This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a unique and spacious apartment design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Maison O.
The design approach for the apartment in the heart of Cairo is contemporary, with a concept of maximizing the Nile view in the space through using a reflective ceiling. This way you’d get a full view of the Nile River and its sailing boats anywhere inside the apartment – even in the dining area, which is located away from the windows, at the back-end of the apartment.
SBID Awards Category: Residential House Under £1M Design
Practice: Maison O
Project: The Nile Apartment
Location: Cairo, Egypt
The client had a problem with the low ceiling and wanted to incorporate a sense of openness to the space, as well as modernize the apartment. Quality and speed of delivery were of great importance to the client.
The Nile river was the main source of inspiration as we at Maison O made sure to extend it into the apartment and make it visible from any part of the space. The river even inspired the selection of colours, with emerald green being an accent colour symbolizing the agriculture around the banks of the Nile river.
The whole process from design planning to execution and furnishing was completed in a record of six weeks. On-time delivery was made possible thanks to amicable team effort and project management skills.
Striking a balance between coming-up with a creative design that fulfils the client’s request and ensuring quality execution and delivery in record time.
The awards celebrate creativity. They present a venue for brilliant global designers to come together from different walks of life and compete. In particular, being shortlisted as a finalist ensures an international recognition and makes a difference in how participating designers and design firms are positioned out of their home markets, while also paving the way for building global connections for future international collaborations.
Questions answered by Omar Gemei, Founder and Chief Designer, Maison O.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxurious family apartment design by V.Concept by Victoria Vitkovskaya, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a luxurious family apartment design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, V.Concept by Victoria Vitkovskaya.
All the details of the Almond apartment from the V.Concept studio in Kiev stem from the originality and ambition of the designers.
Throughout the design we used the best combination of colours and textures. Recognizable “modern chic” style can be seen everywhere: in the combination of marble and eucalyptus facades of the Italian kitchen Cesar, cabinet furniture Poliform and Misura Emme, contrasts of leather and glass in tinted wardrobes from Sangiacomo, backlit rare stone panels and unique lamps in Serip Murano glass. Luxurious fabrics from the Loro Piana and Hermes complement the composition of the interior and add a special comfort to each space.
Lighting, heating and audio – all can be controlled with one wireless smart home system from Gira. All solutions are convenient and economical, and a subtle concept of beauty is evident in all the spaces of this apartment.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M Design
Practice: V.Concept by Victoria Vitkovskaya
Project: Almond Apartment
Location: Kyyiv, Ukraine
Our clients were a married couple with two teenage children. They understood exactly what they wanted and made decisions quickly. Our customers realised what comfort was and knew the value of things.
Our main inspiration was our client. We started by getting familiar with their desires and vision of their ideal apartment and then worked to make this vision a reality.
With this project we wanted to show that modern style can be ambitious and satisfy sophisticated connoisseurs of beauty, and at the same time be simple and efficient.
I think the toughest thing was to implement the project during the quarantine. To be honest, a turnkey project from A to Z during a pandemic is not easy. We completed it in 9 months — I believe that this is a success!
For the Almond apartment project we used a combination of colours, textures and materials, integrating furniture and appliances from luxury manufacturers. The project is filled with stylish, technological and ergonomic solutions.
We also implemented the project exactly according to our initial plan. The only thing that differed from it were the dining chairs.
Getting to the finals and potential victory in a competition of this magnitude is an indicator of quality and skill level. This is not the first year that we have been participating in the SBID Awards; for us it is a kind of tradition and a chance to make ourselves known.
Questions answered by Viktoriya Vitkovskaya, CEO & Founder, V. Concept studio.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an art deco inspired design for hotel rooms and public spaces by Atellior, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a luxurious residential apartment design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Mane Design.
An apartment with an area of 260 sqm is located in the very centre of Kiev, on the last 32nd floor. It has with terraces that offer stunning views of the city. The apartment is designed in a modern classical style, using expensive materials and furniture.
Blue Agate Stone – the heart of the apartment – was brought from India. It is a delicate stone that carries harmony, tranquillity and grace. The atmosphere in the apartment is soothing; pleasant colours and natural textures add elegance to the interior, while brass adds warmth.
The apartment is not only beautiful, but also has a comfortable and functional plan. Its divided into zones: public, children’s and the owner’s zone. The public area consists of a living room-kitchen where there is a bar, which is successfully hidden behind panels that can be pulled apart with a slight movement of the hand. There is access to a huge terrace with a barbecue, a seating area with a sofa, tables and chairs for eating. In the entrance part there is a guest toilet and a large dressing room, as well as a separate laundry. The children’s area has two bedrooms, a separate children’s wardrobe, a bathroom and an access to terrace from each bedroom.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M
Practice: Mane Design
Project: Blue Agate
The clients are a young, successful and hard-working couple. They are modern, lively and value comfort and beauty. Therefore, the brief asked for a bright colours and non-standard, interesting solutions but at the same time a comfortable and functional design – the place where they can relax after a work day or have parties with friends.
We were inspired by our clients themselves: by their lifestyle, ideas, attitude to design, and, of course, complete creative freedom given to us.
Our team did not encounter any special difficulties during this project.
This entire project consists of highlights. In every corner you can find something interesting. There are a lot of details that you will want to examine, things that attract attention, such as: wonderful natural agate stone brought from India, an art object “Fishes” specially designed by us for this project, which glows in millions sparks, the TV which moves out from the stand by pressing the button on the remote control (because our client did not want to see TV in the interior), a hidden bar, a hidden projector and a screen coming out of the ceiling, a toilet in front of the window, delightful lighting everywhere… and, of course, an unforgettable view from the apartment.
We respect SBID International Design Awards and consider the judges’ decisions to be fair.
Questions answered by Mane Megrabyan, Interior Designer and Head of Studio, Mane Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a design for hotel’s exclusive spa lodges by Nielsen House, click here to see more.
With a commitment to recognising professional excellence across interior design and championing the growth of the creative industries, the SBID International Design Awards bestowed its annual accolade for Master of Design to Kit Kemp MBE – renowned interior designer, Founder and Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels & Kit Kemp Design Studio for her significant contributions in raising the profile of the profession.
Over the years Kit Kemp has carved herself an internationally-acclaimed reputation, not only for her unique approach to hotel interiors, but also as a successful textiles, fragrance and homewares designer, author and a highly-respected champion of British art, craft and sculpture.
The Kit Kemp Design Studio is celebrated for its individual and original approach to hotel and residential design, with colourful and detailed storytelling which celebrates craft and captures the imagination. As the creative force behind Firmdale Hotels since 1985, the brand now has ten properties, with eight hotels in London including the Ham Yard Hotel, Soho Hotel, Covent Garden Hotel, Charlotte Street Hotel, Haymarket Hotel, Number Sixteen Hotel, Dorset Square Hotel and Knightsbridge Hotel, as well as two in New York, The Whitby Hotel and Crosby Street Hotel.
Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, Founder & CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) comments, “We wanted to present Kit with this exclusive accolade to acknowledge her work as trailblazer in interior design. Bringing colour and pattern back into the forefront, Kit Kemp has forged a trend in the brave path she has trodden which serves as great inspiration to the professional community – not only for interior designers, but product manufacturers too!”
The SBID Awards strives to empower design industry talent to exhibit their creative work and celebrate their achievements on its global stage, as a testament to the incredible outcomes that can be accomplished through the power of good design and quality craftsmanship.
Click here to explore the full line-up of this year’s SBID Awards winners across Interior Design, Product Design and Fit Out.
About SBID International Design Awards
The SBID International Design Awards attracts entries from over 85 countries worldwide, serving to recognise, reward and celebrate design excellence across Interior Design, Product Design and Fit-Out. Showcasing the world’s best design talent on its globally respected stage each year, the SBID Awards champions and challenges design standards – a parallel it shares its exceptional entrants. Winning a SBID International Design Award signifies outstanding industry achievement, with recognition that is second to none for the deserving winners.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a luxury interior design which reflects the elegance and exclusiveness of its location. Since the end of the 19th Century, Gardone has been one of the most exclusive places on Lake Garda. Landau + Kindelbacher, used a range of colours rich in contrast, drawing influence from traditional stimuli: the aquamarine of Lake Garda, the painted timbers of the elegant Riva boats as well as the lemon-yellow touches from the surrounding lemon orchards.
The high-class furnishings and fittings and the incomparable setting beside Lake Garda, assure the attraction of the project. From everywhere on the site, one has a fantastic view of the lake. Both the architecture and the interior design have succeeded, with their individual designs for the luxury villas, in meeting the highest demands of the future owners.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Design Over £1 Million Sponsored by THG Paris
Practice: Landau + Kindelbacher Architekten – Innenarchitekten
Project: Villa at Lake Garda
Location: Brescia, Italy
What was the client’s brief?
The brief was to design a modern luxury Villa on this breathtaking building site at Gardone Sopra overlooking the Lake Garda catching in all those beautiful views over the landscape. The goal was to fuse interior design, architecture and landscape design into one consistent Project.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
The inspiration came from all the southern colors you will find around the Lake Garda, the lemon trees with their Limonaia structures and the mahogany RIVA Yachts and finally the color of the water and the sky.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The very short timeline and just to get the design team physically on the building site, taking the James Bond proven Gardesana route on the east bank of Lake Garda.
What was your highlight of the project?
The whole design team was invited to join the Grand Opening Party of the Villa and we could see that all our ideas had worked out perfectly.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
The quality of the SBID Awards is really outstanding and we think it is one of the most prestigious awards within the interior design community.
Questions answered by Gerhard Landau, Managing Partner, Landau + Kindelbacher.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s luxury design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week, featuring a minimalist residential extension, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a light and airy residential design. This large and comfortable house had already been extended 10 years earlier, but this was demolished to provide an even larger replacement, featuring a study area, extra living space and a small service kitchen hidden behind a full-height sliding door.
In keeping with the calm and minimal tone requested by the client, SBID Accredited Design Practise, Richard Dewhurst Interior Architecture chose a muted colour palette was used throughout the house. The odd burst of colour was, however, tactfully used in the smaller spaces of the house, such as the bathroom and study.
Practice: Richard Dewhurst Interior Architecture
Project: Balham House Extension
Location: Balham, United Kingdom
The brief was to design a light and airy rear extension that didn’t simply feel like a white box grafted onto the back of the house and that was both calming and minimal. She also wanted a very impressive and modern kitchen, but one that was easy to use and could hide the mess as she readily admitted that cooking wasn’t really her thing!
In general, my client had quite a conservative approach to the project, but thankfully she was very happy for me to get creative with the guest loo, which proved to be fun.
The main driving factor behind this design was my enthusiasm for clerestory windows and the calmness and clarity of light they bring to a space. Having seen plenty of them in other buildings, I was excited to finally get the opportunity to build one.
The clerestory window feature was more complex to design and detail than I’d originally thought, meaning that I had to work closely with the window manufacturer and structural engineer to ensure that it functioned well and looked good.
Also, I desperately tried to convince my client that she should replace her sixty-foot long fake grass lawn with the real thing, as I’m getting increasingly frustrated and upset by the environmental damage this stuff causes to the local ecology, especially when considering the role city back gardens play in creating wildlife corridors in urban areas. Unfortunately, this was a battle I couldn’t win.
I was so pleased that my client loved the clerestory window and the guest loo as it always surprises her guests; they simply don’t expect to see the stretch ceiling and seamless walls!
Questions answered by Richard Dewhurst, founder, Richard Dewhurst Interior Architecture.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s residential design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week, featuring a unique facility designed to surpass all expectations of a traditional care home, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series strives to fulfil the archetypal ideal of the perfect ‘dream home’. These properties offered the prospect of designing a full interior for a show home that would work in conjunction with the original features that form part of the history, uniqueness and beauty of these houses. From the sweeping staircase in the entrance hall, to the elegant Georgian windows and luxurious high-spec kitchen and bathrooms, the property exudes an air of period decadence synonymous with an era of English prosperity. These period features sit comfortably against the more contemporary furniture and furnishings with which the property has been dressed. The muted palette is drawn out through the whole house, with contrast colours used on the furniture to bring depth and richness to the colour scheme.
Company: Suna Interior Design
Project: Ancaster Gate, Richmond
Project Location: London, United Kingdom
To provide an interior that would appeal to the potential purchaser for such a beautiful property. It was imperative to enhance the incredible spaces within the property and ‘sell’ how best to utilise the space. This is a luxury property and has been designed as such but we also made sure the interior felt welcoming and like a real home. It was important for us to retain the inherent features of the building, ensuring all aspects of design complemented the historic building and its charming setting overlooking the beautiful Richmond Park.
We were lucky enough to work on the whole of the interior, designing every aspect of the space such as the bathrooms, kitchens, flooring etc. The interior specification was created well ahead of dressing out the FF&E and formed the back drop to the rooms so this was a massive influence on the completed interior design. Throughout the whole project we worked with the Heritage officer, architects and client on how best to preserve the essence of the original building. This meant we wanted to respect the original features and enhance and embellish the design rather than create strong contrasts. The soft colour palette combining soft neutrals, touches of deep charcoal and vintage oak timbers with the classic marble felt like the best way to achieve this. Where possible we refurbished parts of the interior back to their original glory such as the ceiling rose and cornicing in the kitchen/dining room. We also fabricated replicas of the original door knobs for each of the internal doors. These touches brought an honesty and respect for the original building which is evident throughout.
We were keen to use real marble on the floor and walls of the bathrooms but as this was an old building we had to work closely with the architects to make sure the weight of the marble would not damage the property. Reinforcing the structure without damaging the interior was an essential part of the process. We also worked closely with the marble supplier to enable us to use the thinnest slabs possible to reduce the weight. We even designed a bespoke mosaic floor in the Master en-suite which avoided the need for large slabs of marble on the floor.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
I know this is a bit obvious but we really love how the whole design has come together. We sometimes work on the specification but not have the chance to dress out the space (and vice versa) so having the chance to do both on this project and see the fully implemented scheme was a joy. If I had to pick a favourite area it would be the large first floor living room and through the incredible large double doors into the kitchen/dining room with its incredible high ceilings. If that isn’t a place to entertain, I don’t know what is!
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
We have been members of SBID for some years and we have always valued the accolades that come with such a prestigious brand so we are always keen to enter the Awards when we have a project we deem worthy. This design is right up there, so we felt it was more than capable of competing with all the other incredible submissons.
Questions answered by Helen Fewster, Director of Suna Interior Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a sky-high commercial property defined by sustainability, its energy-saving ability and modern design, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Suna Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a neutral and luxurious city apartment, designed to accommodate frequent stays in London with the upmost comfort and style. The elegantly designed, three-bedroomed duplex apartment located within a development moments from the Thames, catches your attention from the second you enter with its impressive floor to ceiling panoramic views of the City. The neutral design scheme is punctuated with elements of colour using tonal accessories, brass features and the client’s own collection of artwork.
Company: Onyx London
Project: Duplex Apartment
The client’s brief was a neutral colour palette, complimented by brushed brass details, statement lighting and Carrara marble. The joinery creates a distinctive look, with dark veneers mixed with nude wallpapers and fabrics, giving a contemporary and luxurious feel to the space.
The client lives in China and travels to London regularly. The brief was to create a space that is both practical and comfortable for their stays, but also a place they can entertain friends. The interior scheme had to be both neutral and luxurious – the mixture of statement pieces, rich textures and comfortable living create exactly this.
I worked on a similar scheme in One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge which is still one of my most favourite projects, this project also used neutral tones and dark veneers to create a contemporary luxury in a city apartment.
It is always a challenge having international clients. We only met the client once in London for a morning, from this meeting we were able to grasp exactly what the client wanted to achieve and deliver it within a couple of months. The client had a confidence we were the right designer to work with them and we surpassed their expectations, which made for an incredibly successful handover.
The daughter of the family is moving to London to study and she wanted somewhere she could write. We created a study area for her on the upper floor of the Duplex, on the 17th floor, with the desk positioned between three walls from floor to ceiling in glass, with the most spectacular panoramic views of London.
Questions answered by Elizabeth Cook, Director of Onyx London
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a sales centre designed to revitalise the traditional aesthetic values of Chinese architecture, click here to see more.
Onyx London | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a 90 square metre apartment, set on the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Alicante. This quirky holiday home is located in an apartment block surrounded by lush greenery; the formidable foliage appropriately inspired the distinctive tropical-style interior design scheme used throughout the property. During the early design stages, the client was open to all creative and out-of-the-box ideas which lead them to using a bold and striking green as the apartment’s signature colour theme. The palette evolved to include a sunrise shade of pink, together with luxurious brass elements and earthy wood tones. This apartment truly comes to life with an eccentric blend of palm prints, tropical leaves and exotic birds on the wallpaper!
Company: INTRO by Chak
Project: Power of the Colour
Project Location: Altea, Spain
The apartment block is surrounded by lush greenery; prompting the designer to propose a daring tropical-style solution for the interior design. In the process of design planning, the client was open to all ideas and absolutely loved the suggestion of using green as the main feature colour. Initially the client wanted to refresh the walls and renovate the kitchen; in the end the project turned into a significant reconstruction.
What inspired the design of the project?
The client did not want to change the doors. This set the start of the project. If we are not going to change them, let’s have them painted. A bright shade of green was suggested. It fascinated and inspired the client. From then on the project could not be limited to simple repainting of the walls. The green doors called out for more. And so a sunrise shade of pink appeared, together with the luxurious brass, tropical leaves and birds on the wallpaper.
It was our first project in Spain. Being a Russian design studio, it was difficult initially to start and build communication with the suppliers and local workers. We are familiar with working using mostly English and Russian languages, so to work in the Spanish language was a big challenge for us! That’s why at the beginning of the constitution, it was difficult to avoid misunderstanding so naturally, some errors arose because of it. Finally, we got through these communication issues and we couldn’t be happier with the result – and now we are fluent in all specific construction, architecture and design lexis in Spanish!
We did run into some technical / construction difficulty during the build; fixing the 6-sided tiles in the bathroom called for very careful work. Also, the owner of the flat only wanted to renovate the apartment, so in some instances we couldn’t touch or structurally change some aspects of the property (e.g heating in the floor and air-conditioning) which we could probably have moved to develop the design further.
Working on this project gave us a lot of pleasure and overall we didn’t meet too many difficulties. The owner of the apartment was participating with enthusiasm at every stage of the working process!
Our idea was to use the mirrors to create the feeling of more space. We can see the best example of this in one of the bedrooms, where the entire wall behind the bed is made of mirror. We were happy with the visual impact of this, and how effectively it seemed to generate the illusion of space. There is a portal in the living room which is also made of mirrors which is used to separate the living room area from the dinning room area. In the middle of this portal there is a painted green column; visually, this gives the impression that it levitates above the table! Additionally, this portal offers the opportunity to create geometrical proportions of the space in which is very pleasant and comfortable to spend time in.
It was an honour for us to take the chance and participate in the SBID Awards 2018. We are very happy to have been listed as a Finalist in these Awards!
Questions answered by Nadya Chak, the Founder and designer of the design studio, INTRO by Chak
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a fabulous family apartment merging luxury design with elegant simplicity by the River Nile, click here to see more.
INTRO by Chak | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nihal Zaki Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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