Elle Decoration №354 (March 2022)

Tags: magazine magazine elle decoration

Year: 2022

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Text

E L L E D ECO R ATI O N

DIVINE ESCAPES – why monasteries are the place to stay
THE
STYLE
MAGAZINE
FOR YOUR
HOME

N O 354

MARCH 2022
£5.50

M A RC H 2 022

RESTFUL
& RADICAL

R ES T FU L & R A D I C A L

SMART
STORAGE
IDEAS
FOR ANY
SPACE

NEW INTERIORS FROM
MILAN TO MELBOURNE

PLUS
WOW-factor
wardrobes

EL L ED ECO R AT I O N.CO.U K

THE END OF
SPA STYLE?

The

BATHROOMS PACKED WITH
COLOUR AND PATTERN
ARE THIS YEAR’S MUST-HAVE

FLEXIBLE HOME

Divide & conquer
for a savvy approach to modern living
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March 2022
NOW

21 News This month’s launches of note, from furniture
to homeware. Plus, how Bisley designed the new
working-from-home staple, and the best mobiles
to invest in for an artful home
28 What to catch at Collect The must-see highlights from
London’s contemporary craft and design fair

31 No place like Rome A new partnership sees Fendi’s
interiors line make its boldest move yet

35 Laura Jackson on… Our columnist and Glassette founder
shares the key to being an organised maximalist
36 My cultural life Artist and curator Lubaina Himid on
the galleries, books and music she loves the most

38 Design hero Spotlighting Kazuhide Takahama’s
fusion of Eastern tradition and Western modernism

40 Gardens Refined tools, spring workshops
and a natural approach to colour dyeing
42 Architecture Inventive spaces from the
UK to China, and a chat with convention-busting
British architect Piers Taylor
48 Kitchens & bathrooms New classics, from
colourful concrete to Tekla’s take on linens

50 Technology From sunglasses to
pinboards, everyday items get a 2022 upgrade

53 The quiet rebellion The founders of
MUT Design open the door to their home

STYLE
PICTURES: ANDREW URWIN, IRINA BOERSMA, CAROLA RIPAMONTI

59 ‘Unscripted’ by Kvadrat The fabric
is this month’s decorating pick

77 Smart ways to divide

61 Hearts will flutter Fashion designer

your home for a modern
alternative to open-plan

Mary Katrantzou swaps clothes for tiles

62 Prints charming Ceraudo’s new

84 Wardrobe inspiration
from three of the UK’s
best dressing rooms

collection of fabrics was inspired by an
oft-overlooked female designer

64 Spice up life How to bring heat to your

90 Standout storage buys
for an organised home

home with vibrant mustard tones

66 Decorator index Exploring the style of
Parisian interior designer Charles Zana

68 Make new traditions Scandinavian
silhouettes paired with period pieces

97 We reveal the biggest
(and boldest) trends in
bathroom design
MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 9

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120

HOMES

110 Squaring the circle An ambitious Milanese renovation
pays homage to symmetry and thoughtful framing

120 The special relationship British design tropes and
a touch of chintz bring warmth to this American new-build

134 Brutal optimism Udine’s brutalist Design Club houses
a surprisingly soft palette of peach, pink and terracotta

142 Every day’s a holiday Reinstating balance and calm was
the aim for the interior designer who owns this London home

154 Life without compromise A love of colour shines
through in this showstopping-yet-soothing Helsinki pad

166 Fireside stories Family is key in this French farmhouse

Escape

175 News Chic European stays and top UK exhibitions
180 Divine interventions Why monasteries are the new hotels
183 Getaway Your guide to a creative break in Belfast

The covers
Newsstand Bordered by
marble, the dining room in
this Milan home belonging to
the art director of CC-Tapis
(on p110) is restful and radical.
Photographed by Beppe
Brancato for Living Inside
Subscribers Our most loyal
readers are treated to a
gorgeous shot of the living
room from the same home

175

Finally

18 Subscriptions This month’s great offer
186 Stockists The brands to note
194 Treasured Ini Archibong reveals his
musical side with his favourite possession

12 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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PICTURES: HARIS KENJAR, MICHAEL SINCLAIR, REINHARD GOERNER

142

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From the Editor

kay, don’t tell anyone, but I’m a lapsed clean freak…
Throughout my life, I’ve always been of the ‘tidy
house, tidy mind’ mentality, somewhat thrilled by
having a specific place for everything: a cutlery drawer
that looks untouched by human hands, neat piles of clothes
on wardrobe shelves that would have the likes of Marie Kondo
drooling, and uncluttered surfaces as far as the eye can see.
However, my recent reality is far from this minimalist ideal.
More time spent at home mostly seems to involve having lots
more stuff to cram into the same amount of space. All the tech
and piles of paper that used to happily sit on my desk at work now
crowd my dining table 24-7. I’m surrounded by boxes of lateral
flow tests, tottering towers of magazines and lurid-coloured dog
toys, having just welcomed a puppy into the chaos that is my life.
Every month, on the pages of this magazine, we show you houses
where perfection reigns, curated spaces where the owners’ finely
honed sense of style and personality are revealed by a few carefully
placed objects and nothing more. Don’t get me wrong, they’re
beautiful and something to aspire to, but I also advise caution.
Whereas in the past an untidy home would have been something
else to beat myself up about, now I realise we all need to be honest
with ourselves. Life is disordered, messy, colourful, wonderful,
and it needs to be embraced. A place where people exist, where
stuff happens, is never going to be pristine all the time. If it is,
I’d suggest you’re probably doing something wrong.
While we are always looking forward at ELLE Decoration, we
are also concerned with tackling the here-and-now problems. In
this issue, that means showing how you can use a new flexible
approach to space in the home to deal with the frenzy that is life
in 2022. Storage is the only real way to conquer clutter, so we also
showcase the best of the best, whether you choose to put things
on show or hide them away. Plus, we meet some savvy style folk
who have succeeded at getting their wardrobes in check.
So, as we’re at that time of year when resolutions fall by the
wayside, don’t beat yourself up. Just relax and remember these
three important words: mess doesn’t matter.

We need to be
HONEST with ourselves.
Life is disordered,
messy, colourful and
WONDERFUL

PICTURE: BEN ANDERS

Editor-in-Chief

Follow me on

Instagram: @mrbspriggs

Twitter: @ELLEDecoBen

Visit elledecoration.co.uk

MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 15

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ELLE DECORATION AND ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK
BEN SPRIGGS

CHIEF LUXURY OFFICER
JACQUELINE EUWE

EDITORIAL
Deputy Editor CLARE SARTIN
Features Editor KATE WORTHINGTON
Acting Features Editor CAT OLLEY
Acting Commissioning Editor PHOEBE FRANGOUL

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Group Brand Manager JESSICA DAY

ART AND PICTURES
Creative Director PHILIPPE BLANCHIN
Acting Art Director ELLIOTT WILMOT
Art Editor JACK MELROSE
Picture Director SHARON O’NEILL
Brand Coordinator ELLIE SUMMERS
PRODUCTION
Group Managing Editor CONNIE OSBORNE
Workflow Director CARLY LEVY
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Deputy Chief Sub-Editors JOSH BOLTON, OLIVIA MCCREA-HEDLEY
Sub-Editors CAITLIN BUTLER, DINA NAGAPETYANTS, CYNTHIA PENG
CONTRIBUTORS
CLAUDIA BAILLIE, HANNAH BORT, AMY BRADFORD, DESPINA CURTIS,
AMY FREARSON, LAURA FULMINE, NATASHA GOODFELLOW,
LAURA JACKSON, EMMA LOVE, FIONA MCCARTHY, TESSA PEARSON,
SANIA PELL, AMANDA SMITH-CORSTON, KASSIA ST CLAIR,
SUZANNE STANKUS, BECKY SUNSHINE, JAMES WILLIAMS, EVA WISEMAN

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NOW
NEWS

/ SHOPPING/ OPINION/ TRENDS

Edited by CAT OLLEY

ON SIDE
It might be more than 200 years old, but British furniture house Heal’s has something of a knack for tipping
tomorrow’s design talent. All eyes on London-based Harry Batchelor, then, who has earned its newest nod as part of
the Heal’s Discovers programme. His first piece for the brand, the slimline ‘Elka’ sideboard, exemplifies his instinct
for simple yet innovative design, with its solid walnut frame and cabinet fronts in cobalt blue. £1,599 (heals.com).

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NOW

Lounge act
To suggest that the furniture range at Designers Guild is
merely a canvas to showcase its dizzying array of fabrics
and finishes would be to do the designs a disservice. Case in
point is new modular seating collection ‘Modena’, which
comprises a series of generously proportioned sofa
components, ottomans and daybeds. Clever inset feet create
a floating effect, while a choice of three back cushions offers
further customisation. From £2,750 for a 2.5
seater (designersguild.com).

COLOURFUL CLAY
Jewellery brand Monica Vinader’s first
homeware collection is a collaboration
between the eponymous founder and
potter du jour Florence St George.
They’ve created a set of hand-glazed
nesting dishes in three shades –
‘Bahama Blue’, ‘Island Yellow’ and
‘Sunset Pink’ – finished with a gold rim.
Opt for a colour set or mix and match.
£75 for three (monicavinader.com).

I N T H E H O T S E AT

PICTURES: MATTIA DONATI

Bold as brass
Italian manufacturer Marioni has been
producing artisan-made furniture, lighting and
accessories for more than 50 years. Initially
conceived purely as a lighting collection, the
success of its ‘Sunset’ lamps – which combine a
streamlined brushed brass frame with jewel-like
glazed ceramic panels – has prompted architect
and product designer Piero Angelo Orecchioni to
create a bookcase (pictured) console and coffee
table, too. £14,250 (artemest.com).

A focus on wood’s natural grain has led Stockholm’s Note
Design Studio to play with Japanese charring technique, shou
sugi ban. Released on its Note Editions platform, these
versions of the ‘Candid’ chair reveal the process explicitly,
with ‘Blonde’, ‘Burned’ and ‘Black’ showcasing each fiery
stage. From approx £600 for a set of two (note-editions.se).

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There was much fanfare when
mid-century manufacturers Carl
Hansen & Søn reissued Hans J
Wegner’s ‘CH23’ five years ago,
thus rounding off the set of four
chairs he designed for the brand in
1949. Now, its focus has settled on
a quieter piece of Danish
design history, with the
launch of Esben Klint’s ‘EK61
Opal Pendant’. The lantern-like
design, conceived in pleated
plastic, has been upgraded to
mouth-blown opal glass and oak.
From £360 (carlhansen.com).

ON SECOND
THOUGHTS
With vessels crafted
from hand-blown
Murano glass flecked
with colourful
chippings, the latest
covetable additions to
Martin Brudnizki and
Nicholas Jeanes’
design studio And
Objects are a pair of
soy wax candles with
reuse potential.
‘Folium’ is infused
with notes of green
leaf, neroli and ylang
ylang, while ‘Ignis’
conjures woodsmoke,
cardamom, birch and
leather. £90 each
(andobjects.com).

BISLEY
First launched in 1958, the Welsh brand’s
steel MultiDrawer is an office icon. We asked
creative director Jeanine Goddard how it’s
rising to meet a new world of home-working
How has Bisley responded to the seismic shifts
towards working from home? We recognised the
coming change at the beginning of the first lockdown
and developed a completely new product range.
Space is at a premium for many, so having clever yet
stylish workspace solutions is essential. As a society,
we’re also shifting away from throwaway culture and
built in obsolescence. People turn to us for enduring
style, for good bones and classic silhouettes, which
can be transformed and customised again and again.
What about colour? Palettes that are innately
complementary to green are coming to the fore as
we’re seeing a lot more indoor biophilia now, both
at home and at work. We’re working a lot with our
‘Palest Pink’, juxtaposing it with complementary
shades of lilac and earthy terracotta – in some ways
all neutrals with grey hues. It’s a flexible palette; the
overall effect is quite tranquil and light, but the level
of seriousness or playfulness can be dialled up or down.
What other factors should we consider when
setting up a home office? If possible, choose to
work somewhere with plenty of natural light and
windows that can be opened to allow fresh air. Choose
storage solutions that allow you to clear away workrelated belongings at the end of the day, as separating
work and home life is essential to achieving balance.
‘MultiDrawer’ in ‘Coral’ and ‘Palest Pink’, £102 each;
‘MultiDesk’ (top) in ‘Olive Green’, £375 (bisley.com)

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PICTURES: KEITH DAVIES, PETE NAVEY

Hidden gem

BRAND TO KNOW

NOW

IN SYNC
Norwegian brand Flokk’s new ‘HÅG Tion’ design is the
product of its resolute quest to develop the perfect sustainable
office chair, born from a collaboration with Oslo’s Anderssen
& Voll, Swiss studio Big-Game and London-based Hunting
& Narud. Each comes with a 10-year guarantee.
From £456 ( flokk.com).

DIY DESIGN
New book Hammer & Nail by
Erik Eje Almqvist is a fitting
tribute to late Italian designer
Enzo Mari, whose practical 1974
manifesto Autoprogettazione
sought to empower readers to
build their own furniture.
All you’ll need for the 19
reworked projects within are
a hammer, nails and boards cut
to standard sizes. £18.99
(pavilionbooks.com).

BLOCK PARTY

PICTURES: EINAR ASLAKSEN, MARCUS LAWETT

Small but mighty

Swedish studio Blå Station is at its best when it’s playful. Though the bright
punchy dyes of its ‘Plybord’ series inevitably draw focus, fellow makers will
clock CEO Johan Lindau’s real achievement here – a seamless form without
an internal support structure. ‘Everything is possible with good wood
craftsmanship,’ he says. From £640.80 (informfurniture.co.uk).

Though you suspect it might have
reached the same status regardless, the
real triumph of the String shelving system
is the brand’s commitment to adding new
components and finishes. The latest is the
evocatively named ‘Tiny Cabinet’, which
combines a walnut frame with a mirrored
panel on its back wall. Naturally, it slots
into the wider system with ease. £346,
(stringfurniture.com).
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6
2

3
7

SUSPENDED ANIMATION
1. ‘Leaves Brass’ mobile by Lappalainen, £215, Urban Coo (urbancoo.co.uk)
2. ‘I'm Only Sleeping’ acrylic resin mobile by Tempo, £155, NiMi Projects (nimiltd.com)
3. ‘Milan’ mobile by Volta, £599, The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk)
4. ‘Airflow 36’ mobile by Flensted Mobiles, £74.45, Finnish Design Shop (finnishdesignshop.com)
5. ‘Plywood Mobile, Model B’ by Charles and Ray Eames, £109, Vitra (vitra.com)
6. ‘Vento’ brass mobile, approx £98, Oh DaDa (ohdada.de)
7. ‘Shapes’ brass mobile, approx £340, Livingly (livingly.dk)

26 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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COMPILED BY: CAT OLLEY

Delicate and kinetic, these grown-up designs prove that mobiles are no longer just for children

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WHAT TO
CATCH AT COLLECT
One of the most influential contemporary craft and design fairs, Collect showcases innovative work by living
artists and designers. Head to Somerset House to view our must-see highlights from the world of modern craft

2
3
4

‘Home’ is the focus of Flow Gallery’s 2022 stand, where work
will be displayed on oak shelving by British designer Fred
Rigby. This unit will become part of a space filled with objects by
modern creatives, such as ceramicists Jessica Coates and Cécile
Daladier (pictured). ‘Recently, our homes and the objects in them
have become our world,’ says gallery owner Yvonna Demczynska.
‘Surrounding ourselves with things we love enhances our daily
experience. There is joy in feeling a connection to a maker and the
material itself.’ flowgallery.co.uk

2. Intoart
Established in 2000 by Ella Ritchie and Sam Jones, Peckhambased Intoart is a studio that supports a collective of artists
and designers with learning disabilities. Two artist-makers
will present new work focusing on figurative elements: Christian
Ovonlen’s large scale-silk textiles (pictured) reference the Ballets
Russes and theatre productions from the 19th and 20th centuries,
while Clifton Wright’s wall-mounted ceramics feature his own
portraiture studies. intoart.org.uk; cliftonwright.co.uk

3. Agustina Ros at North Lands Creative
This year is officially the UN Year of Glass, and it’s a material
used by many at Collect 2022, including Argentinian designer
Agustina Ros. Having trained in visual arts at the University of
Argentine Social Museum, the Barcelona-based maker fabricates
incredible one-of-a-kind glass sculptures and objects, such as the
‘Pinky’ cup, spoon and plate (pictured), embracing techniques
such as vaporising precious metals onto the material’s surface.
northlandscreative.co.uk; agustinaros.com

4. Jasmine Linington at Craft Scotland
Edinburgh-based Linington has spent four years researching
seaweed as an alternative material for the fashion and textile
industries. It’s now her material of choice (and her studio’s USP),
with SeaCell, a type of seaweed and eucalyptus cellulose, used to
construct innovative pieces utilising digital and hand-embroidery
techniques. She also employs marine algae — sustainably harvested
from Edinburgh beaches — as a natural dye. craftscotland.org;
jasminelinington.com

5. Marianne Huotari at Officine Saffi
Renowned for combining traditional Finnish textile techniques
with ceramics, Marianne Huotari creates delicate and distinctive
rugs for walls with exceptional precision and detail. Exploring
the hectic nature of modern life via the slow pace of craftsmanship,
each individual piece is hand-built, with the rugs taking a member
of the Arabia Art Department Society hours of meditative work
to complete. officinesaffi.com; mariannehuotari.fi

Collect art fair takes place from 25-27 February at Somerset
House, London. craftscouncil.org.uk/collect-art-fair

28 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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WORDS: CLAUDIA BAILLIE PICTURES: CECILE DALADIER, CERAMIC PIQUE-FLEUR TRIANGULAIRES, 2021/FLOW GALLERY, JULIAN KONCZAK,
CHRISTIAN OVONLEN, BOTANICAL SILK ORANGE, 2018/INTOART, AGUSTINA ROS/NORTH LANDS CREATIVE, ANNA AUTIO,
HEDELMÄLEHDON SUUDELMA (AFTER THE PARTY SERIES), CERAMIC WALL WORK, 2021/MARIANNE HUOTARI/OFFICINE SAFFI, BEN ANDERS

1. Flow Gallery

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NO PLACE
LIKE ROME
Fendi Casa’s latest collection marks a
bold step for the Italian fashion house
Thirty years ago, under Anna Fendi’s visionary
leadership, Fendi became the first couture
house to launch an interiors line and it’s been
evolving its distinctive brand of restrained
Roman glamour ever since. Now, Fendi Casa
has joined forces with Design Holding, a global
powerhouse that counts B&B Italia and
Maxalto in its roster of luxury brands. The new
venture, Fashion Furniture Design (FF Design),
sees artistic director Silvia Venturini Fendi
(pictured) combining the house’s creativity
and craftsmanship with Design Holding’s
product know-how, ensuring the ‘Made in Italy’
label remains a global mark of excellence. ➤

Silvia Venturini Fendi with the
‘Metropolis’ coffee tables by
Atelier Oï, the ‘New Soho’
sofa and armchairs by Toan
Nguyen and a rug featuring the
‘Karligraphy’ logo by Karl
Lagerfeld, all by Fendi Casa

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‘I ADMIRE OBJECTS WITH
A STRONG PERSONALITY’

Clockwise, from top ‘Modular Sandia’ sofa by Toan Nguyen
with Chiara Andreatti’s ‘Astuccio Canes’ table in bamboo;
‘Earring’ coffee tables by Cristina Celestino; the ‘Ford’ dining
table, ‘Doyle’ chairs and carpet featuring Fendi’s signature
‘Pequin’ stripes and yellow trim; the ‘Arches’ table in marble
by Atelier Oï. All pieces are price on application

32 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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WORDS: PHOEBE FRANGOUL. PICTURES: ANDREA FERRARI

FF Design’s latest collection, which launches in full
at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April, includes
collaborations with designers, including Toan Nguyen
and the Swiss studio Atelier Oï, who understand what
makes Fendi Casa tick while bringing an outsider’s
eye to proceedings. ‘I admire those who create objects
with a strong personality; detail-oriented, creative
yet functional and that make me say, “I wish I’d had
that idea,”’ explains Silvia.
Drawing on a pool of international talent has paid
off. There’s a quiet exuberance to the furniture and
textiles, with sumptuous fabrics deployed in a
restrained, supremely confident way and signature
shades drawn straight from the Fendi palette.
Standout pieces include Atelier Oï’s coffee tables,
which feature a sequence of classical arches that take
their design cues from the façade of the Fendi
headquarters in the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana,
while also nodding to Rome’s most famous building,
the Colosseum. The visual language of the house is
deftly translated from clothing to carpets, with the
iconic interlocking double-F logo of the Baguette bag
and ‘Karligraphy’ script from Karl Lagerfeld’s tenure
reimagined on richly textured rugs. The extravagant
curves of Toan Nguyen’s cinnamon velvet modular
‘Sandia’ sofa perfectly express the luxurious aesthetic
that Fendi is known for.
FF Design marks a confident step forward for Fendi
Casa, while honouring the family firm’s artisanal and
experimental heritage. It is a celebration of all that
Italian design is known for – precious materials and
craftsmanship – infused with the label’s modern
elegance. As Silvia puts it: ‘I believe this new collection
encapsulates all the messages that we have built and
amplified over the years, rendering a clear image of
what we are and where we want to be.’ fendi.com

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NOW

L AUR A JACKSON ON…

How to become an
organised maximalist
As the founder of online homeware treasure trove
Glassette, our columnist loves beautiful things, but
it’s finding space for it all that’s occupying her mind

PICTURE: TARAN WILKHU

Since people first began Marie Kondo-ing their homes and having
strict clear-outs of their belongings, being tidy and minimalist has
been the height of fashion. It’s unfortunate for me, because I just
love stuff. Whether it’s a mug or a pillow, there are so many things
that I feel an emotional connection to and that I could never bring
myself to throw away. They all, as Kondo would say, spark joy.
But while I have accepted that I will never be minimalist, I can
be good at storing my many beloved objects. I love storage. I genuinely
enjoy packing my knits away neatly and folding my towels before
placing them in the linen cupboard. Even my cleaning products
have their own little storage bucket. If I’m going to have lots of
stuff (and I am), it’s crucial that it is all nicely put in its place.
The wardrobe can be a bit of a jumble for most, but for me,
it’s another opportunity to care for my items. Clothes-wise,
everything is hung on an appropriate hanger (coat hangers for
coats and trouser hangers for
trousers) and arranged by type – so
all of my dresses are grouped
together, as are all of my jeans, and
so on. A lot of people put shoes into
their wardrobes with the backs
facing out, but I have them lined
up the other way around with the
tips of the toes facing me. Not only
does it all look tidy, but it also helps
to speed up getting dressed. It’s
not about hiding your mess but
actually about making life easier!
To that same end, finding

Clockwise from above Hanging
baskets, £45, Our Lovely Goods;
wardrobes in Laura’s home; ‘Sifa’
baskets, from £16, The Basket Room

‘THE KEY TO
GENERAL HOME
TIDINESS LIES IN
WICKER BASKETS‘
dedicated spaces for the everyday
essentials prevents moments of
daily panic. I bought some gold
screws from Amazon to hang my
keys on. It looks stylish and I always
know where they are. I’ve also put
a trinket box by the front door for
loose change and post.
Around the rest of the house,
though, the key to general home
tidiness lies in wicker baskets.
I have lots and I like to keep a look
out for vintage ones on my travels.
The colourful striped varieties
from The Basket Room are real
favourites, and there’s a brilliant
hanging version from Our Lovely
Goods – it’s great if you have limited
floor space. They’re perfect for
everything from stashing children’s
toys to keeping your candles in – and, if you have lots of blankets,
you can roll them up and put them away rather than leaving them
strewn across the sofa. Finally, on the kitchen table, that notorious
clutter magnet, I keep a beautiful container for all of the general
odds and sods of modern life, like laptop wires and phone chargers.
Minimalism may work brilliantly for some, but if you’re as bad
at being able to say goodbye to things as I am, there is joy in finding
them the perfect home.
MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 35

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NOW
2
1

M Y C U LT U R A L L I F E

LUBAINA HIMID
British artist and curator Lubaina Himid has spent four decades
amplifying Black and female experience through her figurative
paintings, drawings and installations. Born in Zanzibar, she made
history in 2017 as the first Black woman and oldest person to win
the Turner Prize – an achievement she described as ‘bittersweet’
– before being awarded a CBE in the 2018 honours list. Her work
features in ‘Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art from 1950s
– Now’ at Tate Britain until 3 April 2022, with major exhibition
‘Lubaina Himid’ at Tate Modern until 3 July 2022. lubainahimid.uk
My all-time favourite piece of music is Keith Jarrett’s The Köln
Concert (3), which helped me to stay calm as I travelled to London
when my mother was ill. I played sections of it at her funeral and
never tire of listening to the colours and aching brilliance.
I’m currently listening to Ane Brun’s album It All Starts with One
(2). She’s an amazing Norwegian songwriter of Sami origin.
The book that has influenced me the most is The Glass Bead
Game (4) by Hermann Hesse, where I discovered the creative
possibilities that emerge when trying to comprehend the essentials
of music and mathematics. I also love Alice Walker’s In Search of
Our Mothers’ Gardens, which helped me to understand the value
and necessity of self-respect; and Woman on the Edge of Time by
Marge Piercy, which taught me about communicating as an equal.
I’m currently reading East Side Voices (1), which is a collection
of essays celebrating East and Southeast Asian identity in Britain,
edited by Helena Lee.
I spend far too much time watching Premier League football.
36 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

My best-loved quote is from Audre Lorde (7): ‘The master’s tools
will never dismantle the master’s house.’ It’s important to me,
because I keep having to remind myself to be brave enough to do
things in new ways and continue to invent a different model for
ways of working, making and living my life.
My favourite galleries are The House at Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge
(5) and The Serpentine, which has been a favourite for many years.
Its relationship with the park and proximity to the V&A make it
a kind of jewel in the crown for me.
The best exhibition I’ve ever seen was Theaster Gates’ ‘Black
Madonna’ at Kunstmuseum Basel in 2018. There have been so many
shows that I’ve loved over the years, including several Betye Saar
exhibitions and the amazing ‘Soul of a Nation’ at Tate Modern in
2017 – huge names in African-American art showing deeply
considered work, changing the way we understand ourselves.
I collect Yaccomaricard shirts, because they are always exquisitely
made and usually fit me well. Along with black or grey jeans, they’re
all I want to wear.
If I won the lottery, I’d buy Romare Bearden’s The Block (6), which
is in the Met in New York.
My favourite place in the world is Zanzibar (8) – while I’m there
I like to pretend that I’d never left.
This year, I’m looking forward to spending time in my studio
making paintings on paper of boats, wooden cut-outs for a lost
opera, and silkscreen prints exploring the complexities of the woven
object. I’d like to begin to explore Japan and learn more about
woodblock prints of women by Utamaro from the late 18th century.

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INTERVIEW: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: © IMAGE COPYRIGHT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART,
ROMARE BEARDEN FOUNDATION/VAGA AT ARS, NY AND DACS, LONDON 2022, OLGA BUDKO/
UNSPLASH, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, PAUL ALLITT, GETTY IMAGES, INGRID POLLARD

An arbiter of taste tells us what they’re reading, listening to and more

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NOW
‘Antella’ console,
£3,164, and ‘Gaja’
chair, from £436,
both Cassina

DESIGN HERO

KAZUHIDE
TAKAHAMA
The pared-down designs of the
Japanese maestro fuse Western
modernism with Eastern tradition
With their spare simplicity, the designs of Kazuhide Takahama
(1930-2010) appear perfectly in tune with the Japanese philosophy
of Zen minimalism. They’re also a reflection of the designer himself,
so quietly charismatic that he was known as ‘the stone man’. Yet
Takahama’s work was far from being purely Japanese: he embraced
a variety of Western influences, including modern European art.
Born in Miyazaki on the Japanese island of Kyushu, Takahama
studied architecture at the Tokyo Institute of Technology before
joining the practice of architect Kazuo Fujioka. In 1957, he oversaw
the design of Japan’s first pavilion at the Milan Triennale, which
proved to be a life-changing event – he met the entrepreneur Dino
Gavina, founder of Simon International (now part of Cassina),
and began a lifelong collaboration with him. By this time, Takahama
was already fascinated by modern art, in particular the Dada
movement – his ‘Marcel’ seating collection (1965) was a tribute
to Marcel Duchamp. Based on polyurethane blocks connected
by aluminium brackets, it offered the possibility of endless
configurations. It was followed by the ‘Saori’ wall lamp for Nemo

Clockwise
from top ‘Marcel’ seating for
Gavina, from approx £1,062
for an ‘S’ pouf, Paradisoterrestre
Edition; ‘Rhinocéros’ screen;
‘Saori’ wall lamp for Nemo,
£333, TwentyTwentyOne

38 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

in 1973, which evokes the slashed canvases of Spatialist
artist Lucio Fontana.
After Gavina persuaded Takahama to move to Italy
permanently – which he did in 1963, settling with his
wife Naeko in Bologna – the designer combined
architectural and furniture projects. In 1967, he
collaborated with Gavina on Bologna’s The Centre
Duchamp, a space for creative innovation. He also
continued to fuse his beloved modernist style with
Japanese traditions, such as lacquerware. With a
structure reminiscent of origami, his ‘Antella’ lacquer
table for Cassina in 1974 features folding panels that transform
it from oval centrepiece to slender console. The ‘Gaja’ stackable
chair (1978) and ‘Djuna’ low table (1983), also for Cassina, recall
Bauhaus tubular steel forms.
Takahama also flirted with Surrealism. In 1971, he worked with
installation artist François-Xavier Lalanne on the illustrated
‘Rhinocéros’ lacquer screen. Soon after came the ‘Mantilla’ sofa for
Paradisoterrestre (1974), which was inspired by the idea of covering
furniture with dust-sheets in a shut-up house. Its flowing ‘mantle’
cover is replaceable, so the sofa’s look can be changed at will.
The designer kept working until his final years and left a lasting
legacy in Bologna: designing the façade of the city’s Guglielmo
Marconi Airport and the shelters at its bus stops.

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WORDS: AMY BRADFORD PICTURES: DEPASQUALE+MAFFINI, NICOLA ZOCCHI

TAKAHAMA’S ‘MARCEL’
SEATING WAS A TRIBUTE
TO MARCEL DUCHAMP

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GARDENS /

EXPERT ADVICE

Natural dyeing

Cult Japanese-made garden tools brand Niwaki has opened its first
London store in Marylebone. Conceived by architect and furnituredesign duo Jones Neville, it’s a sleek, calm space clad in quarter-sawn
Douglas fir, with a Cryptomeria japonica pruned by Niwaki
founder Jake Hobson in the tiny courtyard beyond. It’s not all
about gardening, though: alongside the hand-forged steel trowels,
secateurs and tripod ladders, you’ll find a covetable range of kitchen
knives, denim workwear, stationery and more. Check out the new
collaboration with fashion label Eley Kishimoto, too (niwaki.com).

FIELD TRIP
The beautiful gardens
at Bryngwyn Manor,
Monmouthshire,
are the venue for a
two-and-a-half-hour
spring workshop
on establishing and
maintaining annual
and perennial
meadows. Led by Dean
Peckett, former head
of horticulture at
Arne Maynard Garden
Design, the session
helps raise funds for
the National Garden
Scheme. Saturday 26
March, tickets £30
(ngs.org.uk).

What are the plants every aspiring
dyer should grow?
Marigolds are easy to cultivate and
satisfying to use, since the dye –
a beautiful golden-orange colour – is
very quick to extract from the flowers.
Dyer’s chamomile, weld, madder, lady’s
bedstraw and coreopsis are other good
starter plants, but the joy of natural
dyeing is that you can also use food waste.
Carrot tops produce yellows, avocado
stones give soft pinks and corals, and
turmeric gives a bright, rich orange.
What equipment do you need?
Dyeing is not too dissimilar from
cooking or brewing a large pot of tea, so
a saucepan, some wooden spoons, a sieve
and a bucket is enough to get started.
Why should we give it a try?
Watching the colours develop is like
magic unfolding before your eyes. It’s
made me look at nature in a different way
and think about the various properties of
plants, rather than the way they look. If
we slow down and connect to them, we
can take better care of our natural world
(kathryndavey.com).

S T O P P R E S S Benton End, the former art school, home and
garden of artist and iris breeder Sir Cedric Morris, is being revived
by London’s Garden Museum and the Pinchbeck Charitable Trust as
a new centre of gardening and creativity in Suffolk (bentonend.co.uk).
40 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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WORDS: NATASHA GOODFELLOW PICTURES: EDMUND SUMNER, KRISTINA
PAUSKHITTE/PEXELS, DOREEN KILFEATHER, KATHRYN DAVEY

BRANCHING OUT

Kathryn Davey, author of new book
Natural Dyeing (Hardie Grant; £15.99),
discovered indigo dyeing while living in
San Francisco. When ‘I’d turned
everything in my house blue,’ as she
jokes, she expanded her range of colours
and materials to create her textiles brand.

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ARCHITECTURE /
New discoveries
For those bored by
brutalism and uninspired
by art deco, the new
Postmodern London Map,
by historian Owen Hopkins
and photographer Nigel
Green, features 50 iconic
examples in the capital. It’s
the perfect companion for
a voyage of architectural
discovery, £8 (bluecrow
media.com).

INNER CIRCLE
There are curves aplenty in the latest project from
architecture studio Kirkland Fraser Moor. Located
in rural Hertfordshire, Ashraya is a three-storey
house designed to feel like part of the topography.
Although rectangular in plan, it slots into a circular
void in the landscape. The entrance is a glazed
cylinder, while the roof is a gentle arch topped with
wildflowers, making it unclear where the grassy
meadow ends and the building begins (k-f-m.com).

FORCE OF NATURE
Italian design office Carlo Ratti Associati has built
a house around a 10m-high tree on the outskirts of Parma.
Surrounded by multi-level living spaces, the 60-year-old
ficus is the heart of this family home, which was created by
renovating and extending an old farmhouse. To ensure it
thrives, the designers have introduced a high-tech system
that adjusts the room’s temperature and humidity and
automatically opens and closes windows (carloratti.com).

It may look like a boulder, but this
rough-hewn mass is actually a
concert hall. Designed by Chinese
studio OPEN Architecture, the
Chapel of Sound is a structure in
a valley two hours north of Beijing.
The building features mineralenriched concrete walls that form
an inverted cone, which is inspired
by the shapes that sound waves
make when they reverberate into
caves. The aim was to offer an
exceptional acoustic environment
without treading too heavily on the
landscape (openarch.com).
42 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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WORDS: AMY FREARSON PICTURES: ALESSANDRO SALETTA, EDMUND
SUMNER, JONATHAN LEIJONHUFVUD @JONATHAN.LEIJONHUFVUD

Strike a chord

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ARCHITECTURE

TAYLOR-MADE

By valuing curiosity and collaboration over the singular
precision associated with his profession, British
architect Piers Taylor has carved an unusual path
It’s a challenge to find anything in common between Piers Taylor
and the stereotypical image of the architect who spends hours slaving
away at the drawing board, poring over every detail. For Taylor,
architecture is not about artistry or craft, but learning by doing. This
is a man who loves to see a bodged joint, because it shows someone
who feels free to explore an idea rather than being restricted by the
pursuit of perfection. ‘I’ve always been suspicious of people who
prioritise making something perfectly, because it’s like saying that
technique is more important than anything else,’ he says.
That’s not to say that Taylor’s buildings aren’t well made. You
only have to look at the hewn slate and board-marked
concrete of the House with Courtyards in Polzeath,
Cornwall, or the gently curved copper-shingle-clad roof
of the new ‘Beezantium’ at Somerset’s The Newt hotel to
be convinced of his aptitude for material craft. It’s just
that resourcefulness and experimentation are qualities
he values more highly.
Taylor never set out to become an architect. He had
always loved buildings and had a talent for making, but
wasn’t academic, and it was only when he moved to Australia
and enrolled at Sydney College of the Arts that he found
his direction. After attending a lecture by Glenn Murcutt
– the architect and Pritzker Prize winner acclaimed for his
modest, environmentally sensitive buildings – Taylor

From top
‘Moonshine’ house
in Bath, a former
schoolhouse built in
1786, was retrofitted
by Piers Taylor
in 2020; the
architect at work
for his practice,
Invisible Studio;
Taylor’s ecologically
friendly annexe,
built in 2014 out of
reclaimed materials
and timber

MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 45

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ARCHITECTURE

‘INSTINCTIVELY I KNEW I WANTED
TO WORK IN A PARTICULAR WAY’

From top The interior
of the Beezantium; the
House with Courtyards
in Cornwall, designed
by Invisible Studio

46 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

was so inspired that he immediately switched to
the architecture programme. But back in the UK,
he struggled to find the same appreciation for
environment that he had learned from Murcutt,
neither through studies at the Architectural
Association in London nor while working at
architectural practices in Bath.
The shift came in 2008 when, invigorated by
a second spell in Sydney, Taylor decided to design
and build his own home on the outskirts of Bath.
Called Moonshine, it involved renovating and
extending an 18th-century schoolhouse to create
a contemporary retreat that could generate all of
its own electricity. There was no grand plan – just
locally sourced materials and simple construction
techniques, easy enough to be carried out by amateurs. ‘I didn’t
have any confidence that I knew what I was doing, although
instinctively I knew that I wanted to work in a very particular way,’
says the architect. ‘I didn’t just want to do pretty buildings in
landscape.’ Shortly after, Taylor built a workspace nearby and set
up his own practice, Invisible Studio, with the ambition to continue
designing in the same fashion.
This hands-on approach has come to define everything that
Taylor has done since, from helping ordinary people embark on
self-builds for BBC series The House That £100k Built to working
with architecture students to create experimental structures
through the Studio in the Woods workshop programme. That same
thread runs through his latest projects. The design for the East
Quay cultural centre in Watchet has its roots in the area’s ad-hoc
harbour structures, while a new residence in Hampshire finds
beauty in a humble timber truss roof. He also recently revamped
Moonshine, making the building more environmentally friendly
by adding black corrugated steel cladding, extra insulation and
improved levels of airtightness.
No matter the scale of the task, Taylor’s ethos is always to work
with the materials and techniques that are close at hand. Rather
than employing a team, he simply collaborates with others who
share his mindset. The long-term goal is to empower more people
to get involved in the process of making buildings, regardless of
their skills. ‘I really like it when buildings we design become part
of a process of change and upskilling,’ he explains. ‘I trust that, as
architects, we can choreograph that process rather than controlling
it.’ It is perhaps why his buildings share a sense of creative freedom.
‘DIY culture is about using whatever is around you to take control
and transform your life,’ he says. ‘It’s so freeing to make something
yourself and live with the consequences.’ invisiblestudio.org

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WORDS: AMY FREARSON PICTURES: JIM STEPHENSON, ANDY MATTHEWS

The ‘Beezantium’
at The Newt hotel
houses honey bees

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KITCHENS & BATHROOMS /

HANDLE WITH CARE
Best known for its signature knurled hardware, British brand
Buster + Punch has put a stake in the ground with the launch
of its first kitchen system. Inspired by the freestanding units
used by professional chefs – and a response to the often
limited life-cycle of fitted designs – the modular kitchen
concept offers two frame options and three colourways.
From £25,000 (busterandpunch.com).
CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
From her optical-illusion rugs for CC Tapis to her
iridescent ‘Shimmer’ tables for Glas Italia, architect
and designer Patricia Urquiola has form when it
comes to clever geometry. Intersected by a sleek
disc that functions as its handle, her ‘Limón’
tapware series for bathroom brand Agape will help
soften this space’s hard lines. From £414.44 for
a mixer tap, Tatta Home (tattahome.com).

When Danish textile brand
Tekla arrived four years ago
with its sustainable, quietly
luxurious take on bed linen,
it was clear that founder
Charlie Hedin had found
a gap in the market. Its new
kitchen-linen range includes
everything from tablecloths
to aprons, available in six
evocatively named shades
– including ‘Apple Core’,
‘Claret’ and ‘Stain’ – which
are a nod to the minutiae of
a dinner party. From £29
(teklafabrics.com).
48 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

SET IN CONCRETE
After a surge in customers asking for bespoke basins,
east-London-based concrete specialist Smith & Goat has
released a signature range of coloured sinks. Available in 20
colourways and 11 different designs – think lozenges, shells
and scalloped edges alongside conventional shapes – each
hand-crafted basin will bring colour and personality to tired
bathrooms. From £440 (smithandgoat.co.uk).

Looking for more kitchen inspiration?
Don’t miss our 64-page ELLE Decoration
Kitchens special magazine, free with the April
issue. On sale 3 March.

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WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURE: BEAN STUDIOS

M AT E R I A L W O R L D

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TECHNOLOGY /

TIME IS MONEY
Contactless payment is the new normal
(who carries cash anymore?) and Swatch
is offering a new, reliable and stylish
way to pay. Eighteen of its watch designs
have been fitted with ‘SwatchPAY!’
– a tiny payment chip certified by
Mastercard and Visa. There’s no need
to charge Swatch devices, your personal
details aren’t stored on your wrist, and
all of the models are water-resistant up
to 30 metres. From £66 (swatch.com).

ELECTRIC REVOLUTION
Anyone who has ever proudly displayed their guitar knows that they are
not just musical instruments, but sculptural works of art. Rarely has that
been truer than with the ‘Cosmo’ by Verso. Crafted in Germany, its body is
made of a single sheet of powder-coated metal – available in seven RAL
colours – with a head carved from sustainably sourced wood. Innovatively,
the pickup, attached via magnets, can be moved to suit your playing style.
Sliding it towards the bass or treble strings will amplify them, or remove
it completely for a distant, dreamy sound. The creative possibilities are
as exciting as the design. From about £1,700 (versoinstruments.com).
T H E E Y E S H AV E I T

50 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

Pinboard wizard
With a 15.6-inch colour display, this
supersized version of Amazon’s ‘Echo
Show’ is intended to work as your
family’s interactive noticeboard.
Sync calendars, set reminders, or add
ingredients to your digital shopping
list. You can also make video calls,
watch shows from your favourite
streaming services or listen to your top
podcasts as you go about your chores.
It’s the heart of any smart home.
£239.99 (amazon.co.uk).

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WORDS: CLARE SARTIN

Glasses with built-in cameras are
not an entirely new concept. But
ones that people would actually
be happy to wear? That’s new.
Available in classic Ray-Ban
styles – including the iconic
‘Wayfarer’ – the ‘Stories’ shades,
created in collaboration with
Meta, allow you to do more than
just take five-megapixel pictures
and record videos. They also play
music and receive phone calls,
with voice command or touch
control. From £299, Sunglass
Hut (sunglasshut.com).

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AT H O M E W I T H

Living area The space is lit by three windows
and the internal courtyard. A vintage 1960s
sofa from Lisbon sits on a Patricia Urquiola rug
for Gan. Wrestling masks from New York hang
on the wall. Beneath is a prototype of MUT’s
‘Enea’ chair, designed by Alberto for Andreu
World. The ‘Duplex’ family of tables is an MUT
collaboration with Sancal. The sideboard is by
Teulat. On it are ‘Chromo’ lamps by Preciosa
Lighting for MUT. Their curves are echoed by
MUT’s ‘Twins’ armchair

THE QUIET
REBELLION
New and old, inside and out, work and home…
The Valencian apartment of MUT Design’s
Alberto Sánchez and Eduardo Villalón is
a lesson in living without boundaries
Words PHOEBE FRANGOUL Photography DANIEL SCHÄFER/PHOTOFOYER

It’s hard to imagine a firm more proudly rooted in its setting than Valencia’s MUT
Design. Founded in 2010 by Alberto Sánchez and Eduardo Villalón, the name
‘MUT’ means ‘silence’ in Valencian vernacular. The city informs everything
Alberto and Eduardo create, both at work and at home.
Through their work with brands like Expormim and Sancal, MUT’s team has
gained a reputation for skilfully reimagining vintage shapes, local crafts and
natural materials in radical ways. By grounding objects in their home region,
each is infused with a sense of place that creates a dialogue with the bold geometric
forms that the brand favours. ‘Our design has been deemed “emotional”,’ says
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AT H O M E W I T H

Alberto. ‘We always try to convey an emotion with an object or space. We want
to involve the viewer, tell a story, build an experience.’
In 2020, MUT was invited by the IMM Cologne Fair to design Das Haus, a first
for a Spanish studio. They named their entry a la fresca – in the fresh air –
a reference to the Spanish habit of meeting outdoors after the heat of the day
has passed. ‘It was something we had never done before and it was huge,’ Alberto
recalls. ‘We are very proud of it.’ The plan centred on an internal courtyard that
brought light, ventilation and seclusion from the outside world.
This blurring of boundaries between indoors and outdoors is a MUT motif
that applies to the home of Alberto and Eduardo. After scouring his neighbourhood
for two years – ‘I can be very thorough’ – Alberto found what he was looking for
in 2015. The airy 130sq m apartment sits in a 200-year-old building in the historic
Barrio del Carmen neighbourhood of Valencia, close to the MUT studio and the
famous Central Market of Valencia. ‘I wanted an apartment with high ceilings
and a hydraulic tile floor. Most of the flats in the old city had these original
elements, but many have lost them to refurbishing, so it wasn’t easy.’
With four-metre-high ceilings and elegant shutter-framed windows, the flat
had plenty of potential, but the layout was less than ideal. ‘When I saw it for the
first time, I was horrified; the rooms were so dark.’ A central lightwell was the
key to unlocking a radical, yet sensitive, reconfiguration of the space. ‘It would
become the unifying thread of the refurbishment. I got rid of obstacles to let light
spill into the space.’ Small, dark rooms became one open, flowing plan. All other
rooms, even the bathroom, can be seen wherever you stand in the apartment. ➤

‘WE ALWAYS TRY TO CONVEY AN EMOTION WITH AN OBJECT OR SPACE.
WE WANT TO INVOLVE THE VIEWER, TELL A STORY, BUILD AN EXPERIENCE’

Dining room A
handmade dining table
is surrounded by
Giancarlo Piretti chairs
for Castelli, found by
Alberto in Oporto. The
plates and glasses are
from Ikea’s ‘PS’
collection. The hanging
light is a prototype
designed for Alberto
and Eduardo. The large
mixed media painting
on the wall is by
Turkish artist
Volkan Diyaroglu

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Kitchen Around the custom wooden table sit
Miguel Leiro’s green ‘Boca’ stool, the ‘Pion’ stool
designed by Ionna Vautrin for Sancal, and on the
right, a ‘Gimlet ’stool by Jorge Pensi for Mobles
114. The ceramic fruit bowl on the counter and
the jug on the table are both from Portuguese firm
Faiobidos. On the shelf are ceramic photographs
by MUT for Harmony Inspire. The photograph
with the blue background is by Nienke Klunder.
The work with the pink background is by the
digital artist Andrés Reisinger

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AT H O M E W I T H

It’s a bold move, challenging conventional notions
of privacy. ‘The lack of intimacy could be
uncomfortable, but for me, it’s just fine,’ he says.
Hidden treasures were revealed during the
work, like huge wooden beams, a Catalan vault
and caravista brick. Alberto explains, ‘From the
beginning, I planned to combine the new and
old, as that’s what I do in my job and that’s what
I wanted for my home.’ He tried to preserve as
many elements as he could, but the original
hydraulic floor tiles couldn’t be saved, so were
replaced with modern ones in the same style.
Keeping original details integral to the new
scheme gives the apartment a relaxed, natural
feel, comfortable in its surroundings. ‘It would
be impossible to locate it in any other part of the
world. The way I have redistributed it is very
Mediterranean. In the Roman house, life would
happen around a courtyard. The lightwell, in
a smaller scale, is the heir to this understanding
of architecture and way of living.’
Rooms are filled with vintage furniture picked
up in antique markets and pieces by Alberto’s
favourite designers, such as a set of Castelli chairs
he found in Oporto. ‘When you travel, you bring
back memories in the form of décor objects or
furniture or merely ideas you later materialise
in your layout,’ he says. His home serves as a lab
to test out ideas, so MUT designs and prototypes
can be found in every room, from their Duplex

‘THE WAY WE GET TO
THE FINISH LINE DIFFERS,
BUT WE ARE TOGETHER
WHEN WE CROSS IT’
tables for Sancal and Nautica swing chair for Expormim to a collaboration with
the rug company GAN. Others were designed by Alberto specifically for the space.
The warm tones of brick and timber prevent a feeling of sterility, while the
interplay between colourful objects from all over the world and the typically
Valencian setting makes for a stimulating aesthetic. ‘It is a combination of what
I am and what I like. I can positively say my spirit is very present.’
Valencia is the World Design Capital for 2022 and, in recognition of the
contribution MUT has made to championing local design, the studio has been
chosen to create the travelling exhibition representing the city. The pride and
affection Alberto and Eduardo feel for their city is apparent in their five modular
pavilions, which are crafted in leftover local wood and reference the thatched
roofs of barracas – shacks – and the Albufera National Park. ‘Our roots, history,
tradition and territory are fundamental to understanding who we are and our
work. We take nourishment and draw inspiration from them.’
Recently, many of us have had to adapt to working from home and spending
more time than ever with partners and family. For Alberto and Eduardo, this has
always been the case; just as MUT blurs boundaries between indoors and outside,
they make no distinction between work and home. By being unafraid to inject
emotion into their work and acknowledging where they come from and their
differences, they have found a winning formula for work and for life. ‘We both
have very defined ideas of what we want and maybe the way we get to the finish
line differs, but we are always together when we cross it. I think this is why we
make such a great team. We have always understood each other, and I believe
this is one of the main reasons behind the success of our studio.’

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WORDS: NAME PICTURES: NAME

Entryway MUT’s ‘Nautical’
swing chair for Expormim makes
full use of the four-metre-high
ceilings. Exposed brick columns
frame the courtyard and are
decorated with Hay paper masks.
Bathroom Tiles by Entic
Designs and an Ikea mirror give a
fresh feel. The original hydraulic
floor tiles could not be salvaged,
so Alberto replaced them with a
plain, modern version.
Main bedroom The space is
spanned by original huge wooden
beams and brick columns. MUT’s
red ‘Duplex’ coffee table for
Sancal is joined by a MUT wall
light prototype, while underfoot
is Patricia Urquiola’s ‘Checks
Blue’ carpet for GAN. The
drawing is by Cuca Berenguer

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ST YLE

WORDS: CLARE SARTIN PICTURES: LUCKY IF SHARP

D E C O R AT I N G

/ M AT E R I A L S / I N T E R I O R D E S I G N / I D E A S

‘UNSCRIPTED’ FABRIC BY KVADRAT
It’s our most unguarded moments of artistic expression that inspire Berlin-based artist,
illustrator and designer Sarah Illenberger. After searching the city’s art-supply shops for
examples of the free-form scrawls created when people test out pens, she’s turned them
into ‘Unscripted’, a beautiful trio of sheer fabrics that are each alive with creativity.
‘Script_Two’ fabric from the ‘Unscripted’ collection by Sarah Illenberger, £472 per panel, Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk)

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STYLE

HEARTS WILL FLUTTER

WORDS: CLARE SARTIN

Fashion designer Mary Katrantzou’s new ‘Victorian’ tile collection for Villeroy &
Boch grants her signature butterfly motif new life to transform interiors too
When fashion designer Mary Katrantzou first visited the headquarters techniques for a handcrafted appearance, are joined by four modern,
of historic tile brand Villeroy & Boch in Merzig, Germany, it was graphic interpretations of monochrome Victorian tiles.
a design from the past that caught her eye: the amazing Victorian
For Katrantzou, who studied architecture at the Rhode Island
tiles that still decorate the 270-year-old brand’s hallways. Tasked School of Design before taking up textile design at London’s Central
with creating the company’s first designer collaboration for more Saint Martins, it felt a natural progression to transfer her aesthetic
to interiors. ‘My mother is an interior designer
than 20 years, she looked to its enduring pieces
from this era before adding her own unique twist
and my father a textile engineer,’ she points out.
‘IT IS VERY
The new collection, ‘Victorian’, is instantly
‘It is very exciting to be part of someone’s home,
EXCITING TO
recognisable as the work of Katrantzou, often
where they surround themselves with things they
referred to as the ‘Queen of print’. Those who
love. It creates a feeling of permanence that’s
BE
PART
OF
love her clothes will spot the use of her signature
very different to the nature of fashion.’
butterfly motif. ‘They played a key part in my SOMEONE’S HOME’
Perhaps the most exciting thing for Katrantzou
10-year anniversary collection in 2018, which
is the idea that every person who buys her tiles
was all about the art of collecting,’ she tells us. Fascinated by the can use them in a totally unique and personal way. They are, she
creature’s ability to adapt, evolve and grow, Katrantzou sees them explains, ‘building blocks’ to create something special. ‘I would
as an illustrative metaphor. ‘As human beings, we all go through love to see them in someone’s kitchen, the garden, the main entrance
some type of metamorphosis in life and butterflies are symbolic of or around the fireplace.’ For her, however, they will first be used
this message of optimism.’
to decorate her bathroom. ‘It gives me so much joy to incorporate
The four colourful butterfly designs in the range, each created our collaboration in the space that is my most personal,’ she adds.
using a combination of digital and traditional screen-printing Tiles from £21, villeroy-boch.co.uk
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STYLE

PRINTS
CHARMING
Ceraudo’s new collection is
inspired by one of design history’s
oft-overlooked female stars

Ceraudo’s ‘Elio’
armchair is covered in
the new ‘Orpha’ print
in the Tangerine
colourway and sits on
a rug showcasing the
same design

Sisters Emily and Victoria Ceraudo founded
their eponymous online store (ceraudo.
com), offering a compelling mix of vintage
and contemporary furniture, in 2016 after
struggling to find distinctive, affordable
designs for their own homes. Fabrics and
furniture soon followed, all designed inhouse and featuring uplifting patterns
in bright, optimistic shades.
For their new ‘Orpha’ collection,
launching this month, they looked to the
work of Sonia Delaunay and the Orphism
and Fauvism movements for inspiration.
‘It was her exploration of bold colour and
abstract form that we found really exciting,’
says Victoria. ‘Our previous collections
have been interpretations of fairly uniform

‘WE WANTED THIS
TO ACT LIKE ART IN
ITS OWN RIGHT’

62 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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WORDS: PHOEBE FRANGOUL PICTURES: EUGÉNIE DANG VU

Clockwise from
above The ‘Leo’
dining chair in
‘Seaweed’, cushion
in ‘Pesto’, and ‘Piero’
stool in ‘Coconut’

and comes in five vibrant colour options, their playful names
– ‘Pesto’, ‘Grenadine’, ‘Seaweed’, ‘Tangerine’ and ‘Coconut’ –
evoking longed-for holidays and a nostalgic mid-century mood.
Chairs and a footstool are made in Portugal by skilled
craftspeople. With gentle curves and clean lines, they exude an
easygoing charm that complements the joyful energy of the print.
Victoria and Emily were intrigued as much by Sonia Delaunay’s
life as by her work, particularly the way she moved freely – and
pragmatically – between disciplines, from interior design to
illustration, costume and product design. ‘Sonia didn’t receive
as much recognition as her husband, Robert Delaunay, as
decorative artists weren’t as highly regarded as “purist” painters.
She applied her talents to various commercial projects in order
to make a living for their family,’ Victoria explains.
The Ceraudo sisters have long been known for their ability
to source and layer antiques in contemporary schemes;
the ‘Orpha’ range captures that timeless charm, while paying
tribute to the life and legacy of a woman and artist they admire.
Furniture from £765 (ceraudo.com)

WORDS: NAME PICTURES: NAME

and traditional repeat patterns; we wanted
this to be much more abstract and act
almost like a piece of art in its own right.’
The print dances with organic lines and
shapes and is available as fabric by the
metre, as well as on upholstered furniture,
cushions and a rug. ‘We loved this idea of
creating an abstract composition that could
be applied to design and used in a living,
functional way,’ Victoria says. The cotton
fabric is screen-printed by hand in India

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T H E PA L E T T E

SPICE UP LIFE

Add some heat to your home with mustard
tones, from dark dijon to vibrant American
1 ‘Heron’ linen fabric in ‘0460’, £118 per m,
Sahco (sahco.com) 2 ‘Woodstock’ wallpaper
in ‘Mirage’, £195 for three rolls, Mind the Gap
(mindtheg.com) 3 ‘Astral’ wallpaper in
‘Yellow 5013143’, £27.99 per m, Schumacher
(fschumacher.co.uk) 4 ‘Dolce Dots’ cotton fabric
in ‘Yellow’, £75 per m, Ceraudo (ceraudo.com)
5 ‘Palermo’ velvet fabric in ‘Daffodil 64909’,
£325 per m, Schumacher (fschumacher.co.uk)
6 ‘Ensemble’ border in ‘59501’, £272 per m,
Samuel & Sons (samuelandsons.com)
7 ‘Matara Tessere’ vegan leather fabric
in ‘Ochre’, £50 per m, Designers Guild
(designersguild.com) 8 ‘Superstar’ tile
in ‘Echo’, £70 per sqm, Claybrook
(claybrookstudio.co.uk) 9 ‘Fabthirty+’
fabric in ‘30467_048’, £72.60 per m, Rubelli
(rubelli.com) 10 ‘Three stripe’ fabric in
‘Green and Gold’, £90 per m, Susie Atkinson
(susieatkinson.com) 11 ‘Empyrea’ linen fabric
in ‘F7581-05’, £125 per m, Osborne and Little
(osborneandlittle.com) 12 ‘Woven Bottle’
recycled fabric in ‘Starfish’, £91 per m,
Rose Uniacke (roseuniacke.com) 13 ‘Harper
Mortice T-bar’ door handle in antique brass,
£66, Corston Architectural Detail (corston.com)
14 ‘Ipala Stripe’ cotton fabric in ‘Citrus’,
£105 per m, A Rum Fellow (arumfellow.com)
15 ‘Little Greene’ tile in ‘Bassoon’, £1.42 each,
Bert & May (bertandmay.com) 16 ‘Milo’ fabric
in ‘Honey’, £43.20 per m, Prestigious Textiles
(prestigious.co.uk) 17 ‘Heirloom’ wallpaper in
‘Coffee’, £50 per 5m roll, Deborah Bowness
(deborahbowness.com)

5
16

‘Dijon’ wall paint paired
with ‘Grape’ on the door,
both by Graphenstone
(graphenstone.co.uk)

STYLING: AMY HEFFERNAN
PHOTOGRAPHY: LUCKY IF SHARP

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STYLE

T H E PA I N T S

Find your flavour with our
spectrum of shades

‘Timbuktu’, £51 for 2.5 litres,
Andrew Martin
(andrewmartin.co.uk)

7
‘Hay Bale’, £45 for
2.5 litres, Claybrook
(claybrookstudio.co.uk)

‘Yellow Pink’, £48.50 for
2.5 litres, Little Greene
(littlegreene.com)

13
‘Yellow 02’, £38 for
2.5 litres, Lick
(lick.com)
15

14
‘Haymarket’, £55.50 for
2.5 litres, Mylands
(mylands.com)

‘Moritz’, £42 for
2.5 litres, Coat
(coatpaints.com)

‘Burnt Saffron’, £42 for 2.5 litres,
Graham & Brown
(grahambrown.com)

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D E C O R AT O R I N D E X

CHARLES ZANA
Known for classicism with a modern twist, the Parisian
interior designer unveils his elegant furniture collection

The Cheyne Gardens
apartment designed
by Charles Zana

Who is he? A veteran of 30 years’ standing on the Parisian interiordesign scene, Charles Zana studied architecture at the prestigious
École des Beaux-Arts, a training that reveals itself in the classical
lines of his spaces. He discovered interior design while living in
New York after graduating, but believes his love of the discipline
goes back to his childhood. ‘As far back as I can remember, I always
wanted to study architecture,’ he says. ‘It came
from my father, who collected art and loved
furniture. We had a very modern house in the
1970s.’ Already the author of design projects
around the globe, as well as a glossy coffee-table
book, Charles Zana: The Art of Interiors (Rizzoli;
£50), Zana is now expanding his world with the
launch of his own homes collection. Charles Zana
Mobilier consists of sculptural furniture and
collectible objects ‘of exceptional craftsmanship’,
and is produced in collaboration with the finest
French artisans.
What’s his style? Interiors are characterised
by clean lines, subtle colours and streamlined
forms, reflecting Zana’s preferred influences:
fine art and 1930s design. He cites the natural
materials of Jean-Michel Frank and the sensuality of Gio Ponti as
inspirations, as well as Italian masters such as Andrea Branzi and
Enzo Mari. Although Zana’s work is classical and restrained, he
uses his love of art to imbue interiors with life and emotion. ‘As
a trained architect and an art lover, I am guided by three fundamental
principles: proportion, elegance and comfort,’ he explains.

What are his recent projects? Zana has designed a new Goyard
boutique in Dallas, Texas (he has been responsible for the luxury
brand’s store interiors for years) and a home in the heart of SaintGermain-des-Prés, Paris. ‘It had been altered a lot over time, so we
restructured it to create a new sense of flow throughout, with
a stairwell that links all three levels,’ says the designer, who
also created all the furniture in the house. In
complete contrast, a recent apartment project
in London’s Cheyne Gardens was inspired by the
American Shaker movement, with pine flooring
and panelled walls elevated by details in travertine,
linen and bronze.
What is Zana currently working on? His new
furniture line is his biggest current project.
Launched last October with an exhibition in an
18th-century Paris townhouse, it includes pieces
in refined materials such as suede, woven leather,
cedarwood and oak, as well as bronze lighting
inspired by Giorgio Morandi’s still-life paintings.
Zana describes the collection, realised in a subtle
palette of neutrals, pale greens and black, as
a quest to create timeless design ‘I’m seeking
a balance between purity of forms, simplicity of volumes and
functionality.’ Coming next is a new bakery concept for French
patisserie Yann Couvreur.
He says: ‘I love harmony, and always try to relate the materials,
colours and patterns in my projects. But I also love contrasts, such
as raw materials in luxurious spaces.’ zana.fr

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STYLE

From top A space decorated
with pieces from Charles Zana
Mobilier’s first collection,
including a ‘Minos’ floor lamp
and ‘Teddy’ headboard in
honey-hued velvet; the bright
living room in the Zanadesigned Kimpton St Honoré
Hotel, Paris; Zana’s Visitation
Project in Paris; the designer’s
light and spacious Raspail
Apartment, also in the
French capital

THE LITTLE
BLACK BOOK
Favouring the work
of trusted artisans,
Charles Zana’s
design contacts reach
from Paris across the
Channel to the UK
RUGS

‘I HAVE WORKED ON
A LOT OF HISTORIC
BUILDINGS, BUT I DON’T
LIKE PASTICHE OR KITSCH’

Galerie Diurne in Paris
makes the most beautiful
hand-knotted rugs that
are woven in Nepal. It’s
tradition and quality in
the extreme. There are
contemporary designs
inspired by landscapes
and decorative arts as
well as classical patterns.
diurne.com
V I N TA G E D E S I G N

EXPERT ADVICE
Charles Zana’s tips on
creating refined interiors

WORDS: AMY BRADFORD PICTURES: MATTHIEU SALVAING, FRANCOIS HALARD,
JÉRÔME GALLAND, AMBROISE TÉZENAS COURTESY OF CHARLES ZANA

1 Always choose colours for a project in situ,
so you can work with the light and the views.
Greys don’t look the same in London as they
do in Provence! Painting the walls and ceilings
in the same colour can create a total
atmosphere – especially in period buildings
with mouldings and cornices.
2 You need to understand a building in its
historical context. I’ve worked on a lot of
projects in historic buildings, but I don’t like
pastiche or kitsch. I prefer ‘light’ renovations
that reveal the passage of time and leave
room for contemporary interventions.
3 Favour simple, monolithic pieces of furniture
in natural materials. My palette of favourite
finishes includes travertine, which carries the
history of the world within it, and tinted
Lebanese cedarwood. Contrasting these raw
materials with curved lines produces elegant
results that are aesthetically timeless.
4 With art, you should collect for the love of
the objects, not for the display. This way, the
works will find their place naturally in your
home. I like genuine collections with a strong
vision, rather than a little bit of everything.

Paris gallery Jousse
Entreprise is known for
presenting the best of
1950s French design.
Founder Philippe Jousse
can see the beauty of an
object before others do.
He introduced me to
the ceramicist André
Borderie, whose work
is rich in both texture
and colour.
jousse-entreprise.com
FA B R I C S

Holland & Sherry has the
best British fabrics,
including herringbone,
houndstooth, stripes and
cashmere. I love their
boiled wool materials in
autumnal colours.
hollandandsherry.com
PA I N T S

Many of Little Greene’s
shades are developed
from historical research,
and there’s a story behind
each one. For a Victorian
apartment in Marylebone
I’ve been working on, I’ve
chosen warm greys in an
ultra-matt finish for the
walls and ceilings.
littlegreene.com

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From left ‘Röhsska’ chair
by Fredrik Paulsen for
Blå Station, £445, Colonel Shop
(moncolonel.fr). ‘Modernist’
sofa in ‘Off White/Cognac’,
£4,247, Kristina Dam Studio
(kristinadam.dk). ‘Sigmar’
throw by Fanny Aronsen x Raf
Simons for Kvadrat, £225,
3Falke (3falke.dk). ‘Pastiche’
rug, £2,857, Knothouse
(knothouse.com). ‘Rivet’ side
table by Jonas Trampedach for
Frama, £680, Twentytwentyone
(twentytwentyone.com). ‘Luisa’
carafe by R+D Lab x Lee
Mathews, £118, Matches
fashion.com (matchesfashion.
com). ‘Collect’ glass by Space
Copenhagen for &Tradition,
£32.35 for two, Finnish Design
Shop (finnishdesignshop.com).
Yellow vase, price on
application, Nina Nørgaard
(ninanorgaard.com).
On floor (from left)After The
Rain photograph by Janaina
Tschäpe, price on application,
Galleri Bo Bjerggaard
(bjerggaard.com). Ceramic
vase, price on application,
Turi Heisselberg Pedersen
(turiheisselberg.dk). ‘Steltman’
chair by Gerrit Rietveld,
£3,460, Rietveld Originals
(rietveldoriginals.com).
‘Maestrale’ glass vase, £427,
Produzione Privata
(produzioneprivata.com).
‘Eiffel’ floor lamp by
Krøyer-Sætter-Lassen
for Frama, £1,250,
Twentytwentyone
(twentytwentyone.com) ➤

68 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MONTH 2022

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The clean lines and simple silhouettes of modern
Scandinavian furniture, lighting and homeware are
the perfect complement to period features
Photography IRINA BOERSMA Styling MARIE MONRAD GRAUNBØL/REVOLVER

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This page, from left ‘Clay’ table by Marc Krusin for Desalto, £5,647, Chaplins
(chaplins.co.uk). Glass coffee carafe by Nina Nørgaard, £151, Studio X (studiox.dk).
‘Collect SC64’ wooden tray by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, £93.24, Made in
Design (madeindesign.co.uk). ‘Futatsumata’ cutlery by Koichi Futatsumata for
Valerie Objects, £195 for a four-piece set, Monologue (monologuelondon.com).
‘Kasumi’ glass bowl by Fresco, £77, Studio X (studiox.dk). Rose-tinted glass
tumbler, for similar try ‘Rosa’, £10, Still Life Story (still-life-story.com). ‘Lens’
plates (three shown) by Carlo van Poucke, from £20 each, Serax (serax.com).
‘Cordonetto’ napkin, £15.35, Chiarastella Cattana (chiarastellacattana.com).
Cutlery, as before. ‘H 18’ jug by Olio Olio, £37, Wood Wood (woodwood.com).
Marble dish by Marmi Sacco, for similar try ‘Scape’ bowl by Ferm Living, £168,
Amara (amara.com). ‘Atollo’ table lamp in bronze by Vico Magistretti for Oluce,
from £687, Skandium (skandium.com). ‘Font’ dining chair by David Thulstrup for
Møbel Copenhagen, £761, Clippings (clippings.com)
Opposite, from left ‘Elit’ rug, approx £858, Knothouse (knothouse.com). ‘Clay’
table by Marc Krusin for Desalto, £5,647, Chaplins (chaplins.co.uk). On table
(from left) ‘Panda’ cutlery, £69 for a five-piece set, Sabre Paris (sabre.fr). ‘Lens’
tableware by Carlo Van Poucke, from £20 for a small plate, Serax (serax.com).
Ceramic vase, price on application, Turi Heisselberg Pedersen (turiheisselberg.dk).
‘Jazz’ glass by Nina Nørgaard, £105, Matchesfashion.com (matchesfashion.com).
‘Collect’ glass carafe by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, £40, Nest (nest.co.uk).
‘Tab’ linen napkin, £25, Society Limonta (uk.societylimonta.com). ‘Menton’ chair,
£1,789; ‘Sebastian’ metal chair, £1,012, both C/RO (c-rocopenhagen.com). ‘Virvel’
pendant light by Ingegerd Råman for Örsjö Belysning, £232, Skandium (skandium.
com). Small artwork (on wall) by Johnny Abrahams, price on application,
Sunday-S Gallery (sunday-s.dk). ‘NLM’ table by Nikolaj Lorentz Mentze for Studio
0405, £510, Fora (foraprojects.com). ‘Taccia’ lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo
Castiglioni for Flos, £815, The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk) ➤

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This page, from left ‘Solo’ armchair
by Muller Van Severen for Valerie
Objects, £2,103, Made in Design
(madeindesign.co.uk). On floor ‘Collect
SC55’ plate by Space Copenhagen for
&Tradition, £530, Finnish Design Shop
(finnishdesignshop.com). Ceramic
vase, price on application, Turi
Heisselberg Pedersen (turiheisselberg.
com). ‘Frame’ space divider by Frama,
£2,000, Monologue (monologuelondon.
com). Framed photograph by Eva
Schlegel, approx £6,895, Galleri Bo
Bjerggaard (bjerggaard.com). ‘Mila’
side table by Sebastian Herkner for
Pulpo, £903, Frankbros (frankbros.
com). ‘Blær’ vase by Linnea Ek Blæhr,
£512, New Works (newworks.dk)
Opposite, from left Palm leaf fan (on
wall), £21, Beau Marché (beaumarche.
dk). ‘Passage’ stool by Krøyer-SætterLassen for Menu, £220, Nest (nest.co.
uk). ‘Collect’ glass by Space
Copenhagen for &Tradition, £32.35 for
two, Finnish Design Shop
(finnishdesignshop.com). ‘Grid’
sideboard by Kristina Dam Studio,
£5,512, Pamono (pamono.co.uk). Tall
ceramic vase, price on application, Turi
Heisselberg Pedersen (turiheisselberg.
dk). Stoneware vase by Hannah
Blackall-Smith for Blacksmith
Ceramics, £420, Maud & Mabel
(maudandmabel.com). Pink bowl by
Mushimegane Books, price on
application, OEN Shop (shop.the189.
com). ‘Biagio’ table lamp by Tobia
Scarpa for Flos, £4,737, AndLight
(andlight.co.uk). Curtain made from
‘Shift 0006’ fabric, £168 per metre,
Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk) ➤

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This page, from left ‘Sabbie’ bamboo
basket, £259 for a set of three, Broste
Copenhagen (brostecopenhagen.com).
‘Eclipse’ desk by Fred Rigby for Menu,
£1,860, Maven (wearemaven.co.uk). ‘A.D.A.’
table lamp by Umberto Riva for Tacchini,
£1,360, Artemest (artemest.com). ‘Candy
Cup’ mug by Anne Black, £45.49, Trouva
(trouva.com). Teapot, £73, Tasja P.
(tasjapceramics.com). ‘Forma’ vase by
Séché Studio for Holmegaard, £52, Nordic
Nest (nordicnest.com). White treasure dish,
£28, Kana (kanalondon.com). ‘Pleat’ steel
pitcher by Omayra Maymó, £76, New Works
(newworks.dk). ‘Rey’ chair, £450, Bruno
Rey (brunorey.com). ‘Market’ stool, price
on application, Marni (marni.com)

STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: GAIA TADDEO

Opposite, from left After The Rain framed
photograph (on floor) by Janaina Tschäpe,
price on application, Galleri Bo Bjerggaard
(bjerggaard.com). Ceramic vase, price
on application, Turi Heisselberg Pedersen
(turiheisselberg.dk). ‘T-lamp’ steel table
lamp by Regular Company for Frama, £318,
Finnish Design Shop (finnishdesignshop.
com). Chair, price on application, Marni
(marni.com). ‘Weave’ rug, £1,847,
Knothouse (knothouse.com). ‘Bent’ glass
side table by Sebastian Herkner for Pulpo,
£1,545, Monologue (monologuelondon.com).
‘Facet’ ceramic jug, from £899, Piet Hein
Eek (pietheineek.nl). White treasure
dish, £28, Kana (kanalondon.com).
Glass tumbler, price on application,
Nina Nørgaard (ninanorgaard.com).
‘Font Bold’ sofa by David Thulstrup for
Møbel Copenhagen, £2,050, Clippings
(clippings.com). ‘Frame’ space divider
by Frama, £2,000, Monologue
(monologuelondon.com).

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How to DIVIDE
and CONQUER
Could our collective obsession with open-plan living be waning? As hubs for work, play
and everything in between, our homes are working harder than ever – innovative ideas for
a little separation and flexibility are just what’s needed to restore balance

Words CAT OLLEY

CONTRAST
MATERIALS

PICTURE: VINCENT LEROUX

A shift in texture and tone is a cue
that we’re entering a new space.
The dining area of this apartment
by French interior designer Claude
Cartier contrasts chequerboard with
parquet on the floor, and zellige tiles
with terracotta on the walls, to
create a clever series of transitions
(claude-cartier.com). ➤

MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 77

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USE COLOUR TO
CREATE ZONES
Wielded well, colour can mark out
boundaries as well as alter mood. The
cobalt staircase of this London home
by architect Rashid Ali emphasises
the movement between levels (left;
rashidali.info), while the pink hue
of the custom lime plaster partition
from Italian studio Marcante Testa
helps define a snug seating area
(below; marcante-testa.it). Polish
design firm Paradowski Studio has
utilised sheets of orange glass to
create a clear shift between the
spaces of this Warsaw home (bottom
left; paradowskistudio.com).

78 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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FLEXIBLE HOME

EXTEND
UPWARDS TO
SHAPE SPACE

PICTURES: LYNDON DOUGLAS, PION STUDIO, CAROLA RIPAMONTI,
DAVIDE LOVATTI, KRISTOFER JOHNSSON

Look beyond the lateral plane – playing
with height is a clever way to guide the
eye. For this Stockholm apartment
project, interior architects Studio
Lawahl integrated a custom shelving
unit into an island to provide an extra
barrier between the cooking and
dining areas. In the same rich teak as
the cabinetry, it’s a seamless extension
of the kitchen, offering smart display
space for cookware, books and ceramics
(studiolawahl.com). ➤

CALL ON
CURTAINS FOR
A FLUID DIVIDER
With an ability to conceal and reveal at will,
the beauty of the curtain is its flexibility and
flow. Italian architect and designer Cristina
Celestino opted for fabric by Rubelli and
Torri Lana to sequester this seating zone
in her relaxed studio, which is furnished
with ‘PS 142’ armchairs by Eugenio Gerli for
Tecno. Heavier fabrics feel luxurious – think
weighty drapes cascading from a bed canopy
– while lightweight or sheer materials
will create a gentler sense of separation
(cristinacelestino.com).

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5
TRY A
BOOKCASE
AS A ROOM
DIVIDER

It feels surprisingly bold to
bring a bookcase into the
centre of a room, though it
requires a relatively modest
footprint and makes for an
impactful partition. With
its streamlined frame and
tapered posts, the ‘Sailor’
design by Spanish architect
and product designer David
Lopez Quincoces for Living
Divani (right) is a case in
point. It’s worth choosing
carefully, as the best shelving
systems are built with flexible
components that pave the
way for future customisation
(livingdivani.it).

OPT FOR AN
OVERSIZED RUG

Once an afterthought tasked with tying
a room together when all else was in place,
rugs have rightly been granted new status
and importance (‘go big’ is invariably
the interior designer’s mantra). When
Paris-based designers Stéphan Bidoux and
Julien Villeneuve were called in for the
renovation of this apartment on the city’s
Right Bank, the load-bearing timber frame
that split the living room became the
natural boundary of a new home office.
But it’s the ‘Snake’ design by Rug’Society
that amplifies the feeling of separation,
with its bold block of colour and welljudged proportions (stephanbidoux.com).

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FLEXIBLE HOME

Though industrial styles still reign supreme
for some, sliding (or folding) doors can be
a brilliant way to inject decorative drama.
A striking stained glass room divider is
the rightful centrepiece of this Madrid
apartment project by Spanish studio
Patricia Bustos (above; patricia-bustos.com),
while interior designer Theresa Casey
opted for a custom bronze screen to close
off the kitchen of this Toronto home (left;
caseydesignplan.com). At Ace Hotel Kyoto,
LA firm Commune Design drew focus to
the shoji sliding doors, which separate the
sleeping and living area of the suites with
a grid of paper panels by textile
designer Akira Minagawa (below;
communedesign.com). ➤

PICTURES: STEPHAN JULLIARD, DONNA GRIFFITH, MONTSE GARRIGA GRAU / PHOTOFOYER, YOSHI MAKINO

DRAW ATTENTION
TO SLIDING DOORS

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FLEXIBLE HOME

UP YOUR
FRAME GAME

For this home in Stockholm’s
Östermalm district, interior
designers Alexandra Ogonowski
and Jesper Nyborg created
a Crittall-style curved frame
that smartly echoes the tone
of the dark oak cabinetry by
Nordiska Kök. The result is a
simple yet impactful threshold
(aojnd.com; nordiskakok.com).

EXPERIMENT
WITH STRUCTURE
Clever divisions are something of
a signature for Italian studio Marcante
Testa. In this Turin apartment,
a custom metal framework overhead
creates a point of connection between
a far doorway and the kitchen, while
subtly sectioning off a dining space.
Coloured glass panels at the room’s
entrance shape the home’s flow by
gently guiding arrivals into the main
living area (marcante-testa.it).

82 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

Searches for room dividers
rocketed last year, no doubt
fueled by our sudden need to
set up makeshift work zones.
The smartest options do more
than carve up space – take
the modular ‘Node’ screen
by French designer Patrick
Norguet for Natuzzi, which offers soundproofing and fitted
shelves (natuzzi.com).

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PICTURES: KRISTOFER JOHNSSON, CAROLA RIPAMONTI

USE A
SCREEN FOR
SEPARATION

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CUPBOARD
LOVE

Bespoke storage can enhance an interior while
creating order. We asked three tastemakers to
show us what makes their wardrobes special
Words PHOEBE FRANGOUL Photography ANDREW URWIN AND MARK COCKSEDGE

EMMA THATCHER
It’s not surprising that stylist and blogger
Emma Thatcher (@emmarosestyle) has
an impressive walk-in wardrobe. Her
Instagram followers will recognise it as
the colourful backdrop to her daily outfit
posts. It leads off the main bedroom in
the converted coach house she shares
with her husband and three children.
A gruelling renovation saw the historic
building restored from top to bottom and,
because the bulk of the budget went on
necessities like a new roof, rewiring and
plumbing, the wardrobe had to wait until
the very end of the project. Although the
room is large, its shape dictated a unique
arrangement of the available space, with
shelves and rails lining the two longer walls
and a door to the bathroom beyond. Emma
also had one very specific fantasy wardrobe
in mind: ‘Carrie’s in Sex and the City!’
She found a carpenter to build her
design from MDF to keep the cost down

‘I LIKE BEING ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING,
IT’S MUCH EASIER TO FIND THINGS!’
and opted for open storage. ‘If it was in
my bedroom, I’d have doors to make it
look sleeker,’ she explains, ‘but it works
well… when it’s tidy! I like being able to
see everything, it’s much easier to find
things.’ Inspired by an Ikea hack on
Instagram, she had the shelves painted
in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Inchyra Blue’ – a
deliberate contrast to the white walls in
the rest of the house. In the centre, a pink
velvet ottoman currently stores bags and
scarves, but Emma is scouring antiques
websites for a pharmacy table or glasstopped shop unit as a permanent feature.
She shares the space with her husband:
‘His side is ridiculously tidy and mine is
84 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

always all over the place with colours,
prints, fabrics... an explosion!’ Her stylist
background means order underpins the
creative chaos: ‘I categorise and colourcoordinate everything and use black
velvet hangers from Amazon – they’re
space-saving and look really nice. If I’ve
got a meeting or event where I want to look
my best, I’ll go on Pinterest and Instagram
to see if there’s anything that jumps out at
me. Most of the time it’s an outfit where
I’ve got the pieces in my wardrobe
and just hadn’t thought to put them
together that way.’ Part storage space,
part creative lab, Emma’s wardrobe is the
hardest working room in her home. ➤

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STOR AGE

SARAH-LOUISE
MARKS AND
CHRISTOPHER
PHELPS
Sarah-Louise and Christopher are the
globetrotting couple behind renowned
Instagram accounts @TheAdventuresofUs
and @no.17house, which is dedicated
to inspirational spaces. Known for their
sophisticated take on traditional interiors,
the couple have extensively remodelled
their own Victorian home in Richmond,
restoring original features such as fireplaces
and cornicing and creating a beautiful
bespoke his and hers dressing room on
the top floor. ‘The constraints were
definitely space and ceiling height,’ says
Sarah-Louise. ‘We had to work around
steel beams, ensuring we maximised
as much storage as possible, whilst at
the same time keeping the wardrobe
functional and clutter-free.’
As with every aspect of the renovation,
Christopher and Sarah-Louise meticulously
planned the internal arrangement of the
wardrobes, which they share equally.

‘We wanted the space to work for both
of us,’ Sarah-Louise explains, ‘which is
a challenge as men and women shop
and dress very differently. We spent
a few evenings listing everything that
we wanted to store and drawing out
different versions of the plan until we

felt that we had reached the perfect layout
for the both of us.’
Elevating organisation into an art form,
the wardrobes are split between a long
section for dresses and coats, shelves and
drawers for jeans, bags, activewear, socks
and underwear, with a larger section with
two shorter rails for shirts, jackets, short
dresses and tops. There is also a dressing
area with a footstool and mirror and a few
finishing touches still to come. ‘We like to
plan our outfits, and will be adding some
Rose Uniacke hooks to the edge of the
wardrobes to help us to style our looks.’
The bright, functional dressing room is
perfectly symmetrical, with clean lines
and closed cupboard doors creating a
calm atmosphere that contrasts with the
bolder elements in the rest of the house.
The wardrobe insides are made from
warm, tactile oak and the doors feature
handcrafted black bronze hardware by
Van Cronenburg. Finished with a coat
of tadelakt (a natural lime-based plaster)
on the door fronts, walls and ceiling, the
effect is unified and enveloping, with
subtle texture. ‘It catches the light in such
a beautiful way,’ says Sarah-Louise. ➤
MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 87

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STOR AGE

NEIL BYRNE
Making a dressing room, rather than
a kitchen or living room, the heart of the
home might seem unusual, but for founder
of design agency Tomorrow PR Neil
Byrne and his fashion designer partner, it
made complete sense. With rooms stacked
one upon another, the unconventional
layout of their east London apartment
called for a fresh approach. ‘We could
immediately see the potential for one of
the mezzanines to become a large dressing
room,’ says Neil. ‘The bedrooms didn’t
have the space to add storage, so this was
the perfect solution.’
Because of the strange shape of the
space – ‘a squashed wedge’, as Neil calls
it – bespoke was the only way to go. It also
meant the couple could tailor the cabinets
to their needs. Neil chose to commission
Uncommon Projects, a company that
specialises in bespoke plywood cabinetry,
after admiring the quality and simplicity
of their work at a design fair. ‘They were
super excited when they discovered we
wanted to play with colour and have some
fun with the design,’ he adds.

The vibrant palette is based on German
artist and Bauhaus member Josef Albers’
work in colour theory. Neil’s partner, who
is known for his use of fluorescent accents
in the clothes that he designs, drove this
aspect of the project. He tried a multitude
of configurations before settling on an
assemblage of yellow and green shades
for the wardrobe doors, taking care that
they didn’t jar with the adjacent rooms.
The wardrobes wrap the two walls of the
mezzanine, with one side opening out to
the triple-height living room and the other
to the dining room below.
The couple’s different approaches to
dressing are reflected in the division of
storage; ‘My other half has more clothes,
so he has the longest side,’ says Neil. It’s
meticulously organised by type, whereas
mine is a bit of a jumble! He will plan his
outfits for the week, whereas I tend to wear
the same few things time and time again.’
The wardrobe’s central location is
practical, but the bold design also holds its
own against the large-scale artworks that
hang throughout the flat. ‘It really is the
focal point of the home,’ says Neil.

‘THE BEDROOMS DIDN’T
HAVE SPACE FOR STORAGE, SO
THE MEZZANINE WAS THE
PERFECT SOLUTION’

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F E AT U R E

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WHAT’S YOUR
2
1

CONCEAL For the out-of-sight-out-of-mind enthusiasts
1 ‘NEXT’ BESPOKE
WA R D R O B E
SYSTEM BY LEMA

2 ‘MI’ SIDEBOARD
BY NERI & HU FOR
P O LT R O N A F R A U

Brilliantly organised and
easy to personalise on the
inside, this wardrobe blends
seamlessly into its surrounds.
It’s so discreet that the only
external design flourish is the
vertical metal handles that
are its signature detail. From
£1,918 (chaplins.co.uk).

Even minimalists like to have
a few well-chosen objects on
display. This elegant storage
unit has a raised shelf for
those curated pieces, but also
plenty of room for stashing
everything else safely out
of view. From £8,220
(poltronafrau.com).

3 ‘HARLEQUIN’
WA R D R O B E
FRONTS
BY SUPERFRONT

4 ` C A N VA S ’
LARGE CABINET BY
NORM ARCHITECTS
FOR L. ERCOLANI

Designed to fit the style staple
that is Ikea’s ‘Pax’ wardrobe
system, these doors are
available in any of the 1,950
colours on the NCS chart.
Fronts from £225, plus £180
extra for NCS colours
(superfront.com).

The seamlessly sliding fabric
panels (ash and walnut
versions are also available)
on this sideboard create
a more muted, subtle visual
barrier between you and
your belongings. From
£3,040 (lercolani.com).

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STORAGE STYLE?
Whether you prefer to hide your belongings away or proudly put
your stuff on show, we have the perfect piece for you…
6

5 ‘STUDIO
S E C R E TA I R E ’
F O L D - AWAY D E S K
B Y M O N TA N A
Tidy away work-from-home
paraphernalia in a flash with
this colourful fold-up wall
desk and shelf that features
a built-in magnetic
noticeboard inside – ideal for
reminders and to-do lists.
From £1,165 (aram.co.uk).

6 ‘BARBICAN’
SIDEBOARD
BY ALESSANDRO
L A S PA D A F O R
VISIONNAIRE
Like its namesake London
landmark, this storage unit
makes the functional fabulous.
Available in wood veneer or
lacquer with a luxurious
marble top. From £9,000
(visionnaire-home.com).

7 ‘GLADKO’
WA R D R O B E
BY ESSETIPI FOR
PORADA
Made from the brand’s
signature Canaletto walnut,
this design features sliding
doors that can be covered
in leather or finished in
frosted mirror for a hazily
concealed look. Price on
application (porada.it).

8 ‘INFINITY’
BOOKCASE
BY ANTONIO
CITTERIO FOR
FLEXFORM
Perfectly-sized ‘Box’
containers (from £639 each)
can be added to this sleek
modular storage system to
hide everyday detritus.
£10,545 as shown
(flexform.it). ➤
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DISPLAY For those who prefer to carefully curate their clutter
1 ‘TÖJBOX’
WARDROBE BY
MICHAEL DAAE
CHRISTENSEN
FOR WOUD

2 ‘SECRET
CUBIC’ SHELVES
BY OLAFUR
ELIASSON FOR
MOROSO

3 ‘JACK’
BOOKCASE
BY MICHAEL
ANASTASSIADES
FOR B&B ITALIA

Ideal for those who
have mastered the art
of capsule dressing,
this compact oak unit
features a small
hanging rack and
single shelf. £551
(wouddesign.com).

Made of recycled and
recyclable iron, this
piece represents artist
Eliasson’s fascination
with geometry. Use it
to create your own
installation. £10,380
(moroso.it).

Available as a wallmounted system or as
a floor-to-ceiling room
divider, this statement
piece is an elegantly
modern showcase.
Price on application
(bebitalia.com).

4 ‘HIDE AND
SEEK’ SHELVING
UNIT BY PIETRO
RUSSO FOR
GALLOTTI &
RADICE

5 ‘HECTOR
NIGHT’
WARDROBE
BY VINCENT VAN
DUYSEN FOR
MOLTENI & C

The rotating cylinders in
this design allow you to
reveal certain shelves
and conceal others. The
result is easily adjustable
vignettes. £3,384
(gallottiradice.it).

A pewter and bronze
frame is the backdrop
for this classy, adaptable
system’s leather-clad
shelves and new
pivoting mirror. From
£1,328 (chaplins.co.uk).

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STOR AGE
6
7

WORDS: CLARE SARTIN PICTURES: ALESSANDRO PADERNI

6 ‘SENZAFINE’
WA R D R O B E
SYSTEM
BY POLIFORM
This open design celebrates
your clothing and accessories
with a wide selection of
fixtures – from hanging rods
to shelves and pull-out trays
– and configurations that will
fit any space like a welltailored suit. Price on
application (poliform.it).

7 ‘NUAGE
À PLOTS’
S H E LV I N G U N I T
BY CHARLOTTE
PERRIAND FOR
CASSINA
Recently reissued, this piece
by the late French architect
and designer features curved
aluminium inserts on the
shelves that frame your most
precious objects. From
£12,210 (cassina.com).

8 ‘ B L A B L A’
BOOKCASE
BY BONALDO
Its name may sound slightly
dismissive, but don’t be
fooled. The creative and
playful look of this unique
shelving unit, with its
irregular metal dividers set
into a walnut backing,
ensures it will be a talking
point. Price on application
(bonaldo.com).

9 ‘COVER’
WA R D R O B E
SYSTEM BY
G I U S E P P E B AV U S O
FOR RIMADESIO
The new fibra-glass doors of
this custom-made design are
laced with metal wires that
create an atmospheric,
semi-transparent effect. It’s
a subtly classy alternative to
totally open storage. Price on
application (rimadesio.it).
MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 93

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BOLD IDEAS FOR
BATHROOMS
Bored of
spa-inspired spaces?
It’s time to turn your
bathroom into a playground
for self-expression. Wild stripes?
Go for it. Neon taps? Why not?
Life is too short to play it safe

PHOTOGRAPHY: 2LG STUDIO

Words PHOEBE FRANGOUL

Aiming for high drama and glamour, 2LG Studio referenced cult 1970s film Suspiria for this punchy pink and red
scheme with its bespoke ombré tile mosaic from Bisazza, Fantini taps and Bette bath. The bright red gloss
‘Capsule’ light is a 2LG Studio design in collaboration with Cameron Design House (2lgstudio.com).
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B AT H R O O M S

T R E N D N O .1

GRAPHIC design
Tiles can be used in countless ways to create uniquely
characterful interiors. Bold Blue ‘Alalpardo’ tiles by
Bert & May (bertandmay.com) race in diagonal bands
across a bathroom designed by Louise Curnick for
The Landscape Lodge in France (right). Similarly,
Mandarin Stone’s smart monochrome ‘Riad’ porcelain
tiles (below) zigzag their way across a wall in an
eye-catching chevron pattern (mandarinstone.com).
Interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel found
inspiration in Parisian cafés for a checkerboard
scheme with a ‘through the looking glass’ feel (left),
with the strict geometry of Villa Lagoon Tile’s cement
‘Dry Sage’ tiles offset by the curves of the marble
splashback and Allied Maker’s ‘Concentric 20’ light
(sarahshermansamuel.com).

Tiles can create uniquely
characterful interiors

SHOP THE LOOK
1 ‘High Society Marble
Guggenheim’ tiles, £705.21
per sqm, Fired Earth
(firedearth.com)
2 ‘Hex Waves’ tiles, £128
per sqm, Otto Tiles
(ottotiles.co.uk)
3 ‘Saturnia Sole Lux’
tiles, £530.40 per sqm,
Bisazza (bisazza.com)
4 ‘Blue Split Shift Three’
tiles, £6.30 each, Bert &
May (bertandmay.com)

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PHOTOGRAPHS: NICOLE FRANZEN, SARAH SHERMAN SAMUEL, MANDARIN STONE

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B AT H R O O M S

TREND NO.2

PHOTOGRAPHS: STYLE PATRICIA KETELSEN/PHOTOEUGENI PONS/VEGA MG, MARCANTE TESTA

In the FRAME
In awkward spaces, positioning a
shower or tub within a frame makes
a virtue out of necessity, adding
theatrical flair and creating a change
in atmosphere. Homeowner Pablo
Chappell designed this bathroom (left)
in his Béziers retreat for daughter
Loulou. It features a Castorama bath
that is partially screened off by an
oversized keyhole partition that leads
the eye into a cocoon-like, plaster
pink area. A monumental archway
(right) surrounds Italian design duo
Marcante Testa’s ‘Nostalgia’ bathtub
designed for Ex.t (ex-t.com),
indicating its importance, while VitrA
showcased its ‘Liquid’ collaboration
with Tom Dixon (above) by placing
the shower and toilet inside elegant
alcoves (vitra.com).

Placing a tub within
an alcove adds
a hint of theatricality
to bathtimes
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B AT H R O O M S

TREND NO.3

BRIGHT spark
Perfect for injecting positivity into a room, vivid
colours work on a large scale but can be just as
impactful as a punchy detail in a neutral scheme. In
Melbourne’s Poodle Bar (opposite page), Bergman &
Co. placed two pillarbox red ‘Luna’ basins by United
Products (united-products.co) in the bathroom, where
they glow against a moody backdrop of Verde Alpi
marble. The Water Monopoly’s ‘Rockwell’ sanitaryware
(below) comes in a joyful spectrum of ice cream hues,
from pale yellow to pistachio, with rounded tubs
resting on bun-like feet (thewatermonopoly.com).
Or, for modernist basins in saturated shades look to
Kast’s concrete sinks (right), which range from coral
to emerald green (kastconcretebasins.com).

Vivid colours can be just
as impactful as a punchy
detail in a neutral scheme

SHOP THE LOOK
1 ‘Varied Forms’ taps, £675,
Varied Forms X The Watermark
Collection (variedforms.com)
2 ‘Bute’ bath, from
£7,782, Drummonds
(drummonds-uk.com)
3 ‘Frea Buckler’ tiles, £6 each,
Milagros (milagros.co.uk)
4 ‘HV1’ tap, £541.20,
Vola (vola.co.uk)

3
4

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SIMON UPTON, DAMIEN RUSSELL, DEREK SWALWELL

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B AT H R O O M S

TREND NO.4

GOLDEN state
Whether deployed in a single wash of colour or applied
more sparingly, peach and apricot tones suffuse a space
with an inviting glow. In a project by Prospect Refuge
Studio (left), a shallow ‘Burleson’ basin from Signature
Hardware nestles in a recess decorated in Benjamin
Moore’s ‘Acorn Yellow’, ‘Dark Mustard’ and ‘Racing
Orange’ paints (prospectrefugestudio.com). A shower
room in Madrid (opposite page) designed by Spanish
studio Plutarco adds terrazzo flecked with sunny
tones for a joyful effect (plutarco.design). And in a
NoHo apartment designed by Home Studios (below),
a curving panel of toffee-coloured mosaic tiles brings
warmth to an airy bathroom (homestudios.nyc).

Peach and apricot tones
suffuse a space with
a warm, inviting glow

PHOTOGRAPHS: ASIER RUA, CANARY GREY/WING YA, PROSPECT STUDIO, BRIAN FERRY

SHOP THE LOOK
1 ‘Apricot Crush’ paint, from
£17.50, Dulux (dulux.co.uk)
2 ‘Carnaby Sunset’ ceramic tile,
£46.80 per sqm, Mandarin Stone
(mandarinstone.com)
3 ‘Confiserie’ tiles, £6.29 each,
Claybrook (claybrookstudio.co.uk)
4 ‘Orange 02’ paint, £38,
Lick (lick.com)

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B AT H R O O M S

TREND NO.5

ARTIST’S impression
Bespoke design is the ultimate luxury, which is why murals
are increasingly popular in homes and are now finding
their way into bathrooms. This look is all about breaking
boundaries, with illustrations creeping across walls, up
onto ceilings and wrapping around doors. The waterproof
‘Dedado’ wallpaper (right) by Wall & Decò adds instant artist
merit (wallanddeco.com), as does the brand’s ‘Niveum’ design
(below right), which was used in a Palermo apartment by
LYGA Studio (lyga.it). In a Brooklyn space by Home Studios,
an under-the-stairs powder room (below left) is made
special thanks to a pattern of hands and faces drawn by
painter Kimmy Quillin (homestudios.nyc).

PHOTOGRAPHS: WALL & DECO, SERENA ELLER/VEGA MG, BRIAN FERRY

Painterly wallpapers and
hand-painted murals are a
sure-fire way to add personality

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HOMES
MILAN

/ F O X I S L A N D / U D I N E / L O N D O N / H E L S I N K I / PA R I S

PICTURES: KAREL BALAS/VEGA MG, KRISTA KELTANEN/LIVING INSIDE

Edited by CL ARE SARTIN

What do you want your home to provide for
you in 2022? This month, we are looking
at two ends of the design spectrum: the
RESTFUL and the RADICAL. Both
approaches have the power to affect your
mood and outlook on life, but it’s when the
two combine that the real magic happens.
Calm is often best served with a careful
dose of the EXPERIMENTAL. Take the
London live/work space of interior designer
Louisa Grey (p142), whose serene style is
underpinned by a groundbreaking
HOLISTIC approach. Alternatively,
maximalism can also be key to creating
a personal sanctuary – as in the Helsinki
apartment of Annaleena Hakola (p154),
who discovered that the freedom to express
her love of colour (think bright blue and bold
stripes) is what brings her PEACE.
There’s also the pleasingly symmetrical
Milan abode of CC-Tapis art director
Daniele Lora that, literally, reframes how he
sees the world (p110) and design supremo
Cristina Celestino’s new project in Udine
(p134) that updates brutalist architecture
with an OPTIMISTIC palette. Plus, a home
near Seattle where an affinity for chintz
adds comfort (p120) and a rustic retreat
on the outskirts of Paris (p166) with
a contemporary, communal layout that
encourages family TOGETHERNESS.

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SQUARING
Ambitiously renovated, this Milanese home is testament to the
transformative effects of symmetry and thoughtful framing
Words MARZIA NICOLINI Photography BEPPE BRANCATO/LIVING INSIDE

Daniele Lora is very proud of the notoriety afforded Via Luigi Settembrini, the location of his newly
renovated apartment. ‘They call it the way of monsters,’ he says. ‘It’s a powerhouse of architectural
eclecticism from the early 1900s, its façades decorated with imaginative statues of all kinds.’ For Daniele,
art director of Italian rug brand CC-Tapis, it means inspiration can be found, quite literally, on his doorstep.
Fittingly, for this Milanese street renowned for doing things differently, Daniele’s apartment is truly
unique. Masterminded by Studio MILO, the creative team that worked on the recent redesign of CC-Tapis’s
Milan showroom, it’s an ambitious change, but one this property deserved.
‘I remember entering the beautiful early-20th-century building and discovering an office from the
1970s,’ says studio MILO co-founder Arianna Crosetta, recalling her first visit. ‘It had all the characteristics
of those years: a long, gloomy corridor, green carpets throughout, dark wooden doors.’ Despite all of that,
Daniele’s enthusiasm for the space proved infectious, so thoughts turned to how these rooms should be
experienced and how to unlock their true potential.
Everything has been changed, with the floorplan completely revolutionised. ‘From the entrance, there’s
a passage that leads right into the living room. The symmetry with the front window is perfect,’ says Daniele.
This is a signature approach for Studio MILO, which is known for paying close attention to lines of sight
and architectural alignment. ‘We gave order and rigour to the entire layout, taking the existing openings
as a reference and creating new ones,’ adds Arianna.
Perhaps the most striking of those additions is the large portal between the living and dining rooms,
framed by an expanse of green Alpi marble. Not only does this stone border highlight the spatial balance
in this home, it also focuses attention on Daniele’s impressive collection of furniture. The compositions
feature some true design greats. The majority, interestingly, are characterised by a softness of form that
contrasts with the building’s newly created precision. There’s the ‘Julep’ sofa by Jonas Wagell for Tacchini
with its curved silhouette, the generously comfortable ‘Roly Poly’ chair by Faye Toogood and, of course,
a wealth of fantastical rugs – the products of CC-Tapis’s many designer collaborations.
A thoughtful colour palette also helps in lending a gentleness to this home’s strict symmetry. ‘The walls
have all been painted in neutral greys – there is no white,’ explains Daniele. ‘Even during the brightest
hours of the day, it has this incredible quality: never dazzling, but soft and enveloping.’ The atmosphere is
intimate and serene. It’s understandable that sometimes Daniele feels as though he is ‘living in a cloud’.
‘The thing about this apartment,’ he continues, ‘is that I feel that it mirrors my personality.’ Order and
creativity existing in total harmony. studio-milo.com; cc-tapis.com
Living room Bethan Laura Wood’s ‘Super Round’ rug for CC-Tapis sits at the heart of a scheme that includes a ‘Julep’ sofa by
Jonas Wagell for Tacchini, a ‘Roly Poly’ chair by Faye Toogood for Driade and a ‘VV Cinquanta’ light by Vittoriano Vaganò for
Astep. On one of the two ‘Soda’ coffee tables by Miniforms rests a tray by Henrytimi – the brand that created the Alpi marble
frame around the dining area entrance. A ‘Shogun’ lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide sits on the custom-made shelving ➤

THE CIRCLE
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Above Faye Toogood’s ‘Puffy’ lounge chair for Hem sits in the corner of the living room, below an equally well-padded
artwork: Fetch Trick, 2019, by Gioia Di Girolamo Opposite Homeower and CC-Tapis art director Daniele Lora and Studio
MILO co-founder Arianna Crosetta in front of Dream Gradient, an artwork by Ditte Ejlerskov from Galleria Bianconi ➤

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‘IT HAS THIS
INCREDIBLE
QUALITY:
NEVER
DAZZLING,
BUT SOFT AND
ENVELOPING’

Dining area Two ‘Dudet’ chairs by
Patricia Urquiola for Cassina surround
this ‘Arco’ table by Henrytimi. The
pendant light is the ‘2065’ by Gino Sarfatti
for Astep and the tray on the table is the
‘Wave’ by Cara\Davide for Muuto ➤

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Hallway Studio MILO designed the custom-made storage that lines the walls on the approach to the
bedroom. A ‘Sufi’ rug by Taher Asad-Bakhtiari for CC-Tapis draws the eye towards the bespoke window seat
and view of the building’s internal courtyard. The yellow table lamp is the ‘E63’ by Umberto Riva for
Tacchini and the chair is the ‘Spade’ by Faye Toogood for Please Wait to be Seated
Bathroom Norm Copenhagen’s ‘Stand’ wash basin for Ex.t adds elegance to this small space.
The towel is from Society Limonta ➤

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‘A THOUGHTFUL
COLOUR
PALETTE LENDS
A FEELING OF
GENTLENESS
TO THIS
HOME’S
SYMMETRY’

Bedroom An artwork by Norwegian
photographer Anja Niemi is placed above
the bed, which is dressed in ‘Nite’ sheets
by Society Limonta. The wall lamp is the
‘Applique de Marseille’ by Le Corbusier
for Nemo Lighting and the bedside table is
the ‘Hide’ by Karoline Fesser for Hem. On it
sits a mini metallic goblet by Henrytimi
See Stockists page for details

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THE SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP
Traditional British style and
a good dose of chintz add a
comforting atmosphere to
this American new-build
Words CLARE SARTIN
Photography HARIS KENJAR

Living room This ‘Togo’ sofa by
Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset has
been upholstered in ‘Flore Batik’ fabric
by Scalamandré. The wall light, from
L7 Gallery, features a shade in the same
pattern. The floor lamp is from Glenn
Ban Design, while the ‘Bronson’ coffee
table and ‘Ojai’ armchair are both
by Lawson Fenning. Curtains are by
Katie Ridder. Philip Jeffries wallpaper
grounds the scheme ➤

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hat do Fox Island, a small strip of land
in the middle of the Puget Sound, and
Britain have in common? According to
interior designer Heidi Caillier, it’s
the effects of the weather on people’s
homes. Prone to grey skies and rain,
this picturesque stretch of the Pacific
Northwest, she says, ‘lends itself
particularly well to the sensibilities of
traditional British design. You need to feel wrapped
up in a warm, comforting, layered space.’
When she first began working on this new-build
four-bedroom waterfront home for a young family,
it was this idea of creating a cosy atmosphere that
preoccupied her thoughts. An expansive bungalow
with three-metre-high ceilings, this house could
easily have appeared austere or cold, but for its
owners, who run several wine labels on the West
Coast, that was to be avoided at all costs.
‘It was imperative that it not feel pretentious,’
reveals Heidi. Looking through the couple’s Pinterest
boards, she discovered a love of mid-century design,

and also the starting point for a palette that was
earthy and grounded, but with an enlivening mix
of colour and pattern.
The seeds of an interior may have been there, but
Heidi wanted to push things further. Her initial
scheme for the living room featured the same floral
pattern across the sofa, curtains and walls. ‘They
did not go for that,’ she says with a laugh, but her
compromise, which sees a ‘Togo’ sofa dressed in
blue Scalamandré fabric paired with a matching
lampshade and footstool, is not so very far from
that all-guns-blazing beginning.
‘I am 100 per cent onboard with chintz,’ admits
Heidi. ‘I hold myself back with pattern sometimes
because clients don’t always go for it, but I am
a firm believer that everything can go together.’
In this home, that means several bold florals, as
well as plaids and textured wallpapers. Adding to
that eclectic mix is a wealth of furniture from
varied eras. ‘I always try to add one piece of vintage
to every room,’ says Heidi. ‘Here, there’s much more.’
Like when it came to adding decorative touches,
her intention was to create layers – mid-century
next to modern, traditional beside trend-setting.
‘I will say, in general, I’m more drawn to traditional
furniture shapes (things that feel more full and
stuffed),’ she says, ‘but when it comes to lighting,
I tend to prefer a more modern fixture. I think it
cuts through some of the seriousness.’
Often full of guests – whether friends from college
(the owners both grew up in nearby Seattle and
attended school there) or colleagues stopping by
for a wine-tasting – serious is a criticism that could
never be levelled at this home. If there were one
word that could be used to describe it, Heidi would
choose ‘comfortable’. ‘I think the essence of comfort
is a home that you can make memories in. It’s about
creating a backdrop for life.’ heidicaillierdesign.com

Office This space shows the
owners’ love of mid-century
European furniture, with a vintage
desk and rug – try 1st Dibs – paired
with a chair from the same era that
has been reupholstered in Pierre
Frey fabric. The built-in cabinetry
behind is a bespoke design realised
by local firm Rejuvenation ➤

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‘YOU NEED TO FEEL
WRAPPED UP IN A
WARM, COMFORTING,
LAYERED SPACE’

Dining room Recognisable by its
raw edge, the ‘Walnut Slab’ table is
by BDDW, while the chairs are by
Niels Otto Møller. The light is the
‘Cloud’ by Apparatus and the rug is
a vintage piece from Mehraban
Kitchen Designed to be a party space,
this room features a large island and
Shaker-style cabinetry painted in
Farrow & Ball’s ‘Studio Green’. The
‘Arc’ bar stools are by Skylar Morgan
and the ‘Datura’ pendant lights are
from RW Guild ➤

Taectae nis dolorestio. Puditi que
ditios ma ius plique sum fugiamet
delitatem. Ehenti vellorem. Ovit
ligendae a commosam is et volorereped
etur? Gendam quis alit et dem. Itaectis
quia cusam, ut lab iliquiatet, tem con
nobitia volorpo repedi dolorem
architas andero bla dolenet quia pores
dolorro occaerehenda venditissi
officimin expe nectoru ndest, accae em
architas andero bla dolenet nat.

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Cloakroom ‘Anastasia’ wallpaper by
Jean Paul Gaultier for Scalamandré
makes an arresting floral statement. The
brass wall lamps are ‘The L’ by Nickey
Kehoe for The Urban Electric Company
and the bespoke marble-topped vanity
features a Waterworks tap
Reading nook Vintage chairs are paired
with an Eero Saarinen ‘Tulip’ table for
Knoll in this small retreat beside the
study. The rug is from Kat + Maouche ➤

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‘I HOLD MYSELF BACK
WITH PATTERN
SOMETIMES, BUT I AM
A FIRM BELIEVER
THAT EVERYTHING
CAN GO TOGETHER’

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128 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MONTH 2022

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Main bedroom An earthy oatmeal
palette calms this space, which features
a bespoke bed upholstered in fabric by
Kerry Joyce. Both the bedside cabinets
and wall lights are vintage pieces and the
large rug that covers much of the floor is
from The Rug Company. A small seating
area at the opposite side of the room
features a sofa from Cisco Home ➤

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Main bathroom A bright floral fabric by Pat
McGann adds interest to one of the more reserved
washrooms in this home. The wall tiles are from Ann
Sacks and the ones on the floor are from Clé Tile,
while the bathtub, hidden in its own nook, is from
Rejuvenation. The wall lamps are vintage finds ➤

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‘THE ESSENCE OF
COMFORT IS A HOME
THAT YOU CAN MAKE
MEMORIES IN. IT’S
ABOUT CREATING A
BACKDROP FOR LIFE’

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Kid’s bedroom The ‘Jenny Lind’ bed from Crate & Barrel, a West Elm cabinet
and an ‘Auckland Quentin’ armchair from Anthropologie combine to create
a grown-up child’s room. The floor lamp is from Restoration Hardware,
while the blue wall lamp is the ‘AJ’ by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen
Kid’s bathroom Olive green tiles from Fireclay Tile pair beautifully with
the mustard fabric curtain from Rose Uniacke. The vanity unit is vintage,
as are the two Italian wall lights. The mirror is from Rejuvenation
See Stockists page for details

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Exterior The brutalist architecture of this
iconic apartment block in Udine, north-east
Italy, is softened by greenery
Living room A pair of vintage Italian-style
rattan armchairs upholstered in customstriped fabric by Torri Lana sit beneath an
artwork by Matete Martini. The side table is
Celestino for Attico Design and the table lamp
is Mario Bellini for Artemide ➤

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BRUTAL
OPTIMISM

Functional but fun, this apartment in Udine sees architectural
references elevated by refined details and a rose-tinted palette
Words EMMA LOVE Photography MATTIA BALSAMINI

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‘

Living room A brick-coloured bouclé version of Cristina Celestino’s ‘Gala’ sofa
for Saba takes centre stage along the back wall of the open-plan living room. The
designer’s candyfloss pink ‘Frisée’ chairs for Billiani are arranged around a blue
‘Antella’ table by Kazuhide Takahama for Cassina. The low round table was one of
Cristina’s first pieces for her own brand, Attico Design. The ‘Butterfly’ floor lamp,
which stands behind Cristina (above), is by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Flos

136 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

he Brutalist Residence Club, as it is known, is a very iconic
building for the city of Udine. With its overhanging balconies
and vertical gardens, it was really futuristic for its time.
I am from the same north-east region of Italy, Friuli-Venezia
Giulia, so I know it well,’ says architect and designer Cristina
Celestino (pictured), who juggles creating products for
her decade-old brand, Attico Design, with collaborations
for others and one-off interior projects. Here, she spent
six months transforming a former office (‘Everything was
in mint condition from when the building was completed
in 1979’) into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom second home
for a couple who live two hours away in the countryside.
As is typical of Cristina’s approach, the interior design
was driven by the building itself. ‘In this case, I referenced
the materials and colours used by the original architect,
Massimo Camillo Bodini,’ she confirms. So, the soft shelllike pink of the communal stairwell is echoed in one wall
of the apartment’s open-plan living room, which acted as
a starting point for both the custom-made, two-tone kitchen
and the warm palette of peach, orange and terracotta
throughout. ‘I love to mix different shades and textures,
but these always come at the beginning of a project, it’s
not something decorative that’s added at the end. There
are touches of black because the internal doors, which
we’ve kept, are burgundy with a black matte wood frame,’
says Cristina, who also retained the glossy teal-coloured,
hand-glazed tiles in the bathrooms.
The previously carpeted floor is now travertine marble,
echoing the terrace outside. ‘It was an important decision;
I wanted to focus on the link between interior and exterior,
so I decided to use the same material,’ she explains, pointing
out the large sliding windows that run along one side of
the apartment as another connection with the leafy outdoor
space and urban landscape beyond. Inside, clean lines and
curving shapes can be seen in the mix of contemporary
furniture (such as Cristina’s ‘Gala’ sofa for Saba), vintage
rattan pieces and Italian classics from the 1970s and 80s
that include a ‘Butterfly’ floor lamp by Tobia and Afra
Scarpa for Flos, as well as Cassina’s modern ‘Antella’ dining
table by Kazuhide Takahama.
The client’s request for a functional home comes to life
in thoughtful details such as the raised dining area, which
is made partially private by a bespoke piece of furniture
that doubles up as a planter. Yet this multifaceted interior
goes far beyond the practical. By taking cues from the past,
Cristina has ensured that the space feels inextricably
connected to the building, yet thoroughly modern and
elegant too. ‘From the entrance, which is part of the existing
architecture, you can see all the different layers: an abstract
canvas by Matete Martini, the colours, furniture and
materials,’ she concludes. ‘It captures the romantic mood
of the apartment immediately.’ cristinacelestino.com

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Dining area A bespoke waveshaped planter lends the main
dining area privacy. The glasstopped ‘Marcuso’ table is by Marco
Zanuso for Zanotta, the ‘Tric’ chairs
are by Achille and Pier Giacomo
Castiglioni for Bernini, and Torri
Lana fabric is used to upholster
the custom-designed bench
Kitchen Two-toned and matt
lacquered, the custom-designed
cabinetry echoes the colour palette
of the walls. The taps, plinth and
handle band are opaque black,
while the worktops, hob and sink
reflect the tones of travertine

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CELESTINO
ADDS A
MODERN
ROMANTIC
TOUCH TO
THIS HOME’S
BRUTALIST
ARCHITECTURE

Bathroom Original teal-coloured,
hand-glazed tiles adorn the walls and
a ‘Laguna’ glass by Celestino for Attico
Design sits on the shower divider
Main bedroom The black metal bed
frame with brass details is a mid-century
design by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for
Azucena. It is complemented by simple
matte black metal disc lights, based on
a design by Esperia, and the ‘Veretta’ chair
(detail, right) by Cristina Celestino for
Billiani. The floor lamp is the ‘Megaron’ by
Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide and the
desk lamp on the books is the ‘Vademecum’
by Joe Colombo for Kartell. The rug is an
Italian design from the 1970s
See Stockists page for details

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Living room The curved ‘Dandy’ sofa by
Massproductions has a sociable effect and is
used alongside a ‘Dandy’ ottoman and
‘Crown’ easy chair, also by Massproductions.
The walls are painted in ‘Still’ from ‘Visual
Silence’, a limewash paint collection by
House of Grey x Bauwerk. Other key pieces
include the vintage marble-and-glass coffee
table from AU, a ‘Triangolo’ steel chair by
Frama, and a rice-paper lightshade by Hay.
House of Grey designed the ‘Perilune’ rug for
the ‘Ellipse Collection’ by Armadillo ➤

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Word s K A

og r
I

a ph y M
CH

A EL SI NCL A

l id

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AC O B S P h

This serene
live-work space
represents a holistic
new beginning for
an interior designer
looking to reset her
life balance

ho
ay’s a

ry d
e
v
E

Window seat Homeowner Louisa has kept this area intentionally minimal so she can practise yoga and
gong baths here, alone or with friends, creating moments of stillness. It is painted in ‘Quiet’ limewash by
House of Grey x Bauwerk. A ‘KR180 Daybed’ by Kim Richardt for Frama, ‘Rivet’ side table, also by Frama,
and a ‘Dandy’ armchair from Massproductions sit alongside the ‘Palus’ rug by House of Grey x Armadillo
Detail Louisa (pictured right) kept this vintage brass shelving left by the previous owners, which she has
paired with an ‘Atollo’ lamp by Vico Magistretti for Oluce and ‘Crown’ easy chair by Massproductions

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wo decades of learning how homes can transform
our lives has shaped interior designer Louisa Grey’s
tranquil new north-London abode. Having trained
in weaving before starting out as a stylist, Louisa
established studio House of Grey in 2014 to create
beautiful spaces and products; however, her practice
focuses on far more than moodboarding fabric and colour swatches.
‘I consider health, happiness, ethics and aesthetics. They all go
hand in hand for me,’ she explains.
Three years ago, Louisa was applying careful thought to her own
life, which wasn’t bringing her the contentment she had hoped for.
She made some brave changes, ending her relationship and selling
her house and separate showroom. Shaking things up, she opted
for a new, more holistic approach, where home and work could take
place under the same roof. ‘I wanted the flexibility to be there for
my young son,’ she says of the catalyst for this change. But that was
just the start of Louisa’s vision for her new life.
‘I focused on a sense of light and space, as well as the idea that
every day could have holiday moments,’ she says. ‘I hear so many
stressed people talking about wanting to escape their lives. To me,
it’s important to create a home that matches your needs so well
you don’t want to leave.’
For Louisa, blissful holidays meant Puglia, the region in southern
Italy known for its sculptural buildings, from cone-topped trulli
huts to the limestone cave homes of the Sassi di Matera. ‘I adore
the softness of the architecture and the natural materiality of the
buildings,’ she says, explaining that her aim was to reconcile this
look with her chosen house: four floors of late-Victorian terrace.

When she first saw the property, it was trapped in a grim bedsit
time-warp, but this neglect had its advantages. ‘Underneath it all,’
she tells us, ‘the original building had hardly been touched.’
On the lower ground floor, she created an extension for a light
kitchen and dining area, with a cosy snug tucked behind it. Down
here, the Puglian aesthetic is in full force, with exposed timber
joists and natural clay-plaster-clad walls that softly curve around
the space. Upstairs, the house has a more traditionally Victorian
character, although the palette of pale neutrals continues across
the restful bedrooms and retreat-like bathrooms.
Louisa has assembled a trusted ‘creative tribe’ of companies and
craftspeople who share her drive to create healthy interior
environments and whose work features throughout her home, from
natural, ethically made rugs to energy-saving appliances. For all
the attention that has been poured into creating a dreamily beautiful
atmosphere, just as much thought has been given to what can’t be
seen – from natural sheep’s-wool insulation to VOC-free paints.
The intention has been to create a truly holistic home.
Working on this personal project has fed into House of Grey’s
philosophy, which Louisa describes as ‘circular salutogenic design’
– circular, because her spaces are put together using natural, nontoxic materials that come from and return to the earth with relative
ease; and salutogenic, meaning they are ‘designed to have a positive
impact on people’s health’. She could happily talk all day about this
subject but, as she sits contentedly at her kitchen table, basking in
a broad shaft of afternoon sunlight, it seems like Louisa – and the
home she has created – are the perfect endorsements for the benefits
of thoughtful design. houseofgrey.co.uk ➤
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Snug Louisa embraced the restricted light in this
area behind the open-plan dining room and
kitchen to create a cosy, informal lounge,
reopening the original fireplace and leaving the
ceiling joists exposed. The ‘Hackney’ sofa by
Sebastian Wrong for Hay is upholstered in Irish
linen, with a deep green ‘Terra’ rug by House of
Grey x Armadillo under foot. There is also a
‘CH25’ chair by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen
& Søn, a ‘Sintra’ coffee table from Frama and a
‘Ypperlig’ floor lamp by Hay for Ikea. Visible in
the background is the wooden table, made by
Louisa’s architect and builder father, which has
been teamed with ‘CH47’ dining chairs, also by
Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn ➤

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Kitchen The walls here are
finished in Clayworks clay
plaster, which has zero VOC
emissions and actually absorbs
toxins. The ultra-simple
cabinetry was a collaboration
between House of Grey and
Finch London, using local ash
timber finished with a lye to
knock back the colour, while the
floating kitchen island can be
moved when needed as it sits on
castors. The counters are topped
by a natural mineral, applied by
One & Maike. The appliances
are from Fisher & Paykel,
the elongated black oak
chopping boards are by
Edward Collinson and the
‘Bar Chair 01’ is by Frama ➤

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‘I consider health, happiness,
ethics and aesthetics. They all
go hand in hand for me’

Hallway This staircase was designed by House of Grey to replace a much steeper one. Its simple form reflects the more modern aesthetic
Main bedroom The walls and woodwork are painted in ‘Retreat’ by House of Grey x Bauwerk and the ‘Etoile’ rug is also by House of Grey
in collaboration with Armadillo. Above the bed hangs a rice-paper shade by Hay. The lamp is by Zara Home, as is the bedding. Already in
the house when Louisa bought it, the wardrobe was finished in Woca lye and oil, which was also used on the original pine floorboards
En suite Clever use of glass doors has allowed Louisa to create a bedroom and bathroom that share a single window and a leafy view.
House of Grey designed the softly contoured bath and basin, which have a plaster finish applied by One & Maike. Louisa used Studio Ore
hardware in all the bathrooms. The ‘Chair 01’ is by Frama ➤

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‘To me, it’s important to create
a home that matches your needs
so well you don’t want to leave’

Guest bathroom On the upper floor, this area – referred to by Louisa as ‘the retreat’ – is a place for friends and clients to
stay and experience her aesthetic firsthand. The monolithic bath was designed by House of Grey, as was the softly curving
shower, both of which have been hand-covered in a natural mineral plaster applied by One & Maike. The hardware is all
from Studio Ore and the vintage onyx garland hanging above the tub is from AU
Guest bedroom A bed from Loaf and mirror-topped side table from Zara Home sit on top of a ‘Palus’ rug by
House of Grey x Armadillo. The walls and woodwork are painted in ‘GrafClean’, a custom-made shade by Graphenstone,
the wall light is by Rose Uniacke and the ‘Dytag’ linen curtains are from Ikea See Stockists page for details

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LIFE
WITHOUT
COMPROMISE
For the owner of this
Helsinki home, the
opportunity to freely
express a love of
colour and pattern
has created a space
that’s showstopping
and soothing
Words and production
JONNA KIVILAHTI

Photography
KRISTA KELTANEN/LIVING INSIDE

Living room Occupying the corner,
the ‘Cosy Pocket’ sofa by Hakola is
homeowner Annaleena’s favourite
place to relax. It is paired with a
‘Jumbo’ armchair and ‘Edit’ shelving
system, also by Hakola, plus ottomans
from the brand’s range for Vuokko
and a ‘Ball’ chair by Eero Aarnio. Paolo
Piva’s ‘Alanda’ coffee table for B&B
Italia sits at the centre of the colourful
assemblage on top of a rug from Brink
& Campman. The ‘Mantis’ floor lamp
is by Bernard Schottlander for DCW
Éditions and the bright ‘Cocktail’
chandelier was designed by Hanna
Anonen for Hakola ➤

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BOLDLY COLOURFUL AND
UNAPOLOGETICALLY JOYFUL,
this Helsinki home is a testament to what can be achieved when
you have faith in your own decorative choices. ‘I didn’t compromise
at all,’ says Annaleena Hakola proudly. Moving here with her
two sons after separating from her partner and leaving their
shared 1960s terraced home in the nearby town of Espoo, she
found a place to express herself fully.
Situated on Annankatu street, right at the heart of the Finnish
capital, the apartment sits directly above the store and main
office of Hakola – the furniture brand founded by Annaleena’s
grandfather, for which she acts as both CEO and creative director.
The company’s vibrant colour palette is apparent as soon as you
set foot inside the apartment’s entrance hall, with its black-andwhite-striped wallpaper by Sandberg, but if it weren’t for Annaleena’s
quick thinking, this home would have looked quite different.
After being offered the apartment at short notice, just before
its renovation was due to be completed, Annaleena was presented
with the plan for a very neutral interior: all white and shades
of grey. This simply would not do, but she only had a few days
to confirm her own preferences. ‘It felt crazy,’ she admits, ‘but
I wanted the apartment to look like me. Our previous home in
Espoo was renovated and decorated with care, but I knew that
I was able to make quick decisions. I chose the flooring, the paint,
the wallpaper and the kitchen in one go.’
The rush may have been too stressful for some, but for
Annaleena, who plays with strong colours as part of her job, the
palette for her home was instinctive. ‘I already had beautiful
pairs of colours in my mind, like the combination of bright green
[inspired by fashion house Bottega Veneta’s signature shade]
and light blue. I have periods dominated by certain colours,’ she
says. ‘A while ago, pink dominated the Hakola collections and
my wardrobe. Blue is a colour I didn’t used to feel close to, but
in my current life situation its calming effect is good.’
These uplifting shades don’t just decorate the walls, they can
also be seen on the furniture. Across the mix of bespoke pieces,
Hakola designs and vintage classics, bright greens, ripe tomato
reds and stripes dominate. The kitchen cabinets are even
finished in a light shade of blue, designed to complement the
hue used across most of the main living areas: ‘Astrid’ by Cover
Story. An affinity for Nordic design is clear (a ‘Ball’ chair by
arguably Finland’s most famous designer, Eero Aarnio, makes
a star appearance), but Annaleena has also made room for Italian
masters. A Paolo Piva ‘Alanda’ coffee table can be spotted in the
living room, and there’s an ‘Atollo’ table lamp by Vico Magistretti.
‘I love the Italian attitude to life,’ says Annaleena. ‘We Finns
still have lots to learn from their way of always appreciating
beauty, no matter if it’s food, interiors or fashion.’ Her new home
is a big step in the right direction. hakola.fi
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Above Hakola’s ‘Sulo’ and ‘Soma’
candleholders, inspired by the shape
of the legs on the brand’s ‘Jumbo’ sofa,
decorate the ‘Alanda’ coffee table by Paolo
Piva for B&B Italia Living room In a
corner of the room, a Hakola ‘Filippa’
sofa, dressed in striking stripes as part
of a collaboration with Vuokko, makes
a bold statement. The black coffee table
is also a Hakola design, as are the cushions.
The walls are painted in a calming shade
of blue : ‘Astrid’ by Cover Story

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Left Annaleena Hakola, the third generation and current CEO
and creative director of the family-run Finnish furniture brand
Kitchen Helsinki-based brand Oodi designed the cabinetry,
which is finished in a bespoke light blue shade selected by Annaleena.
The black tap and contrasting white worktop are from the same brand.
A George Nelson desk clock from Vitra sits above the wall cupboards

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Dining area The table, a retro piece designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek
in the 1980s, is paired with Robin Day’s orange swivel chairs from the
1960s and wooden ‘Mama’ chairs by Hakola. The pendant light above
is the ‘Bubble’ by George Nelson for Herman Miller and the rug is the
‘Juutti’ from Anno. A green ‘Kite’ sideboard by Finnish brand Valanti
sits in the corner of the dining area (right). On it there’s an ‘Atollo’ lamp
by Vico Magistretti for Oluce. The painting is by Annaleena’s friend
Laura Annala and the ‘Ball’ clock is by George Nelson for Vitra

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‘I WANTED THE APARTMENT TO FEEL
LIKE ME. I CHOSE THE FLOORING,
PAINT AND WALLPAPER IN ONE GO’

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Hallway Striped ‘Marcus’ wallpaper by Sandberg sets out this home’s vibrant
intentions from the minute guests walk through the door. The ‘Hang It All’ coat rack
is by Charles and Ray Eames for Vitra and the ‘Bonbon’ mirror is a design by Hakola,
as is the ‘Mama’ chair. The rug is from Finarte. Through the door into the bright
green boys’ bedroom, you can spot a ‘Diamond’ chair by Harry Bertoia for Knoll
Boys’ room Annaleena designed a playhouse/bunk bed with a slide for her kids,
enlisting the help of carpenter Juhan Mikone to make her dream a reality. The
vintage Artek children’s table and chairs are from her childhood home, while the
pendant light is the ‘Bumling’ by Ateljé Lyktan and the rug is from Sera Helsinki

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‘BLUE IS A COLOUR I DIDN’T
USED TO FEEL CLOSE TO, BUT ITS
CALMING EFFECT IS GOOD’

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Bedroom A vintage Peacock chair is placed at the
entrance to this space (left). A ‘Pantera’ print by
Enzo Mauri for Danese Milano hangs above the
bed, which features a headboard fashioned from
an old room divider by Finnish office furniture
brand Martela. The bedside table is by Hakola and
the floor lamp is a vintage design by Ateljé Lyktan.
In front of the window a ‘Cocktail’ pendant light
by Hakola hangs above the brand’s ‘Bobo’ sofa
See Stockists page for details

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Words SYLVIE WOLFF Photography KAREL BALAS/VEGA MG

Sparked by a wish to gather as a family, the renovation of this French farmhouse has been a collaborative effort

FIRESIDE STORIES

Living room Mid-century dining chairs by Hynek
Gottwald surround this long dining table, above which
hang ‘Aplomb’ pendant lights by Paolo Lucidi and Luca
Pevere for Foscarini. The floor lamps are two white
‘Tab’ lights by Barber Osgerby for Flos and two vintage
designs. At the far end of this vast open-plan space,
a ‘Tufty-Time’ sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia
is joined by two armchairs designed by Gae Aulenti for
Knoll in the 1960s and a ‘Barcelona’ chair and
footstool by Mies van der Rohe, also for Knoll

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Kitchen Homeowner Alix designed the cement floor
tiles that visually separate this space from the rest of
the open-plan living area. She and her husband Onur
also worked together to design the seamless wooden
cabinetry that stretches into the pitched ceiling. The
concrete island features a golden Grohe tap and the
pendant lights are made from mango wood – they
were purchased from a street market in Bangkok

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very Friday, Alix Petit and her husband Onur Keçe pick up their
two daughters – Panda (three) and Ellis (seven) – and head for
their private haven. ‘As soon as we arrive, even before we put
the lights on, we light the fires in the fireplaces and fire pits and
sit outside with a glass of wine,’ explains Alix. ‘It’s a sacred
moment to unwind and a prelude to the weekend to come.’
For Alix, founder of fashion brand Heimstone, life is a family
affair. ‘We’ve always lived in a pack,’ she says. Her twin sister
Caroline (founder of ceramics brand Three Seven Paris), her
husband and their two children are never far away, plus their
brother, a photographer, often spends weekends at the property.
It was a desire to find a place to gather and recharge as an
extended clan that led Alix and Onur to this 19th-century
farmhouse in Vexin Regional Nature Park, a pocket of unspoiled
wilderness on the outskirts of the French capital.
‘It had been uninhabited for more than 10 years and the land
was totally overgrown. The garden looked like a jungle,’ recalls
Alix. ‘After much reflection, we decided to keep the property’s
traditional white stone façade intact, but the volume and flow
of the place was completely rethought.’ The renovated space
was split into three distinct parts. Each one, like an organ of the
body, is autonomous but linked.
At the heart of the house is the main dining, kitchen and living
area. A grand open-plan room beneath the rafters, it is dominated
by a five-metre-long concrete table and central island stretching
across much of its length. A true communal space, it features
a built-in indoor barbecue, hotplates and an induction wok.
The barn became a main bedroom, designed like a New York
loft, with a suspended bathroom and the girls’ bedroom
next-door, while the tower boasts three additional guest rooms,
all equipped with ensuite bathrooms. Next to it, two outbuildings
have also been renovated, one of which is permanently reserved
for Caroline and her tribe.
‘Onur did the structural work and I did the interior design,’
says Alix. For Onur, a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, concrete was
the material of choice. ‘Our priority was to give the building
a strong identity, inspired by modernism, and for nature to
become one with the architecture,’ continues Alix. To counteract
the potential coldness of the walls, she introduced warmth with
patterned curtains, soft shades (lagoon green and pastel pink)
and generously plump furniture.
‘Just like my collections for Heimstone, I wanted this house
to be feminine, but with inspiration stolen from menswear.
There is a playful juxtaposition of influences that reflects my
personality, my taste for eclecticism and travel. I refuse to allow
myself to become locked into one style. I am as much Kim
Kardashian as Princess Diana!’
Taking two years to complete, the renovation of this home
has been a marathon, rather than a sprint, but both Alix and
Onur have relished the experience. ‘We talked a lot to fuse our
creativity and, in the end, the project has brought us closer
together,’ says Alix. ‘This house is our oxygen.’ heimstone.com
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‘OUR
PRIORITY
WAS TO
GIVE THE
BUILDING
A STRONG
IDENTITY’

Office Sergio Saporiti designed the table, used here as a
desk, in the 1970s. It is paired with mid-century Hynek
Gottwald dining chairs. This soft shade of green cement
paint was selected from a range at Ressource Paints
Snug Curtains designed by homeowner Alix add an
extra layer of comfort to this space beside the fireplace.
The chairs and footstools are the ‘Camaleonda’ design
by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia ➤

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Bedroom Weighing almost two
tonnes, the concrete bed was designed
by Onur and is dressed with bedding
from Am.Pm. A custom-made
wardrobe is hidden behind wooden
cladding that acts as an oversized
headboard. Just visible up the
concrete stairs is a private sauna
Exterior A lot of time at this family
retreat is spent outside enjoying nature,
with conversations by the firepits
See Stockists page for details

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ESCAPE
T R AV E L

/ C U LT U R E / H O T E L S / R E S TA U R A N T S Edited by CAT OLLEY

THE ART HOUSE

PICTURE: BENOIT LINERO

A long-time hub for the city’s creative
types, Paris’ Left Bank is a fitting home
for the new Hôtel des Académies et des
Arts. Designed by Lizée-Hugot, the
burgeoning partnership of interior
architects Stéphanie Lizée and Raphael
Hugot, its 20 rooms take inspiration from
the simple comfort of Van Gogh’s ‘The
Room’, while a bijou in-house gallery is
set up as an artist’s studio. From approx
£150 per night (hoteldesacademies.fr).

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HOMEMAKER

A former architect who once built
a traditional timber and mud
storehouse with his mother’s
gardening tools, Huddersfield-based
Japanese maker Yukihiro Akama
carves exquisite miniature Asian stilt
homes from single pieces of wood –
a selection of which will be on display
at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. ‘Yukihiro
Akama: Ki no ie’, from 26 February –
29 May 2022 (ysp.org.uk).
Studio Interior (Red Stool, Studio)
by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

L'Atelier (The Studio)
by Pablo Picasso

A room of one’s own
What might an artist’s interpretation of their studio tell us about them? That’s
the question posed by a new exhibition at east London’s Whitechapel Gallery,
which surveys the diverse ways that creatives have captured their workspaces.
‘A Century of the Artist’s Studio 1920 – 2020’ presents everything from
abandoned factories to cramped attic rooms in paintings, sculpture and film,
as well as a series of reconstructed ‘studio corners’. Look out for Picasso’s
expressive L’Atelier, as well as an evocative crayon drawing by Austrian painter
Egon Schiele. From 17 February – 29 May 2022 (whitechapelgallery.org).

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PICTURES: BENOIT LINERO, OLA O SMIT, WILHELMINA BARNS-GRAHAM ‘STUDIO INTERIOR (RED STOOL, STUDIO)’, 1945/© WILHELMINA BARNS-GRAHAM TRUST, PABLO PICASSO,
‘L'ATELIER (THE STUDIO)’, 1955/ © SUCCESSION PICASSO/DACS, LONDON 2021/TATE/TATE IMAGES, ROMAN ROAD 4, OIL ON CANVAS, 2020 © JOCK MCFADYEN RA

CREATIVE PLATES
It may seem there’s little to connect new restaurant and bakery Toklas to the art world, save for a collection of exhibition posters in the
bar. In fact, it’s the latest venture from Frieze founders Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover. The second clue is the name – a reference
to Alice B Toklas, whose dinner parties with Paris’ avant-garde have inspired the Mediterranean menu (toklaslondon.com).

ESCAPE

LONDON CALLING
It’s been a busy few months
for British painter Jock
McFadyen, who is fresh from
exhibitions at Edinburgh’s
Dovecot Studios and
Manchester gallery The
Lowry. Next up is his ‘Tourist
Without a Guidebook’
exhibition, which brings
together 20 works painted
over 30 years for a free
display at the Royal Academy
of Arts. Here, the focus is his
large-scale scenes of London’s
urban landscape in all their
littered and graffitied glory.
At turns dream-like and
dystopian, each helps
document a city in flux.
5 February – 10 April 2022
(royalacademy.org.uk).

NEW IN TOWN
When Tracy Lowy launched design-led accommodation
group Living Rooms almost 30 years ago with ‘hotel
alternative’ No.5 Maddox Street, it proved to be a
prescient move. Combining the privacy of a home with
the perks of a five-star stay, the group has expanded to
include clusters of serviced apartments in Mayfair, Little
Venice and Marylebone (though Lowy did concede that
hotels have their place with the launch of The Laslett in
2015, which offers 51 restful rooms in Notting Hill).
The latest Living Rooms address is 74-78 Marylebone
Lane, a collection of seven apartments designed by
long-time collaborator Tom Bartlett of British design
firm Waldo Works. Restrained yet characterful, each
features custom sofas, rugs and headboards, plus walls
dotted with the simple forms of Danish artist Rune
Elmegaard. Lowy’s next prediction? ‘I think the future
of travel is that people will travel less, but take their time
and stay in one place for longer.’ From £354 per night
(lowygroup.co.uk/living-rooms).

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ESCAPE

Hushed
reverence

Clockwise from left The architect Louis Kahn’s Phillips Exeter
Academy Library in New Hampshire, US; LocHal is an awardwinning community library carved from an old railway depot in the
Dutch town of Tilburg; the opulent Wiblingen Monastery Library
in Germany; Mexico City’s cavernous Biblioteca Vasconcelos

PICTURES: REINHARD GOERNER, STIJN BOLLAERT

Alive with the wonder of collective
wisdom, the library is a near-sacred
space. New tome ‘Temple of Books’
(£45; Gestalten) is a celebration
of the world’s most hallowed
archives, from baroque halls to
staggering new builds that seek
to preserve its status in our
digital age (uk.gestalten.com).

178 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

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Divine
interventions

Soaring ceilings, great arched windows, stone laid by hand
centuries ago – it’s little wonder that the language of
religious refuge appeals to today’s architects. Perched on
hillsides and hidden away behind high walls, these sacred
spaces are starting second lives as design hotels.
No stranger to ecclesiastical efforts, British architect
John Pawson has masterminded careful church renovations
from Bohemia to Bavaria. But those who expected a picture
of sober restraint from The Jaffa, the sensational hotel he
coaxed from a former monastery and hospital in the
eponymous south of Tel Aviv four years ago, might have
been surprised to find Damien Hirst paintings and golden
‘Botolo’ chairs by Cini Boeri beneath its stained-glass
windows (from approx £429 per night; thejaffahotel.com).
A year later, the August hotel arrived in Antwerp, with
44 pared-back rooms and its spectacular domed ceiling
painted black. Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen had
finally been persuaded to turn his hand to hospitality by
the promise of this abandoned 19th-century complex,
once home to nuns of the Order of Saint Augustine (from
approx £140 per night; august-antwerp.com). It’s since
been joined by new retreat Botanic Sanctuary, Antwerp’s
first five-star hotel, which marks the end of an ambitious
project to create 108 luxurious rooms, four restaurants
and a vast eco spa on a site that has served as a place of

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WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: JURGEN LIJCOPS, ROBERT RIEGER, AMIT GERON

By converting monasteries and convents into contemporary hotels,
architects are breathing new life into these storied buildings

ESCAPE

convalescence for some 800 years (from approx £245 per
night; botanicantwerp.be).
Sisters still live adjacent to Monastero Arx Vivendi in
Arco, near Lake Garda, recently reimagined as a wellnessled retreat by Network of Architecture. Keen to preserve
the ‘austere monastic spaces’ of the 17th-century sanctum,
it opted to house the spa in glass pavilions within the gardens
(from approx £200 per night; monasteroarxvivendi.com).
For a real disappearing act, there’s Lopud 1483. With the

THESE SACRED SPACES ARE
STARTING SECOND LIVES AS
LUXURIOUS DESIGN HOTELS

WORDS: NAME PICTURES: NAME

help of Zagreb architect Rujana Bergam Marković, art
collector Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza spent some 20
years restoring this Franciscan monastery on the tip of
the tiny Croatian island, now filled with world-class art
and furniture by Italian brand Paola Lenti. ThyssenBornemisza recalls a visit by the great Frank Gehry
early on in the project, who dispensed some simple advice
that speaks to its 500-year heritage: ‘take your time.’ (From
approx £8,341 for exclusive use; lopud1483.com).

Opposite, from top The island location of the Lopud 1483
monastery; the glass-walled Gastronomy 1238 restaurant
at Botanic Sanctuary This page, clockwise from top
The bar and lounge at August is housed in the old chapel;
a suite at the Jaffa hotel; Monastero Arx Vivendi in Arco

MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 181

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GETAWAY /

BELFAST

The Northern Irish capital’s radical creative
resurgence makes this modern city an inspired
city break for artistic and inquisitive souls

THE CITY Before the Good Friday Agreement

WORDS: ANNA HART PICTURE: ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

of 1998, Belfast wasn’t exactly on the map for mainstream
tourists. Yet, over the past 20 years, the city has undergone
a huge cultural and culinary resurgence and its progressive
yet playful spirit is present in every museum, gallery, studio,
restaurant and design store. And design is in Northern
Ireland’s DNA: when the RMS Titanic was built at Harland
and Wolff in 1909, Belfast was the shipbuilding capital of
the world, fostering Europe’s finest cabinet-makers, linen
weavers, potteries, engineers and architectural designers
in the conception and construction of luxury ocean liners.
Today, grand Victorian architecture rubs up against
world-class works of street art in a friendly, irreverent and
politically engaged city that takes fun seriously.

Titanic Belfast museum tells
the story of the ill-fated ship
on the site of the former
Harland and Wolff shipyard

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Clockwise from top
left One of the suites in
the Titanic Hotel; tasteful
ceramics at new design
store Bound Concept;
the medieval castle at
Carrickfergus; a street
art tour by Seedhead Arts

WHERE TO STAY

When The Harrison opened
last summer, Belfast finally got the design-led townhouse hotel
it was waiting for. Owner Melanie Harrison has meticulously
restored a 19th-century merchant’s home (with a little help
from her builder father) in the university district, filling it with
Northern Irish artefacts including ornate cast-iron radiators
and Victorian chaise longues. Each of the 16 rooms spotlights an
icon with links to Belfast, including poet WB Yeats, the Brontë
sisters, CS Lewis and singer Ruby Murray (from £150 per night;
chambersofdistinction.com). Elsewhere, the Titanic Hotel is
located in the former headquarters of Harland and Wolff shipbuilders in the regenerated Titanic Quarter (from £120 per
night; titanichotelbelfast.com), and the contemporary Bullitt
Hotel, moments from the Cathedral Quarter, is an industrial
design nest of exposed brick, earthy paintwork and tobaccohued leather (from £85 per night; bullitthotel.com).

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

The Cathedral
Quarter is where many of Belfast’s culinary highlights are
concentrated, and a flat white at Established Coffee roastery
and café on Hill Street is a rite of passage for caffeine lovers
in Belfast (established.coffee). Nearby, the innovative Hill
Street Hatch houses a rotating roster of foodie residencies;
a recent hit was grilled cheese sandwich pop-up The Toast
Office (hillstreethatch.com). A favourite brunch spot is Freight,
housed in shipping containers, with a good line in plant-based
dishes and excellent coffee (freightbelfast.co.uk). For food
lovers, a wander around St George’s Market is a shortcut to
the best produce Northern Ireland has to offer, while Hilden
Brewery, Ireland’s oldest independent brewery, is ideal for
those requiring refreshments (hildenbrewery.com).

WINE & DINE Hadskis is hidden away in one of
the Cathedral Quarter’s alleyways and is the most atmospheric
of chef Niall McKenna’s two restaurants ( jamesstandco.com).
Since the 1960s, Belfast has been home to a sizeable Chinese
community, so it’s a city that does dim sum well. The bestloved and longest-established Chinese restaurant in Northern
Ireland is the Wong family’s The Welcome, a real neighbourhood
favourite known for its truly authentic Cantonese cuisine
(welcomebelfast.co.uk). Michelin-starred OX recently opened
OX Cave, its wood-panelled wine library pairing wines by
the glass or carafe with sharing boards (oxbelfast.com).

WB YEATS, THE BRONTË SISTERS,
CS LEWIS AND SINGER RUBY
MURRAY ALL HAVE A CONNECTION
TO THIS CREATIVE CITY

ART & CULTURE Visitors are invariably struck
by Belfast’s broad spectrum of world-class museums and equally
impactful grassroots arts organisations, which are at least partly
a legacy of the city’s politically turbulent past. The Ulster Museum
in the Botanic Gardens is a great place to start, not least because
the exterior – boasting a 1960s Brutalist extension by Francis
Pym – is so striking (nmni.com). However, ask any creative
in Belfast where to go and they’ll send you to the Black Box,
a pioneering project and performance space for music, art
and film, with a great calendar of events (blackboxbelfast.com).
A Belfast Street Art Tour by Seedhead Arts is a brilliant way to
get a handle on the city’s recent sociopolitical past; Belfast’s

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GFEETA
ATW
UAY
RE

Clockwise from top left
Grilled-cheese pop-up The
Toast Office at Hill Street
Hatch; the Brutalist
exterior of the Ulster
Museum; Giant’s
Causeway; Established
Coffee’s sleek interior

history of sectarian murals has given street art a prominent
position in the city and its walls attract artists from all over the
globe (seedheadarts.com).

PICTURES: NEAL CAMPBEL, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, PHIL AICKEN/UNSPLASH, THIS MODERN LIFE

SHOPPING

Tucked away in a redbrick former
memorial hall off the Lisburn Road is Maven, an independent
design and homeware store founded by two sisters. It stocks a
smart mix of Irish and Scandinavian brands such as Superfolk,
Mourne Textiles, Ferm Living and Skagerak (wearemaven.
co.uk). The recently opened Bound Concept at Smithfield
Yard is a must-visit, with a lovely lighting collection among the
homeware and accessories (boundconcept.com). If Belfast has
a cult fashion store, it’s American Madness, which has a huge
Instagram following thanks to its vintage French workwear,
Nascar T-shirts and 1960s jackets. Its showroom in Belfast’s old
ropemaking district only opens on Saturdays, but is a worthy
pilgrimage for vintage lovers (americanmadness.co.uk).

BEYOND THE CITY

The utterly magnificent
Giant’s Causeway is a 75-minute drive from Belfast, while
the five-mile walk east from this rock formation towards the
hamlet of Dunseverick is one of the most spectacular stretches
of the North Antrim Cliffs (nationaltrust.org.uk). To the south,
CS Lewis fans can explore the landscape that inspired his
tales of Narnia with a wander around the seaside town of
Warrenpoint, home to a diverse community of sea swimmers.
For car-free travellers, the 11th-century Carrickfergus Castle
is a 30-minute journey by train and arrives into Northern
Ireland’s most picturesque station; sip a coffee upon arrival at
NACS (Not Another Coffee Shop) on West Street, which also
doubles as a furniture paint store.

THE INSIDER
Ray Bonner
Creating under the moniker Francois
Got Buffed, Bonner is a Belfast street
artist, illustrator and tour guide for
Seedhead Arts, which runs the Hit the
North Belfast Street Art Festival every
September. You’ll find his work on walls across the UK
and Europe. @FrancoisGotBuffed
■ Coffee and Cactus Great food and coffee, plus the bonus
of selling wonderful plants (coffeeandcactus.com).
■ The Sunflower The best traditional pub in Belfast –
great owners, musicians and pizza (sunflowerbelfast.com).
■ Banana Block A really interesting new space with
a food pop-up, mushroom growers, a cheese producer
and independent record store (bananablock.org).
■ Comber Greenway Running along an old tramline, this
path offers a lovely escape into greenery (walkni.com).
■ Mike’s Fancy Cheese Shop An independent raw-cheese
dairy on Little Donegall Street (mfcheese.com).

To discover more design-savvy
destinations, get your copy of ELLE
Decoration City – on sale now at
hearstmagazines.co.uk/ed-city

MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 185

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STOCKISTS /
1st Dibs (1stdibs.com)
2LG Studio (2lgstudio.com)
3Falke (3falke.dk)

E
Edward Collinson

A
Agustina Ros (agustinaros.com)

(edwardcollinson.co.uk)
Eero Aarnio Originals
(aarniooriginals.com)
Ex.t (ex-t.com)

Alpi (alpi.it)
Am.Pm (laredoute.co.uk)
Amara (amara.com)
Amazon (amazon.co.uk)
And Light (andlight.com)
And Objects (andobjects.com)
Andrew Martin
(andrewmartin.co.uk)
Ann Sacks (annsacks.com)
Anna Unwin (annaunwin.com)
Anno (annocollection.fi)
Anthropologie (anthropologie.co.uk)
Apparatus (apparatusstudio.com)
Aram (aram.co.uk)
Armadillo (usa.armadillo-co.com)
Artek (artek.fi)
Artemest (artemest.com)
Artemide (artemide.com)
A Rum Fellow (arumfellow.com)
Astep (astep.design)
Ateljé Lyktan (ateljelyktan.se)
Attico Design (cristinacelestino.com)
Azucena (azucena.it)

B
Bauwerk (bauwerkcolour.com)

B&B Italia (bebitalia.com)
BDDW (bddw.com)
Beau Marché (beaumarche.dk)
Benjamin Moore
(benjaminmoore.com)
Bert & May (bertandmay.com)
Billiani (billiani.it)
Bisazza (bisazza.com)
Bisley (bisley.com)
Bonaldo (bonaldo.com)
Brink & Campman
(brinkandcampman.com)
Broste Copenhagen
(brostecopenhagen.com)
Bruno Rey (brunorey.com)
Buster + Punch
(busterandpunch.com)

C
C/RO (c-rocopenhagen.com)

FFarrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com)

Fendi Casa (fendi.com)
Finarte (finarte.it)
Finch London (finchlondon.co.uk)
Finnish Design Shop
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Fired Earth (firedearth.com)
Fisher & Paykel (fisherpaykel.com)
Flexform (flexform.it)
Flokk (flokk.com)
Flos (flos.com)
Flow Gallery (flowgallery.co.uk)
Fora (foraprojects.com)
Foscarini (foscarini.com)
Frama (framacph.com)
Frankbros (frankbros.com)

D
Danese Milano (danesemilano.com)

DCW Éditions (dcw-editions.fr)
Deborah Bowness
(deborahbowness.com)
Designers Guild (designersguild.com)
Driade (driade.com)
Drummonds (drummonds-uk.com)

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N
Nemo Lighting (nemolighting.com)

Nest (nest.co.uk)
New Works (newworks.dk)
Nina Norgaard (ninanorgaard.com)
Nordic Nest (nordicnest.com)
North Lands Creative
(northlandscreative.co.uk)
Note Editions (note-editions.se)

O
G
OEN Shop (shop.the189.com)
Galleri Bo Bjerggaard (bjerggaard.com)
Galleria Bianconi
(galleriabianconi.com)
Gallotti & Radice (gallottiradice.it)
Glenn Ban Design (glennban.com)
Graham & Brown (grahambrown.com)
Graphenstone (graphenstone.co.uk)

H
Hakola (hakola.fi)

Hay (hay.dk)
Heal’s (heals.com)
Hem (hem.com)
Henrytimi (henrytimi.com)
Herman Miller (hermanmiller.com)

IIkea (ikea.com)

Inform Furniture
(informfurniture.co.uk)
Intoart (intoart.org.uk)

JJasmine Linington
(jasminelinington.com)

Carl Hansen & Søn (carlhansen.com)
Cassina (cassina.com)
CC-Tapis (cc-tapis.com)
Ceraudo (ceraudo.com)
Chaplins (chaplins.co.uk)
Chiarastella Cattana
(chiarastellacattana.com)
Cisco Home (ciscohome.net)
Claybrook (claybrookstudio.co.uk)
Clayworks (clay-works.com)
Clé Tile (cletile.com)
Clifton Wright (cliftonwright.co.uk)
Clippings (clippings.com)
Coat (coatpaints.com)
Colonel Shop (moncolonel.fr)
Corston Architectural Detail
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Cover Story (coverstorypaint.com)
Crate & Barrel (crateandbarrel.com)
Crown Paints (crownpaints.co.uk)

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Mind The Gap (mindtheg.com)
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Monologue London
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Muuto (muuto.com)
Mylands (mylands.com)

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Kat + Maouche (katandmaouche.com)
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Knoll (knoll.com)
Knothouse (knothouse.com)
Kristina Dam Studio (kristinadam.dk)
Kvadrat (kvadrat.dk)

LL.Ercolani (lercolani.com)

L7 Gallery (galleryl7inc.com)
Lawson Fenning (lawsonfenning.com)
Lick (lick.com)
Ligne Roset
(ligne-roset-westend.co.uk)
Little Greene (littlegreene.com)
Loaf (loaf.com)
Louis Poulsen (louispoulsen.com)

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Osborne and Little
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Our Lovely Goods (ourlovelygoods.com)

PPamono (pamono.co.uk)

Pat McGann (patmcganngallery.com)
Pavilion Books (pavilionbooks.com)
Phillip Jeffries (phillipjeffries.com)
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Swatch (swatch.com)

TTacchini (tacchini.it)

Tasja P. (tasjapceramics.com)
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Tekla (teklafabrics.com)
The Basket Room (thebasketroom.com)
The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk)
The Rug Company
(therugcompany.com)
The Urban Electric Company
(urbanelectric.com)
The Water Monopoly
(thewatermonopoly.com)
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Studio X (studiox.dk)
Sunday-S Gallery (sunday-s.dk)
Sunglass Hut (sunglasshut.com)
Superfront (superfront.com)

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Advertising feature

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BATHROOMS

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ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE

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MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 191

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MARCH 2022 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 193

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TREASURED /

INI ARCHIBONG
I’ve been musical since I was a kid. I played the flute, the saxophone,
I was in orchestra, band – all of that. I grew up in hip-hop culture
and was always dancing, freestyle rapping and going to shows. I was
into everything. When I went to college, I ‘borrowed’ my dad’s
record collection and got turntables as soon as I had money.
When I dropped out and moved back home to Pasadena, I
connected with Ras G and Black Monk, who ran the Poo-Bah record
shop. They taught me how to use an Akai MPC sampling machine
– the old techniques of sampling from vinyl records, chopping and
flipping. I’d make beats at the house of one of my friends, who had
a lot of equipment, and one day he gave me his Akai MPC 1000. It’s a
legendary machine used by producers from the golden era of hip hop.
194 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK MARCH 2022

The albums that my friends released at that time are considered
LA underground hip-hop classics – my voice has featured on a few.
I considered that path, but decided to keep the music to myself and
share the design with the world. I kept the drum machine in my
locker at design school, so I could make beats when I was pulling
all-nighters. It still serves a major purpose in my practice, helping
me to express ideas and feelings I’m trying to put into the pieces.
I make music almost every day, and I take it with me everywhere.
Every milestone I can think of has a group of songs to go with it, and
that machine made them. I have so many problems with it now, so
I’ve added others to the mix, but it’s still my weapon of choice –
even if I have to get it fixed a hundred times. designbyini.com

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WORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURE: MPHO MOKGADI

Music and design are forever intertwined for the American creative

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