Created as a hub for colour knowledge, the Society of British and International Design (SBID) teamed up with global industry colour experts to join the SBID Colour Council. Acting as an international platform dedicated to serving the design community, the council forms a collective voice on the influence of colour in design; allowing designers to access information from experts whose specialisms span a broad base of colour-related disciplines.
Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, President of SBID says: “The objective of the SBID Colour Council is to inform the industry on the importance of colour. It is necessary to understand the limitations that designers face through a lack of quality evidence-based knowledge when making design decisions. We have gathered the best from the industry and together this very powerful board of influencers and experts will provide a valuable global resource for Interior Design”
New to the panel is the Global Head of RAL Colours, Markus Frentrop who shares his views about being on the SBID Colour Council and the important role it will serve: “I am feeling honoured to be invited to the SBID Colour Council. Being part of SBID means to be part of one of the key design associations in Europe. And as design has become an ever more influential part of so many businesses, it is our major target to bring more colour-related knowledge and more awareness about the importance of colour to SBID members.
Colour is one of the key elements of modern design concepts, but, to my experience it is very often the most neglected part in design education. A colourless world is unimaginable, we are surrounded by colours everywhere and it has become undoubted that colours inspire and energize us. So, from RAL’s point of view, it’s just a logical consequence to set up a formal panel that ensures high quality and ongoing advanced training of this wonderful topic”.
Alongside RAL, industry authorities such as Pantone, Dulux, Craig & Rose, PPG, Dedar Milano, and Unilever have also joined the panel, chaired by Co-Founder of Calzada Fox and colour expert, Carolina Calzada-Oliviera. Altogether, they combine their expertise to bring knowledge, inspiration and a best standard of practice to the design industry.
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux comments: “Being on the SBID colour council will be a wonderful opportunity to share over 80 years of Dulux colour expertise with the design community and encourage a greater understanding of its capabilities. We can share the latest trends, colour resources and tools as soon as they are launched so SBID designers get one step ahead and we can get a greater understanding of what designers themselves need to make the projects they are working on even more successful through colour”.
SBID Colour Council Chairman, Carolina Calzada-Oliviera adds: “SBID Colour Council is a great initiative to help designers access colour information through experts in the design industry. The Council supplies information beyond trends and aesthetics to make informed colour decisions. We understand that colour needs to be considered at the very beginning of the design process, so the Council provides a reliable resource to help designers make confident colour decisions which are fit for purpose”.
With this formidable panel of colour experts, SBID will utilise an unrivalled knowledge of the science behind colour psychology, key industry trends and product developments, as well as social, geographical and cultural influences, to encourage an enlightening and inspiring discourse around colour. The Council is set to reveal their Universal Colour of the Year in 2019 which will showcase the power of a universal colour, as opposed to one specific colour code.
Click here to discover more about the SBID Colour Council panel
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a fabulous family apartment situated by the River Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt. The young family of four desired a luxurious, yet simple and practical space. The property, around 290 square metres, is divided into a reception area with clear glass windows, drawing the sight line outside and capitalising on the expansive Nile views. A customised bar cabinet with brass sheets welcomes guests as they enter and is complemented by Nihal Zaki’s masterpiece; the Magnet Banquette which separates into four mini banquettes, only to regroup again using hidden magnets. The sofas, all the furniture and Asian fusion wall panels have been tailored to match the pièce de résistance of the house; the Golden Tibet Panel. The dining room adopts a subtle Art Deco concept in black and white, featuring paintings by contemporary Egyptian artists and a Murano-glass chandelier.
Company: Nihal Zaki Interiors
Project: Apartment by the Nile
Project Location: Cairo, Egypt
What was the client’s brief?
My clients were a young couple with two toddlers and they were very keen on an elegant contemporary house with elegant interiors, functional use and a safe environment for their children. They wanted cheerful colours but mostly, big glass windows in order to showcase the breathtaking view of the River Nile.
What inspired the design of the project?
The River Nile, Cairo’s vein and pulse is one of the most beautiful features of this city and this lovely apartment was situated right on the banks of the river.. My clients wanted to capture the serenity of the lovely views and the Cairo sunlight shining throughout the day…
Another pièce de résistance was the vintage Tibet, gold leaf engraved paravan my client had inherited from her family. We were smitten by that piece and transformed it into a wall-hanging mounted on the wall of the main reception area right above the octane blue sofa.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
My client was pregnant with her second child and couldn’t move out of the house! As a result we had to work strategically on a strict time schedule, ensuring we caused minimal noise, pollution and chemical hazards. Ensuring safety throughout the project being a top priority.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
A collection of priceless paintings by some of the most prominent 1950’s Egyptian artists hung on the walls of the dining room hence our selection of subtle Art Deco black and white wallpaper.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
The SBID have become the most lucrative and prestigious Design Awards in the region! Entering, let alone being nominated as a Finalist is quite an honour. The SBID Awards have become a hub for internationally renowned designers to meet and exchange ideas, business contacts and drive future innovations.
Questions answered by Nihal Zaki, CEO at Nihal Zaki Interiors
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring an urban resort that offers sweeping lake views located on the shore of Lake Chao, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Nihal Zaki Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
As you’re resetting your focus for the New Year, start 2019 as you mean to go on – with a steady feed of interior inspiration and regular updates for the latest interior industry innovations and design developments to integrate into those new and exciting projects for the year ahead. What better way to start than with a host of design news and essential industry events to attend this January…
Scroll down to discover more about Maison&Objet this January and how SBID Members can claim FREE tickets to attend…
Winners of the Designed for Business Student Awards were announced!
SBID and BE OPEN announced the winners of the student design competition, Designed for Business, at the House of Commons on Thursday 29 November. Designed to showcase emerging talent and nurture relationships between students and the working world, competition Finalists, design professionals and leading educational establishments gathered for the prize-giving ceremony as the culmination of a six-month judging process.
Katarina Spenerova was announced as the Overall Winner, claiming the life-changing cash prize of £30,000, along with five other Category Winners across Art & Design, Interior Decoration, Fashion, Interior Design and Product Design. The 2019 edition of the Designed for Business Student Awards will be launching in the Spring!
Click to see the winning projects
8th – 11th January
Heimtextil – Frankfurt, Germany
Heimtextil is one of the biggest and most important international trade fairs for home and contract textiles, acting as a climate and trend barometer for the whole business year. At this leading event for interior textiles, design and trends, international manufacturers, dealers and designers present their products and innovations to a large audience of trade visitors. Heimtextil features over 2,900 exhibitors showcasing the very latest textiles and textile designs, attracting around 69,000 trade visitors from across the world.
11th – 14th January
Domotex – Hannover, Germany
From 11-14 January 2019, the Hannover Exhibition Centre will serve as a four-day hotspot for the global flooring industry, acting as a meeting point for the industry and bringing together industry professionals from all over the world with 1400 exhibitors and 38,000 visitors. Both exhibitors and visitors enthusiastically embraced the launch of a fresh exhibition design that introduced a clear hall layout, an annual keynote theme and the special Framing Trends showcase.
Many of these exhibitors are finalising the finer details of their showcases, eager to put their best foot forward when they present their product innovations in January. The show’s new keynote theme, “CREATE’N’CONNECT”, is a bold statement that puts the spotlight on the current connectivity megatrend. Connectedness is an important aspect of flooring in the sense that floors are unifying, connecting elements of room design. They inspire us, give us orientation and set the stage for human interaction. With their numerous design options, floors play an important role in providing the very foundation for the rooms in which we live and work.
SBID Members can claim complimentary tickets to attend – email [email protected] to claim yours!
13th – 15th January
Top Drawer – London, UK
Presenting thousands of leading and undiscovered UK and international brands, expertly curated and chosen for their beautiful design, exceptional quality, originality and commercial appeal. Top Drawer encompasses the dynamic worlds of Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft, providing unique access to this season’s hottest new products giving buyers the ultimate choice for a successful season.
This year, the SBID Colour Council will make an appearance at Top Drawer 2019 on the 14th January at 12:30pm with a dedicated colour seminar to discuss those all-important colour trends for the year ahead, inviting a range of experts from the industry to talk about how they interpret colour for 2019. Click here to find out more.
SBID Members can upgrade their tickets to VIP for free – email [email protected] to register!
14th – 20th January
imm cologne – Cologne, Germany
imm cologne presents the trends that will be shaping the furniture and interiors sector – and the products that are good for business. At the imm cologne, you will find a unique variety of interior design ideas for every room, every style and every requirement – from the basics all the way to designer items and luxury furnishings.
For 2019, Hall 11 will be transformed into Pure Atmospheres as part of the conceptual development of the ‘Pure’ design segment. The new direction means even more inspiration combined with a stronger business focus.The name underscores the nature of the presentations, shaped by the exhibitors’ holistic interior concepts. Exhibitors will showcase inspiring brand concepts: their own take on domestic culture, their personal signature, their interpretation of good design. Here, the focus is not on the individual product but on the interaction of all the elements.
18th – 22nd January
Maison&Objet – Paris, France
Since 1995, MAISON&OBJET has inspired generations of interior designers and retailers by maintaining a high level of creativity, diversity and excellence throughout the years. With 2 aptly named hubs, Maison and Objet, M&O showcase an excess of 3,000 international brands to over 70,000 interiors professionals twice a year in Paris. The next edition is set to take place on 18-22 January 2019. Find out more about the upcoming event in January, here.
20th – 23rd January
January Furniture Show – Birmingham, UK
Perfectly timed at the start of the year to reveal the newest launches, the biggest names and the freshest trends at the UK’s largest furniture event, the January Furniture Show is back on 20-23 January 2019 at the National Exhibition Center, Birmingham. New for 2019 will be the JFS Contract Trail. Over 150 of the 2019 exhibitors either regularly, or occasionally supply contract. For the first time contract suppliers will be identified on the exhibitor listing on the JFS website, making it easy for buyers to plan their stand visits in advance.
Show Director, Cleere Scammell said, “It is important that we give our buying visitors as much useful information as is feasible, to make their visiting time at JFS as productive as possible. Adding the Contract Trail was an easy decision given the number of requests we receive for the information, and given the large number of contract suppliers that we have among our exhibitors.”
30th – 31st January
Architect@Work – London, UK
Architect@Work is an exclusive event for architects, interior designers and specifiers taking place at the Old Truman Brewery. The carefully curated trade show aimed at interior and design industry professionals will return to London for its 2019 edition on 30-31 January with a brand new theme. The theme is future-proof. In an age when change is measured in seconds, not years, and sustainability is a necessity not an optional extra, architects and designers are increasingly tasked with proposing projects that have longevity. How can practitioners ensure they are taking the lead when it comes to future-proofing their projects and who is setting the agenda for tomorrow’s built environment?
Have you discovered the new Maison&Objet yet? Since the last edition in September 2018, Maison&Objet (M&O) totally revamped its layout, entirely tailored to designer’s needs. Reconnecting with the fundamentals, M&O reorganised its offering to launch two new aptly named hubs: Maison and Objet!
The professionals-only trade fair introduced this new layout to help visitors find their way around the event’s vast offering. The two main themes were further divided into four styles for Maison and seven product families for Objet. This change was implemented in order to simplify the structure of the fair’s offering, improve visitor experience and encourage chance discoveries. With 119,633 visits made from across 171 countries, the success of the previous edition will once again pave the way for another memorable and inspiring design event in January. New visits, new audacious and intuitive purchasing experiences, inspirational and surprising itineraries… They’ve got a host of insightful surprises in store, so if you’re an SBID member, make sure you claim your free tickets to attend next month!
The Inspirations Forum introduces the theme, ‘Excuse my French’
For each session of M&O, NellyRodi analyses the latest consumer trends and sociological phenomena, and encapsulates them into a theme. The topic chosen for January 2019 may have a humorous note to it, “Excuse My French!” but, it looks very seriously at a re-emergence of the country of Molière on the international scene. All about the French art-de-vivre in France and abroad, Excuse my French will explore what makes French style so distinctive and attractive in a globalised economy, who are its inspirations and symbols today, and which designers, manufacturers, artisans best express the modern French heritage.
Vincent Grégoire at NellyRodi attributes this theme with the renewed curiosity about the French as “A sort of fascination at the moment”. For him, the movement is linked to globalisation “In a world where things are becoming standardised, people are looking for something different”. We couldn’t think of anywhere more fitting to bring this trend to the forefront than the quintessentially Parisian trade fair set in the city of the indescribable Gallic quality that exudes an easy allure, an effortless chic and a distinctive sense of style.
The country has long been a reference world-wide for the arts, fashion, design and lifestyle. For many, it is quite simply the epitome of elegance. Grégoire pinpoints a number of factors responsible for the country’s new-found resurgence. Leading the way are a whole host of smaller companies – Petites Maisons, who reinterpret traditional savoir-faire with product lines characterised by a spirit of invention and exclusivity. A “nouvelle vague” of creatives open to multicultural influences has also emerged. They shake up traditional French chic by injecting inspirations from elsewhere in a new mood of fusion.
In light of this mix’n’match approach, the Trend Forum in Hall 7 will be presenting a selection of products, à la française which will embody the essence of this new cultural phenomenon and encapsulate the renaissance of the French scene. Adorn in theatrical décor inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, a small truck displaying the essential M&O trend mook will be parked in the centre, surrounded by a number of handpicked contemporary items to create deliberate contrast against the classical setting. “There will be disruptive, dissonant elements and a spirit of contradiction”, promises Grégoire.
Save the date! Rendez-vous with trends lovers from 18-22 January 2019
SBID Members are entitled to complimentary tickets
Tickets are limited and available on a first come first served basis until the 14th of January 2019
To claim your free ticket email [email protected]
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an urban resort that offers sweeping lake views, located on the shore of Lake Chao; one of the largest lakes in China. The hotel is a hillside building in the Neo-Huizhou-style with 206 guestrooms. Each room has a balcony from which guests may enjoy 180-degree views of the beautiful lake. The interior design features white walls, black tiles and grey bricks, all of which are typical of Hui-style architecture. Respect is also paid to Huizhou’s aesthetic style of order and symmetry. A core design feature of the guestrooms embraces the ideas of the ‘Four treasuries of the Chinese Study’ including study space with writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper. This has great local and cultural significance in expressing the ‘Impressions of Huizhou’ design theme.
Company: Wanda Hotel Design Institute
Project:Wanda Vista Hefei
Project Location: Hefei, China
Our client is our parent company, Wanda Hotels & Resorts. Founded in 2007, Wanda Hotels & Resorts has been achieved through integrated business resources including hotel design, hotel construction and hotel management.
As the capital of Anhui province, Hefei is the economic and cultural centre with a profound history. Our purpose is to build the most luxurious and high-end urban resort in Hefei, which can meet both business and vacation demand. That’s why we choose Wanda Vista, the highest brand among Hefei hotels group. As the hotel is located near city, it owns the convenient traffic without too much noise and disturbance from city centre. We hope Wanda Vista has complete supporting facilities, breath-taking landscape scenery as well as high-quality service. In addition, we wish the cultural elements of Anhui is embodied in the interior design of the hotel, to give our guests deeper understanding of Anhui culture during their stay here. Also, as Vista brand is not commonly seen the east area of China, we hope Vista Hefei has stronger characteristics.
Anhui is situated next to Huizhou, which is renowned for Hui-style architecture – a school of Chinese architecture. For another, Anhui is a combination of exquisite scenery and distinctive cultural features. In short, the above two factors – architecture and cultural characteristics – are our inspirations for this project. Other inspirational resources derive from the white wall, black tiles and grey bricks of Hui-style architecture, the order and symmetrical aesthetics, local decorative materials and the art of Huizhou carving (e.g. Brick carving, wood carving and stone carving).
Well, the greatest difficulty lies in how to express classic aesthetics using modern techniques. If we adopt traditional techniques to manifest these Hui-style characteristics, we will be confronted with great difficulty when it comes to spatial considerations; especially with a large space like the hotel lobby. Interior spaces were not as expansive as this in the past, so all the architectural components such as brick carving, roof overhang and folding screens were produced according to their actual dimension. It would therefore be impossible for us to enlarge the past material and craft it to today’s space, that’s why we needed to think about the kinds of modern materials and techniques which could be used for these creations. For instance, we designed four screens of 12 metres high to increase the levels of layer. When investigating the folk embroidery craft, our designers were inspired to replace the base fabric of embroidery with metal, and embroider Huizhou scenery on the metal net. In this way, we were able to realise the same effect with the same impact, which wouldn’t be achieved by using traditional metal or other metal materials.
Well, I think the highlight for me is the hotel lobby. The spatial vastness of the area integrates the exquisite features of Hui-style architecture and strong sense of decoration manifested through modern techniques. The lobby covers an area of 700 square meters, preserving the top structure of the original building with the highest height of near 20 metres. For the interior design, we embodied the traditional Hui-style wood carving technique into the decoration of wooden circular columns, beam and wall surfaces, focusing on the design theme; ‘Huizhou Impression’. For colour use, the combination of grey brick, black tile and white wall from Hui-style architecture which represent the nature is put into use in the whole colour adoption. The lintel decorated with hanging flowers is made from bronze, and it implements with the wharf wall harmoniously.
Also, speaking of Huizhou culture, what first comes into our mind must be the Chinese ‘Four Treasures of the Study’, which includes writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper, which are expressed by different techniques in the hotel space. For example, we designed a 20-metre high Chandelier in the shape of a writing brush, to give the appearance of it pouring down from the roof; the pool carved from black stone is the integration of ink and ink stone; the ten-metre high scroll painting ‘Huangshan Scenery’ looks like wash painting on Chinese Xuan paper. Through the design of a ten-metre high ground glass window, the hotel lobby connects with a borderless lake view perfectly, inviting the glorious views and lake scenery into the hotel.
SBID is a renowned international award. Participating in the award is a test on our design ability. We will be more thankful and honoured if we were to win an award because it will be an honour both for the design team and for a single designer. On the other hand, if we unfortunately fail in winning an award, it still offers us a precious opportunity to compete with other design teams in the world and allows us to learn from each other.
Questions answered by Haonan Zhen, Design Director at Wanda Hotel Design Institute
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a private luxury oasis comprising of villa and pool house in southeastern France, click here to see more.
Wanda Hotel Design Institute | SBID International Design Awards 2018
The festive season is looming; but the design industry never sleeps. With Christmas just around the corner and the final leg of the year fast approaching, don’t forget to catch up on the latest industry news and upcoming design events for December!
Read below to discover this month’s curated selection of art with Velvenoir and find out how SBID Members can claim their exclusive discount…
3rd – 8th December
Business of Design Week HK – Hong Kong, China
Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation and brands since 2002, Business of Design Week (BODW) organised by Hong Kong Design Centre brings some of the world’s most outstanding design masters and influential business figures to Hong Kong. It provides a valuable platform for business and creative leaders to exchange ideas, network, and explore new business opportunities. This year’s summit will take on the theme of ‘Think ∙ Collaborate ∙ Create’ and be presented in collaboration with partner city Melbourne, cited as the world’s most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit for seven consecutive years (2011-2017). The event features more than 70 speakers from over 15 countries and regions to present the latest industry insights and to promote the advancement of the creative industries.
4th – 6th December
ICFF South Florida – Florida, US
The 3rd annual South Florida edition of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) will take place at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Centre. The ICFF South Florida is the natural extension of ICFF NYC, attracting over 3,000 interior designers, architects, retailers, developers and distributors to the Caribbean, South Florida, and Latin American markets. Offering an unparalleled opportunity to view innovative design trends from all over the globe as well as interactive, educational programming led by some of industry’s top leading designers and icons.
5th – 9th December
Design Miami/ – Miami, US
Design Miami is the global forum for design, bringing together gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the world to celebrate and promote collectable design. It is more than a marketplace for design, where the world’s top galleries gather to present museum-quality exhibitions of twentieth and twenty-first century furniture, lighting and objets d’art. Each show balances exclusive commercial opportunities with progressive cultural programming, creating exciting collaborations with designers and design institutions, panels and lectures with luminaries from the worlds of design, architecture, art and fashion, and unique commissions from the world’s top emerging and established designers and architects.
6th December
A Conversation about Design… With Maison&Objet – Edinburgh, UK
Maison&Objet are organising a breakfast meeting on Thursday 6th December at 8.30am – 10.30am for a small selection of Edinburgh based interior designers to exchange and share their views on the latest evolutions of the design industry, as well as offer their opinions and advice on how to improve the show. Held at The Balmoral Hotel, the organisers believe that first-hand perspectives, experiences and opinions from designers would add great value to this meeting for an insightful and progressive discussion about design.
RSVP by Friday 30th November to [email protected]
VELVENOIR releases their curated art selection for November with 10% discount for SBID Members
The international boutique art consultancy and concierge, Velvenoir offer SBID Members complimentary art consultancy services and access to a curated, in-house art inventory with expert guidance. This strategic partnership allows interior designers to work directly with a variety of art consultants saving valuable time and money for residential, hospitality and commercial projects. Velvenoir are now also offering an exclusive trade discount of 10% to SBID Member’s art acquisition from any piece of art within their November selection.
Click here to browse the selection and be ready provide your SBID Membership number to claim your 10% discount
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a local luxury oasis comprising of private villa and pool house located in southeastern France, bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Built using the warm, honey-toned local stone, the interior design scheme was designed to reflect the authentic and characterful charm of the villa’s exterior with a subtle palette of restful colours throughout, finished with highlights of silver, lavender and turquoise to bring in the colours of Provence. The 21st century home acts as a sanctuary, but also an inviting family home so it had to be well-thought-out, sympathetic with its glorious surroundings and suitable to the needs of everyone spending time in it. This meant open-plan areas for socialising and entertaining, with cosier, more intimate spaces to provide solitude when required. To achieve the quality required by the client, and for the furniture to fit both the generous space and the colours requested, the majority of pieces were individually designed by Juliettes Interiors as bespoke items.
Company: Juliettes Interiors
Project: Provence Villa
Project Location: Provence, France
The brief was straightforward: to create a light, airy pied-à-terre using the finest European furniture and incorporating the colours of Provence. Above all, it was to be comfortable, relaxing and sociable with a focus on quality. This was to be a sanctuary but still a place to share with family and friends. The client’s architects had already specified finishes for floors and walls so, for Juliettes Interiors, it meant coming into the project part way through. Taking this in our stride, we quickly got ourselves up to speed, working seamlessly with contractors and taking the project through to completion and final snagging.
Initially, the client intended to design and project manage this renovation himself but ran into problems with communication, space planning, design and trying to pull everything together. He later admitted that he felt as though he was drowning in the project management of a villa that had been bought to provide a respite from the hurly burly of everyday life.
He originally came to us simply to source a couple of bedside tables but this proved to be a turning point for the project. Talking through his ideas with Design Director Micaela Rossi, he realised that, as well as sourcing the items he was looking for, we could provide a complete interior design service as well as taking on full responsibility for procurement, product design, space planning, installation and project management. From a couple of bedside tables, Juliettes Interiors ended up specifying and sourcing new bathrooms as well as all interior furniture, outdoor and pool furniture, fabrics, finishes, lighting, bed linens, curtains and accessories.
This was a beautiful, traditional Provence villa on the outside, constructed using the warm, honey-toned local stone. However, none of this character followed through to the bland, dated interior. Using this local stone throughout the interior brought warmth and texture to every part of the villa and its pool house. We also used the soft greys, greens and lavenders of the spectacular Provence countryside as our base colour palette to create the calm, restful and welcoming space the client craved as a retreat from his hectic day-to-day lifestyle.
The main house comprised 4 en-suite bedrooms plus a housekeeper’s apartment, and a large hallway leading into an extensive, open plan living area. Together with a further 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a large kitchen/living space in the pool house, this gave us plenty of scope to transform the tired, uninspiring interior and turn it into a well-thought-out and functional 21st century home, sympathetic with its glorious surroundings and to the needs of everyone spending time in it.
The finished villa, pool house and pool area blend beautifully into the surrounding countryside, with natural, local materials, honey-coloured stone, thoughtfully-landscaped gardens and restful colours designed to reflect the tones of the encompassing hillside. Inside, the design team used clever lighting and coordinating colours in shades of lavender, grey and turquoise to bring in elements of the Provençal landscape. They have made the most of the expansive, open plan living area, creating open spaces for socialising, dining and entertaining, along with cosy nooks and more intimate spaces, plus a TV snug and library. The pool house is perfect for visiting guests with its 2 cool and airy bedrooms, stunning contemporary bathrooms and a fresh, open plan living and kitchen area.
The client could not have been happier with the finished project. Every item of furniture was exactly as he had envisaged. Skilled project management meant that delivery and installation all went off without a hitch and snagging was minimal. Set in its extensive, spectacularly landscaped gardens, the villa is now a sanctuary of peace and harmony, an oasis of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle. Originally intended as a bolt hole for brief visits, the client instantly fell in love with this gorgeous home and admits that he now spends most of his time there.
Due to the client’s hectic international schedule, much of the day-to-day communication was carried out online. There were only 3 further face-to-face meetings at the showroom to finalise furniture layout, agree technical drawings for the many bespoke items, and to choose colours, fabrics and finishes for furniture, light fittings, curtains and linens. Almost every item of furniture was fully bespoke or at least customised, meaning a lot of research into special finishes and an exceptional level of detail. Throughout the project, we made visits to the property to take accurate measurements, to appraise the villa and its pool house, and to explore its surroundings.
This has been one of the most interesting and exciting projects we have worked on and we loved every minute of it. Obviously, we were delighted at the client’s reaction and the fact that he now considers this his main residence. However, we have to admit, for our design team, winning a 5 star award for our design, skills, creativity and the standard of our service was a key highlight for the outcome of the project.
Questions answered by Micaela Rossi, Design Director and Juliette Thomas, Director at Juliettes Interiors
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a boutique hotel juxtaposing the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders, click here to see more.
Juliettes Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
In the most recent issue of eSociety, Volume 7 Issue 3, SBID spoke to Russian entrepreneur and the founder of the BE OPEN Foundation, Elena Baturina. The international creative think-tank, BE OPEN has recently collaborated with SBID to organise a student competition with a £30,000 cash prize. We find out more about what lead her to the creative industry and how creativity plays a vital role in business and building the future.
What is your own relationship with creativity? How has it enhanced your life?
I’m first of all a businesswoman and entrepreneur. Being involved in a wide spectrum of industries for many years, from construction and manufacturing to hospitality and renewable energy production, I have identified one common thing that lies at the core of a sustainable and productive endeavour and that is creativity.
From the design of a new building or product to a business development idea – it is the originality of thought that is required. That is why I believe that developing creative thinking in young people is so important, for they will shape of our future. Working with students and children in that sphere is at the heart of my BE OPEN Foundation, which was formed as a cultural and social initiative, aiming to bridge the gap between the great minds of our time and the promising new minds of the next generation, providing the necessary link to the knowledge and experience.
Do you think that, in general, creative skills are viewed as being as important to our economy and financial prosperity as, say, business or IT skills?
I think we are getting there slowly but gradually. The progress is definitely obvious here in the UK. As I already mentioned, creative thinking is at the heart of all my businesses and I see it as a vital ingredient to every aspect of life. It’s important that the business leaders and politicians of tomorrow are able to have a, let me say, well-designed vision for what they would like to achieve and not solely rely on balance sheets. Injecting creativity into your thinking can give you a totally new approach – and sometimes that is the difference between success and failure.
Why have you teamed up with SBID to offer this fantastic opportunity for the winner of the competition?
The world is a competitive place, especially in the creative industry, and sometimes we all need a little help to achieve our goals. BE Open and SBID are both of the opinion that if we really want to make a difference then we have to offer students a very real, life-changing opportunity and this competition seemed like the perfect way to do that. The £30,000 prize is a life-changing amount of money and will either help a student launch their own creative business or pay their student debts, so they feel free to be creative rather than worrying about money.
Discover more about why Elena strives to support young creatives in the creative industry, what she predicts for the next generation of designers and how she thinks a creative and well-designed environment can influence the way we act, feel and think.
Read the rest of this feature →
Elena Baturina, Founder of the BE OPEN Foundation
This feature originally appeared in Volume 7 Issue 3 of the official SBID interior design magazine, eSociety.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a boutique hotel which juxtaposes the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders with the City Center district by using natural materials in their most organic form and monochromatic colour schemes that mirror Icelandic nature and culture. Sustainable materials native to Iceland provide the perfect touch for this unique and eco-conscious hotel. Conveniently located in the heart of Reykjavík, Iceland, the hotel was originally a hostel for Reykjavík backpackers which was renovated to offer a sustainable and tranquil refuge to its guests.
Inside one instantly feels transported to the pristine countryside of this otherworldly isle of fire and ice. In the lobby sits a glacier-like front desk and infinity hallways connecting guest quarters mimic hot lava floes zigzagging across a vast blackened field. Each private bath even features geothermal hot water, sourced from the surrounding natural springs. Design elements are also oriented to take maximal advantage of natural light and ventilation. A profusion of natural light streams through the expansive guestroom windows with sweeping views of the North Atlantic sea and snow-capped mountains to the North. Sustainable heating was introduced and LED lighting is utilised throughout to decrease electricity usage by up to 75%, with hallways using motion detection. Not only does the guest feel a sense of magic when the lights turn on, but the hotel saves energy when there are no guests in the hallways!
Company: Minarc Inc
Project: Ion City
Project Location: Reykjavík, Iceland
To design a functional, urban, aesthetically pleasing space that would accommodate all amenities necessary for a great experience for future guests.
Icelandic nature was the main influence to the interior design of the hotel. The concept story of the hotel design was to bring the nature inside, in the form of materials and colour schemes to experience and get the sense of the austere Icelandic nature, without getting out of the city. We wanted to create an experience for the guests that will live in their memory.
The challenges to work with the existing building, local regulations along with the essential amenities needed to accommodate a happy stay for the hotel guests. The hallways were a challenge as they were short and small so we wanted to utilise them to their full potential. The design is inspired by the countryside’s rugged terrain, with cuts of light illuminating to the guest rooms and mirrors on each end of the short hallway, they play with perspective creating a memorable experience like walking through infinitive lava fields.
There are many items and elements of the interior design we are especially proud of and have personal meaning to us, including the bathroom works on the walls, which are custom handmade by Erla. The illuminating hallway connecting the guestrooms imitate the flowing lava fields; the white Corian lobby desk inspired by the surrounding glaciers; the Dropi chair in the lobby that suspends from the ceiling in the intentional shape of a raindrop; the Nest chandelier hanging above diffusing light through it’s intertwined form along, with the overall cohesion and outcome of the design as a whole.
The SBID International Design Awards is one of the most prestigious awards celebrating interior design and architecture today, we consider it an achievement to receive an SBID International Design Award and we would be honoured to win one for our designs. We have previously won for a house we designed in Iceland, Big Little Rock and nominated for our Ion Adventure Hotel.
Questions answered by Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir, Principal Designers at Minarc Inc
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring an American neoclassical design concept with comfort and function, click here to see more.
Minarc Inc | SBID International Design Awards 2018
Creating spaces and buildings that are as eco-conscious as they are design-forward is becoming a pressing requirement for the interiors industry. Russell Owens from Zip Water UK explains why the future lies in making sustainable design beautiful. ‘Sustainable design’ aims to reduce or eliminate negative environmental impact through thoughtful design. This means working to create buildings and products that are more energy-efficient, reduce waste and use limited resources throughout their life-cycle. Further to this, specifiers and designers can give preference to materials that will contribute to people’s health and wellbeing – another important element of sustainability that is often overlooked. . .
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