Pia Design: A Serene Fusion of Nature and Modern Scandinavian Design

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern Scandinavian styled house design by 2024 SBID Awards Finalist, Pia Design.

Pia Design were commissioned to design and specify the interior architecture and full interior fit out and furnishings for Pond Place, a 5 bedroom family home in St Albans designed in a clean, minimal Scandinavian style. The striking features of the property are the use of Dinesen flooring throughout, minimal, floating staircase by Smet, and bespoke, custom built in joinery by End Grain and bathrooms in microcement and recycled glass tiles. The colours of the design are inspired by the striking garden landscaping by Rosemary Coldstream.

What was the client’s brief?

The brief for Pond Place was to create a tranquil yet functional environment that reflected the client’s love for nature while accommodating their lifestyle needs and kept clutter to a minimum. We aimed to design a space that fosters connection and well-being, integrating natural elements with luxurious details. Our focus was on creating a sense of calm and serenity, blending modern Scandinavian design with the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design was inspired by the surrounding environment—particularly the pond and natural greenery. We worked closely with Rosemary Coldstream, the landscape designer, to ensure our designs worked cohesively together. We wanted to seamlessly integrate the indoors with the outdoors, drawing from organic forms, soft textures, and earthy tones. The concept was to evoke a sense of calm and relaxation, using nature as a guiding principle to design a sophisticated, timeless space.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the toughest hurdles was the short design period as we were brought onto the project team late in the process – therefore, we had only 4 weeks to pull together the design visuals for the whole house, in order to make the tender deadline. Further down the line there were some significant delays with the project once the building works started – in total, from the date we started the concept designs, to the date the project was completed and installed, it took around 6 years!

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of the project was the final reveal to the client, who was thrilled with how the space transformed into a seamless extension of the natural surroundings. Our client had known their house as a building site for nearly 5 years, and wasn’t there for the final install, so it was such a rewarding experience to be there when the client saw their finished home for the first time, and to see the harmony between the interior and the landscape come to life. The project itself was a true testament to collaboration and vision – especially with it being such a long time in the making!

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID Awards to celebrate the success of Pond Place and share it with the wider design community. It’s an opportunity to showcase our passion for blending design with nature, and it’s an honour to be recognised by the SBID among so many talented designers from around the globe. The awards also provide us with a platform to connect with like-minded professionals, continue pushing creative boundaries and to showcase sustainable interior design.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being named an Award Finalist has been a huge honour and a moment of pride for our team. It reinforces the hard work and dedication that went into Pond Place, and the recognition has been invaluable in helping us grow as a business and reaffirming our commitment to creating exceptional, sustainable design experiences.

Questions answered by Pia Pelkonen, Founder of Pia Design.