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 JUNE 2015

Style
27 This month’s dream buy L’Objet
and Fortuny’s precious tableware
is coated in gold and platinum
28 News Smart shopping, names to know
and new websites to explore
34 Home comforts Little luxuries
for you and your home, from fine
fragrances to designer desserts
36 Profile Celebrate 30 years of
innovative British brand SCP
39 Fashion New designs from Hermès,
Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, plus
we explore Bottega Veneta’s boutique
42 Craft Glassware by a Venetian master
and pay-as-you-go woodworking
44 The designer maker Ceramicist
Reiko Kaneko explains her witty,
experimental approach to pottery
46 Eco design A green retreat for two,
and Will.i.am’s latest collaboration
48 Colour From cleanliness and purity
to wealth and power, we explore the
associations of the colour white

Solutions
83 This month’s stylish update An easy
way to achieve a mixed-material look
COVER IMAGE: MIKKEL MORTENSEN (PHOTOGRAPHY), AMANDA SMITH (STYLING)

84 Updates Decorating ideas from

53 Treasured possessions Our favourite lighting tricks to colour hits
tastemakers reveal the belongings that
mean the most to them 100 Technology Innovative designs and
gadgets inspired by retro style
59 The ultimate wedding list Gifts that are
guaranteed to become future heirlooms
66 The undecorated house We explore
the rise of the imperfect interior
68 Pure simplicity How to create a calm,
considered look throughout your home
74 Be my guest Three hoteliers discuss
swapping the 9-5 for pursuing their dream
80 Connected living The high-tech home
84
4
JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 13
 105 Entertaining
Our definitive guide to the art of eating
in includes everything from the best
new recipe books to on-trend table
settings. Plus, discover top tips from
stylish hosts and how-to guides on
creating striking floral displays and
organising the perfect cocktail party

Homes
134 United colours Bold textiles and
sleek concrete features create contrast

134
in this Australian beachside property
144 The surrealists This home, studio
and gallery space on the outskirts
of Rome is filled with ephemera that
reflects its owners’ artistic tastes Escape YOUR DIGITAL
156 The bohemian castle How one 199 If you visit one place this month
couple embraced the undecorated Head to this Bermondsey cake shop
DESIGN FIX
Download the digital editions on
look in their grand French château Apple Newsstand or through Amazon,
200 News Culture, books and places to go
168 Beach comber Inspired by its Barnes & Noble, Google Play and Zinio.
204 Architecture The history of the ELLE Decoration is now also available
coastal setting, this modern villa is
Barbican, plus a pop-up hotel on Samsung Papergarden
decorated with reclaimed materials
207 Design destinations Where to eat,
176 Play house Bright yellow accents and
shop and stay in Reykjavík, Iceland
a giant playhouse in the garden give
this Belgian home its sense of fun
184 The French enclave A charming Finally
house in the Kent countryside
23 Subscribe Deals for our loyal readers
decorated with antique Gallic finds
212 Stockists Need-to-know addresses
192 Clean slate Stripped back to its bare
bones, this Norwegian property has 226 Design decoded The story behind
been given a new lease of life Harry Bertoia’s legendary ‘Wire’ chair

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For the latest ELLE Decoration updates, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @ELLEDecoUK

14 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 M ICH E L L E O GU N DE H I N
Editor-in-Chief

Editor’s Assistant MelissaHenry(02075342522)

Email editor@elledecoration.co.uk
72BroadwickStreet,LondonW1F9EP(elledecoration.co.uk)
Editorial enquiries elledecoration@hearst.co.uk
Homes submissions homes@elledecoration.co.uk

E DI T OR I A L
Art Director TonyPeters(02075342521)
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Photography DirectorFloraBathurst (02075342530) Homes EditorJackieDaly(02075342512)
Shopping Editor EmmaKay(02075342527) Art Editor PhilippeBlanchin(02075342518)
Senior Sub EditorClareSartin(02075342519) Sub EditorSarahMorgan(02074395343)
Photography Assistant JamesWilliams(02075342513) Junior DesignerEloiseAdler(02075342581)
Homes/Focus InternMelanieMay(02075342515) Associate Features Editor EmmaLove
Associate EditorsAlexKristal SarahSlade Editor-at-LargeTalibChoudhry
Head of Editorial Business ManagementDebbieMorgan(02075342558)
ContributorsHannahBort SaniaPell AmandaSmith SuzanneStankus With thanks toNicolaSanders

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JULY ISSUE ON SALE JUNE 4, 2015
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T H IS MON T H ’S CON T R I BU TOR S

Tom Bailey Dan Funderburgh David Carter
Instagram: @tombaileywriter Instagram: @dannyfunds Twitter: @MR40WINKS
Profession Writer Profession Artist and Profession Interior designer,
Feature Connected living, p80 wallpaper designer hotelier and curator of some of
Home A flat in a converted Grade Feature Connected living, p80 the best events in London
II-listed house in East London. When Home An apartment in Brooklyn Feature Be my guest, p74
I moved in, the original floor was with my wife and four-year-old Design hero I don’t believe in
INTERVIEWS: SARAH MORGAN

concealed by grubby carpet – I ripped it up and sanded Influences I’m inspired by pretty much everything. having heroes. We should all strive to be heroic
down the boards. It was hellish work, but worth it In the past day or so I’ve been thinking about Likes Child-like enthusiasm, a lively sense of
Design hero Sir James Dyson, for his perseverance Japanese quilt stitching, manhole covers and woven humour, irrepressible curiosity, and good manners
and brilliant mind. I love the fact that he got the idea Afghan war rugs. New York is fantastic because you Dislikes Boring people who lack the above
for the cyclonic vacuum cleaner from an old sawmill get so many cultures jammed together in a small area Interiors style Bold, romantic and fantastical
Most precious possession A 1980s Jaguar XJ6 Design hero William Morris. He was an amazing Favourite design object The human body. It is the
Series III saloon in ‘Metallic Antelope’ wallpaper designer, poet, socialist and free thinker perfect marriage of form and function

16 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

($#!  
  
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 ELLE Decoration | E D I T O R ’ S LETTER

#BEORIGINAL
BE A S M A R T E R S HOPPE R
Simple living, or the pursuit of a simpler life, is often imagined
as an exercise in reduction. In other words, in order to achieve
mindful serenity or daily calm one must first relinquish modernity,
exchanging fast-track urbanity for something akin to The Good
Life, the 1970s comedy sitcom in which Tom and Barbara Good
quested for self-sufficiency in Surbiton. Or perhaps it has to involve
a greater sense of sacrifice, such as that tested by Henry David
Thoreau: the 19th-century philosopher who decamped alone to a
cabin that he built in the woods of Massachusetts for two years,
two months and two days. Why? As he put
it, ‘I went to the woods because I wished to
live deliberately, to front only the essential SIMPLE LIVING IS ABOUT ENRICHING
facts of life, and see if I could not learn what
it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, YOUR DAILY LIFE BY MAKING YOUR HOME
discover that I had not lived.’ But is this a
realistic pursuit for the 21st Century? More AND TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOU
to the point, is it even remotely desirable?
I think not. Rather, today, I believe simple living is much more
easily achieved. It’s about enriching your daily life by making your
home and technology work for you, thus freeing up more time,
energy and attention for rest and recreation with the people you
love. Our smartphones and tablets should liberate us, enabling
efficient simplification of previously laborious tasks: sort your
banking over breakfast and your weekly shop from your bed (save
physical visits to the shops for when you want to browse for ‘treats’;
I’ve got to applaud Waitrose here for offering free tea or coffee to
its in-store shopping ‘members’). Excitingly, there’s even more
potential for the helpfully integrated home on the horizon via what’s
popularly dubbed ‘the internet of things’. We explore (and explain)
what this means on p80.
But this new way of life is not just about simplification through
efficiency, it’s also about the things that we surround ourselves
with, and what we choose to spend our money on. According to
James Wallman, author of Stuffocation: Living More With Less,
‘Having too much, doing too little, and living a life focused on the
accumulation of material things is making people anxious and
causing them stress. It can, so new research suggests, lead to the
sort of depression that makes people die before their time.’ Gulp. ED I TO R’S PI CKS
And so, in this issue we start to explore what simpler living in Where I’m going Somerset House, to view exciting new international
the 21st Century might look like. In summary, I think it’s the photography fair ‘Photo London’, including ‘Punta Tegge Diptych’ by Massimo
Vitali (pictured). For more information about the fair, head to p201.
following… 1. Surround yourself with treasured things. 2. When What I’m reading Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin, a manifesto for a life
buying new, buy only what you love. 3. Live a life replete with that is ‘outwardly simple, inwardly rich’ (William Morrow Paperbacks, £9.98).
exp periences, rather than one just packed with things. 4. Make it What I’d like to buy I love glorious stationery, so these beautifully crafted,
all count by consciiously making the most of every moment. meticulously thread-bound Gmund notepads are perfect (£7; gmund.com).

Editor-iin-C
Chief

Follow me on Twitter: @MOgundehin Follow me on Instagram: @mogundehin Check out elledecoration.co.uk

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 19

 NEWS SHOPPING INSPIRATIONS DIRECTORY MAGAZINE

ANTIQUES TO BOUTIQUES

CERAMICS TO ECO

FIREPLACES TO IRONMONGERS

JOINERS T O RADIATORS

SALVAGE TO UPHOLSTERY

VINTAGE T O ZEN

INSIDER GUIDES

INSPIR ATIONS NEWS

NEW ONLINE
THE WORLD’S MOST ST YLISH BREAKING STORIES FROM DIRECTORY
HOMES AND GARDENS THE DESIGN WORLD Our secret names
and addresses revealed

OBJECTS OF DESIRE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO HIGH -STREET HITS

COVETABLE FURNITURE A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE AFFORDABLE WAYS

AND LUXE ACCESSORIES THE L ATEST ISSUE TO UPDATE YOUR SPACE

Everything you need to live beautifully


     
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 ELLE Decoration | S U B S C R I P T I O N

SUBSCRIBE NOW
GET 12 ISSUES FOR £25 AND RECEIVE A
STRIKING BATH TOWEL BY MARGO SELBY

● Just £25 for a year’s subscription

to ELLE Decoration when you pay
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● That’s a saving of more than 50%

on the newsstand cover price

● Receive a gorgeous cotton bath

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Margo Selby, worth £36

● Enjoy our exclusive, coverline-free

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direct to your door every month

● Plus, join the ELLE Decoration

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Receive a plush cotton bath

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FREE
of four patterned colourways GIFT
WORTH
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This issue’s stunning

subscriber-only cover

TO SUBSCRIBE SECURELY ONLINE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE

hearstmagazines.co.uk/ec/june15
OR CALL 0844 848 1601 QUOTING 1EC10493. LINES OPEN MON–FRI 8AM–9PM, SAT 8AM–4PM
Subscription terms & conditions This offer is only available by Direct Debit for UK subscriptions (excluding BFPO addresses). For overseas prices, please visit hearstmagazines.co.uk or call +44 (0)1858 438794. All orders will be acknowledged and you will
be advised of commencement issue within 14 days. The minimum subscription term is 12 issues. *After the first 12 issues your subscription will continue at the low rate of £35 every 12 issues by Direct Debit. The full UK subscription rate is £51.60 for 12 issues. This offer
cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and closes on June 3, 2015. Gift available for the first 300 subscribers. Should you miss out on the Margo Selby gift, you will be offered an alternative gift of a similar value.

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 23

GREAT OFFERS FOR
VIP CLUB
SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Join the free ELLE Decoration VIP Club to receive fabulous deals and special offers every month.
Available to subscribers only, the club works with a range of fantastic partners to bring you
great discounts and competitions. Visit elledecoration.co.uk/vipclub

TH IS MON TH
ENTICING OFFERS FROM
• Graham & Green
Save 20% at this British lifestyle store
• Volga Linen
A 20% saving across the full collection
• The White Company
Enjoy an exclusive 20% discount*
• Ixxi
Save 20% on the Natural History
Museum wallcovering collection
• Appleyard Flowers
50% off the ‘Surprise’ bouquet
• The Source
A 20% discount, plus a chance to
win a three-day detox programme
• Gousto
Save £25 on your first Gousto box
• Alastair Sawday’s
35% off Sawday’s hotel guides
• Create
A 20% discount at this stylish store

Save 20% across Graham &

Green’s collection – one of this
month’s subscriber-only offers

HOW DO I JOIN? New and existing subscribers can become members of the ELLE Decoration VIP Club completely
free of charge. Simply log on to elledecoration.co.uk/vipclub and enter your 12-digit subscriber number.

ELLE Decoration VIP Club terms and conditions The ELLE Decoration VIP Club is available to all existing and new ELLE Decoration subscribers free of charge. You must register at elledecoration.co.uk/vipclub to redeem these special offers. To do this, you will need your
unique 12-digit subscriber number. Full terms and conditions for all partner offers are available at elledecoration.co.uk/vipclub. *The White Company discount excludes gift vouchers, all furniture, beds, mattresses, upholstery, sale items and made-to-order items.

24 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 SHOPPING • DESIGN • CR A FT • ECO • NA MES TO KNOW • BIG IDEA S

STYLE

T H I S MON T H ’ S DR E A M BU Y. . .
THE FADED GRANDEUR OF VENICE IS REFLECTED IN ‘ALCHIMIE DE
VENISE’ , the second collaboration between luxury brand L’Objet and Venetian
textile house Fortuny. The collection’s gold and platinum-coated porcelain
tableware features a lustrous mix of matt and glossy textures. ‘I experimented with
layer upon layer of glazing to create a depth of tone and surface,’ says L’Objet’s
founder Elad Yifrach. ‘I wanted the plates to feel as though they were made from
old, hand-forged, hammered metal.’ From £55 for a small plate (l-objet.com).

F O R M O R E O B J E C T S O F D E S I R E , V I S I T E L L E D E C O R AT I O N . C O . U K / S H O P P I N G
NEW CHAPTER
Assouline makes some of the most covetable coffee-table books while enjoying their favourite pastime: reading. Expect to find
around, as well as scented candles, stationery and stylish bags for sumptuous couches, opulent task lighting and capacious
books. Now, the publisher has branched out into furniture, too, bookcases, all with an Art Deco feel and made in such luxurious
and is producing a complete collection for libraries. As a first materials and finishes as walnut, leather and velvet. See the
step, founder Prosper Assouline has created the ‘High Society’ full collections on display at Maison Assouline in London’s
and ‘Allure’ ranges, which are designed for book lovers to use Piccadilly. From £796 for a desk lamp (assouline.com).

BOWLED OVER
Finn Juhl’s covetable teak-and-
PICTURES: OLIMPIA CASTELLINI BALDISSERA (NEW CHAPTER)

leather ‘Chieftain’ chair

costs almost £10,000, but it’s
possible to buy into the mid-
century Danish designer’s
style at a lesser price point.
This ‘FJ’ teak bowl, created in
1951, has a typically organic
form that looks different from
every angle. £200, Architect
Made (architectmade.com).

28 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Style | N E W S

POETIC LICENSE
Spanish designer Jaime Hayón’s latest project is inspired by the sweeping curves
of Le Corbusier’s iconic architecture. The ‘Réaction Poétique’ collection of seven THE ONLINE STORE
black-stained ash-wood objects includes a two-tier side table, a pair of striking
SHOPU
trays with functional handles, and a set of smaller tables. From £468 (cassina.com).
Paris-based online boutique
Shopu was founded in 2012 with
the aim of sharing the richness
of Japanese craftsmanship with
a European audience. Made by
artisans across Japan, items have
been sourced with simplicity
and functionality in mind.
Who owns it? Half French, half
Japanese Nathalie Agematsu
and her husband Eric Pillault,
who share a love of handcrafted
Japanese objects. Agematsu was
inspired by her grandfather’s
collection of inherited treasures
and wanted to show
that Japanese
design had more to
offer than ‘kimonos
and iron teapots’.
What’s so great
about it? Agematsu
scours galleries, magazines
and books for independent
craftspeople and designers. Her
tastes lean towards beautiful,
practical items such as brass
FA M I LY VA L U E S trivets and charcoal stoneware.
Many of us have found ourselves dissatisfied with the Why do shoppers love it?
fixtures and fittings in a hotel, but few have had the same Shopu has an international
following, with customers
reaction as Peter Zumthor. Upon encountering a sub-
excited to discover products
standard salt shaker, the architect sketched out his own not seen before in their part
WORDS: TESSA PEARSON (THE ONLINE STORE)

design. It lay in his studio for some time, but Zumthor has of the world. There is also
now created a series of matching vessels to accompany it. an unexpectedly large
‘They had to look like brothers and sisters, young and old, Japanese client
but all members of the same family,’ he says. The faceted- base, enticed by
glass pieces have a tactile finish and silver-plated accents. Agematsu’s
unique edit
From £36 for a salt shaker, Alessi (alessi.com).
(shopu.fr).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 29

 
         

  
    
  
     
          
       
   
    
   
 

         
       

     

         


        


      
  

 
  
   
 
  
 
   
        
 
   
             

      
     

 
   
 
  
 
 Style | N E W S

S I LV E R L I N I N G
This subtle yet romantic tableware
collection is the result of a
collaboration between ceramics
M Y C U LT U R A L L I F E design studio Bodo Sperlein and
ROSY GREENLEES Mexican silverware brand Tane.
Each month, we ask a tastemaker A delicate, cloud-inspired wash of
what they are reading, watching, pale colour is teamed with a fine
downloading and listening to silver trim on both a tea set and
dinner service. ‘Pomona’ dessert
Rosy Greenlees is executive director of the Crafts Council, which aims plate, £42 (bodosperlein.com).
to ensure that the UK is the best place to produce, see, collect and learn
about contemporary craft. She is also president of the European branch
of the World Crafts Council, which supports designer-makers all over
the world (craftscouncil.org.uk; @CraftsCouncilUK).

My favourite piece of music is Zadok the Priest by Handel, which is

played at coronations. I love choral work and think it sounds very modern.
I’m currently listening to a lot of David Bowie. I saw the V&A exhibition
about him when it travelled to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
The song that makes me feel instantly happy is Bowie’s Let’s Dance
(pictured) because it makes me want to do just that.
The book that’s influenced me the most is John Berger’s Ways of Seeing
(pictured; Penguin, £8.99), which looks at how we view art. Reading it made
me realise nothing is as it seems – and that I wanted to work in the visual arts.
My favourite poem is Laurie Lee’s April Rise. It’s full of the promise of
spring and reminds me of the Wiltshire countryside where I grew up.
At the moment I’m reading Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies
(pictured; Fourth Estate, £9.99). I’ve also started The Real Thing: Essays
on Making in the Modern World by Tanya Harrod (Hyphen Press, £20)
– she’s a consummate writer on craft, architecture and design.
My favourite film is A Bout de Souffle (pictured) by Jean-Luc Godard.
It was incredibly innovative when it was made in 1960, with its jump cuts
and philosophical dialogue. I love its style, coolness and romance.
The last exhibition I saw was ‘What is Luxury?’, a joint V&A/Crafts
WORDS: DOMINIC LUTYENS (MY CULTURAL LIFE) PICTURES: ALAMY

Council show (until September 27; vam.ac.uk). It explores how luxury

is made and understood in a physical, conceptual and cultural capacity.
I have two favourite destinations in the world. One is New York –
WA L K T H E L I N E
I love exploring its museums, such as the Smithsonian Design Museum Textile designer Margo Selby is known
(pictured). The other is Bantham Beach in Devon (pictured). for her dramatic geometric weaves,
I go to the theatre if I want a thoughtful, challenging experience. which appear on cushions, curtains and
I recently saw Talawa Theatre Company’s powerful production of Arthur towels. Now she’s launched her debut rug
Miller’s All My Sons. But I also like TV shows such as Gossip Girl, or The collection, which reflects her signature
Brits Who Built The Modern World, which was on BBC4 last year. playful approach to colour and texture.
I’m somewhere between a technophile and technophobe. I always use This wool-blend ‘Elgin’ design features
my iPhone, but I like to read a physical book and I love a proper map. a complex hand-carved Wilton pile, which
comes in custom sizes. From £350 for
a 120cm x 180cm rug (margoselby.com).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 31

 
   
   


    
 

           
 
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 Style | N E W S

AND
LY
t igner Donna
on’s magical
erie of knitted
s has long
ed us. Her latest
ion features a new
characters,
i g a caribou and
at. From top:
i k Llama’ and
lama’, £40
eepy Seal’, £17;
ly WWhale’, £65;
B R I G H T S WA S H y Caribou’, £35;
le Hedgehog’,
Pattern designer Lindsay
rious Capybara’,
Lang has applied two of
her graphic prints to a towel llow Meerkat’,
range for John Lewis. The st F ’ 30
colourful geometric
‘Scallop’ (pictured) and
‘Leaf’ designs will jazz up
a simple bathroom. From
£14 each ( johnlewis.com).

YOUTHFUL BEAUTY THE SCIENCE

OF COLOUR
Inspired by Scandinavian minimalism,
Japanese block prints and homespun We all know that diverse
British wares, the debut collection of colours can create strikingly
different moods, but have
children’s bedlinen by Camomile London you ever considered why?
is so pretty that grown-ups will want it, We recently discovered an
too. Cushions, £21 each; cot quilt, £78; out-of-print book by the late
blanket, £81 (camomile.london). Japanese colour psychologist
Shigenobu Kobayashi that
offers some fascinating insights
into how we perceive colour.
For example, he describes how
the combination of ultramarine and white conveys an
impression of speed and modernity, and so is often
used on trains and aeroplanes. Deep forest greens, in
contrast, conjure up images of wild landscapes, and were
consequently much admired by Samurai warriors for
their supposed masculinity. Grey conveys modesty,
mystery and sophistication; rose pink radiates hope and
joy; and beige neutrals feel wholesome because of their
association with nature. As well as these observations,
Kobayashi’s book Colour Image Scale also contains
a comprehensive list of colour characteristics and
suggestions of how combining them with other shades can
subtly alter the mood they create. It’s essential reading for
anyone planning a decorating scheme, and the good news
is that you can pick up vintage copies on Amazon.co.uk.

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 33

Style | H O M E COMFORTS

N AT U R A L H I G H S
If your body needs a boost, check out the new
‘Energy Bank’ collection from This Works.
The all-natural range includes a shower gel
(£16), body oil (£32) and hand cream (£25),
C H O C S AWAY
which all contain geranium, rosemary and
ylang ylang essential oils, and are designed London restaurant Hawksmoor’s pastry
chef Carla Henriques is best known for
by brand founder Kathy Phillips to revive,
her stylish chocolates, which are now
energise and capitalise on a good night’s available to take away. Flavours include
sleep. Superfans can register interest for salted caramel, bourbon and pecan and
a ‘by request’ bath oil (£80), so precious passionfruit. ‘Tributes’ chocolates, £10
that it’s only made to order (thisworks.com). for a box of eight (thehawksmoor.com).

5 OF THE BEST…SUMMERY HOME SCENTS

From fresh florals to zesty citruses, these are the finest fragrances for hazy summer days.
WORDS: AMY BRADFORD PICTURE: PAT WALL (LA BOULE DE PROVENCE)

This ‘Burning Rose’ Cocolux’s ‘Grapefruit & Studded with dried Profits from Jo Malone’s ‘La Boule de Provence’
candle by Byredo Lemongrass’ candle is petals, Acqua di Parma’s fruity ‘White Lilac & by L’Artisan Parfumeur
combines rose petals made using coconut wax. ‘Mimosa’ candle has a Rhubarb’ candle go to the diffuses a scent of lavender,
with woody notes. £55, Roullier White lovely floral scent. £80 brand’s gardens charity. hay and rosemary. £50
£50 (byredo.com). (roullierwhite.com). (acquadiparma.com). £42 (jomalone.co.uk). (lartisanparfumeur.com).

34 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015


    
      
! "   


Style | P R O F I L E

TRUE BRIT
Retailer and manufacturer SCP celebrates
30 years of great British design talent
with a brand-new exhibition in London
Words AMY BRADFORD

MATTHEW HILTON’S ‘BALZAC’ ARMCHAIR. Donna Wilson’s

knitted poufs. Terence Woodgate’s ‘Sax’ coffee table. All are
landmarks of modern British design and all were launched by
retailer SCP, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
A programme of events is planned to mark the occasion, the
highlight of which will be an exhibition at London’s Design
Museum. Designed by long-time SCP collaborator Michael
Marriott, it will tell the story of the company’s evolution – and
offer an insight into the people behind it – through prototypes,
important pieces and new products displayed alongside
complementary designs from the museum’s archive. Among the
selection will be works from SCP’s debut collection, launched in
1985. The idea is to create a series of ‘conversations’ illuminating
SCP’s pivotal role in the changing nature of the British home.
Also on show will be creations from the recently launched ‘SCP
Classics’ collection, an edit of significant furniture pieces from
the brand’s 30-year history. Some have been left unchanged,
while others have been updated to reflect the latest developments
in both materials and technology.

‘When I started in 1985, no one was

really buying modern furniture. Now
everyone wants contemporary design’
Founded by Sheridan Coakley on Curtain Road in Shoreditch –
still the location of SCP East, one of the brand’s two London
stores – SCP has always been a manufacturer as well as a seller.
It has a knack for spotting emerging talent, having been the first
to produce designs by Jasper Morrison, Matthew Hilton and
Konstantin Grcic. In the early days, its furniture was made in
necessarily small production runs by specialist artisans; now the
brand works with skilled craftspeople across the globe as well as
operating its own upholstery factory in Norfolk, making
handmade seating using sustainable methods. ‘When I started
SCP in 1985, no one was really buying modern furniture; antiques
were still seen as having far greater value. That has shifted and
now everyone wants contemporary design,’ says Coakley. ‘If we
have had any influence on the British design scene, I would like to
think it was by helping to bring some of the creative talents from
these shores to the fore, not just here but on the international
stage.’ And what will be his personal highlight from the exhibition?
‘An oak armchair by Konstantin Grcic that was originally
launched in 1993; I have one in my living room at home,’ he says.
‘It’s a rare gem that I would love to bring back into production.’
‘The Arrangement of Furniture in a Museum’, May 24–June 6
(designmuseum.org; scp.co.uk) E D
PICTURES: ELLIE LAYCOCK (SCP EAST)

From top The first SCP store, now SCP East,

opened in 1985; SCP founder Sheridan Coakley;
1950s blue ceramic animals by Aldo Londi for
Bitossi; Konstantin Grcic’s oak armchair;
‘Sax’ coffee table by Terence Woodgate;
‘Balzac’ leather armchair by Matthew Hilton

36 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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ART DE VIVRE
Inside Bottega Veneta’s
dramatic new homes boutique
The 18th-century Palazzo Gallarati
Scotti in Milan is the impressive
venue for Bottega Veneta’s first
dedicated homes boutique, which has
been designed by the fashion label’s
creative director Tomas Maier.
Against a backdrop of coffered
ceilings and frescoes by classical
artists Tiepolo and Carlone,
contemporary furniture in neutral
hues – arranged as a series of tableaux
– creates a seriously sexy contrast.
Bottega Veneta’s furniture is
created by the same artisans who
make its world-renowned luggage.
The brand’s intrecciato woven-leather
finish is a signature detail throughout.
The store also stocks pieces made in
collaboration with other specialist
manufacturers – seating by Poltrona
Frau, glassware developed with
craftsmen from Murano and ceramics
produced by Berlin porcelain factory
Königliche. ‘Our home collection is
dedicated to those who are drawn to
understated, luxurious furnishings
crafted with the finest materials,’ says
Maier. ‘I wanted to create a discreet
destination where clients can immerse
themselves in the Italian art de vivre
of Bottega Veneta.’ Via Borgospesso 5,
Milan (bottegaveneta.com).

Situated in the 18th-century Palazzo Gallarati Scotti, against a backdrop

of frescoes by Tiepolo and Carlone, Bottega Veneta’s first dedicated interiors
boutique is arranged in a series of tableaux. Areas for living, dining, sleeping
and working evoke the look and feel of a real, albeit very grand, abode

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 39

 Style | F A S H I O N

M AYA W O R S H I P
The designs in Calvin Klein Home’s
new ‘Maya’ rug collection are woven
from a mix of pure wool and Luxcelle,
a viscose fibre that reflects the light
differently from various angles. Our
favourite is a damask-style pattern
that’s sharp in some areas and faded
in others, creating an elegant antique
effect; other pieces feature small-
scale geometrics and scribbled lines.
From £339, Kelaty (kelaty.com).

SING THE BLUES

Embrace nautical chic with Ralph
Lauren’s new ‘Porte de Riviera’
collection. Evoking the sporty
elegance of the French Riviera,
the range incorporates crisp blue
and white stripes, with accents
of polished silver and mahogany.
Star pieces include a navy lacquer
tray that converts into a table when
placed atop a mahogany stand,
Art Deco-style armchairs and
plump, striped floor cushions
(ralphlaurenhome.com).
Main image, from left Cushion in
‘Super Yacht Stripe’ fabric, £211 per
metre; ‘Hudson’ lounge chair, from
£4,400; ‘Cote d’Azur Starboard’ table,
£4,600; ‘Cote d’Azur’ cabinet, £9,900
Right, from top ‘Capelle’ tray, £650;
‘Gavin’ tray stand, £995; ‘Modern
Metropolis’ club chair, £4,675

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 41

Style | C R A F T

THE SHARED WORKSHED

Want to have a go at making furniture
but lack the tools and the space? Visit
Blackhorse Workshop in Walthamstow,
London, a public studio for carpenters
and metalworkers where you can ‘pay
as you use’ for all of the tools and
materials you need. Founded last year
by architecture and design practice
Assemble, it’s aimed at makers and
DIY enthusiasts who might not be able
to afford their own workshop. There
are technicians on hand to offer tips
on using the machinery, and courses
on everything from basic welding to
wood-turning. ‘Our location has a rich
manufacturing heritage, so this project
is aiming to re-establish that,’ says
Assemble’s creative director Harriet
Walden. ‘In the last year, there has
been a big growth in maker spaces
across the capital; there’s real demand
for them.’ (blackhorseworkshop.co.uk).

See it now If you’re a fan of furniture designer Sebastian Cox and sculptor Laura Ellen Bacon, hotfoot it to St John’s
Gate, London, where the duo’s collaborative installation, ‘The Invisible Store of Happiness’, will be showcased as part
of Clerkenwell Design Week. Made from American hardwood, the sculpture has been described as having ‘a steam-bent
frame that gives way to thinner strips, manipulated to twist and flow’. May 19–21 (clerkenwelldesignweek.com).

CREATED WITHOUT COMPROMISE

‘Lino Tagliapietra: Glass Ambition’ at Mallett Antiques is the first ever UK
exhibition by the world-renowned Venetian master glass-blower. Constantly

WORDS: EMMA LOVE PICTURES: BEN QUINTON (THE SHARED WORKSHED), RUSSELL JOHNSON (CREATED WITHOUT COMPROMISE)
pushing the boundaries of his material, Tagliapietra only uses blowing canes
that he has made himself and creates his own spectacular colours. He is based
on the island of Murano but makes twice-yearly trips to Seattle – where he
once lived, teaching artists such as Dale Chihuly – to make use of ovens big
enough for the largest of his vessels. May 26–July 4 (mallettantiques.com).

42 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 

    
 
 

  
   

          
 !      

               
                
Style | C R A F T

THE DESIGNER MAKER REIKO KANEKO

The experimental ceramicist who takes
a witty, original approach to pottery
Words EMMA LOVE Photography ALEX WALLACE

WHEN BRITISH-JAPANESE DESIGNER Reiko Kaneko decided

to learn more about the bone china industry, she relocated from
London to Stoke-on-Trent. ‘I moved partly because I needed the
space, but also because everything I require is here: the people who
fix the kilns, the factories and the glaze technicians,’ she says of the
decision she made nearly three years ago. Kaneko is best known
for her witty designs. She has produced bespoke ranges for chefs
(terracotta plates for Tom Kerridge’s Hand & Flowers restaurant,
for example), products for SCP and she recently launched Japan
Store, an online platform selling beautifully crafted Japanese
designs. More recently, however, she has developed functional

‘I wanted to make everyday products

that create a bond with the user’
ceramics in simple shapes, such as her ‘Arctic’ collection of jugs
(pictured bottom right). ‘I enjoy making everyday products that
create a bond with the user,’ she says. ‘I’m influenced by traditional
Japanese forms and the idea of using decoration to enhance shapes.’
Kaneko has also been busy experimenting with glaze tests.
‘I wanted to get more involved in the making process,’ she says.
‘Bone china has a lower glaze-firing temperature than stoneware,
which creates unique effects. It’s like a science project. The
mistakes have been the best bit; it’s exciting to see the natural
patterns that occur.’ This spring, Kaneko will launch a range of slip-
cast bathroom accessories for Balineum, all finished with unique
experimental glazes (@reikokaneko; reikokaneko.co.uk). E D

44 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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Style | E C O DESIGN

THE ECO
ENCORE
Inspired by the waste
left behind by fans
after a Black Eyed
Peas gig, hip-hop
artist Will.i.am has
launched a new
venture: Ekocycle
collaborates with
companies to create
products using
recycled materials.
GREEN STAY Collections include
Globe-Trotter luggage
Built using sustainable materials, this secluded cabin (pictured above and
in the Devon countryside is a luxurious retreat for two below), lined with
reused linen, and
On the hunt for an eco-friendly summer holiday destination? New company Out of the Valley portable bikes by
has the answer. Its stylish self-catering cabin, located in beautiful countryside on the edge of Tern. Available from
Dartmoor, is built from sustainable local materials and comes with a proper kitchen and living Harrods (harrods.com).
area, a kingsize bed, a wood-burning stove and a wet room with a monsoon shower. There’s also
a deck for star-gazing and wildlife-watching, and the River Teign is a few footsteps away if you
fancy some wild swimming. If you like what you see, you can commission the company to build
you your own bespoke cabin: each one is fully portable and mounted on a modified hydraulic
trailer. From £260 for a two-night stay (outofthevalley.co.uk).

N E W M E TA L
These innovative mirrors,
lights and wall panels by
Thai designer Saruta
WORDS: EMMA LOVE

Kiatparkpoom are made

using scrap metal from her
father’s hardware factory.
The metal pieces are
inspired by everything
from the shape of a
lettuce leaf to a classic
Thai pagoda. Mirror,
£132; pendant, £200
(pinmetallife.tumblr.com).

46 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 
    




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Style | C O L O U R

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H OW TO SH O P, D ECO R AT E A N D CO N N EC T
YO U R WAY TO A CA L M ER H OM E

Over the next few pages we explore what a quest for living simply
in the 21st Century means. It’s not about lack, minimalism or
getting rid of all your stuff; it’s about considered choice and valued
possessions, for this is a new sophisticated simplicity.

1. Surround yourself with things you treasure

2. Buy only what you love
3. Redecorate your home as a place of calm
4. Or turn it into a guest house!
5. Get super connected
 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

Living simply means only having things in

your home that you really value – but of all of your
belongings, which is the one that you would never part
with? Our favourite tastemakers reveal all…

ALBERTO ALESSI,
owner, Alessi (alessi.com)
‘This lacrimarium (right of picture) was given Tears and wine have a lot in common:
to me by a friend many years ago and is the most drinking wine and crying are as natural
cherished object in my personal collection. It as each other.
is a small Roman vessel that was used to collect I like to imagine it in the hands of that
the tears of mourners. This one is five girl two millennia ago. I think she must
centimetres tall, and dates to the first century BC. It was found have treasured it while she was alive. I see
about 60 years ago – together with glass doves, a bronze comb and her collecting tears from her beautiful
a silver mirror – in the grave of a young Roman girl at Gravellona. eyes as she goes through the pain of love;
The site is now a small village north of Milan, but two thousand then I see it cradled in the palm of her
years ago it was the main harbour town of Lake Maggiore. desperate lover at the time of her burial.
This tiny container for tears is important to me because of its I have woven an emotional tale around
simplicity and integrity. When I began designing a bottle for my it, but emotion is important in design.
own wines (left of picture), the lacrimarium was my inspiration. A year or two ago, a British friend, who
lives close to me on Lake Orta, gave me
a poem to read, Lacrimarium by David
Barber. These are its first lines: “Were
there a tear / To spare, where better /
To be sure the gesture / Would linger than
here / In its own little bottle / Blown from
a hot bubble / To mirror a tear.”’ ➤

‘I like to imagine this tiny

lacrimarium in the hands
of the young Roman girl who
owned it two millenia ago’
PICTURES: MADS MORGENSEN (PORTRAIT)

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 53

 RUTH ARAM,
designer
and buyer,
Aram Store
(@Ruth Aram;
aram.co.uk)
‘My mother’s family lived in Vienna
for many generations, but at the onset
of WWII they escaped Austria to start
a new life in England. They were lucky
to bring some possessions with them.
About ten years ago, my mother
offered me some glasses, saying how
impractical they were. I happily
accepted these six beautiful Viennese
crystal Champagne glasses by
Lobmeyr, which had been given to my

PICTURES: RUTH CORNEY (RUTH ARAM, PORTRAIT), SAMIR HUSSEIN (PROSPER ASSOULINE, PORTRAIT), SUKI DHANDA (ROSSELLA BISAZZA, PORTRAIT)
grandmother at her wedding in 1937.
They are indeed rather impractical,
being the old-fashioned shallow, coupe
design that, legend has it, was modelled
on the breast of Marie Antoinette or
Madame de Pompadour.
Glassware does not usually survive
for very long in our household, there
JONATHAN SAUNDERS, fashion designer being three teenagers and a slightly
(@SaundersStudio; jonathan-saunders.com) careless cleaner around, but, with
strict instructions not to put them in
‘My most treasured item is a painting by Allen Jones the dishwasher, we have managed to
from the late 1970s. I purchased it from London gallery look after these heirlooms and enjoy
2 Columbia Road. Jones is one of my favourite artists using them, not just for Champagne,
– he’s British and the piece holds sentimental value but for all manner of cocktails that they
because it is the first real work of art that I ever bought.’ have inspired my husband to mix.’

ROSSELLA BISAZZA, director of communications, Bisazza (@BisazzaOfficial; bisazza.com)

‘I treasure the Eames lounge chair that I have in my apartment in
Paris. It means so much to me because it belonged to my mother: it
was her favourite armchair in our family home. It’s also a great design
classic that combines unparalleled comfort and timeless style.’
54 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015
 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

PROSPER
ASSOULINE,
founder, Assouline
(@AssoulinePub;
assouline.com)
‘I love my cigar humidor, which can
hold up to 200 cigars. This was a
gift from my stepfather and it’s
really useful as I smoke every day.’

MIRKKU KULLBERG, head of Home, Vitra (@VitraUK; vitra.com)

‘The dearest place in my home and my dearest possessions are closely
related. I love libraries, both my own and public ones. Rows of books
make me feel secure and I can feel the connection of past and future.
The books that I collect are the most important objects in my life.’

GIULIA
MOLTENI,
head of
communications
and marketing,
Molteni & C
Dada
(@MolteniDada; molteni.it)
‘The “Carteggio” secretaire by Aldo ALICE TEMPERLEY, fashion designer
Rossi for Molteni & C is where I keep (@TemperleyLondon; temperleylondon.com)
my memories. For the past 15 years,
it has come with me whenever I have ‘My most treasured possession is the disco bath, mounted on a Union
moved home. Its many useful drawers Jack plinth, that sits in the bathroom of my house in Somerset. It
do not detract from its elegant design.’ occupies the most peaceful room in the house; it’s where I go to relax.’ ➤

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 55

 VÉRONIQUE
PIEDELEU,
director,
Caravane
(caravane.fr)
‘I have chosen
this set of wooden penguin
nesting dolls from Nepal.
It’s funny to imagine Nepalese
craftsmen carving them so
far away from the ice.’

MATTHEW
WILLIAMSON,
fashion designer
FRÉDÉRIC MALLE, founder, Editions de (@MWWorld;

PICTURES: BRIGITTE LACOMBE (FRÉDÉRIC MALLE, PORTRAIT), CHRISTOPHE BEAURGARD (VERONIQUE PIEDELEU, PORTRAIT)
Parfums Frédéric Malle ( fredericmalle.com) matthew
williamson.com)
‘My daughter Jeanne gave me this drawing when
she was six. If the worst comes to the worst, she ‘I find it
can start her career in advertising, like I did! difficult to choose one
I always have it with me in my office.’
thing, but I recently
acquired a 1970s Italian
chandelier that I love.
GIULIO CAPPELLINI, Its provenance is
art director, Cappellini unknown, but it
(@Cappellini_; cappellini.it)
features concentric
‘I have a “Thinking Man’s Chair” by Jasper
Morrison, designed in 1986. This is the first circles of honey-
prototype of the famous armchair, which I coloured Murano glass,
found in an exhibition in London. I fell in
love with it and then I presented it as part of
which diffuse the most
Cappellini’s collection in 1988. It marked the dazzling golden light.
start of a long collaboration and friendship
with Jasper. The chair is in my home now
It brings a real sense of
and it represents how I relax and think.’ grandeur to a room.’
56 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015
 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

MARGARET
HOWELL,
fashion designer
(@margaret
howell; margaret
howell.co.uk)
‘I have an Ercol chair
from my family’s
kitchen. When I left
home my mother gave
it to me. My first
machinist, Doris, sat
at this chair sewing
buttons onto shirts.
It still has the string
marks on the back BARNABA FORNASETTI, designer, Fornasetti
where she tied her ( fornasetti.com)
cushion. Although ‘The fireplace between my living room and kitchen is an
I have more exciting ancient marble piece that my father installed. I modified
it about 15 years ago with a double aspect and heat-
chairs, this one has treated glass. I’ve framed it in a stone named beola in
sentimental value.’ Italian, a kind of gneiss, or rock with layers of minerals.’
PICTURES: JILL KENNINGTON (MARGARET HOWELL, PORTRAIT), ARIANNA SANESI (BARNABA FORNASETTI, PORTRAIT), CHRISTOPHE BEAURGARD

NICK KNIGHT,
photographer
(VERONIQUE PIEDELEU, PORTRAIT), NICK KNIGHT (CHAIR), RUTH HOGBEN (NICK KNIGHT, PORTRAIT)

(nickknight.com)
‘My “Long Chair”
by Marcel Breuer for
Isokon was given to
me by my parents, who
were antique collectors.
I had it reupholstered
in ivory velvet, and it
now sits in my bedroom
next to a window with
a view of a beautiful
magnolia tree. It’s the
most comfortable chair
I have ever sat in so,
consequently, it’s where
I spend a lot of my time
daydreaming.’ E D

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THE UNDECORATED HOME
Peeling wallpaper and timeworn finishes are no longer flaws to be eradicated.
The latest interiors celebrate them. Here, we find out why and how
Words AMY BRADFORD

T
here was a brief period in buoyant, pre-crash Britain when by how it came off when you peeled it away – one embossed paper
it seemed as if everything, including our homes, should be had left an imprint on another behind it. That’s how everything
clean and shiny. We created feature walls with colourful started,’ says Hage. Broken floor tiles were also worked into the
wallpaper; experimented with bold shades from designer paint renovation; layers of paint were sanded from wooden stairs to leave
brands; and toyed with the idea of pristine, all-white rooms. In traces of old colours. ‘We “unmade” the building, revealing layers
Absolutely Fabulous – a brilliant barometer of Nineties and early instead of adding them,’ Hage explains. ‘I think we should have
Noughties interiors tastes – Eddie Monsoon has her kitchen turned respect for patination and the erosions of time. A worn door handle
into an antiseptic white cube with no amenities whatsoever. or a wall that has faded in the sun is something noble; it shows
A satire on minimalism in Jennifer Saunders’ hands is a funny thing a kind of human weakness and the process of living.’
indeed, but really our flirtation with that kind of lifestyle was never Both Hage and Axel Vervoordt, the Belgian interior designer, cite
going anywhere. Clinical perfection simply reminded us that flaws a desire for authenticity as the key to this movement. ‘Everything
and scuff marks were a) inevitable, and b) welcome signs of life. should be real – made by time or by accident,’ says Vervoordt, who
In tandem with this realisation, a new kind of ‘undecorated’ is a disciple of wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy that celebrates
interior has come into being. It’s not stripped back to the bare bones natural flaws. ‘Imperfect interiors are appealing because they give
like the warehouse lofts of old; rather it self-consciously reveals you the harmony and peace that comes with accepting things as

The timeworn look is suddenly deeply

desirable: it’s a badge of honour
revealing your home’s history
traces of the passage of time. Layers of paint and wallpaper are
partly peeled away, as if casually torn; old, cracked plaster is preserved
and enhanced rather than being demolished and replaced. Suddenly,
the timeworn is deeply desirable: not a sign of neglect, but a badge
of honour revealing your home’s history.
Of course, we’re talking about a particular kind of home – one
with a few years under its belt, not a new build. But where in the
past we might have expected to see grand old houses done up to
the nines, now they’re often ‘undone’ instead. Architect and designer
Rabih Hage was an early adopter of this approach. His Rough Luxe
hotel (pictured below) in London, which opened in 2008, is set in
a Georgian terrace house in King’s Cross. He discovered, by chance,
that the rooms had multiple layers of old wallpaper. ‘I was amazed

66 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

they are. They’re the opposite of bourgeois.’ Hage goes further, where he converted a broken barn into a pool house using existing
proclaiming this type of decor as a new expression of luxury. ‘Luxury bricks and wood. Vervoordt also employs reclaimed elements on
is not about accumulation, art collecting or having new cornicing new projects. His Tribeca penthouse at Robert de Niro’s Greenwich
gilded with 24-carat gold leaf,’ he says. ‘It’s about respecting the Hotel in New York (pictured third from left) reflects the district’s
uniqueness of objects and their stories. People try to make statements industrial heritage, with salvaged-wood columns and furniture.
by demolishing buildings and creating big, egocentric new designs, Fireplaces made from local stone complete the ‘undressed’ feel.
but it’s much better to make a subtle, intelligent imprint on what’s Other ‘undecorated’ interiors we admire include the late artist
already there. Who are we to wipe out other people’s traces?’ Lucian Freud’s Kensington home, where walls were stripped to
According to this school of thought, imperfect interiors are more reveal original Georgian lime plaster (see it in A Painter’s Progress
than just beautiful; they’re morally superior and environmentally by David Dawson; Jonathan Cape, £35); and Astley Castle,
sound. Instead of adding more stuff to an already cluttered world, a 12th-century ruin subtly renovated with contemporary touches
by architecture firm Witherford Watson Mann. It won the 2013
Imperfect interiors are appealing RIBA Stirling Prize – the first restoration project to do so in the
award’s 18-year history – and is now rented out as a holiday let
because they give you the peace that (thelandmarktrust.org.uk). Finally, there is the beautiful castle in
comes with accepting things as they are Angoulême, France, featured in this issue (see p156). If it doesn’t
convince you that torn wallpaper can be beautiful, nothing will. E D
we are making the best of what we have. We will probably save
money, too, since reuse is almost always cheaper than replacing
with new. What could be more in tune with the times?
If you’re fortunate enough to own a home with history and natural
patina, accentuating these assets may seem like an obvious choice.
But for everyone else, it requires a different approach. ‘In a new
build, it’s about working with what you have – maybe there are raw
concrete floors, or exposed pipes,’ says Hage, who also advocates
using old materials in renovations. He cites a project in Oxfordshire

Whether you live in a home that has a long

history, or a new-build property, there are
plenty of ways to achieve an undecorated
look. Strip back layers of old wallpaper,
paint over exposed brickwork, or, as in the
newly built Greenwich Hotel (left), use
reclaimed materials and natural fabrics

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 67

PURE SIMPLICITY
From left‘Serpentine’wall hangingbyNativeLine,£1,250,Darkroom(darkroomlondon.com).Hanging planterbyFermLiving,£45,Holly’sHouse
(hollys-house.com).VintageAnatoliankilim rug,£1,920,Larusi(larusi.com).‘SeriesOne’daybed,£2,719,AnotherCountry(anothercountry.com).‘Khadi’throw,
£148,Caravane(caravane.fr).Blanket,£495,TheConranShop(conranshop.co.uk).Cushion,£123,AbsoluteFlowers(absoluteflowersandhome.com).‘LC03’ chair
byMaartenVanSeverenforPastoe,£1,098,Viaduct(viaduct.co.uk).Chevrongrey blanket,£105,Folklore(shopfolklore.com).Macramé hanging planterbyGina
Marris,£125,TheNewCraftsmen(thenewcraftsmen.com).Black hanging planterbyFermLiving,£45,Holly’sHouse(hollys-house.com).Glass carafe,£45,The
ConranShop(conranshop.co.uk).‘TS’tablewithwhitemarbletopbyGamFratesi,£349,Gubi(gubi.dk).Marble table lampbyStudioVitfor&Tradition,£179,Twenty
TwentyOne(twentytwentyone.com).‘Ashoka’ curtain panel,£42,Caravane(caravane.fr). On floor and windowsill, from leftGrey-and-white ceramic pots,
from£15each,LouiseMadzia(louisemadzia.com).Handpainted clay pot, £57, Goodhood (goodhoodstore.com). Grey concrete pots,from£18each,Conpot
(conpot.co.uk).‘FlipFlop’two-tone vases,from£15.95each,Serax(serax.com)
From left ‘Ming’ grey-and-white pot, £25.75, Serax (serax.com). ‘Fly’ coffee table by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, £789, Viaduct (viaduct.co.uk). Large
concrete pot, from £18, Conpot (conpot.co.uk). Small grey-and-white ceramic pots, from £15 each, Louise Madzia (louisemadzia.com). Handpainted clay pot,
£57, Goodhood (goodhoodstore.com). ‘Ming’ grey-and-white vase, £24.70, Serax (serax.com). ‘Georgian White Wash’ floorboards (on wall), £26.50 per sq m,
Bert and May (bertandmay.com). ‘Z4’ bamboo-and-cotton lampshade by Ay Illuminate, £193, The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk). ‘Inout’ chair by Paola
Navone for Gervasoni, £865, Designers Guild (designersguild.com). Cotton throw, £95, Folklore (shopfolklore.com). Circular rug, £46, Absolute Flowers
(absoluteflowersandhome.com). Concrete pot, from £18, Conpot (conpot.co.uk). Wool throw, £80, Folklore (shopfolklore.com). Plant stand by Ferm Living, £34,
Holly’s house (hollys-house.com). Grey pot (in stand) by Hay, £19, Goodhood (goodhoodstore.com). Cotton curtain panel, £42, Caravane (caravane.fr) ➤
PURE SIMPLICITY
From left Jute rug, £215, The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk). Basket by Muubs, £60, Skandium (skandium.com). Linen throw, £260, The Conran Shop
(conranshop.co.uk). Cushion, £123, Absolute Flowers (absoluteflowersandhome.com). Hammock, £65, Soho House Retail (020 7074 1508). Fabric, £240;
cushion, £57, both Larusi (larusi.com). Bamboo lampshade by Ay Illuminate, £290, The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk). White concrete planter, £18,
Conpot (conpot.co.uk). Large grey planter, £129, Ferm Living (fermliving.com). ‘CH25’ chair by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn, £2,251, Skandium
(skandium.com). Throw, £139, Caravane (caravane.fr). On windowsill, from left White planters, £18 each, Conpot (conpot.co.uk). ‘Flip Flop’ two-tone vase,
£23.95, Serax (serax.com). Black flowerpot by Hay, £19, Goodhood (goodhoodstore.com). Ceramic pots, from £15 each, Louise Madzia (louisemadzia.com)
From left ‘Gingerbread’ table with white sandblasted fir top and zinc trestles by Paola Navone for Lando, £1,450, Mint (mintshop.co.uk). ‘J77’ chair by Hay, £140,
Folklore (shopfolklore.com). ‘Paper Porcelain’ beaker by Hay, £26, Liberty (liberty.co.uk). ‘Selena’ linen tablecloth, £125, Caravane (caravane.fr). Ceramic bowl,
£21, The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk). Pitcher, £45, Caravane (caravane.fr). ‘Gingerbread’ chair by Paola Navone for Lando, £360, Mint (mintshop.com). ‘Base’
plate, £50; white bowl, £30, both Serax (serax.com). White hanging basket, £35, Palm (palm-london.com). Air plants, £12 each, Camden Garden Centre
(camdengardencentre.co.uk). Macramé hanging planter by Gina Marris, £125, The New Craftsmen (thenewcraftsmen.com). Plants throughout from a selection
at Arnott Mason (020 7720 7651). Cacti throughout from a selection at Camden Garden Centre (camdengardencentre.co.uk) E D
 Be my guest
Dream of escaping the nine-to-five and earning an income by welcoming paying
guests into your home? Three creative professionals tell us how they did it
Edited by JACKIE DALY

THE SEASIDE SANCTUARY

Journalist, broadcaster and author Kathryn Flett
moved from London to St Leonards-on-Sea, in 2005.
Her growing family’s need for space led to the extension
of her Arts & Crafts cottage and the launch of stylish
self-catering accommodation at Caple Gardens

I ’d always loved my next-door neighbour Jean’s house.

Though we shared a party wall, our Victorian Arts & Crafts
semi-detached cottages were not mirror-images of each other,
so whenever I popped round to say ‘hello’ I would admire the
similarities and differences between them. And then, when Jean,
a smart and feisty widow in her eighties, sadly passed away in
2012, I felt an irrational and oddly proprietorial urge to buy her
happy family home of the past 50 years.
There was no logic behind this idea; it didn’t make sense either
emotionally or financially, yet it made sense to me. Having
moved into my house, in 2007,
with two small children, plus
the addition of a new partner
and his four boys, my once
airy home was seeming
more cramped than cosy.
I fantasised about knocking
a hole through that party wall
to create more space.
The maths, however, did not
add up. Then, during one
sleepless night, I had a
lightbulb moment. I live by the
sea in hip St Leonards (the
Hove to Hastings’ Brighton),
so I thought, why not renovate

Jean’s cottage as a holiday let? Twenty-four hours later I’d

discovered there were mortgages available for precisely this kind
of business and with the assistance of an estate agency and a
mortgage broker it would be possible to make my dream a reality.
I shall discreetly fast-forward over the following year of
complex and tedious negotiations, but by mid-September
2013 I had the keys and a full-blown renovation (including
an unscheduled/un-budgeted-for new roof ) was underway.
It was as exhausting and expensive as one would predict.
The good news? My commute was very easy.
PICTURES: JULIAN ANDERSON

We moved from knocking down walls to painting them in just

a few weeks. I had planned for four months of mortgage
repayments before the house would have to begin earning us
money, which raised the bar, stress-wise. But the fact that I was
effectively creating a giant dolls-house-cum-film set rather than
a practical, workable home meant that I could be far more
 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

playful with the interiors. I found myself

indulging my whimsical side: Stewart and
Rupert Walton, of the Hastings & Bexhill
Wood Recycling Project built me a pirate
ship-style bunk-room (pictured right),
constructed from scaffold boards, for the
poky third bedroom. I love it so much!
Elsewhere, I knew I wanted the house to
showcase brilliant local designers, which is
how I ended up with beautiful wallpapers

‘We moved from knocking

down walls to painting
them in just a few weeks.
Now we’ve hosted nearly
400 guests and have a
visitor’s book full of truly
touching reviews’
by Deborah Bowness and Louise Body,
whose studios are in St Leonards.
Meanwhile, the walls are covered with art
by acclaimed illustrators Martin O’Neill and
Andy Tuohy, Maibritt Ulvedal Bjelke and
my near neighbour (and the first Art
Director of ELLE Decoration) Debi Angel.
By December, I’d set up a website, a
Facebook page, a Twitter account and
a secure online booking system: I was good
to go. And by Christmas Eve, I had a stylish
(I thought) three bedroom, two-bathroom
holiday home with a south-facing garden,
just a ten-minute walk from the beach. The
floor paint may have been still drying, but, as a journalist- They enthusiastically answered in the affirmative; the kids were
turned-landlady, I was proud to have met my deadline. bombing around the house while their mother cheerfully
Slowly at first, things began to take shape. People booked to bemoaned the weather, so I made a few suggestions of things
stay, word spread, the house acquired Twitter followers, Facebook to do and, at their request, lent them some kitchen scales and
Likes and its visitor’s book was filling up with reviews that truly a whisk so that they could bake a cake.
touched me. Caple Gardens has been in business for more than You can imagine my surprise when, a week later, I received a
a year now and we’ve hosted nearly 400 people. robustly worded catalogue of complaints: there weren’t enough
Though it’s possible to stay here without ever meeting me teaspoons (how many do you need?) and one of the doors was
(the house does have a key safe), I do like to say ‘hi’ in person ‘very squeaky’ (the house is more than 130 years old).
and, if asked, make recommendations about the local area. So, we have a visitor’s book full of lovely comments, with this
Talking to guests is how I learned that if I invited everybody one incident very much the exception. It was about six months
who’d stayed at Caple Gardens in 2014 to the same party, it after opening when I realised that I wasn’t simply running
would be a great party. They are my kind of people. a small business (and changing a lot of sheets), I was doing
With just the one (so far, touch wood) exception, that is. something far more satisfying: helping to create memories.
During the February half term I had guests book for two nights. 2 Caple Gardens, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38
I popped by to say ‘hello’, at which point I asked if all was well. (@caplegardens; caplegardens.co.uk) ➤

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 75

THE CITY ESCAPE
East London’s 40 Winks has been dubbed the most beautiful small hotel in the world. David Carter, its flamboyant
interior-designer owner, recounts how one witty press release launched his ‘micro boutique’ business

A s an interior designer I’ve travelled the world and would

often stay at one of the big chain hotels. But, no matter how
nice the staff were, I’d always get the sense that I was just a room
another. I bought the house in 1997 as a family home and,
as I’d worked in fashion many years ago and still had lots
of friends in the business, the property gradually began to
number to them. The fact that nobody knew my name made staying be used as a location for photography shoots. It’s a beautiful
in those places a lonely and anonymous experience. Yes, the staff historic Queen Anne town house that was built in 1917.
were polite and efficient and the accommodation comfortable but, Often, international photographers would fly in for magazine
in most cases, they were instantly forgettable places. shoots. They kept asking ‘can we stay’ as they’d sometimes be
40 Winks grew organically. I didn’t wake up one morning with here for two to three days at a time. I was flattered, they loved the
a big idea and a business plan. One thing led serendipitously to house and the fact that it’s in East London, which they thought quite
edgy and cool. Hopefully they loved me a
little bit too, as I’m so utterly charming!
It reached a point when I thought, let’s
do this for real. So I asked a friend to design
a website and then put together a rather
cheeky press release announcing ‘the
launch of the world’s first micro boutique
hotel’ – my cunning twist on the fact that
there are only two guest bedrooms in the
house. That was just over six years ago.
I was fortunate. I already had some good
contacts in the media, so I sent the press
release to a handful of people. Six to eight
weeks after opening we had four pages in

‘Every guest is treated the

same way when they come
to stay at 40 Winks. They
are greeted by name, asked
to take off their shoes
at the door and offered
a coffee or a cocktail –
whatever they want’
a national newspaper, with the headline:
‘Grandest B&B in Britain’. Although I hate
the word ‘B&B’ it was amazing – the start
of something special.
To be honest, I was expecting that we’d
have one or two people staying with us just
a few nights a week – all very low key. Now,
guests book a year in advance. We’ve had
film stars stay here, plus musicians, people
who work in fashion and in the arts, but
everyone is treated in the same way. They
are greeted by name, asked to take off their
shoes at the door and offered a coffee or
a cocktail – whatever they want.
Many of our guests become friends even
PICTURES: JON CARDWELL

before they arrive here. They might connect

with me on Facebook, or over email and
then we start chatting. The house is more
than just a place to sleep or to dump luggage
– it’s the highlight of their visit to London.
 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

At its best, staying at 40 Winks is like starring in a production

by immersive theatre group Punchdrunk. People describe the
decor as eclectic, a bit whimsical – most don’t immediately
notice the sexy, slightly naughty undercurrent to my work, but
it’s there. There are no minibars, room service, spas or plasma
televisions in this house. In fact, there’s really nothing in terms
of the usual facilities that most hotels boast about. But what we
do have in abundance is fantastic conversation, wit, charm and
something that is very warm – I think it’s a very authentic
experience. Many of our guests travel extensively. They regard
the room that they stay in as their own space – it’s a home from
home. And, we don’t charge for any extras – there are no extras.
If we offer someone a cocktail, it’s because they are our guests.
What is brilliant – and I’m not saying we’re responsible – is

‘People describe the interior decor

as eclectic, a little bit whimsical –
most don’t immediately notice the
sexy, slightly naughty undercurrent
to my work, but it’s there’
that in the six years that we’ve
been open lots of other small
quirky hotels have sprung up:
10 Corso Como in Italy, for
example. And then there’s the
success of companies such as
Airbnb, which work along
similar lines. People are seeking
something unique – a warm This is a seven-days-a-week
environment where you don’t job and it’s relentless. We have
have to deal with robotic staff. a very international mix of
There are some downsides visitors – from America,
to welcoming people into your Brazil, Japan, Australia,
home, though. As I’m always Germany and Switzerland
planning months ahead, – which means that I’m
there’s little or no time off. always working to different
time zones. Often, I’ll still be
answering booking requests
at 11pm at night. And every
morning, when I wake up,
there’s another full inbox
of emails to respond to.
Time spent with guests
is the most enjoyable bit.
Luckily, I have a wonderful
team to help with the cultural events we run here, including our
famous, or should I say infamous, pyjama parties and the
amazing Saturday Super Salons – a new series of literary events
with the lovely Liz Hoggard of The Times. I definitely don’t do it
all myself. There comes a time when you need to rest or you’ll
run out of steam. Don’t set up a guest house if you’re not a people
person. As the host, you’re part of your guests’ experience. That’s
why so many of our visitors arrive and leave as friends.
109 Mile End Road, London E1 (@MR40WINKS; 40winks.org) ➤

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 77

THE COASTAL HAVEN
Melanie Molesworth, a magazine stylist and her comedy
director husband Martin Dennis exchanged city living
for the peace and quiet of the West Dorset coast.
Finding the perfect property in the right location has
enabled the couple to fulfill their ambition of creating
their home-and-holiday let, The Arched House

T here were times when we were convinced that moving

from London to convert an old house in Lyme Regis was
going to turn us into one of those disaster stories: we’d be the
couple that completed all the work and then, two years later,
received the news that our planning application had been
denied. So, we were rather relieved when it all worked out well.
If I have any advice to offer, it’s to sort out the red tape before
taking on a huge conversion project.
Yes, we dived in. But then this property was such a rare find
– a real gem. At the time, Martin and I were looking around for
places to live in the country. Our boys were leaving home, which
gave us the opportunity to sell up in Chiswick, West London, and
escape further afield. Our plan was to purchase a country house
along with a London flat, so that we could live between the two.
Then we found this 19th-century beauty. It was perfect. Before
we knew it, we had moved lock, stock and barrel to Lyme Regis.
We had no mortgage to worry about and enough cash from the
sale of the Chiswick house for the renovations. But we had to
forgo our plans for the city flat
– we couldn’t afford to
purchase both. The area was
idyllic and although we had
this crazy idea about dividing
the new property to
accommodate our home and
a high-end holiday rental attached buildings that had
business, we had no real the River Lym running
notion of whether this small between them. It should have
coastal town was the right dawned on us that a property
location for our venture; we that had a river roaring
acted purely on instinct. beneath it might be a potential
The house was charming, problem. But we were so
but vast and rather eccentric wrapped up in the house and
– essentially we had our future business plans that
purchased two poorly we didn’t note the red flag. It’s
fine, the house is high enough
above the waterline not to be
at risk, but it was tough to
persuade the insurance
company otherwise, and we
are paying a premium as a
result. We also pay two council tax bills – this is the kind of stuff
that you don’t always account for when you make the move.
In a former life, the house was a Conservative Club, and before
that we think it was a boarding house – we’ve based this
assumption on the fact that we inherited a number of poky
rooms served by several rather tacky bathrooms that had been
squeezed into the corners of the space. There were whispers that
PICTURES: POLLY ELTES

it may have been a brothel at some stage – perish the thought!

The Hall (the bit that we live in now) was a huge two-floor living
space tacked onto the back of the main house.
It was filled with decrepit pool tables, and an old gym and spa,
 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

complete with dodgy plumbing and heating.

It all had to be ripped out.
Our architect friend, Ed Howell, travelled
from Devon to help us with the conversion.
He came up with the idea of a staircase that
would connect The Hall with the main
house, which by now was earmarked to
become our holiday-let business, The
Arched House. I avoided any strong
decorating trends and used Farrow & Ball
paint – predictable, I know, but the colours
always work – so that, hopefully, the look
won’t date too quickly. We also reused

‘We had two poorly

attached buildings with
a river running between
them, and no idea whether
this town was right for
our venture. Thankfully,
luck was on our side’
whatever we could – including the loos, bath
tubs and basins from the original house
– and chose one style of inexpensive tap and
plain white tile to use in all the bathrooms.
Looking back, I think it was really
important to live on-site throughout the
building work. Doing so meant that I was
there to check on the small details, such
as paint colours, heights of shelves and
the design of the cupboards. This kind
of renovation is expensive and you’ve
got to expect the unexpected. We had an
excellent project manager, though. He knew
all of the local builders and craftspeople and
kept everything running on time. I arrange fresh flowers for the new guests. After years of
We opened our six-bedroom guesthouse in the spring of 2013. styling interiors for magazines it’s really nice to put together
Thankfully, luck was on our side. We found ourselves in a town a scheme that doesn’t have to be dismantled at the end of a
that hadn’t permitted many new builds due to the potential of shoot. Guests treat the accommodation well because it’s nicely
subsidence in the area, meaning that it didn’t have much holiday appointed, but I do employ people to do some of the chores –
accommodation on offer. I placed the house with a local self- I might feel very differently about running the guest house if
catering specialist, Lyme Bay Holidays, and an international I was scrubbing the loo every day! I’m still working as a stylist
agent, Alastair Sawday’s, in the hope of capturing a wide audience. and I’ve also started to think of ways to expand the business.
The business is now self-sustaining, with some guests already I’ve created a water-painting course with Mariella Baldwin, the
having returned for a second stay at The Arched House. We botanical artist, and hope to organise more creative workshops
mainly attract families. It’s a place for birthday celebrations – it’s wonderful to be able to share this experience with guests.
or for walkers who visit for the scenery and the fossils – Lyme The Arched House, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis DT7
Regis is famous for its position on the Jurassic coastline. (thearchedhouse.com) E D

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 79

CONNECTED
LIVING
We’re about to enter the age of the high-tech
home. Soon, your sofa will know more about
the state of your health than your doctor,
and your fridge will be monitoring your
diet. Technology expert Tom Bailey
explains how ‘the internet of things’
is set to simplify our lives

Illustration DAN FUNDERBURGH

80 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Style | T H E NEW SIMPLE

IT WAS LATE 2013 WHEN THE EMAIL ARRIVED . The

subject line – ‘You will love this!’ – immediately aroused my
suspicions. As a technology editor, I’ve spent the last decade
chasing ‘the next big thing’ and have been assured that I ‘will
love’ many a doomed dust-magnet – from Microsoft’s
forgettable attempt at an iPod (sorry, Zune) to Google’s
Terminator-esque smart glasses (quietly abandoned).
The email offered me the chance to become the first British
journalist to test ‘the world’s only internet-connected kettle’ Rewind five years and this tech was the preserve of places
ahead of its launch. ‘Ha!’ I thought. ‘What a preposterous gadget.’ such as luxury Knightsbridge apartment complex One Hyde
It struck me as both over-engineered – the phrase ‘putting Park. Now, as smart home technology becomes increasingly
wheels on a tomato’ came to mind – and entirely unnecessary, inexpensive, the IoT is beginning to flourish. An estimated
given that the electric kettle (invented in 1922) has served 10 billion objects are already plugged in to the internet – mostly
builders and prime ministers equally well for 120 years. Why laptops. But by 2020, experts predict that 50 billion gadgets will
complicate a brilliant design? Nevertheless, it was an opportunity be online, an increase fuelled by our growing appetite for smart
that no geek could resist. ‘Internet kettle, where have you been TVs, networked fridges and app-controlled washing machines.
all my life?!’ I emailed back, tongue firmly in cheek. Spool further into the future and video-streaming doorbells
But when when Smarter’s ‘Wi-Fi Kettle’ arrived, it was love at and internet kettles will be dismissed as mere parlour tricks
first brew. Mainly because I could activate it with my smartphone when viewed through the prism of the IoT’s true potential. At
from beneath a well-appointed duvet. Then I connected it present, my own burgeoning smart home is based on human-to-
wirelessly to my alarm clock so that it boiled autonomously the machine communication. The exciting and slightly creepy
moment I woke up. I loved it for giving me back the five minutes upgrade will be the dawn of a new machine-to-machine age.
I used to spend drumming my fingers on the kitchen worktop. I visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media
Never mind flying cars and 3D printers Labs to view a mocked-up vision of the
– the internet kettle spoke of space-age IoT-powered home of 2020. As soon as I set
possibilities. I had, it seems, borne witness ‘When every product, foot inside, the room identified me, tapping
to the arrival of the Internet of Things. from the bin to the into a cloud-based profile of personal
You’ve doubtless heard that buzzy phrase. preferences such as climate control, music
The Internet of Things (‘IoT’ for short) is rug, contains sensors and lighting. By checking the Calendar app
a slightly nauseating bit of Silicon Valley and is connected over on my phone and the blood-pressure
speak that can be explained thus: connecting biosensors in my clothes it can tell that I
everything in your home to the internet. Why the web, your home have had a tough day, so switches on soothing
do that? Well, because when everything, from will be able to make classical music. If I had put on a few pounds,
the bin to the rug, contains sensors and is my bathroom scales would prompt the fridge
connected over the web, the ‘things’ in your smart decisions’ to amend my usual online Ocado order to
home will become more efficient. They will include low-fat cheese and kale smoothies.
join together and turn your home into a supercomputer, capable All very helpful, but at what point will my IoT home start
of making smarter decisions than your pathetic analogue brain to gossip about its imperfect human master like a truculent
could ever hope to. You will save time, energy, money, and see Downton Abbey lackey? And should we worry about giving
your home adapt to your personal habits. In short, we’ll all ordinary objects extraordinary powers? Call me wildly
become wizards – with smartphones instead of wands. optimistic, but nothing I’ve experienced leads me to believe
My salutary experience with the kettle saw me swiftly acquire that the IoT will turn my tranquil abode into a scene from
a Nest ‘Protect’ smoke alarm that notifies my phone when it The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Disney’s iconic reimagining of
sniffs out anything suspicious; a Honeywell ‘Lyric’ thermostat Goethe’s prescient warning of the danger of power over wisdom.
that uses my phone’s GPS chip to track my location and warms As today’s smart tech paves the way for an internet-connected
up the house just before I walk through the door; and a ‘LIFX’ house, experts predict an ‘ambient experience’. The gadgets will
smart lightbulb that gently brightens the room when my alarm be reassuring: capable of transforming mere bricks and mortar
clock goes off. I’ve pre-ordered a ‘Vessyl’ cup that will warn me into a home that anticipates our needs before we do.
when I’m drinking too many calorific sodas, and crowd-funded Of course, if I want to be part of the dream, the objects in my
the brilliant ‘DoorBird’, a smartphone-controlled video doorbell home will have to become host to thousands of sensors, all
that promises to enable me to chat to unexpected visitors – and harvesting information about how I live. They will, for the most
bemused posties – from anywhere in the world. part, be invisible. An Eames chair will still be an Eames chair,
but it will book you an appointment with a chiropractor when
it notices your poor posture. A Rodolfo Dordoni cocktail table
will still be a cocktail table, but it will dim the lights and play
your favourite Etta James track when you set down a martini
in the evening. If interior decoration is personalisation, then
the Internet of Things will take personalisation to its logical
conclusion. I just didn’t expect it all to start with a kettle. E D

See our edit of connected home gadgets at elledecoration.co.uk

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 81

DECOR ATING IDEA S • TECHNOLOGY • EA SY UPDATES • NEW M ATER I A LS • EXPERT A DV ICE

SOLUTIONS

F O R M O R E H O M E U P D AT E S , V I S I T E L L E D E C O R AT I O N . C O . U K / S O L U T I O N S
 PILE HIGH
A beautiful rug is a piece of art. As such, it can make a
stunning addition to your wall. Before you grab the nearest
dhurrie, however, there are a few rules to follow. To perfect
the look, your chosen rug needs to be luxurious (no flimsy
floorcoverings), but the pile cannot be too heavy either.
Then, of course, there are the practicalities to consider.
Framing expert John Jones warns that it is important to
provide proper support for your rug to ensure that it hangs
as evenly as possible. ‘Typically this is done by stitching the
rug to a secondary textile layer that can be attached to a
frame,’ says Jones. For a firm structure, secure your rug to
wooden batons that are screwed into your wall. Also,
be careful not to hang your rug in direct sunlight: it will
bleach the subtle vegetable dyes and can ruin an heirloom
piece. Bespoke rug framing from £500 ( johnjones.co.uk).

84 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Solutions | U P D A T E S

T H E R U G G A L L E RY

t ,
c a el
t.
e r

‘
n
qu
.

‘Appaloosa Tapis’ rug, from £12,150,

Hermès (hermes.com)

‘Marble’ rug by Rodarte, £4,187, The

Rug Company (therugcompany.com)
PICTURE: EVE WILSON (PILE HIGH) STYLING: LUCY FEAGINS (PILE HIGH)

Buy it now If your patio is too bijou for a potting shed, garden boxes are the
sensible solution for storing tools and other essentials. Garden Trading’s wonderful
‘Marble’ rug by Michaela Schleypen, weatherproof, zinc-topped storage boxes will make a pretty and practical addition
£4,750, Front London (frontrugs.com) to your green space. ‘Aldsworth’ box, £195 (gardentrading.co.uk).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 85


    




   

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 Solutions | U P D A T E S

B E L L E O F T H E B AT H R O O M
A statement bath tub, tap or washbasin
can add a sense of luxury and opulence
to your bathroom, turning an often
utilitarian space into a beautiful one.
This ‘Origami’ stone tub by Kelly Hoppen
for Apaiser (pictured left, £5,500;
apaiser.com) has a stunning, pleated
silhouette. Also consider Philippe Starck’s
sleek ‘Axor Starck V’ tap (pictured below,
£1,080, Hansgrohe; hansgrohe.co.uk)
and the ‘Diamond’ washbasin by Paolo
Ulian and Moreno Ratti for Purapietra
(pictured bottom, £2,950; purapietra.it).

Try it now Italian furniture company Lema’s clever online wardrobe configurator allows you to create the brand’s
made-to-measure closets to your requirements. Log on to build your design. From £590, Lema (lema-uk.com).

DOUBLE SERVINGS
Invest in a design classic
that will serve more than
one purpose in your home.
This smart collapsible tray
table, designed in 1970 by
Danish furniture master
Hans J Wegner and newly
reissued by Carl Hansen
& Søn, features a slimline,
foldaway metal base and
a two-tone wooden top
that can also be used as
a stylish tray for serving
drinks.‘CH417’ table,
£469 (carlhansen.com).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 87

 
 


          
        
   


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Solutions | U P D A T E S

Beloved British establishment the Good Housekeeping

Institute has found a new home in the unlikely back streets of
London’s Soho. The space, which plays host to high-tech testing
kitchens, where the team tirelessly put the latest products
through their paces, and GHI’s re-launched cookery schools, is
a hub of activity with a smart new look. ‘We used our iconic red,
white and black logo as our colour inspiration’ says editorial
director of Good Housekeeping magazine Lindsay Nicholson.
Contemporary stools by Vitra, appliances by Miele and tiles by
Fired Earth complete the look. Visit to soak up some of GHI’s
wisdom, or mimic their style in your own home. Become a
member of the Institute now, with a digital subscription – just
£1 for 30 days (goodhousekeeping.co.uk/institute/deco).

PICTURE: MEGAN TAYLOR (MAIN IMAGE), HEARST STUDIOS (PAINTS)

From left ‘Architecture’ gloss tiles, £44.44 per sq m; ‘Dover

Cliffs’ paint (top), £41.50 for 2.5l; ‘Modernist White’ paint
(bottom), £41.50 for 2.5 l, both Fired Earth (firedearth.com).
‘HAL’ stool by Jasper Morrison, £272, Vitra (vitra.com)

90 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015


            

                

          
  
        


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BRIGHTEN YOUR BOARDS

If vibrant walls are not your style, try adding a pop of colour to floors
instead. Danish brand Dinesen’s bright flooring makes a striking change
from traditional wooden boards. Each stained with traditional linseed
oil, the 40-shade range borrows from a palette of historical pigments
and comes in a choice of Douglas fir or oak, (from £89 per square metre;
dinesen.com). We love the way the grain is still visible beneath the dye,
making even punchy shades look sophisticated. Alternatively, if you want
to give your existing floorboards a lick of paint, Mylands’ durable formula
comes in any of its 120 shades. The brand will even colour-match a
swatch for you to create a unique look (£62 for 2.5 litres; mylands.co.uk).

‘Golden Square’ ‘Indian Lake’

‘Eaton Square’ ‘Brompton Road’

Book it now Join Sofa.com for an interior design workshop during your lunchbreak. The brand’s showroom will be
hosting monthly decorating discussions. Tickets £20, Chelsea Wharf, 15 Lots Road, London SW10 (sofa.com).

U P D AT E D C L A S S I C
Salvage company Florrie + Bill specialises in sourcing original
Ercol ‘Goldsmith’ seats. Now, the company is rejuvenating the
classic dining chair in a range of modern colours. The simple
designs come professionally painted in one of four RAL shades.
A great way to introduce zingy hues without compromising on
style. ‘Goldsmith’ chairs, £640 for set of four (florrieandbill.com).

ROMANCE THE STONE

Give your tiling a romantic look
with Hackney-based firm Bert
PICTURES: HEARST STUDIOS (BRIGHTEN YOUR BOARDS)

& May’s pastel-toned cement tiles.

These pink, apricot and sky blue
encaustic designs will look great
on kitchen splashbacks or in
a bathroom. For a bolder look,
create a statement tiled wall
in your living room, mixing the
colours for a mosaic effect. £144
per square metre (bertandmay.com).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 93

Solutions | U P D A T E S

BLUE SKY THINKING

Do not be fooled, this is not a skylight. In fact,
it is an incredible, high-tech optical illusion.
Perfect if you have a room that lacks natural
light, Coelux’s artificial skylight panels can
be fitted to ceilings to mimic the look of
natural sunlight and constantly sunny skies
(an improvement on reality). There are three
versions: ‘Coelux 60’ (pictured), which creates
the appearance of a tropical summer’s day,
with the sun high in the sky; ‘Coelux 45’, which
provides the soft glow of the Mediterranean;
and ‘Coelux 30’, which produces a cool, serene,
Nordic light. From £21,645 (coelux.com).

PICTURE: MICHAEL LOOS

94 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 
 
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Solutions | U P D A T E S

TRICKS OF
THE LIGHT
Sally Storey, design director for
John Cullen Lighting, explains how
to master hidden lighting effects
Cleverly concealed lighting can accentuate
key architectural features in your home
and save space. ‘The trick is to build layers
of hidden lighting in combination with
your other light sources,’ explains Storey.
‘Bookshelves, staircases and alcoves look
more dramatic when back- or front-lit.’
You can have specialist lights fitted to
achieve this effect, but for a simple fix,
we suggest using slim, flexible strip lights,
such as the ‘Contour Line’ (pictured below,
£118 per metre; johncullenlighting.co.uk).
Attach them to surfaces, such as the
undersides of kitchen cabinets, using the
adhesive on the back. The strips can be cut
to fit and they’ll even bend around corners.
Plus, the LED bulbs are energy-efficient.

PICTURE: RICHARD LEENEY (KITCHEN)

96 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

           

  

    
  

    

Solutions | U P D A T E S

5 OF THE BEST…
S H A K E R - S T Y L E TA B L E S
Simple, farmhouse-inspired
furniture in pale wood is
gracing the most stylish dining
rooms. Here’s our pick of the
finest examples of Shaker style.

C OAT O F A R M O U R
London designer Giles Miller’s bespoke metallic surface panels make
From top ‘Trestle’ table, £1,228, Viccarbe
a unique decorative addition to a home. Comprised of thousands (viccarbe.com). ‘Shaker’ table by Neri
of bent metal flaps that have been arranged in striking geometric & Hu, from £5,118, De La Espada
patterns, they can be used externally in large panels. Alternatively, (delaespada.com). ‘Drio’ extending table, £650,
Habitat (habitat.co.uk). ‘Two’ table, £1,890,
if you like the look but adjusting the façade of your home is not an Another Country (anothercountry.com).
option, Miller also makes striking interior wallcoverings. The designs ‘Bigfoot’ table by Philip Mainzer for E15,
can be tailored to suit your needs, or you can request an entirely £3,820, Viaduct (viaduct.co.uk)
bespoke look. From £500 per square metre (gilesmiller.co.uk).

98 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 

 

    

 
 
  
 

     
      
     

  

    

 
Solutions | T E C H N O L O G Y

ALL- SEEING EYE

Parents who wish they really
did have eyes in the back of their
head will be interested in the
‘Withings Home’ security
camera. This app-centric device
allows you to monitor your home
via a live smartphone video feed.
It also has night vision (useful
for baby monitoring) and tracks
the air quality in your abode,
notify
f ing you of increased
pollution. £170 (withings.com).

THE SOUND OF THE FUTURE

The Devialet ‘Silver Phantom’ looks and sounds like no other wireless
speaker. On the outside: a sleek expression of Apple-esque simplicity,
with a dash of sci-fi chic. On the inside: high-end Bluetooth technology,
capable of streaming playlists from your smartphone without a glitch,
and a hybrid analogue-digital amp that aims to provide similar audio
quality to Devialet’s much-admired £50,000 luxury hi-fi. A mere ten years,
45 engineers and 77 patents in the making, the compact ‘Silver Phantom’
is an extremely powerful wireless sound system. The idea is to start with
one speaker and then build up a multi-room network, adding extra devices
for chosen rooms in your house. That said, for most houses one is enough.
With 3,000 watts at its disposal, this speaker can produce floorboard-
trembling music. £1,690, Harrods (harrods.com).

HOT AND 3 OF THE BEST RETRO-LOOK GADGETS

HUMID Classic looks and cutting-edge components beautifully combined
Dyson’s new
health-boosting
humidifier hydrates
the air in your
home, helping to
alleviate the
symptoms of dry
skin. What’s more, Oxford DAB Leica M-P (Typ 240) Hemingwrite
its built-in UV light Digital Radio Safari Edition The simplicity of
With a leather-clad This may look like a a typewriter (no
kills 99.9 per cent 1960s look, this model heritage camera, but Facebook to distract
of bacteria, helping features simple rotary with a 24-megapixel you), but with cloud
to prevent you from dials and a 21st- CMOS sensor and the backup for your work
catching a nasty
WORDS: TOM BAILEY

century DAB tuner. latest imaging tech, it’s and an easy-to-read

summer cold. £60, Goodmans totally modern. £7,850 e-ink screen. £268
£500, John Lewis (goodmans.co.uk). (leica-camera.com). (hemingwrite.com).
( johnlewis.com).

100 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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 Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

#2
TOP TIPS FOR EASY SUMMER ENTERTAINING

PINCH STUDIO The designers

Furniture designers Russell and
Oona Pinch share their tips for
informal dinner parties (@Pinch_
London; pinchdesign.com).
Avoid ceremony. Our favourite
meals are those lazy lunches on
holiday, where everyone helps
to prepare the food and then sits
down to eat together. We try
to create an atmosphere where
people feel at ease enough to
help themselves to another glass of wine from the fridge.
Keep it in the kitchen. Ours (pictured below) is
configured so that food prep and dining are integrated;
we can’t imagine a dinner party where the host is in
a different room to their guests. It’s like being staff.
Stay close. We believe that the best width for a dining
table is 91cm. It’s narrow enough to ensure conversations
feel intimate, yet people also have enough space.
Shop at markets. The UK is great for farmer’s markets,
but the expense of them means that they are seen as a place
to buy occasional treats. In France, they’re an everyday
thing – the French philosophy is buy less but buy better.
PICTURES: INGRID RASMUSSEN (PINCH STUDIO), WOLFGANG STAHR (REINVENTING THE CABINET, MAIN IMAGE), DAVID WOOLEY (REINVENTING THE CABINET, BOTTOM)

Be spontaneous. The night we moved in to our Brixton

home, people dropped by to help us unpack and before
we knew it we had six people plus six kids for dinner.
Everything was mismatched – a few people had paper
plates – but it was one of the best meals we’ve had here. #3
R E I N V E N T I N G T H E CA B I N ET
As the boundary between kitchen and dining spaces
continues to blur, traditional display cabinets have
begun to find favour once more. The key to making
an antique piece work in a modern home is to add
considered contemporary touches. For example,
interior designer Gisbert Pöppler has combined a
delicate painted china
cabinet with sleek green
base units in his Berlin
kitchen (pictured above).
Meanwhile, British
stylist Kathryn Rayward
has made a virtue of
the missing door in her
19th-century Italian
walnut cupboard ( left),
which she bought for
£500 at auction and
has filled with her
favourite pieces of
tableware, turning it
into a display window.

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 107

 Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

#6
3 OF THE BEST… FOOD BLOGGERS

Mimi Thorisson (@mimithor; mimithorisson.com)

After leaving Paris for Médoc in the rural southwest of France three
years ago, Thorisson started the food blog Manger to document her
foodie creations. The pictures (taken by her photographer husband)
are an intoxicating mix of her latest dishes and vignettes of interiors
that will have you longing for a slice of the Gallic good life.

SWEET NATURED
Model and stylist turned skilled baker Clare Zerny
Rachel Walker (@The_FoodIEat; thefoodieat.org)
concocts tempting sweet treats in her London kitchen, Walker had a love of food from a young age and, during her
creating centrepieces for fashion parties and society holidays from reading history at Oxford, she worked as a private
weddings. Looking at her fantastical signature mini cook. She’s now a successful food writer with a loyal following for
her blog, The Food I Eat, which is packed full of practical tips, such
dessert trees (pictured above) it’s clear to see why her as how to make cheat’s sushi or get the most of a cut of meat. Her
pâtisserie, which includes such delights as rhubarb, insights into wine pairing are useful for dinner-party planning, too.
lemon and orange meringue tarts, has been in demand.
Catering from £80 (clarezerny.com).

#5
ROUGH AND
TUMBLER
Govino’s shatter-proof glasses
are perfect for garden parties.
The polymer ‘Go Anywhere’
collection includes a cocktail
tumbler (pictured), wine flutes Emma Gardner (@poireschocolat; poiresauchocolat.net)
and a pint glass, all featuring After winning the Guild of Food Writers’ Food Blog of the Year
a thumb-notch that helps you award in 2014, Gardner hung up her apron and began training
to become a doctor. Her beautiful blog, Poires au Chocolat, now
to keep a tight grip on your
functions as an archive of her recipes (some 150) rather than
summer tipple. From £10 each, a regularly updated journal. We highly recommend her helpful
Ella’s Kitchen Company Ltd tutorial videos, which demonstrate difficult baking techniques.
(ellaskitchencompany.com).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 109

 #7 T O P TI P S FOR EASY SUMMER ENTERTAINING
ALEX EAGLE The curator
Entertaining is about the details for Alex Eagle, who puts
together a dinner party in the same considered way that she
curates the exquisite look of her lifestyle stores in Belgravia,
West London and Soho House Berlin. Meticulously arranging
everything from the guestlist to the glassware, she makes it all
look effortlessly elegant (@eagletta; alexeagle.co.uk).
Invest in beautiful glassware. I have some amazing 18th-
century French Champagne flutes, which are so ornate and
delicate that it’s a wonder they’ve survived. They make toasting
a special occassion seem all the more decadent.
Mix and match. The Venetians think that it is bad taste for all
of the glasses on a table to be matching. Italian noble families
use different styles and colours, combining inherited, heirloom
glasses that haven’t yet been broken and newer pieces.
I love this notion of a beautiful mix of glassware on the table
and prefer small tumblers for both wine and water.
Create a table plan. I like to mix the seating plan, placing old
and new friends beside interesting people my husband Mark and
I have met through our work, such as designers and artists.
Use classic colour combinations. I like blue and white for
crockery. I’m a magpie and buy lots of different pieces, but the
lovely thing is that they all go together without being too matchy
matchy. My latest find is South African company Wonky Ware
(available at The Store X Soho House Berlin). Its designs aren’t
all perfect shapes, which creates a more organic, relaxed feel.

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 Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

Choose relaxed floral displays. I usually have a couple

of big bunches of flowers that are loose, wild and not too
manicured, plus smaller bunches dotted around the house
as additional pops of natural colour. I love peonies, hydrangeas
and ranunculus, but even a few tulips overflowing from a vase
can make an amazing impact on a dining table.
Scent your space. There is nothing more lovely than the
natural aroma of rosemary and lavender in the kitchen and
summer flowers, such as sweet peas, in the dining area. I also
burn custom-blended candles from Jehanne de Biolley
( jehannedebiolley.com) – my favourite is sandalwood and
geranium, which comes in a beautiful indigo glass pot.
Go for crowd-pleasing dishes. Any meal from The River Cafe’s
many cookbooks is sure to be a hit. They are tried and tested
favourites. I love Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes too, and, not being
the world’s best cook, I have been known to cheat and buy
takeaway meals from the deli that I then re-plate at home.
Stay calm. The key ingredient of a great dinner party is for
everyone to feel relaxed. If you have some snacks ready to feed
PICTURES: INGRID RASMUSSEN

people as soon as they arrive then there isn’t so much pressure

for food to be served on time.
Take time to talk to your guests. It’s easy to get swept up
in making sure that everything is running smoothly and before
you know it people are saying goodbye before you have even
had a chance to properly say hello.

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 111

 PICTURE: TERUAKI KAWAKAMI

Clash cultures in a calm and considered fashion by mixing turned wooden vessels and mid-century Poole and Midwinter pottery with rustic
earthenware pieces. Using bowls inspired by the tea traditions of the Far East will allow you to play with proportion; adding depth and delicacy to any
table. The work of Japanese-born, Devon-based ceramicist Keiko Hasegawa (available at Margaret Howell; margarethowell.co.uk) perfectly captures
this mood, while the newly opened Native & Co (nativeandco.com) specialises in Japanese and Taiwanese homewares. Add classic cutlery from the likes
of David Mellor (davidmellordesign.com) and hand-carved wooden utensils – we love Sophie Sellu’s intricate pieces (grainandknot.com).
 #8
TA B L E T O P T R E N D S

MODERN ORIENTAL
Combine the serenity and restraint of pieces sourced from
the Far East with understated classic British designs
 #9
HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT HOME BAR
Richard Miller of cabinetmaker Halstock shares his advice (@HalstockEngland; halstock.com)

Planning your space means that no one has to ferry glasses The essential tools
For everyday entertaining, a large back and forth to the kitchen. The sink You only need six basic tools: a good
cupboard can be easily converted into a does not need to be huge and should cocktail shaker, a mixing glass or smallish
practical bar. However, if you regularly ideally be incorporated seamlessly into jug, a long-handled stirring spoon that has
throw parties for large groups and require a stainless-steel worksurface. a bit of weight to it, a strainer to get rid of
room for two people to be making drinks Choosing your materials seeds and pulp, a ‘jigger’ with a one-ounce
at the same time, you’ll need a bar that’s A bar is a great way to express yourself. measure on one side and a two-ounce
around two metres long. Consider the We have created everything from wooden measure on the other, and a paring knife
wiring, ventilation and plumbing early on. bars that discreetly match existing for cutting strips of peel.
Wet or dry? panelling to ones featuring built-in The glassware
You can incorporate a ‘dry’ bar just about aquariums. Designers can use just about Unless you always serve one signature
anywhere, but having a ‘wet’ bar, with a any material you can think of, but to avoid drink, it makes sense to collect a whole
built-in sink (and preferably an ice- damage to surfaces that will get wet array of glassware, from short glasses to
maker) is much more useful for serious repeatedly it makes sense to use stainless- coupes, and a variety of tumblers. Don’t
mixologists. Including a dishwasher steel, aluminium, glass or mirrored tops. worry if they don’t match, but do ensure
that you have enough of each type.
The drinks
A couple of bottles of vodka, gin, whisky,
a bourbon and some vermouth, as well
as a light and a dark rum, should be more
than enough for most bars, but you may
want to add a bottle of Cointreau and
some Triple Sec. Have a few fruit purees
(as well as lemons, limes, strawberries,
oranges, raspberries and fresh mint) in
the fridge, along with a good range of
mixers and a selection of bottled beers.

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 Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

#10
THREE OF THE BEST… TOP TIPS FOR EASY SUMMER ENTERTAINING
DRINKS TROLLEYS
SOPHIE CONRAN The lifestyle guru
When cook, writer and product
designer Sophie Conran entertains
at home, it’s all about laid-back living
(@SophieConran; sophieconran.com).
Follow the French. I’ve been to
the South of France almost every
summer since I was a child. I love
the freshness of the food, the markets
and the relaxed lifestyle there. The
food is always made for sharing. I try
to recreate a little of that back at
home for summer parties. My drink
of choice is Rosé Piscine – a good rose
wine served over lots of ice.
Aim for healthy, fresh and tasty.
I like to prepare lentil salads, roast
veg and cold roast chicken with homemade tarragon mayonnaise.
Little bowls of snacks, such as nuts and ripe summer fruit, plus big
slices of almond and blueberry cake for dessert.
Tableware is key. I grew up in a design-conscious household:
whenever we went to a restaurant we would talk about the tableware,
why the cutlery was good to hold with a heavy handle but also
annoying as it easily drops off of your plate. I’ve been observing design
details from a very young age and still get excited about them now.
Not everything has to be perfect. The Japanese understand that
perfection is impossible to attain and the quest for it makes things
inhuman. When it comes to entertaining, I believe that you should
be your imperfect self and relax. I have a friend who can’t cook for
toffee and orders in takeaway. We always have wonderful evenings
at their house. It’s the coming together – the humanity – that matters.
Your table should be warm, friendly and inviting. Earthy textures
(glazed pottery, putty-coloured plates, woven jute mats) with bright
pops of colour create this look beautifully. I’ve picked up lots of
pieces at markets over the years. Midhurst in West Sussex is great for
finding quality things and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in France is good for
antiques. My favourite piece, though, is an old Greek serving bowl,
a present from my brother Jasper. You can’t beat classic beauty.
PICTURES: SHANNON MCGRATH (HOME BAR, MAIN IMAGE), THERESE WINBERG
(HOME BAR, INSET), INGRID RASMUSSEN (SOPHIE CONRAN)

From top Round brass-and-marble drinks trolley, £325,

Rockett St George (rockettstgeorge.co.uk). ‘Mid-Century
Bar Cart’ walnut and brass drinks trolley, £325, West Elm
(westelm.co.uk). ‘Chariot’ drinks trolley by Gam Fratesi
for Casamania, £1,925, Chaplins (chaplins.co.uk)

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Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

#11
HOW TO WOW YOUR GUESTS WITH FLOWERS
Grace & Thorn’s Nik Southern talks us through her beautiful displays (@graceandthorn; graceandthorn.com)
Floral artist Nik Southern creates striking got a big concrete table in the centre Potted jasmine is another favourite
naturalistic floral arrangements that of the shop. I love the difference between of mine – it’s easy to grow and the smell
dress the tables of London’s most stylish the hardness of the concrete and is absolutely intoxicating.
cocktail parties. Here, she explains how the delicacy of the flowers.
to get this look at home. Succulents are great because they
Arrange flowers and foliage at are low-maintenance; they come in
A vase or a cluster of succulents different heights to create an offbeat all sizes and colours and are easy to group
makes an instant centrepiece. For the bouquet. A ‘wild’ asymmetrical shape together. We’ve done lots of events where
supper club that I host in the Grace & always looks better than over- the only decoration is succulents and
Thorn shop, we clear the work table and manipulated flowers – very few things often they are the most commented upon.
lay it for dinner. It’s the perfect way to are perfectly symmetrical in nature.
show the transformative power of plants. Terrariums are a brilliant way to
Choose a simple colour scheme when bring nature indoors because they
Use old vintage vases with new selecting your flowers. Pick your main allow you to construct a living, contained
geometric pieces or combine cut flowers blooms first, such as roses or hydrangeas, landscape. Fill a cloche or bell jar with
with wild plants to create contrast. For my followed by foliage, such as sword and suitable plants, mosses, gravel or bark,
store’s interior I wanted to move away asparagus fern, and then filler flowers then add stones, fossils and crystals
from the usual flower-shop look, so I’ve – astrantia or wax flower work well. to add depth to your display.

PICTURES: INGRID RASMUSSEN

116 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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Embrace tradition in a contemporary way by layering antique faience and porcelain Limoges china, such as the ‘Les Maisons Enchantées’ collection by
Hermès (hermes.com), with heavily textured earthenware, of which Toast’s speckled ceramics are a perfect example (toa.st). This look is all about
juxtaposing the delicate and the substantial – think organically shaped, intensely glazed plates from Brickett Davda (brickettdavda.com) and timeless
pieces from French brand Astier de Villatte (astierdevillatte.com). Exotic North African elements from Moroccan Bazaar (moroccanbazaar.co.uk)
work well with one-off, handmade items, such as the black ‘Valerie Casado’ cup and saucer (pictured above) from Swoon (swoon-lounge.com).
Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

#13 BANQUET
HOUSE
Cooks, The Carlton School of Food,
prides itself on being more than just
a cookery college. Students can take
a range of courses and learn how
to forage, grow and photograph food
from an impressive roster of
experts. The lessons are situated
in the kitchens of Carlton Towers,
the ancestral seat of the Duke of
Norfolk’s family. Although it is run
very much as a private home, there
are 16 guest rooms where visitors
of the cookery school can stay after
a day’s work (cooksatcarlton.co.uk).

#14 B E Y O N D T H E PA L E
A white dinner service is practical, but perhaps a little predictable. Why not mix in one of these striking sets?
Rainbow brights Monochrome Ethnic edge
Missoni Home’s new porcelain collection features Italian trendsetter Paola Navone has used sharp Anthropologie’s ‘Habari’ tableware is hand-
the brand’s signature zig-zags and stripes as well geometric shapes in classic black and white in her painted with bright patterns inspired by West
as floral motifs. Our favourite is the blowsy, ‘Otto’ tableware collection for Reichenbach. Large African textiles – sure to be uplifting even on
protea-inspired design (left). From £92 for two platter, £110; bowl, £50; dinner plate, £72, all even the greyest of British summer days. From
side plates, Amara (amara.com). The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk). £10 for a mug (anthropologie.eu).

120 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

   
   
 #15
TA B L E T O P T R E N D S

INDIAN SUMMMER
Tones of spice and terracotta come together with granular glazes and glass
for a multi-layered and multi-cultural approach to table settings
PICTURE: TERUAKI KAWAKAMI

This aesthetic is all about a marriage of intense glazes and shades reminiscent of the subcontinent’s hot climes and food. Add luxury in the form
of hammered copper and brass pieces, which can be sourced from contemporary Indian brand Tiipoi (tiipoi.com). Simplicity is brought to the table
with the help of a few plain white serving plates, glass storage jars and roughly crafted ceramic vessels, all of which can be bought from Summerill &
Bishop (summerillandbishop.co.uk). For authentic teapots and cups, head to Mayfair’s Postcard Teas (postcardteas.com). For interesting spoons and
utensils, consider commissioning a designer-maker, such as the incredibly talented Simone ten Hompel (tenhompel.com).
 #16
T O P TI P S F O R E A S Y S U M M E R E N TE RTA I N I N G

SASHA WILKINS The blogger

After moving from London to New York in 2007, Sasha
Wilkins set up her blog, LibertyLondonGirl, as a way for
friends and family to stay up to date with her new life, but
her recipes and Instagram snaps of her table settings gained
a much wider audience. Here, she imparts her dinner party
wisdom (@LibertyLndnGirl; libertylondongirl.com).

Embrace domesticity. I cannot abide the sort of home

entertaining that requires four kinds of fork and plates of
food that have been tweaked, smeared and garnished. Most
people are just deliriously happy to be fed by someone else.

Put flowers on your table. I don’t have time to create lavish

arrangements, but a few simple tricks can transform a bunch of
inexpensive flowers into something rather impressive. I always
keep oddly-shaped medicine bottles, jam jars and the glass
holders from scented candles, as they make great vases. Tie a
piece of string loosely under the heads of a single bunch of roses
and chop the stems short: this will give a lovely massed effect.
PICTURES: ALAMY (GLASS BOTTLES, FLEA MARKET)

Serve simple food. Using carefully considered ingredients

allows me to spend at least as much time talking to friends
and family as I do sweating over a stove. Cooking shouldn’t
be treated like rocket science: it’s just food.
Don’t obsess about matching plates. It is the atmosphere
that we create around our food that matters, not the manner
in which it is served. I’m not a fan of napkin origami and am
as likely to serve my cakes as fat slices wrapped in greaseproof
paper as I am to place them on a vintage cake stand.

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 Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

W H E R E T O SO U R C E V I N TAG E TA B L E WA R E
MARKETS IN THE UK
Lewes Flea Market Open every day, this is a wonderful
place to pick up all manner of curiosities. I’ve bought old
scent bottles to use as vases as well as wonderful vintage
china at bargain prices (flea-markets.co.uk).
Indoor flea market at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
A monthly flea market that attracts private sellers and
dealers from all over the southwest of England. It is
particularly good for vintage tableware, but there is lots
of great antique jewellery, too (bristolfleamarket.co.uk).
Shepton Flea Market, Somerset Held seven times a year,
this flea market has 200 indoor stalls (great for rainy days)
and more outside. You can find almost anything here,
including antique table linen (sheptonflea.com).

AND MORE IN FRANCE…

Local vintage markets or brocantes and vide-greniers
(which literally translates as empty attics) pop up most
weekends, often advertised with kerbside placards.
Check out what’s on nearby at vide-greniers.org.
La Fauvette in Châtellerault, Vienne is my favourite
secret junk shop. The 900-square-metre store sells
secondhand everything, including a wide range of china
and glass. 35 rue Jean de la Fontaine, 86100 Châtellerault,
Vienne (depot-vente-la-fauvette.fr).
The markets on the Cours Saleya in Nice are just a block
#17 JOIN THE DOTS
away from the seafront. There’s a flower and food market Iconic American cook Julia Child famously had
every day, but every Monday this makes way for antiques a pegboard in her Provence kitchen and outlined
and vintage stalls. It’s a good spot for sourcing traditional each pot and pan in black marker so that its rightful
ceramics and photographic prints. Open 6am to 6pm. place was instantly visible. This ‘Peg-it-All’ wall
Le Puce de Canal, France’s second biggest flea market, panel from Kreis Design will help you bring a little
just outside of Lyon, has a mix of permanent indoor stands of Ms Child’s exacting precision to your own
and outdoor stalls. Given its regional setting, it’s a great kitchen. From £153 ( kreisdesign.com).
place to pick up horticultural and outdoor collectables
– perfect for prettifying an outdoor entertaining area.
These entertaining tips and many more can be found in
Sasha’s book, ‘Friends Food Family: Recipes and Secrets #18 T H E B E S T … GI F TS F O R THE H OS T
from Liberty London Girl’ (Quadrille, £18.99)

Macarons by ‘Sweet Pea’ Jug Classic Cuvee

Pierre Marcolini by The Real Flower 2009 by
x Maison Kitsune Company Nyetimber
The combination Two gloriously rustic This award-winning
of the finest Belgian gifts in one: English sparkling wine from
macarons and a box sweet peas and a the South Downs is
designed by a classic Stoke kitchen considered by many
French fashion house jug. After the flowers to taste better than
makes for a gift that have faded, the jug Champagne – serve
looks as good as it makes a practical with fresh British
tastes. £29.90 for keepsake. £65 strawberries. £24
12 (marcolini.com). (realflowers.co.uk). (waitrose.com).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 125

 PICTURE: TERUAKI KAWAKAMI

Combine matt glazes and handcrafted pieces with contemporary Scandinavian designs to create
a perfect storm of sensuality and minimalism. Heath Ceramics, which now ships to the UK (heathceramics.com),
makes tonal tableware that complements the jewel-toned Nordic glass of brands such as Iittala (iittala.com), Orrefors
(orrefors.com) and Marimekko (marimekko.com). Visit Another Country (anothercountry.com), Folklore
(shopfolklore.com) and Future & Found (futureandfound.com) for more ceramics that fit this aesthetic.
 T

R I

Closer to the shores of

Africa than Italy, the small
picturesque island of
Pantelleria has a landscape
defined by brittle, volcanic
rock, yet is also home to
fertile crop-growing lands
nourished by the warm
waters of the Mediterranean
Sea. Here, you’ll find unique
ingredients, including fresh
zibibbo grapes, salty capers
and wild Pantellerian
oregano thriving under the
sun’s scorching rays and
weathering the strong
sirocco wind that blows
across the continent from
the Sahara desert.
Local chef Maurizio
Bilardello uses these
regional delicacies to create
delicious and innovative
versions of Pantelleria’s
traditional dishes. Here,
WORDS: FRANCESCA DAVOLI

he lets us in on a few trade

secrets, giving us his best
recipes for stuffed calamari
and caponata, which are
guaranteed to evoke the
tastes of this idyllic island.

128 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

STUFFED
C A L A M A R I (serves 4)
Ingredients
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1kg calamari, washed and
gutted (keep body aside)
100g breadcrumbs
2 tbsp salted capers
20 black olives, pitted
50g zibibbo raisins
50g pine nuts
50g grated pecorino
1 egg
200g peeled tomatoes, pulped
A sprig of parsley
Pantellerian oregano, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

Method
Fry the oil and garlic over a
low heat. Chop the calamari
tentacles and fry over a low
heat. Mix the breadcrumbs, WA R M C A P O N ATA
black pepper, minced capers, WITH CRUNCHY
olives, raisins, pine nuts, CAPERS AND
ROASTED ALMONDS
pecorino, cooked tentacles
(serves 4)
and egg together (pictured
left), then stuff inside the Ingredients
calamari body. Pour the 4 aubergines
tomato pulp, salt, pepper and 1 medium onion, sliced
a little oil over the stuffed 3 sticks celery, sliced
calamari. Cook in a pan with a Sunflower oil (for frying)
lid on for 30 minutes. Sprinkle 150ml extra-virgin olive oil
with oregano, then serve. 1 glass of water
20g Pantellerian capers
preserved in olive oil
Chef Maurizio 50g black olives
Bilardello uses 3 tsp cane sugar
local delicacies, 30ml white wine vinegar
3 tsp tomato puree
such as zibibbo 50g shelled almonds,
grapes and salty roasted and chopped

capers, to create Method

innovative Peel the aubergines and chop
them into two-centimetre
versions of cubes. Fry in a pan then let
Pantelleria’s them rest for about an hour.
Cook the onion and celery
traditional dishes with the extra-virgin oil and
water in a pan over a medium
heat until all of the water has
evaporated. Add the capers,
olives, sugar, vinegar and
tomato puree and cook for
a further 15 minutes to make
the caponata. Fry the
aubergines again and dry off
any excess oil. Top with the
caponata and sprinkle with
chopped almonds and a
handful of crunchy capers.

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 129

Entertaining | T H E A R T O F E AT I N G I N

#21 At Home In The Whole Food

COOKING THE BOOKS Kitchen by Amy Chaplin
(Roost Books, £25)
The best new tomes for seasonal recipe inspiration Amy Chaplin has worked as
a vegetarian chef for some
20 years, in restaurants and
for private clients. In this
sophisticated cookbook she
shares her know-how for
creating healthy dishes. Part
one explains how and when to
use certain ingredients; Part
two is a collection of exciting
and flavourful recipes.

Mamushka by Olia Hercules

(Mitchell Beazley, £25; on
sale June 1) Hercules
celebrates the evocative tastes
of the ‘Wild East’ – the area
from the Black Sea to Baku
– with more than 100 recipes
sourced from Ukraine and
beyond. The repertoire of
exotic, earthy dishes includes
Georgian poussins with spicy
plum chutney and pickled
garlic, washed down with a
digestif of blackcurrant vodka.

Spring, The Cookbook by Skye

Gyngell (Quadrille, £25)
A beautifully photographed
collection of recipes (see below)
taken from the menu at
Gyngell’s lauded new London
restaurant, Spring. Think
A Lot on her Plate by Rosie Birkett (Hardie Grant, £25) guinea fowl with faro and
Food writer Rosie Birkett’s upbeat prose and imaginative yet parsley, and kimchi, chocolate
approachable recipes make for a winning combination. and espresso puddings. This
There’s an emphasis on fresh seasonal flavours and healthy is more than your average
dishes, but there’s also a selection of more indulgent recipes cookbook; Gyngell also provides
for days when you hanker after something richer. For even insights into the creation of
more ideas, check out Rosie’s blog (alotonherplate.com). the restaurant’s design.
WORDS THROUGHOUT: TALIB CHOUDHRY

For extra recipes and the

finest food suppliers, head
to elledecoration.co.uk

130 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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F O R M O R E S T Y L I S H I N T E R I O R S , V I S I T E L L E D E C O R AT I O N . C O . U K / I N S P I R AT I O N S
 UNITED Combining their talents for
designing bold, bright textiles
and cool concrete features, this

COLOURS Australian couple have created

a contemporary coastal home
Words EMMA LOVE
Photography ARMELLE HABIB/TAVERNE AGENCY
W
aking up to a view of beaches and the second
hole of a golf course on Australia’s Bellarine
Peninsula would, for most people, be an idyllic
way to start the day. For Hayley and James
Pannekoecke, it is an everyday reality. ‘We designed this house
and my husband built it,’ says Hayley of the U-shaped home the
couple have constructed to accommodate their growing family.
The four-bedroom, 370-square-metre property is a single- ‘WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN,
storey building oriented around a central garden that is SO IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
particularly loved by the couple’s three children: Chloe (five),
Baye (two), and Floyd (one). It’s close enough to Melbourne, USE COLOUR TO MAKE THIS
where Kip & Co, the fashion and homeware brand co-founded A HOME THAT THEY FEEL
by Hayley, is based, but far enough away that the family can
enjoy a slower pace of life, surrounded by nature. ‘The golf
COMFORTABLE AND RELAXED IN’
course feels like an extension of our back yard,’ says Hayley.
‘In our own garden, we grow vegetables and have a huge I create bright, bold textiles,’ she says. ‘I love the vibrancy that
trampoline for the kids, as well as a decked area where we they inject into a space.’ Meanwhile James, who owns Concrete
enjoy barbecues in the summer with friends and family.’ Architecture, a company that specialises in concrete interior
Inside, the house is a considered mix of contrasting materials. design and fittings, was responsible for making the couple’s bed,
‘It’s a melting pot,’ says Hayley. ‘We wanted to create a modern the bespoke wall panels that separate the bedroom from the
coastal retreat that incorporates the raw, industrial element bathroom, and key elements of the kitchen.
of cool concrete, but offset with lots of natural light and warm ‘As we have young children, it was important to use colour to
American oak on the floor and the vaulted ceilings.’ make this a home that they feel comfortable and relaxed in,’ says
The home’s design evolution is the harmonious result of two Hayley. ‘Their toys are scattered all over the house, so it often
creative talents’ combined skills. Hayley is responsible for the feels like one big kids’ space.’ Blackboards in the bedrooms and
house’s vivid, playful look. ‘Colour is what I do. At Kip & Co, the kitchen – concealing a walk-in pantry – act as an ever-
changing piece of artwork that anyone can scribble on. Other
splashes of colour derive from the abstract artworks above the
fireplace and in the entrance hall, as well as from bright
From top left Homeowners Hayley and James are pictured with their children
(from left) Floyd (one), Baye (two), and Chloe (five). The painting above the
accessories, such as the neon pink replica Tolix stools in the
fireplace is by local artist Megan Weston. The graphic ‘Mr Fenton’ rug is from kitchen and a bright yellow chair in the living room. ‘The house
Fenton & Fenton. In the kitchen, the blackboard wall conceals a walk-in pantry is unpretentious, which suits us as a family,’ says Hayley.
Stockist details on p212 kipandco.net.au; concretearchitecture.com.au ➤

136 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 ‘OUR HOME IS A MELTING POT.
WE WANTED TO INCORPORATE
THE RAW, INDUSTRIAL LOOK OF
CONCRETE WITH WARM
AMERICAN OAK’

Kitchen Homeowner James designed and made the floor,

kitchen island and splashback from different types and
shades of textured concrete. The patinated-copper bell
pendants are from The Assembly Hall in Melbourne
Stockist details on p212 ➤
MY COASTAL LIFE
The beaches and The Bluff are
beautiful for morning walks. On
one side of the coast the landscape
is rugged and wild, but on the other
there are great areas for paddle
boarding and fishing.
We live near to where the ocean
meets the Barwon River and less than
an hour’s drive from the Great Ocean
Road, which is world renowned for its
spectacular coastal scenery.
My favourite local store is Mill
Market (millmarkets.com/au), a huge
warehouse with more than 100 stalls
run by antiques traders. I love trawling
through their latest finds.
We often take the kids to
Melbourne, where the Kip & Co
warehouse is based, and visit Rita’s
(ritasabbotsford.com.au), a casual
Italian restaurant. I also love Chin
Chin (chinchinrestaurant.com.au),
a top spot for Asian street food.
James and the kids surf, so we
spend most of our weekends on the
beach. Life on the coast gives us such
a sense of freedom. It has a much
slower pace of life than the city.
 Bedroom James made
the American-oak bed base
from offcuts left over after the
house was built. He also made
the concrete wall panel behind
the bed, which separates
the sleeping area from the
bathroom. The bed linen and
velvet cushions are from
Hayley’s company, Kip & Co
Stockist details on p212 ➤
 Bedroom The walls in Floyd’s room are a mix of egg-yolk
yellow and floor-to-ceiling blackboards. You can find
a similarly colourful felt pouf at Felt Ball Rug
Bathroom The bath and shower are divided by James’s
concrete panel and the walls are clad in American oak
Stockist details on p212 E D

142 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

THE SURREALISTS
This converted barn, nestled in olive groves on the outskirts of Rome,
acts as home, studio and gallery space for one artistic Italian couple

Words HANNAH BOOTH

Photography FABRIZIO CICCONI/LIVING INSIDE
Styling FRANCESCA DAVOLI
 BEDROOM

STUDIO

LIVING AREA

KITCHEN

BEDROOM

Living room The cushions on the sofa feature prints by

homeowner Ekaterina (pictured left) while the coffee table
was built by the couple’s architect, Alessandro Federici,
using a wooden door

W
hen artists work from home, their creative The largest space in the barn is the couple’s shared studio. It
space is usually kept separate from the drama brims with homely touches, such as slouchy sofas covered in dust
of domestic life, located in a book-lined study, sheet-style throws. The open space flows into the kitchen, which
a peaceful garden room, or a lively paint-spattered has more of a slick, contemporary look. Even there, modern art
studio in an outbuilding. For artists Ekaterina Panikanova abounds: a Damien Hirst-esque verterbrae suspended in a glass
and Maurizio Fioravanti, life and work – home and studio – are case designed by Maurizio lurks like a menacing jellyfish in one
intertwined, both occupying a spacious, light-filled former barn corner; on another wall is one of Ekaterina’s collages, which is
in a picturesque olive grove, just 30 kilometres from Rome. painted onto a canvas made of pages ripped from vintage books.
Art fills the rooms and lines the walls of this modern house. The house is more than a backdrop to the couple’s art, though.
In the hallway, there’s a black plinth topped with a collection Constructed in typical Roman style around a central courtyard,
of curiosities and just outside stand two Roman column bases, the property has been updated by architect Alessandro Federici,
like a pair of sentries. It resembles the entrance to a gallery. In who has used natural materials – concrete, iron, Roman stone
the living room, a vast painting by Ekaterina fills one wall beside and marble – in a stylish, modern way. The walls are painted
wall-mounted fencing masks that, on first glance, look like a pale grey and feature long, low, wraparound windows. These,
sconces. The coffee table houses objects curated along an avian together with the many skylights and glass walls, flood the rooms
theme, such as a bird’s nest and candles shaped like ostrich eggs. with natural light. ‘It’s an open space that allows you to feel both
Both Ekaterina and Maurizio are passionate collectors who free and protected at the same time,’ says Ekaterina. ‘The
hunt for new and interesting pieces on their travels. The house is simplicity of the interior makes it comfortable.’
furnished with handmade furniture and Victoriana, discovered Ekaterina and Maurizio’s life has taken on a completely
in flea markets. Bell jars, old-fashioned weighing scales, vintage different rhythm after the birth of their son Leone, five months
books and Russian china, the latter from Ekaterina’s native ago. The pace of countryside living is very different to when they
St Petersburg, reflect the homeowners’ surrealist taste. lived in bustling downtown Rome. ‘It’s certainly not your typical
Ekaterina’s own artwork has a magical, Alice in Wonderland Italian country house,’ says Ekaterina of her home and studio.
oddness: scenes of pies, bicycles, rocking horse heads placed on ‘You can recognise the spirit of Modernism here.’ But one
men’s bodies and badgers doing gymnastics. She has just reminder of the house’s past life still remains: the name Jupiter
produced a wallpaper collection, ‘Biblioteca’, based on her – a bull, the barn’s former resident – carved into a sign above
original works, for Dutch company NLXL (nlxl.com). the entrance gate. ekaterinapanikanova.com ➤

146 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

154 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015
M Y C I T Y: R O M E
When you’re in Rome it feels like an eternal
holiday. People always have a smile on their face.
I love to walk Rome’s old streets and find
a small bottega (craft store) or glimpse inside
the city’s apartment buildings when it gets
dark outside and the lights come on.
I’m addicted to the Porta Portese flea market
and long walks in the Villa Borghese garden.
Try the organic homemade gelato at
Gelateria dei Gracci (gelateriadeigracci.it)
and pizza at Pizzeria ai Marmi in Trastevere.
My favourite view is through the keyhole
at Villa del Priorato di Malta (Piazza di
Sant’ Anselmo). You can see the copper-green
dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica beyond a garden
framed by clipped cypresses. It is magical.

Bathroom The iron sink and mirror, as well as the wall-

mounted taps, were designed by architect Alessandro Federici
Bedroom Thanks to its old elm floorboards, this room
has a warmer, softer aesthetic. A painting of a pensive
figure by Ekaterina hangs on the wall above a pretty
sideboard (find similar at French Bedroom Company)
Stockist details on p212 E D
 ‘T
his house is simple, natural, warm
and bright,’ says Hubert Bettan,
walking through the hallway of the
ChâteaudeDirac,alandmark,flanked
by turrets, close to Angoulême in
southwest France. The main house
was constructed in the 19th century,
but its foundations date back some 600 years further still.
The château is part family home, part atelier. Hubert
and his wife, Isabelle Dubois-Dumée, co-run Les Petites
Emplettes, a craft brand specialising in homeware with
a romantic, rustic French style. The pair were still living
in Paris with their children – Augustine, Lilou and
Pimprenette – when they visited the castle during
a family holiday back in 2012. They fell in love with the
building – spread over 500 square metres and surrounded
by 20 acres of picturesque farmland – and by July of the
following year, they’d moved in. ‘It wasn’t a difficult
decision at all,’ says Hubert. ‘The only challenge was to
be ready for the girls to start new schools in September.’
The beauty of the castle’s interior lies in how little the
family has done to it. The relaxed design scheme contrasts
beautifully with the castle’s grander features, from crystal
chandeliers to the turrets that fortify the exterior walls.
The raw, pretty palimpsest of stripped-away floral
wallpapers and imperfect plaster has been left untouched
and is offset by furniture that the couple have made
themselves. ‘All the rooms contain at least one product
from our brand,’ says Hubert. ‘The castle is our showroom.’
‘The day we arrived, the house was empty,’ says Isabelle.
There was no furniture at all. It felt crazy that it was
actually our house. It was like the start of a new life.’
While the château might seem remote, the family’s
routine hasn’t changed
all that much. ‘We are
ten kilometres from
Angoulême,’ says Hubert.
‘We go to the food market
there every week. It isn’t
all that different from
our life in Paris.’
Hubert and Isabelle
relish the bohemian
quality that they ’ve
brought to the property
but, as with their own
designs, they are intent
on honing the effortless
look; it’s not all quite as
accidental as it appears.
‘We want to change the
fireplace,’ says Isabelle.
‘It is black marble, and
fireplaces in Charente
are usually made of white
stone. But we really do
Entrance hall On the stairs next to the love everything about
kitchen, plants are arranged casually in baskets the house. We appreciate
Kitchen The simple wooden table is that it’s all precious, from
handmade, and the stools are from the
homeowners’ company, Les Petites Emplettes
the staircase and the
Portrait Isabelle Dubois-Dumée and Hubert windows to the trees and
Bettan live in the château with their daughters the landscape outside.’
Lilou, Augustine and Pimprenette lespetitesemplettes.com ➤
‘This house is simple, natural,
warm and bright. These are qualities
that we value, and ones that we aspire
to – both in our home and our work’

Atelier The castle provides the perfect showroom for the couple’s craft brand, Les
Petites Emplettes, which sells simple homeware made from raw, natural materials.
The shelves of the ground-floor workshop are lined with finished products.
‘We left the white stone visible on the walls in every room,’ say the owners ➤

164 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

A D AY I N T H E L I F E
We wake up around 6am. I make sure the girls
are up, open the door for the dogs to go out, make
some coffee, and turn the radio on to hear the news.
We all have breakfast together. Lilou,
Pimprenette and Augustine leave for school
and, after a shower, we take the dogs, Gibrouille
and Jacotte, for a walk.
We might work inside or outside, depending
on the weather. Isabelle spends most of her time
in the workshop, while I have a desk upstairs. If
we don’t have work, we may visit a flea market.
We usually take a break mid-morning and
then stop for lunch at 1pm. During the summer,
we have salad and cheese; in the winter it’s soup.
In the afternoon, I drive to the post office
to ship orders. We have dinner at home around
8pm, or we may go to Le Chatelard, which
is a fantastic restaurant nearby.
We watch a little TV or do some more work,
before retiring to talk about our day together.

Landing The curved,

dark-wood staircase that
winds up through the
château to the attic
Bedrooms The bedlinen,
mirrors and baskets are
all from Les Petites
Emplettes. The sewing
machine was found at
a flea market, and the
white wool carpet is from
a souk in Marrakech E D
 BE AC H
COMBER

Using honest materials, the owner of this villa in southern Italy has created
a calming retreat that draws deeply on the coastline’s natural beauty
Words JACKIE DALY Production KERSTIN ROSE Photography CHRISTIAN SCHAULIN
 ‘I wanted to create a modern holiday house
that blended harmoniously with its natural
surroundings,’ says Bologna-based architect
Luca Zanaroli of the coastal villa that he has
built on his farmstead in Puglia, Italy –
a region that forms part of the heel of the
country’s boot-shape peninsula. Standing in
two-and-a-half acres of outstanding natural beauty, Luca’s
rural estate has a landscape that is typical of the region, which is
known locally as ‘the kingdom of drought and stones’.
He bought the plot in order to renovate its existing 300-year-old
farmhouse, where he holidays with his wife, Silvia, and their two
teenage children. However, Luca found it difficult to remain idle
during the family’s summer breaks and the discovery of an old stove
in the grounds of the property – the last remnants of an ancient
dwelling that, over time, had been reduced to a pile of boulders –
sparked his imagination, inspiring him to begin creating a new
three-bedroom villa on the site. Designed to
merge sensitively with its idyllic setting, the
building references the look of local
drywall structures and is clad entirely in stone
that Luca found on the property’s grounds.
By steering clear of the predictable
rectangular rooms and picture windows that
are common in new-builds – instead
Outside Sandy beaches incorporating ad-hoc corners and diagonal
meet the Ionian Sea along walls – Luca has created the impression of a
this coastline, which is just house with history, one that has been built in
over a mile from the estate stages over decades. He does not distinguish
Details The couple like to between architecture and interior design in
collect shells on the beach,
his work. ‘For me there is no dividing line
which they display in simple
frames. The base of the between the two: each is connected to the
seating area is plastered with other and forms part of an organic process,’
varnished lime cement. The he says. Consequently, every detail of the
owner made the artwork house, from the seating area in the living room
above it from leftover to the freestanding island in the kitchen, was
building materials
drafted on the initial blueprints and built as
the bones of the building took shape. These
pieces are plastered in brown lime cement.
The flooring and the burnished-metal dividing
doors in the kitchen echo this patinated effect.
Luca and Silvia spend much of their holidays rambling along the
coastline, foraging for treasures that can be used in the house. Some
of their finds are decorative, such as the hollowed-out tree trunks
PATIO
that are filled with traditional farming tools – a nod to the area’s
agricultural heritage. Other salvaged gems are given new uses;
LIVING a stone feeding trough has been repurposed as a bathroom washbasin,
AREA
while an old wooden ladder now serves as a towel rail. ‘I like to
KITCHEN reuse things in unexpected ways,’ says Luca. ‘I mix these reclaimed
elements with vintage pieces that I pick up at flea markets.’
Throughout the interior, these foraged finds are arranged in
artful clusters. ‘I deliberately draw attention to one particular
BEDROOM
BEDROOM thing,’ says Luca. ‘The windows, for example, have been designed
to highlight a single vista rather than letting in sweeping panoramic
views – we only have to step onto the patio for those.’
lucazanaroli.com ➤

170 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

The owner scours Puglia’s
picturesque coastline
for pieces that can be used
to decorate the villa

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 171

 ‘I like to reuse things in
unexpected ways and mix
reclaimed elements with
vintage pieces that I pick up
at local flea markets’

Kitchen The owner designed the worktops and

island, which are plastered with varnished lime
cement to create a textural, seamless finish.
Wood offcuts gathered when constructing an
outdoor arbour were used to create the artwork
on the wall. The pendant lamps, trestle table
and benches were purchased locally ➤
 ‘I wanted to create
a modern home that
blended harmoniously
with its surroundings’
 li

Bathroom The burnished walls and floors create a dramatic,

cocooning space. The roughly hewn basin is an old stone
feeding trough that was found on the estate
Bedroom The bedhead in the main bedroom was formerly
an iron gate, now cleaned up and cut to size. The French
windows open onto a patio that receives the morning sun E D
P L AY
HOUSE
o e or e
t ex i -f

ds J
 ‘BUILDING THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN AN
ADVENTURE. THE REMODELLING OF THE
INTERIOR HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS
LEARNING CURVE’
Portrait
Photographer
Emilie Vercruysse
lives in the
A snapshot of Belgian photographer Emilie
Vercruysse’s home reveals her vocation and
passion. Emilie is well known in the
profession for her portraits of children. Her
vibrant and playful style spills into the house
that she shares with her husband David de Ber, a senior manager
at power-generator company Aggreko, in the city of Ghent.
The couple live in a Flemish 1930s property that connects to a
dairy warehouse. Led by architect friend Francisca Hautekeete,
the conversion of the dairy is part of an ambitious five-year renovation
converted dairy plan to create a multifunctional space that is tailored as much to
with her husband the couple’s six-year-old daughter Rosie Lou and their newborn
David de Ber and baby, Miu, as to their own needs. Emilie has fulfilled her wish of
daughters Rosie
Lou (six, pictured)
working from home by creating a photography studio, and there is
and baby Miu also a first-floor office for David that serves as his base when he’s
Living area not working away in Europe and the Middle East. ‘We began living
A staircase winds in the house before the renovation started, so we were able to
up to an office on discover exactly what was important to us before making any final
the mezzanine level decisions and adapting the space,’ says Emilie.
The ‘loft house’ – as it’s affectionately known by the family – is
spread over 200 square metres. The kitchen and adjoining dining
area are at the rear of the former dairy, situated beneath soaring
industrial-height ceilings. This capacious entertaining space extends
into a more casual seating zone, tucked beneath a mezzanine floor.
The walls are white, accented by concrete floors and splashes of
colour, from the yellow ‘Tufty Time’ sofa by Patricia Urquiola to
Rosie Lou’s artworks, which adorn the built-in bookshelves. Floor-
to-ceiling glass doors provide a view of the inner courtyard from
every angle, giving the home an inside-out feel. This central green
space was installed to create a safe place for the children to play.
Just as Emilie and David have their own ‘hideaways’ indoors, so
do the children in the garden. The couple commissioned Jeroen
Worst and Ann Vereecken of Studio Andersom to create the
courtyard’s playhouse, which is constructed from recycled door
panels and cabinets. There’s also an adjoining vegetable patch
where Rosie Lou likes to dig, plant seeds and water the flowers.
‘Building this house has been an adventure,’ says David. ‘We slept
in every room to decide where to place the main bedroom and the
remodelling of the interior has been a continuous learning curve,
even when it came to the choice of furniture. There are pieces from
my mother’s collection, and we’re always trawling markets. We’re
forever on the lookout for props for Emilie’s shoots and pieces that
will bring something special to our home.’ emilievercruysse.be ➤

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 179

 SLIDING DOORS BEHIND THE
WORKSURFACES CONCEAL STREAMLINED
BUILT-IN SHELVING, WHILE SPLASHES OF
YELLOW ENLIVEN THE SPACE
’

i
, IN
. o

-
is
-
e
e
T
ED
 T H E F R E N C H
E N C L AV E
An antiques dealer by trade, the owner of this rustic house in
the Kent countryside has decorated its interior with a rich
mix of vintage furniture sourced from Gallic markets

Words FRANCINE RAYMOND

Photography CATHERINE GRATWICKE Styling HESTER PAGE
 D ecorated in French grey with shuttered
Georgian windows, this ancient seed-merchant’s premises –
complete with matching long barn to the side – is packed full of
rugged vintage pieces collected by owner and antiques dealer
Sophie de Bouvier de Cachard. When stock for her nearby shop,
Branching Out, gets low, Sophie travels to France in her van to top
up her collection of decorative objects, distressed painted furniture
and interesting industrial wares, as well as unusual ecclesiastical
and taxidermy pieces, enamel stoves and unique garden furniture.
All of her finds are just as likely to end up in her living room or
spectacular garden as they are in her store. ‘Sometimes it breaks
my heart to sell a special purchase,’ she admits. ‘I often have to
remind myself that this is my job as well as my passion.’
The kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of Sophie’s warm and
considered home. Unmistakably French in style, the trestle table,
metal chairs and reclaimed factory shelving create the perfect
informal setting for convivial meals with friends. This easy, lived-
in elegance continues throughout the house, right up to the vast,
beamed loft, which features an eye-catching painted-chequerboard
floor. Outside, the theatrical courtyard
garden features Provençal planting and
a collection of found objects – set against
the glorious wide, open sky and rolling
fields of the Kent countryside.
branchingoutwingham.co.uk

To glimpse inside more idyllic rural

retreats and discover the best British
countryside escapes, pick up the latest
issue of ELLE Decoration Country, out
May 20 (elledecoration.co.uk/country)
Entrance Gilded church candlesticks, an antique Comptoise
grandfather clock and Girandole mirror greet visitors
Living room An 18th-century wooden trestle table sits in front
of the original Georgian fireplace. The cherubs mounted on the
wall are early 20th-century plaster moulds ➤

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 ‘S O M E T I M ES I T B R E A KS
MY H E A RT TO S EL L A
S P E C I A L P U RC H A S E. I O F T EN
H AV E TO R E M I N D MYS EL F
T H AT T H I S I S MY J O B A S
W EL L A S MY PA S S I O N ’

Dining room An industrial pine tabletop on iron trestles is lit by an oversized grey
enamel pendant light. The smart buttoned dining chairs are from John Lewis
Kitchen The floor is made from York stone and the reclaimed wooden
pigeon-hole storage unit was painted and waxed by the homeowner
Stairway Antique antlers, and a French mirror from the 1920s decorate the wall ➤

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 189

 Bathroom A metal garden table sits next to a
contemporary roll-top bath and iron washstand.
The chequerboard floor is handpainted
Bedroom An Edwardian silk patchwork quilt
decorates the king-size bed E D

190 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 CLEAN
This country home in the wilds of Norway has been stripped back
to make way for a fresh, airy style with a hint of rustic charm

Words JACKIE DALY Photography DREYER HENSLEY Styling KIRSTEN VISDAL Production ANNICKEN VARGEL
 S L AT E
Dining area Separated from the living space by a simple wood-framed partition, this room features a table with
a poured-concrete top and a rustic bench. A ‘Bell’ pendant by Normann Copenhagen (available from Occa Home) hangs above
Living space The distressed-look display cabinet is filled with personal pieces. A roomy sofa from Dutch company Linteloo
is layered with textiles. The two side tables by Paola Navone are also from Linteloo Stockist details on p212 ➤
N
orway’s Østre Toten, a region of Oppland set in rolling Kjersti and her husband have three children – Wilma (three),
countryside that stretches from Lake Mjøsa to the Molly (five) and Frederik (11) – and their busy family life made
country’s highest mountain peaks, has the kind of open-plan living appealing. So, they hired interior designer Vigdis
idyllic rural charm that brings visitors flocking to the Apeland of Inne Design to reconfigure the house’s original layout
area. Kjersti Linnerud (pictured right) set up home of boxy rooms. Apeland’s approach was radical: she has torn down
here, in the village of Kapp, five years ago when she inherited this most of the internal walls, replaced the windows and floors and
three-storey property, which was built in the 1980s by her parents. modernised the kitchen and bathrooms.
The house holds fond childhood memories for Kjersti, but she These revisions strip the space of anything superfluous. There’s
and her partner Anders Lilleengen have begun a new chapter here a sense of tranquility here, which has much to do with the amount
by stripping back the space and reorganising the interior to suit of daylight that is ushered into the house through the unadorned
their own tastes. As co-owner of lifestyle and interiors boutique French windows and doors. The interior is airy, with the fluid spaces
No3 (as well as the children’s interiors and fashion store Engler & segregated only by wood-framed glazed panels that help to draw
Cowboyer) in nearby Gjøvik, Kjersti has a strong personal style – the eye across the expansive living area.
refined yet low-key – that she’s expressed in her home by combining Vintage furniture and rustic timber add layers of character to
a muted palette and neutral-hued furnishings. ‘I wanted a cosy, the scheme, from the exposed knots and grain of the limewashed
soft, toned-down interior, which is the total opposite of the glamorous floor to the antique writing desk in the kitchen, the distressed glass
detailing that defined my parents’ look,’ she says. display cabinet in the living room and the handmade wooden bench

194 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 tucked below the couple’s dining table. ‘I find Nordic interiors
inspiring and I like pieces that acquire a natural patina and
dignity over time,’ says Kjersti. ‘Having children in the house,
as well as so many friends and visitors, it was important to us to
create a home, not a museum,’ she adds.
The house may contain vintage elements, but it is far from chintzy
in style, with modern materials injecting a contemporary edge.
From left Vintage pieces, such as
this worn leather armchair add
The couple’s dining table is custom-made with a poured-concrete
warmth and texture; the hanging top, which marries with the concrete worksurfaces that crown their
rail above the worksurface was bespoke kitchen cabinetry. Crisp, white tiles add textural detail to
made by a local ironmonger; the one wall of this room and reappear in the bathroom and entrance
kitchen units are bespoke, made hall, while classic pieces of furniture – an elegant array of iconic
by local company Stefans lamps and chairs – are scattered around the house, referencing
Møbelverksted i Snertingdal
(for a similar design try British
Kjersti’s love of design. ‘I do rearrange pieces from time to time,’
Standard); the wall is covered in she says. ‘Running my store, I’m always inspired by new ideas, so
white Metro tiles (try Fired Earth) the decor at home is constantly changing. Anything goes as long as
Stockist details on p212 you have just the right place for it.’ no-3.no ➤

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 195

 Landings Built-in cupboards provide vital extra storage, allowing the living areas to remain uncluttered.
The coat rack is a modern design by Michael Young and Katrin Olina for Swedese (try Skandium in the UK). Bold
geometric floor tiles in shades of grey add pattern to the simple colour scheme Stockist details on p212

196 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 ‘I WANTED TO CREATE A SOFT, TONED-DOWN INTERIOR,
WHICH IS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF THE GLAMOROUS
DETAILING THAT DEFINED MY PARENTS’ LOOK’

Bathroom The cast-iron tub is separated from a large shower by a glass partition. The bath and toilet are both from Catalano
Bedroom The space is decorated in dark grey-blue tones to achieve a contemporary yet restful feel. An ‘Adnet’ mirror by
Jacques Adnet for Gubi (try Twenty Twenty One in the UK) hangs beside a salvaged industrial-look cabinet. Covering the
bed is a ‘Mega Dot’ reversible quilt by Hay (available from Selfridges) Stockist details on p212 E D

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 197

 A RTS & CULTUR E • BOOKS • A RCHITECTUR E • TR AV EL

ESCAPE

F O R M O R E P L A C E S T O E X P L O R E , V I S I T E L L E D E C O R AT I O N . C O . U K / E S C A P E
FOLLOW YOUR NOSE
The Salon de Parfums at Harrods is the venue for the first designer Christophe Pillet, is a big draw, too, with its
UK boutique by ultra-stylish new perfume brand Ex Nihilo. combination of walls painted in Yves Klein blue, marble-and-
Hailing originally from Paris, the label creates customisable wood cabinets, brass details and mirrored ceiling. The futuristic
fragrances – you can either buy the standard blend or choose ‘Osmologue’ scent-testing machines are a perfume-lover’s dream:
to have a bespoke version created with your favourite press a button to make your selection and the scent wafts up
ingredients amplified. The store environment, by French from inside a resin column (ex-nihilo-paris.com; harrods.com).

F L O R A L FA N TA S Y
This month, florists are popping
up in unexpected places. Founder
of Thoughtful Flowers Juliet
Glaves will be in Designers Guild’s
King’s Road store between May 18
and 23. She will be creating bouquets
and posies to complement
‘Orangerie II’, a collection of
best-selling fabrics from the textile
brand’s archives that have been
re-coloured and re-scaled to
coincide with the Chelsea Flower
Show (designersguild.com).
Meanwhile, florist Rebecca Louise
Law is teaming up with Matthew
Williamson to create a garden oasis
(pictured) at Blakes Hotel, London.
May 19–July 14 (blakeshotels.com).

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 Escape | N E W S

CAMERA ACTION
‘Photo London’ is a new
photography-focused fair held at
Somerset House, where some 70
galleries from around the world are
showing vintage work, 19th-
century prints and contemporary
images. The fair itself will be split
into two sections: established
photographers in the main gallery,
and a smaller ‘Discovery’ section
to promote new talent. An
additional programme of events
includes ‘Beneath the Surface’,
an exhibition of rarely seen works
from the V&A Museum’s
Photographs Collection, and
a display of photography by recent
graduates from the Royal College of
Arts. May 21–24 (photolondon.org).

Visit now The ‘Treasured Possessions from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment’ exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum
in Cambridge traces the history of decorative arts, from bespoke 15th-century glass and bronze pieces to 18th-century
silver and porcelain and the dawn of the disposable age. The show’s aim is to demonstrate how our appetite for ‘stuff’
has changed, through the 300 objects on display. Until September 6 ( fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk).

THE CHEF’S KITCHEN

Brasserie Blanc in Winchester is the latest of
Raymond Blanc’s restaurants to be given a new
lease of life. Design agency Blacksheep is behind
the revamp, which is inspired by Raymond’s
own kitchen. There’s a weathered-timber
communal table for groups to gather round,
hand-stained chairs, rustic wire-brushed benches
and a tapestry-upholstered banquette. Outside,
a summer courtyard is decked out with French
bistro-style furniture and oversize parasols.
The menu focuses on simple, hearty French
cooking: feast on baked cheddar-cheese soufflé,
snails in a rich garlic herb butter and sticky
Normandy apple tart ( brasserieblanc.com).
PICTURES: GARETH GARDNER (THE CHEF’S KITCHEN)

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 201

 GENTLE REBEL
‘Grayson Perry: Provincial Punk’
at the Turner Contemporary
gallery in Margate explores the
artist’s career from the 1980s
to the present day. ‘It is a kind
of teasing rebellion, not a violent
revolution,’ Perry says of the
anti-elitist spirit that drives his
work. Alongside a display of
his handmade glazed pots, which
are often covered in drawings,
text and collaged elements,
there will be previously unseen
sketchbooks on display, Super-8
films set against a backdrop of
Thatcher’s Britain, and recent
pieces, such as The Map of
Nowhere (below), that provide a
social commentary on everything
from craft and consumerism to
war and taste. May 23–September
13 (turnercontemporary.org).

FASHION ON FILM
Style icon Iris Apfel is the subject of Iris, the final documentary by the late
filmmaker Albert Maysles, who died earlier this year. The flamboyantly dressed
93-year-old style maven (pictured), who started out on Women’s Wear Daily before
launching her own interior design business and then later manufacturing fabrics,
has been a larger-than-life presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. The
film captures the creative spirit and work ethic of this extraordinary lady. Out now.

THE GREENWICH GREEN

Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio has
collaborated with gardener Alys Fowler
and landscape designer Thomas Hoblyn
on a new park in Greenwich. It features
a wild section, a market garden (which
will supply produce to Craft, Stevie Parle’s
new restaurant) and an amphitheatre.
The park’s first event is the ‘Urban Village
Fete’, a modern take on a village fair,
organised in association with Hemingway
Design. The day’s entertainment will
include everything from DJs to children’s
games. May 10 (greenwichpeninsula.co.uk).

202 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Escape | N E W S

NICARAGUAN NIGHTS
The Tribal Hotel in Nicaragua is a paean to local craftsmanship, plantain leaves from plantations near Catarina. The tiles in the
with much of its furniture and lighting custom-made by nearby lobby were based on those seen in a private Parisian residence,
artisans. Consider booking into one of the hotel’s seven rooms, and kilims, rugs and fabrics collected on the hotel owner’s travels
situated in the UNESCO-protected former colonial city of around the world are displayed alongside artwork by the likes
Granada. The metal-and-rope chairs in the suites are inspired by of LA-based Argentinian painter Gonzalo Papantonakis. A lush
mid-century Modern design and made by a local blacksmith, courtyard and small plunge pool are the finishing touches at this
while the tables on the outdoor terraces are woven using dried cool, eclectic destination (tribal-hotel.com).

GROWING SKILLS
Green-fingered garden enthusiasts
will love the Petersham Nurseries
‘School of Gardening Inspiration’
masterclasses, which cover all
kinds of practical projects from
planning a vegetable garden
to a hands-on workshop about
growing sweet peas, and how
to sow successional salads. The
school, which opened earlier this
PICTURE: MARIMO IMAGES (GROWING SKILLS)

year, also offers floristry and

foraging sessions and Youtube
video tutorials. Upcoming events
include an evening wild-food
walk and a class exploring how
to create window boxes – perfect
for those who have city balconies
(petershamnurseries.com/events).

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 203

ARCHITECTURAL ICON
THE BARBICAN COMPLEX
A landmark Brutalist estate
in the heart of historic London
Words JAMES WILLIAMS

LONDON’S BARBICAN DIVIDES OPINION , but

there is no doubt that the 35-acre Brutalist complex is
a striking presence on the city’s skyline. As well as
housing more than 4,000 residents in terraced blocks
and three towers – standing at a height of 123 metres,
they were once the tallest residential towers in the UK
– the site is home to the Guildhall School of Music &
Drama, the London Symphony Orchestra and the
Barbican Centre, an arts venue. It’s like a modern castle
within a city, which is appropriate given the history
of the site. Important since Roman times, this part of
the capital was the location of the northern wall of
Londinium (the word barbican derives from the Latin
‘barbecana’, meaning outer fortification). A portion of
the original wall can still be seen outside the Museum
of London, about half a mile from the Barbican.
Later, the area was the centre of Elizabethan London;
William Shakespeare lived there for a time, on Silver
Street, which was bombed during WWII and now lies
in ruin beneath the Barbican estate. The complex was
seen as the ultimate example of post-war planning:

high-rise towers designed to reboot a depleted housing

stock. In 1954, Chamberlin, Powell and Bon (namely
Peter Chamberlin, Geoffry Powell and Christoph Bon,
picturedabove)wonacompetitiontodesigntheBarbican,
sealing the company’s reputation as one of the most
important Modernist architectural firms in England.
The trio’s design included a collection of seven-floor
residential properties grouped around green squares,
linked by a ‘highwalk’ pathway system (which is famously
easy to get lost in), and three high-rise buildings. The
penthouse flats in these towers are now among the most
desirable residences in London.
The Barbican complex was a revolutionary vision of
how residential neighbourhoods could be raised high
above the city streets and combined with public spaces.
Opened in 1982 by the Queen, the complex was
Grade-II listed in 2001, cementing its status as one of
the most important Modernist projects in Britain.
‘The Barbican Exhibition: Building a Landmark’ is on
view from May 25–November 29 ( barbican.org.uk)

204 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Escape | A R C H I T E C T U R E

E MOBILE MOTEL PROGRESS

Going to Glastonbury this summer and want to upgrade from your tent? REPORT
Then book into Snoozebox, a portable hotel that consists of expandable units The London Festival of
mounted on a trailer. Each of the rooms contains four bunk beds (doubles
and singles), which transform into sofas during the day, and a wet room-style
Architecture is back in
e bathroom. Currently, there are permanent Snoozebox hotels at the June with a month-long
en roject in Cornwall and Silverstone racetrack, but they will also be programme of events
popping up at other UK events this year, including the Edinbur h Festival tied to this year’s ‘Work
in Progress’ theme.
The Design Museum,
Transport Museum
and Sir John Soane’s
Museum are organising
tours (the latter of
Soane’s architectural
drawing office and his
private apartments).
There are also talks at
the Royal Academy of
Art and rare access to
the capital’s architects
through RIBA London’s
‘Open Studios’ scheme
(londonfestivalof
architecture.org).
PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES/HARRY TODD (ARCHITECTURAL ICON, GROUP SHOT), DAVID BANK (ARCHITECTURAL ICON, BUILDING)

J A PA N F O C U S
The Japanese House Reinvented
(Thames & Hudson, £35) by Philip
Jodidio is a survey of 50 stunning
homes, all designed by Japanese
architects who have a reputation
for pared-back spaces that connect
architecture with nature sensitively.
Faced with the constraints of urban
overcrowding, many also offer
intriguing small space solutions.

JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 205

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 Escape

ICELANDIC
EXPLORATION
In this month’s travel guide, we explore Reykjavík and explain
why there’s more to Iceland’s capital than the Northern Lights
Words EMMA LOVE

ICELAND IS A COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS: snow blizzards and sightings of the Northern

Lights in winter and more than 20 hours of sunlight a day in the height of summer. There’s
also a thriving Nordic food scene, the famed geothermal pools and great local music, all to be
enjoyed against a backdrop of magnificent volcanic vistas. Those looking for an adrenaline rush
can go horse riding in the mountains, quad biking across lava fields and head out to sea for some
whale watching. Visit in May for a chance to see the Icelandic premiere of Benjamin Britten’s
opera Peter Grimes, performed by The Iceland Symphony Orchestra in the beautiful
Harpa concert hall as part of the annual Reykjavík Artfest (May 13–June 7; artfest.is). ➤
 1 3

W H ER E TO STAY W H ER E TO SHOP
1 ION KOLAPORTID FLEA MARKET
The Ion (also pictured on previous page) is less than an hour’s drive Down by the harbour, this
from Reykjavík. Its design is beautiful: think floor-to-ceiling windows indoor weekend market is the
and organic products in the bathrooms. Relax in the sauna and feast on place to pick up everything from
shellfish soup at the Silfra restaurant. Nesjavellir vid Thingvallavatn, secondhand music and books
801 Selfoss; Scott Dunn offers three nights bed and breakfast, plus return to clothes. There is also a food
flights and transfers, from £1,240 per person (scottdunn.com) section, where traders sell
traditional delicacies, such as
101 HOTEL fermented shark and locally
Located a stone’s throw from Harpa, the city’s concert hall, this made cheese and liquorice. Waterfront art
former 1930s office building has been turned into a chic hotel by Tryggvagötu 19 ( kolaportid.is) This mural by Gerður
owner and designer Ingibjörg Stefanía Pálmadóttir. Rooms have Helgadótti decorates
the Customs House
a sleek monochrome look, underfloor heating and freestanding 2 SUIT
beside the harbour
bathtubs. Relax in the communal lounge, which is furnished with This Danish fashion label is
tree-trunk tables and classic pieces by Eero Saarinen and Philippe located in an industrial-looking
Starck. Doubles from £194; Hverfisgata 10, 101 (101hotel.is) four-storey boutique designed
by HAF Studio, with glossy
APOTEK HOTEL white tiles, chipboard walls
A smart choice within walking distance of the harbour and the city’s and concrete floors. It’s a great
main shopping street, this hotel has 45 rooms, a bar and a restaurant. place to find chic basics.
Bedrooms feature beautiful parquet flooring and stone-grey walls. Skólavörðustígur 6 (suit.is)
Austurstraeti 16; Scott Dunn offers three nights bed and breakfast, plus
return flights and transfers, from £760 per person (scottdunn.com) 3 KRAUM
Housed in a traditional building
MARINA HOTEL that dates back to 1752, this
Set in the city’s historic, bustling harbour area, the quirky Marina Icelandic arts and crafts venue
Hotel offers maritime-themed rooms with stunning views sells pieces by more than 200
of either the North Atlantic Ocean or the trendy Vesturbær ceramicists, glass and textile
neighbourhood. The restaurant, Slippbarrin, is a highlight, artists and jewellers. A cut above
serving inventive cocktails and delicious dishes that are designed your average souvenir shop.
to be shared. Doubles from £100; Myrargata 2 (icelandairhotels.com) Aðalstræti 10 (kraum.is)

208 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 Escape | D E S I G N D E S T I N AT I O N S

5 5

4 6

W H ER E TO DIN E W H AT TO SEE
DILL 5 HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA
Chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason is a pioneer of the Nordic food movement. CATHEDRAL
His philosophy involves letting local ingredients shine, whether that Designed by Guðjón Samúelsson
be fried catfish and pickled cabbage or cod with apples and celeriac. in 1937, this landmark has
His cookbook, North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland, will enable architecture inspired by the
you to recreate his dishes at home. Hverfisgötu 12 (dillrestaurant.is) shapes that form when lava cools.
Its sweeping, 73-metre-high
TORFAN steeple towers above the city
Expect French food with a Nordic twist at Torfan: slow-cooked rib-eye skyline. Skólavörðustígur 101
beef followed by puff-pastry apple tart served with caramel ganache (hallgrimskirkja.is) Northern lights
and apple sorbet. The setting, a 19th-century building, is as elegant The steel-clad
as the presentation of the food. Amtmannsstig 1 (torfan.is) CULTURE AND HISTORY framework of Harpa
Icelandic art is the focus at the concert hall holds
geometric glass panels,
ICELANDIC FISH AND CHIPS National Gallery of Iceland
PICTURES: GETTY (WATERFRONT ART), GETTY/GALLO (5, INTERIOR), ALAMY (5, EXTERIOR),

meaning that the

This family-owned restaurant by the harbour serves up sustainably (Fríkirkjuvegi 7; listasafn.is), but building’s façade
caught fish, fried lightly in spelt batter. There are also fresh salads you’ll also find pieces by the likes changes with the light
and skyr dipping sauces (basil and garlic or truffle and tarragon). of Picasso and Richard Serra.
The menu changes daily. Tryggvagata 11 ( fishandchips.is) The National Museum of Iceland
GETTY/CULTURA (6), GETTY/AGE FOTOSTOCK (NORTHERN LIGHTS)

(Suðurgötu 41; thjodminjasafn.is)

4 SALT ELDHUS explores the nation’s rich
Learn to cook Scandinavian fare at Salt Eldhús (eldhús is the Icelandic heritage and history in its
word for kitchen), where a roster of guest chefs teach. Class sizes permanent exhibition.
are small, homemade soup and bread is served around the large
farmhouse table in the break and, at the end of the day, you sit down 6 HARPA CONCERT HALL
to a meal that you’ve prepared from scratch. Skúlatún 2 (salteldhus.is) Home to the Iceland Symphony
Orchestra, the strikingly modern
REYKJAVÍK ROASTERS concert hall was designed by
One of the owners of Reykjavík Roasters was trained to roast beans Henning Larsen Architects in
at prestigious Copenhagen cafe The Coffee Collective, so it’s partnership with Olafur Eliasson
no wonder that the espresso here is so delicious. This is the perfect and Batteríið Architects.
place to begin a day of sightseeing. Kárastígur 1 (reykjavikroasters.is) Austurbakki 2 (harpa.is) ➤

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Escape | D E S I G N D E S T I N AT I O N S

W H ER E TO G O
From the colourful city
7 BLUE LAGOON centre of Reykjavík to
the inspiring volcanic
No visit to the Icelandic capital is complete without countryside, Iceland is
a trip to the Blue Lagoon to bathe in the geothermal a country like no other
waters. On the banks you’ll find crates of silica mud:
apply it to your face and body as a mask for five 9
minutes and your skin will feel considerably softer.
There are also waterfalls, saunas and steam rooms
carved into the lava rock and a rooftop viewing 1 Blue Lagoon
platform that has stunning natural vistas. It’s well 2 Elding Whale
worth the 50-minute drive from Reykjavík. Watching Centre
240 Grindavík ( bluelagoon.com) 3 Reykjavík
4 Thingvellir
National Park
8 THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
5 Geysir hot springs
This is the most popular Icelandic tourist trail. 6 Gullfoss waterfall
You’ll visit three of the country’s famous natural
attractions: the Gullfoss waterfall; Geysir, a hot
PICTURES: GETTY/HEMIS.FR (TOP LEFT), GETTY/MOMENT OPEN (9), GETTY (7,8)

spring area where you’ll find the Strokkur geyser,

which erupts every seven minutes; and Thingvellir
National Park. It was in this UNESCO World 6
5
Heritage site that the Althing, or general assembly, 4
was established in the year 930. As well as learning
about the history of the park, visitors can go hiking,
angling and horse riding. (gullfoss.is; thingvellir.is) 2
3

9 WHALE WATCHING
Take a boat trip out to sea to spot white-beaked
dolphins, harbour porpoises, humpbacks and killer
whales – it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Afterwards, visit the Elding Whale Watching Centre, 1
housed in a converted fishing vessel, to find out more
about whales and other marine life. (elding.is) E D

210 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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ELLE Decoration | S T O C K I S T S

Address book

A G M
Aram Store (aram.co.uk) Gallotti & Radice (gallottiradice.it) Meridiani (meridiani.it)
Arketipo (arketipo.com) Gervasoni (gervasoni1882.it) Minotti (minottilondon.com)
Artemide (artemide.com) Glas Italia (glasitalia.com) Mint (mintshop.co.uk)
B Golran (www.golran.com) Molteni (molteni.it)
B&B Italia (bebitalia.com) H Moroccan Bazaar (moroccanbazaar.co.uk)
Baxter (baxterlondon.net) Habitat (habitat.co.uk) Moroso (moroso.it)
Beaufort (beaufortinteriors.co.uk) Harrods (harrods.com) O
British Standard Hay (hay.dk) Occa Home (occa-home.co.uk)
(britishstandardcupboards.co.uk) Heal’s (heals.co.uk) P
PICTURE: MIKKEL MORTENSEN (PHOTOGRAPHY), AMANDA SMITH (STYLING)

C Hülsta (huelsta.co.uk) Pamono (pamono.co.uk)

Cassina (cassina.com) I Pink Apple Designs (pinkappledesigns.co.uk)
Catalano (catalano.co.uk) Ikea (ikea.com) Poliform (poliformuk.com)
Chaplins (chaplins.co.uk) J Porada (porada.it)
City Cows (citycows.co.uk) Julian Chichester Porro (porro.com)
D ( julianchichester.com) R
Dario Alfonsi (darioalfonsi.com) K Roche Bobois (roche-bobois.com)
De La Espada (delaespada.com) Kip & Co (kipandco.net.au) Rose & Grey (roseandgrey.co.uk)
E Knoll (knoll-int.com) S
EDC (edclondon.com) L SCP (www.scp.co.uk)
F Lee Broom (leebroom.com) Selfridges (selfridges.co.uk)
Fendi Casa (fendi.com) Lema (lemamobili.com) Silestone by Cosentino (silestone.com)
Fenton & Fenton (fentonandfenton.com.au) Liberty (liberty.co.uk) Skandium (skandium.com)
Fired Earth (firedearth.com) Ligne Roset (ligne-roset.co.uk) T
Flexform (flexform.it) Linteloo (linteloo.com) The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk)
Flos (flos.com) Living Divani (livingdivani.it) Twenty Twenty One (twentytwentyone.com)
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(frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk) Luke Irwin (lukeirwin.com) Vitra (vitra.com)

212 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

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 ADVERTISING FEATURE

LUXURY LIVING
Stylish essentials to liven up your home

SWINGING MONKEY DESIGNS

Made here in UK from upcycled timbers, the
Harper TV/Media Stand by Swinging Monkey
furniture design offers a trendy, retro look
whilst still retaining its industrial feel. COUCH
Available in different paint finishes, and stains British manufacturer Couch cuts out the middleman and sells its exclusive range of sofas
or natural. Open shelf design, supported on direct, which means you can save up to 50% off high street prices. Customers can choose
strong steel hairpin legs. Price £395 (free to have their sofa made from a variety of fabrics such as wool, linen and distressed leather,
delivery throughout UK). Can also custom or even in their own fabric. Pictured is the Bronte sofa in Blenheim Teal, priced at just
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products, visit www.swingingmonkey.co.uk Visit www.couch.co.uk to see the full range or call 01495 717170 to get the Couch
or call 01924 366577. catalogue or fabric samples.

BRYONIE PORTER
Bryonie Porter is a unique, independent SCANDINAVIAN SURFACE
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07939 522767. and check out their remarkable customer service!
ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE FUTURE OF FURNITURE

For unique and beautiful furniture that fits your needs — and space — exactly,
the answer is Jali. From decorative shutters to wardrobes, from storage units
to sideboards, Jali has the perfect products for every room.

Because you design online and customise to fit your space exactly, each Jali piece is individual to you.
Your furniture is made to order in the heart of Kent, with delivery in around two weeks.

With the online Jali Designer, it’s easy to vary the style of elements such as uprights, skirting and tops,
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If you can’t create exactly what you need on the Jali website, their friendly, experienced team will
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So for beautiful bespoke joinery visit jali.co.uk – it really is the future of furniture!
 TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260 Classifieds | N E W DESIGNER

www.openforest.co.uk / 0800 240 4541 / openforest@icloud.com / Our showroom is at White Lion Antiques, A30 London Road, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, RG27 8AE

art for living

www.belatrova.co.uk +44 (0) 1531 634082

R AV E N S B O U R N E

BU IN OM
NO
Vision Panels for doors & Walls

Y E
NL 4.C
RT
SHORT COURSE: DIGITAL TEXTILES | DESIGN, PRINT EXPLORE

H
AND

Session A - Mon 22 June - Thurs 25 June

10:00 - 15:00 (1 hr lunch break)
Session B - Mon 29 June - Thurs 02 July
This course will teach you how to design, repeat and print using the latest
digital equipment and Photoshop. In an award winning building taught by
industry practising tutors. Nearest Tube: North Greenwich.
Price £450.00 (4 day course including materials)
Stainless steel - Complete glazing system supplied - Easy installation
www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/courses/short-courses North 4 Design Ltd
G R E E N W I C H . D I G I TA L S K I L L S @ R AVE . AC.U K |W W W. T I N Y U R L . C O M/P C N DY W C Info: 0208 885 4404 www.north4.com

LOVE LITTER Ne
ew Bro
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JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 217

Classifieds | A – Z TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

cadira

sofas ¦ living ¦ dining ¦ bedrooms ¦ wardrobes

157-159 Ewell Road

Surbiton KT6 6AW
Tel. 01932 808269
www.cadira.co.uk

WWW.HOMESOFELEGANCE.CO.UK
T: 01873 854173

contemporary printed fabrics

For free swatches visit Cushions

www.korlahome.com Blinds
or call 0207 603 7498 Curtains

218 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260 Classifieds | A – Z
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JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 219

Classifieds | A – Z TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

Scottlorenzo.com sofas that

Mid century furniture & art work shout ‘sit!’

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For free fabric samples visit www.sofa.com, pop to our
London or Bath showroom or call us on 0345 400 2222.

220 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260 Classifieds | A – Z
FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

      

£1805
Camden in
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sofasandstuff.com 0808 1783211

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JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 221

Classifieds | A – Z TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260

DANISH FURNITURE FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

Prices
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Refurnit is a Danish company dedicated to offer a selected range of design furniture in new or reupholstered
bakedtiles.co.uk
condition. All upholstery is made exclusively by Danish craftsmanship and comes with a 2-year guarantee. Tel 02920 358 409
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222 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260 Classifieds | A – Z
FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

Architect-led design www.betonbrut.co.uk

from the last century. info@betonbrut.co.uk
+44 (0) 7881 953 708

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  

  

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JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 223

Classifieds | A – Z TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260

BATHROOMS & LIGHTING

What makes an Albion Bath unique? Distinctively

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224 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

 TO ADVERTISE HERE, PLEASE CALL THE CLASSIFIED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260 Classifieds | A – Z
ART, GIFTS & HOME INTEREST

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Award winning East Anglian
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inspired www.byardart.co.uk Cone on Wood:

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JUNE 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 225

 DESIGN DECODED The making of a modern classic
# 12. ‘Diamond Chair’ by Harry Bertoia Words JAMES WILLIAMS

Italian-born artist, sculptor and furniture designer wasn’t until 1950, when Hans and Florence Knoll invited
Harry Bertoia achieved fame despite creating only one him to design for Knoll, that he found his calling.
furniture collection in his lifetime. But what a collection The Knolls gave Bertoia free rein to explore his ideas
it was – a series of timelessly elegant wire chairs. – although it was said that their studio had neither
Bertoia began his career with a courageous move from screwdrivers nor hammers, which presented the
his native Italy to the USA in 1937, aged 22, to take up a metal-loving Bertoia with a challenge. He became known
scholarship at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan. for simply picking up wire and shaping it with his bare
Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius was one of the tutors, hands, a method borne out in the fluid shapes of his
and it was said of the school’s students that ‘they did not landmark ‘Diamond Chair’ series of 1952. It was this
receive a degree; rather they discovered their passion.’ collection that put him on the map. ‘If you look at these
After Bertoia completed his studies, the Finnish chairs, they are mainly made of air. Space passes right
architect Eliel Saarinen, then Cranbrook’s director, asked through them,’ he said. Perfectly suited to both indoor
him to stay on at the Academy and open a metalwork and outdoor use, the seats’ sculptural wire-steel shells
shop. Here, he produced his early sculptural metal forms, are formed from a delicate latticework grill. Bertoia
including a wedding ring for Ray Eames. He went on to never made another furniture collection, instead
work with the Eameses in 1943, collaborating with them dedicating himself to sculpture until his death in 1978,
on their pioneering moulded-plywood furniture. But it but his ‘Diamond Chair’ is a modern masterpiece.

BERTOIA’S LEGACY
The sculptor and designer created his
‘Diamond Chair’ by bending metal
wire by hand. He only ever made one
furniture collection, for Knoll,
but the design is still popular today.

A CLUSTER OF GEMS
Bertoia’s designs are
DIAMOND IN still desirable today.
THE ROUGH ‘Bird Chair’ (above left),
Want to see exactly how £2,102; ‘Diamond Chair’,
Bertoia’s ‘Diamond Chair’ from £790 (£1,354 with
is made today? Head to a full cover, centre),
elledecoration.co.uk for a both Knoll (knoll.com).
behind-the-scenes glimpse
of Knoll craftsmen at work.

HONOUR A CL ASSIC
The ‘Celebrate Harry Bertoia’ exhibition,
which marks the centennial of Bertoia’s
birth, will be on display at the Knoll
Showroom during London Design Week,
September 19–27 (knoll.com). E D

226 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK JUNE 2015

     

    

    

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