Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Homes & Gardens

The theme of this issue was inspired by the conversations I’ve had with designers over the past few months about how they create homes that embrace modernity yet remain timelessly elegant. Our feature Classical Studies (page 41) showcases how to do this decoratively – it combines contemporary finds with exquisite pieces inspired by antiquity. But it is the homes within (starting on page 73) that really demonstrate how to get that difficult balance just right. There is the beautifully restored neoclassical Melbourne property on our front cover; an early 1900s Tasmanian home with an extraordinary extension – my favourite; an enhanced historical house hidden in the New Forest that oozes classic British style; and the clever contemporary conversion of an old barn that secured the top spot in 2021’s Homes…

PASSION FOR PATTERN Garden motifs and feathery fronds adorn the latest fabrics (Clockwise, from top left) Bouquet in Bluebell, £25.99m, Prestigious Textiles Porquerolles, £50.20m, Camengo Eltham in Antique, £89m, GP & J Baker Herons in Pink, £95m, Warner House TABLE TALK This handsome pitcher that doubles as a vase is the Frutti Di Bosco jug, £68 from cookery writer Skye McAlpine’s new online store, Tavola. Crafted in Italy and the UK, the tableware collections are made to be used in a charmingly mismatched way. CLASSIC REINVENTED Taking inspiration from antiques and updating them for modern life is something Oka is rather good at. This Briolette bureau, £2,395, is a reimagined French classic with a rustic cream finish and contrasting blue interior, a fold-out table, and a cable hole in the…

‘I am a big advocate for colour, and a rich blue-green on the walls paired with strong red tones creates the perfect harmony in my view. It’s particularly suitable in a north-facing room where strength of colour can replace the lack of natural light and sunshine.’ SARAH FORTESCUE, founder, Sarah Fortescue Design ‘Using a truly bright, saturated turquoise can transform a room, making it feel very directional, joyful and modern. Don’t be afraid to use it on the walls, as once you’ve hung artwork its impact will be softened. But if you are not feeling confident enough to paint an entire wall, try introducing it through accents such as painting a door or window frame. Like turquoise stone, it also looks great with natural materials such as wood, rattan, copper…

WELCOMING ENTRANCE 1 The original encaustic chequered tiles, softened with a natural jute rug, set the chic rustic tone here. They were painstakingly revealed beneath a layer of stubborn glue and old carpet. French country is all about creating a layered aesthetic that’s elegant but understated and pattern is a great tool for adding these layers. This decorative wallpaper goes beautifully with the red and grey marble-topped antique table. A SPACE TO GATHER 2 Used for family meals and formal dinners, this room is neither too casual nor too precious. The big old wooden table is key; it was bought at a brocante for €50, its legs painted in a chalk-based grey for an instant French country transformation. The grand carved fireplace is softened with a bric-a-brac display of birds’…

VAUGHAN Good lighting takes your bedroom colours to the next level. This company provides specialist knowledge alongside its vast range of lighting.vaughandesigns.com FEATHER & BLACK A new bed is always a high point. This firm offers everything from bedding to a range of quality mattresses, divans and bases.featherandblack.com THIBAUT A source of fabric and furniture, this firm is best known for wallpaper and offers a huge range of designs that will bring colour to a bedroom.thibautdesign.com ZOFFANY This company’s paint is sought-after and its experienced staff can help match shades to its fabrics and wallpaper. sandersondesign group.com…

Amy Spargo shares her style inspiration SECRET ADDRESS Yarra Valley Antique Centre – it’s where I have sourced the best vintage bookplates. GO-TO COLOUR Jodphur Blue by Porter’s Paints – it’s perfect for interiors and painted furniture. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Wallpaper. It changes the feel of a room and will give a space instant personality. FAVOURITE BUILDING The Duomo di Siena in Italy was one of the first Italian churches I visited and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of its striped marble columns. DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Classic, colourful, inviting. GO-TO DESIGN DETAIL Gathered bespoke lampshades. LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME A 1900s English faux bamboo hall stand. DESIGN HERO Anthony Baratta – I am in awe of his use of colour and pattern.…

It was a sad, crumbling edifice and we brought her back to life,’ says Stephanie Dunning of the historic home in the New Forest that she and her team at interior design studio Dunning & Everard, alongside Sheerin Bettle Architecture, recently renovated. The Grade II-listed house was constructed in the 1770s. Later additions were built and it became the home of the local magistrate, complete with cells (which still exist) in the cellar. Rare and beautiful papier-mâché ceilings that date back to the 18th century adorn the hallway and the study, but these, like other features in the house, were in a sorry state. The owners, two successful London lawyers with three boys in their teens and early twenties, had bought the house as a holiday home seven years ago…

Marnie Hopkins shares her style inspiration BIGGEST INDULGENCE The Vaughan chandeliers. They are vital to the feel of the room – from the seating level below and also from the gallery. GREATEST SUCCESS The oak clad wall as it fulfils a number of key design requirements: all the doors become invisible, while creating a sense of drama with warmth and texture. GO-TO COLOURS Zoffany has a beautiful collection of paints – Dove and Double Paris Grey are my favourite neutrals in the range. YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Contemporary, textures, art. SECRET ADDRESS Lots Road Auctions. MUSEUM TO VISIT The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, especially now the refurbishment of the Great Room is complete. It has such a perfect collection of works and overlooks the lovely courtyard.…

■ Don’t force plants into unsuitable places. ■ Identify and increase existing native/cultivated species. ■ Interplant with complementary plants or bulbs. ■ Experiment with combinations of colour and height then bulk up on successes the following year. ■ Scatter bulbs and plant where they naturally fall. ■ Buy good-quality bulbs and plant in late autumn. Narcissus, muscari, galanthus and crocus enjoy free-draining soils; fritillaria prefer slightly damper sites. ■ Cover with sods of grass to deter mice and squirrels. ■ Autumn planting small plugs of cowslips, for example, is easier and quicker than sowing seeds. ■ If growing through grass avoid mowing until July to allow bulbs to re-energise and flowers to set seed. ■ Divide clumps of bulbs every three or four years.…

SLOPING GARDENS PROVIDE A CHALLENGE but, for a designer, the trickier the topography, the greater the rewards. A sloping site will inevitably require the input of a structural engineer, as there will be a lot of soil to retain. Retaining walls essentially hold up the rest of the garden, so require heavy reinforcement to strict calculations to take the strain. They can become a feature in their own right, or be concealed behind planting. In this garden (left), the poured concrete retaining walls, hardwood timber and Corten steel all weather very naturally. Drainage is also essential on a steep slope, and a series of underground drains and channels can be incorporated within a design to carry the water away. WORK WITH THE NATURAL FORMS AND FEATURES of the land to create…

GROUP THE ESSENTIALS ‘In the flurry of action in the mornings before work and school, it makes complete sense to have your favourite breakfast items organised in one place to get the day off to an ordered, easy start,’ says Tom Howley, design director of Tom Howley. He suggests including a tap that dispenses boiling water for making tea and filling a cafetière – with a small sink or drip tray – or considering a built-in coffee machine. A deep counter with wall sockets for the toaster, juicer and milk frother, and shelves for teas, coffees, boxes of cereal, jars of jam and crockery, are also useful. EFFICIENT LAYOUT ‘Ideally, position the station close to where you will eat breakfast – whether it’s at an island or a table –…

GOOD TO SHARE ‘Side-by-side showers are perfect for en-suite wet rooms that are designed for sharing,’ says Emma Joyce, brand manager at House of Rohl. ‘This allows plenty of personal space while making a bold statement. Try pairing with a freestanding bath to enjoy the best of both worlds.’ In this stylish wet room by Leanne Ford Interiors, the floor has been raised to accommodate drainage pipes, with a stepped front. The entire space inside was then tanked and tiled, essentially creating a giant shower tray that keeps water completely contained, no matter how powerful the shower. DIVIDE AND CONQUER A tall metal-framed screen lends an industrial edginess to this wet room, while keeping water away from the beautiful marble-topped vanity. Making a feature of this dividing point boosts the…

BELIEVE the hype: Six Senses is as special as it is said to be. The superbrand is known for its commitment to sustainability and wellness and this commitment comes through in spades at the Zighy Bay outpost in Oman. The service is exacting and every effort is made to ensure a light touch. An organic garden and local farm supply the restaurants, there’s an Earth Lab on site and the resort will soon be single-use plastic free. The atmosphere is other-worldly, thanks to its location. It’s remote yet accessible, a two-hour drive from Dubai but blissfully secluded. The airport transfer takes you through a desert moonscape to the Musandam Peninsula, where rugged mountains dive into emerald waters. The resort design is understated and rustic. Stone villas with private pools are…

BRANCHING OUT The duo behind Salvesen Graham have been busy designing The Collection – the company’s first standalone homeware line. You’ll find small furniture, table linens, candles, soaps, botanical prints and Great Check and Little Check fabric in six pleasing shades. We’re taken by the Cane oversized mirror in Snow, £650, and soon-to-be-launched Floral Trail wallpaper, £215 a roll. → a FABULOUS LAUNCH A new name to know for beautiful wallpaper is Dado – dreamt up by a collective of industry insiders who share a passion for pattern, colour and design. Each season a new capsule collection will be launched in collaboration with artists and makers, as well as by Dado Atelier itself. Shown is Sea Fans in Blush, £165 a roll, by Jo de Pear. The designs can be…

JUST over 160 years after the creation of Morris & Co in 1861, this spring sees the launch of the brand’s debut paint range. Drawing inspiration from colours in 19th-century logbooks in the archive, alongside samples from original designs, the versatile palette of 40 hues pays homage to the brand’s incredible story. Who was the genius behind Morris & Co? Morris & Co was founded by visionary Arts & Crafts leader William Morris (1834-1896) in response to the mass-produced furnishings of the Victorian period. At Oxford and during his years in London, Morris became friends with members of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, including Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. They shared a love of nature, medieval aesthetics and Gothic architecture – and a dislike of mechanisation. While decorating Red House, Morris’…

SPRING GREENS A delicate cartouche motif wallpaper is a classic choice – mixing it with more modern fabrics in green and white keeps the look fresh. Rousseau wallpaper in Old Olive, Cole & Son. Toby’s sofa, William Yeoward. Seat in Komon in Celery; cushion in (far left) Sorbus in Willow, both Nile & York at The Fabric Collective. Cushions in (back, from left) Speedwell in Sage, Inchyra; Laguna in Turquoise, Christopher Farr Cloth; Waikiki in Green on Oyster, Bennison Fabrics. FOLIAGE FLOURISH This striking sketch of luxuriant palms in vibrant greens and blues is always going to be the star of the show. Use it in a small but powerful way to punctuate a scheme – as seat covers or curtains. Chair and curtain in Malacca in Prairie, Manuel Canovas.…

TENDER IS THE NIGHT This is a contemporary bedroom but the use of rich tones, shapes and details creates a connection with nature that makes it appear almost timeless. ‘For this Chelsea house project we worked to a selection of nature-inspired finishes with a strong preference for earthy terracotta and green and blue hues, which are offset against sleek black details,’ says Irene Gunter of design practice Gunter & Co. Irene describes this room as having ‘a lovely, cosy shape’, which was enhanced by the ‘warm, enveloping’ hand-woven texture of the wallcovering – Casablanca from Altfield. ‘The curved headboard also allowed us to have a generously sized bed without it overwhelming the wall behind.’ SHADE SHIFTING In this bedroom by interior designer Nicola Harding, the jewel green of the client’s…

WHERE TO START Write up a wish list that includes both the functionality you want from the curtain or blind, as well as what you want to achieve visually as part of your scheme – this, alongside a mood board, can then be presented to your chosen curtain maker for discussion. ‘Keep an open mind and carefully consider the shape of the window and the area around it,’ recommends Kathryn Seidl of bespoke soft furnishing supplier to the trade KLS Interiors. ‘Do you want a Roman blind on a window that is already wide and not very tall? This treatment will emphasise that. Instead, floor-length curtains will help to redress the balance of the window.’ PRIVACY AND BLACKOUT Particularly important in nurseries, full blackout won’t be achieved with curtains and…

“IT FELT VERY SPECIAL FINALLY ADDING THE BALCONIES TO THE BACK OF OUR HOME – IT MADE THE HOUSE FEEL COMPLETE, AS MY GODFATHER HAD ENVISAGED” Growing up, this house was a huge part of my life,’ says Jack Young, now a crown prosecutor in Hobart. ‘The house was owned by my late godfather, Stephen, and I would stay here on the Fridays when my parents had to set up their Saturday market stall in Hobart. It holds many nostalgic memories: happy times as a child, followed by emotional years, when Stephen was poorly. When he died, I decided to take on the property as a weekend-escape-meets-boutique-rental. I love that with Georgina, my wife, we have been able to preserve and share Stephen’s legacy.’ Located in Glebe, a suburb of…

Stephanie Dunning shares her style inspiration GO-TO COLOUR Paint & Paper Library’s Slate. SECRET ADDRESS Salisbury Antiques Centre. BIGGEST INDULGENCE Joinery – it’s a complete game changer when really well done. GREATEST SUCCESS Making the kitchen, sitting and dining area and open-plan space. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Painting the papier-mâché ceilings in slightly deeper tones brought them alive. When white they looked like polystyrene! WHAT’S THE NEXT GAME CHANGER IN DESIGN Definitely sustainability and the reuse and upcycling of clients’ own items or going to a supplier that does just that. DESIGN HERO Rita Konig. I love her gentle style, which always seems to be sympathetic to whichever project she is working on. WORDS TO LIVE BY One could always do better. LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME A…

Spring has much to offer in Benington Lordship Gardens. Blossom clouds of magnolia, cherry, crab apple and quince preside over naturalised carpets and formal beds of bulbs and wildflowers. ‘This is situated within such a wealth of history and beautiful architecture and dominated by such glorious views,’ enthuse its custodians, Susanna and Richard Bott. The gardens stand on the elevated site of a Norman motte and bailey castle; the remnants of the keep are a national monument. The early 1700s, brick-built manor house has breathtaking 19th-century, neo-Norman embellishments, its entrance courtyard dominated by a turreted gatehouse, folly and curtain wall, fashioned from local flint and Pulhamite stone. Richard’s great-grandmother, Lilian, a passionate gardener, and her husband Arthur Bott, a skilled engineer, enlarged and landscaped the gardens, one of the first…

“MAKING OUR OUTDOOR SPACES BIRD-FRIENDLY IS A SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE WAY TO START PROTECTING OUR MANY GARDEN BIRD SPECIES THAT ARE UNDER THREAT” TAKE a turn around the garden and among the birds you should hope to see now, digging for worms and rummaging for nesting material, are blackbirds and blue tits, jays and chaffinches, a territorial robin and, if you are very lucky, a shy wren. Sadly, the chances of you spotting a house sparrow are low these days. While experts, including the RSPB, are still unable to say why, the number of these once common garden birds has declined by up to 60 per cent since the mid-1970s. Swifts, greenfinches and house martins are also under threat, having recently joined nightingales, starlings and curlews on the RSPB Red…

OVER THE EDGE Generous overhangs are a modern take on the classic waterfall edge, stopping short of carrying horizontal surfaces down to the floor. ‘It’s brilliant for showing off a statement stone, like this Patagonia quartzite,’ says Roundhouse designer Alice Hood. ‘Unlike with a waterfall, you don’t sacrifice storage. The cabinets beneath this chunky worktop are full height.’ EMBELLISHED MINIMALISM Minimalists who feel ready to enjoy a dose of dazzle, take note… Christian Lacroix Maison’s new collaboration with Schmidt is just one of many illustrations of this hybrid trend. The two French powerhouses – one renowned for theatrical, opulent haute couture, the other for sleek, contemporary kitchens – have created a collection that sets decor panels adorned in a bold Algae Bloom pattern amid simple, flat-fronted designs. It’s a look…

QUOOKER The Fusion all-in-one, from £1,150, dispenses 100C boiling, hot and cold water; combine with the Cube, from £1,150, to add sparkling and chilled. quooker.co.uk PERRIN & ROWE Handcrafted in the UK, the Armstrong 3-in-1 instant hot water tap, from £1,443, offers industrial styling in a choice of eight finishes.perrinandrowe.co.uk BLANCO The drink.hot EVOL-S Pro, £2,158, delivers hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered boiling water, with a flexible hose and a dial for the precise amount. blanco.com INSINKERATOR A standalone design, the GN1100 Premium Range steaming hot water tap, from £580, is a compact and affordable choice in chrome or brushed steel. insinkerator.com…

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING Good storage is a bathroom essential. Clutter is not conducive to a well-ordered and restful environment, which is one of the key reasons why vanity units have become such an important design feature, offering somewhere to store toiletries, cosmetics, spare toilet rolls and towels below the basin. ‘Consider your specific requirements to ensure that your vanity meets your storage needs,’ advises Lisa Persse, director of Porter. It’s generally easiest to see and access contents in drawers, especially if they are compartmentalised, but cupboards are useful for larger items and tend to look more classic. THE BEST SPOT A stylish vanity can be a focal point, so it makes sense to position it as such. ‘Your bathroom’s unique layout will help you decide where to locate the…

TARRAGON BLONDIES MAKES 9-12 225g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 5 sprigs of tarragon, plus extra leaves to decorate 200g light brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 160g plain flour Pinch of ground cloves ½ tsp salt 100g white chocolate, roughly chopped 50g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped ■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Grease and line a 20cm square cake pan. ■ Finely chop one sprig of tarragon and set aside. Put the butter and remaining 4 whole sprigs of tarragon in a small saucepan. Gently melt the butter, then remove from the heat, cover and let it steep for 15-20 minutes. (For a stronger flavour you can leave this for 1 hour.) ■ Strain the butter into a large bowl, discarding the herbs. Once…

CHIC STYLE Neat and petite, the new Rose cocktail chair, from £995, Arlo & Jacob, is inspired by an antique French design. With compact proportions, it’s ideally suited to a dressing table or bedroom but will look smart in almost any space. It’s shown in Polka in Midnight and its legs come in a choice of colours, too. MEET THE MAKERS Founded by tastemaker Laura Jackson and Daniel Crow, Glassette is an online marketplace that champions the UK’s unique brands and products by independent makers, with a focus on artistry, longevity and eco-conscious materials. Look out for Glassette Editions – limited designs created in partnerships, such as the Support cushion, £135, by Kate Hawkins of CommonRoom. SEEN ON INSTAGRAM @faegerandco Tell us about yourself. I’m Vix, a London and Cotswolds-based…

One of the understood problems of our age is the profusion of materials we produce that don’t decay. If our current civilisations don’t make it through the next couple of centuries, and without a dramatic change in our consumption, future archaeologists will have a fairly clear picture of how we lived from the stuff we’ve littered all over our planet. Landfill sites will offer fantastic records of late 20th- and 21st-century life, as Roman mosaics and Greek pottery do for archaeologists today. Perhaps a silver lining to the cloud of damage we’ve inflicted will be our legible history, once the world’s climate has recovered in millennia to come. Baking clay is one of the few irreversible material refinements that ancient civilisations had at their disposal. And thank heavens they did…

NOW that New York City has reopened for business, interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins is taking advantage of the chance to rediscover favourite sources of inspiration: ‘I’ve really been focusing on reconnecting. For example, with the flower district here. I love perusing all the galleries of gorgeous, exotic flowers, [admiring] their unusual colour schemes and combinations. Often I’ll say, well, if nature could put this particular colour scheme together with this flower, or on this bird’s feathers, why couldn’t that work in a home, right? And so a lot of my colour schemes may seem unusual or different, but really they’re inspired by nature.’ A pandemic could have caused real problems for Corey, whose career is on a steep upward trajectory, but he seems to have taken it all in…

CHOOSING COLOUR Getting the colour right in a room can be a tricky business. Even with all their experience, it can take time for professionals to make a decision. There is a lot to consider – the size and shape of the space, the available natural light and its direction, who it is for, etc. ‘A large space can often handle a blanket of colour that works with both north- and south-facing light,’ says Tom Morris of Morrisstudio. ‘If wall colours are strong, I tone down the colours in the furnishings, or vice versa.’ HEADBOARDS Grand, super-sized headboards have been a thing for a while now but the style is evolving. Colourful matt patterns have replaced glossy monotonal textures and shapes have become more complex. The rectangle has been superseded…

Not many people decide to upsize when their children are fully grown, but interior designer Amy Spargo’s family is used to bucking the trend. Her parents, who both have decorating and build backgrounds, didn’t think twice about upscaling in their late 60s. With seven children and 15 grandchildren, their latest move was to turn this neoclassical Melbourne property into a welcoming family home. ‘Downsizing was never an option,’ says Amy’s mother. ‘It would have compromised how we live. We needed a place that was homely enough to wrap around us when alone, but large enough to easily play host to our extended family and friends.’ At first, the couple asked Amy only to refresh the interiors of the house, which hadn’t been touched since it was built 30 years ago.…

Georgina Young shares her style vision and loves GO-TO COLOURS Shades of blue, green and grey from Porter’s Paints. SECRET ADDRESS The Evandale Village Store. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT The sanding of the original Tasmanian oak floors. MUSEUM TO VISIT MONA, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania. DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Casual, relaxed and practical. OBJECT YOU WILL NEVER PART WITH My maternal (Australian) grandmother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring and matching eternity rings. My paternal (Scottish) grandmother’s opal earrings. WHAT’S ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE Plants and magazines. FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT I love@theblackhen. Their feed is filled with gorgeous images of vintage pieces for sale.…

With its elegant timber facade, it is hard to imagine this building in its previous iteration as a downtrodden barn housing grain and agricultural machinery. Yet its owners, Marnie and Damian Hopkins, who live here with daughters, Izzy, 20, and Cecily, 18, had spotted its potential a while ago: ‘We lived in the farmhouse on the same land for 14 years and I’d set my sights on developing it,’ Marnie says. ‘The building’s scale was exciting, plus it has amazing views.’ Having begun her career in management consultancy in the construction industry, Marnie’s expertise is now design and project management of residential refurbishments and she had created her own drawings to obtain the initial planning permission. Together with Damian, who works in the fashion industry, she then approached several architects,…

Best flowering tree Magnolia soulangeana is long-lived and beautifully shaped, bears hundreds of waxen-white, goblet-like blooms and provides good autumn colour. Best narcissus for naturalising ‘Thalia’ is a reliable do-gooder with large, scented creamy white flowers which light up the spring garden. Best for evergreen structure Yew, Taxus baccata, is perfect for creating large or small sculpted structures. It is slow growing but long lived and relatively disease free. Best springtime native wildflower Cowslips, Primula veris – the quintessential English meadow flower. Best perennial grass Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ brings softness and movement to borders; its tufted flower heads illuminate beautifully when backlit. Best border-filler The brilliant architectural, lime green forms of Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii rocket up and spread, but beware of self-seeding. Best fruiting blossom Flowering quince Chaenomeles…

GREAT SCOPE Far from limiting your garden design, sloping sites offer myriad choices that would not be possible to achieve on flat ground. With variable levels, you can create distinct areas, each with its own purpose, ambience and planting scheme, as well as a variety of seating zones to sit and take in the views. ‘A sloping space presents unique opportunities to create either drama or subtlety. Finding the route through the slope is just as important as the overall effect,’ says John Wyer, CEO and lead garden designer at Bowles & Wyer (bowleswyer.co.uk). STATEMENT STEPS ‘Think of the magnificent staircases and terraces in Italian renaissance gardens. While we might not be able to replicate that scale and grandeur in our gardens, we can take inspiration from the designs,’ says John.…

1 MAKE IT SEAMLESS Using the same striking metallic on both splashback and cabinetry helps achieve design cohesion in this kitchen by DesignSpace London. ‘The metallic surfaces are sheet aluminium with a patinated bronze dust finish,’ says managing director Richard Atkins. ‘As well as providing warmth and interest, it comes in large sheets, which avoids unsightly joints.’ Modulnova Blade kitchen, from £25,000, DesignSpace London. L.O.P. pendants (above island), £518 each, Boffi. Slab bar stools in Black, £360 each, Tom Dixon. 2 HYGIENE HERO Custom fabricated metallic surfaces can be welded or soldered at the corners to eliminate bacteria-attracting joints. In this kitchen, deVOL used aged copper on the splashback, worktop and integrated sink for a seamless installation. ‘Copper has amazing antibacterial properties, too, which makes it hygienic. It looks chic…

THE MIDAS TOUCH Brass brings gravitas to the modern egg-shape bath, fusing past and present with glorious results, as epitomised by this design by William Holland. ‘The Balaena offers the glamour of a traditional handmade bath crafted using no more than hammers and the skilled hands of our artisans, with sustainability and sleek minimalist style,’ says company director Bill Murphy. Available in a select range of finishes, just ten Balaenas are produced to order each year. MATCHY-MATCHY METALS Aged brass remains a hot choice with enduring appeal, but it can be difficult to match fittings – and the slightest change in tone can disrupt a cohesive scheme. Luckily, Matki and Swadling Brassware have created a brass finish that’s hand-aged to achieve a uniform appearance across enclosures, shower controls, shower heads…

KALDEWEI Made of durable steel enamel, the Miena, from £610, is a round washbowl with slender edges, available in more than 15 colours.kaldewei.co.uk KAST The Aura, from £1,994, is a slim pill-shaped basin with fluted surface details, cast in tactile concrete and available in 28 beautiful shades.kastconcretebasins.com LONDON BASIN COMPANY Marnie Blue, £849, is a luxury basin inspired by India’s kaleidoscope of colours and decorative patterns. londonbasin company.com VITRA The Plural countertop bowl, £280, is triangular, made of fine ceramic, and available in rich colours such as Matt Terra Rossa and Matt Moss Green. vitra.co.uk…

THE most powerful skill set a designer can possess is a deep and hands-on education allied with impeccable instinct. The first can be developed with determination; the second might be refined over time but cannot be taught. Max Rollitt demonstrates a sensitive balance of both. Supported by a team of 12, Max works from a converted barn, which design professionals visit to source classical antiques and finely crafted furniture, and to peruse the authentically scaled roomsets that showcase them. An upholstery workshop launches soon, and plans are afoot to add a polishing shop. Max is the son of an antiques dealer, so touring fairs formed an early part of his education. ‘As a child, I remember being excited about a property my parents were thinking of buying and imagining how…