6 PDF

JUNE 2019
25 News The latest launches and hottest names R AT

NOW
B
30
in design, plus the lowdown on what to visit during
Clerkenwell Design Week and a look at the contemporary E
CEL
IN
craft to be found on London’s Pimlico Road
G
57 My cultural life Founder of the Hay Festival Peter
Florence shares his literary, musical and artistic influences
59 Design hero Florence Knoll Bassett changed the way STYLISH
we live and work – we take a look at her most iconic designs
60 History of a brand How Society Limonta’s fashionable
YEARS
linens have made eclectic, seasonal styles the new normal 87 To celebrate our
62 Inside story Exploring the timeless appeal of glassware anniversary, we meet the
company Lobmeyr’s Modernist spirit and craft heritage style stars in our HALL
65 Decorating Paints, tiles and fabrics to transform your OF FAME, step inside the
home. Plus, Beata Heuman’s interiors tips, the palette of the ROOMS THAT CHANGED
Bauhaus explored and our guide to bespoke joinery THE WORLD, reminisce
75 Architecture Sights to see at the London Festival of about our FAVOURITE
Architecture and a look inside the Daily Express building STYLE SHOOTS and revisit
81 Kitchens & bathrooms Cutting-edge updates for the ICONIC HOUSES that
the most hardworking rooms in your home transformed the world
82 Technology Ideas to clear the air, your mind and more of architecture
PICTURE: PAUL RAESIDE (PHOTOGRAPHY), HANNAH BORT (STYLING)
JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 15

HOMES 156 Colour riot Inside the pattern-filled bubble of
uplifting fun that is Matthew Williamson’s London home
164 Industrial revolution Architect Ricardo Bofill’s
converted cement factory on the borders of Barcelona
ESCAPE
241 News Hot hotels, the most
exciting exhibitions, stylish London
180 Surrender to serenity The fresh blues and whites restaurants and the event to kickstart
of Spanish designer Paola Navone’s Greek holiday retreat your photography collection
speak to the beauty of its remote island setting
253 Gardens Secret green spaces to
190 Scottish rebellion Groundbreaking architecture explore and seasonal seeds to plant now
and interiors combine in the Highlands
255 Getaway Plan your visit to Berlin,
200 Tales in timber Japanese woodworker George with our guide to its cultural highlights
Nakashima’s legacy lives on in this Pennsylvania home
PICK OF 210 Once upon a time in Hollywood Step inside
THE ED
FINALLY
ARCHIVE Brad Pitt’s slice of Californian Modernism, inspired 22 Subscribe This month’s
by the style of the actor’s hero, architect Frank Gehry great offer for loyal readers
218 Sophisticated bohemia Fashion designer Malene 259 Stockists Seen something
Birger’s restrained style is reflected in her Mallorcan home you love? Here’s where to buy it
228 Creative vision Designer Patricia Urquiola’s ultimate 274 Fine print ‘Malabar’
collaboration: a home for furniture magnate Patrizia Moroso fabric by Colefax and Fowler
Newsstand Patricia
Urquiola’s designs for
Moroso feature in this
THE month’s stylish cover

house (p228). Photography
PICTURE: RICHARD POWERS
by Max Zambelli, with
ANNIVERSARY styling by Rosaria Zucconi

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16 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

30
YEARS
YOUNG
Time flies when you’re having fun, and how it’s flown for
me, my team and the ones who’ve gone before here at
ELLE Decoration. As human beings, where do we all
spend most of our time? In our homes, of course. So,
working on a magazine and brand that celebrates all
things interiors feels like the best place to be. Through
changes in styles and trends, whatever has graced these
pages has always beautifully summed up the way we live.
I joined the team for the first time in 2009. It was a
dream come true, as I’d been a fan since the early 90s,
when, as a poor student, I’d forgo a trip to the pub and
purchase a copy of my favourite magazine instead, poring
over the contents, the colours, the vibrant houses and
great ideas within. I learnt my craft under the fantastic
and fabulously stylish Michelle Ogundehin – our longest-
serving editor – who, in turn, had worked with each of
the previous holders of that position: Rachel Loos, Toni
Rodgers and Ilse Crawford. It seems only right that there
has been a baton passed between us, each instilling ELLE
Decoration with our own interpretation of what home
means, uniquely tailored to the times. Without the strong
and sturdy foundations left by my predecessors, I would
have nothing to build on.
While we are celebrating our anniversary throughout
the whole of 2019, I wanted this month’s issue in particular
to be an extra-special tribute, marking exactly 30 years
since ELLE Decoration’s launch in the summer of 1989.
Think of it as a greatest hits compilation. We’ve scoured
the archives to come up with our favourite houses, styled
shoots and architectural highlights – giving them all a
refresh. I’m also thrilled to inaugurate our ‘Hall Of Fame’,
where we’re championing the icons and influencers who
have shaped our world and the magazine you hold in
your hands right now. Bring on the next 30 years…
ILLUSTRATION: PAUL HOLLAND
Editor
Follow me on Instagram: @mrbspriggs Twitter: @ELLEDecoBen Visit elledecoration.co.uk

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NO W
NEWS / SHOPPING/ OPINION/ TRENDS Edited by A MY MOOREA WONG
DESIGNING
a calmer FUTURE
Intended to embody the common cultural values of Japanese
and Danish design, the ‘Jari’ collection by OEO Studio for Brdr
Krüger is about craft and a connection to nature. Named after
the Japanese word for pebble, the range includes a chair, with a
rounded backrest that mimics the feel of a stone smoothed
by water, and a table that gently thickens in the middle, aiming
to draw diners inwards. ‘Our lives are becoming increasingly
complex,’ notes Brdr Krüger’s creative director Jonas Krüger.
‘I want “Jari” to celebrate the power of slowing down.’ Chair,
from £1,788; table, from £3,140 ( brdr-kruger.com).
NOW
TEA
As we celebrate the centenary of the Bauhaus this year with retrospectives
and reissues, Rosenthal is driving the movement into the future through its
collaboration with British designer Bethan Laura Wood. The ‘Tongue’ tea
service is an homage to Bauhaus School founder Walter Gropius’s 1969 ‘TAC’
TIME
teapot, with architectural shapes and a 1970s palette. Only 50 sets (teapot,
sugar bowl and creamer) will be made, while the coordinating plate, espresso
and tea cup will also be limited-edition. Tea set, from £674 (rosenthal.co.uk).
FORGED IN DREAMS
Nichba Design was formed, as founder Nichlas B
Andersen says, ‘by accident’, when he was making
pieces for his home as an apprentice blacksmith,
fusing the industrial look of steel with a light
Scandinavian aesthetic. The Instagram crowd
approved of his work, and now the Danish brand
has expanded its offering – which was primarily
bathroom-related – to the bedroom. ‘Bed Frame’
is composed of streamlined steel tubes in a grid
formation, instantly recognisable to fans of the
brand’s shower screens, with their contemporary
take on Crittal window-style panes. Expect more
pieces to follow. £1,375 (nichba-design.dk).
CLEAR AMBITION
Ever pushing the boundaries of design, Nendo’s new
collaboration with Wonderglass is a typically original
WORDS: KATE WORTHINGTON (CLEAR AMBITION)
exploration into the possibilities of glass. ‘Melt’ is a

series of cast furniture that was inspired by watching
the brand’s artisans at work in its Venice studio. Each
piece is made by laying molten glass sheets over steel
pipes and allowing the material to naturally drape,
dictating the form of the design. ‘In a way, doing less
and achieving more is the most complicated thing to
do,’ says chief designer and founder of Nendo, Oki
Sato. From £450 for a vase (wonderglass.com).

NOW
COLOUR TREND
While pale, powdery versions
of blue and pink have long
ART for living
Sculptural shapes are dominating this season, bringing an
been bedfellows, the more
vivid hues of sapphire, azure, artistic quality to furniture. Ferm Living, for example, approached
magenta and bubblegum are the design of its new ‘Place’ bench as an art piece, with its hollow
giving the partnership a bold asymmetric structures and sharp lines in blackened steel lending
design punch. Buy into the it a gallery-worthy quality. £1,099 ( fermliving.com).
look with our top picks
‘Pop Up 02’ chandelier, from £1,347, Magic

Circus Editions (magic-circus.fr)
TOP OF THE PILE

Joining the ranks of John Pawson, Snarkitecture, Pinch
and Max Lamb is Paul Smith, the latest of a stellar line-up
of design greats to have created ceramics for Stoke-on-Trent
pottery brand 1182 Ltd’s ‘Icon’ collection. His ‘Stack’ vessels
resemble a pile of plates, with each layer hand-glazed in
the iconic Paul Smith stripe colours, and the top gilded
in burnished gold. From £1,800 (1882ltd.com).
Pink bottle vase by Sophie Alda, £50,

A New Tribe (anewtribe.co.uk)
ICONIC PAIRING
Powerhouses Cappellini and Designers Guild
are collaborating to bring colourful, blowsy
florals and textured plain fabrics to classic
designs by names including Paola Navone,
Jasper Morrison and Marcel Wanders
(such as the ‘Dalia’, right) – the results
are fantastical and sometimes almost
unrecognisable. ‘I’ve known Tricia
Guild for years and I have always
appreciated her educated approach
to colour,’ explains Giulio Cappellini,
art director of the Italian firm. ‘There
has always been a tendency for good
modern design to insist on an absence
of colour or pattern,’ adds Guild. ‘In this
‘Mask & Shift’ cushion, £60, Laura partnership, the pieces have something
Spring (lauraspring.co.uk) different and interesting to say.’
(cappellini.com; designersguild.com).

NOW
WISHLIST
SUMMER ROMANCE 5
Rose and mint tones lend the new wave of
contemporary cane designs a touch of elegance
2 3
6
8
7
10
COMPILED BY: KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES
1 ‘Gladstone’ paint, £49. 50 for 2.5 litres, Edward Bulmer Paint (edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk) 2 ‘The Avon Wall Light’ with rattan shade, from
£1,500, Soane (soane.co.uk) 3 ‘Retro Webbing’ cabinet, £1,470, HK Living (hkliving.nl) 4 ‘Chris’ curly spider plant (pot not included), £6, Patch
(patchplants.com) 5 ‘Japura’ fabric in ‘Pomelo’, £93 per metre, Romo (romo.com) 6 ‘N.200’ lounge chair by Michael Anastassiades, price on
application, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna (gebruederthonetvienna.com) 7 Patterned wool-blend rug, £139.99, H&M (hm.com) 8 ‘Wayne’ high ball
glass, £30 for four, Nude (nudeglass.com) 9 ‘Ria’ stool, £89, Urban Outfitters (urbanoutfitters.com) 10 Seaweed rug, from £557, Hem (hem.com)

NOW
AFRICA unite
The African design scene is burgeoning, so much so that interiors giant Ikea has catapulted designers
from five nations into the international spotlight with its ‘Överallt’ collection. Creatives across furniture,
architecture, fashion and sculpture teamed up with Ikea’s in-house team to create a limited-edition range, which
the brand says is about ‘building bridges, not walls’ (ikea.com). Here we meet some of the key names…
STUDIO LADUMA
PROPOLIS ISSA NGXOKOLO
S E L LY R A B Y Architects Bethan D I A B AT É Best known for his
KANE Rayner and Naeem Based in Abidjan REFORM men’s knitwear,
Senegalese fashion Biviji’s Nairobi-based on the Ivory Coast, STUDIO fashion designer
designer and artist Studio Propolis architect Diabaté Hend Riad and Ngxokolo’s brand
Kane founded her specialises in is a strong believer Mariam Hazem Maxhosa by Laduma
eponymous label in designing bespoke in the power of founded Reform is inspired by
2012, and is known furniture as well as architecture to Studio in Cairo in traditions and arts
for her uninhibited, buildings. For Ikea, address social issues. 2012, with an aim of the South African
eclectic style. Her they created cook- The plywood chair to explore ways to Xhosa culture. Of
basket for Ikea and tableware (bowl, (from £50) and shelf make the most out the flatweave rugs
(from £10) is based from £3.95), as well he created with Ikea of waste materials. he designed for Ikea
on the art of hair as modular indoor/ are designed around Their ‘Överallt’ rug (from £40), he says:
braiding, woven in outdoor furniture simple functionality (£65) and cushion ‘The patterns are
polypropylene and (stool, £45), focusing – they are assembled (£7) are made from inspired by where
steel. ‘Transforming on natural materials without tools – and a fabric woven using I come from and the
this ritual into an such as eucalyptus affordability. ‘This factory offcuts of journeys I’ve made –
object will preserve and cork. ‘Our collection will make a silver plastic found I hope they will bring
it – bringing braiding inspiration came African design less in food packaging. pride to people.’
into a global dialogue from Kenyan life,’ confined to the ‘On this continent,
is a way to connect they say, ‘people continent,’ he says. reusing and recycling
the rest of the world getting together to ‘Hopefully, more are everyday rituals,’
to transafrican chat, drink tea and designers will realise they explain.
customs,’ she says. cook outdoors.’ that we need to
address worldwide
issues using local
approaches in
order to increase
sustainability.’

NOW
DINE LIKE A
MINIMALIST
Lauded for his pared-back interiors
and intuitive use of texture, Belgian
architect and designer Vincent Van
Duysen has applied his minimalist
principles to an extensive collection
of tableware for Serax. The ‘Passe-
Partout’ range spans glasses, porcelain
tableware, cutlery and timber trays – all
designed to be mixed. Tray, £99.83; cup,
from £6.18; saucer, from £5.15; jug, from
£4.12; bowl, from £3.30 (serax.com).
MODERN life
Due to the rise of house sharing, open-plan living and home working,
the living room is now the most multi-functional space in many homes
– it can be a place for everything from exercising to sleeping. Visit
John Lewis & Partners’ ‘Room for Living’ installation at its Oxford
Street store to see five unique living rooms, created with input from
experts, including artist Morag Myerscough and director of The Geffrye
Museum of Home, Sonia Solicari. Until 31 May ( johnlewis.co.uk).
HEART’S
DESIRE
One of the most emotionally
charged new launches at this
year’s Milan design week
was the ‘Heartbreaker’ sofa
collection by Danish designer,
musician and former creative
director of Bang & Olufsen
Johannes Torpe. Upholstered
in pink Divina wool, its
generous cushions sit on a metal
base, while its armrests form
two halves of a heart shape –
place modular pieces together
and the hearts are united. Price
on application (moroso.it).

NOW
COOL
HAND The poster boy for the current wave of British maximalism, Luke
Edward Hall isn’t afraid of pattern and colour. ‘People want
LUKE
Designer and artist Luke Edward Hall
interiors that are full of personality and connections to the past,’
he declares. ‘They’re bored of plain spaces, and quite right, too!’
For his collection with The Rug Company, which comprises
two wallhangings and three cushions, he worked closely with the
brand’s creative director Milly Wright to select the motifs. ‘For
has brought his whimsical style to a new the wallhangings, we’d discussed them being portraits. I was
reading a biography, The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother
collaboration with The Rug Company and Me by Sofka Zinovieff, at the time and a portrait jumped out
at me from the pages. It was of a beautiful woman called Alathea,
taken perhaps in the 1920s – I remember there being a few funny
stories about her in the book and the picture was so striking it
inspired my own versions,’ says Edward Hall. ‘To accompany her,
I created a gentleman, Valentine. I wanted them to look timeless
– like they could have been hiding in an attic for 90 years.’
The cushions were based on sketches Wright spotted in Luke’s
studio, originally intended as repeat patterns for fabrics. There’s
an ‘Anchovy’ design – Edward Hall’s favourite fish: ‘They’re so
elegant,’ he says – as well as a ‘Leopard’ and ‘Lobster’ pattern.
WORDS: KERA BUCKLEY-JONES
Although this collaboration doesn’t currently include rugs,

there are plans to add them in the future. In the meantime, the
collection works wonderfully with existing pieces from The Rug
Company, as you can see with Suzanne Sharp’s ‘Key Shadow’ rug
(pictured). Cushions, from £135; wallhangings, from £750, all on
sale from 20 May (therugcompany.com; lukeedwardhall.com).

NOW
SEPIA home
It’s set to be a summer full of earthy tones, so ready your
interiors with accessories from Zara Home. Its new collection
is full of clay, sand and terracotta hues, which evoke the feel
of a rustic retreat. Rounded candlestick, £29.99; rattan rim
bottle, £29.99 (zarahome.com).
BURN BRIGHTER
Elements of classical architecture have
settled into contemporary interiors in
the form of accessories and wallpaper
patterns that speak to the elegance of
the era. Linley has added clout to this
trend with its new scented candles,
modelled on Doric columns and crafted
from white ceramic. A collaboration
with perfume designer Azzi Glasser, who
specialises in creating groundbreaking
fragrances, the limited-edition range
comprises three modern scents –
‘Philosophy’, ‘Heritage’ and ‘Workshop’.
From £65 each (davidlinley.com).
STYLISH
START
As our living spaces shrink and
with millennials labelled as
‘generation rent’, designers are
responding with products that
are compact, easily movable yet
impactful. Soho Home’s ‘First
Home’ collection – which spans
furniture, lighting, tableware
and accessories – takes
inspiration from Soho House’s
oft-copied rough-luxe aesthetic,
with its velvets, brass details
and mix of monochromes and
playful pastels. South London
ceramicist Ella Hookway has
created jugs, candleholders
and plant pots (from £50) in
textured inlaid clay, while artist
Laura Slater brings her painterly
abstract prints to linen cushions
(from £60), all hand-sewn in
the UK (sohohome.com).

NOW
London’s
DESIGN
innovators
Beat the crowds by heading straight to our highlights
of the 10th anniversary of Clerkenwell Design Week
on 21–23 May (clerkenwelldesignweek.com)
The breakthrough
‘Platform’, held in the House of Detention, is where you’ll discover
design’s rising stars. This year, our highlight is Gwendoline Porte’s
‘Rails’ collection, a series of modular shapes that can be used for
seating and storage. Inspired by railway tracks, the recent University
of the Arts, London graduate wanted to create furniture that could
be flexible – the pieces can make a sculptural statement, fade into
the background or be added to over time (gwendolineporte.design).
The pop-up
Recognising the blurring boundaries between living and working
spaces, Established & Sons will debut ‘@Work’, a new collection
of furniture suitable for use in either environment. The London-
based brand has invited the Bouroullec brothers, Konstantin Grcic
and Sebastian Wrong to design pieces that tick all the boxes for
flexibility, comfort and style. The collection will be in co-working
space Fora, where visitors will be able to try it out with free hot-
desking over the week (establishedandsons.com; foraspace.com). From top ‘Bounce’
The new classic

chandelier by Pholc.
‘Grid’ sofa by Ronan
With all the hallmarks of a new design icon, True North Designs’ & Erwan Bouroullec
the ‘Regatta’ chair has a classic Scandi aesthetic, but with one for Established &
Sons. ‘Regatta’
important difference. Noticing a lack of furniture that marries chairs by True
mid-century style with the functionality of stacking, the brand North Designs.
and self-taught designer Asger Soelberg set about creating a piece Gwendoline Porte
that could do just that without compromising on style. See it at and her ‘Rails’
the Design Fields venue in Spa Fields (truenorth-designs.com). collection. Alistair
Range’s installation
The installation at St James Church
For its 10th anniversary, Clerkenwell Design Week has teamed up
with students from Chelsea College of Arts’ BA Graphic Design
Communication course to present ‘Once Upon a Time’, a series of
installations inspired by the area’s rich past. Each one is a response
to stories about the specific site they appear in, including Alistair
Range’s colourful design for St James Church. Discover them all
on a walking tour with Lansdown’s London (lansdowns.london).
The lighting launch

PICTURE: FRENCHIE CHRISTOGATIN
Revellers should head to ‘Light’, held at nightclub Fabric, to discover

the latest in illumination trends. Swedish brand Pholc is launching
several exciting new designs, including ‘Bounce’, a contemporary
reimagining of a chandelier. Available in two sizes, the graphic,
geometric composition brings a playful energy to interiors, while
its slim profile means it can be used in smaller spaces (pholc.se).

NOW
NAME TO KNOW
JOHN BOOTH
London-based illustrator, ceramicist and textile
designer John Booth’s happy, colourful designs
are making waves in the interiors world. We find
out what’s next for his vivid brushstrokes
You started your design career in fashion – what made you
move into interiors? I graduated in fashion print design at Central
Saint Martins in 2009, but textile design lends itself really easily
to interiors. I never planned to become a ceramicist, it just evolved
naturally. My first ceramic commission came three years ago from
Studio Voltaire and things just progressed from there – I now sell
my pieces in Paul Smith. You can still make interesting designs that
are based on art practices, but are essentially homeware.
How would you describe your aesthetic? My style is joyous.
I get a lot of joy from the colours and materials in my work.
Was there a specific influence that sparked your exuberant
approach to colour? It has always been there, ever since I can
remember. Often it’s thinking about a colour or a combination of
bold hues that becomes the starting point for a new piece.
‘MY STYLE IS JOYOUS. I GET A

LOT OF JOY FROM THE COLOURS You’ve just launched two throws with Begg & Co – do you
AND MATERIALS IN MY WORK’ approach textiles in a different way to your other work? The
conception is the same – it all starts with drawings. I went to the
mill with Begg & Co and spoke to the weavers – as these are woven
designs rather than printed, there are strict parameters I had to
work within. I was drawing when I was there and was told ‘that
absolutely won’t work’. Limits take your work in different directions.
Are you working on any interiors projects at the moment?
I’ve just launched ‘Superscene’, a set of limited-edition ornaments
with Hem under my brand Supergroup, a collaboration with my
studio mate Ian McIntyre. The painted ceramic rainbow (left),
glazed cloud and colour-dipped flower are all quite big – you can
buy one or all of them to create a bold vignette of objects.
What’s next for you? The furniture pieces I created with gallery
Studio Voltaire – a stripy wooden bed with scalloped edges, a desk
and stools – just launched in Selfridges. For 2020, I’ve worked on
a bright, graphic fashion collection with Sunspel. I’m hopefully
going to do my first book this year with Hato Press, and I’m trying
to persuade kitchen brand Uncommon Projects to do more unique
pieces of furniture with me – I want to do one-offs (@john_booth).
S PA R K I N G J O Y B O O T H ’ S B E S T D E S I G N S
Limited-edition cushion, £55, House ‘Stoneware Head Vase’, £880, House Stool, £240, House of Voltaire ‘Valatzu JB Face’ blanket, £760, Begg
of Voltaire (houseofvoltaire.org) of Voltaire (houseofvoltaire.org) (houseofvoltaire.org) & Co (beggandcompany.com)

NOW
MAGIC FLUTE
Inspired by the decorative style
of the 19th-century Viennese TOWERING
Secession Movement, the flared TALENT
trumpet of Rose Uniacke’s ‘Flute’ Avant-garde ceramic design is
pendant light is made of pleated Bitossi’s trademark, and its new
brass folds, from which the bulb collaboration with architecture
cautiously peeks out. The highly and design studio Quincoces-
polished surface is unlacquered, Dragò & Partners is typically
so will develop a natural patina. unique. The ‘Colonne’ vases are
£420 (roseuniacke.com). constructed from stacked shapes
in contrasting finishes. Price on
application (bitossihome.it).
ARTISTIC FLAIR
We discussed the interplay between art and interiors
in our last issue, and it’s a theme French brand Liaigre
has taken to heart. Its space in Mayfair, London has
been transformed into an art gallery/showroom,
encouraging visitors to reflect on the relationship
between types of creative expression. For its first
Elevated exhibition (until 6 September), new furniture mingles

with textured landscapes formed using Plasticine
(below) by British artist Henry Hudson (liaigre.com).
WORDS: KATE WORTHINGTON (TOWERING TALENT) PICTURE: 11:59:58–11:59:59,
APERITIFS
2018 HENRY HUDSON COURTESY OF ALBION BARN
Our recent renewed affection for bar trolleys takes a

luxurious turn with Alivar’s ‘Oriental Bar’ cabinet by
Giuseppe Bavuso. Inspired by the shape of old Chinese
sideboards, its glossy ‘Terra di Galestro’ glazed ceramic
exterior conceals the mixologists’ dream that lies inside.
Mirror-backed shelves illuminated by internal lighting
make glassware gleam, and compartments in rosewood,
leather and glass ensure the safekeeping of jiggers,
strainers, muddlers and more. From £6,408 (alivar.com).

NOW
Crafting
PRECISION
Bethan Gray is a designer with a close link to
heritage craft techniques – a collaboration with
Rado applies these skills to a whole new discipline
Born to a Scottish father and Welsh mother, Gray’s maternal
family descends from a nomadic Rajasthani clan that migrated
across Arabia and Persia. Inspired by her family’s eclectic past
and fuelled by a curiosity about global art and culture, Gray has
travelled in Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and South
America, picking up techniques from master craftspeople.
Her designs have won universal acclaim, but it’s the alliance
with Swiss watchmaker Rado that has challenged the designer
on a new scale: a tiny one. As part of the watch company’s series
of collaborations with talents including Jasper Morrison and
Konstantin Grcic, Gray’s ‘True Thinline Studs’ watch – in a limited
run of 1,001 (£1,560) – pushes the boundaries of watchmaking.
‘I WAS EXCITED TO WORK WITH RADO TO DESIGN

A WATCH FOR COOL, CONFIDENT WOMEN’
‘I stopped wearing a watch with the advent of smartphones, but
they are a distraction – you check the time and find yourself looking
at social media and emails. In our digital age, there’s something
appealing about an analogue timepiece. I was excited to work with
Rado to design a watch for cool, confident women,’ enthuses Gray.
To even the untrained eye, the ‘True Thinline Studs’ is clearly
a Gray design. The dial is created using a Middle-Eastern marquetry
technique first used to form the starburst effect on her ‘Masirah’
table, and the decoration on the strap is reminiscent of her ‘Stud’
furniture (below). For Matthias Breschan, CEO of Rado, working
with Gray was a natural move. ‘She is relentless in her pursuit of
perfection,’ he says. ‘Her approach to design reflects Rado’s
philosophy: if we can imagine it, we can make it.’ rado.com
T I M E T O S H I N E In 2018, Gray was a judge for the Rado

Star Prize, the watchmaker’s annual search for the next generation
of designers. If you are bursting with ideas, enter this year’s
competition. The judge’s choice will win £5,000 to progress their
design, while the public’s favourite becomes the proud owner of a
Rado watch. For details, visit radostarprize.rado.com/uk
WORDS: ROBIN DAVIES

YOUR PASSPORT TO
Nowhere is the revival of craft within contemporary design more evident than in this corner of Belgravia.
Here, we take a look at some of our favourite brands on and around London’s Pimlico Road. Many of them
are hosting events for London Craft Week (8-12 May; londoncraftweek.com), but you can visit any time…
COLLIER WEBB SOANE

ROSE UNIACKE Specialists in The integrity of the
Having trained as combining traditional LINLEY British manufacturing
a furniture restorer, JAMB and cutting-edge If there was ever a process underpins all
guilder and specialist While we relish techniques to create brand that epitomised of Soane’s designs.
in paint and lacquer contemporary design, stylish lighting, masterful cabinetry The brand utilises a
before becoming an we also enjoy beautiful furniture and fused with innovative network of workshops
antiques dealer, antiques – which often hardware, family-run design, it would be that excel in traditional
Uniacke is well versed showcase fantastic business Collier Webb Linley. Ensuring each artisan crafts, from
in traditional craft craftsmanship and offers bespoke pieces piece is made to the iron forging and
skills. Her services attention to detail. and its own designs highest quality, the saddlery to rattan
now extend to interior And if it’s a period created at its foundry brand offers a range weaving and stone
design and bespoke fireplace you’re after, on the south coast. that spans accessories carving – all discovered
WORDS: ROBIN DAVIES, KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES ILLUSTRATION: TOM WOOLLEY

furniture and lighting, Jamb – which deals in During London Craft to kitchens, plus an on a road trip around
and her new range of the finest antique and Week, the company’s interior design service. Britain by co-founder
hand-printed fabrics reproduction fire talented team of At its Craft Week Lulu Lytle. A new
– ideal for upholstery, grates and fireplaces craftspeople will events, discover the commission by
wallcoverings and – is the place to go. Ten demonstrate the process of making British artist Sophie
curtains – will be reproduction designs traditional lost-wax bespoke products Coryndon, highlighting
shown at her store in Italian Breche casting technique, with demonstrations the reimagination of
during Craft Week. marble, covering a known for being the by artisans in traditional skills, will
76–84 Pimlico Road range of styles, are best metal casting partnership with be accompanied by
(roseuniacke.com) being launched soon process for achieving QEST (the Queen demonstrations and
and a selection will fine detailing. Elizabeth Scholarship a discussion with Lytle
be on display during 68 Pimlico Road Trust), which supports on her enthusiasm
London Craft Week. (collierwebb.com) British craft. for exquisite craft.
95–97 Pimlico Road 60 Pimlico Road 50–52 Pimlico Road
( jamb.co.uk) (davidlinley.com) (soane.co.uk)
—
Sloane Square
re Street
Bunhouse Place
Holbein Place
Passmo
Pimlico Road
NOW
THE PIMLICO ROAD

PINCH
CARL HANSEN
Set up by husband-
& SØN and-wife team Russell
A relatively recent and Oona Bannon, COX LONDON
FERMOIE addition to the SCP Pinch has a single aim: Highly sculptural in
We love how Fermoie’s Pimlico Road, this new A stalwart of the to design furniture and approach, Nicola and
hand-drawn patterns, flagship store was British design scene lighting they would Christopher Cox
printed using natural located here at the since the mid-1980s, want to live with. It just reinterpret the beauty
pigments onto pure request of Carl SCP has opened a so happens we want and intrigue of the
cotton, 100 per cent Hansen’s grandson, new store on Pimlico to live with it too. So natural world in their
linen or a blend of the Knud Erik Hansen. Road that will much so, in fact, we’ve designs. As a Kiwi and
two, are presented in The brand’s aim is to showcase its own awarded them several Brit, they’ve been
simple colour families. cater for the growing products, as well as ELLE Decoration influenced by the
Visit the store to pick demand for Danish furniture, lighting British Design Awards 250-year anniversary
up fabric lampshades mid-century design and other examples over the years. of Captain Cook’s
and cushions, and brought to life of craftsmanship. ‘Luachanna’, the first South Pacific
order bespoke curtains through skilful During London Craft brand’s first textile exploration. The
and blinds. For Craft craftsmanship and Week, the shop will collection, produced brand’s ‘Voyager’
Week, Fermoie is high-quality materials. present ‘Serially by Mourne Textiles, chair, being launched
collaborating with Mesmerising weaving Unique Objects’, will be launched during during London Craft
another Pimlico Road demonstrations of the an edit of products London Craft Week, Week, is an artful
business, Dudgeon iconic ‘Faaborg’ chair, that contextualise its with loom weaving bronze design inspired
Sofas, and will preview first created in 1914, approach to design. demos in store. by ocean swells and
its ‘Tented Stripe’ will be taking place ELLE Decoration 46 Bourne Street featuring upholstery
fabrics, upholstered during Craft Week. Editor Ben Spriggs (pinchdesign.com) hand-stitched with
onto Dudgeon’s 48A Pimlico Road will be hosting a talk abstract maps.
‘Somerset’ armchair. (carlhansen.com) with ceramicist Floris 194 Ebury Street
53–55 Pimlico Road Wubben and designer (coxlondon.com)
( fermoie.com) Donna Wilson.
57 Pimlico Road
(scp.co.uk)
Bour
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NOW
The best of
BRITISH
The annual ELLE Decoration British Design Awards
recognise the innovation and creativity of the UK’s
most talented designers. Bringing together the great
and good of the industry, this year’s awards, held on
13 February at Ennismore Sessions House, celebrated
the achievements of our winners and the part they
play in maintaining Britain’s reputation as a centre
of design excellence. Editor Ben Spriggs, says: ‘For
Russell Pinch
of Pinch,
Bedroom
winner
The awards, designed

Bethan Laura Wood, by Barber & Osgerby
Floorcovering winner
2019
Ben Spriggs ation
LE Decor
Editor of EL of the
a celebration
invites you to ign Awards 2019
British Des
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NS H O US
RE SE SS I O
EN N IS M O EN W EL L G RE EN
23 CL ER K EC1R 0N A
LO N D O N
A RY 2019
13 FE B RU 0
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Year, Nipa Doshi and
Jonathan Levien
THIS YEAR’S AWARDS CELEBRATED THE PART OUR

WINNERS PLAY IN MAINTAINING BRITAIN’S
REPUTATION AS A CENTRE OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE
PICTURES: JOE PEPLER/PINPEP
Our venue, the Grade II-listed

Ennismore Sessions House Yinka Ilori,
Best New Designer

NOW
Jordan Mould, Kirkby Design

brand director, Fabric winner
me, ELLE Decoration has a responsibility to

champion British design, now more so than ever
before.’ We’ve been hosting the British Design
Awards for 17 years, but one thing that’s been
constant (besides the incredible level of talent)
is the covetable style of the trophy – designed by
Barber & Osgerby. For 2019, it was given a sleek,
brushed aluminium finish. Congratulations again
to our winners – we’re looking forward to Bethan Gray,
what the next 12 months will bring. Tableware winner
Tommasso Iotti
and Alejandro
Hahn from Linley,
Kitchen winner
‘ELLE DECORATION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO

CHAMPION BRITISH DESIGN, NOW MORE SO THAN EVER’
PICTURES: JOE PEPLER/PINPEP
Scott Barwick from

Barber & Osgerby,
Benchmark founder Outdoor winner, with
Sean Sutcliffe, Editor Ben Spriggs
Furniture winner

NOW
The new
escapism
Pick up our new ELLE Decoration City
book to join us on a modern-day Grand
Tour of Europe’s most exciting cities. We
explore the cutting-edge destinations
to know, the cool classics to revisit, the
neighbourhoods to explore in detail and
the next-to-nature urban gems. Plus,
there’s the definitive hotel guide for
design-savvy travellers. Buy it online at
hearstmagazines.co.uk/ed-city
or in WHSmith and selected stores.
Three exclusive covers to choose from PICTURES: LUCKY IF SHARP

NOW
M Y C U LT U R A L L I F E
PETER FLORENCE
An arbiter of taste tells us what
they’re reading, watching and more
Peter Florence founded the Hay Festival at his

kitchen table in 1987 (there are rumours it was
funded by a poker game). Held in the bucolic
town of Hay-on-Wye, Wales – and now in other
sites across the globe – it’s the world’s leading
celebration of literature and arts, bringing
readers and writers together with talks, readings
and performances. This year, more than 600
award-winning creatives will take part, from
comedian/broadcaster Sandi Toksvig to top
authors Jeanette Winterson and Michael Rosen.
Florence was awarded a CBE in 2018 and is
chair of the 2019 Man Booker Prize. The festival
returns on 23 May–2 June (hayfestival.org).
My favourite piece of music is Mozart’s The

Marriage of Figaro. It’s quietly revolutionary
and comically romantic with showstoppers.
The records that make me feel happy are
Nick Cave’s Into My Arms, Hugh Masekela’s (3)
Ke Bale and Tim Minchin’s Thank You God.
Books that have influenced me include Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha. It’s the
Christopher Logue’s War Music – it’s the perfect only film I’ve seen of Shakespearean
marriage of modern and classical literature – as depth with sublime photography.
well as the two towering children’s The most exciting show I’ve seen
series, Cressida Cowell’s How To recently is Mametz at the National
Train Your Dragon and Michelle Theatre Wales (2) – a remarkable
Paver’s The Chronicles of Ancient display of war and loss.
Darkness. Both create worlds of 2 My favourite book adaptation has
breathtaking imagination. to be The English Patient (4). It’s an
Currently, I’m reading my way exceptional novel and the movie is absolute
through 107 Booker Prize novels genius, as it’s not just a retelling but a response
WORDS KATE WORTHINGTON PICTURES MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES, LMKMEDIA, ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES
as I’m judging it this year. I’m on to the story recast in light and sound. The actors
novel 67 and have read six books completely live the roles.
of utterly exceptional brilliance. A quote that inspires me is Samuel Beckett’s
My classic film picks are Singin’ compassionate: ‘Ever tried. Ever failed. No
in the Rain – every frame is full matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’ And
3
of colour, joy and laughter, and my father’s quiet admonition: ‘Get on with it.’
I love listening to podcasts. The BBC’s The
5 Ratline and In Our Time are two favourites, as
well as anything with Bryony Gordon. She has
4 an extraordinary gift of listening creatively.
My favourite sculpture is Degas’s Dancer
Looking at the Sole of her Foot (6). It sits next to
Rodin’s The Kiss at National Museum of Wales.
The last exhibition I visited was ‘Anglo-Saxon
Kingdoms’ at the British Library. It’s an
astounding exploration of Britain’s past. The
law, the dreams of society, the languages.
I’d spend a free day in London with my son
and visit Wigmore Hall, The River Café, The
National Gallery, a scientific art exhibition at
the Wellcome Collection (1), National Theatre
(5) and finish with some jazz at Ronnie Scott’s.
What’s next? I want to spread Hay’s wings and
find new fires to tell brave new stories around.
6
NOW
DESIGN HERO
FLORENCE KNOLL BASSETT

Celebrating the visionary who helped shape 20th-century interior
design and fostered the creation of some of its most iconic pieces
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Florence Knoll Bassett changed the way
we live and work. As a designer and co-founder of Knoll, her name is synonymous
with modernity, innovation and the concept of open-plan living and working.
Born in Michigan in 1917, Knoll Bassett showed an early interest in architecture
and design. After being tragically orphaned aged 12, she was enrolled at the Kingswood
School for Girls, a boarding school that was part of the renowned Cranbrook Academy
of Art. Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, president at Cranbrook, soon noticed her
talent and took her under his wing. She became a close friend of the Saarinens, striking
up what was to become a lifelong friendship with their son, Eero. The two studied
together at Cranbrook, alongside Harry Bertoia and Charles and Ray Eames, and she
then went on to complete her training under some of the 20th century’s greatest
architects, including Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
After moving to New York in 1941, she met and married Hans Knoll and together
they established the furniture company Knoll. With an eye for talent, Knoll Bassett
brought in the most exciting names in design, including her former classmates Eero
Saarinen and Harry Bertoia, who created some of the period’s watershed pieces,
including the ‘Tulip’, ‘Womb’ and ‘Bertoia Diamond’ chairs. She also contributed her
own designs, which she humbly described as ‘meat and potatoes’ compared to the
work of her peers; today the ‘Florence Knoll’ sofa (below) is often described as ‘the
perfect sofa’. Not wanting to limit her reach, Knoll Bassett drew on her architectural
background and founded the Knoll Planning Unit, with which she reimagined the
way offices were laid out. Nothing short of revolutionary in post-war America, she
introduced the idea of open-plan working, efficiency and space planning, and was
responsible for the interiors of corporations including IBM and CBS.
After her husband’s death in 1955, Knoll Bassett (the latter added in 1958 after she
remarried) led as the company’s president until 1960, when she stepped aside to focus
on development and design. In 1961, she became the first woman to receive the Gold
Medal for Industrial Design from the American Institute of Architects and a few years
later, after reshaping the design landscape, retired. She passed away on 25 January
2019 aged 101, but her influence is still felt across the industry – her contribution will
continue to inspire architects and designers for generations to come. knoll-int.com
KNOLL BASSETT’S NAME

IS SYNONYMOUS WITH
MODERNITY, INNOVATION
AND OPEN-PLAN LIVING
Clockwise from above

The ‘Relax’ chair, from £3,468,
WORDS: KATE WORTHINGTON
and bench, from £2,004. The

‘Florence Knoll’ sofa, from
£2,784. One of Knoll Bassett’s
sketches for an open-plan
office. Knoll Bassett with her
sheepdog, Cartree, who
appeared in many Knoll adverts

NOW
H I S T O RY O F A B R A N D
SOCIETY LIMONTA
Couture linens and a mantra to live by, this luxury
brand is transforming our approach to interiors
Summer is nearly here, and with a change of season should
come a change of style. Such is the logic that drives Italian
fabric brand Society Limonta. Created at the turn of the
millennium as part of textile giant Limonta Group, the
label works on the ethos that you should dress your home
like you dress yourself – seasonally, as well as stylishly.
Following in the footsteps of the fashion world, it creates
couture linens made for changing tastes, trends and times.
The group was founded in 1893 in Costa Masnaga in
the picturesque province of Lecco, northern Italy, which
is still a hot spot for textile production today. Initially
focusing on tapestries and jacquard cloths, the company
soon became specialists in highly decorative textiles,
extending its range to include matelassé fabrics and
velvets. By the 1950s, Limonta Group had become known
for the unconventional and avant-garde.
In 2000, as the firm began to lean towards household
linens, Society Limonta was born. Its aim was to experiment
with traditional ideas of textile creation, production and
distribution, ripping up the rulebook with its compelling
mix-and-match approach to colour, pattern and fabric.
Particularly famous for its signature style of ‘perfect
imperfection’, each item in Society Limonta’s calming
collection is unique, varying subtly in colour and tone
thanks to a dying process that enhances the nuances in
shades. The brand’s pieces are designed to be layered and
experimented with, combined to create personalised
looks – the soft curated palette is typically drawn from
muted tones so there’s never too powerful a clash.
With its Spring/Summer 2019 collection (including D I D Y O U K N O W ? T H R E E K E Y FA C T S
the ‘Mix’ tablecloth, £340, pictured) Society Limonta A B O U T S O C I E T Y L I M O N TA
continues to flaunt its simple linens in a wealth of patterns 1 All of the brand’s stores are designed by architect and
and shades. With the desire to innovate written into the Kartell art director Ferruccio Laviani. In May 2018, the UK’s
brand’s DNA, it’s no surprise that it is looking towards first standalone store opened in London’s Brompton Cross,
where Laviani’s minimalist design favours natural textures.
innovative new dying processes (it hopes to perfect the
re-dying of printed fabric), as well as refining its palette 2 With a focus on sustainability, all of Society Limonta’s
collections are made using 100 per cent self-generated
and broadening its textile variations. power. It operates on a collaborative basis – as the name
When it comes to the fashion of your home, whether ‘Society’ suggests – with the in-house weaving department
you’re a fan of habitual coordination or eccentric clashing, working closely with research and development teams.
Society Limonta’s curated fabric collections have you 3 The label introduced ceramics to its collection in
WORDS: BRIT DAWSON
covered, resulting in a sought-after eclectic aesthetic November 2016. Minimal in colour and style, each piece
that the company refers to as ‘thousands of homes within is handcrafted, adhering to its one-of-a-kind mantra.
just one house’. societylimonta.com

NOW
I N S I D E S T O RY
LOBMEYR
The crystal brand mixes craft heritage with Modernist spirit
If there’s one design that sums up what makes Austrian crystal
brand Lobmeyr unique, it’s Josef Hoffmann’s ‘Serie B’ drinking
set of 1912 (right). Hoffmann was a co-founder of the Wiener
Werkstätte, the Viennese design collective that preceded the
Modernist and Art Deco movements. He loathed excessive
decoration, prioritising simplicity and functionality. ‘Serie B’ is
one of his finest achievements, its thin-black-striped pattern
(created using varnish and the metallic mineral bronzite) the
antithesis of traditional, heavily cut crystal drinkware.
Established in Vienna in 1823, the Lobmeyr firm was almost
a century old when Hoffmann’s design was unveiled, but it had
always been a radical presence in the industry. Founder Josef
Lobmeyr was a pioneer of Austria’s now-famous crystal tradition
while his son Ludwig, who later took the helm with his brother
Josef, also had a knack for spotting the next big thing. In the 1850s,
the firm invented ‘muslin glass’, an incredibly delicate yet strong
material hand-blown to just one millimetre thick. Excellent for
drinking wine, it was also remarkable for its unadorned beauty.
In 1925, designer Oswald Haerdtl used it to make a spherical candy
dish that’s so timeless it could have been created yesterday – many
designs in Lobmeyr’s current collection are made of muslin glass.
Ludwig Lobmeyr also presided over the invention of the world’s
first electric chandelier in 1883, which was an international
sensation. As well as drinkware and vases, lighting has long been
an important element of his brand’s output – the workshop has
From top Josef

Hoffmann. ‘Serie
B’ drinking set
DESIGNS ARE STILL MADE IN THE
by Hoffmann. TRADITIONAL WAY: GLASS IS
‘Starburst’
chandeliers. BLOWN BY HAND, THEN CUT AND
‘Normal-Special’
vase by Ilse
POLISHED ON UP TO 15 WHEELS
Crawford.
‘Scotch’ decanter more than 10,000 cast models – with traditional cut-crystal designs
and tumbler by sitting alongside modern creations. Among the latter, the ‘Starburst’
Robert Sadler chandeliers designed for the lobby of New York’s Metropolitan
Opera in 1966 stand out, both for their brilliance and their similarity
to the futuristic ‘Sputnik’ styles of the time.
In addition to being a born innovator himself, Ludwig Lobmeyr
brought several other talented designers into his stable. Alongside
Josef Hoffmann, there was the architect Adolf Loos, whose ‘No
248’ drinking set of 1929 has a cut pattern just around the base
(like Hoffmann’s ‘Serie B’, it’s still on sale). More recently, Lobmeyr
has worked with New York-based artist Ted Muehling, Amsterdam
duo Studio Formafantasma and Danish-born British designer Ilse
Crawford, whose balloon-shaped ‘Normal-Special’ pitchers, vases
and tumblers are among its latest launches.
Today, Lobmeyr is run by the Rath family, close relatives of the
founders, who have been involved with the brand since its early
days. The designs are still made in the traditional way: glass is
blown by hand, then cut and polished on up to 15 wheels (each
tumbler passes through 24 pairs of hands before it goes to stores).
WORDS: AMY BRADFORD
Even the most contemporary wares are made using these techniques
– including the new ‘Scotch’ whisky decanter and tumblers by
Robert Sadler, whose linear cut pattern is inspired by strips of
sticky tape. In its stark simplicity, this design is a direct descendant
of Hoffmann’s iconic black stripes. lobmeyr.at

DECOR ATING /
LINEAR
THINKING
Architectural design
firm Studio Della
Grammatica has
collaborated with rug
brand Silk Avenue
on ‘Fall Into Line’, a new
collection inspired by
the lines of Brutalist
architecture and the
minimal art of Frank
Stella. The striking
designs come in three
graphic shapes, versatile
enough to fit into any
space, and all with the
stylish touch of an
irregular edge. ‘The
Long II’ (right), from
£270 per square metre
(silk-avenue.co.uk).
HOME PRIDE
We’re noticing a growing trend
for baked tones in decorating,
as demonstrated by these
terracotta tiles from Claybrook.
As instantly comforting as the
smell of a warm loaf, these are
suitable for walls and floors.
£64.80 per square metre
(claybrookstudio.co.uk).
A GOOD YARN
Embrace the beauty of imperfection with
Dominique Kieffer’s latest textured plain
fabrics, which are characterised by its
natural, irregular finish – the result of
a technique that aims to break down the
rigidity of this robust linen and cotton yarn.
Despite its delicate appearance, this is
a textile that’s sturdy enough to be used for
upholstery and is available in a choice of 21
colours, from neutrals and blush tones to
on-trend terracotta and ochre. ‘Lin Froissé’,
£91 per metre (dominiquekieffer.com).

D E C O R AT I N G
THE FOUR SEASONS

Designer India Mahdavi’s ‘Garden of Eden’
rug collection, produced with carpet brand
Golran, is a celebration of the changing of
the seasons, with patterns that appear to
have been picked up by gusts of wind and
tumbled into the centre. ‘March Rectangular’
(above), from £4,740 (golran.com).
EAST IS EAST
Jane Churchill’s new ‘Azara’ collection is a joyous riot
of colour inspired by India. There are embroidered, ikat,
kilim and block-print fabrics featuring elephants and THE NEW WAY
tigers, as well as abstract designs. ‘Jaru’ and ‘Sumba’ TO TESSELLATE
(above, from left), £62 per metre ( janechurchill.com).
When it comes to parquet
flooring, it’s time to swap
PA L E T T E P I C K S herringbone and basketweave
Twelve new colours have for something more rounded.
been added to Fired Earth’s Element 7’s circular design is
paint collection. They are comprised of central sections
all inspired by the natural that measure 30cm across, and
world, with our selection
either matching or contrasting
spanning neutrals and
punchier hues. From top: inlays. Shown in ‘Sachs Grey’
‘Araucana Shell’, a delicate oak and ‘Pietra Serena’
off-white, the intense pink limestone, from £850 per
WORDS: KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES
of ‘Magenta Oaks’, ‘One square metre (element7.co.uk).

October Morning’, a hazy
lilac, and ‘Moon Grape’,
a moody black with a hint
of purple. From £42 for
2.5 litres (firedearth.com).

D E C O R AT I N G
D E C O R AT O R I N D E X
BEATA HEUMAN
Known for her love of the fantastical, we
explore the interior designer’s playful style
Who is she? Swedish-born, London-based Beata
Heuman took an unconventional route into interior
design. As a child, she obsessed over her doll’s house,
constantly rearranged her bedroom and sketched
the interiors she read about in novels. She went on
to study Italian and fine art in Florence before returning to study
literature at Sweden’s Lund University. Interior design isn’t a very
common career in Sweden – ‘people take pride in doing things
themselves,’ she says, but when Heuman moved to London in her
early 20s, good fortune intervened. ‘I was offered a job at Nicky
Haslam’s studio through a mutual acquaintance and never looked
back,’ she explains. ‘Almost everything we did was bespoke – he
taught me how to make a space truly unique.’ Heuman spent nine
years with Haslam before setting up her own studio in 2013.
What’s her style? It’s a mixture of the bold and theatrical with
classical restraint – think clashing colours and patterns alongside
timeless furniture. ‘We avoid the standardised approach, treating
each project uniquely,’ she says. ‘The interiors that we create are
playful and original, and each has a completely different look.’
Recent designs Heuman has just finished her first big job in
America – an early 19th-century Greek Revival house in Nantucket,
covered in classic white clapboard. ‘It was stunning before
we started, but we have turned it into a proper home,’ she
says. In the UK, she’s designed the whimsical interior of EXPERT ADVICE
Chelsea restaurant Farm Girl (below and right). ‘It’s an Beata Heuman’s tips
oasis in the urban jungle, and transports you with a hint for creating a home with
of the fantastical, so you forget about the outside world.’ individual character
She’s also expanded her collection of furniture and textiles
Be confident If your design makes you
with designs inspired by ancient eras – the bright ‘Farao happy, that’s all that matters. Look
Stripe’ fabric is based on Egyptian Revival style, while through books for inspiration – if
her ‘Luckdragon’ stool is a twist on Roman curule seats. you see how something similar has
Current projects A handful of London townhouses been done successfully, it may give
(including one in Holland Park, top right) and a new-build you the boost you need. And as with
any skill, remember that interior
in Hamburg. Her dream project, though, is a members’ club.
design requires time and hard work.
She says: ‘As a studio, we only take on projects that we
Indulge your imagination When
know we can make really fantastic – it’s more about the designing an interior, we try to help
client’s vision than the budget.’ beataheuman.com people forget the outside world and
encourage them to be present in the
moment, adding surreal elements or
dream-like colour combinations for
this reason. At the moment, I’m really
into a mix of tonal shades – dusty
blues are a particular favourite.
Plan in advance To ensure your
designs will work together, make
a plan for the whole room before
you start. For a layered, balanced
WORDS AMY BRADFORD PICTURES SIMON BROWN
interior that stands the test of time,

look to the past and present for
inspiration. Ultimately, though, it’s
about going with your gut feeling.
Every room should sing In the course
of a lifetime, we gather a multitude
of experiences and objects, and your
home should embrace these. Let your
personality shine through, even if it’s
not the conventional choice – that’s
what gives a space individuality.

D E C O R AT I N G
COLOUR IN CONTEXT
MASTER
HOUSE NO.3
Built for one of the doyens of the
Bauhaus, this home in Dessau
demonstrates the movement’s little-
known love of experimental colour
If asked to conjure up the palette of Bauhaus
buildings, you could be forgiven for imagining
white on white, perhaps broken up with planes
of grey and hard black lines. The movement’s
founder, Walter Gropius, probably didn’t help
matters in this regard. He was, a friend wrote
with studied understatement, ‘against the use
of colours for his architecture’. And yet the more
Bauhaus interiors are studied, the more eye-
‘THE DEEPEST AND TRUEST SECRETS OF COLOUR

EFFECT ARE, I KNOW, INVISIBLE TO THE EYE’
popping palettes are uncovered. Master House
No. 3 is a case in point. Built between 1925 and
1926, this home, along with its five near-identical
neighbours on Ebertallee street in the city of
Dessau, was designed with Bauhaus masters in
mind. From the outside they are white and
cuboid. Within, however, colour ran riot.
Despite Gropius’s personal preferences, many
in the Bauhaus set loved colour. Johannes Itten,
Josef Albers, Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky,
who all taught at the school, believed they elicited
emotional responses. ‘The deepest and truest
secrets of colour effect are, I know, invisible to
the eye,’ wrote Itten, ‘beheld by the heart alone’.
Given this milieu, both in the Bauhaus school
at large and in the houses on this artistic street,
perhaps it’s less surprising that around forty
colours were found to have been applied to
Master House No. 3’s interior. The scheme was
developed by Hinnerk Scheper, who directed the Bauhaus wall painting workshops. He PA I N T PA L E T T E
boldly mixed bright reds with earthy pinks; rich blues and copper greens; creams and
greys. The palette for each room was considered individually, with a great deal of thought ‘Steelhead Redd’, £28 for
given to texture and placement, making the most of windows and the quality of the light. 2.5 litres, Valspar
Lyonel Feininger, who moved into No. 3 in 1926 with his family, rhapsodised in letters to (valsparpaint.com)
friends about the ‘colour and warmth’ of the house, particularly the stairwell (above), WORDS: KASSIA ST CLAIR PICTURES: THOMAS RUSCH, LUCKY IF SHARP
with its cobalt blue offset by the shining red line of the handrail.
The careful consideration Scheper gave to the schemes in each of the Master Houses,
however, didn’t stop their inhabitants from trying out new things. Kandinsky’s home, just ‘Aquamarine Deep’, £45 for
down the street, and that of his close friend Klee, next door, both reflected their sensual, 2.5 litres, Little Greene
(littlegreene.com)
experimental approaches. Over 200 different shades and seven separate layers of paint
from this period were uncovered during some 1990s restoration work that stripped away
the subsequent layers of pale plaster. Kandinsky’s living room at one point was yellow
and rose, adorned with gold leaf. A vestibule was a bluish violet; the bedroom cyan. Klee, ‘Peignoir’, £46.50 for
meanwhile, mixed lacquer red with mid pink, baby blue and grey. 2.5 litres, Farrow & Ball
The joyous colours of the Master Houses – and the Bauhaus in general – did not survive (farrow-ball.com)
long. Six years after the pinks, greens and reds were daubed together on walls, the Dessau
campus was shut down by the Nazis and the masters fled, taking their inventive palettes
with them. The plain, pale exteriors of these celebrated houses remained, while the ‘Blue Vein’, £49.50 for 2.5 litres,
interiors were quickly whitewashed into conformity. bauhaus-dessau.de Paint & Paper Library
(paintandpaperlibrary.com)

D E C O R AT I N G
FIVE OF THE BEST

B E S P O K E J O I N E R Y C O M PA N I E S
BEST FOR
STORAGE
BARRJOINERY
From a dedicated wine
cellar to a boot room,
BarrJoinery can create
nifty solutions for all kinds
of storage. It’s part of Barr
Group, so construction
company StuartBarr CDR
is on-hand for full-scale
refits (barrjoinery.co.uk).
BEST FOR
AUDIO VISUAL
CROSLAND
BESPOKE
Part of Charlotte Crosland
Interiors, this dedicated
team provides a London-
only bespoke service.
Work includes libraries,
studies and inventive
solutions for kids’ beds
(croslandbespoke.com).
D E S I G N D E TA I L BEST FOR
B O O K S H E LV E S
BESPOKE JOINERY NEVILLE
JOHNSON
From a tailor-made office
Need more storage space? We guide you through the process of under the stairs to
having cupboards custom made to suit your home’s every nook bespoke bookshelves that
can line a living room,
What should I think about when commissioning fitted joinery? First, take this company has been
the rest of the room into consideration. ‘Look at the furniture you’ve already got producing fitted furniture
and the style of the space,’ advises Charlotte Crosland of Crosland Bespoke. ‘If for more than 30 years
you want a piece of furniture to house audio equipment in the living room, you (nevillejohnson.co.uk).
need to know exactly what you want to hide, what you want to be on show and if
you have the correct depth for everything.’ Don’t worry if you only have a small BEST FOR
space – that often means more innovative solutions. ‘Recently, we built a coat WA R D R O B E S
cupboard under the stairs for a client and used a slide-out rail for accessibility,’ THE LONDON
JOINERY
WORDS: EMMA LOVE PICTURES: LUCY WATERS, JAKE FITZJONES, NICK ROCHOWSKI, NEVILLE JOHNSON
recalls Stuart Barr, founder of BarrJoinery. ‘We also find that the eaves of vaulted
ceilings can often be beautifully maximised by made-to-measure joinery.’ C O M PA N Y
Experts in residential
Is there anything specific to consider when installing a fitted wardrobe? joinery, cabinetmakers at
All items of clothing and accessories need to be taken into account when designing this Wimbledon-based firm
built-in wardrobes, from cufflinks to socks. ‘We ask clients many detailed questions, can produce anything from
from how many handbags and pairs of shoes they own to whether they prefer wardrobes to built-in
hanging space over drawers,’ says Bernd Radaschitz, co-founder of Interior-id. furniture for a utility room
How does the process work? There is so much choice at every stage that it can (thelondonjoineryco.com).
be helpful to consult an interior designer or architect to guide you through the
whole thing – especially for larger projects. The first step is an on-site survey to BEST FOR
measure the space and understand what the exact requirements are before LARGE-SCALE
drawings are produced. Budget has a big impact on your choices of material. PROJECTS
INTERIOR-ID
When it comes to finishes, are there any rules? No, anything is possible. Think
Founded by Bernd and
about the type of timber and finish (gloss or matt, wax or lacquer) required. You Johann Radaschitz (also
don’t just have to stick to wood either, leather or marble wardrobe inlays and behind Lanserring), this firm
metal trims can all be incorporated. ‘The key is to maintain focus on the vision,’ crafts its joinery in Austria,
continues Barr. ‘Bringing in other specialists such as metalworkers, upholsterers with its London-based
and stonemasons has helped us create some beautifully individual commissions. cabinetmakers able to use
its vast materials library
Sustainable sourcing is also important. Cedar is a good option for wardrobe
(interior-id.com).
internals as it has natural moth deterring properties; similarly, mesh-fronted
cabinets are on trend and offer air circulation that’s ideal when housing AV units.’

ARCHITECTURE /
London festival of
ARCHITECTURE
2019 The annual month-long celebration
of all things architectural returns to
the capital at the beginning of June,
boasting an array of public events, from
exhibitions, installations, tours and
performances to discussions and debates.
Set around the theme of boundaries,
all activities will explore what it’s like
to live in cities surrounded by borders,
fences and general limits – physical,
political or cultural. ‘We have an
exceptional public programme for this
year’s festival,’ promises its director,
Tamsie Thomson. ‘We want as many
people as possible to be inspired and
enthused, and I’m urging anyone with
an interest in London’s built environment
to get involved’. Believe the capital’s
all skyscrapers and cement? Think
again – there’s colour, ingenuity and
fun on display. From 1–30 June
(londonfestivalofarchitecture.org).
Turn the page for highlights of the festival, including
more information on ‘The Colour Palace’ (pictured),
this year’s design for the annual Dulwich Pavilion
WORDS: JAMES WILLIAMS

ARCHITECTURE
THREE OF THE BEST

festival sights
‘YOU ARE HERE’, LONDON BRIDGE
1
British architect Charles Holland, formerly of FAT
architects, which designed the playful ‘A House For Essex’
in collaboration with British artist Grayson Perry in 2012,
will create a charming permanent landmark next to London
Bridge station. The ‘You Are Here’ monument will act as
a sculptural meeting point, as well as giant signpost with
directions and information for those passing through this
busy part of the city each day. A scale map of the area will
be printed on the pavement complete with street names,
a playful take on the much-loved iconic London A-Z map.
‘LIMINAL’, SOUTH BANK

Look out for this major new artwork
on the banks of the river Thames.
Created by British artist Wolfgang
Buttress, known for his interactive
installations, ‘Liminal’ is a large
2
mirror-like satin and aluminium
panelled sculpture which aims to
blur the boundaries between the
two-, three- and four-dimensional,
altering the viewer’s perception and
experience of the river. As well as
the physical sculpture, an interactive
‘architectural painting’ of the life
of the Thames – created using data
from an underwater sonar – will
be available to view on an app.
3
‘THE COLOUR PALACE’,
DULWICH VILLAGE
The Dulwich Pavilion, housed in the
grounds of south London’s Dulwich
Picture Gallery, returns for a second
year. This time, architecture firm
Pricegore and Yinka Ilori – winner of
the ELLE Decoration British Design
Award 2019 for New Designer – have
joined forces to design ‘The Colour
Palace’. Its timber exterior draws on
textiles found in the markets of Lagos,
Nigeria, mirrors of which can be spotted
in nearby Peckham’s ‘Little Lagos’, an
area named for its African food scene.

ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL ICON
DAILY EXPRESS BUILDING, LONDON

BY ELLIS & CLARKE ARCHITECTS
An Art Deco gem nestled between the historic façades of former newspaper offices
STREAMLINED IN
APPEARANCE, THE
DAILY EXPRESS
BUILDING BECAME
Located at 120 Fleet Street in the centre of the City of London is the iconic former Daily Express
Building, a design considered one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the UK. From AN ICON OF THE
the 1500s until the late 1980s, Fleet Street was renowned for its close connection to British AREA AND THE ERA
journalism. By the 20th century, it was the heartland of the national press, home to The Daily
Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Express. To glorify the latter’s prestige, owner William
Maxwell Aitken (Lord Beaverbrook) commissioned architects Ellis & Clarke to extend the
existing offices. The initial proposal was to add a steel-framed structure, clad in white Portland
stone (similar in style to the nearby Daily Telegraph building), but this scheme soon proved
impractical due to the project’s awkward site on an already-packed street.
British architect and engineer Sir Evan Owen Williams was later drafted in to revive the
project. His plan, in collaboration with Ellis & Clarke’s, was to open up the property’s basement
to house the essential printing presses. Williams also helped to rework the exterior of the
building, cladding it in dramatic black Vitrolite panels, enamel-coloured glass and chrome
detailing. Streamlined in appearance, it stood out against the traditional stone-built offices
that lined the streets of the City, becoming an icon of the area and the era.
Its ornate ground floor featured a wide entrance with a stunning chrome canopy designed
WORDS: JAMES WILLIAMS PICTURES: ALAMY
by interior architect Robert Atkinson, as well as a large glass window with the Daily Express
name spelled out in large Art Deco-style lettering. Two gold plaster reliefs, entitled Britain
and Empire, by British sculptor Eric Aumonier were focal points of the lobby, which is still
regarded as one of the most impressive and ornate examples of this decorative style. Gaining
Grade II-listed status in 1972, the building fell into disrepair after 1989 when the newspaper
was forced to move to a more affordable location due to a declining readership. For more than
ten years, this gem remained vacant, until 2000 when London-based John Robertson Architects
was commissioned to restore it to its former glory, repairing much of the original interior. Now
home to American investment bank Goldman Sachs, its grandeur lives on.

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS /
OPEN DOORS
OFF THE WALL Upgrading your kitchen fronts is
becoming the norm, and more British
Moving away from traditional wall-based storage, brands are getting in on the action.
Lanserring’s ‘The Delancey’ centres around a hardworking One such firm is Norfolk-based Naked
island. Its worktop, also designed to be sat at, can hold a herb Kitchens, which launched two door-
garden, hot dish trivet and ice bucket, with shelving below and based offshoots – Naked Doors, offering
a bounty of drawers set into its stone structure. The design, in bespoke options in three styles and 12
finishes (‘Walnut Ladbroke’ pictured,
a palette of white or green marble, brushed metals and solid £156), and Pure Scandi, with minimalist
bamboo, can be extended into the garden to form a stylish birch plywood doors. From £40
indoor/outdoor kitchen. From £60,000 (lanserring.com). (nakeddoors.com; purescandi.co.uk).
SOCIAL LIFE
American designer Terri Pecora has
embraced the bathroom as a social space
with her ‘Plural’ collection for VitrA.
Reinterpreting the bathroom as a
communal living area, the range features
COLOUR WASH organic shapes in a natural palette that
can be grouped together. Instead of
Bold hues are continuing to brighten the bathroom in new facing the wall, basins are angled in a
ways, and it seems that candy-coloured brassware will be way to encourage conversation.
the next big thing. Dornbracht is leading the way with its From £380 for a basin (vitra.co.uk).
‘Meta’ tap collection, a simple design with three handle
options, coated in vivid tones of yellow, baby pink, mint
green and deep blue. £615 each (dornbracht.com).
GENTLE MIST
As the world becomes more
attuned to sustainability,
eco-friendly designs are
moving into all areas of the
home. Axor’s ‘Overhead
Shower 250’ features the
WORDS: AMY MOOREA WONG
brand’s ‘PowderRain’
technology, creating a fine
spray that gently envelops
the body in microdroplets,
reducing water use.
£1,033 (axor-design.com).

TECHNOLOGY /
BREATH OF FRESH AIR

According to Dyson, all manner of harmful particles are
flying around inside our homes, making them up to five
times more polluted than the air outside. The brand’s SHINE ON
solution: a space-age personal purifying fan. Its ‘Pure LIFX is on a mission to make smart bulbs
Cool Me’ traps 99.95 per cent of airborne nasties, such even smarter. To boost wellbeing, the
as pet allergens, bacteria and cooking fumes, with an Wi-Fi-connected ‘Mini Day & Dusk’
activated carbon and glass HEPA air filter. Touch the cycles through a natural light spectrum.
dome to angle a jet of clean air towards your face, or Wake to soft whites, work to bright tones
set it to rotate on a warm night. £300 (dyson.co.uk). and relax to calming amber hues that dim
at a pre-set bedtime. Opt for a single bulb
or, for maximum Zen, an entire network.
£28 each, Apple (apple.com/uk).
MIND, BODY
AND SCROLL
Samsung is bringing a touch
of (much-needed) mindfulness
to the selfie-obsessed age
of the smartphone. The
company’s latest handsets
come with ‘Calm’, a relaxation
app that provides guided
meditation, soothing sounds
and audio-led exercises, plus
softly-spoken sleep stories
to help you transition from
a hectic day to a restful night.
Free (samsung.com).
FIRE AT YOUR
FINGERTIPS
Heston Blumenthal has
reinvented the barbecue for
smart homes. Requiring no
matches or lighter fluid, the
‘Everdure by Heston 4K
Outdoor Electric Ignition
BBQ Cooker’ ignites with
a touch of the ‘fire’ symbol. P R I VAT E S C R E E N I N G
Inside, probes sync with your
The popularity of streaming apps, such as Netflix and Amazon
smartphone to report live
Prime Video, has given rise to a boom in portable projectors.
WORDS: TOM BAILEY
temperature data and ensure BenQ’s stylish ‘GV1’ fits in to the palm of your hand and doubles
food is succulent rather than as a portable Bluetooth speaker. Its three-hour battery life will
singed. £1,799, John Lewis sate your appetite for binge watching, as well as proving useful
& Partners ( johnlewis.com). when following cookery or yoga videos. £329 (benq.com).

TH E A N N I V ER SA RY SPECI A L
The in f luentia l names, interiors,
iconsandtrends that have def ined
th ree decades of st yle in the home

RA
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30
CEL
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HOME
STYLISH
YEARS
IS WHERE THE
HEART IS
Over the past 30 years, attitudes to the home have changed, tastes have evolved
and we live differently day-to-day. One constant? ELLE Decoration, of course.
Editor Ben Spriggs explores our influence, past, present and future…
When ELLE Decoration launched in the UK in 1989, the world, and Styles and the houses we inhabit may have changed radically,
people’s own small versions of it, was infinitely different to where but in certain ways they haven’t at all. Michelle Ogundehin, the
we find ourselves today. Rather than kitsch or cutting-edge, avocado magazine’s longest-serving editor, from 2004-2017, pointed out
bathroom suites were the norm; chintz fabric hung at windows and that ‘For all the potential pomp and display of home-making, our
woodchip paper covered the walls in most British homes. instincts are to crave equal measures of sociability, solitude and
Edited by the now iconic Ilse Crawford, ELLE Decoration emerged simplicity.’ In other words, we all search to improve the boxes in
into this formal landscape with a bang. It had long been craved by which we live; spaces we can be together or where we can find peace
a younger generation desperate to escape their parents’ aesthetic. and calm – desires that are as important today as they were in 1989.
Back then, interiors were only covered in very traditional homes ELLE Decoration has evolved into the country’s most stylish
magazines – ELLE Decoration took design into the domestic sphere. contemporary homes brand, offering interiors expertise and shoots
That first issue included features on Yves Saint Laurent’s blue from around the world. Appealing to trendsetters and tastemakers,
garden in Marrakech, timeless Shaker furniture, how to shop for it’s a vital resource on multiple platforms – as well as following us
everything white and the joy of lino flooring. It online, you can buy an ELLE Decoration bathroom.
encapsulated what was to become the essence of Advances in technology are changing day-to-day
ELLE Decoration: inspiration and aspiration life. Wellbeing and sustainability, rather than being
combined with practical ideas and information. ‘Our just buzz words, are shaping attitudes and informing
philosophy was about mixing high and low design,’ choices when it comes to what we put in our homes.
says Crawford, ‘a Welsh blanket with a Cassina sofa In a future where consumerism risks spiralling out
and something from The Conran Shop. No one else of control, ELLE Decoration’s mantra of ‘buy once,
brought those things together at that time.’ buy well’ is more crucial than ever.
Big names, bold interiors, modernism, minimalism, After leaving the role of editor, Crawford wrote
maximalism; we’ve seen it all. Even through the years a book called Home Is Where The Heart Is, and if
of home makeover TV shows and DIY crazes, we’ve there’s any phrase that sums up the magazine she
held on to a strong sense of taste and quality; giving created, then and now, it has to be that. ELLE
readers great ideas and products, while informing Decoration has always been about more than just
them of the hottest new trends shaping design. June 1989 homes, it’s about heart and loving how you live.
October 1990 April 1991 May 1992 January 1993 October 1994 October 1995

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
April 1996 April 1997 May 1998 May 1999
WE SEARCH TO IMPROVE THE BOXES WE
June 2004 September 2005 July 2006 May 2007
OR FIND PEACE AND CALM – DESIRES
December 2012 May 2013 July 2014 August 2015

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30
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STYLISH
YEARS
May 2000 February 2001 October 2002 November 2003
LIVE IN; SPACES WE CAN BE TOGETHER
May 2008 January 2009 April 2010 January 2011
AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS IN 1989
May 2016 June 2017 May 2018 June 2019

HALL OF
MICHAEL
ANASTASSIADES
By his own estimation, Anastassiades’s style is ‘minimal,
utilitarian and almost mundane, yet full of vitality one
might not expect’. Part functional objects, part works
of art, his simple creations reflect his rigorous training
in engineering and industrial design. Since opening his
studio in 1994, the medium in which he’s made the most
impact is lighting – his ‘String’ pendants for Flos (2014)
resemble fine black line drawings, while ‘Get Set’ (2013)
is more of a freestanding sculpture: an opaline sphere
perched atop a brass bar. One of the UK’s most discreet
yet compelling talents. michaelanastassiades.com
‘MY STYLE IS MINIMAL,

UTILITARIAN AND ALMOST
MUNDANE, YET FULL OF
VITALITY’ MICHAEL ANASTASSIADES
DAVID ADJAYE
Established in 2000, Adjaye Associates will celebrate
its 20th anniversary next year – and its founder, David
Adjaye, remains one of the most original voices in
architecture. Among his early achievements were two
pioneering libraries in Tower Hamlets, the Idea Stores
(2004 and 2005), and the black-clad Rivington Place
art gallery in Shoreditch (2007). There’s a strong ethical
dimension to much of his work, including his design
for the Smithsonian National Museum of African
American History and Culture in Washington, USA.
His upcoming project is the UK Holocaust Memorial
– the design, proposed by a team led by Adjaye Associates,
with Ron Arad Architects as Memorial Architect and
Gustafson Porter + Bowman as Landscape Architect,
is expected to be completed in 2021. adjaye.com
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30
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STYLISH
YEARS
FAME
During 30 years spent
scouring the UK for design
talent, we’ve championed
many superstars of style.
We catch up with them for
our anniversary special
Words AMY BRADFORD
ARAM STORE
Zeev Aram was one of the first retailers to get Brits to
embrace classic European Modernism – his store, opened
in 1964, was a lone star on the scene at the time. It was
Aram who introduced furniture by the likes of Marcel
Breuer, Le Corbusier and the Castiglioni brothers to a
London audience. The initial reaction may have been
bemusement – in the early days, he even received hate mail
– but since ELLE Decoration’s inception, his Drury Lane
shop has thrived. Along the way, the store has revived the
work of 1930s Irish designer Eileen Gray (neglected until
Aram rediscovered it in the 1970s) and celebrated the early
design pieces of names like Konstantin Grcic and Jasper
Morrison. The business is still family run – Zeev’s son
Daniel plays a central role, as did his daughter Ruth until
her untimely death earlier this year. ‘ELLE Decoration
promotes the best in modern design, which can always be
found at Aram,’ says Daniel. ‘Our greatest achievement has
been maintaining the high quality of our pieces in an ever
more competitive market.’ aram.co.uk
‘ELLE DECORATION PROMOTES

THE VERY BEST IN MODERN
DESIGN, WHICH CAN
ALWAYS BE FOUND AT ARAM’
DANIEL ARAM
RON ARAD
Arad’s architecture and design practice, Ron Arad Associates,
was founded in 1989, the same year ELLE Decoration hit the
PICTURES: ED REEVE, EIRINI VOURLOUMIS, CAMERA
newsstands; since then he’s served as professor of design

product at the Royal College of Art (1997–2009) and been
elected to the Royal Academy of Arts (2013). He has also
PRESS/MARTIN POPE, PAUL RAESIDE
acquired a reputation as a maverick, freely experimenting

with new materials and radical forms – such as his ‘Gomli’
sculpture (above). Highlights of his career include ‘Lolita’,
a chandelier for Swarovski that projected text messages
across its surface (2004), and the creation of the Design
Museum Holon in his native Israel (2010). He’s currently
working on the UK Holocaust Memorial. ronarad.co.uk

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TOMOKO AZUMI
Trained as an architect in her native Japan, Azumi came to the
UK in the early 1990s with her former husband Shin Azumi.
Together, they set up studio Azumi and created the ‘LEM’ bar
stool for Lapalma (2000). After the couple split in 2005, Tomoko
founded TNA Design Studio, where, amongst other things, she’s
designed understated chairs – ‘Flow’ for Ercol (2015) is a highlight.
‘I remember seeing one of the earliest issues of ELLE Decoration
when I still lived in Japan. It featured treehouses with Winnie
the Pooh illustrations, which gave me a strong impression of the
British way of thinking about design – a combination of traditional
and modern, urban and natural.’ tnadesignstudio.co.uk
Established in 1984 by cabinetmaker Sean Sutcliffe and Sir Terence

Conran in the grounds of the latter’s country home, Barton Court
in Berkshire, Benchmark is one of the UK’s great manufacturing
success stories – its pieces reflect our renewed appreciation of
craft. ‘Many would argue that wood is the material of the future,’
says Sutcliffe. ‘We recently supplied our oak “OVO” collection
by Foster + Partners to a medical technology research centre in
Ohio. I think it’s telling that such a modern environment has
chosen this traditional material.’ benchmarkfurniture.com
‘ELLE DECORATION GAVE ME A STRONG BARBER & OSGERBY

IMPRESSION OF THE BRITISH WAY OF The first piece that brought Ed Barber and Jay
THINKING ABOUT DESIGN’ TOMOKO AZUMI Osgerby to public attention – the ‘Loop’ coffee
table, launched in 1997, the year after they set
up their studio – is still in production and
hasn’t aged a day. Trained as architects at the
Royal College of Art, they have always brought
a geometric simplicity to their work, influenced
by the card they fold to make their models.
Since that first table, the duo’s achievements
have been many: the opening of architecture
and interior design practice Universal Design
Studio in 2001, the witty tilting ‘Tip Ton’ chair
for Vitra in 2011 and the London Olympic
Torch (for which they won an ELLE Decoration
British Design Award in 2012). Their approach
embraces industrial design and craft – it can
be seen in their reinvented paper lanterns,
‘Hotaru Marker’ lights (2018), for Japanese
brand Ozeki. ‘We have always been supported
by ELLE Decoration and we’re pleased to see
that support continue with a new generation
of talent,’ they say. barberosgerby.com
PICTURES: DAN WILTON

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TORD BOONTJE
The year 2002 was one of the most
romantic in British design, thanks
to the work of London-based Dutch
creative Tord Boontje. He launched
his crystal ‘Blossom’ chandelier for
Swarovski and its stylish high-street
equivalent, ‘Garland’ for Habitat
(left) – a laser-cut metal sheet that
can be unfurled around a lightbulb
(Boontje’s studio is relaunching the
design this summer). Both creations
were charming and captivating: one
aspirational, the other accessible.
Needless to say, the two designs
appeared many times within the
pages of ELLE Decoration – and it
seems the admiration is mutual, as
Boontje has been a subscriber to
the magazine for 15 years. ‘I still
turn to it to stay in touch with what’s
happening in design,’ he says. ‘For
me, my work is all about being
creative and sharing it with others.’
He still has the power to instil a
sense of wonder – recent work
includes the moonlike ‘Highlight
of the Night’ floor lamp created for
the ‘Future Heritage’ craft show at
last year’s Decorex. tordboontje.com
MARTIN BRUDNIZKI
This Swedish-born, London-based interior designer cites Italian architect
Carlo Scarpa and American decorator Dorothy Draper among the LEE BROOM
inspirations for his impactful designs, which range from the luxuriously Long before he started his eponymous brand, Lee
understated (such as Parisian restaurant Le Chardenoux) to the opulent Broom attended theatre school – an influence that’s
(his recent redesign of London members’ club Annabel’s). Next year, still felt in his dramatic, memorable furniture and
he’ll be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his studio MBDS. ‘I’ve worked lighting designs. Since starting out in 2007, he’s brought
on so many wonderful projects that it’s hard to single any out, but there immeasurable glamour to the design scene with
are a few I will always be particularly fond of,’ he says. ‘Scott’s in Mayfair, creations like the cut-glass ‘Decanterlight’ (2010),
our first fine-dining restaurant and, of course, Annabel’s [below]. It’s inspired by his design of London bar Coquine. His
such an iconic place, so unique.’ Of ELLE Decoration, he adds: ‘It does collection features several planetary-inspired lights,
a fantastic job of showcasing great British design. Everyone can access as well as the recently-launched ‘Lens Flair’ design
it – not just interior designers but also home enthusiasts.’ mbds.com (above), inspired by telescopic lenses and refraction.
‘Winning Designer of the Year at the ELLE Decoration
British Design Award in 2012 was an early highlight
for me, as it was one of my first major accolades,’ he
remembers. ‘Opening my first New York store was
another great moment. It’s so important to have
institutions like ELLE Decoration to frame the mood
of the times. I have many vintage interiors magazines
– including ELLE Decoration – and they serve as
PICTURES: ANGELA MOORE, JAMES MCDONALD
a fascinating timeline of design.’ leebroom.com
‘IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO
HAVE INSTITUTIONS LIKE
ELLE DECORATION TO
FRAME THE MOOD OF
THE TIMES’ LEE BROOM

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DAVID CHIPPERFIELD
Since establishing his practice in 1985, Chipperfield has become
known not only for his impeccably understated designs – which
are both supremely elegant and completely modern – but also
for his sensitive interventions in old buildings, such as Berlin’s
Neues Museum (above, 2009) and the Hotel Café Royal in
London (2015). He’s carved a niche in designing contemporary
museums and art galleries – among his best are The Hepworth
Wakefield in Yorkshire (2011) and the recently completed
Zhejiang Museum of Natural History in China, whose walls
are rendered in red ochre. He’s also just finished work on
Mayfair gallery Bastian, with a serene, all-white interior.
davidchipperfield.com
‘ELLE DECORATION IS STILL THE KEY PLACE TO

BE SEEN IF YOU WANT TO GET UNDER THE
NOSES OF THE DESIGN-SAVVY’ SHERIDAN COAKLEY
SHERIDAN DAVID COLLINS

COAKLEY STUDIO
Coakley is the man behind one of London’s The late David Collins (top) was a genius
best-loved furniture stores, SCP, which when it came to designing bars and
opened in 1985. Although it sells classic, restaurants that everyone wanted to be
modern designs, it also has an important seen at. The most famous are era-defining:
role as a manufacturer, with an upholstery the Blue Bar at The Berkeley (2000),
factory in Norfolk, as well as a network of decorated in his favourite shade; The
skilled craftspeople around the country. Wolseley, a converted car showroom in
Among Coakley’s triumphs of the past 30 Mayfair (2003); and renowned celebrity
years have been Matthew Hilton’s ‘Balzac’ hotspot Nobu Berkeley (2005). Since
armchair (right), a daybed by artist Rachel Collins’ death in 2013, his studio has
PICTURES: JOERG VON BRUCHHAUSEN, ELLIE LAYCOCK
Whiteread and the ‘Woodgate’ sofa system continued to thrive under the guidance
by Terence Woodgate – all part of the ‘SCP of (above, from left) co-founder and CEO
Classics’ range. ‘For me, it’s new ideas from Iain Watson, creative director Simon
designers that keep things interesting,’ says Rawlings and design director Lewis
Coakley. ‘SCP has helped the careers of Taylor. Recent projects include a furniture
Jasper Morrison, Konstantin Grcic, Reiko range with Promemoria and textile
Kaneko and many more.’ He credits ELLE collection with GP&J Baker, as well as
Decoration with ‘changing attitudes towards interiors. Rawlings always turns to ELLE
contemporary design’. ‘It’s still the key place Decoration for its ‘respected opinions’.
to be seen if you want to get under the noses ‘It’s always so on point, so relevant and
of the design-savvy,’ he adds. scp.co.uk smart,’ he reflects. davidcollins.studio

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SEBASTIAN COX
One of the biggest trends to emerge in British design in
recent times has been the resurgence of wood furniture
– and Cox is one of its finest exponents. He uses native
timbers in beautifully rich tones – among them hazel,
coppiced chestnut and ash – to craft his designs, which
have been commissioned by the likes of The New Craftsmen
and Heal’s. His eponymous kitchen for Devol, launched
in 2015, celebrates texture and seeks to revive the use of
British hardwoods, such as beech. ‘During my career, I’ve
had the great honour of making some really spectacular
bespoke pieces of furniture for interesting, creative clients,
including Sir Terence Conran and Christopher Bailey,’
he says. ‘But, for me, the greatest achievement has been
building a stable business that’s a great place to work,
driven by principles that matter to me.’ sebastiancox.co.uk
SIR TERENCE CONRAN

The creator of Habitat, The Conran Shop, the Design
Museum and many a chic London restaurant and
hotel, Sir Terence needs no introduction – he’s had
a bigger impact on Britons’ design sensibilities and ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELLE DECORATION
lifestyles than most. Looking back on his long career,
he says: ‘There have been so many great moments. – HERE’S TO ANOTHER 30 YEARS’
Early on I’d say Habitat – not just opening it, but SIR TERENCE CONRAN
seeing the concept grow around the world. It proved
that my bloody-minded belief was right, and the
powers that be were wrong – that there was a great TOM DIXON
enthusiasm among young people to live a better He’s one of the most dynamic and
style of life. Opening the Design Museum was special prolific forces on the design scene,
too, especially moving it into its new Kensington whether he’s creating gardening tools
home. The past 30 years have seen monumental and sofa beds for Ikea or lighting and
shifts in design as the country finally embraced furniture for his own brand. Entirely
Modernism. Somebody had tremendous foresight self-taught, Dixon started out in the
opening ELLE Decoration in 1989, because Britain 1980s experimenting with welded
was on the cusp of change and the media had a vital metal furniture; his first hit was the
role to play. Magazines and TV shows have been ‘S’ chair (1991), produced by his early
hugely influential in encouraging people’s passion champion Cappellini. Dixon’s next
for interiors, and ELLE Decoration has been at the move was to head up design at Habitat
forefront of this. I always take great delight in (1998-2008), which he reinvigorated
receiving my copy as it’s filled with inspirational with his enthusiasm for democratic
ideas. It’s a pleasure to have in your hand – in this design. Much of his work – ‘Fat’ chair
age of social media and people skim-reading on and ‘Spring’ light (both left) – still has
PICTURES: ALUN CALLENDER
digital screens, I think that feeling of quality is so the industrial look of his early work,
important. It allows me to take time out from a busy but he’s also reinventing what a design
day and devour the magazine from cover to cover. brand can be – his new headquarters,
That is luxury. So happy birthday ELLE Decoration The Coal Office, is a hybrid of studio,
– here’s to the next 30 years!’ conran.com shop and restaurant. tomdixon.net

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ESTABLISHED
& SONS
DOSHI LEVIEN This British brand made a huge splash
when it debuted in 2005. Invariably clever
A love of craft goes hand-in-hand with an enthusiasm for experimental industrial and sensual, its launches – from Zaha
techniques for London-based husband-and-wife team Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien. Hadid’s ‘Aqua’ table (2005) to the candy-
Winners of the 2019 ELLE Decoration British Design Award for Designers of the Year, striped ‘Filigrana’ lights by Sebastian
the duo’s studio has created many notable pieces, including ‘Bay’ (above, 2018), a chair Wrong (above, 2018) – became events.
for B&B Italia made using high-tech yarn. New-gen textiles are a passion – their latest As the current design director, Wrong is
launches are ‘Raas’ and ‘Lila’, two colourful abstract fabrics for Kvadrat. doshilevien.com the last of five original co-founders to
maintain links with the company, which
continues to explore new manufacturing
‘ELLE DECORATION FEATURED OUR FIRST techniques. ELLE Decoration, he says,
DESIGNS AND HAS BEEN HELPING US REACH ‘featured our first designs and has been
helping us reach our audience ever since’.
OUR AUDIENCE EVER SINCE’ SEBASTIAN WRONG establishedandsons.com
FOSTER +
PARTNERS
One of Britain’s biggest and longest
established architecture practices,
Foster + Partners has been in business
since 1967, when it was founded by
Sir Norman Foster. It’s the name
behind many of the world’s most
famous contemporary landmarks,
including London’s Millennium
Bridge (2002), the Millau Viaduct in
southern France (right, 2004), the
Reichstag redevelopment in Berlin
(1999) and Hong Kong’s international
airport (1998). It’s also created a
succession of stores for Apple and
the Bund Finance Center in Shanghai.
The latter, with its mobile façade
inspired by Chinese theatre, is one
PICTURES: JENNY LEWIS, MATTEO CUZZOLA
of the most Instagrammed buildings

in the world. The practice has won
the RIBA Stirling Prize three times
and values sustainability, notably in
the regeneration project it’s currently
working on for London’s Battersea
Power Station, which includes lush
roof gardens and a community park.
fosterandpartners.com

H A L L O F FA M E
BETHAN GRAY
Spotted as a student at the New Designers show in 1998 by Tom Dixon,
then head of design at Habitat, Gray went on to work for the brand full
time. In 2008 she chose to go solo, and since then has worked with a wide
range of brands, from Anthropologie to 1882 Ltd with remarkable results
– her ‘Victoria’ marble tea set for Editions Milano, for example, won her
Best in Tableware at this year’s ELLE Decoration British Design Awards.
Gray has read ELLE Decoration for as long as she can remember. ‘I love
it,’ she adds, ‘so to be given an ELLE Decoration British Design Award
in its 30th year is incredible’. bethangray.com
TRICIA GUILD
British homes would be a lot less colourful if it wasn’t for
Tricia Guild, who started Designers Guild in 1970. The author
of several books on style (including the forthcoming Tricia
Guild: In My View), she will celebrate her company’s 50th
anniversary next year. ‘Contemporary design is a passion of ZAHA HADID
mine and no one does it better than ELLE Decoration,’ she Her death in 2016 has done nothing to obscure the fact
says. ‘In 1996, I guest-edited an issue – it was then I realised that Zaha Hadid is one of the most remarkable creative
how much hard work goes into it!’ designersguild.com forces of recent times. Born in Baghdad in 1950, she
arrived in London in 1972 to study at the city’s Architectural
Association – a more realistic place to pursue her career
ambitions than her native Iraq. She proceeded to break
all the established rules about built environments with
her fluid, fragmented geometric forms, which seemed to
always be on the point of morphing into something
completely new. Buildings like her Aquatics Centre for
the 2012 London Olympics and Vitra Fire Station in
Germany (1993) stand as reminders of her unique vision.
Her practice, meanwhile, continues her legacy – it will
soon complete Beijing’s new international airport terminal
and has won planning permission for two mixed-use
skyscrapers in London’s Vauxhall. zaha-hadid.com
‘CONTEMPORARY
DESIGN IS A PASSION
OF MINE AND NO ONE
DOES IT BETTER THAN
ELLE DECORATION‘
TRICIA GUILD
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THOMAS HEATHERWICK
Designer, architect, inventor, problem solver: Thomas Heatherwick is the maverick talent that every generation needs to shake things
up. He’s caused controversy with his spiky ‘B of the Bang’ sculpture in Manchester (2005) and entered public consciousness by designing
London’s remodelled Routemaster bus (2010) and the copper cauldron for the 2012 London Olympics. Most recently, he’s put his stamp
on King’s Cross with the opening of the Coal Drops Yard retail quarter (above). Next up? He’s working on Google’s new California
headquarters with architect Bjarke Ingels and is set to transform London’s Olympia into a dynamic new creative hub. heatherwick.com
SUZY HOODLESS
Interior designer Suzy Hoodless set up
her Holland Park studio in 2000 after
starting out as a magazine stylist. In the
two decades since, she’s won a cult following
for her vibrant, colourful spaces, filled with
a mix of contemporary and vintage classics
(she particularly admires Scandinavian
style). She’s designed everything from
Kensington townhouses to Highland lodges
(see inside one on p190), and this year, two
new major projects put her in the spotlight:
apartments and communal spaces at the
PICTURES: STEVE DOUBLE, HUFTON + CROW, DAVID BROOK
MATTHEW HILTON former BBC Television Centre in White

City, and new Mayfair women’s members’
Launched in 1991, when ELLE Decoration was club AllBright. ‘The highlights of my career
just two years old, Matthew Hilton’s ‘Balzac’ chair so far have been the adventures I’ve had
(manufactured by SCP) rapidly became one of the and the relationships I’ve developed with
most sought-after designs of the decade. With its clients,’ says Hoodless. ‘ELLE Decoration
swooping curves and soft leather upholstery, it’s hits the zeitgeist: it’s modern yet classic,’
been in production for over a quarter of a century she enthuses. ‘From its inception, it’s
– reflecting Hilton’s belief in long-lasting, functional remained relevant.’ suzyhoodless.com
furniture. Today, he collaborates with the likes of
Ercol, Case Furniture and De La Espada to create
more timeless designs. matthewhilton.com

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HOUSE OF HACKNEY
This design duo, made up of husband-and-wife team Frieda
Gormley and Javvy M Royle, stands at the head of a fine British
pattern tradition stretching all the way back to William Morris.
The Arts & Crafts hero has been a considerable influence on the
brand’s ornate patterns, alongside 1970s exoticism and antique
botanical prints. Since it was established in 2011 from Gormley
and Royle’s kitchen table, it has been instrumental in encouraging
Britons to embrace pattern, through vibrant fabrics and wallpapers,
like the fantastical ‘Majorelle’ and ‘Mamounia’ used in the duo’s
own home (below). Its signature is reinventing tradition: this
season, it’s the turn of toile de Jouy, which gets a fresh twist in
the shape of the new ‘Dinosauria’ collection. ‘Our biggest
achievement has been creating a brand that values beautiful
design as much as it does a strong social conscience, while always
remaining true to ourselves,’ says Gormley. houseofhackney.com
KELLY HOPPEN
As a sixteen-year-old design lover in the mid-1970s, Kelly Hoppen
was asked to redesign a family friend’s kitchen; from these modest
beginnings, she’s built a formidable design empire. She’s made
neutrals luxurious rather than boring, popularised the East-
meets-West look, and brought her ideas to the masses with
best-selling design books. Today, she has her own lines of furniture
and accessories and collaborates with an impressive roster of
brands: think carpets for Brintons, wallpapers for Graham &
Brown and, most recently, stylishly minimal rugs for Disney.
‘Being in the industry for more than 40 years, there isn’t much I
haven’t done,’ she reflects. ‘ELLE Decoration has always been a
great supporter of my work which I am grateful for, especially as
I’m a reader myself.’ kellyhoppen.com
MARGARET HOWELL ‘ELLE DECORATION’S

Craft and materiality are central to the vision
of this British designer, who opened her first
BEEN A GREAT
shop in 1976. Her way of combining fashion SUPPORTER OF MY
and design for the home in her curated stores
now looks way ahead of its time, with numerous
WORK WHICH I’M
PICTURES: DEAN CHALKLEY
concept stores following suit. Her style is GRATEFUL FOR,

functional and timeless, representing the best
of British tradition: classic waxed-cotton macs
ESPECIALLY AS I’M
alongside Ercol furniture and Anglepoise A READER MYSELF’
lamps. margarethowell.co.uk KELLY HOPPEN

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SALLY MACKERETH
Mackereth is the founder of not one, but two studios:
Wells Mackereth, which she set up in 1995, and
Studio Mackereth, which since 2013 has focused on
luxury residential and commercial projects, plus
furniture and jewellery design. She’s currently
working on a Mayfair gallery with a striking origami-
style roof. ‘We’re known for an understanding of
interior detailing, intriguing materials and unusual
furniture,’ she says. ‘The variety of our designs is
what makes them fun – we’ve worked from Seoul
to the Cote D’Azur.’ studiomackereth.com
LINA KANAFANI
‘I founded Mint as a platform for new designers to launch
their careers,’ says Lina Kanafani of the Knightsbridge
gallery she opened in 1998 – one of the capital’s best
places to buy avant-garde international design. Many of
its pieces have made it into ELLE Decoration photoshoots
over the years. ‘The magazine has remained captivating
throughout its 30-year history,’ says Kanafani. ‘It has
never stagnated and each editor has added their own
flair.’ A visit to the Mint store is as much an experience
as a shopping trip. Wobbly clay furniture by Dutch
maverick Maarten Baas sits beside modern glassware by
east-London artist Jochen Holz and one-off luxury craft
pieces. ‘Up to 70 per cent of our stock is sustainable or ‘ELLE DECORATION HAS NEVER
made from recycled materials,’ adds Kanafani. ‘By
committing to conscious design, I hope I can have an
STAGNATED AND EACH EDITOR HAS
impact on mainstream production.’ mintshop.co.uk ADDED THEIR OWN FLAIR’ LINA KANAFANI
KIT KEMP
PICTURES: INGE CLEMENTE, JAMES HARRIS, SIMON BROWN
Since setting up Firmdale Hotels in 1985 with her property

developer husband Tim, Kit Kemp has transformed the industry
with venues like Ham Yard and The Covent Garden Hotel. Her
eclectic style reflects her passion for colour, crafts and textiles.
The couple now run eight destinations in London and two in New
York – each is subtly different, but all have bags of personality.
‘It’s a thrill to walk through the doors of a hotel into a lobby of
your own creation,’ says Kemp. As well as her hotels, she brings
her style into the nation’s homes with collaborations – fabrics
for Andrew Martin and china collections for Wedgwood. What’s
her view of ELLE Decoration? ‘I love it for its clean concept of
how we live today,’ she says. firmdalehotels.com; kitkemp.com

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DAVID MELLOR
Though its founder died in 2009, David Mellor remains one
of the best brands for stylish kitchen and dining ware (its
Sloane Street store celebrates its 50th anniversary this year).
Mellor himself was famous as ‘the cutlery king’. Many of his
creations – such as ‘Minimal’ (below) – are still on sale,
alongside new pieces by his son Corin, who now heads the
company’s design team. ‘My father helped change the face of
modern Britain,’ he says. ‘Today, people know that every item
we sell is made without compromise.’ davidmellordesign.com
JASPER MORRISON
Since setting up his London studio in 1986, Morrison’s become
known as one of Britain’s pre-eminent designers. His supremely
functionalist style assures him a place among the all-time greats.
He’s designed everything from kitchen appliances for Rowenta
to furniture for Tate Modern, as well as collaborating with Japanese
designer Naoto Fukasawa (who shares his pared-down aesthetic)
on their ‘Super Normal’ homeware: unassuming yet indispensable
items that enhance everyday life. ‘Discreet objects are more
successful in building a good atmosphere than eyecatching ones,’
he has said of his approach to design. Morrison’s ‘All Plastic Chair’
(above) for Vitra (2016) is another great example of his gracefully
understated style. Visit his east London shop to get a sense of his
timeless philosophy. jaspermorrison.com
‘MY FATHER, DAVID MELLOR,

HELPED CHANGE THE FACE
OF MODERN BRITAIN’ CORIN MELLOR
MARC NEWSON
As one of the first superstar designers of the millennial era,
Australian-born Newson has made an indelible mark on the
design industry over the past 30 years. An early example of his
‘Lockheed Lounge’ chaise longue on wheels, created in 1988, sold
for £2,434,500 at Phillips in 2015 (it was the most expensive piece
of furniture by a living designer ever to be sold at auction). His
USP is his sense of what makes a cool collaboration – he’s designed
trainers for Nike, luggage for Louis Vuitton and the iWatch for
Apple, whose design team he joined in 2015. There are rumours
of an Apple car with Newson’s name attached – whatever his next
project, it’s sure to be a hit. marc-newson.com
JOHN PAWSON
PICTURES: FLORIAN BHM/STUDIO AKFB, ORLA CONNOLLY
Pawson makes the case for minimalist living better than almost
any other architect – intriguingly, before he set up his practice
in 1981, he was considering becoming a Buddhist monk. Signature
Pawson interiors banish clutter in favour of expanses of pale
wood and natural light – there’s not a superfluous detail in sight.
Of all his designs, the ones he loves most are the Life House in
Wales (2016) for Alain de Botton’s Living Architecture project
and the tableware he created for When Objects Work (2005).
There’s also a surprising adaptability to his style – his ‘Perspectives’
mirror artwork, for instance, has been installed in venues around
the world, including St Paul’s Cathedral. johnpawson.com

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PINCH
Modern furniture with a nod to tradition – that’s what husband-and-wife design duo Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon do best. Their
studio – which marks its 15th anniversary this year – focuses on fine craftsmanship, and its hero pieces, from the ‘Iona’ mirror (2011)
to the ‘Yves’ desk (2007), look as fresh today as when they were designed. ‘Our biggest achievement has been building a collection and
a following large enough to open a shop with our name above the door,’ says Pinch. ‘Winning two ELLE Decoration British Design
Awards has also been a highlight – the magazine’s helped people see how interiors can be personal and varied.’ pinchdesign.com
MARIA SPEAKE
As the principal creative force behind
Retrouvius (which she co-founded with
Adam Hills), Speake brings something
unique to the British design scene. The
company started out as a salvage business
(still flourishing in Kensal Green, north
London) but has since developed a sought-
after interior decorating studio. Speake
PAUL has designed many a covetable home (as
SMITH featured regularly in ELLE Decoration),
as well as the boutique store of Perfumer
PICTURES: JENNY LEWIS, SABINE VILLARD, TOM FALLON
‘You can find inspiration in everything,’ declared H in Marylebone. Her impeccable sense
Paul Smith on the cover of a 2001 monograph for colour and eye for vintage finds makes
on his design inspirations. This might help each of her projects a masterclass in style.
explain why, not content with making a seismic ‘Hopefully, over the past 25 years, we’ve
impact on the British fashion industry, he’s inspired people regarding the possibilities
also set his sights on styling our homes (through of salvage, just as ELLE Decoration has
lighting designs for Anglepoise and rugs for inspired them as a magazine,’ says Speake.
The Rug Company). ‘What have I learned over ‘It’s always had a great editorial team,
the past 30 years? To keep my feet on the constantly reassessing the changing needs
ground,’ Smith tells us. Is he a national treasure? we all have and how we express them
We certainly think so. paulsmith.com through our homes.’ retrouvius.com

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JOA STUDHOLME
Studholme has worked for Farrow & Ball for 23 years where, as
the brand’s colour curator, she’s responsible for developing and
naming many of its most memorable paint shades – ‘School House
White’, ‘Bancha’ and ‘Studio Green’ (below). In doing so, she’s
helped to shape the decorating sensibilities of the nation, for
whom Farrow & Ball colours are synonymous with good taste.
She’s just had her second book published – Farrow & Ball: Recipes
for Decorating, which features 13 of the interiors projects she’s
worked on around the world, from Manhattan apartments with
modern black walls to pale and interesting country cottages. ‘I’m
proud of the fact that both my books are packed with information
about how to use colour in your home,’ she says. ‘It’s a subject
I’m passionate about – many of our shades are created from
a purely gut reaction that comes from being immersed in a world
of colour day in, day out.’ farrow-ball.com
THE RUG COMPANY

When Chris and Suzanne Sharp started The Rug Company in
1997, their focus was on rugs handmade by Nepalese artisans.
These are still at the heart of their brand, but the design element
has also blossomed – names as illustrious as Alexander McQueen,
Vivienne Westwood and Diane von Furstenberg have designed
‘ELLE DECORATION’S INFLUENCED for the firm. ‘Our biggest achievement has been playing a part in
THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE, RATHER revitalising this craft,’ they say. The Rug Company’s creations
are more than soft furnishings; they’re works of art. Their success
THAN JUST REFLECTING IT’ has kickstarted a sub-industry in statement rugs, ensuring British
PAUL SIMMONS homes look more vibrant than ever. therugcompany.com
TIMOROUS BEASTIES
Scottish textile duo Paul Simmons and Alistair McAuley
(from left), who met as students at Glasgow School of
Art, started their brand in 1990, just a year after ELLE
Decoration made its debut. ‘ELLE Decoration has
been there throughout our careers,’ says Simmons. ‘It
has influenced the way people live, rather than just
reflecting it.’ The duo’s style is a quirky mix of the
antique and modern, with patterns borrowed from
past eras to create dynamic prints. They’re fascinated
by the natural world and one of the brand’s most famous
designs is ‘Birds n Bees’ wallpaper (far right, 2011),
a modern take on botanical prints. ‘Looking back’, says
McAuley, ‘our projects have been ridiculously varied.
PICTURES: HP IMAGES
We’ve been commissioned by institutions like Claridge’s

and the Royal Opera House, designed biscuit tins, book
covers and the tail fins of aeroplanes, and even a couple
of gravestones.’ timorousbeasties.com

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FAYE TOOGOOD
Toogood trained in fine artist and started her career on style
magazines – a background that comes through in the highly
conceptual feel of her work. Since opening her studio in 2008,
she’s created artful installations such as ‘Natura Morta’ (2011),
a series of oversized still lifes in a Milan apartment, and presided
over hip happenings like ‘La Cura’, where each visitor was
presented with a ball of white clay to shape as they pleased.
Materiality is a recurring focus – her indigo-splashed ceramics
for 1882 Ltd are a case in point – but she also creates intriguing
interiors. Her Regent Street store for Mulberry, for example, is
arranged like a real home. ‘Among my favourite projects have
been my “Roly Poly” chair [below], which has been realised in
many materials from fibreglass to cast glass, my “Toogood”
clothing, which has grown from ten coats to full collections with
stockists worldwide, and my store design for Mulberry,’ she says.
‘They’ve all felt like great achievements. As a young designer, I
always read ELLE Decoration avidly and, as a former magazine
person, I believe titles like it are important for supporting design
in our everyday world.’ fayetoogood.com
‘TITLES LIKE ELLE DECORATION ROSE UNIACKE

Celebrated interior designer Uniacke (who counts the
ARE IMPORTANT FOR Beckhams and Jo Malone London among her clients) is
SUPPORTING DESIGN IN OUR marking her own milestone this year – the 10th anniversary
of her elegant Pimlico Road showroom. A discreet presence
EVERYDAY WORLD’ FAYE TOOGOOD on the decorating scene, she’s known for her appreciation
of antiques and craft and her quiet, understated colour
schemes. She’s planning expansions of her ‘RU Editions’
and ‘RU Fabrics’ homeware collections, so expect to see
more of her style in the months to come. roseuniacke.com
TERENCE WOODGATE
Since 2014, Woodgate has focused on lighting with the
launch of his eponymous brand, but he’s also been a
significant figure in the industry for the past three decades,
creating furniture for the likes of SCP and Established &
Sons. His ‘Sax’ tables for SCP (2002) are classics. ‘They’re
PICTURES: JAKE CURTIS, JAMES CLARKE
about as pure and simple as can possibly be – just two

sheets of glass and four legs,’ he says. ‘You can see the
influence of the Bauhaus in them.’ Woodgate’s also proud
of his work for Punt, such as the ‘Sussex’ sideboard,
launched in 2000. He admires ELLE Decoration for
‘bringing excellence to the fore’. ‘Design has come a long
way thanks to its influence.’ terencewoodgate.com

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THAT CHANGED
THE WORLD We delve into the pages of ‘Interiors:
The Greatest Rooms of this
Century’ to uncover the world’s
most influential interiors. A who’s
who of decorating, the book features
400 incredible spaces, and we have
selected the best from our 30 stylish
years. First, Graeme Brooker, head
Whether we are talking about the of interior design at the Royal least, the rise of an interior design
great professional gurus such as industry has resulted in trends
Billy Baldwin and David Hicks, College of Art, sets the scene… devised to meet the constantly
or the do-it-yourself decorating changing needs of fluid markets
enthusiasts advanced by television shows and social media feeds, and, of course, styles that come and go according to the times.
it wasn’t until the 19th century that businesses specialising in what Charles Rice explains in his book The Emergence of the Interior
is now known as ‘interior design’ became real enterprises. Prior to that interior design as we know it appeared in the 19th century
that time, it was highly unusual for interiors to be perceived in a primarily in order to articulate new ideas regarding comfort and
way that was independent from the architectural container in privacy in domestic spaces. The interior was now both a concept
which they existed. The exterior and the rooms within were unified, and a physical space. In this time period, the increasing availability
with the inside space conceived and built at the same time as the of what we refer to as ‘the comforts of home’ coincided with the
outside space. Today, we are so accustomed to thinking about many advancements of the industrial age and the move from an
interiors as separate endeavours, with their own multi-disciplinary agrarian lifestyle to an urban one.
practice, that it’s hard to imagine that, at one time, the discipline Before the turn of the 19th century, it was architects, cabinetmakers,
of interior design simply didn’t exist at all. upholsterers and other craftspeople who helped to create home
Notable early examples of the profession include Sir John Soane’s interiors; a decorator was someone whose time was yet to come.
remodelling of three adjoining London townhouses in the late 18th The insides and outsides of houses were constructed simultaneously.
century to create his family home, and Elsie de Wolfe bringing They were passed on to the next generation, and wealthy families
warmth to Henry Frick’s austere Fifth Avenue New York mansion displayed their inherited domestic belongings in the form of art
in the late 1930s by adding softness and light to the building’s collections, ancestral portraits and furniture, supplemented by
architectural shell. Then there was Pierre Chareau’s Maison de objects acquired on their travels. This unified approach meant that
Verre in Paris, completed in 1932, which was devised in a bespoke the relationship between the enclosure and the enclosed, container
Modernist style. Later, in the middle of the 20th century, after and contained, was implicit and mostly uncontested.
WWII, majestic loft spaces came into popularity, with repurposed The story of the interior will always encapsulate the intersection
factories, warehouses and various commercial spaces transformed between the room and the space within which it is housed. It is
into compelling, highly stylised residences. this, among so many other things, that helps to explain the popularity,
The emergence of interior design as an independent enterprise even the necessity, of interior decorators and interior designers
has also resulted in myriad unintended consequences, from the – professionals who devote themselves to creating new ways of
popularity of decorating magazines (such as this one) to debates living our best lives within the home. Extracted from ‘Interiors: The
around modernity and postmodernity. Not to mention the efforts Greatest Rooms of this Century’, £59.95, Phaidon, on sale 22 May
to rank interiors according to which looks are better, cooler, hipper,
richer, more retro and other valuations of good taste. Last but not Turn for our pick of the best rooms from the past 30 years

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COMPLETED FANTASTICAL FOLLY

1989
After his business partner, friend and lover Yves Saint Laurent
died, Pierre Bergé (1930–2017), cofounder of the YSL empire,
spent weekends at this bijou retreat (or datcha) near Trouville,
HOME Normandy. A datcha is a country or weekend home with origins
L A D AT C H A dating back to 17th-century czarist Russia. La Datcha, created by
close friend Jacques Grange, was an intimate folly built in the
DESIGNER grounds of the couple’s 19th-century Neo-Gothic mansion, where
JACQUES GRANGE every room was named after a Proust character. When Saint Laurent
died in 2008, Bergé sold the mansion but kept the rights to the
ROOM datcha. Grange added a bedroom reached by a covered walkway,
LIVING ROOM and a Romany caravan for accommodating guests. The chalet’s
interior is inspired by the jewel colours and Modernist geometry
of the Ballets Russes costumes and sets, the work of Léon Bakst.
LOCATION
N O R M A N D Y, F R A N C E Grange, a master at blending disparate elements, brought in the
couple’s long-standing love of Morocco with antique stained-glass
windows and an Orientalist mantelpiece. The result was a visual
feast, cocooned within tactile, organic wood walls. ‘This has always
been the favourite of my projects. It is pure fantasy,’ Grange said.
R O O M S T H AT C H A N G E D T H E WO R L D
COMPLETED
1997 HOME
REINVENTED ART DECO M A N H AT TA N H O U S E
PICTURES: BERTRAND ORTEO/HEMIS, SCOTT FRANCES
Naomi Leff (1939–2005) was one of the 20th century’s most influential American interior designers
and, famously, the creator of the flagship Ralph Lauren store in Manhattan. Her style combined DESIGNER
NAOMI LEFF
WORDS: RACHEL GILES, TESSA PEARSON
architectural elegance with comfort and understated luxury, leading her to design homes for an
abundance of celebrity clients. Art Deco details informed many of her projects, which were often
influenced by the defined forms and lavish materials typical of the period. For this polished Manhattan ROOM
townhouse she decorated for Joan Lappin, a keen sailor, Leff took inspiration from the ocean liners LIVING ROOM
of the 1930s. Panelling made from anegré, an African tropical hardwood, lines the home, while fixtures
and furniture come together in a beautifully executed composition of sweeping curves and sharp LOCATION
angles. In this living room, two macassar ebony armchairs sit beside a minimalist granite fireplace. NEW YORK, USA
Above this is a cubist work by Jeanne Rij-Rousseau, the only piece to adorn the walls.

‘THIS MODERN SCANDINAVIAN STYLE

AFFIRMS LEE MINDEL’S LOVE OF
DESIGNERS SUCH AS ALVAR AALTO’
COMPLETED SCANDI INFLUENCE
2007
At the waterside property he designed for himself, US architect WORDS: FIONA SHIPWRIGHT PICTURES: MICHAEL MORAN/OTTO, SIMON MENGES
Lee Mindel proudly wears his influences on his sleeve. Taking the
form of a sculptural, open structure in the mould of Louis Kahn
HOME when seen from outside, the home shows a tendency towards
MINDEL RESIDENCE a modern Scandinavian style, which affirms Mindel’s love of
designers such as Alvar Aalto. In this living room, the architectural
DESIGNER character of the house is included as part of the interior design,
LEE MINDEL via the building’s exposed concrete beams situated between the
smooth, gallery-like walls and ceiling segments. On the opposite
ROOM side of the room, a cedarwood core that runs through the house
LIVING ROOM frames a fireplace. A 1960s ‘Nuage’ bookcase by French architect
and designer Charlotte Perriand hangs on the freestanding wall
in the space – it is just one of a vast and carefully curated collection
LOCATION
SOUTHAMPTON, USA of 20th-century design objects that can be found in the house. Also
present are works by Gerrit Rietveld, Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjærholm
and Jean Prouvé. These are joined by items from more contemporary
designers – among them are established names like Ron Arad and
upcoming talents, such as Gideon Soares.
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COMPLETED NEW MINIMALISM

2013
Named ‘best new house in the world’ by Architectural Review two
years after its completion, this is an English country home like no
other. With tranquil interiors such as Berlin’s reconstructed Neues
HOME Museum under his belt, it is no surprise that David Chipperfield’s
FAY L A N D H O U S E luxury abode favours context over chintz. That context amounts
to a sprawling woodland and rolling chalk downs, into which
DESIGNER Fayland House is set like a dam. The latter element is referenced
D AV I D C H I P P E R F I E L D by the house’s interior walls of white bricks and lime mortar, left
exposed as they are on the exterior. With a similarly light-in-hue
ROOM terrazzo floor, the aesthetic is minimal, but is lent warmth by the
B AT H R O O M furnishings – as well as an injection of colour from nature. The
theme of monumentality continues in the bathroom, where
a marble basin and bath are the star features, and floor-to-ceiling
LOCATION
CHILTERN HILLS, UK windows frame a rural panorama. The architect also designed
bespoke furniture for this space, which later served as the basis
for a collaboration with German brand E15, using the same design
language and material approach as in Fayland House.
‘THE AESTHETIC IS MINIMAL, BUT IS

LENT WARMTH BY THE FURNISHINGS
– AS WELL AS COLOUR FROM NATURE’

COMPLETED
2015
ASHLEY HICKS STUDIO, DEBORAH BERKE PARTNERS/CHRIS COOPER
HOME
PLAYFUL MAXIMALISM
WORDS: FIONA SHIPWRIGHT, GEORGE UPTON PICTURES:
THE ALBANY
The London home of interior designer Ashley Hicks is situated in the Albany, an apartment complex
tucked discreetly off Piccadilly, which, over the past two centuries, has been home to the likes of Lord DESIGNER
ASHLEY HICKS
Byron, JB Priestley and Aldous Huxley. Inherited from his interior-designer father, David Nightingale
Hicks, Ashley Hicks’ home is a playful mixture of his parent’s bold style and his own modern and
anachronistic sensibilities. Where his father preferred antiques and museum pieces, Ashley has opted ROOM
for contemporary, colourful objects – often produced by his own hand – such as giant cast-resin gems LIVING ROOM
stacked into towers and obelisks covered with photocopies of jewel-tone onyx. His influence can also
be seen in the living room murals, which depict Constantinople in 1818, overlaid with ceremonial LOCATION
Roman pendants and surmounted by likenesses of the chickens Ashley keeps at his Oxfordshire home LONDON, UK
– a typical appropriation, as he puts it, ‘of layers of history with modern pizzazz’.
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COMPLETED EMBRACING NATURE

2016
This house, designed by Deborah Berke’s New York-based practice,
draws as much from the surrounding area’s rich heritage of
Modernist residences from the 1950s and 60s as it does from the
HOME beautiful landscape in which it nestles. These two threads inform
NORTH PENN HOUSE and blend harmoniously in the living area, which is situated at the
heart of the long, low structure. The space is bookended by two
DESIGNER volumes made from locally sourced pine, one housing the fireplace,
DEBORAH BERKE the other forming part of the kitchen. The contextually aware
choice of material means these focal points don’t compete with,
ROOM but rather cohere with, the vistas afforded by the full-length
LIVING ROOM windows that run along both sides of the room. The floor is made
from the same limestone as the patio beyond, further heightening
the sense of connection with the outdoors. Particular attention
LOCATION
INDIANAPOLIS, USA has been paid to the colour of the furnishings and fixtures, which
include contemporary pieces by American designers such as BDDW
and Lindsey Adelman, as well as mid-century selections. Silver
and pewter greys find representation in stone and fabric, while
the browns of wood and leather are accented by brass.

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OF STYLE
HEIGHTS
ELLE Decoration has
always been at the forefront
of design – and there’s no
better indicator of changing
tastes and trends than our
shoots. For this issue,
we asked some of our
contributing stylists and
photographers for the
images that have lived on
in their minds. It’s a
fascinating scrapbook of
three decades of inspiration
Timeless things
your home will love
OCTOBER 2008
87 things, one palette (white, of course), every item
a classic: this was a shoot with a clear message.
Photographed by Damian Russell and styled by
Suzanne Stankus, every piece shown, from a sofa
by Florence Knoll to a small glass egg-coddler
and an Ikea sheepskin rug, was arranged against the
wall. The result: the world’s most stylish line-up.
WORDS: CLARE SARTIN
‘A GREAT, CONCISE IDEA –

ONE THAT’S NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE’
BEN SPRIGGS, EDITOR
HEIGHTS OF STYLE
The new The collectibles

summer of love OCTOBER 2017
MARCH 2018 Ceramics studio Turning Earth in Hoxton, east
London, was the fitting and atmospheric setting
‘THE MOOD WE CREATED, WITH for this shoot that turned a spotlight on the best
1970S-STYLE FLARE POINTED INTO new makers and big-name artisans. The work of
photographer Michael Sinclair and stylist Sania
THE CAMERA, WAS INSPIRED BY Pell, it’s a celebration of the renaissance in British
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TIME’ craft (which is still going strong today). Finely
BEN ANDERS, PHOTOGRAPHER crafted furniture by Another Country, Pinch and
Benchmark sits alongside work by Derek Wilson,
The trend for 1970s-inspired colours was still in its Malgorzata Bany and Lisa Stockham.
infancy when stylist Hannah Bort and photographer
Ben Anders embarked on this showcase of the ‘THIS SHOOT SHOWS SANIA’S
reimagined curves and metallic details of the era.
‘It was a bonkers idea to try to paint all of the walls GENIUS – A BRILLIANT CURATION
on location and shoot in just two days,’ says Ben, OF INTRIGUING CERAMICS’
‘but we had an amazing team and we achieved it!’ BEN SPRIGGS, EDITOR

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HEIGHTS OF STYLE
The texture of home Material girl

APRIL 2018 SEPTEMBER 2007
‘WHAT I REMEMBER MOST ABOUT ‘As an interiors stylist, you are always trying to
come up with new ways to display the latest fabrics,’
THE SHOOT WAS THIS SENSE OF says Finola Inger, who, for this summery shoot,
CALM, AND BEING ABLE TO TAKE transformed florals into functioning kites. Shot at
A MOMENT TO SAVOUR IT. I an Essex farm owned by a friend of photographer
COULD HAVE LIVED IN THAT SET’ Craig Fordham, the images also included a vintage
ALEX KRISTAL, STYLIST
caravan. ‘It belonged to Annabel Lewis, the owner
of VV Rouleaux,’ explains Inger. ‘She had customised
Patina, character and feel were the key words when it with the company’s signature pattern.’
planning this ambitious shoot, which involved the
application of a plethora of surfaces, from micro- ‘I THOUGHT AN INVENTIVE WAY
cement to limewash paint. Shot by Kristy Noble and TO SHOW OFF FABRICS WAS IN
styled by Alex Kristal – with the help of some handy THE FORM OF KITES, BUT I HAD
tradespeople – the project’s aim was to look at the
world of decorating possibilities that exist beyond TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD FLY!’
flat paint on walls. Never has something so complex FINOLA INGER, STYLIST
looked so effortlessly and enticingly simple.

HEIGHTS OF STYLE
Gilding the lily Natural selection

DECEMBER 2003 JUNE 2011
‘I knew that referencing Biba’s advert of a naked ‘THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SHOOTS
model on a bed of cushions would be a fun and
different way to show off some new fabric designs,’ THAT MARKED A MILESTONE
says stylist Finola Inger of this shoot, captured by FOR ME. SUZANNE’S VISION
fashion photographer Craig Fordham. ‘At the time, WAS SO PURE AND UNFILTERED’
Biba designer Barbara Hulanicki had just launched PAUL RAESIDE, PHOTOGRAPHER
a range of wallpapers with Habitat, so it felt like
a very relevant parallel,’ she continues. ‘I remember this shoot very well, because it was
my first for ELLE Decoration,’ recalls photographer
‘MY CONCEPT FOR THIS SHOOT Paul Raeside. Together with stylist Suzanne
WAS TO PAY HOMAGE TO Stankus, he created an inspiring indoor/outdoor
scheme in an abandoned country house. ‘Suzanne
A FAMOUS JAMES WEDGE had wallpapered the front of a wardrobe and, for
ADVERTISING IMAGE FOR BIBA’ my part in this masterpiece, I had agreed to put in
FINOLA INGER, STYLIST the shadow line between the doors in Photoshop.
At the time, it felt like a huge CGI job,’ he laughs.

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Olympic chic Orient excess

MAY 2004 NOVEMBER 2017
‘FOR THIS GRECIAN SHOOT WE ‘I remember this being a happy summer’s day in
a country house in Berkshire,’ says photographer
HEADED TO STANMER HOUSE, Paul Raeside. The shoot, which explored the opulent,
NEAR BRIGHTON – IT WAS THE Eastern flavour taking over the design world, was
COLDEST LOCATION EVER!’ set in quintessentially British surrounds, turning
DESPINA CURTIS, STYLIST these images into a beautiful combination of East
and West. ‘There was handmade wallpaper and
In anticipation of the Summer Olympic Games, crafted pieces from Italy – scenes that were a cut
which was to be held in Athens in 2004, this feature above the ordinary and could only have come from
took a closer look at the Greek style renaissance. stylist Hannah Bort’s sketchbook,’ continues Paul.
Mixing classical elements with contemporary
pieces, its graceful sweeping lines and touches ‘THIS REMAINS ONE OF MY
of gold spoke to a new age of enlightenment. FAVOURITE IMAGES FOR ITS
Photographed by Nicky Emmerson, it had a strictly
Jasperware-like blue-and-white palette. ELEGANCE AND BALANCE’
PAUL RAESIDE, PHOTOGRAPHER

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Show & tell

SEPTEMBER 2006
‘I WAS SO EAGER, FULL OF
EXCITEMENT AND NERVES ON
THE BUILD-UP TO SHOOT DAY.
IT WAS SUCH A FUN IDEA’
REBECCA MCEVOY, STYLIST
One of the more crafty concepts from the ELLE

Decoration annals, this shoot by stylist Rebecca
McEvoy and photographer Lisa Cohen proved
that you don’t need paint or wallpaper to add
personality to your home. Here, they’ve used
everything from the well-thumbed pages of novels
to postcards and even jam jars. Their entreaty
to readers was simple… ‘Get inventive!’
Spring greens
APRIL 2005
Green was huge in 2005. Why? For the exact
same reason it has great appeal now – it’s
a soothing balm of a colour, and the perfect
antidote to stressful times. When photographer
Adrian Briscoe and stylist Finola Inger decided
to share the shade’s power with the world, they
chose to layer sea green, grass green and every
hue in between. ‘The simple palette allowed us
to focus on silhouettes and texture,’ adds Finola.
‘I WAS ABLE TO SHOW THE

VERSATILITY OF WORKING WITH
SHADES OF ONE COLOUR AND
THE FREEDOM THAT CAN OFFER’
FINOLA INGER, STYLIST

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Playing with colour

JANUARY 2008
Photographed by Philip Karlberg and styled
by Roberta Holm, this shoot was revolutionary,
displaying how to build a colour palette for your
home. As it advised at the time: ‘Start with a strong
base and mix in a few complementary, harmonious
hues. Then bring the canvas to life with an accent
in a contrasting colour.’ By coating everyday items
(and some unexpected ones) in paint, it was possible
to see the interplay of tones on an intimate scale.
‘SHOWCASING INTERESTING
PALETTES, THIS WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST SHOOTS TO USE COLOUR-
DIPPED ITEMS. A REAL CLASSIC’
BEN SPRIGGS, EDITOR

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ICONIC
HOUSES
ELLE Decoration has always been committed to showcasing
groundbreaking architecture, as well as astounding interiors.
That’s why, 11 years ago, we commissioned leading photographer
Ngoc Minh Ngo to document the finest examples of American
Modernism. Presented together for the first time, her images offer
a glimpse inside the most well-known buildings in the world
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WORDS: NAME PICTURES: NAME

ICONIC HOUSES
P E N N S Y LVA N I A , 1 9 3 9
FALLINGWATER
Considered to be American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s career-defining masterpiece, Fallingwater
proves that building design can enhance even the most beautiful of natural surroundings
Most architects tasked with building a home beside a picturesque the house to the bedrock (a part of which was left in place to protrude
river and waterfall would take the opportunity to maximise views through the living room). Inside, flagstone floors add to the ruggedness
of the water; building low, to look up at the scenic cascading stream. and the hearth in the living room is made from large boulders found
Not American Modernist architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Asked to on the site. Vast windows and balconies leading from the main
design a country retreat for the Kaufmann family, Wright decided rooms bring the outdoors even closer and a staircase via the living
to create a house that embraced and resembled the stream and area gives direct access to the river below.
waterfalls – an architectural tribute to the falling water. Building a house like this was not without its difficulties and
Built between 1936 and 1939, Fallingwater is symptomatic of the proximity to water also caused some problems when living
both Wright’s love of nature and his structural daring. Free-floating in it; owner Edgar Kaufmann Sr allegedly nicknamed his home
reinforced concrete platforms are dramatically cantilevered over ‘Rising Mildew’. Despite these challenges, Fallingwater is widely
the river and the sound of the waterfall is audible throughout this considered to be Wright’s most powerful creation, opening up
space. Wright believed that ‘a building should grace its environment a new chapter in domestic architecture and delivering a space that
rather than disgrace it,’ and Fallingwater works hard to connect manages to be both modern and elemental.
with nature and remain true to its locale. Constructed from sandstone Advance ticket purchase or reservations are essential if you’d
WORDS: TRISH LORENZ
quarried on site, it was built by local craftsmen. Stone walls anchor like to visit Fallingwater. Find out more at fallingwater.org
Exterior The house is deeply integrated with its natural environment. Stone floors are waxed, while the rough stone walls are left untouched to give the
impression of dry rocks protruding from a stream. Balconies are suspended over the water and large windows keep the natural environment centre stage
at all times Living room Organic materials – stone and wood – dominate the space, with occasional accents of colour provided by bright throws

ICONIC HOUSES
LOS ANGELES, 1923
ENNIS HOUSE
One of the best residential examples of Mayan Revival architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright’s pioneering
concrete monolith also starred as Harrison Ford’s home in the cult sci-fi film ‘Blade Runner’
More Mayan temple than everyday home, the Ennis House stands full-length windows. ‘No house should ever be on a hill or on
out on the Los Angeles skyline. Constructed from concrete blocks, anything. It should be of the hill. Hill and house should live together,
it was designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright for each the happier for the other,’ Wright once said.
businessman Charles Ennis and his wife, Mabel, in 1923. Symbolising the optimistic, adventurous and generous spirit of
Wright used interlocking pre-cast concrete forms but transformed the Roaring 1920s, the house has long caught people’s imaginations.
this traditionally industrial material into something sensual and It played a starring role in Ridley Scott’s genre-defining sci-fi film
decorative. Each block features intriguing geometric patterns Blade Runner (as Harrison Ford’s character Deckard’s atmospheric
inspired by Mayan imagery, which gives the property a textural apartment) and, according to Jim Morrison’s widow, it was the only
WORDS: TRISH LORENZ PRODUCTION: AMANDA TALBOT
feel. Inside, the windows and columns bear the same designs and house The Doors frontman ever expressed an interest in owning.
the house also incorporates a rare glass mosaic fireplace by Wright. The building has suffered over the years, having been damaged
The architect spent most of his life in rural America. He disliked during the city’s 1994 earthquake and record rains of 2004. It was
cities and wanted his homes to belong to the environment in which placed on a list of endangered historic sites in 2005, before finally
they existed. As much as possible, Wright worked with natural being bought by businessman Ron Burkle in 2011 and restored to
materials, employed open-plan designs and embraced natural light glory. It’s open to the public for 12 days a year – for more information
and his beloved outdoors through an abundant use of skylights and on how to visit, go to laconservancy.org and ennishouse.org
Exterior Textured concrete blocks add a warmth, as well as a decorative note, to both the inside and out; their ornamental design changed perceptions
about concrete and how it could be used. As part of ongoing repair work at the house, the original blocks have been used to create moulds for replacements
Dining room The Mayan temples that influenced Wright are evident throughout the space, including the intricate art of the glass windows

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C O N N E C T I C U T, 1 9 4 9
THE GLASS HOUSE

Built by Philip Johnson in 1949, the Glass House is an icon of mid-20th-century Modernism. Its simple
structure, precise proportions and use of transparency have inspired a slew of contemporary architects
The Glass House sits on 47 acres of land at the edge of a crest Restaurant and designed a series of other buildings in the city.
overlooking a pond in New Canaan. Created by Philip Johnson as The Glass House was Johnson’s personal experimental space;
a home for himself (he lived there until his death in 2005), the he referred to it as his ‘50-year diary’. The building is surrounded
property is virtually all glass – vast walls of it are supported only by 14 others, all created by him, including a painting gallery,
by charcoal-painted steel pillars. There are no interior walls, instead a sculpture gallery, a library and a reception building. A guest house
low walnut cabinets divide the space and a brick floor sits 25cm echoes the Glass House but is made of brick with small round
above the ground, floating in a sea of glass. The view of the landscape windows at the rear. The architect deliberately designed it to be
surrounding the house is its only visual boundary. less than perfectly comfortable. ‘Guests are like fish,’ he said. ‘They
One of the greats of American architecture, Johnson was born should only last three days at most.’
in 1906. He studied architecture at Harvard under Marcel Breuer Johnson relished the opportunity to experiment without constraint
and Walter Gropius and was the founding director of the Department on the site. ‘This is the purest time I ever had in my life to do
of Architecture at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. He architecture. Everything else is tainted with three problems: clients,
also worked with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe on the bronze and function and money. Here, I had none of these issues,’ he said.
glass Seagram Building on Park Avenue, created The Four Seasons For tickets to tour the Glass House, visit theglasshouse.org
ICONIC HOUSES
‘THERE ARE NO INTERIOR

WALLS, SO THE VIEW OF THE
LANDSCAPE SURROUNDING
THE HOUSE IS ITS ONLY
VISUAL BOUNDARY’
WORDS: TRISH LORENZ
Exterior With its glass walls supported by simple pillars, the Glass House was a radical development in domestic architecture. Philip Johnson thought
of the property as a viewing platform and designed it to make the most of the beautiful grounds surrounding it Living room The interior is open-plan
– a cylindrical brick structure that houses the bathroom is the only element that runs from floor to ceiling. The herringbone brick floors and Mies van
der Rohe’s ‘Barcelona’ chairs (manufactured by Knoll) suit the minimalistic and unimposing space

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ICONIC HOUSES
LOS ANGELES, 1922
SCHINDLER HOUSE
The Modernist Californian marvel by Austrian architect Rudolph Schindler defined the West
Coast lifestyle with its bold focus on the outdoors and innovative approach to living
Contemporary warm-climate architecture tends to welcome the the Schindler House is actually two interlinked L-shaped apartments.
outdoors, with living spaces that transcend the boundaries between Each living quarter contains a studio and is connected by an
inside and out. However, in the early 20th century this was a novel area that acts as a communal kitchen and laundry space. In keeping
concept, and California owes these roots to Austrian architect with the campsite theme, meals were eaten outdoors and the families
Rudolph Schindler and his innovative Schindler House. slept in rooftop ‘sleeping baskets’ – redwood four-poster canopies,
The Californian weather was an eye-opener for Schindler, who protected from the rain by canvas sides. The 232-square-metre home
was born in Vienna (where he studied under architect Adolph Loos) sits on a vast plot of almost 1,858 square metres, and living areas are
and moved to Chicago in 1914. After working with pioneering delineated by hedges and different garden levels.
architect Frank Lloyd Wright, he moved to Los Angeles in 1922 to Schindler lived in the house until his death in 1953, with the
launch his own practice. Schindler revelled in the outdoor lifestyle second apartment home to creative friends and later his estranged
that the climate permitted and, inspired by a camping holiday in wife, Pauline. He designed more than 400 other projects, many of
Yosemite National Park, decided to create his own studio and home. which are now considered Modernist landmarks, but the Schindler
The house was radical in construction, with its flat roof and House stands out. As the first home to respond to the LA climate,
palette of concrete, wood, glass and canvas. Even more daring was it became the prototype for a distinctly Californian style.
its layout: designed for two families to share, much like a campsite, For information on visiting the house, go to makcenter.org
Exterior The site explores the relationship between space, light and form, with concrete walls and sliding glass panels. A concrete slab acts as the foundation and
flooring. The industrial material was also poured into wooden moulds to form panels for the walls, while wooden ceilings and skylights keep things light while
adding visual interest Interior Retaining a natural feel, architectural elements remain visible and materials are left unpainted to emphasise colour and texture

ICONIC HOUSES
LOS ANGELES, 1963
SHEATS-GOLDSTEIN
HOUSE
Some houses affect the way we think about architecture and even
the way we live. American architect John Lautner’s cliff-side,
cave-like mansion is an extension of the nature that surrounds it
Angular, dramatic and sleek, the Sheats-Goldstein House perches Natural light sparkles throughout, with hundreds of small skylights
on the edge of Benedictine Canyon in Beverly Hills, offering jaw- – made from 750 glass pieces – inset into the lofty concrete sail
dropping views from every room. Designed by American architect that forms the living room’s ceiling. The house is in constant dialogue
John Lautner in 1963 for Paul Sheats and his artist wife Helen, with the outdoors and the boundaries between inside and out are
the home’s bold geometry, vast concrete roof, broad frameless glass blurred; a large glass skylight extends above the dining room table
walls and striking interior belie its 56-year heritage and give it and entire glass walls can be opened electronically. The current
an intrinsically contemporary feel. owner, James Goldstein, who bought the property in 1972, worked
Lautner studied under architect Frank Lloyd Wright, where he with Lautner and project architect Duncan Nicholson to further
inherited his love of natural materials. Add the influence of technology unite the property and its two-acre garden (think tropical forest
and the pre-space age optimism of the late 1950s and early 60s, and rather than suburban lawn). After Lautner’s death in 1994, Goldstein
you have a recipe for this startling creation. Inside, he used a palette and Nicholson continued the restoration together and added an
of wood, steel, leather, concrete and glass. There is little decoration office, guesthouse and nightclub.
and not a single 90-degree angle in the entire house. This eccentric Lautner said he aimed to create ‘a living space that’s completely
design meant that furniture also needed to be asymmetrical flexible yet never lacking in grace and sophistication’. It certainly
and all the fittings were specifically designed by Lautner. achieves that goal. johnlautner.org; jamesfgoldstein.com
Dining area Large skylights and glass walls blur the boundary between inside and out Exterior The angular concrete roof and glass façade dramatically
stand out against the lush tropical garden, which spills down the cliffs. The main entry is through a secluded pathway complete with waterfall-flanked fish pond
Living room The sparse and minimalist interior features bespoke concrete fittings designed by John Lautner, such as the angular sofa and coffee table

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HOMES
LONDON / BARCELONA/ SERIFOS/ INVERNESS-SHIRE
P E N N S Y LVA N I A / L O S A N G E L E S / PA L M A / U D I N E
LIFE
For our ANNIVERSARY ISSUE, we delve into the ED ARCHIVE
LESS
to uncover our MOST MEMORABLE homes, designed and owned by some
O R D I N A RY
of the BIGGEST NAMES in interiors, architecture (and even film)
PICTURE: DAMIAN RUSSELL
C
O O
L
U
R
R
I
O Designer Matthew Williamson’s north

London home is individual, exciting
T
and uplifting. Here, he invites us into
his bubble of colour and reveals the
inspiration behind this unique look
Interview TONI RODGERS Photography DAMIAN RUSSELL
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I’M NOT AN
INTERIORS
GEEK, I BUY
WHAT I LOVE
and put it together in a spontaneous, haphazard way. I don’t trawl
around for the latest, hottest design items and I wouldn’t know where
to go for the best Italian furniture – I suppose I just live in a bubble
of my own ideas. This house was bought from an architect, so all
I really had to do was dress it. It was a joyful project.
Whenever I go into a room I know exactly what colour it should
be. I never sit for hours with four swatches of green, or spend days
debating which shade of fuchsia to use. Instead I internally log colours
I’ve seen, which may be as simple as something in a magazine or a
book, but can also be groups of colours – if I see someone inspiring
walking by I’ll take a quick mental snapshot of the exact shade of
their scarf against the tone of their coat and bag.
It was Jade Jagger who got me into the whole fluoro thing. About
ten years ago, I visited her house for the first time and was confronted
by a staircase covered in a ruby-red carpet with white balustrades
and a fluorescent yellow banister. I was seduced by her whole aesthetic.
Personally though, with regard to colour, I’m drawn to using hot
and cold together, such as shocking pink with cool turquoise. And
I guess another constant in my work is the use of the synthetic or
contemporary with the aged. This applies to my home as well: modern
pieces with vintage ones, natural textures mixed with man-made.
I don’t think people nowadays live like they used to, all fixed and
formulaic. For instance, I can remember my parents investing in a
carpet, whereas, even back then, I was constantly changing my room
with postcards and posters. Good-quality design is so much more
accessible now – much like high-street fashion. You can cheat.
The most important thing, though, is to think about how you want
to feel in a space. In my last home, I created a pillar-box red dining
room. I’d been at the Hôtel Costes in Paris a few weeks previously
and loved the boudoir-like intensity of its design. But, as I sat back
in London, eating my Rice Krispies for breakfast, I realised that the
look only truly worked when I was having an amazing dinner with
someone fabulous! matthewwilliamson.com
WHY WE LOVE IT…

Originally published in ELLE Decoration’s January 2009 issue, Matthew
Williamson’s home is an ode to joyful decorating. Underlining the
importance of staying true to your style, it encapsulates his flair for
combining colour and pattern. More than ten years may have passed
– Williamson has now swapped fashion for designing wallpaper,
furniture and interiors – but this house still stands out from the crowd.
Dining room (previous spread) ‘Durbar Hall’ wallpaper by Designers

Guild and Farrow & Ball’s ‘Dix Blue’ paint add drama to the walls. The ‘DSR’
chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Vitra were a limited edition from Viaduct
Portrait Matthew Williamson sits in front of a gilt mirror he bought at a flea
market on London’s Golborne Road Details A poster for the 2007 London
Design Museum exhibition ‘Matthew Williamson: 10 Years in Fashion’.
A Buddha, adorned with necklaces picked up on trips overseas, creates
a striking centrepiece Stockist details on p259

‘IT WAS JADE JAGGER WHO
GOT ME INTO THE WHOLE
FLUORO THING. I WAS
SEDUCED BY HER AESTHETIC’
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Kitchen Bespoke white vinyl

units and a stainless-steel
countertop are enlivened by
pink fluorescent lighting behind
the open shelving. The light
sculpture was a commission by
Brit duo Rob and Nick Carter
Living room The orange on the
window frames is from Bristol
Paint’s ‘Fluorescent’ range,
while the mirrored armchair
is from Tann Rokka Stockist
details on p259
Detail Willamson’s magpie-like love of colour and pattern is apparent
in his collections Bathroom The Venetian mirror is from Graham
& Green. Some of the vases are from Tann Rokka, while others were
found in a Florence flea market Stockist details on p259
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‘GOOD -
QUALITY
DESIGN IS
MUCH MORE
ACCESSIBLE
NOW – IT’S
MORE LIKE
HIGH - STREET
FASHION’
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A L
R I
S T
D U
I N
Located on
the fringes of
Barcelona, this
imposing former
cement factory
is testament to
architect Ricardo
Bofill’s skill
at adapting
monumental
structures
Words DOMINIC BRADBURY
Photography RICHARD POWERS
O N
T I
L U
V O
R E
Opposite The cylindrical silos of the former concrete works
form a rounded backdrop to a love seat by Antoni Gaudí – try 1st
Dibs – and a grand piano. The proportions of this space could be
compared to a concert hall, but this is where work meetings and
client briefings take place Stockist details on p259
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B AC K I N
T H E 1970 S ,
this extraordinary building was a crumbling relic of Spain’s industrial past. Then
architect Ricardo Bofill decided to convert it into a studio complex for his home
and offices. ‘I wanted to create something halfway between a ruin and cloister,’
he says of La Fábrica, as it’s now known. When Ricardo first came across it, the
dilapidated cement factory was composed of enormous silos, underground
tunnels, machine rooms, smokestacks and numerous administration buildings.
So the project had to begin with the careful and strategic demolition of about
70 per cent of the property. ‘The abandoned and half-ruined structure was a
magic box of wonderful, surreal elements,’ says Ricardo. ‘The first, most difficult
task was deciding what should be preserved and what had to be destroyed.’
Gradually, the key spaces began to take shape within the reduced complex,
which was eventually completed in 1975. The most prominent is the ‘cathedral’,
a central hall dominated by a huge table that acts as both dining area and
boardroom. ‘I love the generous proportions of this space; it’s monumental but
domestic – the two opposites co-exist in harmony,’ says the architect. ‘Initially,
I wanted to combine all my living and working areas, but the need for additional
studio space made me reconsider the benefits of separating my private and
professional lives,’ he explains. ‘I then decided to move my home to a structure
that is completely detached from the rest of the building.’
Ricardo’s home has the feel of a vast, loft-like space, with raw finishes, old
pipes and other reminders of the building’s industrial past. The different zones
within this soaring open-plan area are loosely defined by floor coverings and
the purposeful arrangement of furniture, as Ricardo felt that any solid partitions
would destroy its epic proportions. Enormous white sofas populate one corner,
while a library of books extends from floor to ceiling. A simple, graphic white
staircase leads up to a high mezzanine where a dining room opens out onto the
beautifully landscaped gardens. Another area is arranged as a study and gallery,
with artworks displayed on easels and a desk where Ricardo can work without
being disturbed. ‘La Fábrica is a magical place with a strange atmosphere,’ he
says. ‘I like my daily routine to be perfectly programmed here. I find that the
rituals of my home life provide a welcome contrast to my nomadic professional
life. I can live and work here better than anywhere else.’ ricardobofill.com
WHY WE LOVE IT…

Responsible for utopian housing projects such as Barcelona’s Walden 7 and Les
Espaces d’Abraxas in Paris, Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill has a history of fusing
otherworldly architecture and lofty ideals on an epic scale. His own home and studio
are equally impressive. Published in May 2012, this feature on La Fábrica allowed
readers to step inside the private quarters of this pioneering architect.
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‘I
B E WA N
TW TE
EE D T
N
A O C
RU RE
I N AT E
AN SO
D
A MET
CL H
OI ING
ST
ER HA
’ LF
WA
Y
The cathedral Office chairs by Charles and Ray Eames

for Vitra surround the large boardroom table in this
grand industrial space Stockist details on p259

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Living area A coffee table by Ricardo’s studio Taller de Arquitectura

is placed in front of the property’s distinctive tall, arched windows
Dining room ‘Casa Calvet’ chairs by Antoni Gaudí surround a marble
table by Taller de Arquitectura Stockist details on p259
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‘I L O
V
PROP E THE GE
NERO
I T ’S O R T I O N S US
MON O
UME N F THIS S
TA L B PAC E
UT D ;
OMES
T IC’
Living area This epic open-plan space is arranged

in sections, with a study on one side of the white
steps and a sitting room on the other. The white
sofa is designed by homeowner Ricardo’s own
architecture studio Stockist details on p259

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R I N G
S O A B Y
T H I S N E D E
T H I N D E F I I T U R
W I A R E U R N
O N ES A C E G E D F
Z P
THE - PL AN S A R R AN
E N L L Y
OP O S E FU
PURP
Living area Furniture includes a black chaise longue

by Le Corbusier for Cassina and a pair of white lounge
chairs and ottomans by Charles and Ray Eames for
Vitra. The diaphanous cotton curtains diffuse the
light rather than block it and offer a soft texture in
contrast with the raw industrial finish of the old
factory walls Stockist details on p259

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Bedroom and ensuite Bespoke shelving and polished

floors counter the rougher, grittier elements of this
home’s architecture. The streamlined glass entrance
to the bathroom has a similar effect
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Garden La Fábrica’s grand proportions

are emphasised by the towering foliage
in this courtyard space. Its bright
greenery stands out against the industrial
materials in this striking home
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SURRENDER
TO S ER E N IT Y
Paola Navone may
be one of the world’s
busiest designers, but
even she needs to relax
occasionally – and
there’s no better place
to find peace than her
summer refuge on the
Greek island of Serifos
Words BEN SPRIGGS
Photography ANDREA FERRARI
Living room With its large

windows overlooking the rugged
coastline, this space shows
Paola’s simple approach. The
plain white ‘Ghost’ chairs and
sofa, and dark ‘Irony’ side tables
are her designs for Gervasoni
Stockist details on p259
Terrace This collection of ‘InOut’ armchairs and tables by Paola Navone for Gervasoni is perfectly placed
for enjoying the breathtaking views over the Aegean Sea Stockist details on p259

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IT’S
HARD
TO
IM AGI N E
someone like Paola Navone relaxing. An architect, art director,
trendsetter and much more, the Italian is evidently something of
a workaholic. A leading light of the interiors scene for more than
40 years, Paola is the go-to designer for a long list of major
international brands, including Baxter, Gervasoni and Poliform.
She’s even created a range of tableware for Habitat. When she
does finally stop, Paola heads to the little-known Greek island of
Serifos and her simple yet stunning summer house.
‘From the moment I step onto the boat that takes me from
Piraeus to the Cyclades [the small group of islands where Serifos
is found] I turn off completely,’ she says. ‘I surrender myself to
total enjoyment, and physical and mental relaxation. I love
Serifos – it’s a magical, beautiful and wild place. It really lets you
experience the quiet simplicity of island life.’
The rugged stone house, designed by Greek architect Yorgos
Zaphiriou, is reminiscent of the traditional Hellenic island
architecture. It is constructed from a number of staggered cube-
shaped structures, which create a series of secluded open
terraces. ‘I didn’t change a thing and was able to make it
completely liveable in seven days, with just a few essential items:
some prototypes of furniture that I designed myself, a wooden
bench, mattresses and a few chairs,’ Paola recalls.
The designer’s creativity is apparent throughout the house.
Most of the rooms feature trompe l’oeil ‘rugs’ that are painted
onto the cement floors – an idea inspired by the Greeks’ devotion
to whitewash. Graphic and poetic, they’re a simple yet effective
way of decorating a pared-back space. ‘I love using objects in
unexpected ways – by painting and reassembling them, for
instance. It makes them unique to the place,’ says Paola. ‘This is
my private world and I feel completely at ease here. It’s such
a luxury to have some time to myself.’ paolanavone.it
WHY WE LOVE IT…

Paola Navone’s island escape first ran in ELLE Decoration in August
2010, and the understated design of its white-walled interiors feels
as fresh today as it did then. We’re continually intrigued by the private
sanctuaries of the world’s most talented designers, and the serene
Serifos home of this Italian polymath is no exception.
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Kitchen Mismatched white-painted chairs and metal bar stools (from Paola Navone’s ‘InOut’ collection
for Gervasoni) help to create a relaxed feel in the pared-back room Hallway One of Paola’s signature painted
‘rugs’ spans the entrance, which includes a large mirror and a console constructed from a wooden top
resting on two oversized ceramic urns Stockist details on p259
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‘SERIFOS IS
A M AGICAL ,
BEAUTIFUL
AND WILD
PL AC E. IT
LETS YOU
EXPERIENC E
THE QUIET
SIMPLICIT Y OF
ISL AND LIFE’
Dining room The bespoke

raised seating area, dressed
with cool, white linen cushions,
matches the furniture in
the rest of the house while
the floor is decorated with
another painted ‘rug’
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Outdoor bathroom With farmhouse-style shutters and exposed-brick walls, even this rustic shower
space is decorated with a painted ‘rug’ Terrace This outdoor dining area is ideal for alfresco meals
or evening drinks. For a similar table, try Oka Stockist details on p259
SCOT TI SH
REBELLION
Groundbreaking architect Moshe Safdie
and interior designer Suzy Hoodless have
introduced a taste of the avant-garde to
the Highlands with this unique retreat
Words TESSA PEARSON
Photography MARTYN THOMPSON
Styling MICHAEL REYNOLDS

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S U R R O U N D E D B Y M O U N T A I N S,
moors and glens, this bravely contemporary home the vast majority of the pieces are from Stockholm
in Inverness-shire is an imposing fusion of bold, and Copenhagen. ‘We mixed the best in Scandinavian
geometric shapes constructed from glass and split- design with bespoke British upholstery,’ Suzy adds.
face granite. The original Victorian hunting lodge Was it difficult to create a liveable space that could
that once occupied this site was razed to the ground hold its own with such striking architecture? ‘The
by a fire in 1940. Its replacement is equally grand, but unique layout of the property required respect and
that is where the similarities end. understanding,’ says Suzy, who’s worked closely with
Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie’s ambitious Moshe over a number of years and cites the scale and
design, completed in 2003, features a spectacular shape of the rooms as her major obstacle. ‘The interior
entrance hall with a vaulted glass ceiling flanked by needed to be impressive, but I didn’t want it to be
two grand granite buildings: one rectangular in shape, alienating,’ she adds. The remote location and lack
the other cylindrical. Both of the structures have of mobile phone reception made for a logistical
enormous, angular windows that slice through the challenge. Luckily, though, a harmonious relationship
walls. Inside, there are two capacious living areas, between client, architect and designer made it an
a vast dining room and eight bedrooms, all of which enjoyable task. ‘You’re only as good as your client and
offer outstanding views of the nearby loch, while the ours was incredible,’ says Suzy. ‘She enabled everyone
walkways and terraces look out over the Highlands. involved with the project to work to their full potential,
British interior designer Suzy Hoodless’s challenge with inspiring briefs, confidence and encouragement.’
was to turn this amazing building into a home. To suzyhoodless.com; msafdie.com
achieve this, she drew inspiration from the ever-
changing colours of the Scottish skyline. ‘I used dusky
pinks, dove greys, soft blues and various shades of
green. It was an immaculate palette and translated
so well into the scheme,’ she says. The furniture for
the house was sourced from all over the world, but
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Living room The simple lines of Scandinavian furniture – such as this ‘Chieftain’ sofa by House of Finn Juhl –
complement the daring architecture. The large fireplace (opposite) is made from the same granite as the building’s
façade. On top of it sits a ‘Stchu-Moon 01’ lamp by Enzo Catellani for Catellani & Smith Stockist details on p259
WHY WE LOVE IT…

First published in 2012, ELLE Decoration Country is a showcase of the world’s most spectacular rural homes, such
as this imposing abode in the Scottish Highlands. Published in Volume 5 (Volume 13 is available to buy now) this
house was a collaborative effort between two trailblazing talents. The result? A country home unlike any other.

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Dining room This 16th-century tapestry of the Battle of Zama (opposite) depicts a clash many miles away in Tunisia
(then Carthage), a global twist on the wallhangings found in many grand Scottish houses. In the corner (above), a Josef
Frank cabinet is placed beside a traditional Swedish woodburner Stockist details on p259

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Hallway A giant whale’s jawbone goes some way to convey the sheer scale of this space Living room The vaulted glass ceiling
provides views of the mountains, which are also depicted on the wall mural and sculpture. The sofas are bespoke pieces by Barber
& Osgerby and the coffee table is a limited-edition ‘Zero-In’ in aluminium, also by Barber & Osgerby Stockist details on p259

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Exterior The building, designed by Moshe Safdie, plays with the traditional look of a Scottish castle, with its granite
stone walls cut through with huge sections of glass, which provide astounding views of the nearby loch

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Ta les
in
timber
Originally designed by woodworker George Nakashima,

this magical home in Pennsylvania combines natural wood
and traditional Japanese design to stunning effect
Words EMMA LOVE
Photography MANOLO YLLERA/PHOTOFOYER
Styling PETE BERMEJO
Showroom The display includes ottomans that Nakashima designed for the Rockefeller
Center, a ‘Conoid’ chair and a ‘Conoid’ table Stockist details on p259
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Living room A ‘Lounge Chair
Rocker’, added to the George
Nakashima Woodworkers repertoire
in the 1970s, and two ‘Conoid’ chairs
are placed by the woodburning stove.
The artwork is Maximus of Tyre by
Ben Shahn, who was a contemporary
and close friend of Nakashima. The
low coffee table is made from Persian
walnut, with the rough edge on show
Stockist details on p259 ➤
Japanese-American woodworker to paint in. We did have a tatami platform in the living room, but
and architect George Nakashima believed in treating wood with we moved the piano in from the guesthouse and had to take the
sensitivity and making furniture that showed off its natural features platform out because there wasn’t enough room. Other than that,
– he was internationally renowned for his beautifully crafted, one- it’s mostly the same as it’s always been.
off pieces. In 1947, he built a workshop and home in Pennsylvania And the guesthouse? Dad built it in 1972 for his mother, who was
on a three-acre plot of land surrounded by the forest. In fact, during visiting. We had to rebuild it six years ago because of drainage
his lifetime he built around 15 houses on the land – one of which problems, but we’ve kept the same foundation and roof, and as
was for his daughter, Mira Nakashima. Today, Mira runs the much of the original furniture as possible.
Nakashima studio and lives in the four-bedroom house with her How does your home make you feel? I work six days a week at
husband, surrounded by her father’s furniture. Here, she tells us the studio – I’m trying to retire but haven’t figured out how yet – so
about her unique home and the legacy of her father’s work. when I am home, I want to relax. The furniture has a quiet feel to
it that makes you slow down and think differently. Dad thought
How would you describe your home? It incorporates a lot of wood had a story to tell, so that, even when it has been made into
traditional Japanese elements, and all the furniture is designed by a table or chair, it speaks to you. nakashimawoodworker.com
my father. Most of the pieces are made from unfinished walnut,
treated only with a simple coat of oil.
What defined your father’s style? His signature was making WHY WE LOVE IT…
furniture with ‘free edges’ [retaining the contours of the timber],
George Nakashima was one the 20th century’s leading architects
which wasn’t done when he started out in the 1940s. Originally, he
and furniture makers. Testament to the importance of his work, his
did it out of economic necessity, because it meant he could use the home, studio and workshop near New Hope in Pennsylvania, USA,
cheaper cuts of wood that nobody else knew what to do with. was officially designated a National Historic Landmark in 2014.
Have you made many changes to the house? We had too many Back in November 2012, ELLE Decoration featured this home on
books, so we added some bookcases and turned what was my the plot, built by Nakashima for his daughter, Mira.
daughter’s bedroom into a quiet space, a Zen room for my husband
Above The three joined buildings are the guesthouse, Mira’s house and
a walkway in between Opposite, clockwise from top left The sofa is a George
Nakashima design that was discontinued in the 1950s. In the corner sits a
scaled-down version of the ‘Mirror’ desk and chair, created for Mira’s daughter.
Off-cuts of wood are stacked outside the workshop, ready to be transformed.
The framed artwork is by Ben Shahn Stockist details on p259

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‘Dad
thought
wood had
a story to
tell, so
that, even
when it
has been
made into
a table
or chair,
it speaks
to you‘
Dining room The ‘Conoid’

table and chairs by
Nakashima are made from
Persian walnut, while the
bowls on the sideboard are
Mira’s. One was made by
a student of legendary
American ceramic artist
Toshiko Takaezu Stockist
details on p259
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Opposite, clockwise from top left Mira sits

in what was once one of her children’s bedrooms.
The storage is a work of art in itself, with handles
that display Nakashima’s trademark style.
Sliding doors in the guesthouse conceal a hot tub.
Nakashima even designed the handrail on the
stairs, which emphasises the timber’s ‘free edge’
Bedroom A tatami platform acts as a base for
the bed, above which hangs a painting of a dragon,
which traditionally symbolises protection.
The ‘Mirror’ desk and chairs are by Nakashima
Brad Pitt’s house follows the Modernist ideal
of merging the indoors and out. To create
a visual flow, the same mica stone and pine
were used throughout, while the ornamental
pool is framed by paving stones left over from
the construction of LA’s Getty Center
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ONCE UPON
A TIME IN
H O L LY WO O D
We all know Brad Pitt the actor, but this A-lister

also aspires to be a starchitect. An admirer of the style
of Frank Gehry, his Los Angeles home is a Modernist
masterpiece inspired by the work of his heroes
Words KATE JACOBS Photography RICKY RIDECOS
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Living area Two ‘Egg’ chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz

Hansen are placed in front of an Italian travertine fireplace
made with stone from the same quarry that supplied Mies van
der Rohe’s Seagram Building in New York. A wall of built-in
shelving houses Brad’s architecture books and, by the built-in
desk, a ‘Zig-Zag’ chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina makes
a design statement Detail, opposite This is one of, what
architect Lars Krückerberg calls, the ‘service walls’, with
a small fold-out shelf Stockist details on p259
B E AU T I FU L LY SI M PL E
and exuding a Zen-like calm, this home is a compelling space even before you
find out it’s home to Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The fact that he also had a hand
in creating it merely adds to the appeal. For a few years now, there’s been talk
about Brad’s passion for architecture; his plan to take a break from film to study
under world-class architect Frank Gehry, and their possible collaboration on
a controversial seafront redevelopment in Brighton. When interviewed, he
fizzes with enthusiasm for the subject, as he explained to US chat show host
Oprah Winfrey: ‘I love that architecture is this huge art piece you can be inside.
I believe it lifts your soul and affects your mindset.’
Back in Los Angeles, he worked with GRAFT, a trio of dynamic young architects,
on his own home in the Hollywood Hills, a dramatic yet tranquil house, very
much in the tradition of Californian Desert Modernism. ‘The aim was to create
a clean, well-functioning and flexible space with a sense of generosity and a
harmonious atmosphere,’says Lars Krückerberg, practice principal at GRAFT.
The team used mica stone for all of the walls, floors and ceilings, because it has
a unique way of brightening and mellowing as the light changes throughout
the day. To introduce contrast, this was mixed with areas of local pine flooring,
inside and out, selected for its open and flamboyant grain. Set into many of the
walls are hidden-away shelves and cupboards, designed to keep each room clean
and fuss-free: ‘We call them service walls or Swiss army knives,’ says Lars.
As for the furniture, that was purely Brad’s domain. ‘We didn’t need to lift
a finger,’ Lars explains. ‘Brad is known for his extensive collection of modern
designs. He could furnish a museum.’
As Brad explained in LA-based style magazine Flaunt, the creation of this
home has helped him to discover the benefits of simplicity: ‘I learned that you
have to let go of a lot of great ideas for the sake of harmony.’ graftlab.com
WHY WE LOVE IT…

Readers of ELLE Decoration’s July 2006 issue might have been surprised to see Brad
Pitt’s name emblazoned on the magazine’s spine, but also impressed when they saw
the pictures of this peaceful, light-filled Los Angeles abode. Its enduring design was
heavily influenced by the ideas of its actor owner, as well as the work of iconic
architects, from Mies van der Rohe to Frank Lloyd Wright and Brad’s hero, Frank Gehry.

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Studio Sections cut into the walls open out to create tables
and storage – they even accommodate the ‘Zig-Zag’ chair
by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina. ‘I love chairs, they’re like
sculptures,’ says Brad, who has also placed a ‘Bubble’ chair
by Eero Aarnio for Adelta outside Bathroom Encased
in frosted glass, this unique room-within-a-room features
industrial-style stainless-steel fixtures and fittings
Exterior Automatic louvred glass doors allow this room to blend effortlessly
with the outdoors. ‘They work on hydraulics, so they don’t make a sound.
It was our little James Bond moment,’ laughs architect Lars. ‘Brad felt that
the doors create the effect of raising a curtain to reveal the house.’

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B O EM
D I
A
E
T I C AT
S I
P H
SO
Danish fashion
designer Malene
Birger’s restrained,
elegant and worldly
style is brilliantly
showcased in this
peaceful home in
Palma, Mallorca
Words
KARIN GRÅBÆK
Photography
BIRGITTA WOLFGANG DREJER
Production
PERNILLE VEST/SISTERS AGENCY
Living room An ‘Arco’ floor light by

Achille Castiglioni for Flos arches over
the coffee table. The leather Flexform
sofa is joined by a pair of Arne Jacobsen
‘Swan’ chairs for Fritz Hansen
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F SUMM
O E R
E ST D
T
A
OT
YS
THE H
there is a cool and welcoming atmosphere in fashion designer Malene Birger’s

Palma home. Soft grey concrete floors, gleaming white walls and shutters
made from dark Cuban teak form the backdrop to the apartment, which is
furnished with a blend of foreign finds and bold artwork, antique pieces and
modern design classics – most of which adhere to Malene’s signature palette
of black, dark-brown, white and silver. The result is a stylish 200-square-metre
home that resembles a modern Aladdin’s cave.
‘In many ways, this building exudes Arabian heritage, and that is why we
N
bought it,’ explains Malene, who relocated to Mallorca in 2007. ‘I have always
been partial to Arabic architecture and African art, and the textiles are an
O
inspiration to me. The symmetry, balance and intricate details are all important.’
Malene’s eye for detail is evident throughout her island retreat. Every
display has been thought through and assembled with a sense of drama and
romance, and while the interior is maximalist to a point, every room is well
EN
balanced and never overdone. Devotees of her interior style are so enchanted
by it that she has often sold her homes with nearly all the furnishings included;
the designer also consults on interiors and art for clients from her studio in
V
Lake Como. ‘I decided that I’d love to decorate for people who enjoy my style,’
E says Malene, whose sophisticated brand of bohemianism – showcased by
clothing labels Day Birger et Mikkelsen and By Malene Birger – has brought
her worldwide recognition. ‘To design a home is a private matter, so it’s
important the chemistry is there, and that there is mutual respect.’
Prior to buying this apartment, Malene had moved house almost 40 times.
En route, she’s disposed of many pieces of furniture, while collecting just as
many new items from her travels to destinations ranging from LA and Mexico
to southeast Asia. Throughout all the globetrotting, her career has been her
one constant, and her latest move marks yet another new chapter – one which
she hopes will see her dedicating more of her energy to new projects. ‘Even
though I don’t live in one place for very long, it is still very important for me
to create a home,’ she says. ‘I have always been good at building a nest, wherever
in the world I might be at the time.’ malenebirgersworld.com
WHY WE LOVE IT…

Scandinavian style maven Malene Birger doesn’t tend to put down roots
for long, which is why she’s now swapped this Mallorcan home for bases
in London and Lake Como. Published by ELLE Decoration in February
2013, the Danish fashion designer’s Palma project was a perfect example
of her monochrome take on Bohemian warmth, which she continues to
transpose to homes across the globe.
Living room The delicately carved Cuban teak door frames that can be seen
throughout the apartment are all original. Here, they lead the eye through
to an office, which includes a chair from Vitra Stockist details on p259

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Details Artworks are united

by Malene’s choice of frames,
all in her monochrome palette
Hallway Original grey- and-white
mosaic tiles run seamlessly from
the entrance into the bedroom
Kitchen The chequered tiles are
from a local supplier on the island,
while the cabinets are custom-
made. ‘DSW’ chairs by Charles
and Ray Eames for Vitra
surround the vintage dining table

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Detail, opposite Malene’s

own artwork adorns many
of the walls – find prints
at Copenhagen-based
store The Poster Club
Above African masks
flank the large chest of
drawers in the entrance
Left A love of Arabian
culture influences many
of the furniture choices
in Malene’s home,
including this dark-wood
desk and chair Stockist
details on p259

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Exterior The listed

building is characterised
by its pink façade and
wrought-iron balconies
Bathroom Splashes of blue
on the collection of Turkish
flasks and bottles add to
the monochrome scheme
Bedroom A Moroccan rug
and African cushions offer
a modern twist on tradition
‘SYM
M
ET
R
Y,
BA
LA
NC E AND IN
N T’
A
T
RT
R I
O
A
P
TE
IM DE
TAI A LL
LS ARE

C R E AT I V E
VISION
Conceived by Spanish architect and designer
Patricia Urquiola for Patrizia Moroso of the
eponymous Italian furniture brand, this home
owes its success to their long-standing friendship
Words TESSA PEARSON Photography MAX ZAMBELLI Styling ROSARIA ZUCCONI
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Living room The ‘Lowland’ sofa and ‘Silver Lake’ armchair

by Patricia Urquiola and the ‘Dew’ leather pouf and ‘Kub’ stool by
Nendo were designed for Moroso Stockist details on p259
Portrait Patricia
Urquiola and Patrizia
Moroso (from left)
Exterior The wood
was colour-matched
to a leaf from a black
beech tree and the
paint shade is based
on a natural dye from
the Amazon rainforest
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SET IN filled with African artwork and layered with bold colours, Patrizia
Moroso’s home in Udine, north east Italy, is a reflection of her
warmth and creativity. A collaborative project with Spanish
E X OT I C
architect and designer Patricia Urquiola and Italian architect
Martino Berghinz, this dramatic dark box is home to the Moroso
creative director, her artist husband, Abdou Salam Gaye, and their
three children. ‘Patricia is fantastic,’ enthuses Patrizia. ‘She
G A R D E N S,
captured my emotions perfectly. She understood my visions and
dreams and used them to create something beautiful.’ Here,
Patrizia talks us through the design process and the result.
Tell us how the project came about… I had been looking around for the right house for a long time when
a friend told me about a plot of land in Udine that contained an incredible abandoned garden. I went to see
it and discovered a little paradise in the middle of the city, so I decided to build my home there.
What inspired the design? Patricia and I had travelled together a lot for work, and we particularly loved
the modern indoor/outdoor houses that we saw in Australia. We wanted to replicate that sense of openness
and create a house where it would be possible to appreciate the beauty of the garden from the inside.
Did you have any specific requests? I wanted my home to incorporate a lot of glass and to face west, towards
the evening sun. I was keen to use wood in the construction and to work with strong but natural colours. The
dark grey stain on the exterior of the house was colour-matched to a black beech leaf from the garden, and
the red frame is based on plant dyes used by Amazonian tribes.
How would you describe the interior? Its rooms have a sense of order, but the interior itself feels warm
and informal. Much of the design and the palette are inspired by my husband’s family home in Senegal, and
the furniture is a mix of Moroso prototypes, one-off pieces and items that are no longer in production.
Do you have a favourite space in the house? My bedroom. It’s at the corner of the house and has a huge
window that offers a spectacular view. When I’m up there, I feel like a bird; all you can see is treetops and sky.
Finally, what do you like most about your home? The relationship we’ve created between the house and
the outdoors is fantastic. The garden is filled with exotic trees from abroad, and when you look out it’s as
though you’re in the middle of a jungle. I also love the simplicity of the architecture: it’s a perfect box that’s
filled with beautiful, complex things. moroso.it; patriciaurquiola.com
WHY WE LOVE IT…

Masterminded by two design
greats, the idiosyncratic Italian
home of Patrizia Moroso – which
was featured in ELLE Decoration’s
October 2011 issue – manages to
be both unique and unequivocally
inviting. No high design or alienating
architecture here – just striking,
textural spaces executed with
richness, warmth and empathy.

Seating area Patrizia describes
this room as their ‘African place’,
with its sunken seating and open
fireplace creating an inviting space
to relax in. The photograph is
by Fathi Hassan and was used in
Moroso’s ‘M’Afrique’ exhibition
at Salone del Mobile in 2009
Hallway The striped ‘Charpoy’
bench is by Doshi Levien for Moroso
‘THE SPACES HAVE A SENSE OF

ORDER, BUT THE INTERIOR ITSELF
FEELS WARM AND INFORM AL’

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Dining room ‘Ripple’ chairs by Ron Arad

surround a ‘Countach’ table designed by
CI Weisshaar and R Kram for Moroso
Guest bedroom Outside, a
‘Shadowy’ armchair by Tord
Boontje faces out over the treetops.
The ‘YY’ chair is by For Use, the
colourful ‘Bloomy’ armchair is
by Patricia Urquiola and Tomita
Kazuhiko designed the round
‘Ukiyo’ table – all for Moroso
Bathroom A tub by Kos is placed
beside the frosted-glass window

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Main bedroom The ‘Redondo’ armchair and ‘Lowland’ bed are by
Patricia Urquiola and the ‘Capitello’ stool is by Rajiv Saini, all for Moroso
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‘MY BEDROOM HAS A SPECTACUL AR VIEW.

WHEN I’M UP THERE, I FEEL LIKE A BIRD;
ALL YOU CAN SEE IS TREETOPS AND SKY’
ESCAPE
T R AV E L / R E S TA U R A N T S / C U LT U R E Edited by K ATE WORTHINGTON
SKY
HIGH
East London has a new
landmark, and you can book
a room in it. As The Stratford
hotel, situated in the 42-storey
Manhattan Loft Gardens
building, opens its doors, we
take a look. Turn the page to
see inside its luxury suites…
PICTURE: RICH STAPLETON

NEW ISSUE
O N S A L E 16 M A Y
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H E A R S T M A G A Z I N E S . C O . U K / E L L E - D E C O R AT I O N - S P E C I A L S
OR IN WHSMITH AND SELECTED STORES
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From Manhattan Loft Corporation, the company behind the

Chiltern Firehouse and St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, comes
the hotly anticipated The Stratford at Manhattan Loft Gardens.
Housed in a skyscraper by SOM, the architecture firm that
designed One World Trade Center, the hotel is part of a new wave
of settlers forging Stratford’s status as the city’s cultural hub,
opening ahead of the V&A East, Sadler’s Wells East and CrossRail.
Its sophisticated interiors are the work of Danish designers Space
Copenhagen – think muted greys, tactile fabrics and high-quality
craftsmanship. On the ground floor, next to the spectacular
seven-storey glass atrium, is relaxed all-day eatery The Brasserie,
while seven floors up, beside a meadow-inspired garden, is Allegra,
a restaurant headed up by former Chiltern Firehouse head chef
Patrick Powell. From £199 per night (manhattanloftgardens.com).
G L O R I O U S F O O D The V&A’s ‘Food: Bigger than the Plate’ explores our complex relationship
with the stuff that sustains us – from how we grow and sell it, to how we cook and serve it. One of
PICTURES: RICH STAPLETON, JEROME GALLAND, EWA KLEKOT AND ARKADIUSZ SZWED, THE HUMAN TRACE TABLEWARE, 2016-2018 ©
the highlights is ‘The Human Trace Tableware’ by anthropologist Ewa Klekot and ceramicist
Arkadiu Szwed. Produced by workers wearing gloves dipped in cobalt salts, which, once fired, turn
dark blue, each piece reveals the human role in manufacturing. 18 May–20 October (vam.ac.uk).
MAMMA MIA
Step back in time to a reimagining of a
1970s Italian trattoria at Gloria, a new
Capri-inspired restaurant in Shoreditch.
The first opening this side of the channel
from French restaurateurs Big Mamma
Group, whose eateries in Paris and Lille
attract queues around the block, both the
food and the interiors are designed to wow.
Its two floors are packed with flamboyant
details, from the pink marble bar to the
retro lamps and hand-painted tableware.
Downstairs, the vibe goes Studio 54 with
a mirrored ceiling and fabulous carpets.
Sip a negroni from one of the comfy
banquettes and tuck into Italian staples,
such as the belt-tightening ten-layer
lasagna or the decadent la gran carbonara
– served in a whole wheel of Parmigiano-
Reggiano (bigmammagroup.com).

BLOOM TIME You don’t have to fly to Japan to enjoy
the cherry blossom, London’s newest
restaurant openings are celebrating
its delicate spring-like beauty
PICTURES: HELEN CATHCART, GAVRIIL PAPADIOTIS
1
K Y M ’ S The menu at Michelin-starred chef Andrew Wong’s latest restaurant is a celebration of the Chinese culinary
traditions with modern-day flair, so when architecture firm Michaelis Boyd Associates was asked to design the interior,
it looked to incorporate Chinese motifs in a similarly contemporary way. A full-size cherry tree, its blossoms overhanging
the bar, transports guests a world away from Kym’s Square Mile location. Elsewhere, dark timbers and jade glazed tiles
continue the theme. Tuck into the Chinese-style roasts on sundays, or visit in the week to dine on crispy duck pancakes
with plum and Cantonese crispy pork belly, finished with pineapple buns and custard (kymsrestaurant.com).
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2
CADOGAN’S BY ADAM HANDLING
Celebrated chef Adam Handling is at the helm of the
kitchens at the recently opened Belmond Cadogan hotel
in Chelsea, bringing his fresh, seasonal and sustainable
approach to its restaurant and afternoon tea lounge,
Cadogan’s. Expect all the trimmings of a classic British
afternoon tea – delicate finger sandwiches, fluffy scones and fresh
cakes almost too pretty to eat, such as homemade Battenberg and
passionfruit curd tart. The lounge’s interior is a confection in itself,
with a muted pastel palette and floral motifs dotted throughout.
Look out for the cherry blossoms adorning the panels behind the
tea bar, the china and branch-like cake stands (belmond.com).
3
A . O . K K I T C H E N & B A K E RY Opulence is
the order of the day for new Marylebone restaurant and
bakery A.O.K; hand-painted silk wallpaper, mother of pearl
floors and leather upholstery channel the elegant dining
rooms of yesteryear, while bloom-laden branches hang
above diners’ heads. The menu is designed with seasonal
and local produce in mind, and is inclusive to those with dietary
requirements (dishes are made without refined sugars and with limited
gluten and dairy). Try the Californian breakfast tacos for brunch,
or grilled baby chicken with pak choi and medjool dates for dinner.
Downstairs in the bakery, the free-from-refined-sugar ethos continues,
with pastries, breads and cakes to take away (aokkitchen.co.uk).

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LIBERTY TO EXPLORE
Devotees of Liberty will be delighted to know that the Regent Street store is no longer the only place where you
can be inspired by its arts and crafts aesthetic. Just over half an hour’s drive from Gothenburg, Sweden is
Tjolöholm Castle, a fascinating homage to the London shop. Until recently, when the Liberty team were invited
to be part of a new exhibition, they were unaware of the venue, commissioned by aristocrat and Liberty
enthusiast Blanche Dickson and completed in 1904. Now, a selection of the new ‘Classics 40th Anniversary
Collection’ of Liberty fabrics is being exhibited as part of ‘Bohemian Luxury’ (until 30 December). Make
a trip of it and stay in one of the charming workers’ cottages, a short walk from the castle (tjoloholm.se/en).
GET SNAP HAPPY

As Photo London (15–19 May) returns to London’s
Somerset House, founding director Michael Benson
shares his tips for collectors (photolondon.org)
How should you start a photography collection? Be
guided by what you like, but also try to find out more about
the photographers (their career to date, who has bought their
work previously) and the works themselves (when they were
printed and if they are signed). Talk to dealers and curators
about the pieces you’re interested in. It is also helpful to
understand how the print has been made, and whether it has
been created under the supervision of the photographer.
Is there an amount you should spend? At Photo London
you’ll find works ranging from £300 to £300,000 and,
PICTURES: THOMAS CARLEN, GRAHAM CARLOW/PHOTOLONDON
unsurprisingly, a piece’s point will often be determined by the

artist’s reputation. Our ‘Discovery’ section showcases the
work of emerging photographers and is a good place to start.
What photography trends are you seeing at the moment?
The market is very diverse. At Photo London last year we
noticed a strong interest in the 19th century, as well as in
pieces that crossed the boundaries between photography and
other art forms, including painting, sculpture and film.
Tell us why editions and proofs are important… Editions
have been the key to photography establishing itself as a
collectible medium. Photographers know to limit edition sizes
(often to no more than eight) and prices tend to increase as
the edition sells – the higher the number the greater the cost.

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HIGHLAND
FANTASY
Tradition takes an eccentric turn in The Fife Arms
hotel, where interior designer Russell Sage has
combined the old, the new and the outlandish
In The Fife Arms’ Drawing

Room, the bespoke tartan
on the walls and psychedelic
painting by Chinese artist
Zhang Enli on the ceiling
demonstrate this hotel’s
unique blend of the heritage
and contemporary
PICTURE: SIM CANETTY-CLARKE

ESCAPE
LOCATION In the Aberdeenshire village of Braemar,

within the Cairngorms National Park and where The Braemar
Gathering – the most well-known of the Highland Games attended
annually by The Queen – takes place, Iwan and Manuela Wirth of
Hauser & Wirth galleries have opened The Fife Arms hotel. Once
a Victorian coaching inn, latterly a cheap and cheerful place catering
for visiting coach trips before closing down five years ago, the hotel
has been handsomely transformed following an extensive four-year
renovation. Surrounded by mountains and with magnificent,
unobstructed views, The Fife Arms, which is not too far from
Braemar and Kindrochit Castles, opened in January and is now
a grand, luxurious destination with 46 extravagantly decorative
bedrooms, a restaurant, public bar, events rooms, spa, shop and
an extraordinary collection of art and intriguing objects.
ARCHITECTURE London-based Moxon Architects,

who had previously worked for Hauser & Wirth on its Culardoch
Shieling mountain cabin in the Cairngorms, oversaw the project.
‘We wanted to revive the landmark building through careful
restoration and discreet remodelling of its precious, historic fabric,’
says Ben Addy, director of the practice. Part of that process involved
reopening the bedrooms, which had been carved up into smaller
spaces, as well as reconfiguring the downstairs common areas and
adding a contemporary extension within a central courtyard.
Sustainability was paramount, meaning the use of locally sourced
salvaged granite and trees felled from close by. With a listing on
the exterior of the building only, it meant a careful restoration
outside, but mostly a strip-out job of the interior. ‘We kept a lot of
the lovely original wooden floors and the imposing fireplaces, which
sport the Fife coat of arms,’ says the hotel’s interior designer Russell
Sage, who is renowned as a restoration expert.
INTERIOR Beyond the front door is where the fun really

begins. Extravagantly designed by Sage and his London-based team
– who are known for the delightfully eccentric interiors of London’s
The Zetter Townhouse, Savoy Grill and The Goring – The Fife Arms
has been utterly transformed. A dramatic layering of art, colour,
antique furniture and the most sumptuous of textiles, each of its
bedrooms has been individually themed – there are some inspired
by Scottish culture, as well as nature and poetry (bottom left). ‘We
always set out to do a Victorian restoration,’ says Sage, who employed
historians to ensure authenticity. ‘We’ve been faithful to its design,
but the owners also wanted to create interventions that would
wow.’ The hotel is now what Sage refers to as ‘an absolutely full-on
experience’ – one which both guests and visitors are encouraged
to explore. ‘You probably pass through 20 different spaces to get
to your room,’ says Sage. Adding interest to those areas are 1,500
works of art, including paintings by Lucien Freud, Picasso and
Robert Thorburn, a Louise Bourgeois spider sculpture, a neon
chandelier by Richard Jackson and Cipher, a swirling wall decorated
WORDS: BECKY SUNSHINE PICTURES: SIM CANETTY-CLARKE
with bindis (left) by Bharti Kher. There are also 16,000 objects,
including a sketch of a stag by Queen Victoria, a vanity set belonging
to fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli and a pipe carved by Robbie
Burns. Plus, in true highlands style, there are 200 pieces of taxidermy
on the back stairs alone. Local creatives also play an integral role
– young textile designer Araminta Campbell created a bespoke
tartan that adorns walls, carpets, curtains and uniforms, while a
local knitting club created woolly squirrels that are hidden all over
the building. Sage sums it up: ‘The Fife Arms is for someone who
is passionate about art and stories. It could rain for a week and you
could entertain yourself at the hotel and feel like you’ve had an
extraordinary adventure.’ From £250 per night (thefifearms.com).

GARDENS /
HIDDEN HAVENS
If you’ve ever wondered what lies behind the railings of London’s
garden squares, this is your chance to find out. Open Garden Squares
Weekend (8–9 June) will see more than 130 of the capital’s private
green spaces opening to the curious public. From Warwick Square,
with its fragrant rose garden, to Cadogan Place South Garden, which
boasts a 300-year-old black mulberry tree, garden gates will be thrown
open. Other highlights include the rooftop terraces of Cannon Bridge
Roof Gardens (below) and the contemporary Islamic gardens at the
Aga Khan Centre in King’s Cross. Tickets £20 (opensquares.org).
IN THE PINK
May and June are great months to
sow beetroot seeds in the garden.
In 8–10 weeks they’ll be ready to
harvest, or you can pluck them
earlier for sweeter baby beets.
‘Chioggia’ (above) is an eye-
catching variety. Its pink- and
white-striped flesh adds vibrancy
to salads, and the young leaves and
stems are edible too – either raw
or steamed as an alternative to
spinach. £1.49 per pack for 250
seeds (thompson-morgan.com).
W I L D LY S T Y L I S H
A large fiddle-leaf fig intended as an alternative
to curtains was Hilton Carter’s first indoor
plant purchase, and the one that sparked an
obsession. The stylist now estimates he has
more than 175 plants around his Baltimore
apartment, from collections of cacti on
WORDS: NATASHA GOODFELLOW PICTURES: ANNA BARCLAY, ALAMY
windowsills to lamp-
base terrariums and
golden pothos creeping
up the walls of his
bedroom. ‘Wild at
Home’ (£14.99, CICO
Books) offers a peep
PLANTED WITH CARE
into his house and the Gardening product design firm Boskke is all about encouraging
us to surround ourselves with greenery – at home and at work.
ones he’s styled, with Referencing the shape of a traditional sewing bobbin, its new
advice on plants to ceramic ‘Spool’ planters combine angular good looks with
choose when creating inventive design – their in-built reservoir can sustain your
your own urban jungle. plants for up to a month. From £34.95 (boskke.com).

GETAWAY /
BERLIN
With the Bauhaus centenary in full swing, now
is the time to visit the German capital. Here,
we share the cultural highlights not to be missed
THE CITY While it may conjure images of graffiti-

splattered walls and booming techno music, the cultural
scene in Berlin has developed dramatically over the past
decade. Still basking in the triumphant air of liberation
that settled on the city when the wall came down, Berlin
today is a place of creative freedom, where urban glamour
goes hand-in-hand with its grittier edge. Its trailblazing
galleries, cocktail dens and inventive restaurants are set
against a backdrop of architecture that, like the city itself,
is a fusion of historic exuberance and slick modernity.
WHERE TO STAYFive-star hotel Das Stue

is nestled in Tiergarten Park’s greenery. Once home to the
Danish Embassy, its 1930s architecture boasts period
features complemented by contemporary touches – the
vision of Patricia Urquiola. Her exuberant flourishes,
including a crocodile head and the odd gorilla sculpture,
are a celebration of the hotel’s proximity to Berlin Zoo
(from £215 per night; das-stue.com). In the Charlottenburg
district – the city’s unofficial literary quarter – Sir Savigny
offers a different kind of stay, being more edgy in design.
To get to the entrance, walk through a passage covered in
artwork by street artist Dome. Its 44 rooms are decorated
by Amsterdam-based designer Saar Zafrir in leather and
velvet (from £112 per night; sirhotels.com).
PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES
The Berlin Television Tower

was constructed in 1969,
when East Berlin was under
Communist rule, but now
watches over a united city

G E T A W AY
A suite at
Sir Savigny
BREAKFAST & LUNCH For a traditional start, in the world (smb.museum). Be sure to gaze up at the contemporary
head to Engelberg, a bustling café on Oderberger Strasse, where dome of the Reichstag parliament building, and pay homage to the
you can partake in a classic German breakfast. Try the speciality capital’s history in any number of institutions and memorials. Note,
of Bavarian white sausages with sweet mustard – with a coffee, of too, the ever-present echo of the tumbled Berlin Wall, which is now
course (engelberg-berlin.de). For lunch, there’s Markthalle Neun marked by a double row of cobblestones weaving through the streets.
– built in 1891 the market’s now a microcosm of global gastronomy
and the best local producers. Its weekly ‘Street Food Thursday’ is SHOPPING Biscuit China is an ode to everything ceramic,
especially popular – try the Königsberger Klopse (Prussian meatballs from tableware and vases to jewellery, as well as a platform for
in white sauce), sushi burgers and oysters (markthalleneun.de). up-and-coming potters, while Schee sells limited-edition prints from
its store nearby (biscuitchina.com; schee.net). For a change of pace,
WINE & DINE Pauly Saal in Mitte is the go-to for a stop by Paper and Tea, a shop dedicated to tea from around the world
refined, Michelin-starred dinner. Relax on one of the green velvet (paperandtea.com). Hallesches Haus proffers everything from rustic
banquettes and watch the chefs at work creating elaborate, cutting- furniture to cookware, and has a great café (hallescheshaus.com).
edge dishes in the glass-cubed kitchen (paulysaal.com). Save some Design fans should also visit lighting brand Bocci’s showroom, ‘Bocci
space for a late-night trip to Coda, a one-of-a-kind dessert bar, where 79’. Inhabiting a former 19th-century courthouse, it has flocks of
WORDS: AMY MOOREA WONG PICTURES: ROBER RIEGER, TILLMANN FRANZEN,
MAXIMILIAN CARLO SCHMIDT, GORDON WELTERS/LAIF/CAMERA PRESS, ALAMY
experimental sweet concoctions (such as cacao, banana, pear vinegar blown-glass pendants sweeping across its ceiling (bocci.ca).
and corn) are paired with imaginative cocktails (coda-berlin.com).
Finish a memorable night with a brandy, tequila, gin or rum flight ESCAPE THE CITY Embark on the 45-minute
at Lebensstern, a library-style bar which, instead of books, lines its drive (or take the S-Bahn) to Potsdam – once the summer residence
walls with around 1,500 bottled spirits (lebens-stern.de). of the Prussian kings and, until 1918, the Kaiser, it’s now the country’s
largest World Heritage Site. Dubbed ‘the Versailles of Germany’,
ART & CULTURE German art school turned seminal its Sanssouci Palace, built in the 18th century, is a vision of gold-
design movement, the Bauhaus comes to life across the city and toned opulence. Also explore Sanssouci Park to uncover the Roman
Germany-wide in 2019 in celebration of its centenary. Get your fill Baths, Chinese House and Antique Temple.
with a year-long programme of workshops, seminars, exhibitions
and talks (bauhaus100.com). Delving deeper into the past, Museum
Island in Mitte, a UNESCO heritage site in the Spree river, houses To discover more design-savvy
five grande-dame institutions dedicated to art and ancient artefacts destinations get your copy of ELLE
(smb.museum). For lovers of the modern, the Hamburger Bahnhof Decoration City – on sale now at
should be top of the list. An iconic former railway terminus, it’s now hearstmagazines.co.uk/ed-city
filled with one of the largest public collections of contemporary art

Clockwise from top left Pauly Saal’s
main dining room features a six-metre-
long rocket. A flock of lights at the ‘Bocci
79’ showroom. Graffiti on a section of the
old Berlin Wall. Museum Island in Mitte.
Consumer Zen at Paper and Tea. An
elevated, experimental dessert from
Coda. The café at homeware store
Hallesches Haus. The Bauhaus-Archiv,
currently undergoing renovations as part
of the movement’s centenary plans
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JUNE 2019

25 News The latest launches and hottest names R AT

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 15

THE month’s stylish cover

by Max Zambelli, with

ANNIVERSARY styling by Rosaria Zucconi

16 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

Follow me on Instagram: @mrbspriggs Twitter: @ELLEDecoBen Visit elledecoration.co.uk

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 19

PRODUCTION ART EDITO RIAL

CH IEF BR AND O FFICER, BUSINESS ENQUIRIES HEARST UK INTERNATIONAL AD SALES HOUSE

20 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

TO SUBSCRIBE SECURELY ONLINE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE

22 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

exploration into the possibilities of glass. ‘Melt’ is a

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 27

‘Pop Up 02’ chandelier, from £1,347, Magic

TOP OF THE PILE

Pink bottle vase by Sophie Alda, £50,

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 29

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 31

32 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 35

Although this collaboration doesn’t currently include rugs,

36 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 39

The new classic

The lighting launch

Revellers should head to ‘Light’, held at nightclub Fabric, to discover

40 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

‘MY STYLE IS JOYOUS. I GET A

42 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

Elevated exhibition (until 6 September), new furniture mingles

Our recent renewed affection for bar trolleys takes a

44 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

‘I WAS EXCITED TO WORK WITH RADO TO DESIGN

T I M E T O S H I N E In 2018, Gray was a judge for the Rado

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 47

COLLIER WEBB SOANE

WORDS: ROBIN DAVIES, KIERA BUCKLEY-JONES ILLUSTRATION: TOM WOOLLEY

THE PIMLICO ROAD

The awards, designed

THIS YEAR’S AWARDS CELEBRATED THE PART OUR

Our venue, the Grade II-listed

JUNE 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 51

Jordan Mould, Kirkby Design

me, ELLE Decoration has a responsibility to

‘ELLE DECORATION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO

Scott Barwick from

52 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

Three exclusive covers to choose from PICTURES: LUCKY IF SHARP

54 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2019

Peter Florence founded the Hay Festival at his

My favourite piece of music is Mozart’s The

FLORENCE KNOLL BASSETT

KNOLL BASSETT’S NAME

Clockwise from above

and bench, from £2,004. The