Omaha Artichoke
bowl, £75, Oka Oranges delft tile, £32, Petra Palumbo

livingetc.com 37
 HERO PIECE

Bed time
This drop-dead gorgeous red design makes for an arresting
centrepiece – these are the pieces we’d style it with

2
L AY I N
LUXURY
This four-poster from The
Original Bed Co, covered
in Johnstons of Elgin’s
new wool felt, is a zingy
choice for a bedroom – 1
but one that adds serious
richness. Reims bed, The
Original Bed Co, £1,027
for a King size; covered in
Rowan wool felt; bolsters
in Gun Club wool tweed
and Spice wool felt; 3
cushions in (from left)
Saddle, Rowan and
Whisky wool felt, all
£177m, Johnstons of Elgin

5 4
FEATURE RORY ROBERTSON

1 FA B F R I L L S 2 IN LINE 3 T WO TO N E 4 DRESS UP 5 P L AY B A L L
Complementary colours The stripe of this lamp With the bed’s block The marble top of this Play matchy-matchy
green and aqua sit mirrors the graphic lines colour, the fun stripe of table lends an elegant with that bold-hued
opposite red on the of the bed – offset by a this Dominic Schuster’s edge. Stanley dressing fabric: this glossy red
colour wheel, creating a curved base. Gravity design adds a punch of table in Old Rust and stool can also be used as
vibrant contrast. Striped lamp, upcycled marble much-needed pattern. Gold with Rainforest a funky side table. Balls
Frill Olive cushion, £40, edition, £799, Space Banded mirror, £550, Gold top, from £7,986, stool, 14,900kr, House
John Lewis & Partners Copenhagen for Gubi Dominic Schuster Porta Romana of Bolon

livingetc.com 39
Anne McDonald
purposefully
chose furniture
that is enveloping
and easy to
move around
 DESIGN REPORT

A moment of den
More than a design trend, snugs offer a wonderful way
to help you strengthen connections to those you love
FEATURE Pip Rich

t raditionally in our January issue

we like to include some sort of
wellness feature. New year, new
intentions, new design ideas, new you.
Home gyms, spas and saunas have all
Designer Jo Berryman thinks snugs are
an essential, and the smaller, the better.
‘All human beings want to gather in
small spaces, gravitating towards a fire
or warmth,’ she says, suggesting that it
been covered in this slot. But for 2025, might hark back to our cave-dwelling
I wanted to take a different angle with a ancestors. ‘We love it. And the beauty of
more holistic approach to wellness, and snugs is that they are womb-like, spaces
perhaps explain why snugs are becoming that make you feel cuddled and snuggled.’
an increasingly popular use of space Cassandra painted hers in Fallen Plum
(anecdotally, more and more houses that by Atelier Ellis, and Jo thinks that ‘a dense
are submitted to Livingetc now feature plum shade or the warmth of Farrow &
a room that could only be described as Ball’s Charlotte’s Locks, which I used in
one). As well as being a big design trend, my own snug, is perfect. Anything that
I believe that snugs are a key part of the helps to compartmentalise the space
wonderful wellness movement, and that from the rest of the home and draws you
the connection they help to foster with in with its cosiness and comfort.’
your loved ones – and yourself – is the
ultimate wellness vibe we need right now. The ideal furniture choices for a snug
need to be relaxedly inviting, and easy
‘My 23-year-old stepdaughter moved to move around, depending on how
in with us, having never lived with her you plan to use the space at any given
dad full time,’ says the colour expert moment. ‘I love to think about how a
Cassandra Ellis, founder of Atelier space is going to be holding you,’ says
Ellis. ‘We have two living rooms, one a designer Anne McDonald. ‘And wellness

A S N U G M A K E S YO U F E E L C U D D L E D A N D
CO SS E T E D – I T ’ S A P L AC E TO B E CO M P L E T E LY
R E L AX E D, W H E R E YO U C A N J U ST ‘ B E ’

snug, and I’ve noticed that what it does, can be encompassed by how looked
when you are in a space that is not after you are by your home. In a recent
multipurpose but just for “being”, is that snug that I designed (pictured left), I
PHOTOGRAPH TIM LENZ/OTTO

we sit and play board games and talk chose a curved sofa as it envelops you,
and connect. She’s cried, we’ve laughed, with two tub chairs opposite to create a
we’ve sat in silence. But that room has conversation circle in which you can
helped to bring us together, and I wonder relax. The stools can easily be moved
if having a separate space, where you if, say, children are playing a game at
know you can just “be” when you enter the table, or you would like to use them

h
it, is a key part of a good home’s design?’ as footstools, while the reading chair

livingetc.com 41
 DESIGN REPORT

in the corner offers a moment of slight

privacy that can still join the intimacy
of the centre if you so wish.’

And of course, lighting is key to setting

the right ambience. ‘No blue – or cool –
light bulbs!’ Jo says. ‘I really like the
Philips Hue bulbs that you can control
with your smartphone and an amber or
red light setting is perfect. There’s one
called Savanna h Sunset that is my
favourite; it imbues the space with a
delicious flow, just like candlelight does.’

One of the criticisms of the wellness

movement is how un-inclusive it is, how
it assumes you have both money and
time to devote to it. But please don’t
think you need to have a random empty
room to embrace the trend for rooms
that embrace you. ‘I created a snug
area out of an adjunct off the landing
in one project,’ Jo says. ‘I simply pulled

PHOTOGRAPHS (JO BERRYMAN) JAMES MERRELL/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM; (ZOE FELDMAN) STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG
around a curtain which cordoned off
An adjunct off the space, added some thick-pile carpet
the landing, and a comfortable squishy sofa that took
just big enough
to hold a sofa, up the entire floor space, with no room
became a snug for anything else. It was perfect.’
thanks to Jo
Berryman
And designer Zoe Feldman told me, as
part of our interview on page 56, that an
Fallen Plum
by Atelier Ellis, upstairs corner is actually better to
the colour requisition for your snug. ‘I love an
Cassandra
Ellis has in her upstairs den,’ she says. ‘Put it on an upper
own snug
level, where guests don’t tend to go, so
it becomes a private experience. You can
be more messy, you can leave blankets
strewn around, you can create a little
moment in which you feel tucked away.’

It’s that little moment that is key to the

wellness element of a snug. ‘The clue to
a good snug is in its name,’ Jo says. ‘It’s
a place to decompress, to be completely
relaxed, to be in your pyjamas, to cuddle
up on the sofa with your dog, a place
where you don’t care if you have messy
Zoe Feldman
believes the hair. In a snug you have permission to be
best snugs
yourself.’ A revitalising wellness trend
are actually
upstairs that is easy – and enriching – to embrace.

42 livingetc.com
 DESIGN REPORT

Serene in green
Minimaluxe designers are embracing verdigris in ways
that soothe the soul and still the mind
FEATURE Faaizah Shah

A S T U DY
OF BEAUT Y
Home office inspiration comes
in the form of this charming
design by London-based studio
Banda. The dusky olive hue
feels inviting and serves
as the perfect backdrop for
the sculptural desk and lighting.
‘This olive colour is Rooftop
Garden by Benjamin Moore,’
says Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi,
the studio’s founder. ‘Its
dark, muted tones provide
enveloping privacy for this
studious work area, which
provides a striking contrast
to the light and sociable free-
flow areas of the apartment.’

44 livingetc.com
GOING SOLO
In Milanese and South Korean
duo Gori & Yoon’s Milan
apartment design, a green sofa
takes centre stage. ‘The touch
of green gives elegance to the
composition,’ says Elisa Gori,
one of the studio’s co-founders.
‘The result is just a touch h of
colour that recalls nature.’
 DESIGN REPORT

LIG HT AN D DAR K
A forest in the sky comes to life in this New York penthouse
bedroom designed by Banda. By cleverly pairing the fresh
Rooftop Garden paint by Benjamin Moore with elegant black
joinery and furniture, a sophisticated interior emerges that feels
both contemporary and classic. ‘This rich green hue is so versatile;
we have also used it in the secondary bedroom of this penthouse
in the iconic 111W57 building in New York to anchor the design to

PHOTOGRAPHS (MINTY FRESH) ONI STUDIO; (FEELING TRIM) VINCENT LEROUX

the dynamic visual theatre of the Central Park view,’ says Banda’s
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. ‘We wanted a palette with tones that
would work with both the park and the cityscape beyond, without
detracting or trying to compete with the extraordinary views.’

MINTY FRESH
Warsaw-based design studio Dawid Konieczny Interiors’
enveloping use of green for this project highlights how serene
the hue can be. ‘I wanted to emphasise the space for relaxation,
a kind of oasis,’ Dawid says. ‘Green makes the feeling of relaxation
stronger, so it is very important not to use other dominant colours.
Covering all surfaces with green micro-cement optically enlarged
the bathroom. I suggest using the total-green-look option – it will
be minimalistic and will always look good.’

IN VEIN
‘For this powder room, we decided to enhance the concept with
a total green look,’ says New-York based designer Marianna
Fiorin. ‘Facing the back garden, the room has a vanity in Irish
Green marble, a powerful stone, the starting element in our
design. We decided to keep the entire room green and add an
unexpected texture to the arched structure, to make it original,
keeping a soothing feeling.’

46 livingetc.com
FEELING TRIM
Softer hues of green blend
beautifully with neutral and
warm tones like cream, beige
and peach. Imagined and
realised by After Bach Studio
for its Dauphine project, the
green architrave works well to
introduce each chapter of this
Parisian apartment. ‘A khaki
green palette colour was used
contextually on this project to
make a link with the Seine river
located just inside the historic
building,’ says Francesco
Balzano, the studio’s co-founder.
‘Green can be used in contrast
with a light ivory colour, and it is
interesting to play with a camaïeu
of green to create vibration and
variation: like a music partition.’
 OF THE MOMENT

Carpet ride
Taking carpets all the way across the floor is trending – and the
right colour will add comfort and style wall to wall
FEATURE Faaizah Shah
 i t ’s the f looring t rend that,
when you think about it, makes
perfect sense. Wall-to-wall
carpets are back, great swathes of thick
pile being used to cover bare boards,
adding warmth, comfort and a plush
tactility. But these are not the heavily
damask shags of the 1970s; instead, they
are modern colours and contemporary
patterns, a mix of fiery tones moving
toward the oxblood end of the spectrum.
Considering the shift toward playfulist
designs and the more experimental uses
of colour seen last year, these shades feel
both familiar and new. The superpower
of these orange and red tones lies in
their ability to work as versatile neutrals
and striking statements in a scheme.

DEEP RED,
DEEP PILE
Red can be incredibly inviting and enigmatic,
proven by Australian designer Greg Natale
with his sumptuous Darlinghurst apartment.
‘We got the idea to use deep maroon
carpets while in Paris,’ he says. ‘We couldn’t
PHOTOGRAPH GREG NATALE DESIGN

help but notice these indulgent, dark

crimson carpets everywhere. The maroon
carpet combined with maroon-painted
walls was a choice inspired by Studio 54
and other icons of the disco era. It gives the
apartment a dramatic, immersive effect that
invites you into the space in an unforgettable
way.’ The key is to see the red as an ingredient
in the room rather than the entirety of the
space. Not only will this bold colour energise
the furniture and objects around it – it will
h
enliven the experience for you, too.

livingetc.com 49
 OF THE MOMENT

ZEST FOR LIFE ORIGINAL AND BEST

A subtle citrus twist on a wall-to-wall can fill Rust-toned carpets are ideal for tempting
your room with optimism. And opting for a and laid-back interiors like this one by LA
geometric pattern allows you to cleverly gallery The Future Perfect, housed in a 1970s
combine the intrigue of orange with the building. The copper glows in the natural
versatility of a neutral, as pictured in this light. ‘I referenced a fairly wide palette from
PHOTOGRAPHS (ORIGINAL AND BEST) DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

interior featuring a rug from London-based the 1970s – avocado green, mustard yellows,
expert Riviere. ‘People are wanting to play browns and of course our final selection,
with colour in the home with more focus on maple,’ says brand founder David Alhadeff.
warm earthy greens, coppers, rusts and ‘In the end, we selected this colour because
aubergines,’ says the brand’s founder we thought the other ones felt ironic. Maple
Eleanor Dykes. Remember to think about looked original and it still felt relevant in
the big picture when designing your space a contemporary context.’ This beautiful
and choosing your colour. ‘It’s important to project showcases the very best of wall-
look at everything holistically as carpets are to-wall carpets by rewriting the 1970s
such a key piece in the room to bring the carpet story with a contemporary colour
scheme and space together,’ Eleanor adds. palette that feels both authentic and current.

50 livingetc.com
 THE EDIT

No t i m e l i k e t h e p r e s e n t
You can still order any of these last-minute gifts for
friends, family and hosts – all £50 or less

Amaretti letterbox Tutti Fruity screen print, £50

brownies, £14.95, The (unframed), Hannah Carvell
Exploding Bakery Rye Opal
wine glasses,
£36 for 2,
Aaron Probyn

Sage on Repeat
flower subscription,
from £40,
Sage Flowers

Scallop edge vase,

£35, M&S x
Kelly Hoppen

Berbere spice rub,

£6.10, Ottolenghi
Twisted
candles,
£6.95 for 4,
Rex London

Limited
edition
shower gel
in a bottle
Love Always side designed by
plate, £35, Yinka Natascha
Ilori Objects Maksimovic,
Personalised leather AirPod
case, £45, Not Another Bill £40, Molton
Brown

livingetc.com 51
 Large linen sofas,
£6,750 each; 1960s
Swedish modern
sculptural armchair,
£4,500, all Banda
Gallery, photographed
in a Banda project in
Notting Hill

52 livingetc.com
 OF THE MOMENT

W h a t ’s i n s t o r e
Designers are turning their studios into shop fronts,
offering selections of pieces to help you get their look
– Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi of Banda leads the charge
FEATURE Pip Rich

t he interior designer Russell Sage

once told me he has had to lease a
whole warehouse to store the
art, antiques and accoutrements he picks
up along the way - the furniture and
Let them, as experts, scour the vintage
markets so you don’t have to.
Banda Gallery offers a mix of new
pieces Edoa rdo had a lready been
specifying for his private clients, now put
fripperies that might just end up in one of into production for us all, and vintage
h i s r ich ly layered scheme s. T hat finds. One of the standouts is the elm
overspill of stuff is a hazard of the job for burl Mattina desk, featured on page 44
the modern designer, who is always on in our story on serene greens. It is now
sourcing trips, bringing treasures they available to buy, a whisper-quiet hero
couldn’t resist back from auctions, piece that sums up the Banda aesthetic
vintage fairs and even holidays abroad. perfectly. ‘We introduced it in a London
‘We travel the world to discover unique apartment bedroom, later placed one in a
vintage and mid-century pieces, always London townhouse living area, and

h
with a discerning eye for authenticity eventually incorporated it into a home

W E W E R E A LWAYS S E E I N G A M A Z I N G T H I N G S
T H AT, U N L E SS W E CO U L D U S E T H E M I N A
P R OJ E C T, W E H A D N O P L AC E FO R

and character,’ says Edoardo Mapelli

Mozzi, founder of the influential design
studio Banda, the man whose aesthetic
rei nvent e d m i n i ma l i sm a nd w ho
reinvigorated the neutral palette. ‘We
were always seeing amazing things that,
unless we could use them in a project, we
had no place for them.’ And now, thanks
PHOTOGRAPHS (MAIN IMAGE) MICHAEL SINCLAIR

to the launch of the Banda Gallery, that

place for them can be your home.
The interior designer/shopkeeper
mash up is a compelling one. You no
longer need to commission them for a
renovation in order to benefit from their
inherent knack for sourcing. Other
Livingetc favourites like Tom Morris of
Morrisstudio and Roísín Lafferty have
recently followed suit, opening stores as
accessible entry points into their brands.
 OF THE MOMENT

create spaces that express calm and offer

The dining a serene respite, especially working
area in Nine
Elms is within some of the world’s most hectic
beautifully cities,’ he says. The Banda look takes the
composed
rustic edges you find in a country home
and reimagines them into a luxe yet
liveable urban space. ‘We believe a home
should be a sanctuary, meticulously
cu rated to ba la nce beaut y a nd
functionality. Our philosophy centres on
craf ting environments that inspire
tranquillity while also embracing the
Walnut
coffee table, vibrancy of their surrounding context.’
£6,500,
What Banda rooms do is invite you
Banda
Gallery to relax, to be at peace in an informal
way. Shoes on or off, glass of red wine in
your hand or plonked down on a table.
office in a West Village apartment in The trick is in the curation, the blend of
NYC,’ says Edoardo. ‘Its kidney shape polished and patinated, old and new.
o f f e r s e xc e p t i o n a l a d a p t a b i l i t y, ‘Achieving the Banda look goes beyond
effortlessly blending into a variety of simply collecting beautiful objects,’ says
settings. We love how it plays with Edoardo. ‘ We encourage people to
curves, from the flowing silhouette and consider how pieces interact with their
sculpted legs to the crisp, straight lines surroundings, pairing vintage items with
that add a refined contrast.’ Crafted in modern lines or juxtaposing smooth
burl wood, the desk’s grain patterns finishes with raw, textural elements. We
create a quiet sense of luxury that feels want our clients to feel empowered to
both contemporary and timeless – words create layers and depth, balancing
often associated with Banda itself. curated sophistication with their own
When the studio launched in 2007 it personal touches.’ He pauses, taking in
was a time when minimalism was a dirty the breadth of beauty waiting to be
word, and long before we at Livingetc had discovered in his store. ‘Each piece tells a
coined the term minimaluxe to describe story and contributes to our overarching
Grecian grey a personalit y-filled yet pared-back vision of thoughtful, well-lived design.’
vase, £350,
Banda Gallery approach. Edoardo’s vision could be seen
as the start of it. ‘At Banda, we strive to bandagallery.com

Green Selene
D E S I G N E R S/S H O P K E E P E R S WE LOV E
PHOTOGRAPHS (BANDA GALLERY) NICO WILLS

chair by Vico
Our favourite sources for beautiful pieces Magistretti,
£350,
ROÍSÍN LAFFERTY ESSENTIALS MORRISSHOP BY Morrisshop
BY ROÍSÍN LAFFERTY Marble plinth, MORRISSTUDIO
In the considered world of Roísín price on Designer Tom Morris spends a
Lafferty, a marble plinth really is request, Roísín lot of time sourcing, often with
an essential, a way to make each Lafferty specific clients in mind, but
corner feel like a work of art. Essentials sometimes not. ‘We’ve amassed
‘These pieces are the building furniture, ceramics, textiles and
blocks of our interiors, the things knick-knacks and have set this
that I use time and time again,’ she up as a way of sharing an edited
says. ‘They’re all primary shapes, selection of them,’ Tom says.
they go into every space and ‘Our ethos is beautifully made,
they’re not going to date. They are interesting pieces that will add a
just simple, beautiful materials.’ certain… element to a room.’

54 livingetc.com
 To b e r e a l
Designer Zoe Feldman creates the most liveable of schemes, even choosing rugs because
of how good they’ll feel to lie on with your dogs, as she tells our executive editor Pip Rich

Zoe is moving
towards a
palette of
moody green
walls ‘which
blue just shines
out against’
 PIP RICH I once heard you describe dogs too. That’s such a true-to-real-life
your work as looking like a relaxing take on design. I know that a sense of
weekend – what a beautiful description humour is also important to you, but
and one I’d love to emulate. What does what does that mean in practice?
that look and feel like in practice? ZF Our homes should reflect who we are
ZOE FELDMAN Our work is meant to as people – you should be able to walk
be lived in. You know, sometimes design into someone’s home and know who
can be quite precious, and ours isn’t – but they are immediately. So have lots of
that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. cheeky moments – I like to use a model of
I like floors to creak a little, for kitchens a foot as a paperweight on a stack of
to look used, for it not to cause anyone books, or hands instead of hooks. I take
to freak out if something gets spilled. inspiration from Jonathan Adler, who
Decor is a liveable experience and your ma kes those Uppers a nd Dow ners
home should be a workhorse, working canisters for your sugar or tea. It’s fun,
hard to be a space in which you can be and design shouldn’t be afraid to be fun.
your most relaxed self. PR I find your use of colour to be fun too
PR And what are you doing to spaces to – there is an upbeat tone to your spaces.
allow them to work that hard? I’m thinking of that pink living room
ZF We use a lot of warm colours, to create with the burnt orange couch. A daring
jewel box moments. If you saturate a combination, but it works – how did you
ceiling in one colour then it allows you to land on it?
feel ensconced in a space, layering ZF I find pink to be a very flattering
textiles, to make it cosy, upholstering colour for most people. It’s very warm
pieces to cocoon you. How an item feels when used the way we do, in a muddier ZF Actually, we’ve been moving even
is an underrated aspect of design. I’m way than, say, a bubblegum princess moodier, and my interiors will shift
very conscious that a rug not just feels might. I use pinks that are a little brown; d a r k e r. Mo o d y p a l e t t e s , m o o d y
good underfoot, but when you lie on it too during the day it can feel nice and wallpapers, nothing super f resh. I
(I have dogs and am always lying down bright and at night it feels like it’s lit by love deep greens, curry tones, lots of
on the floor with them!). So I wouldn’t candlelight. Farrow & Ball’s Setting terracotta. I’m deep into port and would
choose sisal, but something softer – I’ve Plaster, Sulking Room Pink and Peignoir say brown over grey any time. These
just bought a mohair rug by Jennifer are all perfect examples, while the brand’s tones a re the perfect backdrop on
Manners and I’m totally obsessed! Oxford Stone has a pink tint to it – ideal which to layer an element of surprise –
PR I have never thought about what a for those who might be pink-averse. a lapis blue vase, perhaps, that just
rug might feel like to lie down on, but I’ll PR Is that a tone you expect to be using seems to shine out against them, looking
admit, I’m often on the floor with my a lot more of in 2025? just so rich and inviting.

P E R F E C T PA LE T TE
Our pick of the best paints inspired by Zoe’s decor
PHOTOGRAPHS STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

SULKING ROOM PINK,

HOUSE OF HACKNEY

PALMERSTON PINK,
AMRITA’S GREEN,

FARROW & BALL

LITTLE GREENE
ATELIER ELLIS

MYLANDS
HEDERA,
MOCHI,

livingetc.com 57
 DESIGN ICON
Marble Gum Patchouli cushion, £100

Pa t t e r n p l a y e r
With its new London showroom, Timorous Beasties
is proving that its founders are still the princes of prints

Paint
Crackle
cushion,
£100
Coving Row
wallpaper,
£120 a roll s cot tish desig n st udio
Timorous Beasties has been
the rebellious darling of the
design scene for decades, ever since its
much-loved London Toile launched
the nostalgia-with-an-edge vibe that
characterised the noughties. Across
wallpapers and fabrics, scenes of city life
– including an armed robbery – took the
form of a romantic Delft-inspired print,
and were seen in many a Livingetc home.
And now the brand has opened its first
London showroom, all 2,300 square foot
of it, in Clerkenwell, filled with its
signature f lair. Coving Row debuted
earlier this year, strips of shapes inspired
by Victorian architectural details, much
less cheeky than London Toile but no less
dreamy to live with, while the cushion
collection takes you on a hallucinogenic
trip, a wonderland filled with butterflies
and fantastical phantasmagoria. Have
founders Alistair McAuley and Paul
Simmons mellowed after 30 years of
designing? Thankfully, it seems not
(and yes, London Toile is still for sale,
and still looks just as fresh today).

timorousbeasties.com

Papillon in Oleander cushion,

£95, all Timorous Beasties

60 livingetc.com
 C H I L D ’ S P L AY
We’re as guilty as anyone of paying
much more attention to interior
design for adults than we do for
children. Yes, we’re always talking
about striking a balance between
rooms that feel chic but are still
practical for family life, for sticky
fingers and the occasional smashed
vase – but what about kid-oriented
decor that evokes their playful side
and encourages imagination?
Enter this corner of the kitchen in
the vibrant Haarlem home we tour
on page 62, featuring a dedicated
custom-made children’s table. It’s
a reminder that kids’ spaces can be
incorporated into ‘grown-up’
schemes in a way that feels fun, but
still stylish – an approach we’re
always happy to see done well.

T H I S M O N T H W E H AV E A H OS T O F D IV I N E H O M E S T H AT
A R E CO M P L E T E LY C A P T I VATI N G – CO M E O N I N
HOUSES

C olou r
me
HAPPY
Filled with beautiful colours –
and patterns – this Dutch
house is as fun, joyous and
cool as its creative owners

PHOTOGRAPHY Space Content Studio/Living Inside

WORDS Charlotte Balder/Living Inside

62 livingetc.com
 LIVING ROOM
‘We reupholstered the Togo
chairs to add more pattern
to this space,’ says designer
Nicole Dohmen. ‘It’s a fun
room for cocktail parties.’
Togo chairs, Ligne Roset;
reupholstered in Stars
recycled fabric, Kirkby
Design. Floor lamp, Gubi.
Side table, &Tradition.
Wallpaper, Kelly Wearstler.
Custom-made console,
Atelier ND Interior; painted in
Raisin Rubis, Argile Peinture.
Limited-edition melting disco
ball sculpture (on console),
Rotganzen for Kelly
Wearstler. Wall lamp (above
sofa), Danke Galerie. Rug,
Hella Jongerius for Kvadrat at
The Frozen Fountain
 LIVING ROOM
‘This nook was created so
the adults would be able to
work and still be around
the kids and the buzz
downstairs,’ says Nicole.
Custom-made desk, Atelier
ND Interior; made by
JOB interieurbouw. Nana
chair, Hanne Willmann for
Freifrau at Edha Interieur.
Artwork by Alice Brown,
Atelier NB Interior
 HOUSES

hen interior designer Nicole Dohmen the cabinets – a shade I’d had in mind for a while.’ This pop of

w (pictured above) first received a call from

Haarlem-based couple Jacqueline and
Tako, she quickly felt a connection. They
wanted their house to reflect the character
of their family, to feel f ree-f low ing,
creative and, most importantly, not too serious. Stepping through
raspberry is used as a visual link, connecting the previously
underused back of the house – where the children now spend time
playing and doing their homework – to the family living room.
Alongside the punchy colour palette, the living room is made
even more vibrant thanks to its eye-catching wallpaper, selected
by Jacqueline over a neutral sisal that Nicole had initially
the front door for the first meeting, Nicole found an easy-going suggested. ‘She chose this Kelly Wearstler design instead, which
atmosphere: children eating strawberries on the sofa; a football we then paired with understated curtains to maintain balance,’
flying through the room… She recalls: ‘I loved that Jacqueline and says Nicole. By contrast, in the main bedroom, it’s the bold,
Tako wanted lots of colour. It wasn’t meant to be a standard patterned curtains by Élitis that were the starting point for the
interior, but rather surprising. That’s exactly what I love to do.’ room’s scheme. ‘From there we chose an ice blue tone for
Jacqueline jumps in: ‘It’s a very nice house in a great location, the ceiling and fireplace, combined with a warm terracotta
but it lacked warmth and cosiness. I’ve always dreamed of headboard,’ says Nicole.
creating an open house, a place designed for hosting people – Although she commissioned custom pieces where she felt
even those arriving unannounced.’ Handily, in addition to her they were necessary – such as the children’s homework table or
distinctive design eye, Nicole has an acute awareness of the the storage cupboards in the entrance – Nicole is against things
practical requirements of a family home. ‘I have a blended family being too perfect and pristine. She also likes to reuse and recycle
with four children myself, so I can relate,’ she says. ‘Where do the where possible. ‘I believe things can be a bit more relaxed.’ she
kids put their jackets and hockey gear when they get home? says. ‘It’s especially meaningful to include items in an interior
Where do you place your mail and keys?’ that are valuable to the residents.’ In this project she chose to
Nicole looked to items the couple already owned to get a reupholster the Ligne Roset Togo chairs, give the Eginstill
foundation upon which the design of each space was built. In the kitchen an update by spray-painting it light pink, and use vintage
living room, for example, she chose the rich green Edra sofa. lamps to introduce layers of more nuanced lighting. As she points
‘Once I have that starting point, I go through a period where I out: ‘This relaxed style suits this free-spirited family well –
continuously think about colour combinations and textures,’ she although football indoors is now off limits!’
explains. ‘So, next to the dark green of the sofa, I selected a light
blue, high-pile rug. As a contrast colour, I chose raspberry for atelierndinterior.com

livingetc.com 65
 T H E S C H E M E S N E E D E D TO
F E E L F R E E - F LOW I N G ,
C R E AT I V E A N D, M O ST
K I TC H E N
‘We changed the colour from I M P O R TA N T LY, N OT
dark green into soft pink.
The entire room was too TO O S E R I O U S
dark, so we added as many
feminine and soft colours as
possible,’ says Nicole.
Kitchen, Eginstill; spray-
painted in Cool Clay, Sigma
Voice Of Colour. Vintage
lamp base; for similar, try
Etsy. Custom lampshade,
Atelier ND Interior. Alouette
bird-shaped wall light,
Atelier Areti

66 livingetc.com
K I TC H E N
Cheerful faces are a
signature of designer Mickey
Philips, who made the
children’s table. ‘The table
and the pouffes around it
are so inviting. The kids love
sitting there to draw and get
messy – exactly as I had
envisioned,’ says Jacqueline.
Custom-made table,
Atelier ND Interior x Mickey
Philips. Custom-made
pouffes, Atelier ND Interior;
covered in checked fabric
by Kelly Wearstler and
velvet fabric by Casamance.
Curtain in fabric by Dedar.
Dodo Egg light, Beata
Heuman. Wallpaper, Arte

livingetc.com 67
HOUSES

DINING AREA
‘We chose a burnt orange
colour for the tall cabinets
and made them arched to
add softness to all the
squares – this room needed
balance,’ says Nicole.
Custom-made rug, Frankly
Amsterdam. Dining table,
Table du Sud. Dining
bench, Gubi. Nana dining
chairs, Hanne Willmann for
Freifrau at Edha Interieur;
upholstered in Serra,
Oculum collection, Kelly
Wearstler. Chandelier,
Santa & Cole. Wallpaper,
Arte. Custom mirror,
Atelier ND Interior

the dow n load

THE DESIGNER
Nicole Dohmen, founder of Amsterdam-based
interior design practice Atelier ND Interior, was
brought on board to revitalise this house for
Jacqueline and Tako – who work in nature tech
and social impact – and their three children,
Bodil, nine, Rowan, seven, and Kaia, four.
She has infused it with her signature use
of print and colour.

THE PROPERTY
A late-19th-century, three-storey, listed canal
house in the Netherlands city Haarlem. On the
ground floor is the open-plan living/TV room
at the front of the house, with the open-plan
kitchen-diner at the back. On the first floor are
two bedrooms, a bathroom and an office.
The second floor has two bedrooms, a
bathroom, a laundry and a playroom.

68 livingetc.com
 ENTRANCE
‘I wanted to create a
colourful and surprising
space – we wanted this
house to have some fun!’
says Nicole. She also
chose vinyl wallpaper –
‘a practical choice
because of the kids’.
Curtain fabric, Pierre
Frey. Mirror, Hay

D U R I N G T H E D E S I G N , I P L AY W I T H
U P TO 3 0 WA L L PA P E R S , FA B R I C S
A N D CO LO U R S U N T I L I T FO R M S
A PERFECT WHOLE

70 livingetc.com
 BEDROOM
An ice blue on the
ceiling and former
fireplace contrasts with
the pink on the walls.
Le Bambole lounge
chair, B&B Italia.
Curtain in fabric by
Élitis. Sheer curtains in
fabric by Designs of
the Time. Side table,
&Tradition. Mirror,
Ferm Living. Akari
pendant light, Vitra

livingetc.com 65
Everything about this Californian home is convivial – from the
free-flowing layout to the colours that are like a warm embrace

PHOTOGRAPHY Shade Degges

WORDS Fleur Britten
 HOUSES

LIVING AREA
‘It’s a large space and can
host a lot of people, which
we figured would happen a
lot in this home,’ says
designer Sapna Aggarwal.
Sofa, Pride of Place. Velvet
club chair, CB2. Similar
vintage armchair, coffee
table, rug and art, 1stDibs.
Cabinetry, Bungalowe;
painted in Narragansett
Green, Benjamin Moore.
Model 4771 ceiling lights,
Peared Creation

livingetc.com 73
 ow to design for entertaining so that it

h minimises stress and maximises fun? Well, it

helps if your interior designer also loves
hosting, then they can feel into what a host –
and their guests – need in a space. ‘We host a
lot,’ says Sapna Aggarwal, one-half of Bungalowe, an LA-based
design studio. ‘And I hate having to step away from the party, so
that’s always on my mind when designing.’
The solution here, she says, was to create a large room for
living and dining, ‘w ith a generous f low, so it would be
comfortable for guests’. Sapna also created a wet bar, making it
easy to serve guests without having to leave the room. Meanwhile,
she ensured the cloakroom was separate from the heart of the
house, ‘so that people can take care of their business without
feeling like they’re sharing a wall with everyone’. And the scullery,
just off the kitchen, provides a place to hide ‘the things that aren’t
aesthetically pleasing’. It leaves the island free of cooking mess, so
it can be used for a beautiful display or entertaining space – or for
drinking wine. After all, all the best parties end up in the kitchen.
The house is a classic Californian Craftsman bungalow – an
early-20th-century design with wooden-framed windows,
coffered ceilings and plenty of natural materials . The panelling
in the bedrooms is typical of the era, but was actually added by
Sapna. ‘We wanted to pay homage to the original architecture,’
she says. ‘We tried to keep the character, but also modernise it –
we wanted it to be a bit different, not like every other Craftsman.’
One way Sapna has set the house apart is with the use of
colour blocking, which, she says, creates a ‘moody and dramatic’
atmosphere. ‘It was by no means a moment of creative genius,’ she
admits. ‘It took a lot of iterations and I worked through the
palette. But ultimately it was these jewel tones – teal, burgundy,
deep green – that made it feel bespoke and beautiful.’
Overnight guests get the full colour-blocking glory – one
bedroom is burgundy, with a matching en suite; another is fully
blush. ‘It is a very lovely experience for a guest to have a beautiful
space to call their own,’ says Sapna. The intention, she says, was
to create the sense of a boutique social club, ‘like you’re being
transported to a place that was intentionally creative and where
the design was very forward and thought-out.’ Even the adjoining
corridors and hallways – with their House of Hackney and Milton
& King floral wallpapers – whisper private members’ club.
DINING AREA
For the decor, Sapna called on the services of Annie Carolin ‘It just made perfect
of Pride of Place, who included plenty of vintage pieces. ‘The best sense for the table to be
flanked by two original
homage you can pay to a Craftsman,’ says Sapna, ‘is to make it feel Craftsman windows with
beautiful views of the
like it could have always been there. Vintage materials go a long
hilltops,’ says Sapna.
way to do that.’ And instead of using ‘super modern, shiny, new’
Vintage dining chairs
materials, Sapna chose ‘timeless ones that will age beautifully and dining table,
and give that old-world feel’ – for example, unlacquered brass, sourced locally; similar,
1stDibs. Andre white and
copper, the chequered flooring. And, as you’d expect, a good party brass pendant light,
– or two – will help with that bedding-in process. Crate & Barrel. Foundry
Flat floor tiles in Sand
Cast, Clé. Mirror, CB2
bungalowe.com; prideofplacedesign.com

74 livingetc.com
 HOUSES

livingetc.com 75
 HOUSES

S C U L L E RY K I TC H E N H A L LWAY
‘I wanted this to contrast ‘This is the most European- The house has a screening
with the colours of the inspired space of the house,’ room upstairs for movies
kitchen, but still be says Sapna. ‘It’s functional and this serves as a lovely
complementary. It’s but cosy and intimate.’ entry point into that area.
like a cute peekaboo
moment,’ says Sapna. Custom cabinetry, Custom cabinetry and
Bungalowe; painted mustard upholstery,
Walls in Broken Arrow; in Cheyenne Green, Bungalowe. Cabinetry in
units in Peatmoss, Benjamin Benjamin Moore. Fluted Essex Green, Benjamin
Moore. Tapware, Brassna. fireclay farm sink, Alfi. Moore. Objets (sourced
Magnifica floor tiles in Luxe London Rose wallpaper locally), Pride of Place.
White and Nero Marquina, in Smoke Grey, House Cabinet Maker’s picture
Bedrosians. Marble pendant of Hackney. Foundry Flat light, Rejuvenation
light, Modefinity floor tiles in Sand Cast, Clé

C R E AT I N G CO S I N E SS CO M E S D OW N TO U S I N G WA R M E L E M E N TS – A LOT O F
T H E M AT E R I A L S , CO LO U R S A N D T E X T U R E S H E R E WO R K TO C R E AT E T H AT

livingetc.com 77
HOUSES

S TA I R C A S E OFFICE SCREENING
‘The Craftsman style lends ‘I wanted this space to be ROOM
itself to European influences, extremely dark and moody, ‘This was built into the attic
such as moody wallpaper where a creative would space – we added a Juliet
and a warm palette,’ thrive,’ says Sapna. ‘It felt balcony to bring in natural
explains Sapna. ‘My thinking like the right place to use a light and so you can step
was, “What would this dark colour.’ outside to enjoy nature,’
look like if it were a explains Sapna.
European cottage?”’ Vintage artwork, table and
chair, all sourced locally; for Varese sofa, Live Lusso.
Herbarium Antique similar, try Vinterior. Similar Vayle two-piece black
wallpaper, Milton & King. lamp, John Lewis & Partners coffee table, Vuue at CB2.
Jeanne fluted porcelain Five-light brass pendant,
pendant light, Vuue at CB2 Axel Mert at CB2. Vintage
artwork and rug, sourced
locally; similar, Vinterior

78 livingetc.com
 the dow n load
THE DESIGNER
Sapna Aggarwal, an interior designer and the
creative director of Bungalowe, a property
development studio in northeast Los Angeles.
She works closely with her husband Karan,
who has an eye for good plots and a keen
budget. They renovated this home
and sold it to a family of four.

THE PROPERTY
A 1909 Craftsman house located in Eagle
Rock, Los Angeles, it is set over three storeys.
The top floor has an en-suite bedroom and a
screening room/office; on the ground floor
are the living/dining area, kitchen and
scullery, plus three further en suites and a
guest WC. In the basement is a
guest suite and kitchenette.
HOUSES

BEDROOM B AT H R O O M
‘The panelling was put in as ‘Every bathroom has black-
it’s very typical of Craftsman and-white flooring, the same
homes and adds a lot of design and the same colour
character,’ says Sapna. as its adjacent bedroom so
there’s cohesion,’ says Sapna.
Vintage cane bed, sourced
locally; similar, La Redoute. Shower, Brassna. Zellige
Vintage bedside table and field shower tiles in Vert
painting, sourced locally; Mousse; Magnifica floor
similar, Vinterior. Dejsa tiles in Luxe White and
lamp, Ikea. Walls in Broken Nero Marquina, Bedrosians
Arrow, Benjamin Moore

TO BA L A N C E O L D A N D N E W, FO C U S O N F U N C T I O N A L I T Y W I T H T H E N E W
A N D B R I N G I N T H E O L D W I T H M AT E R I A L I T Y – FO R E XA M P L E , W E U S E D
H A N D M A D E M O R O CC A N T I L E S TO A D D C H A R AC T E R A N D C H A R M

80 livingetc.com
HOUSES

MUSIC
S TAT I O N
Interior designer
Andrew Griffiths with
the custom piece he
helped create.
Station, designed by
A New Day; made
by James Bowyer
Furniture; recycled top
by Smile Plastics. Art
by Jonathan Murphy

Gentle touch
A listed London home has been thoughtfully reimagined with a
restoration that embraced the past, the present and the eco

PHOTOGRAPHY Anna Stathaki

STYLING Anna Sheridan
WORDS Mary Weaver

82 livingetc.com
 FRONT
LIVING ROOM
The reading corner has a
wrap-around unit designed
to house some of the
couple’s collection of books.
Walls in Fen, Rose Uniacke
for Graphenstone.
Fireplace, Chesneys.
Summer Stripes artwork by
Mada Vicassiau. Margas
lounge chair, &Tradition;
covered in Karakorum 001
fabric, Dedar. Tripod HM8
lamp, &Tradition. Bespoke
shelving, designed by
A New Day and Fraher &
Findlay; made by
Creativedge. Grand rug in
Sand, Nordic Knots
HOUSES

K I TC H E N
‘The marble island and
bespoke units, installed by
the previous owners, were
retained,’ says Andrew.
‘Updates were some new
wall cabinetry, taps, a hob
and a bespoke hanging
rack/island light, plus having
all units resprayed.’
Walls and woodwork in
Sand II; ceiling in Sand l;
cabinetry and island
resprayed in Sand III, all
Paint & Paper Library.
Bespoke light/pan hanging
rack; wall units, all Fraher &
Findlay. Taps, Dornbracht.
Soft Edge 82 bar stool,
Hay. Flooring, Dinesen

W H E N T H E OW N E R S TA L K E D
ABOUT MINIMALISM, THEY
DIDN’T MEAN HARD EDGES
A N D A STA R K W H I T E B OX

84 livingetc.com
 DINING AREA
Custom banquette seating
makes the most of the space.
Custom banquette, Fraher
& Findlay; seat cushion in
Ismay Bouclé, Yarn
Collective. Cushions made
from fabrics by Kvadrat.
Anders large pendant light,
Pinch. VV Cinquanta twin
wall lamp, Astep. Bastion
table in ash, Galvin
Brothers. CH24 dining
chair, Carl Hansen & Søn.
Hardly White 1/2/3
artworks by Mada Vicassiau
HOUSES

S
oft minimalism is a good way to describe the aesthetic of this beautifully
restored Grade ll-listed house built in 1863. Its current caretakers, Joe and
Johanna Jones and their two-year-old son, Eliot, were keen to honour its
history with a gentle restoration that would make it function in an energy-
the dow n load
efficient way now and for the next 100 years. ‘When I first met them,’ says interior designer THE OWNERS
Andrew Griffiths of A New Day design studio, ‘what really came through, along with their Johanna Jones, an environmental
eco-awareness, was that they have a love of a cleanliness and simplicity of design. But when consultant; her husband Joe, a

they talked about minimalism, they didn’t mean hard edges and a stark white box. They behavioural scientist, and their
two-year-old son Eliot. They asked
wanted something with beauty and longevity.’
Andrew Griffiths, the award-winning
Although the couple – Johanna works in environmental consultancy, Joe is a
director of interior design studio
behavioural scientist – initially thought their default was to have off-white walls and a few
A New Day, to reimagine their
items of restrained furniture, Andrew – who was introduced to them by architects Fraher
north London home for them.
& Findlay, who worked on the structural renovation – was able to take them on a journey
through colour, which resulted in a scheme with a natural yet warm palette of soft, earthy THE PROPERTY
tones, enlivened with deeper hues, which was more exciting and robust for a young family. A four-storey, Grade II-listed house
The couple’s determination to do an extensive thermal upgrade of the building, built in 1863. On the ground floor is
including swapping the gas boiler for an air source heat pump, was admirable considering the kitchen and dining room, a
how notoriously difficult it is to achieve with listed buildings. ‘Both James Henderson, the utility room and cloakroom, and a
lead architect at Fraher & Findlay, and myself learnt a lot about being patient when it came small courtyard garden. On the first

to dealing with the local authority – but we got there,’ says Andrew. floor is a double living room and
family bathroom. The second floor
As well as sharing a vision, the owners and Andrew were in harmony over the
has the main bedroom with en suite,
materiality of the house, opting for well-made pieces that were going to last, with bespoke
plus two further bedrooms. There
fittings, selected items by contemporary British design brands such as Pinch and Another
is a fourth bedroom and shower
Country and classics by Carl Hansen & Søn.
room on the top floor.
The house, built over three floors, has been extended by Fraher & Findlay up into the
loft to create an additional bedroom plus en suite for guests. Much has been retained
or refurbished, including the original staircase (covered in 100 layers of paint), the marble
island and kitchen cabinets – which were just resprayed, with a new wall-hung unit
added – and the family bathroom fittings.
Among the new built-to-last pieces was a bespoke sideboard to house Joe’s record
player and vinyl collection. ‘It’s sited in the grown-up area of the living room where they
relax or entertain,’ explains Andrew. The other half of the room is more family-friendly,
being a space where their son can play.
After moving in just before last Christmas, Joe and Johanna are looking forward to a
more relaxed festive season this year. They are enjoying their home more and more as time
goes on, as well as appreciating how the colours and design of each room informs the others
– creating a home that is truly more than the sum of its parts.

anewdaydesign.studio; fraherandfindlay.com

86 livingetc.com
 REAR
LIVING ROOM
‘The large corner sofa
invites you to kick back and
relax,’ says Andrew, who
created this space as a softer
contrast to the more
grown-up front living area.
Walls in Leather III, Paint &
Paper Library. Akari 15A
pendant, Vitra. Hanging
Lamp No 2, valerie_ objects.
In Situ sofa, Muuto; covered in
Vidar 4, Kvadrat. Ori coffee
table, Another Country. Grid
rug, Nordic Knots. Flowers 12
artwork by Casey Moore,
Partnership Editions. Blind in
Ulrike in Sand by Ada & Ina;
made by The Boys Who Sew
 HOUSES

REAR S TA I R S BEDROOM
LIVING ROOM The new staircase was ‘The walls are partly clad
An occasional workspace finished in a drench of a in refinished floorboards
has been tucked into one beautifully warm pinky reused from elsewhere in
of the alcoves. brown, with a cute storage the house, with the upper
space tucked underneath. section and ceiling finished
Walls and nook in Leather in richly textured limewash
III, Paint & Paper Library. Stair stringers and risers to capture the changing
Akari 3A table lamp, Vitra. in Joa’s White, Farrow & light,’ says Andrew.
Elefy chair, &Tradition. Grid Ball. Steps and walls in
rug in Dusty White/Cream, Clove, Edward Bulmer Walls in Mykonos by
Nordic Knots. Layers oak Natural Paint. Orbit wall Bauwerk Colour. Tamoto
flooring, Dinesen light in Travertine, bed, Hay. Lampe Gras 204
J Adams & Co wall light, DCWéditions.
Throw, Zara Home

livingetc.com 89
HOUSES

MAIN EN SUITE SON’S ROOM MAIN

‘This was a challenging ‘This was designed to be BEDROOM
space to design, with a long, playful yet balanced with ‘This is naturally on the dark
narrow floor plan and no the relaxed mood of the side – we leaned into that
natural light,’ says Andrew. home,’ says Andrew. and created a rich and cosy
‘To play with the proportions hideaway with wrap-around
and soften the feel, we Bespoke cupboard and
shelving, A New Day and colour,’ says Andrew.
introduced a partial wood
floor and shower seat in Fraher & Findlay; in Walls in BTWN Dog & Wolf,
marine lacquered teak.’ Beeswax, Paint & Paper Paint & Paper Library.
Library. Phoenix rocking Kingdom rug, Floor_Story.
Bastoni Blue Grande tiles, chair, Sofa.com; in Ria Hasker bed, Soho Home.
Parkside. Wall and ceiling fabric, Kvadrat. Timberline With You artwork by David
in Feather II microcement, floor lamp, Gubi. Trapeze Hardy, Partnership Editions.
Forcrete. Shower fittings, light, Palefire. Stool Fluted bedside cabinet
Studio Ore. Roc light, One, Another Country; in ebonised oak, Galvin
Marset. Seat and duckboard, in Boathouse, Mylands. Brothers. Cast Sconce
William Garvey Wall hanging, Vitra wall light, Audo

90 livingetc.com
 WE SET ABOUT
CO M P L E T E LY
R E I M AG I N I N G T H I S
H I STO R I C H O U S E ,
BRINGING A TRANQUIL
VIBE AND A GENTLE
E L E G A N C E TO
T H I S CO R N E R O F
N O R T H LO N D O N
HOUSES

With a showstopping drinks cabinet at its heart,

this New Forest retreat is a hedonistic hideaway

PHOTOGRAPHY Malcolm Menzies

WORDS Pip Rich

92 livingetc.com
 LIVING AREA
The bespoke drinks cabinet
spans from the kitchen to
this lounge area. The door is
one of two salvaged barn
doors that open up to the
main hallway of the house.
For a similar salvaged
door, try Lassco
HOUSES

This is a holiday home And the owners now have options – several, in fact. They could be
propped up on a stool at the kitchen island, made from Richlite (a
paper-based alternative to stone) and raw brass. They could be at
with hedonism built in. the Pinch dining table just across the open-plan floor space, light
bouncing off the glossy black tiles on the showstopping,

From the outset, where four-metre, double-sided fireplace. They could be grabbing their
second drink from the wet bar on the nearby wall, which, if they
follow it along, leads to the lounge area on the other side of the fire.
the owners would be Or they could be on the terrace, looking out to nothing but forest;
or in the darkly painted snug, watching a film, or in any number of
having their gin and other carefully curated seating spots. ‘We wanted to ensure the
space was cosy even when it was just the two of them,’ says Ian

tonics was as much of a Chapman, one of The Vawdrey House’s directors.

Happi ly, t h i s approach a lso help ed dea l w it h t he
intimidatingly high ceilings. ‘Anything you put in a room this size
priority as how design ends up looking a bit apologetic,’ Ian says. But by breaking up the
main living area into zones through the placement of chairs,
studio The Vawdrey positioning of lights and by the canopy that stretches up and over
the kitchen area, suddenly your eye is drawn to more intimate
aspects, rather than the bungalow’s gargantuan dimensions.
House was going to Ian is particularly pleased with how the decision to keep the
lower kitchen cabinets dark and upper ones light tricks the eye in
make their cavernous lowering the ceiling, while his wife, Sophie, who works on the
studio’s design team, saw the scale of the space as an opportunity

bungalow feel cosy. to imbue it with personality. ‘The owners had loads of vintage
French bowls,’ she says, ‘and I saw this space as a chance to put
them on display.’ Is it practical to have shelving that high up?
‘Well, the lower shelves are what they use everyday, but they’ve
got a ladder to get to the parts higher up, and nothing here is
precious – it’s all to be enjoyed,’ Sophie says.
The beauty of the joinery is that it wraps around the edge of
the room, ‘going from the kitchen to the record player in the living
area, and taking in the bar en route,’ Sophie says. Combined with
the owners’ mix of vintage and contemporary pieces judiciously
displayed, it serves to enclose and soften the open-plan footprint,
adding warmth. ‘This is a home for entertaining, where kids and
families come and stay and there is warmth in every design
choice,’ Ian says. ‘It has the feeling of a boutique hotel,’ Sophie
agrees, citing how each bedroom has its own colour and style –
‘making every day spent here seem like a holiday.’

thevawdreyhouse.com

94 livingetc.com
LIVING AREA
The owners particularly
love mid-century design,
so that has been a key
influence here. ‘In one of
our first meetings they cited
Frank Lloyd Wright,’
explains Ian.
Itinéraire sofa (left),
Roche Bobois. Vintage
grey chair, client’s own;
similar, Vinterior. Rug,
client’s own; similar, Nordic
Knots. Random pendants,
Moooi. Moon coffee table,
Living Divani at Aram.
Twiggy floor light, Foscarini
DINING AREA
‘There is so much variation
in the texture of the tiles,
so they reflect a really
special light, just perfect
for dining in,’ says Ian,
of the thinking behind
choosing them to
envelop the fireplace.
Flauti tiles (on fireplace),
Domus. Vintage Robert
Haussmann Lichtstruktur
chandelier, Marmorea.
Rodan dining table,
Pinch. CH24, CH36 and
CH37 chairs, all Carl
Hansen & Søn at Aram
 HOUSES

K I TC H E N
‘The “raft” above not
only helps to zone the
space, but is also partly
made from felt so it helps
with acoustics,’ says Ian.
It also usefully hides
lighting and extraction.
Poise pendant lights,
Allied Maker. Avery bar
stools, Pinch. Kitchen,
Inglis Hall. Island with
Richlite worktop, oak
veneer drawer fronts
and raw brass mesh,
Banker Wire

livingetc.com 97
HOUSES

the dow n load

THE DESIGNERS
The Vawdrey House studio is helmed by
Ian Chapman and Jennifer Hamilton,
who blend architectural prowess with
interior design flair. They always think
as much about what books will go on
the bookcase, as they do where the
staircase should be placed.

THE PROPERTY
A mid-century bungalow in the New
Forest, second home to a couple who live
in London. The house is L-shaped: from
the front door, a corridor leads to the
open-plan living space, and to the left are
five bedrooms and five bathrooms leading
off another corridor. There is also a snug.

T E R R AC E C LOA K R O O M
‘You can only see the green Designed to be a surprise
of the forest from the off the main corridor, the
terrace, which was a factor glowing pink sink was one of
we wanted to highlight with the elements The Vawdrey
the interiors, guiding the eye House added to set the
out this way,’ Ian says. home’s dial to fun.
Dedon outdoor Mbrace Walls in Off-Black, Farrow &
wing chair, footstool and Ball. Bespoke pink sink,
rocking wing chair, all Aram Morris Concrete Designs.
Hooked 6.0 pendant light,
Buster + Punch

98 livingetc.com
 SNUG
‘We chose a dark colour
for the walls as this is the
movie room,’ Sophie
says. ‘It helps to have a
space off the main
open-plan area that the
kids can be noisy in
without being totally
shut away.’
Walls in Obsidian
Green, Little Greene.
Polder sofa, Vitra.
Curtains in Forenza,
Romo. Float side table
and Moreau footstool,
both Pinch. All artwork
by Francis Hamel
 BEDROOM
‘It was the choice of pink
that played into the
American retro motel vibe
here – another aspect of
mid-century modernism,’
Sophie says.
Walls in Setting Plaster,
Farrow & Ball. Bonbon
500 ceiling light, Hay.
Headboard in a Japón
collection fabric, Gastón y
Daniela. Peggy Up &
Down wall lamp, Gong.
Knot cushion, Design
House Stockholm
 HOUSES

EN SUITE
‘We wanted to bring an
earthiness to this space, and
while wood isn’t the usual
bathroom choice, we treated
it with paraffin to make it
withstand the pressures of
the space,’ Ian says.
Walls in thermo aspen wood
panels. Oil drop chandelier,
Jonathan Coles. Vanity in
Selene marble, Mandarin
Stone. Green Lux 60 sinks,
Catalano. Cocoon taps;
Kekke mirror, both Studio
Piet Boon. Endless Dome
wall light, Allied Maker

livingetc.com 101
HOUSES

nat ur
u e
A

PHOTOGRAPHY Thibault De Schepper/Photofoyer

STYLING Suzanne Wathelet/Photofoyer
WORDS Kate Jacobs l

DINING AREA
‘A fluted oak ceiling
creates an intimate
ambience for dinners
around the walnut table
with its organic curves,’
says designer Sébastien.
Bespoke walnut table
and bench, Sébastien
Caporusso. Enamelled
This Belgian modernist abode
ceramic stool and
candleholder, both Bela
Silva at Spazio Nobile.
Salty Ball pendant lights,
celebrates airy open-plan living,
Contain, are similar. Try
Mafi natural oak flooring,
Solid Floor natural materials and blissful comfort

102 livingetc.com
K I TC H E N
‘We didn’t want this space
to feel like a formal or
conventional kitchen but
to be more like a relaxed
dining or living space, with
rounded contours on the
island and a palette of quiet
natural materials including
oak, walnut, marble and
raffia,’ says Sébastien.
Custom-made kitchen,
Sébastien Caporusso. Spy
spotlight, Deltalight
HOUSES

LIVING ROOM
‘Referencing the use of wood
on the villa’s exterior, oak
and walnut are used as a
framing element throughout
the house,’ says Sébastien.
Custom-made bench
and room divider,
Sébastien Caporusso

104 livingetc.com
 LIVING ROOM
‘We used a mix of fluted and
plain concrete on the fire
surround to create a sense
of contrast and visual
interest,’ says Sébastien.
Custom-made fire
surround, Sébastien
Caporusso. Try the Maruni
chair, Shåk Gallery.
Sheepskin rugs, Carine
Boxy at Lucia Esteves
S T U DY
‘We replaced the ugly metal
window frames with lighter
versions to open the room
up to views of the garden.
The desk creates an inspiring
workspace,’ says Sébastien.
Bespoke maple desk,
Sébastien Caporusso. Burnt
wood chair, Kaspar
Hamacher at Spazio Nobile.
Custom-made rug, Ashtari
Carpets. Akari 26A pendant
shade, Vitra, is similar
 HOUSES

f you’re the kind of international couple – he’s Sébastien. Careful thought has gone into the layering of these

i
from London, she’s from Sydney – who travel elements. The kitchen and living room are subtly zoned by a
regularly for work and pleasure, perhaps custom-made room divider, featuring raffia and walnut; this
there’s a risk that coming home might feel fuses into a cast concrete storage bench, topped with cognac-
a little anticlimactic. Luckily, this couple’s coloured leather, which in turn becomes a long, low fireplace.
interior designer, Sébastien Caporusso, was Marble is another constant running through the house,
on hand to ensure that their new house, a 1950s villa in a bustling bringing a sense of cohesion, while two timbers – warm oak and
neighbourhood near the centre of Brussels, had a welcoming moodier walnut – play off each other throughout. The colour
holiday-home vibe, ‘as if they are always on vacation when they palette is a subtle layering of neutral tones, which are drawn
come back here,’ explains Sébastien. from the materials themselves. Sébastien has added occasional
The project takes its design cues from the building’s heritage. touches of colour: the green elements in the dining area that link
‘I really liked the 1950s modernist style of the house and wanted it to the greenery outside, and the cosseting hints of pink and tan
to create something in the same spirit: light and fresh, open in the couple’s bedroom.
and comfortable, balancing the past with something more Using furniture to further elevate the space, Sébastien
contemporary,’ says Sébastien. He began by adding some desig ned cu stom-made pieces t hat del iver ma x i mu m
structural curves. ‘Initially the house felt too strictly rectilinear, functionality, so in the dining room, the organic curves of the
with lots of straight lines. I wanted to introduce curves to walnut table and bench make the most of the compact space
help light move around more freely and create a better sense and work just as well whether the couple are dining à deux or
of circulation.’ Soaring through the heart of the building is a hosting friends. Alongside is a harmonious mix of vintage and
new shapely staircase enveloped in sculptural plaster. ‘We contemporary pieces – many artisan-made. ‘It wasn’t about
were inspired by the organic curves of the Guggenheim in New sourcing vintage items from exactly the same era as the house;
York,’ explains Sébastien. Around this, the once-boxy rooms instead, I wanted things in the same spirit,’ explains Sébastien.
of the ground f loor have been opened up, with new arched With its come-on-dive-in modular sofa and acres of collaged
openings connecting the spaces, ‘to allow the eye to flow between sheepskin rug, the living room takes this idea of comfort to the
the rooms,’ says Sébastien. next level. ‘This couple wanted to be able to invite friends and
The palette of materials is both natural and tactile. ‘The family over into a welcoming, cosy space – to be able to live really
linen, wood, sheepskin rugs, clay plastered-walls, even the well in this house.’ Job done.
pebbles in the concrete – it’s all about those raw textures
and patinas that you can’t help but reach out and touch,’ says sebastiencaporusso.com

livingetc.com 107
HOUSES

S TA I R WAY B AT H R O O M BEDROOM
‘The curving form of the ‘The raw palette of materials, ‘In this peaceful room, the
new staircase allows light including tadelakt plaster soft colours of the rug work
to travel from loft windows walls and marble-tiled well with the pink bedding,’
down into the entrance hall,’ floors, brings subtle textural says Sébastien.
says Sébastien. influence and tonal colour
to this tranquil space,’ says Custom-made rug, Ashtari
Similar travertine floor tiles, Sébastien. ‘You can feel the Carpets. Louis wall light,
Mandarin Stone hands of the craftsmen who Serax. Similar bed linen,
worked here.’ Once Milano

For a tap like this, try the

Luxe, Lusso. Similar floor
tiles, Prairie Sand Matt,
Mandarin Stone

I C H O S E T H E N E U T R A L , SA N DY CO LO U R O F T H E C L AY
P L AST E R TO CO M P L E M E N T T H E OT H E R N AT U R A L
M AT E R I A L S – F R O M R A F F I A TO T R AV E R T I N E

108 livingetc.com
 the dow n load
THE DESIGNER
Award-winning Belgium-based architectural
designer Sébastien Caporusso, who created
this home as a base for an international
couple – she’s an author, while he works in
finance – with roots in London and Sydney.
They live here with their baby son.

THE PROPERTY
The two-storey detached 1950s villa is
located in Uccle, a residential district close
to the centre of Brussels. The entrance opens
onto the semi open-plan kitchen and living
room. A dining area and outdoor terrace are
off the kitchen, while a study and guest
bathroom are also on this floor. Upstairs,
there’s the main bedroom, two further
bedrooms, a guest bathroom and a library.
HOUSES

LIVING ROOM
The architecture of
this space brings the
wow factor while the
furnishings bring it down
to earth. ‘The sofa, known
for its sculptural shape,
adds a playful element
while offering a cosy spot
for movie nights,’ says the
interior designer Jae Joo.
Customised Bloud
chandelier, BDDW. On
FA B R I C O F L I F E
The Rocks sofa, Edra.
Rectangular coffee
table, Timothy Oulton.
Custom black ceramics
(on coffee table) by
Jenny Min. Vintage black
settee and chairs, Pierre
Jeanneret at 1stDibs.
White ceramics on
coffee table (right)
by Luft Tanaka Studio
A triplex in Tribeca, the historical home of New York’s textile
industry, is now a showstopper that suits everyday living too

PHOTOGRAPHY William Jess Laird

WORDS Karine Monié

110 livingetc.com
 the dow n load
THE OWNERS
A biotechnology investment banker husband
and psychotherapist wife live here with their
two daughters, aged 12 and 13, and rescue
cat Robie. They asked NYC-based interior
designer Jae Joo (pictured) to help them
personalise their Tribeca triplex.

THE PROPERTY
The Brutalist-style, three-bed triplex was
built in 2016. The first floor features the
living room, kitchen, dining area, bathroom
and playroom. On the second floor are two
bedrooms with bathrooms and balconies
plus an additional bathroom. The third floor
is the main bedroom suite with a home office.
 HOUSES

nown for decades as the heart of

the textile industry, the Tribeca
n e i g h b o u r h o o d i n L ow e r
Manhattan has experienced
a contemporary revival —
now hosting luxury high rises, outdoor green spaces and
renowned restaurants, alongside the old warehouses
and industrial buildings that have been transformed
into private residences. Envisioned by Michael House
Architecture, with interiors by Jae Joo Designs, this
Brutalist-inspired apartment is a part of this renaissance.
Spread across three levels with three private terraces, the
project kicked off four years ago when the homeowners – a
couple with two daughters – reached out to Jae Joo (right),
asking her to renovate the triplex into ‘a space for creating
lasting memories and accommodating the various chapters
of their family’s growth,’ remembers the interior designer.
With its soaring nearly seven-metre-high ceilings, the
main living area features a showstopping curved staircase
complete with a customised chandelier by BDDW. Originally
only available in white, Jae wanted a unique piece to enhance
the triplex with a soft pop of colour, so had it customised with
lavender shades. It is now one of the home’s focal points.
Maintaining a neutral colour palette throughout to
exude a sense of calm, the interior designer introduced
character and depth through further lighting, furniture and
textile choices. ‘I aimed for a mix of cosiness and drama,’ she says. K I TC H E N
‘Drawing inspiration from
‘The space has a raw feel, highlighted by architectural features such as the stacked tailor-fitted modern
concrete ceilings and textured columns. Given the spacious and open nature of the area, Belgian kitchens situated
in raw industrial settings,
I had to make careful yet bold choices to avoid an empty or clinical feeling,’ she continues. I aimed to create a space
Adding a sense of history, materials with a patina were selected to complement the art that integrates with the
architecture,’ says Jae.
collection. ‘Over the years, we never stopped talking about new art with the homeowners ‘Appliances are hidden and I
and explored numerous galleries together, which was really amazing. The home is now chose durable, timeless
materials such as metal and
adorned with exceptional contemporary pieces, truly bringing the space to life.’ engineered stone to ensure
both style and longevity.’
Although clean lines characterise the triplex, Jae also played with some design elements,
such as the ‘melting’ revolving door to the kids’ playroom — her favourite idea to see come to Custom metal facade
kitchen with Dekton island,
life. ‘I approached the project with a sense of purpose, to bridge emotional connection with Jae Joo Designs. Appliances,
architectural innovation,’ she says. ‘I wanted to create a “surreal” touch by adding in some Gaggenau. Taps, Dornbracht.
Bar stools, Pierre Jeanneret
fluid elements, so the home didn’t end up feeling too sterile.’ Safe to say she succeeded. at P! Galerie. Vase by Gaetano
Pesce. Artwork by Claudio
Parmiggiani at Bortolami
jaejoodesigns.com gallery. Pendant, Apparatus

livingetc.com 113
HOUSES

DINING ROOM
The walls and ceiling are
covered with lime plaster,
creating a cosy atmosphere
while providing a perfect
canvas for art.
Custom Ping Pong dining
table; Ladder dining chairs,
all BDDW. Small painting
from + x, Chapter 34 series,
by R.H. Quaytman, Gladstone
Gallery. Large painting
by Roy Lerner. Bespoke
rug, Jae Joo Designs.
Credenza, Piero Lissoni

W H AT T H E H O M E OW N E R S E N V I S I O N E D WAS N OT J U ST A N A E ST H E T I C A L LY
P L E AS I N G S PAC E , B U T A C A N VAS FO R C R E AT I N G L AST I N G M E M O R I E S A N D
ACCO M M O DAT I N G T H E VA R I O U S C H A P T E R S O F T H E I R FA M I LY ’ S G R OW T H

114 livingetc.com
 T E R R AC E
‘I wanted the outdoor area
to be an extension of the
indoor space,’ says Jae. ‘I
envisioned a modernised
row seating arrangement
that is comfortable,
functional and elegant
when viewed from inside.
To maintain a minimalist
aesthetic, I opted for
simple concrete sculptures
in various shapes.’
Sectional seating, CB2.
Planters, Atelier Vierkant
HOUSES

S TA I R C A S E
This is a central feature of
the house – a sculptural piece
that rises from the ground
floor to the primary suite.
‘To accentuate the drama,
we kept a clean, pared-back
palette. The lively painting
and custom chandelier
bring warmth and texture,
playing off the staircase’s
rugged concrete structure
for a balanced, visually
captivating atmosphere.’
Painting by Rebecca Morris

116 livingetc.com
 MAIN
BEDROOM
‘We maintained simplicity to
create a calm and relaxed
bedroom,’ says Jae. ‘The
textured headboard wall adds
a subtle layer of detail to the
space, enhancing its soothing
and comfortable feel.’
Bed, RH. Angelo Lelii
ceiling light, 1stDibs.
Bedside lights, Visual
Comfort & Co. Blanket,
Toogood x Teixidors.
Photographic artwork by
Charles Garo Enjaian
HOUSES

MAIN
B AT H R O O M
‘We used multiple slabs
of Cremo Tirreno marble,
meticulously fitted
throughout to create a
rich, sinuous feel. Elegant
details like the curved edges
and the matte finish of the
stone contribute to the
warm, cohesive ambience
of the space,’ says Jae.
Cremo Tirreno marble,
ABC Stone. Taps, Lacava

T H E OW N E R S WA N T E D A N E U T R A L CO LO U R PA L E T T E , S O O U R
G OA L WAS TO P R E S E RV E T H E C A L M N E SS W H I L E I N F U S I N G
C H A R AC T E R A N D D E P T H I N TO T H E S PAC E

118 livingetc.com
 MORE
MINIMALUXE
More than a year since we coined
the term, minimaluxe still holds
sway over how we want to
decorate. You might be drawn
more to moody hues or colourful
palettes these days, but the tenets
of the aesthetic – a centring of the
senses through tactile materials
and a focus on interiors that calm
and uplift – live on. Hudson Weaves,
the new collection from Jane
Churchill, draws on this design
moment with its mix of textured
fabrics in geometric patterns and
warm tones – these are textiles you
want to run your hands over. We
encourage you to explore the
collection and get creative with it.

Window seat in
Noah in Green,
£66m; cushions
in Tibor in Natural,
£94m, and Hudson
in Charcoal, £70m,
all from the Hudson
Weaves collection,
Jane Churchill

B U I LT- I N S TO R AG E IS HAVI N G A S T Y LE R ENAIS SA N C E , HALLWAYS AR E

G E T TI N G BO LD AN D DO U B LE D R EN C H I N G IS A D E S I R A B LE N E W LO O K
D E C O R AT I N G

Double take
Have you heard of double drenching? It’s the new layered
approach to decorating that will dramatically transform a space
WORDS Ellen Finch

OLIVER FURTH’S RECENT MONOGRAPH, OP! OPTIMISTIC INTERIORS (£42.50, RIZZOLI) IS OUT NOW
EASY DOES IT

PHOTOGRAPHS (EASY DOES IT) ORI HARPAZ; (INTO THE BLUE) ROGER DAVIES
Double drenching is about
combining two or more
related colours on as many
surfaces as possible to create
maximum impact, but for a
gentler take, borrow from
New York interior designer
David Lucido and stick to
a soft shade on the largest
surface, pairing it with a
bolder hue in a smaller dose.
Here, a chartreuse rug helps
keep the scheme mellow.

Wallpaper, Dedar. Art,

Julie Mehretu. Rug, TRNK
NYC. Armchair, Sauce;
in a Rose Uniacke velvet

120 livingetc.com
INTO
THE BLUE
For this media room, LA
interior designer Oliver
Furth drew on the blue
colour spectrum: notice how
different shades that might
not necessarily be paired
together work alongside
each other, thanks in part to
the patchwork fabric on the
wall. One of the advantages
of double drenching is that
it allows you to embrace
stronger colours in other
elements of the room – the
red table feels unusually at
home amid its surroundings.

Walls in a custom fabric

by Christopher Wrobleski
Studio. Camaleonda sofa,
B&B Italia. Custom Squircle
coffee table, Waka Waka.
Vintage lounge chair,
Vladimir Kagan. Ceramic
side tables, Sean Gerstley
h
U P AN D OVE R
Little Greene was first to
coin the term ‘double
drenching’, and this scheme
shows how to take a classic
approach: rich green walls
lead to darker green on
the coving and ceiling,
intensifying the cocooning
effect that colour drenching
can create. Note, however,
the cobalt blue armchair:
the introduction of this
surprise element interrupts
the flow of green and
prevents the room from
feeling too classic in style.

Ceiling and cornice in Dark

Brunswick Green; walls
and skirting in Hopper;
window surround in Citrine,
all Little Greene
 D E C O R AT I N G

PAT T E R N
PUNCH
A maximalist take on double
drenching, like this scheme
by Austin designer Annie
Downing, introduces pattern
into the mix. The wallpaper
draws the blue of the curtain
in, making it feel more like a
related colour to the green;
the bed plays a similar role.
The effect is cool even
before the surprise of the
yellow rug, its vivid hue
adding a third layer.

Wallpaper and curtain,

Porter Teleo. Bed frame,
Josh Greene for Dowel;
upholstered in Pierre Frey
fabric. Rug, Matt Camronh
PHOTOGRAPHS (PATTERN PUNCH) LINDSAY BROWN

livingetc.com 123
D E C O R AT I N G

PA I NT
A N D PA P E R
The bathroom is perfect
for colour drenching – it’s
small enough to experiment
with more unconventional
palettes, and benefits from
the technique’s cosy effect.
In this design from Chused
& Co, the earthy green
panelling sits against blue
wallpaper, the two shades
forming the canvas against
which the pastel pink bath
PHOTOGRAPHS (PAINT AND PAPER) JEFF HOLT

and the electric blue flowers

take to the spotlight.

Woodwork in Down Pipe,

Farrow & Ball. The Night
of the Larks wallpaper,
Pihlgren & Ritola

124 livingetc.com
IN THE MOOD
A more subtle approach
to double drenching might
include keeping ceilings
lighter and focusing the
bulk of the dense colour
on the walls instead. In this
bedroom, a project by Siri
Zanelli of architectural studio
Collective Works, a muddy
green wall and grey-blue
coving play off of each other
while adding intensity to
the scheme; the ceiling,
meanwhile, is painted a pale
grey that feels in keeping
with the moodiness.

Walls in Portcullis; ceiling

in Flanders Grey; cornice in
Archway House, all Mylands
 colour decoded
Livingetc colour expert Amy Moorea Wong on a perfectly executed
hallway scheme with a push-and-pull of dark and light

Studio Vero
created this
scheme with
a clever mix
of colour
and eclectic
elements
 D E C O R AT I N G

You don’t see a glossy aubergine bannister and shadowy timbers, bringing freshness and
every day, especially one set against soft pink vitality to the opposing redness and beyond.
walls. Talk about a curveball. The soothing tones
of Edward Bulmer’s Jonquil layer the space with Notice the item that pulls the whole room
a subtle delicacy, the pale rosy hue balancing the together? Yes, gold star to you – it’s the Totem rug
opulence of Farrow & Ball’s deep purple Brinjal. by Gideon Hatch, which features a bespoke palette BRINJAL,
of green, aubergine and red, plus some neutrals that FARROW & BALL
‘For a “grown-up” pink, we paired Jonquil walls
with the rich shade of Brinjal to add sophistication nod to the honeyed timbers, and a bit of powder blue
and warmth,’ says Romanos Brihi, co-founder to keep us on our toes. This is subtle colour pairing
of London-based interior design firm Studio Vero. – the tones are different enough so it doesn’t feel
‘It feels playful and inviting, yet dramatic.’ like it all came in a set (the blue is key to this) while
smoothly linking every part of the room together.
You don’t see glossy aubergine window
frames, architraves and skirting boards The red artwork is like a thunderclap, its BRACKEN, NEPTUNE
too often either, yet vividity landing with a jolt
here we are. The tone has and pulling the eye through
leapt from the staircase the space. Thanks to the
to the usually understated rug, its colouring isn’t a
elements of the room. ‘We total shock, but my oh my is
wanted the woodwork to it impactful. While initially JONQUIL, EDWARD
make a statement,’ says the painting (Three’s A BULMER NATURAL PAINT
Romanos . ‘Working with Crowd by Studio.SPF at
the existing dark timber M.A.H Gallery) feels slap-
staircase, we elevated its you-round-the-face bright,
traditional appearance the intensity is lessened by
– auberg ine ma kes it – obviously – the large nude
pop while blending into figure poised in the centre EGYPTIAN SAND,
the backg round.’ The (wea r i ng powder blue CROWN
robust shade leans on the nail polish – everything
authority of the dark oak falls into place), the peachy
floor and stairs, the paint skin tone good friends with
becoming almost black the soft pink hue of the
and blending in where it’s wall. Meanwhile the darker
hidden from the sun, lifting the heaviness of the burgundy squares knock back yet support the
AQUAMARINE,
timber planks and integrating them into the space. bold crimson sections, creating an overall effect of LITTLE GREENE
‘wow that’s bright’ while adding depth and nuance.
The space is a decorative yin-yang – chop
it in half on the diagonal and it’s a beautiful balance Should that pink have gone onto the
of dark and light, each slightly bleeding into the ceiling too? I think… not. While I harp on about
other so it all clicks neatly together. painted ceilings constantly (here, to everyone I
PHOTOGRAPHS (MAIN IMAGE) SIMON BROWN

know, to strangers in the street), keeping this white

Red and green should always be seen. A works wonderfully. It allows for the eclecticism and
FLEURIE, CRAIG & ROSE
classic combo (that’s not just for Christmas), they fun stuff going on at floor and wall level to retain
sit opposite each other on the colour wheel, one composure, elegance and a gallery-like cleanness.
warm, one cool, providing both powerful contrast Even more delicious, the pinkness envelops the
and smooth harmony. Green is impossible to go cornicing, mirroring the darkness of the skirting
wrong with – it brings a hit of nature indoors, which below and other woodwork in iconic yin-yang form.
acts as anything from calming to dramatic, and I X
am yet to see an interior it doesn’t work for. Dotted SORREL GREEN,
Amy Moorea Wong is a design journalist and
MYLANDS
through the space, it’s a balm to the imposing purple author. @amy_moorea; amymoorea.com

livingetc.com 127
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128 livingetc.com
S U B SC R I BE
T ODA Y
a n d s a v e 4 5%
 Hide and seek
Built-in storage is reaching new style heights – it’s what all the chicest homes want to
clear clutter, display collections and introduce a look-at-me statement feature
FEATURE Aditi Sharma Maheshwari
 D E C O R AT I N G

‘The beauty of built-in units is that they buy you more

space, instead of adding to the clutter that comes with
freestanding etageres or wall units. These allow the
homeowner to get creative, displaying pieces from their
travels, their favourite books or even barware to create
an entertaining nook.’
Guillaume Coutheillas, founder of FrenchCalifornia

‘When considering the paint shade for the built-in, always

look at what other details are found in the room, including
wall colours, f looring and any other hard finishes. I
usually like to use a satin finish for cabinetry as it gives a
slight sheen to the space, draws the eye to the millwork
detail and offers a contrast from a flat wall finish.’
Marie Flanigan, founder of Marie Flanigan Interiors

‘Built-in wardrobes have many advantages: they help to

store things in a space-saving way and help to create a
tidy and reduced feeling of space. But it is also possible
to create special solutions: wardrobes as room dividers
or even as a design piece with great shapes and materials.’
Mark Neuner, architect and founder of Vienna’s
Mostlikely architecture, design and research studio

POSTMODERN MARVEL
PHOTOGRAPH DAVID MITCHELL

Create an architecturally rich space with a natural wood

built-in shelf that stores books and eye-catching ceramics,
adding a sculptural edge to the bedroom. Here, the vases
are Egyptian and the bowl is reminiscent of pre-Colombian
pottery. ‘This is a Michael Graves- and Ettore Sottsass-
inspired monolithic bookcase, with a heavy dash of post
modernism,’ says interior designer Timothy Godbold.
GET THE LOOK Pendant light, Apparatus. Find a similar
lamp at 1stDibs
h

livingetc.com 131
 PHOTOGRAPHS (WINE TASTING) EDUARDO MACARIOS; (LIGHT THE WAY) BLOOMINT DESIGN

W I N E TA S T I N G
Who doesn’t love the idea of wine storage at home? This carefully designed floor-to-ceiling unit enhanced with unique curves and
unconventional hues instantly grabs attention. ‘Combining innovation, quality and originality, the mix of colours and shapes assure the
personality and boldness of the space,’ says Talita Nogueira, founder of TN Arquitetura.
GET THE LOOK Unit (exterior) in Uva by Suvinil. For a similar interior colour, try Mariner by Sherwin-Williams. Cadeira Cage III chair, Artefacto

132 livingetc.com
 D E C O R AT I N G

L I G H T T H E WAY
‘A central built-in shelf articulates the ground floor, enhanced by built-in spotlights,’ says Manu Bauzá, partner and interior designer at
Bloomint Design. ‘This is a place to showcase Majorcan art and crafts. It features wooden shelves, kitchen appliances and the oven. The
shelf covering was made with mortar and natural clays to give it that beige colour and integrate it with the tonalities of the local environment.’
GET THE LOOK Similar downlights, Wayfair
h

livingetc.com 133
 PHOTOGRAPHS (ALL IN THE DETAILS) ONI STUDIO; (GILDED AGE) ERIC PIASECKI

A L L I N T H E D E TA I L S
Play with the design of your bespoke joinery by adding decorative detail. For this project, which features plenty of pastel hues and curved
shapes, this storage unit – specifically designed for the space – expresses the character of the home. ‘What distinguishes this interior is
the interweaving light colours combined with round shapes and a wave motif,’ say Diana Żurek and Gutek Girek, founders of Furora Studio.
GET THE LOOK Unit in a similar colour to Cooking Apple Green by Farrow & Ball

134 livingetc.com
 D E C O R AT I N G

GILDED AG E
Nowhere can you experiment more with bold ideas than the dressing room – this space was made to feel luxurious, glamorous and over-
the-top. This walk-in wardrobe design by Kelly Wearstler, filled with gold detailing and mirrors, feels larger than it is thanks to the reflective
surfaces. Add a carpet for a soft, tactile environment – and don’t forget warm lighting overhead.
GET THE LOOK The chair was specially sourced from a dealer in Amsterdam. Similar light from Lumens 
h

livingetc.com 135
 PHOTOGRAPHS (COLOUR BLOCKS) ISHA SHAH; (FULL STRETCH) RENATO NAVARRO

COLOU R B LOCKS
A kid’s bedroom needs to be filled with wonder, imagination and fun (along with practicality, of course). Bespoke storage can do all of this,
providing an opportunity to play with unusual textures and block colour. ‘Small spaces call for smart furniture decisions,’ says Nishita
Kamdar, founder of Studio Nishita Kamdar. ‘We designed this bookshelf and desk as one unit with colours that pop against the sage.’
GET THE LOOK Unit in Daisy Bunch by Asian Paints

136 livingetc.com
 D E C O R AT I N G

FU LL STR E TCH
Use your built-in storage as an opportunity to experiment with mixing materials – in the storage itself, and what’s displayed in or on it. ‘For
this bookshelf, I used raw and natural materials in a light and poetic way,’ says Ticiane Lima, founder of Ticiane Lima Arquitetura & Interiores.
She used old, coverless books to decorate, ‘allowing the papers to define the different times they came from; each book tells its own story.’
GET THE LOOK Similar chair, Pottery Barn. Similar sofa, Walmart 
h

livingetc.com 137
D E C O R AT I N G

GEOMETRY
CLASS
A grid-like design can be
a neat way to structure
bespoke storage, and
offers a chance to alternate
between closed cupboards
and open display. ‘The
lower section of the shelf
features numerous small
drawers specifically
created to hold various
miscellaneous items,’ says
Chanon Petchsangngam,
design director at Paon,
of this piece. ‘The upper
cabinets, on the other
hand, are for displaying
the owner’s collected
items – pieces he wishes to
showcase. Additionally,
integrated indirect lighting
e n h a n ce s t h i s a r e a ,
transforming the shelf
into a visually appealing
feature even at night.’
GET THE LOOK Unit in
Perma - crete Acr ylic
Texture. Similar sofa from
Lulu and Georgia

A S T U DY
IN DESIGN
Shape is an easy way to
make even classic designs
for built-in storage more

PHOTOGRAPHS (GEOMETRY CLASS) THANAWATCHU MAISON; (A STUDY IN DESIGN) MAX BURKHALTER

interesting. This wall-to-
wall unit, which also
accommodates a study,
is elevated in its design
by interesting mouldings
and colours, making it feel
more decorative than just
utilitarian. ‘We opted for
versatile wardrobes due
to the lack of a traditional
closet, featuring a full
wall of custom millwork.
The chosen colour
enhances t he space,
creating a warm and
inviting vista that enriches
the room’s ambience,’
says Zoë Feldman, founder
of Zoë Feldman Design.
GET THE LOOK Unit in
De Nimes by Farrow & Ball.
Similar chair from Crate
& Barrel

138 livingetc.com
 TO P TA B L E
One of the many standouts of the
Tenuta Negroamaro hotel that Olga
Ashby designed in Puglia was the
cocktail napkins. In perfect oatmeal
linen with succulent motifs, they
enhanced the martinis-by-the-pool
vibe. And now she has created her own
line of table linen you can buy – a collab
with Henriëtte – a collection adorned
with motifs of sunrises or wheat. And all
in that off-white that makes settings look
so smart yet inviting, this time speaking
of martinis-before-dinner-at-home.

Napkins and
PHOTOGRAPH VIGO JANSONS

place mats by
Olga Ashby for
Henriëtte Linens.
Cutlery, Capdeco.
China, Bernardaud.
River Flow table
designed by Olga
Ashby with Three
One Four Studio

H AV E T H E B E S T D R E S S ED TA B L E W I T H O U R B E AU T I F U L B U YS , P LU S
G O R G EO U S W I N D OW D R E S S I N G S A N D W H E R E TO G O FO R FA B F U R N I T U R E
 Little black book: window dressings
I N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R P A N D O R A TAY L O R S H A R E S H E R
S O U R C E S F O R C U R TA I N S , B L I N D S A N D M O R E

Curtains from
Nest Design in
Pandora Taylor’s
Bermondsey
penthouse project

FEATURE ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS (MAIN IMAGE) ASTRID TEMPLIER

140 livingetc.com
 LEWIS & WOOD
Whether for plains or a pattern, Lewis & Wood is
THORP OF LONDON my go-to when it comes to curtains. It does lovely
Previously Bernard Thorp, Thorp of soft linens: my favourite is Oaksey Linen – it has two
London is a fantastic supplier for when colours in the weave, which gives it more depth. The
you’re struggling to find exactly the brand’s patterns (shown is Caravan in Savannah)
right thing. Its wide range of styles are tend to be on the larger side, which suits the
made to order, so you can customise proportions of big windows. They are grounded in
colours and the ground fabric. One of my traditional design but feel at home in contemporary
favourites is Stellar, which I used at our 1 settings; mixed with soft colour palettes, they work
Hampstead penthouse project. I also really well as a statement or as more of a backdrop.
like the Junction Stripe fabric (1).

NEST DESIGN
For something really special I head to
Nest Design for bespoke curtains. The
brand specialises in patchwork making,
using different fabrics to create something
unique. Often the designs reflect the
interiors, whether an arch motif found in
the property or continuing a line of tiles
or marble in a bathroom. I first used Nest
Design in our Bermondsey penthouse
project (left), where we had some original
demi-lune Crittall windows that we didn’t
want to hide with anything ordinary.

MADE BY THE FORGE

For regular curtain poles I always use
Made by The Forge (2). A thin black metal
curtain pole is the smartest look for both
2
traditional and contemporary spaces. The
brand’s handmade wrought-iron poles
add character and have a subtle texture, for something more decorative, I’ll turn
3
so they are not shiny in appearance. to Soane’s Scrolling Fern Frond. It’s a
lightweight linen with a soft wavy pattern
MARK LEWIS which works well in bathrooms. it brings its own weight and makes the
INTERIOR DESIGN curtains hang really well. The second is
For cafe curtains, I like to use poles by GUY GOODFELLOW Olive Sacking (3) – a simple stripe in soft
this company – they’re really well made, COLLECTION colourways (shown in Azure). I combined
simple yet smart. For the curtains, if I am I have a couple of favourite fabrics from this fabric with Lewis & Wood’s plain
looking for something more traditional GGC that I keep going back to. The first Oaksey Linen as a wide border on some
I get linen ones from Linen & Letters, and is the Fez Weave – lovely for curtains as curtains at our Balham house project.

T H E L I V I N G E TC T E A M R E C O M M E N D S
JANE CHURCHILL CASAMANCE ÉLITIS
Our go-to for bright, The French fabrics We’re always charmed
peppy fabrics that and wallcoverings by the designs
add a punch of colour brand excels in offered by this French
and a whole lot of joy. standout patterns editor of fine fabrics
This Bodhi print is you won’t find and wallcoverings
a case in point – best elsewhere – perfect – the Prestige pattern
used anywhere you for living and dining is a favourite from
need a jolt of energy. room drapery. this season.

livingetc.com 141
 SOURCEBOOK

Global outlook: interiors report

O U R N E W YO R K E D I TO R K E I T H F L A N AG A N U N COV E R S T H E A M E R I C A N
L A U N C H E S A N D D E S I G N N E W S M A K I N G WAV E S O V E R H E R E T O O

1 B LO C K PA R T Y
1
This new floral number by New York’s
Rug & Kilim – which caught my eye from 2
across the room at a recent trade event
for handmade rugs – is something of
a refresh. Celebrating the ancient craft
of block printing, the bold flowers are
simplif ied a nd sca led-up versions
of i nt r ic at e pat t er n s t hat g raced
17th-century India’s royal courts, the
inspiration behind the rug maker’s
new Block Print collection. The subtle
pattern is woven with a wool-silk blend in
high-low textures, bringing an updated
dynamic look to the blocky motif.

2 B R OA D S T R O K E S
A few weeks ago I ventured
upstate to visit Rachel Cope
of Calico Wallpaper at her
new studio in New York’s 4
Hudson Valley. On display 3
was Ensemble, a series
inspired by creativity and
the boundless imagination
(aka our inner child). It
features huge brushstrokes
in unexpected tones, full of
visible texture for a mural-like
effect. Sure to make a statement, the
print isn’t for those who simply dabble in
pattern – the stylish strokes are oversized
and expressive, as if a gentle giant painted
your walls with an enormous brush.
How’s that for using your imagination? look up a notch with sleek, dark features architecture firm Workshop/APD. As
that upend clunkier models on the the name suggests, the pieces look like
3 BREAK THE ICE market. Is it for everyone? Even Kohler smooth marble melted over a natural oak
Kohler debuted an at-home ice bath in admits it was created for a very particular sphere. Balancing hard and soft materials,
partnership with Dr Jonathan Leary, audience. But I’m taking this as a sign that they bring a certain f luidity that I’m
the founder of Remedy Place (a social wellness-focused design isn’t just going seeing in design right now (like the
wellness club known for luxe treatments), strong – it’s getting more serious than ever. organic and sinuous lines of minimaluxe,
which spells a new level of self-care at the trend we recently coined). They could
home. The icy, pricey bath draws on 4 SHELF LIFE easily stand as sculptural objects – even
potential cold therapy benefits (think These hef t y Melt bookends were a one on its own would look stunning on
reduced swelling in muscle tissue and surprise hit for me at Arteriors, part of a mantel – while the pair would add a solid
mood-boosting perks) while taking the a new collect ion w it h desig n a nd dose of repetition to any space or shelf.

livingetc.com 143
 The spotlight: what to buy now
P R E T T Y P I E C E S F O R F E A S T I N G A N D E N T E R TA I N I N G

FA N CY F R I LL S
For those who prefer their
tablescapes with all the frills,
Lemieux’s first tableware
collection is hard to beat. There
are three designs within the
launch, created in partnership
with Stone Lain, and our
favourite has to be Dhalia – a
dainty scallop-edged creation
that feels fancy but playful,
available in three shades.
Dhalia stoneware salad plate,
$79.99 for four, and dinner
plate, $119.99 for four, both
in Camel, Lemieux et Cie

FEATURE ELLEN FINCH

144 livingetc.com
 SOURCEBOOK

P L AY T I M E
Add a little whimsy to your table in the form of
this slippery new addition to Laetitia Rouget’s
collection. Of course, the best way to build on
the scheme is to add in a few of the French
artist’s cheeky plates – our pick is the Food
Por n desser t plate – a nd some nat t y
embroidered napk ins. Sneak y Stripes
candleholder, £160, Laetitia Rouget

Sweet treat
Coloured glass feeds straight into our
appetite for nostalgia this festive
season, so we fell head over heels for
the new additions to London glass
studio Gather ’s brightly hued
collection. We couldn’t dream up a
better dessert vessel than the new
trifle dish and accompanying mini
bowls – a delight for the table and
almost good enough to eat. Trifle dish
in Peach, £855, Gather h

V I N TA G E V I B E S
There’s something wonderfully retro
about a butter dish, and this one from
Anthropologie plays into that theme
with its domed shape and block colour
scheme – the mint and navy hues
together are giving 1950s vibes, in the
best possible way. Rika butter dish,
£22, Anthropologie

livingetc.com 145
 E A R T H LY P L E A S U R E S
Turkish ceramic artist Esma Dereboy recently launched a
collection called Down to Earth, which draws on a natural palette
and organic textures to create pieces with real character. The
neutral colours and subtle design make this set a worthwhile
investment, but we think it has a real autumn-winter mood to it
– the perfect thing to set off your seasonal cooking in style.
Round dinner plate, £57; round starter plate, £44;
round bread plate, £26; round medium bowl, £61, all
Down to Earth Collection, Esma Dereboy

Star quality
The Constellation tablecloth from Reed
Family Linen is embroidered with stars –
perfect for adding a twinkle to your dinner
set-up at Christmas. We love it in the recently
added Dachshund & Brown colourway, a
soft, warm brown hue – pair with on-trend
burgundy or burnt orange for a warming
winter palette. Constellation, from £1,018
for a 180x275cm tablecloth and six 55x55cm
napkins, Reed Family Linen

BUTTER UP
If you haven’t heard of Allday Goods and its
ingenious knives made from plastic waste, well –
where have you been? The brand is still making
our wish list – we want one of each of the butter
k n ives to place a long the d i n ner t able.
Butter knife in (from left) Space Dust, Whizz,
Maldon, Fruit Salad, £44 each, Allday Goods

146 livingetc.com
 SOURCEBOOK

C H E E R S T O T H AT
Skye McAlpine launched her new
Everyday Glassware Collection this
autumn – the latest addition to her brand,
Tavola – and we’re into every piece. The
champagne coupes, their delicate clear
glass interrupted by a colourful rim, will
certainly cause a stir when you serve up
pre-dinner drinks. Sea Blue, Confetti and
Rose Pink Champagne coupes, £74 for
four, Skye McAlpine Tavola

MARBLE MIGHT
Look to Neptune for elegant stoneware
pieces that will elevate your serving
game year-round . The brand ’s
Malborough designs, new for AW24, are
sketched onto solid marble, carved by
h a n d a n d p o lish e d by skill e d
stonemasons in India – we love the soft
grey and brown palette. Malborough
oval serving board, £65; footed bowl,
£99; flower bowl, £75, all Neptune

STRIPED DELIGHT
Molly Mahon’s joyful approach to
design makes her pieces a must-have
for a colourful tablescape. Our eyes
are on the Luna napkins, in their
jaunty red-and-pink-striped pattern
a nd subtle pa le blue sca l loped Snap to it
detailing, for an injection of festive fun. Leave it to Toast to design the most artful crackers we’ve seen this year
– each of these gorgeous fair trade Nepalese lokta paper creations
Luna hand-block-printed napkins, contains a handmade gift, including a mini origami star, a paper garland
and a felt mushroom decoration. Cute! Lokta paper Christmas crackers,
£70 for a set of four, Molly Mahon £45 for six, Toast

livingetc.com 147
SOURCEBOOK

On the rise: surrealist furniture

I N E A C H I S S U E , W E C H AT W I T H A N I N D E P E N D E N T C R E AT I V E M A K I N G
A N I M PAC T – A N D S U G G E S T A F E W OT H E R S TO G E T TO K N OW

J O S H PAG E S T U D I O stools, tables, lamps and bookends, So, what’s on Josh’s workbench right
For furniture maker Josh Page, the art made from the offcuts of other designs. now? He’s in the middle of launching the
of imagining and making his unique Josh uses as many reclaimed woods Shocking Collection, a series of jagged-
designs comes naturally. ‘I’ve always as possible. ‘The Apple chair and Algers edged furniture and objects that are
been a maker,’ the 34-year-old says. ‘My side stool were made from a beech somewhat reminiscent of the ‘Kapow’
dad is a carpenter and my grandfather worktop I rescued from a skip,’ he says, speech bubbles found in Pop Art and
was a woodturner. I grew up making ‘and the Milking stool was made from a comics. ‘I’ve just finished a couple of
all sorts of things in Dad’s shed, from sapele panel stripped from a house.’ His vases and the next piece is a chair. I want
go-karts to model boats.’ Guilloche dining table (above left) is to look at incorporating aluminium
Josh now runs his made-to-order crafted from oak that was damaged in gilding into one or two of the pieces, too.’
furniture design business from a log places. ‘I repaired the areas by inlaying
cabin at the bottom of his garden in Kent. guilloche S shapes across it, which gives joshpagestudio.co.uk;
One of the biggest turning points in his it a distinctive beauty and randomness.’ @joshpagestudio
portfolio is the Picasso chair, a wonky-
framed perch inspired by cubism and, in
particular, the seat in the artist’s Femme
T H E L I V I N G E TC T E A M R E C O M M E N D S
FEATURE RORY ROBERTSON

Assise Devant la Fenêtre. ‘Picasso’s work

is so confident, playful, ever-evolving,’ SIX DOTS DESIGN MODULAR BY MENSAH TEUN ZWETS
Sleek aluminium is Joseph British-born Ghanaian Design Academy Eindhoven
says Josh. ‘He uses so many mediums Ellwood’s material du jour. designer Kusheda Mensah graduate Teun Zwets releases
Made in his London studio, bowls us over, firstly with the potential that lies hidden
and methods. It’s something to strive
his furniture and objects look her debut abstract furniture in the discarded. His striking
for, to be that prolific.’ Josh has since a bit like they’ve been pulled collection, and now with Splitted furniture pieces
from the house in the mid- Un-hide: Reframing Luxury, are coated in a thick high-
developed a full Cubist Collection (above 90s film Casper – what’s not a bold interactive seating gloss layer or bright metallic
right): the chair is joined by shapely to love? @six_dots_design idea. @modularbymensah colour. @teun.zwets

148 livingetc.com
 DESIGN
D E S T I N AT I O N
2024 marked an exciting move
for Danish design brand Vola as
it opened its new showroom on
Margaret Street, in the heart of
London’s Fitzrovia. But this is much
more than a place to see the brand’s
sleek products, from taps to towel
warmers, in the flesh – the showroom
will also host talks, masterclasses
and training sessions for architects,
interior designers and others in
the field. Pay it a visit if you’re in the
market for a bathroom refresh –
you’ll be able to fall in love with the
brand’s design-forward pieces
and gain inspiration for your own
project all at the same time.
PHOTOGRAPH ALEX WILSON PROJECT BY ELEMENT ARCHITECTEN

Wall-mounted
thermostatic
mixer, £6,934.80;
wall-mounted
heated towel
bars, all in
Brushed Gold,
£4,036.80, Vola

S M A RT I D E A S FO R H O M E SAU N A S , K ITC H EN F LO O R S A N D I S L A N D S E ATI N G

A N D A LO O K AT G EN I U S B U I L DS T H AT U S E WO O D A S T H E H ER O M AT E R IA L
 CLEVER

IN THE KNOW

Kitchens & bathrooms

T H E L AT E S T L O O K S , L A U N C H E S A N D I D E A S E X C I T I N G U S N O W

ABSOLUTE PRECIOUS STONE

CORKERS! If you’re looking to make one solid
investment in your home this year,
Go on, get those corks Antonio Lupi’s new Nebula bath is a rock-
a-popping – Alessi’s solid choice with heirloom potential.
iconic Alessandro M. Hand-carved from a single slab of stone,
and Anna G. his-and-her Nebula’s crisply tapered rim is softly
corkscrews, designed sculpted inwards to provide a
by Alessandro Mendini comfortable and supportive bathing
in 1994, have just had a position. Offered in nine marbles – this
joyful do-over that’s is Grigio Lavico – and two natural stones,
worth celebrating. Three Nebula features an integral drain and
new artists were invited pop-up plug. Nebula bath, from
to create fresh patterns £48,322, West One Bathrooms
for these best-selling
corkscrews, which are
now made from AlkiPaper,
a very innovative bio-
composite material. Our
top pick is this Parade
pattern in the graphic
style of Milanese designer
Arthur Arbesser. Anna G.
and Alessandro M.
corkscrews in Parade,
£85 each, Alessi
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHS (PERFECT MATCH) RICHARD GOODING PHOTOGRAPHY

P E R F E C T M AT C H
The pinnacle of committed
coordination is surely matching
your kitchen hardware and
cookware. French cast-iron
specialist Staub has got you
covered with its latest collab with
home-grown hardware hero
ALL THE TRIMMINGS Buster + Punch. The fab new
cookware collection is made from
Sure, you may love the vibe of bronze this year, but what if black cast iron and features
bold black or shiny silver feels more ‘you’ in 2026? Neff’s embossed Buster + Punch insignia
Flex Design system allows you to switch up your appliance’s alongside the brand’s signature
trim and handle finish to suit your mood. The four finishes knurled metal handles in brass or
(Brushed Bronze, Anthracite Grey, Metallic Silver and Deep steel, which can be easily matched
Black) come in seven lengths with matching handles, making to its cabinet handles, light
it possible to frame anything from ovens and hobs to hoods switches, lighting and kitchen
and warming drawers. Flex Design, available on a selection taps. Staub x Buster + Punch
of built-in appliances, from £689, Neff collection, from £199 for a 28cm
h
cast-iron frying pan

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CLEVER

CLEAN UP
Tired of dull hair and dry
skin? We’re making no
promises but Grohe’s new
Rainshower Aqua Pure
may be the answer.
Alongside smart
thermostatic controls and
sensational water delivery,
the headline news for this
stylish exposed shower is
its concealed carbon filter
cartridge that connects to
the flexible hand-shower
at the touch of a button.
Designed to remove
chlorine, odours and
other impurities at source,
you can rinse everything
away with purified water
that’s much kinder on
your body and your hair.
Rainshower Aqua Pure,
from £2,100, Grohe

FIT FOR A PRINCESS

Say hello to Pink Leia, the latest colour from LX Hausys’ Himacs Solids
collection. Now offering 23 colours, the Solids palette aims for
dynamic but not overpowering, and the pretty tone of this addition
makes it the perfect fit. With the potential to be moulded into any
shape, including seamlessly formed basins and fluting, Himacs is a
smooth, easy-clean solid surface that’s hygienic and repairable.
Himacs Solids in Pink Leia, from £300lin m, LX Hausys

ON A HOT TICKET
Domus’ Battersea showroom is officially the hottest destination
P E D E S TA L south of the river thanks to the arrival of its new Hosting Kitchen.
C o n c rete i s th e Conceived by Designed by Woulfe and made by Roundhouse,
material that just the Hosting Kitchen is a veritable feast of creative material
keeps giving as ABI combinations and arty design statements. Loaded with
Interiors proves with Gaggenau appliances – and plenty of Domus surfaces, of course
the jaw-dropping – the demo kitchen and bar are primed to host a variety of events,
Nelios basin. Available from networking breakfasts and CPD sessions to cocktail parties
with or without a and intimate dinners. Contact Domus to get on the guest list.
fluted pedestal, Nelios
is a celebration of
concrete’s natural
imperfections and
rugged texture, with a
nano-sealed layer to
banish water and
stains. Shown in Sage,
PHOTOGRAPHS (HOT TICKET) MARK COCKSEDGE

it also comes in Grey,

Almond and White,
and the basin and
pedestal colours can
be mixed and matched
to create a variety
of combos. Nelios
wall - hung basin ,
£245; basin with
pedestal, £794.99,
ABI Interiors

152 livingetc.com
 SECRET ADDRESS BOOK

Home saunas
I F YO U ’ R E A F T E R A S PA- L I K E S PAC E , T H I S B R A N D H A S A R A N G E
O F D E S I G N S TO B O O S T YO U R H O M E ’ S W E L L N E S S C R E D E N T I A L S

EFFE
In the last few years, home saunas have
become must-haves for those with the
budgets and space for them – chalk it up to
our increased interest in wellness and the
benefits of this particular practice for our
overall health. Thanks to Effe, it’s now
easier than ever to incorporate this feature
into your home – the brand offers a range
of saunas and hammams, as well as other
spa-esque additions like sensory showers
and mini pools, all designed as luxur y
additions to a bathroom or elsewhere. Its
latest launch, the Logica Plus, is an all-singing,
all-dancing combined sauna, hammam
and shower, but the brand offers more
minimalist designs, too – such as the Aladdin,
pictured here, with its aesthetically pleasing
oak or wenge cladding and a mirrored fascia.

The Aladdin sauna,

designed by
Rodolfo Dordoni
with Michele
Angelini for Effe

livingetc.com 153
 D E S I G N F E AT U R E O F T H E M O M E N T

Island seating
A L L G R E AT K I T C H E N I S L A N D S H AV E O N E T H I N G
I N C O M M O N – S PA C E T O P U L L U P A F E W S E AT S

FEATURE Keith Flanagan

1
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Installing a kitchen island is a luxury in and of itself – it means

you have square footage to spare. But an island that doubles as a
table, with built-in seating no less? These days, that’s living large.
It’s not just about extra function. If the kitchen is the heart of
the home, adding seating in the island (an especially clever space-
saving idea) is above all an expression of our changing lifestyles.
Beyond creating space for food prep, the multi-functional kitchen
island responds to the new ways we eat and socialise.
‘We know that many meals will be eaten there rather than in
a formal dining room, so we want to embrace that and design
around how our clients actually live,’ says New York designer
Sarah Zames, founder of General Assembly. Aligning with
today’s more open, relaxed homes (dining rooms aren’t always a
guarantee), it re-centres our kitchen as a place to gather, work
and entertain. ‘By integrating seating into the island, it creates a
social hub, allowing people to cook, eat and converse in a fluid,
cohesive space,’ adds Brussels architect Nicolas Schuybroek.
In many of the latest kitchen island designs, the seating itself
is something of a focal point. With a more informal feel,
spotlighting the seating area creates a gentle and inviting
transition between the kitchen and other living spaces.
The most common way is to extend the worktop on one side to
create openings for stools, but designers are increasingly playing
with new levels, shapes and layouts. ‘We’re observing a move
towards curved or asymmetrical islands, which bring a softer,
more organic aesthetic and promote a natural flow of movement 2
through the kitchen,’ says Mardi Doherty of Studio Doherty.
The shift toward unique layouts and angles creates even more
opportunity to incorporate seating into the mix – seating can
break the mould. Here are just a few ways to make it happen.  h 3

1 GROUND a softer layout that anticipated

SUPPORT how the owners would navigate
A floating edge can be the room. ‘Introducing a subtle
borderline hypnotic, while curve to both the worktop and
adding an attractive pedestal base is not only aesthetically
or support can also be easy pleasing but also allows for
on the eyes. This arrowhead better circulation and flow
pedestal in Verde Guatemala within the kitchen,’ they add.
marble creates a sensational PROJECT BY Studio Doherty
and airy look that complements
the burled wood veneer under-
counter joinery on the island’s 3 RIGHT
far end. ‘This design meets two ANGLE
needs: under counter storage While most islands are
at one end with drawers facing rectangular, this kitchen takes
the stove, plus space for stools advantage of an L-shaped
at the other,’ says Juliette layout, extending the counter
Arent, principal at Arent&Pyke. at the joint to create an
PROJECT BY Arent&Pyke angled, wedge-like bench.
(2) SEAN FENNESSY; (3) MARTINA GEMMOLA

‘The seating is in an irregular

shaped area with stools that
2 CURVE can be tucked in under,’ says
APPEAL
PHOTOGRAPHS (1) ANSON SMART;

Monique Woodward, director

Especially in open-plan of Wowowa, who designed this
kitchens, integrated seating kitchen for her own home in the
can blur the lines between shape of a grand piano. Topped
adjacent spaces – they flow with maroon jarrah timber on
into one another. ‘We designed one wing and a pink-orange
this island to feel like a natural travertine on the other, it’s the
extension of the living area,’ latter that extends to form the
s ays St u d io D o h e r t y. Th e bench, adding a fascinating
studio added a circular table at shape and flow to the kitchen.
the end of the counter, creating PROJECT BY Wowowa

livingetc.com 155
 EDGE IN
The surge of waterfall countertops in modern homes is hard to miss, and a popular twist to this fluid look is to leave a niche on either side
of the edge, creating a natural opening for seating underneath. In this material-rich home by London’s 2LG Studio, a sizeable lip leaves
enough room for four seats. ‘The stools will fit perfectly into the niche created by the waterfall edge,’ say founders Jordan Cluroe and
Russell Whitehead. ‘Also consider a contrasting material for the inside; here we used a fluted oak, which really makes the pink stools pop.’
PROJECT BY 2LG Studio

156 livingetc.com
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PHOTOGRAPHS (EDGE IN) MEGAN TAYLOR;
(FLOAT AROUND) PIET-ALBERT GOETHALS

F L O AT A R O U N D
One rather dramatic seating idea in kitchen island trends is the cantilever, where counters extend to create a tabletop that ‘hovers’ in the
air. Designing this is something of a technical feat. ‘When it comes to cantilevered edges, structural integrity is key,’ says architect Nicolas
Schuybroek, who floated a travertine slab from this island’s base for a striking effect. ‘Hidden steel brackets or reinforcements embedded
within the countertop or base cabinetry are needed, which allowed us in this case to keep the look clean while ensuring safety and stability.’
PROJECT BY Nicolas Schuybroek 
h

livingetc.com 157
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PHOTOGRAPH WILLIAM JESS LAIRD

BAL ANCING ACT

While you can integrate seating without introducing a new material (a seamless overhang in the same surface can do the trick), switching
up materials can create interesting contrast. For a project on the Upper West Side, New York’s General Assembly balanced heavy and light
elements (not to mention sharp and soft shapes) to construct a two-tiered island. ‘We wanted to pair the solid, grounded stone island with
a more lightly structured wood table,’ says founder Sarah Zames. ‘The two pieces are built into each other and create a nice balance.’
PROJECT BY General Assembly

158 livingetc.com
 Irregular
mosaic tiles in
green, ochre
and white
connect the
interior and
exterior of
this Chelsea
home by
Studio Peake

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DESIGN NOTES

Kitchen flooring
T H E E X P E R T S O N W H AT Y O U N E E D T O K N O W
BEFORE INVESTING IN THIS KEY ELEMENT

FEATURE Tessa Pearson

FIRST STEPS
According to the experts, flooring is a good place PAT T E R N P O W E R
to begin when choosing kitchen materials. ‘We ‘It’s always worth considering a stone floor with a busy texture rather than
usually start with the floor and ideally matching something plain, as a pattern will conceal marks and dirt much better,’ advises Ben
worktops, as these have a tight set of performance Ridley. For the same reason, steering clear of very pale shades can also be a wise
and aesthetic parameters, depending on the project move, particularly if your space can accommodate a darker floor. Architecture for
and client preferences,’ says Ben Ridley, founder of London selected a brick-tiled floor inspired by Jim Ede’s Kettle’s Yard for a lower-
Architecture for London. ‘Joinery and cupboard ground kitchen in a Grade II-listed Georgian home, where light grout lines and a
front materials generally have many more potential palette of pale materials keep the space feeling bright and airy. If lack of light
options and can therefore be selected later to is a concern, Ben recommends a honed stone tile with a semi-polished finish.  h
complement other elements, once the flooring and
worktops are agreed upon.’
Architecture
for London
transformed the
STRENGTH AND BEAUT Y kitchen of this
‘Above all, kitchen floors need to be hard-wearing,’ listed Georgian
home with a richly
advises London-based interior designer Alex coloured brick-
Dauley. ‘A high-traffic area used for cooking tiled floor
requires a f loor that is resistant to stains and
moisture. I love to use engineered wood, porcelain
tiles or a natural material like limestone or slate.
They each have the ability to create striking looks
without compromising on functionality, although
natural stone does need more maintenance.’ Sarah
Peake of Studio Peake agrees that durability is
paramount. ‘Flooring can’t be changed easily once
the house is finished, so finding an option that is
PHOTOGRAPHS (LEFT) ALEXANDER JAMES; (RIGHT) CHRISTIAN BRAILEY

practical as well as beautiful is key.’

GO FOR BOLD
‘I think a lot of people play it safe with flooring,
understandably, because it’s not easy to change once
the house is finished. Controversially, I think a bold
choice can make a huge difference and can bring
personality to a room,’ says Sarah Peake, who used
brightly coloured tiles in irregular shapes from
Mosaic Factory throughout the kitchen and garden
of a Chelsea house. ‘It is the main entertaining space
of the house and it was vital to make a strong
connection with the garden. I also wanted the room
to have a sense of fun. There were lots of woods
elsewhere in the space so the bold, colourful tiles cut
through those more neutral tones in an exciting way.’
CLEVER

Alex Dauley chose

an engineered oak
floor to complement
a palette of natural
materials in this
south London home

ROCK SOLID
If you’re looking for an enduring and sustainable
flooring material, natural stone can tick a lot of
boxes, depending on how and where it’s quarried.
‘Natural stone has a low embodied energy and
genera lly compa res favou rably to si m i la r
alternatives such as polished concrete flooring
in terms of sustainability,’ says Ben Ridley, who
used Grassi Pietre limestone for both kitchen
countertops and flooring in his own low-energy
home. ‘If the same stone product can be used
throughout a house then economies of scale on
order, delivery and installation costs are also
possible,’ Ben adds. ‘Try to avoid cheap stones
from non-local sources. Stone supplied from
Brazil, China or India is likely to have a high
embodied energy due to shipping.’

SMALL FORTUNE
‘Even with a tight space, you can be as adventurous
as you like as long as the floor is functional. It really
does come down to personal choice and the overall
look and feel of the design,’ says Alex Dauley.
‘Ultimately, it depends on how much of a statement
you want to make with your floor. I would argue
that, in a sma ll k itchen, this g ives you the
opportunity to use pattern, colour, small-format
tiles and a really beautiful product, because you
are only covering a compact area.’ When working
with patterned tiles, Sarah Peake believes it’s the
scale of the design that can have the most impact.
‘Sometimes in a smaller space, using a large pattern
PHOTOGRAPHS (LEFT) VIGO JANSONS; (RIGHT) CHRISTIAN BRAILEY
on the f loor tile can make the room feel more
spacious because the eye is tricked into thinking
it can take a bigger design,’ she explains.

BAL ANCING ACT

S U P E R N AT U R A L When choosing a f loor for a brightly coloured
Engineered wood is a good option if you like the idea of a timber kitchen kitchen, the safest bet is to keep it simple and
f loor as it is much more resistant to heat and moisture than solid-wood neutral to avoid having too many competing
boards. Alex Dauley chose engineered wood f looring for a recent south elements in one space. ‘I recently used a yellow
London remodel, a resilient choice for a high-traffic environment. ‘It was colour called Terre Jaune by A rgile on the
a whole-house renovation project designed for a client who wanted a sense cabinetry of a boot room in a country house project,
of calm and relaxation in their home,’ she says. ‘The aesthetic is modern which I combined with a limestone floor,’ says
with neutral tones and warm, natural materials. The engineered oak floors, Sarah Peake. ‘Sometimes if I have a colourful
laid in a herringbone pattern, were chosen to run throughout the ground kitchen paint colour like this, it can be quite
floor to create a cohesive and timeless look.’ grounding to combine it with a subtle floor to make
the room feel less shouty.’

162 livingetc.com
 Stepped levels
and Grassi Pietre
limestone define
the flooring of
this kitchen by
Architecture
for London
 ARCHITECTURE NEWS

Timber frames
T H E B E A U T Y A N D V E R S AT I L I T Y O F W O O D I S O N S H O W I N T H E S E
H O M E S – A N D AT T H E V E R Y H E A R T O F T H E I R C O N S T R U C T I O N , T O O
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SOFT SERVE BACK TO

There’s a softness to this house, N AT U R E
designed by Johan Sundberg, A stone plinth might
situated on the Swedish island of ground the extension
Gotland. Perhaps it’s the palette of this London cottage,
of local wood, limestone, concrete but the star of the
and glass, or the low-lying nature of show – at least on the
the structure, but it feels sympathetic exterior – is the rich oak
to its forest surroundings. The slim panelling, which has the
slats of the Gotland pine cladding look of high-end joinery.
feel light and minimalist, letting the Architec ts Pensaer
focus instead stay on the views out used it to enhance the
of the windows, and the way the thread of nature that
light of the sun plays on the exterior links indoors and out –
as it moves across the sky. the garden allotment
is an abundant source
of food for the owners,
and so the timber facade,
along with the sage
green-coloured steel
windows and door, make
sure that this important
feature isn’t lost amid
the new extension.

ALL ANGLES
Inspired by local timber-framed buildings, Studio Bark’s Water Farm in Suffolk
features a geometric design that makes the wood used to construct the build
feel man-made compared to its natural surroundings. It’s a great example of how
contrast can be put to good use in architecture: the jutting angles of the timber
roof make a striking impact against the countryside in which the house sits. h
FEATURE ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS (SOFT SERVE) LINA E. ADAMO;
(BACK TO NATURE) JERRY FLOREZ; (ALL ANGLES) JIM STEPHENSON

livingetc.com 165
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OLD MEETS NEW

In converting this barn in the Yorkshire Dales into a family home,
architect Benjamin Wilkes was able to experiment with combining
modern and traditional materials – restoring the stonework, for
example, but adding an extension – to create an old-but-new building
sympathetic to its surroundings. While the Siberian larch-clad extension
was constructed using a cavity wall system, the roof is timber-framed,
the structure exposed internally to add character to the interior.

ON VIEW
This Hackney home is the first building structure in the
UK to use a low-carbon limestone calcined clay cement
concrete, but the eco credentials don’t stop there –
architectural practice Cairn repurposed materials where
possible and specified bio-based ones elsewhere. You
can see the layers come to life quite literally in the
kitchen, where the beautiful hardwood frame and
hempcrete infill are exposed along one wall to emphasise
the natural materiality of this project.

LET THERE
BE LIGHT
Adding an extension to
this 1960s bungalow
allowed Mole Architects
to solve two key issues: a
lack of living space in the
house, and a lack of light.
PHOTOGRAPHS (ON VIEW) JAMES RETIEF; (OLD MEETS NEW)

Constructed with a timber

CHRIS WHARTON; (LET THERE BE LIGHT) NICK GUTTRIDGE

frame, the new extension

faces out south towards
the garden, bringing more
sunlight into the living
room, and offers a window
to the east where the
owners can catch views
of the sea. With its
contemporary lines, it’s a
beautiful example of how
sustainable methods of
building can be a bonus
in modern architecture.
 BON APPÉTIT
There’s something very nostalgic
about the beautiful interiors of Henri,
the Parisian-inspired restaurant at the
Henrietta Experimental hotel in Covent
Garden. The Experimental Group
has always had an eye for playful
design – not least the Cowley Manor
Experimental in the Cotswolds – and
Henri is the latest part of the brand’s
ongoing partnership with interior
designer Dorothée Meilichzon. She’s
brought her signature whimsical flair
to the restaurant – think art nouveau-
accented French brasserie meets
traditional British pub – and the dark
wood panelling, leather and velvet all
contribute to that vibe. And then, of
course, there’s the food. The menu
celebrates Parisian classics through
chef Jackson Boxer’s lens: think fried
pieds de cochon, steak frites and
Grand Marnier souffle, all to be enjoyed
in these exquisite surroundings.

You’ll feel like you

are in France at
Covent Garden’s
restaurant Henri

H OT E L S TO C H EC K I N TO T H I S Y E A R , A V E RY C H I C D E S I G N E R ’ S G U I D E
TO PA R I S A N D A S P OTL I G H T O N A G L A S S M A K E R G O I N G P L AC E S
H OT L I S T

Start planning your next trip

now – these hotels have
interiors dreamy enough to
inspire your new year project
 LIFESTYLE

Le Mas Candille,
MOUGINS, FRENCH RIVIERA

IN A SENTENCE
Mougins has long been the source of inspiration for many a
creative – and now, this five-star hotel and spa can be your base
for exploring the Alpes-Maritimes.

DE SIG N DOWN LOAD

Interior designer Hugo Toro has brought his signature rich
palette and layered materiality to Le Mas Candille, transforming
it into a chic escape with just the right amount of retro appeal.

O N TH E S PA M E N U
The Glow House is one of the features of which Le Mas Candille is
PHOTOGRAPHS MATTHIEU SALVAING

most proud. Centred around Clarins’ Glow range, you can enjoy
plant-based treatments and LED technologies, as well as a sauna,
hammam, Kneipp cold pool and a private swimming pool.

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
If you can tear yourself away from the hotel’s many highlights,
including restaurant La Table des Pins, head into Mougins and
enjoy its creative atmosphere. Picasso spent his final days here,
and it remains an artist’s haven, with plenty of galleries to visit.
h

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 The Emory,
LONDON

IN A SENTENCE
The other hotels in the Maybourne Group – Claridge’s, The
Connaught, The Berkeley – are as exceptional as hotels get. Well,
for The Emory the group has cranked its offering up a notch. No,
we didn’t know that was possible, either.

DE SIG N DOWN LOAD

Every bedroom is a suite, and every suite has been designed by a
big international name. Alexandra Champalimaud, Patricia
Urquiola, Pierre-Yves Rochon… it ’s a who’s who of luxe
surpremos. And don’t forget the views across Hyde Park.

ON THE MENU
The ground floor hosts Abc Kitchens, a contemporary-leaning
restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. There’s also a cafe
and pool in the basement and rooftop bar serving killer martinis.

AT YO U R S E R V I C E
No wish is too difficult for the staff at The Emory. A car will take
you – or get you – anywhere within a two-mile radius, while your
personal concierge sorts everything else. And relax.

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 LIFESTYLE

Kimpton Aysla,
MALLORCA

IN A SENTENCE
A modern resort on the quiet western tip of Mallorca, near
enough to Palma to easily explore, but far enough away to sink
into a sunlounger in peace.

DE SIG N DOWN LOAD

There’s a relaxed elegance at the Kimpton Aysla, as meandering
paths take you through salvia-studded flower beds to vast kidney
bean-shaped pools, or to the 900sq m spa, or to the colourful
rooms and their balconies overlooking the hills.

WELLNESS SPOT
Two indoor pools, a mud room and a salt cave set the tone for this
spa, a self-care haven where hours slip away as easily as the bar’s
margaritas. The emphasis is on clarity – on breathing easily
(thanks to the salt) and freshening your skin in the mud.

PAC K AG E D E A L
British Airways Holidays offers packages on seven-night stays
with Euro Traveller return flights from London Gatwick Airport.
britishairways.com/palma 

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 S omet h i n g old ,
SO M E T H I N G N E W
Vestige is the new hotel Not often does a new hotel group emerge
that redefines the aesthetic zeitgeist.
brand redefining style, First was Soho House and its heavily
and our executive panelled gentleman’s club vibe seen at
Dean Street Townhouse. Then The Pig
editor Pip Rich thinks took over British country houses and
its Menorcan homestay softened contemporary prints with a
rustic edge. Now Vestige is emerging in
Santa Ana is the hottest Menorca, revitalising formerly decrepit
farmhouses and turning them into
ticket right now
invitingly luxe hotels and homestays,
with rough stone walls and smooth
microcement floors, curved mustard
dining chairs and beaten farmhouse
tables. The Son Vell hotel opened in
2023 and now the six-bedroom Santa

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 LIFESTYLE

W H AT M A K E S T H E V E ST I G E A E ST H E T I C S O B E G U I L I N G I S T H AT I T I S AT
O N C E SY M PAT H E T I C TO T H E H I STO R I C B U I L D I N G S I T T R A N S FO R M S , Y E T
A L S O U S E S M O D E R N I D E AS TO T U R N T H E M I N TO R E L AX I N G S PAC E S

Ana follows, a private residence with its

own large pool, two kitchens and clifftop
path down to Macarella, one of the
island’s best beaches. The house can only
be booked as one, a small estate ideal for
groups of friends and family, but Airbnb
this is not. The Vestige team will bring
breakfast each morning, turn down
rooms and take care of anything else you
wa nt on top – d i n ners, bi kes, spa
treatments, stargazing.
What makes the Vestige aesthetic so
beguiling is that it is at once sympathetic
to the historic buildings it acquires,
yet also uses modern ideas to turn them
into relaxing spaces. Moving on the
minimaluxe approach with flashes of
muddy colou r a nd t rick ling water
features, the group has already got
several more properties lined up to
open next year, its signature design
handwriting informing how Menorca
feels. For Menorca is the Balearic Island
for those who have tired of Ibiza’s party
scene and of the bustle of Mallorca,
and Santa A na is for those who like
to unw ind in st yle a nd spend laz y
a f ter noons a mong the residence’s
pomegranate grove. Expect to see the
Vestige look much copied from here on in
– and revel in it first, here.
LIFESTYLE

(Clockwise, from left)

Hugo Toro; Racines;
Parc des Buttes-
Chaumont; Amanecer
side table; Musée
de la Chasse
et de la Nature

H idden
TRAILS
In our new series, we take a design tour of
a city with a very stylish person – our first
stop is Paris with architect Hugo Toro

MUSÉE DE and we are collaborating

LA CHASSE to publish my second one.’
62 rue des Archives, 75003
‘Located in the Marais, Musée de la LGN LOUIS
Chasse et de la Nature is a unique venue GABRIEL NOUCHI
in a superb, historic 17th-century baroque 4 rue Oberkampf, 75011

FEATURE GILDA BRUNO PHOTOGRAPHS (HUGO TORO) ALEXANDRE ONIMUS;

LANDER, LIGHTROCKET/GETTY IMAGES; (AMANECER SIDE TABLE) VINCENT

(RACINES) MICKAËL BANDASSAK; (PARC DES BUTTES-CHAUMONT) JOHN S
townhouse. Remarkable for their quality ‘This is the boutique of fashion designer who are in search of gustatory discoveries
and diversity, the paintings, sculptures, Louis Gabriel Nouchi, known for his and culinary emotions in the city.’

LEROUX; (MUSÉE DE LA CHASSE ET DE LA NATURE) SOPHIE LLOYD

engravings and other art forms on display avant-garde and conceptual collections.
illustrate hunting through the ages He often combines classic elements PA R C D E S
and across cultures and delve into the with contemporary touches, in pieces BUTTES - CHAUMONT
relationship between man and nature.’ characterised by bold cuts and attention 1 rue Botzaris, 75019
to detail. He also strives to tell a story ‘Located in the 19th arrondissement,
KOLKHOZ E through each collection, playing with Buttes-Chaumont is the most beautiful
72 rue des Archives, 75003 contrasts and exploring deep themes.’ park in the capital. Created by 19th-
‘The brainchild of Thibaut Van den century engineer Jean-Charles Adolphe
Bergh and Thomas Erber, this gallery R ACIN E S Alphand, it features grottoes, waterfalls
– hidden away in a private mansion 8 Passage des Panoramas, 75002 and multiple suspension bridges. The
behind a large porte cochère – showcases ‘Parisian restaurant Racines embodies Temple de la Sybille, perched at the top of
limited-edition 21st-century creations French gastronomy, with a palpable a hill, offers a breathtaking view of the
that combine traditional know-how with passion for local, seasonal produce, in a city. I love having a drink at Le Pavillon
artistic experimentation. Amanecer, warm and welcoming atmosphere. This Puebla bar – it is the perfect place to
my first collection, was launched here, is the ideal reservation for epicureans admire Paris’ changing, romantic skies.’

174 livingetc.com
 Deep coloured
wine glasses,
£68 each

NEXT Filigrana
tumblers,
£85 each

BIG THING
Fig shaped
lamp, from
£380

Sea sponge
bowl, price
on request
Designers pick a name on their radar – and this month,
Julian Chichester praises glassmaker Emsie Sharp

ART OF GLASS is so deep, the yellows shimmer with a

Emsie Sharp once told me that, after her gold-like magic. And all the other shades
stint working in the famed glass factories in between are an artistry in their own
of Murano in Venice, the trouble with right. I’m draw n to her lamp bases
the Italian glass industry was that they because they are quite petite so they
liked everything to be perfect. And that make ideal bedside lights, taking up little
delight in the imperfections is what room on a nightstand – they all seem to
ma kes her designs so beautif ul, so have a bewitching aged quality about
individual and so clearly handmade. I’ve them. Because of how individual each
bought various pieces from her over the piece is and how much time goes into its
years – lamps, coloured wine glasses, production it is very difficult to do what
tumblers – and each one has the look and she does. And trust me, you won’t find
feel of a piece of sculpture. better glassware handmade in the UK.
I’m drawn to her way with colour.
Each blue seems to glint, each cranberry sharpglass.co.uk

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