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Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a residential design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist Cronin Kitchens. The New Zealand kitchen design company was tasked with creating a modern, open-plan kitchen for a family holiday home.

SBID Awards Category: KBB Design Sponsored by Garrett Leather

Practise: Cronin Kitchens

Project: Queenstown Kitchen

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand

What was the client's brief? 

The client was looking to create a classically modern, family kitchen that would sit at the heart of a new holiday home. The kitchen would include an island large enough to accommodate seating for up to five people, along with a separate drinks preparation and storage area.

Working with a deceptively small area, a cantilevered, L-shaped element was seamlessly integrated into the marble benchtop – raised slightly above the rest of the benchtop to demarcate the seating area. For continuity, the same marble was used in the cooking zone and for the splashback, above which sits a custom, acid-etched glass extractor box. Two columns of black-stained oak cabinetry containing the pantry and integrated fridge/freezers flank this area.

Adjacent to the kitchen, a custom built-in sideboard was installed, containing the requested drinks station, plus storage for crockery, etc. Matched in the same black-stained oak cabinetry, this unit is fronted with smoked, black-glass doors, which bring an additional dimension to the space.

What inspired the design of the project?

The project was inspired by modern design, and the goal was to design a kitchen that would appear larger and grander than its footprint would allow. The overall palette is dark and moody, and we worked closely with the interior designer from the outset, so these hues could be complemented in the rest of the living space.

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

I only visited the house for a final inspection once the house was completed. The design and detailing of all of the cabinetry needed to be highly detailed and very specific. The kitchens design is such that the overall dimensions are not too critical, it does not fit between walls or go up to the ceiling like all of my other designs do.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The oak frame that surrounds the cooking area, I used 38mm thick oak panels to give the kitchen a more classic aesthetic. I extended a panel over the top of the cooking area to create a box-like surround. This connects the pantry on the left to the integrated fridges on the right making the kitchen appear more substantial then it is.

The raised seating bench which is wide on the front side of the kitchen to maximise seating but is also checked out on the inside of the kitchen to give plenty of practical working space, either side of the sink.

The visual symmetry, the centre of the islands cabinetry is centred on the dining rooms cathedral-like peaked ceiling. On the front of the Island, there are 3 doors on either side of the centre, 6 doors in total. This is also the line where the benchtop steps up from thin to thick. It is also the centre of the tap, sink, hob and extractor.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

This is the first time I have entered the SBID Awards. In New Zealand we have lots of good kitchen designers, we really only have one Kitchen Design Awards though. This year I had multiple kitchens that I was very proud of, two of which made the SBID finals. I really wanted to give all of these kitchens an opportunity to be judged by International judges and compared with other designs outside of New Zealand.

Questions answered by Morgan Cronin, Owner/Director/Designer, Cronin Kitchens.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a residential design inspired by its surrounding harbour views, click here to see more.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a high-end residential design by Barclay Interiors. The principal concept for the interior was to use the surrounding estuary and unspoilt harbour of the River Yealm as inspiration. The curvature of the building, floor to ceiling glass and open plan living space, allows for the most incredible view, a key element of the design. Barclay Interiors was involved in all aspects, from flooring and walling finishes to lighting layouts, from joinery design to staircase detailing. Each space was furnished in line with the chic, modern concept that was desired, whilst also introducing splashes of colour and texture to ensure the space felt like home.

Practise: Barclay Interiors 

Project: Devon Project

Location: Newton Ferrers, Devon

Photography credit: James Balston Photography

What was the client's brief? 

The brief was to design a fully practical yet modern and aesthetically chic interior for her re-location to Devon. When our client decided to move to Devon, she wanted a complete change in surroundings, both from an exterior perspective (city life to harbour life!) and also from an interior angle. Modernity, simplicity and elegance were at the pinnacle of my clients brief and it was this in addition to the surroundings that inspired the concept.

Photography credit: James Balston Photography

What inspired the design of the project?

As mentioned above, the main source of inspiration came from the surroundings, namely the River Yealm and Estuary. The view was at the forefront of all space planning decisions and the colours that infiltrated into the space from the outdoors led to choices in colour palettes and finishes. Timber flooring, a cladded staircase and a bespoke decorative screen were designed specifically to add warmth and sophistication to my client's entrance hallway whilst allowing for maximum amounts of natural light to bounce through the space, once again relating to the exterior surroundings.

Photography credit: James Balston Photography

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

Some contractors can be a little anti-change so this was the biggest hurdle; however, after substantial hand-holding and clear guidance, a collaborative effort was achieved.

Photography credit: James Balston Photography

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

As with all of our projects, we are lucky in that visually our role is extremely rewarding. Seeing the design come together on the final days of installation and seeing how we achieved the conversation between the surroundings and the interior so well, felt quite magical.

Photography credit: James Balston Photography

Questions answered by Megan Loughborough, Senior Designer, Barclay Interiors.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Manhattan Hotel Design with Central Park views, click here to see more.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a design by SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International. For the Manhattan Sky Suite, Jeffrey Beers designed and decorated the interiors to frame the incredible wide views of Central Park. With the wonderful scale of the open living room and dining room, they were able to play with grand and stately furniture, such as a 10 person dining room table with wide and plush dining chairs. The mix of warm and cool tones paired with contemporary arts as well as rich wood finishes make the home a home but do not disrupt the wonderful and impressive open layout.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Sponsored by Schneider Electric

Finalist: Jeffrey Beers International

Project: Park Hyatt's Manhattan Sky Suite

Location: New York

What was the client's brief? 

New York City hotels are renowned for their speciality suites, but nothing in the city measures up to this new suite's overwhelming sense of luxury and unparalleled views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

What inspired the design of the project?

When it came to the hospitality design, we imagined that the suite was a private residence.  We first created a separation of space between public areas (the living room and dining room) and the private space (bedrooms and bathrooms). We then favoured open-plan living for the public areas. With careful attention to layout, materials, and art we created fluidity between your kitchen, dining area, and living room. The overall effect is warm and social; a perfect destination for entertaining.

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

One of the questions we were faced with was how to separate the dining space from the living room space without disrupting the overall open plan of the main area. We, therefore, custom-designed an open shelving unit to act as a divider between the living area and the dining area. As well as integrated lighting, the shelving unit has a custom double-sided glass fireplace that looks modern and yet feels warm and inviting.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

To create a warm and sophisticated master bedroom, we chose naturally beautiful architectural materials. We used fumed eucalyptus wood millwork panels to create a dramatic backdrop for the headboard. The centre has upholstered panels with antique brass metal reveals and integral light grazes to give it a bit of softness while remaining sophisticated.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID awards because of the international connection to the global design industry.

Questions answered by Jeffrey Beers, Founder & CEO, Jeffrey Beers International.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxury hotel design, click here to see more.

When thinking of the use of crystal in the home both as an architectural feature and decorative item, there is no better example of its use than at Villa Rene Lalique, the former family home of Rene Lalique and now a 5 star hotel and 2 Michelin star restaurant which celebrates 100 years this year (2020). A celebration and showcase of Lalique from the wine glasses to the door handles, and Damien Hirst artworks lining the cellar can be bought or made bespoke to suit your schemes from Lalique's London boutiques.

The origins of Villa Rene Lalique

By 1920, the Rene Lalique the artist had become a master glassmaker of some renown. He decided to build his new factory at Wingen, having been accorded the right to occupy a plot of state-owned forestry land. The location had two advantages: the village was on the rail network, and there was a local charcoal producer to supply the necessary fuel for his furnaces.

In addition to the land accorded by the municipality for him to construct the factory, René Lalique was also offered a plot on which to build a house. This would enable him to live nearby and supervise the progress of construction work. René Lalique paid increasingly frequent visits to the house in Wingen, while maintaining his apartment in Paris.

Today, the façade has not changed in a hundred years; the shutters are still painted peacock blue. The house reflects the traditional architectural features of Alsace: studwork, wooden balcony, apron walls shaped like curule seats beneath the windows, French windows framed in Vosges granite, and three chimney stacks on the roof. Inside, a living room, a kitchen, an imposing central staircase leading to the bedrooms and René Lalique’s study: an ensemble that constitutes an imposing family residence in classic style.

Transforming the villa for luxurious living

On 14 February 2008, Mr Silvio Denz purchased Lalique. In 2011, Silvio Denz, who had been aware of the existence of the house in the village without ever having taken a particular interest in it, had a closer look. He found it virtually intact, aside from some minor leaks in the roof. How could he resist its charm? Silvio Denz decided to refurbish the house for his visits to Wingen. But very soon the idea of turning it into a haven of luxury, worthy of the most elegant stately homes, made perfect sense. The bedrooms were transformed into lavish suites, complemented by an excellent gourmet restaurant. What better setting in which to present the world of Lalique? As much as it had captivated Silvio Denz, the project appealed to lovers of fine cuisine and the decorative arts, as well as collectors. The interior was all about “living Lalique”, and doing so in a contemporary context, amidst rare and fabulously beautiful objects.

The Villa, a veritable showcase for the Lalique art of living and savoir-faire, was unveiled to the public on 18 September 2015.

The exterior of the building was restored to its original state, remaining faithful to its appearance in the epoch of René Lalique; the interior was refurbished down to the finest detail to turn it into a magnificent treasure trove. The interior designers Lady Tina Green and Pietro Mingarelli pulled off with aplomb the feat of retaining the authenticity of a family residence while transforming it into a luxury boutique hotel.

Inside the entrance, a selection of crystal pieces from the Lalique collection and new creations from the factory capture the light that enters with the guest, giving a remarkable sense of clarity and purity, the whole illuminated by a magnificent chandelier. This first impression of projected light is an extraordinary experience.

Every detail of the Villa’s interior provides a reminder. From the door handles to the adornments on the armchairs in the lounge, from the cushions of the sofas decked with pieces of crystal to the ebony lacquer of the bar, the view from the dining room to the salon… All is an interplay of light and transparency in the Art Deco style.

To explore Villa René Lalique is to follow in the artist’s footsteps. Six suites are decorated to reflect his various creative periods. The Zeila suite is the sole exception, taking its name from the panther modelled by Marie-Claude Lalique. Guests wishing to spend the night in the bedroom occupied by René Lalique choose the Hirondelles suite, which is reached via a replica of the original black staircase. The Rose suite is decorated in soft powder tones; while Dahlia, with its beige-ivory furniture, is an insistent appeal to relax. All the bathrooms are magnificently decorated,from the made-to measure crystal panels to the crystal taps.

On the second floor, a beautiful balcony belonging to the Dragon suite gives onto the park. The Masque de Femme suite offers spacious family accommodation. This duplex comprises two bedrooms and a salon, a real bijou of the Lalique art of contemporary living.

The five-star hotel, a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection, is run with great commitment and meticulous attention to detail. The renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta designed an extension to the Villa that is an ideal space for a restaurant. It consists of a rectangle of glass, supported by columns of Vosges sandstone, discreetly linked to the hotel’s reception area.

Luxury living with culinary excellence

When Silvio Denz was looking for a chef capable of rising to the culinary challenge in this prestigious setting, history smiled upon him once more. Jean-Georges Klein, chef at L’Arnsbourg, where the purchase of Lalique had been celebrated on that fateful evening in 2008, is one of the best French master chefs, holding three Michelin stars for 13 years. In 2014, he decided to leave the family-run restaurant that he owned with his sister. A happy coincidence led him to cross paths once more with Silvio Denz. The chef dropped all his plans to take on a new challenge: launching the restaurant at Villa René Lalique. The gourmet restaurant was awarded two stars by Guide MICHELIN in January 2016, within just three months of opening.

Lalique table settings are the perfect framework for serving dishes of such delicacy. The tone is set by Masque de Femme napkin rings and the replica 1924 crystal pepper and salt mills. Wine glasses and decanters are quickly filled with the finest crus selected by Romain Iltis, named Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2015, who has worked with Jean-Georges Klein for several years to create perfect pairings of food and wine.

The choice of wine on offer is vast: beneath the restaurant Mario Botta has created a cellar with a state-of-the-art design to house the extraordinary collection of vintage wines amassed by the Denz family.

To travel there now is to immerse oneself in a fabled world of creativity and culinary excellence with crystal at its heart, in the universe of Lalique that is waiting to offer passionate explorers from far and wide the height of excellence.

About the Author

Frederick Fischer is the UK Managing Director of Lalique. Lalique is a French glassmaker, founded by renowned glassmaker and jeweller René Lalique in 1888. Lalique is best known for producing glass art, including perfume bottles, vases, and ornaments

If you'd like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more. 

Episode Nine

A Unique Global Outlook on the Interior Design Profession with Chris Godfrey

In this episode of the SpeakEasy podcast, SBID CEO & Founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE welcomes Chris Godfrey, the Global Principle of HBA Residential, and newly appointed President of SBID, in an exclusive one-to-one.

As a British-educated Architect and interior designer based in Singapore with an expansive portfolio of design experience from the UK to the Far East, Chris shares a unique global perspective on the interior design profession.

From his early design influences and origins in Glasgow School of Design as an aspiring Architect, to the evolution of his design philosophy overseas, Chris reveals his professional insight on working cross-borders in the Asian market as a British designer, where he set up the residential division of Hirsch Bedner Associates in China.

Chris talks about the new ways of connecting in the context of a tactile industry, as well as the common misconceptions the industry faces about what interior design is, and how a professional interior designer adds genuine value for the clients and ultimate end-users.

He shares his advice for young designers entering the industry and highlights his plans and vision for SBID as its new acting President.

Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.

Chris Godfrey

Chris is an award-winning Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Architect with over 22 years experience producing highly-considered and finely-crafted residences. In 2014 Chris moved to Asia to set up HBA Residential for Hirsch Bedner Associates. HBA Residential is HBA’s boutique highly-specialised residential design operation conceived solely to create distinctive residences for the world’s most discerning clients. As Principal, Chris oversees all Architectural and Interior Design operations, combining his expertise in both disciplines to cultivate a holistic design approach.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a hotel suite design by SBID Awards Finalist, Stonehill Taylor. The 563-room Conrad New York Midtown hotel is located in the heart of Manhattan on West 54th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Hospitality design firm Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the property, previously known as The London New York, into a new luxury destination through their vision for its interior design. The firm’s design exudes calm and elegance, reminiscent of the upscale Midtown residence of a contemporary art collector, with an emphasis on art throughout the property. While the décor is sleek and modern, it aims to achieve a timeless feel.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Sponsored by Schneider Electric

Finalist: Stonehill Taylor

Project: The Conrad New York Midtown

Location: New York

What was the client's brief? 

We were asked to design a hotel befitting the clientele of the New York Midtown location – specifically the executive traveller, the affluent family, and the celebrity guest; and develop five keywords to guide the design direction. The words we selected were “welcoming”, “connected”, “elevated”, “Invigorating”, and “stylish”. These words were carefully chosen to embody the patrons of The Conrad Midtown, who are not merely hotel guests – but worldly travellers with their New York City home at The Conrad Midtown - and their home should reflect their lifestyles.

What inspired the design of the project?

For this project, we were heavily influenced by residential design. We sought to immediately transport guests from the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood as soon as they enter the grand yet serene lobby.  We envisioned each suite as an upscale Midtown residence of a contemporary art collector, infusing the rooms with art and constructing thoughtful layouts with separate living and sleeping spaces. Take one of the grandest examples, the Penthouse suite, located on the 53rd & 54th floors: it has 180 degrees of expansive city views. We laid out each space in this suite to take advantage of these views—being able to soak in the bath while overlooking Central Park creates an unforgettable moment for a guest.

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

There is a fine balance to having a luxury suite feel residential while making practical decisions to stand the test of time. If your design is beautiful the day it opens, but a year later the hotel is having to replace everything due to wear and tear, then we haven’t done our job. Our challenge was to source furnishings that create the beautiful first impression that we wanted to make, while also being durable and resilient.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

This project is truly a standout for its spotlight on fine art and it’s unique offering as an all-suite hotel. In the lobby, guests are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole A. Feuerman. Museum-style lighting contrasted with dark surrounding walls highlights this special piece while emphasizing it as a gallery space. To the right of the hotel’s entry is an intimate library nook, with a curated selection of art and mythology books lining the shelves. Additional lounge areas are found in the mezzanine, overlooking the lobby and feature artwork by contemporary British artist Amy Judd.

The all-suite rooms provide guests with the sense of being in a private pied-a-terre. They feature dark herringbone wood floors, hand-tufted wool rugs with floor-to-ceiling, cream-coloured drapery complements the soft, neutral palette of greys and caramel. The project includes several special suites including Sky Suites, Atrium Suite and a split-level Penthouse Suite.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We value the contributions that SBID makes to the field of interior design, both in its native Britain and internationally. The Awards, of course, are one extension of that mission, and we are honoured that this hospitality effort is among the recognized projects. Our Interiors Division is central to the work that Stonehill Taylor does. It is with great pride that we design spaces for people to live, work, and play, and it’s always a delight to have our projects spotlighted by such a prestigious organization as SBID.

Questions answered by Bethany Gale, Interiors Associate, Stonehill Taylor.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxury New Zealand kitchen design, click here to see more.

Mineral and graphene technology paints company Graphenstone, are reporting unprecedented demand for its' sustainable range of air-purifying, CO2 absorbing, VOC free hygienic paints. Patrick Folkes, CEO & Founder of The Graphene Company - Sole Distributor of Graphenstone, UK shares insight behind the increasing desire for more purposeful paint specification.

Wider implications of paint selection

The health impact from toxic petro-chemical, plastic-based paints is now more widely recognised. Historically, the area of key interest for consumers was just colour. However, most didn’t appreciate the costs to both people and planet, of this simple selection criteria.

Heavily polluting paint production processes, as well as the highly negative impact in homes and offices of toxic fumes on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), from solvents and VOC’s (for many months after application), went largely unrecognized.  Did you know that after painting, the VOC levels in your room can increase by hundreds of times?

Greenwashing in the industry

Manufacturers responded to some of the most egregious issues of the past decades, by removing lead content and some of the worst offending VOC heavy products, as regulations tightened.

Recently however, times have changed. The ecological crisis, so effectively documented by David Attenborough and others, boosted by the recent Covid pandemic, are now forcing real evolution… at a much faster pace.

Prior to recent scientific developments, there was typically a compromise on performance in the selection of more ecological products. Furthermore, many manufacturers climbed aboard the ‘eco-friendly’ marketing bandwagon, often with no genuine, independently verified certifications to support their claims. This resulted in an inevitable ‘green-washing’ backlash. Who can we trust?

Why environmental certification matters

Graphenstone has now secured over 20 of the most recognised ‘harm-free’ certifications from the best known product evaluation specialists globally, including Cradle to Cradle (certified Gold and Silver). Cradle to Cradle Institute look at all aspects of your product, down to 100 parts per million of ingredients; how the materials were sourced; water and energy use in production; local social responsibility, as well as how the products die out; all in all a thorough and demanding process. In addition, Graphenstone’s paints are BREEAM, WELL, and LEED compliant and benefit from Ecolabel and EPDs (European Product Declarations).

Graphenstone has a totally unique profile in the paints market. Our range has no toxicity. In fact these products actively CLEAN and PURIFY the air, our pure lime based ranges removing CO2, SOx, NOx and other pollutants.

Highly breathable, anti-bacterial (inhibiting all micro-organisms), Fire-proof (A1 EU, Class ‘0’ UK), Vegan, VOC free, Class 1 strength and in a range of over 1000 colours, we’ve created a beautiful matt paint reinforced by graphene technology, a form of carbon which is the strongest material on earth. Odour free and super quick drying, with no preservatives, chemicals, plastic or microbeads, our products contain no MIT or BIT. That’s a lot of valuable features in a single product range!

Driving innovation for sustainability

Strength is a fundamentally important asset in more ways than one. To make the sustainable, environmental claim, the regularity of painting is crucial. Mineral products would normally not compete in terms of durability and life-cycle with synthetic-binder based paints (such as vinyl or acrylic), thus creating a negative footprint ecologically, given the requirement for more regular repainting. By introducing graphene technology, which provides structural support to the minerals at the molecular level, Graphenstone’s range offer Class 1 strength like an acrylic, yet with none of the negatives in production or use, in homes and offices. Once applied, our paints could stay on your wall in a healthy and sustainable condition, for decades!

Consider paints that purify!

The Graphenstone pure limes can absorb up to 5.5Kg’s of CO2 per 15 litre pot! Imagine converting your walls into an air-purification system, as opposed to a constant emitter of toxic fumes, impacting on the health and respiratory systems of your friends, family or work colleagues. It’s like painting trees into your house or office.

In conclusion, our message to designers in this challenging era, is to carefully evaluate what product they specify, to ensure that it’s in the interests of the people who’s lives will be impacted by that selection. Do ensure too that the claims made by brands can be independently verified and the impact on people and the environment is truly ‘harm-free’.

The future of clean, durable paints is in fact available today.

Click here to explore the range.

About the Author

Patrick Folkes is the CEO & Founder of The Graphene Company - Sole Distributor of Graphenstone, UK. An independent entrepreneur since 1990 with a background in finance, Patrick founded PJ’s in 1995, the UK’s first fruit smoothie business, which sold to PepsiCo in 2005. Patrick was intrigued by the potential of Graphenstone. Natural, highly sustainable, air-purifying paints reinforced by graphene, a 21st Century Nobel prize winning carbon technology, offered the perfect product at a time of urgent need.

If you'd like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more. 

Vectorworks address the use of augmented reality and virtual reality within the interior design industry with a digital discussion in collaboration with SBID. Exploring the communication of design ideas and managing client expectations, to practical applications and industry perception.

Hosted by Kesoon Chance, Industry Specialist and Interior Architect at Vectorworks, the online panel discussion shares unique professional perspectives on the use and significance of virtual reality in interior design.

Joining Kesoon on the panel was Tommy Cairns, founder & director of Three Percent Design, and Steve Brann, founder of Cadschool; equipping design professionals to use design software and technology to show clients what they can achieve. Steve pioneered panoramic VR photography and now, with the advent of Realtime rendering solutions, he is championing the use of VR goggles for the ultimate VR experience!

Key discussion points include:

  • Is there a significant amount of AR/VR currently being used in the world of interior design?
  • How does it help communicate design ideas to the client?
  • Is it now being expected by clients?
  • What practical applications does AR/VR have?
  • Is it often seen as a novelty?

Art In… announces a new partnership with international award-winning interior designer Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID).

Art In... represents an international portfolio of multi-disciplinary artists and will partner with SBID's Vanessa Brady to provide art for the yacht, hospitality and private homes of discerning clients. Art In… provides a bespoke ‘white glove’ art service. They match the most suitable artist with a client’s requirements in order to ensure a seamless process from the initial design brief and art selection through to delivery and curation.

SBID Awards Finalist 2020; V.M Design - Wan Wu Yun

Art In… says: “The collaboration is a really exciting next step for Art In... In true 2020 style, we started the conversation during the height of the lockdown on Zoom and during our many video calls realised there was a real synergy.

We believe that integrating art at the earliest stage possible in the design process significantly enhances the overall result. Whether we are working with interior designers on a hotel or a superyacht, a private collection for a family office, or a luxury hotel or members club, art should never be an afterthought. The collaboration with Vanesa Brady offers us a real chance to achieve our vision.”

SBID Awards Finalist 2020; Cheng Chung Design Hong Kong - One Sanlitun Fendi

Vanessa Brady says: “It is very important to dress a space with complimentary art to really set off what is often a neutral canvas, art focuses the eye and sets a theme. I would like to see the selected artist and designers coming together with an owner more at the beginning of a project so that the final result is truly a 360-degree design.

Art should relate to the space in which it is installed and the lifestyle of the people using it. It should also link with the function the space is used for, such as a wine cellar, a bedroom etc. making each interior as unique as the owners, their guests and the design. It is important not to leave stylising to chance at the end of a project. Quality art pieces should be considered as part of the overall installation from the concept of the design process.

SBID Awards Winner 2020; David Chang - Tianyu Villa The Crown Avenue

It is SBID’s role to source unusual providers of interior products that are efficient, as well as beautiful to adorn such exclusive interiors - the final design presentation always requires a very special piece of art to ‘dress’ the design, and so we seek equally adventurous and exclusive partners to provide the broadest selection of art. As soon as we met, we knew it would be a perfect match”.

Cover image credits: SBID Awards Finalist 2020; Rockwell - 15 Hudson Yards

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a residential kitchen design by SBID Awards Finalist, Mal Corboy Design. Located on a Central Otago lane, this kitchen was the second project completed by the designer for this client. A brand-new home in a typical prominent gated community, the space was dictated by the architect. Surprisingly, the client sought a modern, contemporary interior that cleverly juxtaposed the exterior of the house.

SBID Awards Category: KBB Design Sponsored by Garrett Leather

Finalist: Mal Corboy Design

Project: Cardrona Views

Location: Otago, New Zealand

What was the client's brief? 

Four years from design to completion, everything was made from the ground up. Despite this, it’s perfect for 2020 showcasing the refined taste at play and timelessness of the modern feel of this kitchen.

The owner spared no expenses in ensuring every facet of this kitchen was to the highest standard. Not only did the kitchen need to have a day-to-day function but also be able to entertain at a corporate level and function, in part, as a scullery when needed. Electric doors open up to a large back end of the kitchen, where a complete scullery can be found. This completes the functional aspect, ensuring the kitchen can serve as an entertainment area with ease.

What inspired the design of the project?

For inspiration, the designer drew from a palette of rich, earthy colours. Under-cabinet lighting complements these tones well and both add a softness to the clean lines and sleekness of the design. Modern materials give this kitchen a contemporary look whilst keeping everything pristine.

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

One of the challenges in this project was keeping the kitchen on trend due to the amount of time that had passed from design to completion. The client has received widespread feedback from visitors, with people being blown away with the final result, not having seen anything like it in the community.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

After several successful corporate events, the kitchen is functioning as requested for the owner. Described as “world-class” by the architect, it has truly surpassed the client’s expectations, in design and function.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

As it is known as being the best of the best in the design world and, as a past winner, it's one I love to support.

Questions answered by Mal Corboy, Founder and Owner, Mal Corboy Interiors.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Spanish health retreat, click here to see more.

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