Innehållsförteckning för February 2017 från Living Etc

L ast year was a tumultuous one to say the least, full of change and just as much uncertainty. But it’s with optimism that the Livingetc team is welcoming 2017. We’re setting up in a sparkly new HQ – complete with modernrustic designer kitchens, Crittall windows and glossy new desks, of course, and looking forward. So this issue has a theme running through it… New beginnings. The featured houses all celebrate period bones, but are jam-packed with fresh, contemporary twists, ranging from creative spacial solutions to dramatic decorative details. Roddy and Andrew’s home in Edinburgh (page 88) breathes life into a former office, while Ashley injects a classic French apartment with a dose of California cool (page 78). And it’s impossible not to be inspired by Sommer and Will’s edgy…

Designers John Farrow and Richard Ball. Details Down Pipe estate emulsion, ￡39.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. Background A dark, warm grey with blue undertones, this colour was inspired by, you guessed it, the look of drainpipes, which were often made out of lead. A flagship colour from Farrow & Ball, them of the clever names and iconic heritage hues fame, despite its dank origins, Down Pipe has become one of the world’s favourite decorating shades, used by interior designers on walls, floors and woodwork. In part, this is due to the change in domestic light sources: where once the ubiquitous tungsten bulbs gave off a yellowish glow – well suited to off-white shades such as magnolia – the LEDs and halogen bulbs that replaced them emit a cooler light,…

HOME PROFILE THE OWNER Ashley Maddox, who designs and rents out properties, and her children Eloise, eight, Daphne, six, and Roo, three. THE PROPERTY An apartment in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, built in 1718. There’s an entrance lobby, living room, kitchen-diner, office, utility room, WC and three bedrooms, each with a dressing room and en suite. ‘I like pink... and beige tones, which makes most Parisians shudder,’ says Ashley Maddox, laughing. ‘Then they see the original Versailles-style parquet floors and faint with envy – this is an apartment that inspires intense emotions!’ It’s your typical ugly-duckling-turned-swan story – think Funny Face, only with an 18th-century apartment rather than Audrey Hepburn in the lead role. When Ashley bought the apartment in 2014, it had been lived in by the same, single male…

HOME PROFILE THE OWNERS Sommer Pyne, who runs House Curious, a home interiors outlet and venue/hub for creative workshops, her husband Will, chief creative officer at a digital media company, and their daughter Lyla-Rose, three. THE PROPERTY A Victorian semi in south London, comprising a living room, family room, kitchen-diner and WC on the ground floor, with a guest suite, gym, cinema room and bar, plus WC and utility room, on the lower-ground floor. The master suite, dressing room and guest bedroom are on the first floor, with two further bedrooms, a bathroom and study above. FAMILY ROOM Referring to the artwork, Sommer says, ‘Actually, Will made me a different promise – that someday we’d make a home together that was as nice as all the ones I’d gazed at…

LOUNGE The chairs were designed by Paola Navone, a close colleague of Andrew’s. ‘She’s been working with us on the Joyce store in Hong Kong,’ he says. Get the look These are the Bray 07 armchairs by Paola Navone for Gervasoni. The coffee and side tables are by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. This is the Hepburn sofa and chaise, shown opposite, by Matthew Hilton. The rug is the Pangolin design by Roddy Murray for Boxer Rugs. The pendant is by Lindsey Adelman. The Bourgie lamp on the mantel is by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell. The abstract art is by New York graffiti artist JMR. Above the chaise is a collection of floral paintings by James Stuart Park. HOME PROFILE THE OWNERS Roddy Murray, founder of interior design practice RJ Murray…

Watermelon, tomato, coriander and goat’s cheese salad Serves 4 * 200g peeled watermelon, seeded and diced * about 500g yellow or Heritage cherry tomatoes, halved * 50g soft goat’s cheese * a few sprigs of fresh coriander, leaves separated and finely chopped FOR THE VINAIGRET TE * 1 garlic clove, peeled * a good drizzle of balsamic vinegar * ½ red onion, thinly sliced * a handful of black olives * a good drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil * a pinch of sea salt For the vinaigrette, crush the garlic clove with the side of a knife and mix it with the balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. Add the red onion, olives and the oil. Leave to marinate. Place the watermelon and tomatoes in a bowl. Crumble over the…

The pretty, not-quite-pastel tones of lavender are in bloom, filling the land with a fragrant mix of soft purples with hints of blue and grey. The autumn/winter 2016 catwalk was infused with the tone – Roksanda’s layered with patterned sheers and PPQ’s filled with textured ruffles and wools in matching shades. The home’s enjoying some purple rain too – Designers Guild’s Fortrose throw meanders between lavender, violet and heather, while Curiousa & Curiousa’s delicate pendant and Calligaris’ Parisienne chair lend the colour a hazy, dreamlike feel.…

DINING AREA Mandeep and Alistair’s style is low-key luxe, shown to perfection by these double-height French doors that allow light to flood into the space. Get the look This is the Ava dining table by Tom Faulkner. The Tulip chairs are by Eero Saarinen for Knoll and can be found at The Conran Shop. The oak herringbone floor is by Cheville. The chandelier is antique – find similar at the Vintage Chandelier Company. The artwork is by Mandeep Dillon. ‘Make it as light and bright as possible.’ That was Mandeep Di llon and Al istair Hughes’ mandate five years ago when taking on this classic double-fronted 19th-century house in a leafy suburb of west London. Drawn to the idea of a little more space than their previous home, the couple…

LIBRARY ‘Think gentlemen’s club,’ says Paul. ‘This is designed as a comfortable spot to read a book, though more often than not, it’s the place where we make calls and catch up with emails. There’s so much steel holding up the rest of the ground floor, it’s difficult to get a phone signal anywhere but here.’ Get the look These are Matthew Hilton’s Balzac armchairs for SCP, covered in Zoffany’s Quartz velvet in Berry. The library shelves were designed by Paul and made by Andwoodcraft, then painted in Little Greene’s Lamp Black eggshell. This is the Estadio pendant by Miguel Mila for Santa & Cole. ‘We made the ground floor open plan – we didn’t want a “posh room”’ ‘What do you think this is, a hotel?’ is a question…

1 BUILD IN SEATING Layout and furniture go a seriously long way in unlocking space. ‘The placement of pieces in a room can make it feel larger and lighter without too much expense,’ says interior designer Louisa Grey of House of Grey. Avoid a tangle of table and chair legs by building seating nooks into corners or window bays. That way, you can streamline your look as well as factor in storage beneath. Top off with custom upholstery for a luxe brasserie vibe – button-back, butter-soft leather or velvet for louche glamour, or linen for Scandi simplicity. Whichever you choose, it’ll be the hottest seat in the house. Project details A small alcove is transformed into a comfy nook with a plush upholstered back rest. This banquette was designed by…