Sonia b design: Creating a Members Club Atmosphere for a Home Design

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a home design with a members club atmosphere by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Sonia b design.

Sonia b design was commissioned to create a members club atmosphere while optimising the space for a young professional. The scope included space planning, internal restoration, bespoke joinery, and sourcing. Each room was designed with its own personality, featuring moody aesthetics in entertaining spaces, bathrooms and bedrooms, balanced by a light and sharp design in the kitchen and gym. Preservation, restoration, and repurposing played a significant role in this project, ensuring the conservation of period features while integrating modern textures and elements, and donating replaced elements during the renovation process.

What was the client’s brief? 

The home, previously a family house, was refurbished in preparation for the new owner, a young professional to move into the home. The brief was to create a members’ club atmosphere and therefore bringing hospitality design into a home while focusing on the comfort of a home which has been a truly exciting design journey. Beyond the aesthetics, the home was designed to accommodate for the client’s storage, entertainment and fitness needs where several entertainment spaces and a gym / dressing were created. The choice of materials and fabrics was also driven by the need to be suitable for regular visits from the owner’s niece and nephew.

What inspired the design of the project?

The client who is a member of a worldwide members’ club, thoroughly enjoys the ambiance it offers, and we aimed to echo its diverse atmospheres within the home, inspired by different club buildings as well as bars and restaurants that inspired us and feature the atmosphere we were looking to create. The bathroom design draws from the client’s New York travel memories. The home’s overall ambiance evokes a sophisticated British members’ club feel. Meanwhile, the kitchen, boasting large bifold doors to the garden, embraces a Mediterranean design, incorporating abundant greenery to create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

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

“Surprises” that often come with period properties and were uncovered during demolition, which required substantial additional work and sourcing. Thankfully Building Control were extremely helpful which enabled us to progress promptly with the additional works required. Despite the challenges and the extra work required, the team completed the project on time.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We conducted routine site visits with the client, allowing him to observe the ongoing progress. On a particular occasion, even though the house was still a work-in-progress and not entirely finished, the client’s genuine excitement shone through as he saw the vision gradually coming into reality. It was a truly rewarding and encouraging for the team. Another notable moment was during a subsequent meeting held in the house a few days after the handover, where the client had already entertained relatives and was beginning to feel truly settled. The house felt like a well lived-in home already and that was a real joy to see.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

As a distinguished accrediting body for interior designers in the United Kingdom, SBID serves as a benchmark, recognising the industry proficiency in its awards program both in the UK and internationally. I wanted to share the work we do as a small practice and feel extremely proud and grateful to see our work recognised by a panel of respected industry experts.

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

It is an honour to be a finalist for the SBID awards. It is a fantastic boost to always seek for new challenges. It is a recognition of the hard work and care that goes in our designs and for our clients. Very importantly, it is a recognition of teamwork where suppliers and specialists we collaborate with show the same level of hard work, support, care and play a key role in every project. A big thank you to the team involved in this project.

Questions answered by Sonia Bourruel, Founder of Sonia b design.