Innehållsförteckning för May 2016 från Living Etc

Adrian Briscoe Photographer, Turkish delight Which three words sum you up? Calm, lateral, thinker. Who is your design hero and why? Paul Rand, the art director and graphic designer. His playful use of shape and typography is a great inspiration. What’s the most unusual shoot you’ve done? I once shot a series of images of discarded objects found along railway lines. Which celebrity’s home would you love to see inside? If it was possible, I’d love to visit a home designed by Ken Adam, who was the set and production designer for the early Bond movies and Dr. Strangelove. What’s the one thing every home should have? A piece of original art. What would you do with a spare £100? I’d buy some plants for my garden. Thea Babington-Stitt Livingetc’s…

AYE AYE CAPTAIN! London-based lighting wizard Michael Anastassiades does it again with luxe materials and simple, geometric forms. His newest creation, the Captain Flint light for Flos, sees a rotating cone shade delicately balanced on a graceful gold mast, anchored by a disc of Carrara marble. Now that deserves a salute. ￡987 (atrium.ltd.uk) BOHEMIA RULES Marbled paint mixed with butterflies, kaleidoscopic wing patterns and tables topped in peacock feathers, all in vibrant jewel tones – who else but Matthew Williamson? The fashion designer has created a colossal 40 new fabrics for his collaboration with furniture upholsterer Duresta (see left), which have been expertly applied to an array of vivacious, upholstered pieces. One of the collection’s other standouts – literally – is this whimsical flamingo-legged piece, which adds a whole new…

CANTEEN STYLE WITH BACK…

Pump up pristine walls and woodwork with graphic blocks of colour – strong green tones set the scene for a warm, embracing space. WALL Painted in, left, Hunter Dunn flat emulsion, £37.50 for 2.5l, Paint & Paper Library; and, right, Dark Lovage matt emulsion, £36 for 2l, Paint by Conran. FURNITURE Detroit console table, £250, Graham and Green. FLOOR Vinyl flooring in Black, £28 per sq m, The Colour Flooring Company. DETAILS Planet lamp, £630, Please Wait To Be Seated at The Conran Shop. Trilby, £110, Iona Montgomery. My Skateboard, £114, Seletti at Panik. Montrachet door knob, £210, Haute Déco. Vase umbrella stand, £1,050, Fornasetti at Harrods. For details of the wallpaper and framed print seen in background, see overleaf. Sharpen up the gentlemen’s club vibe with parquetry prints and…

Echo the lines of Ottoman architecture with a shapely vase that has no need of showy blooms. Oman vase, £3,400, Venini at William & Son. Ongo lamp, £529, Contardi at Harrods. Plain bookcase, approx £1,606, Lema. Obelisk bookend, £29.99, Zara Home. Hay A5 folder, in vase, £19, Liberty. Aurora gold necklace, £38.50, Bohemia. Persian wallpaper, £126 per roll, Mineheart. The street-side game of chequers works just as well inside on these parquet-patterned tables. Cube side tables, from £550 each, Rockman & Rockman at The Livingetc Edit at Clippings.com/livingetc. Swarovski clutch, £598, Butler & Wilson. Checkers set, £13.99, Amazon. Wing sofa, for details, see opposite. Ipanema cushion cover, £75; and Abstract Rectangles rug, £495, The Conran Shop. Blue-mix rug, £170, Heal’s. For a similar tapestry throw, try the Devi, £40, Urban…

LIVING AREA ‘When I first saw the flat, I loved its high ceilings and the French doors opening on to the street. It’s like being in Paris,’ says Sera. Get the look The sofa, armchairs, fibrous-plaster panelling and shade on the floor lamp, left, are all from Sera of London. The peacock chair is an original from the Seventies. HOME PROFILE THE OWNER Sera Hersham-Loftus, an interior decorator and homeware designer. THE PROPERTY A first-floor flat in an early Victorian stucco terrace in west London. It has a kitchendiner, living room/study, salon, bedroom, dressing area, powder/shoe room and bathroom. SALON Sera bought the painting at the Slade art school last summer. ‘My cousin is the director of the Slade,’ she says. ‘We come from a family of artists.’ Get the…

SILVER MACHINES Ovens, microwaves, fridges, hobs and hoods are treated to the magic touch of designer Philippe Starck for his new collab with Gorenje. Stylish and functional, each piece is filled with hi-tech features coated in a glossy, minimal glaze. Gorenje by Starck WHI941ST cooker hood, inset, £599 (johnlewis.com) [ Buzzing ] There can be no better looking toothbrush than this bad boy. In matt-black rubber with rose gold accents, Bruzzoni’s Wall Street model can charge via USB and will tell you when it’s running out of power. Get the matching, beautifully packaged toothpaste and floss to add some style to your daily cleansing routine. Approx £105 (bruzzoni global.com) COOLER THAN COOL You won’t want to hide Steel Cucine’s Ascot 70 fridge under magnets and notes. Part of the brand’s collaboration…

Metal windows first became popular in the mid-18th century. Cast-iron frames found favour in schoolhouses and asylums because they were secure and the rather austere view they offered wasn’t a factor. Thanks to the industrial revolution, mass-produced steel became more available. However, it wasn’t until after the First World War that steel-framed windows found widespread use in domestic homes, as their linear aesthetic was seen as strikingly modern, reflecting the Art Deco era’s love of minimal decoration and no-nonsense materials. Today’s warehouse conversions and loft-style living have made steel windows popular again. Technological innovations mean frames can be thinner than ever before, offering a cleaner, more contemporary look than wood alternatives. According to steel-window supplier Tessa Clement-Jones: ‘Steel windows are incredibly low maintenance and long lasting, and because the frames…

We had a lot of fun this month debating the décor of the smallest room in the house for our edit of the best powder room wallpapers (page 163). I love the idea of using the most bonkers patterns, colours and designs in a cloakroom – after all, where else can you unleash your inner wild-child decorator? Plus, as there isn’t too much wall to cover, you can also afford to splash out on something really special! That said, it appears that many of our homeowners are embracing bold design throughout their homes – and certainly not restricting it to the downstairs loo. Just look at Kate and Fraser’s paint-splattered kitchendiner (page 94), or Maryam’s dramatic turquoise, pink and navy period home (page 128). And leading the way has to…

Embrace the ancient Mexican in you and get involved in spring/summer 2016’s Aztec pattern trend. Human sacrifice aside, the Aztecs had a rich culture, producing celebrated sculpture and jewellery, as well as the geometric patterns taking this season by storm. Tribal-style warriors marched down Valentino’s catwalk, bedecked in beads and fringing. Homeware’s channelling this 14th-century look too – Habitat’s hand-finished Zea cereal bowl wouldn’t look out of place at the emperor’s breakfast table, while the intricate fabric on A Rum Fellow’s Ashbourne sofa is hand-woven in Central America today. Very civilised.…

Designer Antonio Citterio, 2014. Details Pelle leather and satin-steel day bed, £6,408, Flexform. Background This low-slung, elegant day bed takes its cue from Flexform’s Magister sofa, created in the Eighties by Italian designer and architect Antonio Citterio in collaboration with Paolo Nava. The Magister was seen as a minimalist update on the Chesterfield, with Citterio retaining its buttoned-down leather, but swapping the plump, curved edges for sleek, modern lines. It became an instant classic. ‘Every architect and product designer, at one point in their career, pays homage to a design icon of the past,’ says Citterio. ‘The Magister was a tribute to “Less is more”’. This latest reworking deconstructs the Magister’s frame to unleash a structurally simple beauty, as Citterio deftly continues to display his less-is-more credentials. The Magi can…

CONTEMPORARY LIGHTING No longer satisfied with standard uplighters, downlighters, shades and bases, a group of sharp contemporary designers – among them Tom Dixon and Lee Broom – is taking pleasure in turning the humble light fitting into a work of art. Harrods’ new lighting department showcases the latest designs, and introduces some of the less famous names currently making waves in interior-design circles, including Petite Friture and Rubn. Contemporary Lighting, Third Floor, Harrods BED LINENS There are white-sheets people (who are probably also white-towels people), who will always be whitesheets people. However, some of us are now being quietly seduced by colour. Brands like Nina Ricci, Society and Toast are putting a fashion spin on bed linens. Ribbon trims, double piping and coutureworthy embroidery appear in Nina Ricci’s latest collection,…

STAIRCASE This ultra-modern design slices through the centre of the house, opening up and uniting the three storeys. ‘We needed a big, bold light for the stairwell,’ says Frederike. ‘Something fine and fragile would just get lost in this space. Plus,’ she adds, jokingly, ‘I can hang my kids from the clamps if they are naughty…’ Get the look The bespoke Clamp pendant is by Lindsey Adelman. The staircase was part of Dyer Grimes Architects’ design, manufactured by EeStairs in the Netherlands. From the outside, Frederike von Cranach and her husband Andrew Schwager’s stucco villa is pure posh Victoriana: all pillars, balconies and tall sash windows. But step inside and the core of this three-storey home has been spun right round with an ultra-contemporary staircase that reinvents its architectural character.…

As an award-winning architect, designer and art director, Piero Lissoni has put his creative mark on everything from private homes and restaurants to hotels, theatres, a race course, yachts and showrooms for the likes of Lema and Boffi. But he’s not just about spaces. He has also designed chairs, tables, sofas and lighting for brands such as Living Divani, Cappellini, Flos and Kartell. Chances are, if it’s in that laid-back luxe Italian mood, Sr Lissoni will have had something to do with it. Here, he shares his design secrets for creating the Lissoni look. How did you start out? After graduating in architecture, I worked for the kitchen and bathroom manufacturer Boffi, before setting up my own studio. How would you describe your style? I’m known for my pure, elegant…

Become a subscriber to Livingetc and you’ll be first to discover style trends and decorating ideas that inspire you to create a beautifully relaxed modern home. With great houses to ogle, brilliant shopping and expert tips, Livingetc is essential reading for every homeowner, delivered every month. Enjoy! SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS Go Digital! Download your magazine right away. Every subscription package includes access to the digital version for iPad and iPhone* Save money on the cover price Enjoy home delivery every month Never miss an issue PLUS Get exclusive extras every month with Rewards Rewards MONTHLY EXTRAS, EXCLUSIVE TO SUBSCRIBERS. Every month enjoy new offers, giveaways and prizes at rewards.livingetc.co.uk With access to our FREE rewards and to the digital version of your magazine, your subscription will pay for itself in no…

More powerful than most pastels, but still on the pretty side of the rainbow, coral’s risen from the seabed and surfaced as the colour of the season. On the catwalk, Emporio Armani blended the two sides of the shade – a bright pink grapefruit and a more orange-y, apricot hue – to pack some seriously juicy punch. The array of corals works gloriously in the home too, as displayed by the varied palette on Knots Rugs’ Silhouette rug. Combine with Vitra’s vibrant Alcove Plume sofa and get ready for the zingiest of springs.…

ARTIST IN THE HOUSE Once upon a time, the height of luxury was to sit for your portrait. Now, the exclusive way to employ an artist is to have them create something unique in your home. Call a graffiti artist to give a games room edge, or get professional doodler Charlotte Mann to scribble in your hall. Claire Basler can paint directly on to walls, playing to a room’s proportions and light. LOOK-AT-ME SOFAS The cocooning oversized sofa is a byword for everyday luxury, but for true indulgence, choose something that’s designed just for looking at. Moroso’s voluptuous Glider has a rounded base that rests on tracks, enabling it to move back and forth. Quite literally, it rocks. Meanwhile, the Borghese by La Chance at Monologue London could have been…

LIVING ROOM The feathered side table was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche readyto-wear collection. Get the look The Suspicion table is by Maryam Mahdavi. SALON The colours in the Persian artwork have been picked out in the wallpaper, fabrics and furnishings. Get the look This is Hicks’ Hexagon wallpaper by Cole & Son. The Corsi table is by Maryam Mahdavi. For a deep-blue wall paint like this, see Ideas to Steal. HOME PROFILE THE OWNERS Interior designer Maryam Mahdavi, her husband Laurent Verhest, a telecommunications executive, and their son Cameron, 16, plus Mox the pug. Maryam’s daughter Alexandra, 23, is a regular visitor. THE PROPERTY A Twenties townhouse in Brussels, Belgium. The layout is based around a large central lobby, leading to a living room, kitchen and dining…

1 WOOD ON WOOD Prefer your bathroom warm and cocooning rather than clinically impersonal? You can still get the elemental appeal of wood without going all log cabin. The faux-wood revolution that has played out with vinyl flooring is now happening in tiles, from Bisazza’s and Peronda’s hyper-real versions to ‘I-can’t-believeit’s-not-wood’ lengths from Tile Mountain. Faux-wood porcelain wall tiles now come with realistic knots and tonal variation, but are as water resistant as the glossiest metro. Rectified (slightly angled) edges help maintain a ‘plank’ profile and keep grout lines tucked away. Just add white fittings with sleek silhouettes for a sauna-like simplicity. Project details Try Porcelanosa’s Par-Ker tiles in Amsterdam Gris, £109 per sq m. Bathstore’s Trend bath, £709, is a good match. Team with a wall-mounted bath filler from…

Lamington ice-cream bars Serves 12 * 2 litres store-bought coconut ice cream * 400g dark, 70% cocoa chocolate, chopped * 80ml vegetable oil * 300g shredded coconut* Line a lightly greased 20 x 30cm slice tin with non-stick baking paper and place in the freezer until ready to use. Scoop the ice cream into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on a low speed until softened. Spoon into the prepared tin and spread evenly with a palette knife. Freeze for 4-5 hours, or until frozen. Remove from the tin and slice into 12 bars. Place on a tray lined with non-stick baking paper and freeze for a further 1 hour. Place the chocolate and oil in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until…