Award-winning design agency, DesignLSM, is well underway with its latest project: renovating the front of house and F&B areas at the prestigious Heythrop Park hotel, set to open in summer 2022.
The stunning Grade II property, set within 440 acres of parkland, was recently acquired by Warner Leisure Hotels and is set to open later this summer with a completely evolved aesthetic celebrating the historic architecture and founding owners of the estate. Appealing to the existing loyal Warner guest as well as attracting new visitors, DesignLSM has undertaken a strategic and creative position on the vast project, focusing on three key principles to enhance the overall guest experience – relaxation, exploration and entertainment.
Renowned for its beautiful architecture, stunning gardens and rolling rural estate, Heythrop Park, located on the edge of the Cotswolds, was originally built for the 1st Duke of Shrewsbury in 1706-1711 and was one of the first estates to marry the interior with the exterior – ensuring that it captures the remarkable vistas on offer. Paying homage to the baroque era, but keeping the modern traveler in mind, DesignLSM have created a distinctive design narrative for the property that runs across the sprawling estate, taking influence from the Duke’s Grand Tour in Italy and his close working relationship with his architect - Thomas Archer; alongside design inspiration woven in from the subsequent owner – Thomas Brassey.
Having a wealth of experience, most recently designing Gaucho’s new Glasgow restaurant and The Alchemist’s Spinningfields Bar, with Searcys’ St Pancras Champagne Bar refurbishment amongst many others currently in hand, the DesignLSM team have bridged the gap between the Grade II listed 18th century charming manor house and the contemporary extension - creating an engaging aesthetic that runs through the whole Estate; including The Orangery, six lounges, three restaurants, two bars, a ballroom and theatre. Each space has its own design identity that encourages a journey of discovery for guests.
The Market Kitchen restaurant with its soft colour palette, fresh biophilic patterned upholstery and wall paneling was inspired by the traditional kitchen garden, while the Brassey Bar, echoes Thomas Brassey’s love of engineering and background in the railways, housing traditional industrial patterns and materials - think dramatic beamed structures, metal detailing, rich leather banquettes, and intimate lighting.
Each space compliments the architectural language of the property, delivering atmospheric and inviting spaces with a contemporary feel and elegant grandeur - encouraging a sense of welcome, comfort and continued exploration.
“This has been a tremendous project for DesignLSM. We have worked closely with Warner Leisure Hotels from the very beginning – offering our strategic expertise to curate the proposition, creating and defining several new F&B concepts as well designing a new narrative and an immersive interior design across all of the front of house rooms in this grand Estate – influenced by, and respecting its historical roots, whilst bringing it forward into a new era of enjoyment and adventure.” Holly Hallam, Managing Director of DesignLSM.
The latest in a stunning series of design achievements, Heythrop Park looks set to be a forward thinking and vital edition to DesignLSM’s groundbreaking hospitality portfolio.
Cover image: Heythrop Hotel - Atrium
About DesignLSM
DesignLSM curate immersive and exceptional hospitality experiences for today’s ever-expectant consumers.” Their multi-disciplined studio specialises in Strategy, Branding, Architecture and Interior Design for a diverse portfolio of world class clients within the hospitality industry. They like to encourage a spirit of collaboration with the clients, colleagues and suppliers which creates lasting relationships and enables them to deliver engaging and memorable environments and experiences.
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The design team from award-winning kitchen studio, The Myers Touch, is delighted to announce the latest trends shaping their luxury, timeless and beautiful kitchen-living spaces.
Renowned for creating truly bespoke kitchen spaces that offer far more than just cabinetry and appliance options, The Myers Touch creates designs that stem from a deep understanding of their clients, their brief and how they want to interact as a family within the space around them. By applying their unique, holistic approach with the latest trends for each bespoke kitchen commission, The Myers Touch design truly personal kitchen-living spaces for clients that bring ‘light, space & laughter’ into the heart of the home.
"Clean, simple and stylish Scandi-vibe cabinetry aesthetics are increasingly popular among clients. We can create a touch of Hygge in a home through the contrasting and layering of natural materials such as walnut and oak, that look stunning matched with white tones in a kitchen space" Jaye Tidbury, Designer at The Myers Touch.
By using natural materials and timeless colour palettes in kitchen schemes, allows a room to span current and future interior trends. To ensure it remains both a practical and social space, consider accessible and flexible storage solutions in a kitchen to bring a sense of wellbeing into homeowners’ daily routines.
Even as many homeowners are returning to the office, The Myers Touch report the increase for a dedicated desk space within their kitchen designs. Including a desk space behind a pocket door system provides the opportunity to include a ‘hideaway’ desk area complete with storage cabinetry boosts family ‘inclusiveness and togetherness’ in one multi-functional room.
The separation of tasks and the definition of spaces to keep homes uncluttered and clean has never been so important in the home in our post-pandemic lifestyles. A common brief from their clients is the inclusion of a walk-in Pantry, Boot Room, Utility or Laundry room to create definition and functionality within an open-plan design so spaces don’t become one large area.
“The Boot room is a space where we can cast off our muddy boots, damp coats and sports gear before entering the rest of our home. It is a perfect room for pet owners and can be as simple as providing a place for a dog bed and coat rack, or as grand as an ordered storage facility for outdoor garments and equipment of all shapes and sizes.
A Boot Room should be warm with effective heating solutions, to quickly dry off damp coats and shoes with good ventilation. We always include a bench seat so you can sit down and cast-off wet trainers and sports boots, as well as plenty of hooks for keys, belts, dog leads, coats and handbags. For pets, we can also add extra storage for pet baskets, food, water bowls and even a small pet shower or sink.” Helena Myers - Director at The Myers Touch.
"There is also a wider range of materials available for splashbacks against ovens and sinks such as stone, glass, antique mirrors and other composite materials that are all practical options providing a durable surface for a wet, heavy usage area, whilst being an eye-catching design statement." Sophie Mason, Design Manager - The Myers Touch.
Customers are also requesting bespoke cabinetry solutions for their favourite appliances which they use every day. For example, The Myers Touch recently designed a pocket door system to house a client’s beloved Thermomix as it was used frequently but needed to be tidied away and kept out of view.
Their designer created a pocket door system next to the main preparation and cooking zone which also had space for a toaster and fruit and vegetable basket so food could be stored and easily used in the appliance. The inclusion of stainless-steel shelves meant that the Thermomix could be used in-situ and without any steam damage before being closed away after use.
Their design team also love to be creative when a client wants to display special items in their kitchen space. For example, they recently created glass display units that were situated high into a ceiling that could be accessed via a functional ladder rail.
"Adding a dresser unit or a feature display cabinet in a kitchen-living space provides a softer and contrasting look in a room and also acts as a transitional point between the kitchen and dining space." - Keith Myers, Director at The Myers Touch.
As energy bills increase, clients are looking for ways of reducing those costs in their homes. The Myers Touch team are increasingly advising their customers to consider the most eco-efficient solutions for their family to help minimise water and energy consumption.
Image credits: Paul Craig.
About The Myers Touch
The Myers Touch specialises in the holistic design of luxury kitchens in the Winchester area, creating truly bespoke living spaces that offer far more than conventional cooking environments. Established in 2003 and based in Winchester, they enjoy long-standing partnerships with the iconic German manufacturer SieMatic and other leading brands including Gaggenau, Wolf, Sub-Zero, Miele and Siemens.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Interior Design judge, Head of Cities Solutions Europe at Jacobs and Co-Chair of the ULI UK Infrastructure and Urban Development Council, Carlo Castelli discusses the change in development of post-pandemic cities, highlights the benefits of holistic approach to design, and shares valuable insight for designing workplaces that attract employees to come back to the office.
Thinking holistically about design ensures social, environmental and cultural considerations are embedded into solutions. We have a great opportunity to blur the boundaries between inside and outside, public and private by creating hybrid spaces. For example, in Union Street, Aberdeen, we created a flexible urban space capable of supporting on-street activities and allowing ground floor activities to spill out on streets, all while considering inclusive design. We see the street being multi-functional, resilient and contributing to the wider transformational change in Aberdeen.
Taking an integrated design approach means all these considerations are used to create a space which is flexible for those using it on a daily basis and is a sustainable addition to the community. It also means that we can create and measure wellbeing and quality of life value substantially changing the way we look at projects and programmes.
Cities have existed for millennia and consistently maintain a fundamental role in our society. They will become more resilient, with the influence of the changing climate and increasing technological innovation.
Successful cities in the future will celebrate social, environmental and cultural differences. We don’t have to choose between a ‘working from home’ or ‘15 minutes city’ model. We can embrace complexity and recognise individual lifestyle choices within inclusive societal progress.
Live, work and play conditions have changed globally. The pandemic and environmental concerns have seen a significant change in how people view work-life balance and commuting. As we come out of the last two years there’s a significant appetite for flexibility in our spaces. For example, unused shipping containers units are being converted into retail units, and workshop space, rooftops into urban farm, and ground floor spaces into housing. This allows for creativity and flexibility in our designs, as well as optimising space usage and future proofing our cities. It is critical to imbed generosity into our buildings and places.
The opportunity for designers is to use their innovative thinking to create solutions that contribute to the challenges we are facing. They are often uniquely placed to work from ideation all the way to delivery so they can meaningfully work with the entire value chain to create better cities and places, integrating nature-based solutions and circularity early into their designs. With nature at the forefront of design, we can plan and develop climate-smart, nature-positive building and infrastructure solutions which enhance quality of life and make our future more resilient.
During the past two years, workers have become used to working away from the traditional office, so there needs to be a draw to bring them back. Quality, variety and generosity are now key. Workplaces need to provide enhanced environmental quality and a greater variety of spaces. Improvement in interior design can also allow for a boost in employees’ health and wellbeing.
Design of workplace should include elements of nature, natural lighting, diverse spaces, and areas for employees to relax and manage anxiety about their return to the office. There should now be heavier emphasis on the type of spaces needed for collaboration. Offices should offer a broader range of experiences than sitting at a desk all day, something people could easily do from home. Workplace design should also facilitate work-life balance and promote a sense of community to encourage employees to return.
For me, what really matters is to work with stakeholders and communities and that designers are true to themselves, values and passions. Passion goes a long way in my mind and that needs to be communicated to our changing audiences.
Questions answered by Carlo Castelli, Head of Cities Solutions Europe, Jacobs and Co-Chair, ULI UK Infrastructure and Urban Development Council.
At Jacobs, we make the world smarter, more connected and more sustainable. Challenging today is our response to the increasing complexity our world is experiencing, putting our knowledge and imagination together to reinvent the way we solve problems and shape the next generation of innovative solutions. Reinventing tomorrow is our promise and an invitation to raise the bar in everything we do. From the brilliant solutions we create with our clients, to the open and inclusive culture we create for our people. From the positive difference we make in our communities, to the added value we deliver to our shareholders.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a whimsical hotel suite design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Blue Sky Hospitality.
THE GYLE is an intimate 33-room hotel, crafted from three heritage-listed Victorian houses, built in 1845, located on Argyle Square, across Kings Cross station. It takes its name from the Duke of Argyle, Chief of Clan Campbell, who used to own property in the area.
SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design
Practice: Blue Sky Hospitality
Project: The Gyle Hotel
Location: London, United Kingdom
Convert a set of three 19th century listed buildings into an upscale boutique hotel that reflects the history of its location, drives high room rates, and acquires a high reputation.
The quirky boutique hotel has been conceived as a complete work of storytelling design by British artist and designer, Henry Chebaane, based on his first novel soon to be published. The design tells a story about Kings Cross and Scotland in 1880, blending facts and fiction.
The design narrative evokes the residence of a fictitious character from Nova Scotia, who while fighting a conspiracy, becomes caught in a space-time rift caused by Victorian scientists. The result is an irreverent juxtaposition of steam-age heritage, whimsical details and 21st century modernity…inspired by 19th century St Pancras coal and gas industries, and Kings Cross steam trains to Scotland. This is manifested through a layered palette of black, silver and greys accented by moss, fern and juniper greens.
The bespoke furnishing, made in Britain are all elements of storytelling that juxtapose past and present, facts and fiction, style and humour in a quintessentially British fashion. THE GYLE is truly ‘a surreal townhouse in a real London square’.
Optimising the internal layouts to make it efficient to operate and provide a pleasant customer experiene, while respecting the Health & Safety and Grade II Heritage to maintain period internal layouts and façades.
A discrete extension was added behind the original houses, this increased the key count to 33 and provided a common footprint at ground floor, in which to set up the public areas.
The creation of a fully immersive art installation that functions as the resident lounge and whisky bar. The resin floor is a seamless image of the sky reflected in Loch Fyne, while the whole ceiling is an upside-down lawn ripped open by a 40 feet long ‘space-time’ rift from which lighting strikes and odd sounds emerge throughout the day.
We entered the SBID Awards to thank our client for the trust and confidence in our work.
Questions answered by Henry Chebaane, Creative Director, Blue Sky Hospitality.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring modern and fun bathroom designs for a contemporary apartment by Studio Modha, click here to read it.
Exclusive supplier of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK, has launched the new Corian® colour range. The collection adds eight new colours to the existing range. Designed to integrate high-level beauty into the existing Corian® collection, the new collection features natural, muted tones, with new textures to give a contemporary look and feel.
Carrara, inspired by marble stone with prominent veining, gives a simultaneous modern and classic effect, and the four Artista colours, combine smooth effect, intricate vein patterns and neutral tones to produce a contemporary finish. Sparkling Granita contains translucent and sparkling particles to create an effervescent effect in the white surface and the swirling movement of Sand Storm creates a beautiful depth to the colour and completes the new colour range. Inspired by nature, the new Corian® colours take the range in a new direction. Combining high performance and high-level beauty, the collection is ideal for architects and designers seeking to enhance their designs.
The new colours of Corian® embrace different design styles, as well as applications; effortless and functional in the home while durable and dynamic in commercial settings.
At a time when hygiene is critical, Corian® offers designers and architects a hygienic solution to create beautiful designs. The non-porous, durable, and easy to clean composition of Corian® Solid Surface makes it ideal for surfaces and spaces in high-intensity touch zones. These qualities make Corian® particularly applicable in healthcare settings, hospitality, public and office spaces, and high-end residential settings. Designers can focus on creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind environments, knowing that the properties of Corian® Solid Surface allow Corian® to perform beyond expectations.
Corian® Solid Surface can be joined seamlessly to give a continuous flow and allow large designs to be fashioned from a single element. The resulting seamless finish ensures there are no crevices to trap dirt and bacteria.
Having built a strong reputation as the sole distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK has the expertise and knowledge to help support specifier and fabricator customers. CDUK can advise on design-led solutions using the material and provide expert training to designers and fabricators to ensure customers’ design ambitions are brought to life.
Andy Noble, Divisional Managing Director, CDUK, commented: “We are delighted to bring the new Corian® colour range to the UK and Ireland markets and are excited to work with leading designers and fabricators to deliver imaginative solutions using the new range. Our experience of working Corian® Solid Surface is unmatched, and our design-led approach to collaborating with our partners means that we can help our customers achieve the most beautiful, high-quality designs.”
Additionally, CDUK provides complementary products to integrate seamlessly with Corian® surfaces, delivering solutions for designers.
Thanks to its versatile applications, Corian® can be used to produce striking designs – wall claddings, shower trays, vanity tops and bowls, countertops and work surfaces – and can be thermoformed, engraved, and backlit, offering designers the opportunity to experiment with luminosity and form. Intricate designs can be embossed and engraved into Corian® Solid Surface using CNC machining technology, as well as molded to create raised textures and patterns on its surface.
CDUK’s partnership with Applelec, also provides best practice techniques to backlight the translucent Corian® colours range, enabling designers to highlight Corian® surfaces to their best standard.
To ensure easy installation, Corian® Solid Surface is available in various thicknesses and can be fabricated with conventional woodworking tools into virtually any design.
A selection of Corian® colours are produced with recycled content (up to 20%), including the new Artista collection, which contains 6% pre-consumer recycled content.
About CDUK
CDUK is a supplier of surface materials and complementary products to the specification market in the UK and Ireland, including architects, interiors designers, kitchen designers, fabricators and contractors. Having built a strong reputation as the exclusive distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK now offers an extended range of services as well as products from a number of leading brands. We are a family owned business with over 40 years’ experience. We support our customers through a journey, as their design partner, from sourcing the best products and materials to helping them unlock their full potential through expert advice and technical knowledge. Our team of industry experts also provides technical advice, sampling and bespoke training courses for designers, manufacturers and fabricators.
This May, Graham & Brown brings art into the home with the launch of its exclusive TATE collection, in the form of 32 fully customisable wall murals. These showcase some beautiful works of art by artists, including J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, Ethel Walker, Jessica Dismorr and Vincent Van Gogh.
Rosey Blackmore, Licensing and Merchandise Director at TATE:
“We are thrilled to be working with Graham & Brown on a collection of murals which gives people the chance to live with the art they love. Our mission at Tate is all about encouraging the enjoyment of art- and we believe that these products will truly do that.”
Alan Kemp, Head of Brand at Graham & Brown:
“We [Graham & Brown] are privileged to have had the opportunity to browse the TATE collection and choose some exquisite works of art to create some of the most stunning custom murals available. It has been a truly exhilarating project to work on. As TATE has a vast archive containing some of the most iconic pieces of art in the world, we had some tough decisions to make, but we are thrilled to be able to bring these great pieces into the home. Why frame your favourite painting when you can have a wall full of it, or your very own ceiling mural? Your favourite piece of art your way, is only limited by your imagination.”
This exclusive range of murals includes works from Dutch pioneer of abstract art, Piet Mondrian, who developed from early landscape pictures to geometric abstract works such as Composition with Yellow, Blue & Red (1935). Contrastingly, Victor Pasmore's Spiral Motif in Green, Violet, Blue and Gold: The Coast of the Indian Sea (1950), presents a harmony of colourful curvilinear forms, a striking piece, perfect for creating a focal point in any room.
British artist, Jessica Dismorr's, Abstract Composition (1915) features a series of pastel-coloured geometric forms, reminiscent of architectural components, overlapping on a black ground. A dark yellow triangular prism with a curved side provides a vertical focus and splits the composition in two. Another mural featuring Dismorr's works is Related Forms (1937), an abstract nature of works comprising of cooling blue hues.
Fully customisable to meet customers' specifications and dimensions, Graham & Brown's online easy-to-use, made-to-measure tool allows customers to personalise each of Graham & Brown's unique mural designs to their walls, making them easy to hang with minimal waste.
The range of Graham & Brown paper substrates allow the mural to be personalised even further. Handpicked by Graham & Brown studio, the selection of premium paper finishes each offer a key feature or benefit. From 'Premium Fabric Effect' , a woven textured finish perfect for masking existing wall imperfections, to 'Mica Fibrous' a luxurious lustre which shimmers in the light, you can choose a finish which is guaranteed to suit your personal style. The mural production is powered by renewable energy, it uses water-based inks and all papers come from sustainable sources.
Cover image: Sleter - A Representation of the Liberal Arts. Designed for the ceiling of the State Dining Room of Grimsthorpe Castle, this early 18th century oil painting created the illusion of a golden, coved ceiling which spills into the godly world. It features Minerva, goddess of wisdom and the arts, and Mercury, identified with reason and learning.
About Graham & Brown
For over seventy-five years, Graham & Brown has inspired people to think people differently about their walls through continuous innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship. Graham & Brown has created an extensive archive of over 30,000 pieces, comprising of in-house designs and historic works, some dating back over two hundred years. Each day this archive grows as the Graham & Brown design team create artwork in Blackburn, Holland, and France. The UK's leading wallpaper manufacturer, Graham & Brown has expanded its collection to include paint, murals, wall art and soft furnishings. The brand leads the way in technology and innovation with an augmented reality app that enables users to visualise pattern and colour on a wall.
Introducing Bellissimo - a collection of sixteen distressed leathers designed to be remarkably livable, strikingly relaxed, and best of all, unexpectedly tasteful. Each uniquely beautiful. Bellissimo is designed to take what life dishes out, including the busy, active movements of kids, pets, and people. Its classic colors, casual appearance, and virtually scratch-resistant surface make it an excellent option for all upholstery applications, especially high traffic areas. It passes IMO flammability requirements for private yachts and may be treated to pass FAR requirements for aviation use.
This is a sophisticated leather with warmth, personality, and a one-of-a-kind appearance that seamlessly blends the best of both old and new, urban and rustic in one effortless design statement. The distressed surface of Bellissimo reveals a unique depth of color, soft luster, and a richly satisfying hand unlike anything that grandfather would recognize on his favorite recliner. Comforting? Absolutely. Boring? Never.
The rich and relaxed character of Bellissimo features a natural grain, which is accentuated as part of a multi-step tanning process and is not created by embossing. Bellissimo’s distinctive aged and distressed appearance is obtained by using a blend of waxes and dry milling. This important step breaks the wax finish and creates the unique pattern and personality of Bellissimo. Like all classic leathers, this natural and scratch-resistant surface will only improve with age.
Whether it’s used to adorn your client’s prestigious office space, comfortable home, relaxing yacht, or private jet, this remarkable leather will endure all of life’s precious moments with ease and grow even more beautiful over time. Liberate yourself and embrace the noncurated, unembellished moments in life, without worry.
That’s Bellissimo.
Live your life. Love your leather.
Please contact your local sales representative to learn more about this exquisite collection and to request samples, or visit our website at www.garrettleather.com.
About Garrett Leather
For more than 30 years, interior designers, upholsterers, and manufacturers have used Garrett Leather products for private and corporate aircraft; corporate, hospitality, and residential interiors; luxury motor coaches, high-end cars, and private yachts. They are a privately-owned company dedicated to building relationships and earning their customers' loyalty by providing the highest quality leather and a superior customer experience.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Interior Design judge and Design Director EMEA at Tetris, Nuno Fernandes discusses the connection between technology and built environments. He shares his insights on specifying products for different environments and gives valuable advice for approaching design projects.
Innovation is the overarching priority when responding to our clients. Now more than ever it’s about connecting people to the building be that a residence or an office and technology should make people’s lives comfortable and easy.
The metaverse really opens a whole new world of work opportunities for designers and architects. We can now also offer our clients a digital experience as there will be a transition between physical and digital in our day to day lives moving forward. Perhaps, for culture and identity consistency, those two projects are designed concurrently.
Yes, it differs. Whereas in hospitality there is a big effort in economy of scale and procurement optimization, for retail, at the high end as is our case, many elements are custom built or even one-off’s. Workplace product specifying is now becoming much more diverse meaning that in one project we have now more products driven by all the different work environments within the same project.
A combination of rational and emotional is our weapon. Our designs should be anchored on the needs of the clients and the users of that space hence why our design is data driven, we then love to tell a story that meets the business and users’ needs while close to their hearts.
Always push your concepts beyond your comfort zone, design is about innovation whilst providing a solution.
Questions answered by Nuno Fernandes, Design Director EMEA, Tetris.
We don’t just create inspiring spaces for businesses. We create inspiring places for people. As a leading design and build company with global reach, we create environments that are beautiful, functional, inspirational and sustainable. We deliver our services to businesses of all sizes on projects in the office, retail and hotel sectors, among others, counting many of the world’s most iconic brands as our clients.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features modern and fun bathroom designs for a contemporary apartment by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Studio Modha.
SBID Awards Category: KBB Design
Practice: Studio Modha
Project: Royal Docks
The client wanted a complete refurbishment of his flat, opening up the space as much as possible, drawing inspiration from hotel suites and nature around it.
This flat had not been updated in over 10-15 years. We completely refurbished the flat, transforming it from a two bed, one bathroom and one wc to a three bed property with two full bathrooms. The client requested a modern and fun scheme, which we layered with complimentary colours and features. We revamped the whole apartment, from the kitchen to sanitary ware, flooring, lighting, window treatments and hardware.
The Project was based in the docklands, surrounded by so much nature, e.g. river Thames and local parks. We wanted to bring in the earthy tones and textures, for example with the terrazzo effect tiles and the warm greys, browns and blues throughout. In addition, the client wanted to feel like he was in a different space through-out the property so we used different colours and textures in each space, including dead salmon from farrow and ball. Not a colour we get to use often and definitely a brave one!
We had a soil pipe that was really far off the ground in the guest bathroom, and because it was in a flat we couldn't move it! This created a huge issue as the client had his heart set on a wetroom shower. We ended up having to raise the floor significantly (a whole 25cm) which brought up the issue of ceiling height (which wasn't huge in the first place). We ended up having to increase the height of the shower head and create 2 step ups instead of 1 to make it look like the 'step up' was intentional. Luckily it all worked out in the end and made the shower area feel even more lux!
It's got to be overcoming the hurdle I described in the previous question, we went back and forth for weeks thinking of a solution so you can imagine the joy when we finally came up with one. Another thing to mention is that our client didn't want to see any of the progress on site, so the look on his face when he saw it all finished was really rewarding to see.
Honestly, it was Studio Modha's first year running and one of the first projects we completed. I have always admired the caliber of designers/studios and projects within the awards and only dreamed of being a part of it. It was a huge shock when I received the congratulatory email!
Questions answered by Neha Modha, Director, Studio Modha.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an intricate historical bar design by SHH, click here to read it.
While the name may seem like interior designers are restricted to indoor spaces, they can actually be used for outdoor spaces as well. While some aspects of interior design only apply to indoors, a lot of design elements are just as easily applied to outdoor spaces.
For more about what an interior designer can bring to an outdoor space, read on to find out.
A patio is commonly seen as an extension of the home, so should be designed in collaboration with an interior. This is where an interior designer can bring their skills to an outside space, creating a unified look and feel to the space. Elements such as furniture and flooring are essential to a patio, so an interior designer can help pick items ideal for your vision that will match up with the rest of your house.
Just like they do with interiors, an interior designer can design a patio that maintains a great flow. This is great if you intend to use your patio to socialise regularly. An interior designer's eye for creation will have to be slightly different when working outside, especially in terms of furniture. They’ll have to make sure they think about elements such as the weather, picking items that are durable in the case of high winds and also weather-resistant in the case of rain.
Lighting is another important aspect a designer can help with. Outside spaces are constantly dependent on the weather, with certain parts of it only in sunshine at certain hours of the day. A designer must consider how to light a space so it can be used all day/night and in all weather conditions.
Plants and wildlife have become an essential element of interior design over the years, as many seek to bring the outside inside with plants and other wildlife. This is why a talented interior designer should have the skills to expertly design a space incorporating plants, including outside spaces.
Many gardens are constructed around a focal point, a technique also commonly used in inside spaces. An interior designer can help you enhance your garden by making a focal point. This could be an outdoor pool, a pizza oven or a BBQ.
If you’re looking for an interior designer for your indoor or outdoor project, The Society of British & International Interior Design can help. Our members have the training, experience and expertise to deliver a project brief to the highest professional standards. You can use our Designer Directory to browse an extensive database of accredited interior designers for your needs. You can search by location, keyword and specialism to find a designer near you that you can collaborate with to achieve your vision.
To find out more about SBID and how an interior designer can help with your design project, visit our website today.
Cover image credits: Fenton Whelan - Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill
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