Innehållsförteckning för March 2017 från Homes & Gardens

When I was studying for my art A-level, my desk at home was surrounded by postcards and pictures from magazines of paintings that I admired. Among an ever-changing collection there was always a work by David Hockney, usually one from his series of swimming pools. I’ve always been drawn to his use of colour, from those earlier paintings to his more recent landscapes, so I am really looking forward to visiting the major exhibition of his work at the Tate Britain from 9 February. To whet your appetite, our decorating team has drawn inspiration from Hockney’s paintings to create artistic schemes full of vibrant colour on page 65. Equally eye-catching are the wonderfully dramatic living rooms on page 153, which incorporate some of the latest striking floral designs. The beautiful…

Can you tell us about your background, Gearóid? I grew up in Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland. I studied Craft Design at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, and the Lahti University of Applied Sciences in Finland. After that, I had a short internship with Norwegian design studio StokkeAustad and travelled extensively in Scandinavia. I like to understand how things work and I’m especially interested in how natural materials can be used to their fullest potential. How did you and Jo Anne meet? GM We met at the National College of Art and Design. I agreed to help Jo Anne install her graduate exhibition if she went on a date with me afterwards. What inspires you? GM I’m always impressed when I come across an…

SMALL WONDERS With several companies responding to requests for children’s bedding that features softer shades and delicate prints, we’ve picked our three favourite designs that should stand the test of time. 1| A pretty needlework edge on the Folky Embroidery single duvet cover, £78, Rowen & Wren, 01276 451077, rowenandwren.co.uk, will bring subtle colour to an older child’s room. 2| Made for mini alpine adventures, the hand-stitched woollen Mountie cushion, H53xW69cm, £55, Loaf, 0845 468 0697, loaf.com, is a perfect choice for fun-loving youngsters. 3| Unusual colours and playful prints keep things lively for little ones and teens. Cotton quilt in Chambray Blue, £80; duvet cover in Gold, £65; both Hibou, 01580 243188, hibouhome.com. NEW PERSPECTIVES Celebrating its long association with work that features trompe l’oeil, Linley, 020 7730 7300,…

1| Milan in Pavia Zinc, H36xW120xD54cm, £625, Designers Guild. 2| Beaufort in Light Grey wool, H34xW127xD94cm, £700, The White Company. 3| Dezra in Teal velvet, H30xW117xD64cm, £499, Marks & Spencer. 4| Harris Tweed Bowmore in Heather tweed, H32xW160xD80cm, £719, Barker and Stonehouse. 5| Chopin, H43xW127xD63.5cm, £1,588 plus around 2m of fabric, Nina Campbell. 6| Brummell in Sage Siena leather, H41xW102xD65cm, £2,295, Beaumont & Fletcher. 7| Clemence, H40xW125xD72cm, £575, India Jane. 1| Mr Smith in Greige velvet, H38xW90xD65cm, £295, Angel & Boho. 2| Chelworth in Wishing Well lightweight linen, H31xW103xD67cm, £476, Willow & Hall. 3| Dimple in Turmeric velvet, H38xW94xD64cm, £535, Loaf. 4| The Club in Sunshine pure cotton matt velvet, H42xW150xD67cm, £500, Sofa.com. 5| Bounderby square in Stirling Onyx H36xW71xD71cm, £380, Arlo & Jacob. 6| Furia Odyssey in Marco Steel…

Can you describe the space? Situated in a Victorian mansion block in London, this sitting room is filled with plenty of natural light. We wanted to enhance this, so we painted the walls a soft rose pink, Cuisse de Nymphe Emue from Edward Bulmer. It is made using natural pigments, which gives it a greater depth of colour, and it offers a lovely alternative to the usual neutral palette of cream or grey. This provided us with a blank canvas to build upon and is a wonderful backdrop for pictures. Was there a starting point for the scheme? The main aim was to keep the light and airy feel of the room; we didn’t want it to be oppressive or cluttered. Where possible, I like to begin the scheme with…

“Although this is essentially a summer garden, the evergreen oak domes and hedging keep it looking good through the year.” What was your brief for this garden? The Earl and Countess of Arran, who own this beautiful estate in north Devon, asked me to design a summer garden to complement their existing woodland garden. While the woodland is filled with magnolias, acers and rhododendrons that offer spring blossom and autumn colour, this area comprised a turquoise swimming pool, lawns, a few trees and little else. We agreed to relocate the pool, then I set about transforming the site. Can you tell us what influenced the design? The view from the Grade II-listed house, which overlooks the garden from the top of the hill. I sketched out a rough plan that…

• We work on a lot of kitchens in open-plan spaces and are always looking for ways to remove the laundry from this area. It’s a mistake to think laundry is connected to the kitchen – it is very separate and, in many ways, it’s better off upstairs near your clothes. • You don’t need a big area to create a successful utility room. Even in a small apartment, you can design an effective space in little more than a cupboard. Appliances can be stacked and a double cupboard can house all your cleaning essentials. • To make best use of every inch of space, we often specify storage rails across the ceiling on which to hang clothes to dry. They are also useful for storing clothes as you iron.…

1 PULLMAN EDITIONS designs striking original limited-edition posters that capture the enduring appeal of Art Deco. Their posters feature winter sports, glamorous resorts around the world, and historic automobiles. Over 100 designs available at £395 each. 020 7730 0547 or view and buy online at www.pullmaneditions.com 2 GILLY THOMAS SCULPTURE Now living in beautiful rural Ireland Gilly Thomas has created a new series of small bronze sculptures especially for the country home. Shown here are Three Salmon Swimming, in a limited edition of 9. To view all her work, please visit www.gillythomas-sculpture.com + 353 87 227 9270 3 THESE PLEASE design beautiful ceramic door knobs which can be used to transform kitchen units and bedroom furniture. There’s an Aladdin’s cave of hundreds of knobs in different colours, styles and patterns. Homes…

“While chrome and silver finishes remain firm favourites for the bathroom, softer metallics are proving popular, too. Brushed gold is a beautiful option with an appealing warmth and a feel of understated luxury.” Nicholas Cunild, managing director, Matki, matki.co.uk. BRIGHT IDEA Add a note of simple elegance to your scheme with the Upton Smoked Glass bathroom ceiling light, £240, Fritz Fryer, fritzfryer.co.uk. IN CONTROL No hot or cold surges, no wondering whether the water is warm enough – simply set your desired temperature and flow from outside the enclosure and, when the LED control glows white, step in for your perfect shower. Digital shower system, shown with Kai controls, from £560, Crosswater, crosswater.co.uk. TOP FORM Created for CP Hart, cphart.co.uk, by Sieger Design for Dornbracht, the Fil basin mixer, from…

Tapping into the current trend for all things hand-crafted, we’re setting our spring table with the latest shades of subtle green and yellow from Dove Street Pottery, perfect for welcoming the new season.…

1| Warming notes. Pink Pepper and Gingerwood diffuser, £24 for 100ml, Oliver Bonas, 020 8974 0110, oliverbonas.com. 2| Sanderson’s vintage floral prints inspired the fresh fragrance of this uplifting range. Sorilla 1964 hand cream, £8 for 100ml, Sanderson Archive collection at Heathcote & Ivory, 020 7483 8383, heathcote-ivory.com. 3| Artistic life celebrated in scent. The Bloomsbury Set cologne (from left) Leather and Artemisia; Tobacco and Mandarin; Blue Hyacinth; Whisky and Cedarwood; Garden Lilies; £46 for 30ml, Jo Malone, 0808 281 0229, jomalone.co.uk.…

1| Ammonite in Danube, cotton mix, £59m, Kai. 2| Animal Magic in Teal, linen mix, £89m, Mulberry Home at GP & J Baker. 3| Caruso in Slate, linen, £120m, William Yeoward at Designers Guild. 4| Strawberry Thief in Pebble, cotton mix, £125m, Morris & Co. 5| French Knot in White, linen mix, £114m, Anna French at Thibaut Design. 6| Kelso in Sandstone, linen, £67m, Romo. 7| Enso in Chambray, linen mix, £35m, Villa Nova. 8| Dalby in Dove, cotton mix, £36m, Sanderson. 9| Melina in Silver, linen mix, £85m, Colefax and Fowler. Background Michaux in Alabaster, £59 a roll, Designers Guild.…

After completing a Masters in Mixed Media Textiles at the Royal College of Art, maker Aimee Betts set up her own studio in 2012. Her embellishments, inspired by historic and contemporary techniques, add a modern twist to textiles, clothing, jewellery and even lighting. Recent projects include a velvet cushion with knitted cord decoration for Burberry and The New Craftsmen. “Embroidery and decoration should add value to a piece of work; if they don’t, then the design isn’t working. I’m certainly not afraid of trying something new and experimenting with different techniques. In the past, I’ve said yes to jobs knowing full well that I’d have to go away and learn an entirely new way of working. For me, it’s an enriching experience that broadens my knowledge and keeps things fresh.…

FURNITURE Zanotta Tempo side table , H50xdiam34cm, £585 , Aram Store . 1950s Italian cabinet , H93xD102xW50cm, £6,500 , Valerie Wade . WALLS Jack’s Jungle wallpaper 5336, £115.60m , Phillip Jeffries . FLOORING Square Seagrass rug in Noir, 200x300cm, £297 , Caravane. ACCESSORIES Kelly Wearstler Pop vase , £1,659 , Harrods . Vesuvius tall vase , £228 , Jonathan Adler . Scoop vase , £142 , Anna Beam . Armstrong wall light , L104xdiam31cm, £225 , Perch & Parrow . For a similar Paul Rudall painting , from £500 , try Askew Art . This striking living room composition is perpetually joyful and calls to mind Hockney’s expressive use of bold colours and shapes. FURNITURE Lino Modules sofa in Reticello in Cobalt, H85xW258xD260cm, £4,845, Designers Guild. Colonna stool in Pink,…

Christina Reti and James Jakeman restored a Victorian townhouse, previously converted into bedsits, back into a family home for themselves and their children, Ludovic, aged four, and Iris, three. Trained as a specialist in fine art and identifying forgeries, Christina now sources executive talent for luxury hotels. We spoke to Christina, whose artistic background, combined with a love of mid-century design, is the inspiration behind her glamorous, yet immensely comfortable home. Christina, what was your vision for this home? I wanted us to be surrounded by art and beautifully designed furniture, so that everyone feels warm, welcome and inspired. My vision was that the spaces had a sense of flow but also offered privacy, so the whole of the ground floor is open plan. One group of people can chat…

BRUGES FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS Four days from £399 per person. Departures March to November 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Eurostar and return rail* from most mainline stations, taxes and transfers. Stays in a three- or four-star hotel. Fully escorted sightseeing, including Ypres, a chocolatier and a First World War battlefield.** CLASSICAL ITALY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS Eight days from £949 per person. Departures April to October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights, taxes and transfers. Stays in a four-star hotel, with breakfast and four evening meals. Fully escorted sightseeing of Rome, Siena, Florence and Arezzo, plus the Uffizi art gallery.** SEVILLE, CORDOBA AND GRANADA Seven days from £789 per person. Departures April to November 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights, taxes and transfers. Stays in three- or four-star hotels with breakfast in Seville, Granada and…

Can you describe the space? This main bedroom is located on the 24th floor of an apartment block in Yorksville, Toronto. The fittings were quite outdated when my client moved in, with yellowed oak floors and overly ornate crown mouldings, which made the space feel stuck in the 1980s. We updated most of the finishes and, in this particular room, we built bookcases to conceal a bulkhead above. Tell us more about the shelving. Often the space beside a bed is rather wasted so my advice would be to add shelves. This makes the view from the bed less cluttered and you can dream among inspiring pieces. We decided to display African objects that our client collected on his travels. These pieces mean something to the owner and tell a…

Introducing bold florals to your decorating scheme may feel a little daunting, but the key to showing them off to their best advantage is restraint. Here, a large floral print on the dining chairs makes a striking statement against a backdrop of carefully co-ordinated plains. FURNITURE Drum dining table, H70xdiam150cm, £4,346, Julian Chichester. Top in Basalt, Absolute Matt Emulsion, £38 for 2.5 litres, Little Greene. Washington dining chairs, H85xW55xD63cm, £645 each plus 1.5m fabric, Robert Langford. Nizwa cabinet, H76xW169xD45cm, £7,000, Bethan Gray. FABRICS Chairs in Meadow F7010 Col 2, cotton mix, £72m; curtains in Shimmer F6640/05, viscose mix, £59m, Matthew Williamson; both Osborne & Little. WALLS PP5-10-05 NBT, matt emulsion, £38.40 for 2.5 litres, Papers and Paints. FLOORING Spacia Cellar Oak vinyl, £37.05sq m, Amtico. ACCESSORIES Orbit chandelier MCL53 in…

• A well-designed utility will zone everything and create order, allowing the kitchen and living areas to be relaxed, quiet spaces. • Long a traditional part of the home, it’s nice for a utility room’s features to reflect that with classic fittings such as a Belfast sink and Sheila Maid airer. However, it should be designed with functionality at its heart. There is no point having an airer if it fills the room and you can’t get through the door. • A long narrow room can actually work well, with one three-metre run of cabinets, plus a sink and one tall cupboard. In country homes, it’s all about the boot room with the Belfast sink, a place for muddy wellies and pet beds, plus space for laundry appliances. • Consider…

Who doesn’t hanker after a delicious pie on a frosty day? Whether returning from a bracing country walk to buttery shortcrust pastry filled with steaming chicken and seasonal vegetables or indulging in a pretty lattice-topped design featuring apple and rhubarb after a traditional Sunday lunch, pies offer a culinary embrace like no other food. They are always sure to impress, have a touch of nostalgia and are also surprisingly easy and enjoyable to make. SMOKED FISH PITHIVIER Serves 6 (previous page) Salting the fresh fish and adding a thin layer of potatoes between the base and filling helps to prevent the pastry becoming soggy. 1 large waxy potato, peeled Salt and ground black pepper 125g smoked, undyed haddock, skinned and cut into 2.5cm pieces 225ml whole milk 350g fresh haddock,…

Stepping into the Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had stumbled into the home of a wealthy English dignitary. The whimsical interiors are the work of design luminary Russell Sage – the creative force behind the original Clerkenwell hotel – who took inspiration from the collections of Sir John Soane. Mementos harking back to The Grand Tour sit amid a dark palette, offset by sumptuous Gainsborough silks and Victorian screens. It is a perfect choice for weary travellers wishing to escape the modern world. NEED TO KNOW Rooms start from £234 a night. The hotel’s cocktail lounge, Seymour’s Parlour, serves afternoon tea as well as drinks by legendary mixologist Tony Conigliaro. There are 24 bedrooms including two studio suites and a rooftop apartment. The…

“WE FAVOUR FORMS WITH EXTREME SIMPLICITY, BUT STILL RECOGNISABLE AS DESIGN THAT STANDS OUT.” Can you tell us about your collections for Ex.t? Frame is a modular system of bathroom furniture with strong, graphic lines. The frames are made of charcoal-black powder-coated steel, and can accommodate a basin and countertop, with a drawer or cabinet in black-stained wood veneer. We didn’t want the pieces to look heavy, but more like transparent structures through which you can see the floor. They are as practical as larger pieces, but lighter in expression, so they work well even in smaller rooms. The Rest daybed and pouf were inspired by spacious Victorian bathrooms with curtains, upholstered furniture and a big tub. They suit the trend for large, more expensive bathrooms, sometimes integrated with bedrooms,…

1| An Indian style fabric with a vintage feel. Anoushka in Charcoal, linen mix, £65m, Kate Forman, 01962 732244, kateforman.co.uk. 2| Decorative ceramics for tasteful snacks. Uka Stripe nibble bowls, H6xdiam12cm, £7.95 each, Nkuku, 0333 240 0155, nkuku.com. 3| A versatile textile with a classic look. Ticking Stripe in Pear, linen, £64m, Emily Bond, 0117 376 3067, emilybond.co.uk. 4| Laze in luxury on this ample cushion. Puff S14 in merino wool, H85xW140xD95cm, €690, 03AM, 03am.co. 5| Running rings around contemporary design. Soho table lamp in Blue-Black, around H61x diam25cm, £1,346; silk shade in Midnight Blue, H30xdiam45cm, £112; both Kinkatou, 020 7223 3978, kinkatou.com. 6| Beautifully soft and easy on the eye. Sara towels in Pink, Green, Grey, Navy and Blue, from £9 each for 25cm sq, Kontex at Couverture &…

Tell us how the business began. I started Kent & London in 2009 because I love the idea of creating furniture that becomes part of the family. After graduating from Central St Martins in 2001, where I studied Product Design, I worked in several showrooms but I found the furniture design process cold and sometimes elitist. I wanted a more democratic approach to custom made furniture so I literally opened the doors of my workshop “The Boatshed” on Whitstable beach, allowing people to see furniture being made and to engage with me on the development of their own ideas. It all grew from there . How do you sum up your design philosophy? Kent & London is about creating simple, beautiful and hard-wearing furniture that sits well in a modern…

How would you describe your Instagram account (left)? It’s my attempt to get people interested in historical ceramics, with contemporary designs thrown in. Honestly, I love all breakables and want to show how engaging and humorous they can be, particularly pieces from the 18th and 19th century, which people might associate more with their grandmothers. Who should we follow? Ted Sandling, @London_ Mudlark, searches the banks of the Thames, finding shards, buttons and other bits from the past. He displays them beautifully and always has something poetic to say. Follow Homes & Gardens @homesandgardensuk…

“ It feels cosy and homely when it’s just the three of us, but it’s also brilliant for entertaining friends.” Castles rarely come up for sale but as Amit and Jolanta Patel say of the decision to buy theirs, “We never set out to own one, but when the chance came up to buy this beautiful building, the decision was easily made. We fell in love with its wonderful setting within rolling countryside and with the castle’s character,” says Amit. Character it may have had, but comfort it definitely lacked, so the couple called on interior design firm Katharine Pooley. “We have a London property that the firm designed several years ago,” says Amit, “and knowing of Katharine and her team’s experience of working on country properties, we felt…

THIS MONTH, we visit a convivial open-plan family home in Melbourne (page 78), a restored Victorian townhouse (page 88) that exudes glamour, an elegant 1920s apartment in Copenhagen (page 97), and a stunning rural retreat (page 107) built from scratch on Long Island. For garden lovers, there’s a lofty rooftop terrace in London (page 116) and a wonderfully romantic lakeside garden (page 121) in rural Wiltshire.…

A desire to experience real city living was the catalyst for Mette Heiberg, her husband, Ted, and their teenage daughters’ move from the northern suburbs to the heart of Copenhagen in the spring of 2013. The Heibergs were keen to make a new home for their family, but the condition of the 1920s apartment they found meant that doing so was no small undertaking, as Mette, a commissioning editor for lifestyle programmes at Danish TV, recalls. “It was in a very bad state when we bought it – we had to do everything,” she explains. “Among other things, the property had to be completely rewired and we pulled up some of the flooring and laid a new one.” OLD WITH THE NEW With Ted’s eye for good but functional design…

Miranda Thomas has known the garden at Ark Farm all her life. As a child, she used to visit and play there, never knowing that one day she would live here. Ten years ago, Miranda and her husband, Martin, moved to Wiltshire with their five children, to live in a barn that overlooks the garden. Two years later, they swapped houses with the garden’s owner, family friend Edmund Neville-Rolfe, and Miranda joined him in caring for and maintaining the garden. It was an enormous challenge, she says. “I didn’t know the first thing about gardening so it was quite frightening.” The woodland garden surrounds a small lake that lies just below the ruins of Old Wardour Castle and another much larger lake – now in the care of English Heritage…

“By not crowding the island’s surface with fittings, the expanse of stone is left to do the talking.” Can you describe the project? As this London penthouse apartment is in one of Marylebone’s finest Georgian buildings, the expectations for quality and luxury were understandably high. The brief was materials driven; the client wanted rich finishes with a luxurious Mayfair-style flair, but the kitchen also needed to be extremely functional. This was never going to be a case of style over substance. What inspired the look? The kitchen had to be contemporary but not at the expense of warmth and comfort. Essentially, the scheme is like a finely tailored suit: smart, in complementary materials and exquisitely made. We chose cabinetry from Modulnova’s Fly and MH6 collections as the minimalist building blocks,…

FINE PEDIGREE It was the high street design story of 2011 when Sir Terence Conran joined forces with Marks & Spencer to create a collection of contemporary furniture and home accessories with affordable elegance at its core. This year’s offerings are arguably the best yet. For us, the highlight is this Caleb pendant, £49, with its bronze-effect fixtures, smoky glass, grey fabric cable and marble disc – so many trends in one simple silhouette. Contact Marks & Spencer, 0333 014 8555, marksand spencer.com. STRONG CONTENDER CRL, the company that brought us Caesarstone, has launched Ceralsio, a new collection of porcelain surfaces. Impermeable and thermally stable, the material is stain, scratch and shock resistant, and at just 1.2cm-thick, it taps straight into the trend for slim surfaces. Ceralsio comes in 26…

“The wood-effect tiles have a lovely texture and taking them up the walls in the shower creates a cocooning effect.” Can you describe the space? This bathroom is in a large, new extension to an Arts and Crafts-style family home in East Sussex. The access is open-plan; there is a long view from the bedroom, through the dressing room to this space at the end. What was the design brief? I was asked to avoid “this year’s look” and create something more personal and timeless. The rest of the bathrooms in the house are quite masculine in style, so there was call for a softer, more feminine look. The conversation started along Venetian-boudoir lines and gradually moved to calmer, more organic shapes with nature-inspired elements and a small dose of…

“For traditional utility rooms, I like to use quarry tiles on the floor, and tongue-and-groove finished in a hard-wearing, easy-to-clean paint on the walls. A zinc worktop adds character and gives a unique touch.”ANNA STANDISH , interior designer, annastandish.com. “Pets and their paraphernalia take up a lot of room. I design dog beds to fit the unused area under a countertop. This keeps them nicely contained and frees up the floor space.”ANNA STANDISH , interior designer, annastandish.com. “Essentials for a laundry include a tall cabinet for the ironing board, plenty of waist-height units with storage below and surfaces for folding clothes. A hanging rail at eye level is useful, while a ceiling rack makes the most of the space.”ANNA STANDISH , interior designer, annastandish.com. “In a…

IS STONE A GOOD CHOICE FOR A DINING TABLE? Would a table with a natural stone top be practical for a family and stand up well to everyday use and spills? TW, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Stone-topped tables look wonderful but natural stone is porous and even when a penetrating sealer is applied, it will only prevent staining from water, oil and grease. Acidic liquids such as wine, vinegar, lemon juice and even tomato ketchup can etch and degrade the sealant if left on the surface, with the potential to mark. You might consider a farmhouse or refectory table from Slate Top Tables, 01404 850881, slatetoptables.com. These come in standard and bespoke sizes; the Classic table, H76xL150xW90cm, costs £1,249. The slate is finished with impregnating LTP Stone Oil by LTP, 01823 666213,…

A Amtico, 0121 745 0800, amtico.com. Angel & Boho, 0845 2000 723, angelandboho.com. Anna Beam, annabeam.com. Anna French, 020 7737 6555, annafrench.co.uk. Ann Sacks, 020 3055 0802, annsacks.com. Aram Store, 020 7557 7557, aram.co.uk. Arlo & Jacob, arloandjacob.com. Arnott & Mason, 07983 132531, arnottandmason.london. Askew Art, 07718 384576, askewart.co.uk. B Balineum, 020 7431 9364, balineum.co.uk. Barker and Stonehouse, 01642 230988, barkerandstonehouse.co.uk. Beaumont & Fletcher, 020 7498 2642, beaumontandfletcher.com. Benjamin Moore, 01753 575756, benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk. Bert & May, 020 3744 0776, bertandmay.com. Best Tile, 00353 51 354905, best-tile.co.uk. Bethan Gray, 020 3214 3150, bethangray.com. Bethan Laura Wood, 07754 064070, woodlondon.co.uk. Botany, 020 3759 8191, botanyshop.co.uk. The Bradley Collection, 0845 118 7224, bradleycollection.com. Brian Yates, 020 7352 0123, brian-yates.co.uk. C Caravane, 020 7486 5233, caravane.fr. Chapel Street London, 020 8576 6644, chapelstreetlondon.com. Colefax…

Great bathrooms that work on every level are a combination of beautiful sanitaryware and excellent design, so we have teamed up with luxury bathroom specialist CP Hart to bring together the very best in new products and style ideas. To this end, we have spoken to leading designers Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Peter Jamieson for their insights on new horizons in the world of bathroom design, while suggestions on creating the perfect bathroom look, whether it be sleek and modern or beautifully classic, come from interior designers Justin Van Breda, House of Hackney and Joanna Wood. We also showcase the latest furniture and fittings, which incorporate great design and functionality as well as environmental and technological advances. All these can be seen at CP Hart’s flagship Waterloo showroom in London, which…

DARA HUANG is the inspiration behind cutting-edge interior design company Design Haus Liberty, which specialises in making sensuous modern spaces for private clients and developers across the globe. What are you doing to make your bathrooms more inviting? I was in New York recently and its bathrooms blow the UK’s out of the water. Over there bathrooms are the size of our bedrooms with huge showers, heated stone seats and separate lavatories. Developers here have always had to financially justify the creation of larger bathrooms, but with a devalued pound and the need to find alternative building solutions, some of these things may come our way. How do you begin a design? Firstly, I look at how to arrange the basics spatially. The trick is to fit the four…

“I LIKE TO INCLUDE ANTIQUE PIECES IN A BATHROOM. THEY CREATE A NATURAL SENSE OF ELEGANCE AND CONTINUITY.” What are your key considerations when designing a bathroom? The most important thing to think about is how we look and feel in the room. After all, a bathroom is where we prepare ourselves at the start of the day and unwind in the evening, and we want to feel good. I always think about how skin is going to look against the colours and lighting used: those bathrooms with fluorescent lighting that makes skin look green do not make us feel comfortable at all. Materials are also crucial in creating an inviting space, as the interplay of stone, wood and metal, married with the lighting, vanity, bath surround and mirror, can…

• Think carefully about who will be using the bathroom and your likes and dislikes. Do you want a bath and shower combination, for example, or would you prefer to devote your space to a super-size shower? • Make a note of the dimensions of your room and the position of windows, doors and the WC. A quick sketch is a useful starting point for discussion. • Visit one of our 14 showrooms to enjoy our inspirational room sets. Our gallery of cutting-edge bathroom products from some of the world’s most creative designers is merely an introduction to our extensive collection of fittings. Think about the styles you like and how they might suit your home and relate to your bedroom or dressing area. • Ask our knowledgeable specialists to…

“A BATHROOM SHOULD BE AN INSPIRING PLACE. WHY NOT USE PRINT AND COLOUR TO WONDROUS EFFECT?” How did your interiors brand come about? We set up House of Hackney six years ago, because we were bored with the minimalist interiors on offer. We craved texture, print and colour for our own home, but couldn’t find it, so we created our own brand. Since then, the print trend has gathered momentum and a new mood is emerging, as people are becoming bolder and more confident with decorating. We can see this moving from sitting rooms and bedrooms to bathrooms, as these are no longer clinical spaces. Can you tell us about your project with CP Hart? We presented the company with two concepts: one for a Quartz Pink room with a…

“I WANT TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL PIECES THAT COMPLEMENT ALL KINDS OF MATERIALS AND FINISHES.” Can you describe your bathroom collection for German company Knief & Co? All the pieces are made from a solid surface called K|Stone. This acrylic-based composite material is non-porous, hygienic, stain-resistant and smooth and, unlike ceramic, feels warm to the touch. K|Stone can be thermoformed into all kinds of seamless shapes, so we have been able to produce very elegant baths and basins, plus WCs and bidets to match. The material is available in a choice of matt and gloss finishes, with the high gloss achieved by polishing, not by coating. This means that scratches can be buffed out, which is impossible with a coated surface. How did you begin working with Knief & Co? Knief…

“DOWNTIME IS VERY VALUABLE, SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT WITH A BATHROOM THAT IS LUXURIOUS AND TRANQUIL – A PLACE TO TRULY RELAX.” Are you finding more demand from your clients for bathrooms with a spa feel? Very much so. People are taking more care over the design decisions – it’s no longer a quick choice of bath, basin and WC. We think carefully about what will look best, which materials to use, how the lighting will work and what kind of music system to install. It’s about creating a whole wellbeing and relaxation experience. Of course, everyone has different needs. Often men ask for a big, powerful shower, as well as steam and a demisting mirror. Women, on the other hand, tend to want a place to relax,…