Innehållsförteckning för July 2022 från Living Etc

About a year ago, Jonathan Adler guest edited an issue of Livingetc. He heralded the arrival of ‘the roaring Twenties 2.0’ and we ran with the tag line ‘happiness through design’. In hindsight, we were a little early, but the industry seems to be catching up with Jonathan’s optimism now. As you read this, I’ll be in Milan for Salone del Mobile, the first time the fair – the biggest event in the design world’s calendar – has been on in full since 2019. Speaking to brands who are showing there, from iconic Brits like Tom Dixon and Lee Broom to the wonderful Italian powerhouses like Edra, Galotti&Radice and Porada, there is huge excitement about being back, bigger and better than ever. What happens at Salone soon filters out to…

MIDAS TOUCH Calm, sophisticated yet still on the decadent side, lighter shades of gold may be the more liveable option for most homes. The pale golden tones of this beauty suit the inviting elegance of its design. Supplì armchair, from £2,090, Luca Nichetto for Arflex OFF TO BED Designer Bethan Gray says ‘nature, craft and culture’ were the focus of her new Dhow collection. She has translated the distinctive patterning and colour palette of her hugely successful Nizwa and Dhow cabinetry range into customisable headboards, tallboy chests and bedside cabinets. Dhow Monochrome bed, £20,520; bedside cabinets, £6,240 each, all Bethan Gray BACK TO THE FUTURE What inspired this new retro looking print? Kirkby Design, who teamed up with global fashion house Eley Kishimoto for a collection of wallcoverings, says this…

MODERN CLASSIC After many years out of print, the Visiere lamp, made out of aluminium and painted in a cool white hue, is back in production in a signed and numbered unlimited edition. Looking a little like it’s coming in to land (clear a space on that sideboard!), this piece is a testament to the beauty of all-white lighting. Visiere lamp, from €1,400, Sergio Asti for Martinelli Luce LONG AND TALL At first glance, this lamp is a somewhat simple merging of shapes; the tall and thin base column is the perfect perching spot for the spherical opaque glass shade at the top. However, there’s more to the Chubes lamp design than just an elegant and contemporary presence. Each reeded tube creates its own ombré of light and shade when…

Seeking their forever home, Liz Hall and Gavin Wright couldn’t believe their luck when they found a Victorian property in need of TLC in their dream area of Richmond, East Melbourne. Brimming with ideas and with help from Nicholas Murray Architects, the couple knew they could transform this tired home into a contemporary sanctuary. Aside from the 1800s facade, the house was beyond repair and required a whole new interior. ‘We wanted something we could make our own and this was perfect,’ says Liz Hall, director at Studio Apercu. ‘Before we moved here, we had an industrial warehouse in the next suburb over, called Fitzroy, which is a grungy, hipster area but we wanted a garden and a dog. Richmond is a sleepy place that’s full of trees and Victorian…

as their names suggest, Amandine and Julien Vanhaesebroucke are French born and bred but when they found their dream west London Victorian terrace house two years ago, top of the list was to honour its heritage and big up its British roots. Having already lived in the neighbourhood for 10 years, the couple and their two boys, Gabriel and Camille, have come to love ‘le style Anglais’. ‘Our design mantra for the house was eclectic, cosy and playful, a modern take on how people here restore period properties,’ says Amandine, who works in a French school. ‘It had to be warm and inviting for friends of ours and the boys, and have plenty of storage for family paraphernalia, too.’ Plus accommodate their art – Julien, who works in finance, is…

blush tones Everything’s looking rosy with our pick of designs in a pink and red palette – all here to make life more beautiful natural elements Produced from oak, terracotta, raffia, wool and clay, these pieces combine nature’s bounty with gorgeous craftsmanship material choice Makers showcase their creative skills working with glass, ceramics, textiles, inks – and even recycled plastic pared-back palette These simple monochromatic forms offer a timeless and tactile aesthetic with minimal embellishment…

Move over muted tones – colour is one of this season’s biggest trends in the garden. Say hello to bright new colourways that add bold personality to your outdoor design but first learn how colour works in the garden. ‘Strong, vibrant and saturated colours will stand out, especially if they are used without diluting their effect with other strong colours,’ says landscape architect and garden designer Richard Sneesby, who is also co-author of the go-to RHS Colour Companion. Bold splashes of colour can be used to add eye-catching interest that works particularly well in urban spaces. ‘Colour has a profound effect on a garden’s appearance, and getting the right colour is one of the more important decisions you’ll make.’ Ease into colour gently If you have previously opted for pastel…

1 define with colour A considered palette is an easy way to zone an open-plan living, dining and cooking space. ‘A contrasting colour will clearly define an area, creating focus, while using the same shade in a lighter or darker hue will create a more harmonious transition.’ Ruth Mottershead, creative director, Little Greene 2 say yes to sliding doors ‘Think about the function of each of the rooms and how much privacy you need. An open-plan mezzanine bedroom is great in an apartment for one person or a couple, but it probably won’t work very well for a family or if you regularly have guests. If rooms do need to be properly divided with partitions, consider if they can be made of a transparent material or use big sliding pocket doors…

The utility room not only offers a separate dedicated space for laundry items, but it provides extra storage for kitchen overflow. It’s important to take pets into consideration. It’s useful to know the size of the bed your pet will sleep in (remember to allow for growth if you have a puppy or kitten). Choose a place that is not in the way of the laundry machines or walkways. If your utility room has little floor space, have a designated spot between base units. A utility room should be positioned directly off the kitchen for ease of access, but make sure it is not in full view from any seating areas. In some cases, it can be off a hallway, near a downstairs WC or a boot room. You need…

Homes should be fun and liveable – and the front is the best place to start. There are a few things that need to be considered: maintenance of the property to make sure it will stay looking good and watertight for many years to come, making a good first impression and ensuring that anything you do complies with local planning and heritage requirements. Here are some key elements to consider if you are renovating the exterior of your home. 1 Think about access. The front doors of many homes are either up or down a set of steps and these steps can often require work to bring them up to scratch. If your home does have steps, consider overlaying them with natural stone slabs. Your home will benefit in a…

How we enjoy our bathrooms is becoming intrinsically linked with how we adopt a more sustainable existence. Innovative spray technologies that combine this water-saving element with luxury showering are key. Start with the shower to make a quick win with water saving. Changing your hand shower to a lower flow model is a great first step – you can do the same with an overhead shower too, as long as the one you choose is compatible with the arm. Hand shower or overhead shower? Opt for the hand shower for a lower flow. There is a massive choice of ranges available that are specially engineered to ensure your overall shower experience won’t be compromised. One of the best water-saving showers on the market is EcoSmart by Hansgrohe, which uses up…

1 First things first, you’ll want to establish how much it will cost to run an outdoor shower and, surprisingly, if used wisely, it doesn’t have to increase your water and heating bills. If you swap your inside shower for an outdoor one in the warmer months, you will use the same amount of water. No extra showers mean no extra water usage. Plus, imagine waking up and stepping outside into the heat on a warm summer’s morning to shower surrounded by nature before your working day starts. 2 Assess the plumbing, as if you would like your outdoor shower to run both hot and cold water, the plumb work requires a little more planning. The best and easiest place to install your shower would be on the kitchen or…

Soneva Soul IN A SENTENCE The shiny new wellness concept that takes Maldives spa-ing to the next level by blending ancient healing wisdom with the latest science and innovation – think IV vitamin therapy and compression chambers alongside gong meditation and Ayurveda. DESIGN HIGHLIGHT The Soneva Soul concept has been rolled out across the group but design aficionados are best placed to choose the Jani outpost. Raised walkways meander among trees, connecting the treatment suites. A yoga pavilion and meditation platform offer 360-degree views across the turquoise lagoon. ROOM RECO Choose the sensational over-water villas at Soneva Fushi or Soneva Jani to continue the immersive relaxation experience. Neutrals fabrics, bleached woods and natural textures allow the scenery to take centre stage. WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW Little Livingetcs…

BARLOW & BARLOW ‘Commissioning a bespoke piece of joinery can completely transform a space,’ says Lucy Barlow. ‘This piece of floor-to-ceiling furniture for a breakfast room features a banquette seat and plenty of storage,’ she says. ‘I’m a big fan of a banquette seat, especially if you can add storage and artwork to make it pop.’ TURNER POCOCK ‘Installing a wall-to-wall sofa gives the comfort and luxury of a home cinema without having to include tiered seating, and reclinable chairs,’ says Emma Pocock. ‘It fits lots of “bums on seats” and works well in small snugs giving the greatest distance between sofa and TV.’ This basement space also borrows light from the stairway thanks to metal-framed glass divider. SALVESEN GRAHAM This chic dining space uses colour to create a cosseting…

‘The key to daring interiors is that there really are no rules – they celebrate a freedom of self expression and the joy of an interior filled with colour, pattern, and life,’ says Frieda Gormley, co-founder of the design studio House of Hackney. She is known for running wild with pattern and print across the walls, floor and textiles of the spaces she creates, and is widely credited for kick-starting the modern maximalist mood with her iconic Palmeral wallpaper, designed in 2012. The thing about daring spaces is that they don’t hold back. They’re filled to the brim with precious bits and bobs. Textbook examples criss-cross different eras and are full of bold colour and updated chintz. Juxtaposing anything from French-patterned wallpaper and animal prints to vintage furniture and art,…

TRICK OF THE LIGHT One of the stars of this trend is Optique by Arte, which is a woven sisal design that plays with perspective. The result is a very tactile – and visually detailed – wallcovering. It’s part of a new wave of wallcoverings where relief, texture and shadow play are as interesting as the pattern itself. Also available in pale blue, gold and cream colourways. No trickery, just a solid style choice.…

TALKING PIECE A new era in furniture design sees seating that is all about encouraging the art of in-person conversation. The Hémicycle Vis-à-Vis by Philippe Nigro for Ligne Roset is a prime example. With its matt black lacquered frame and boldly blue upholstery, it is neither a sofa nor is it two individual chairs. And while it will turn heads due to its beauty, it’s actually been designed so that the users don’t need to turn their heads at all! Time to let the conversation flow.…

EXPRESSION As we’re increasingly at home, we’re turning our walls into canvases to take us on adventures. Seventy-two new wallpapers join Wall&decò’s back catalogue for 2022, each offering a journey somewhere exciting. Designs range from narrative-filled illustrations, like The Dip here, rich graphics, geometric patterns, abstract shapes and block colour and texture. SURPRISES In keeping with the aesthetic that comprises its full collection, Bontempi Casa’s new seating combines iconic Italian design sentiment with clever, imaginative twists. The 70s-style Bonnie sofa by Bernhardt & Vella, pictured, features a playful rounded module, the front decorated with two metal tubes, while the elegant Sunset sofa by Carlo Bimbi can be added to with a chic armrest holder, ideal for holding aperitivo close by. TRAVEL Enjoy the warm waters and sunny climes of the…

Internal glass doors not only look slick and sophisticated, but they’re practical, too. We specialise in producing systems for subdividing environments and the main benefit of an internal glass door is creating different zones while maintaining connection between spaces. The doors are not only room dividers, but become an intrinsic element of the design. The contemporary look and the technological features make the doors suitable for any kind of property. With Rimadesio, the sliding panels are always custom-made and work on a sliding rail that guarantees perfect levelling and smooth movements, even when dealing with big dimensions. Open spaces are not gone within the home, but adaptability is increasingly crucial. Our styles can be classified on two scales: the level of transparency required and the level of decoration desired. Our…

Indie & Co is a London-based interior design studio led by myself and Caroline Sacreste. Working in both residential and commercial design, we specialise in creating calm, natural and understated interiors. Below are some valuable tips for getting your panelling just right, whatever your style. When we design a home, particularly in England, one design element that’s often considered is panelling. In Amandine and Julien’s house the architect designed the panelling – but often the interior designer will do this – and we’ve enhanced it by either painting it and/or adding wallpaper above it, but we’ve loved using panelling in many other projects, too. CONSIDER THE ERA OF THE HOUSE It doesn’t matter what period your property is, but it’s important to do your research to match the design of the…

Graphic content Get creative with the space above the bed. Think of it as a blank canvas and add hand-drawn graphics – like the ones shown here by architect and designer Mangesh Lungare – or a wallpaper. Choose a pattern that is daring without being dizzying and keep the rest of the room’s elements simple and serene. GET THE LOOK Try Freeflow wallpaper, £37 a roll, Hovia “Choose a simple palette but create a striking effect with your material choices” Golden touch Consider your headboard as the crowning glory of your bed and use it to demarcate a cocooning sleep area. ‘The custom headboard in gold velvet and pink carpet create a true sanctuary here,’ says Hélène Pinaud, principal architect, Heju Studio. ‘The parquet floor has been painted white to…

When I think about hallways I think of Dorothea Tanning’s heart-wrenching, multifaceted painting Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. It shows what appears to be a hotel corridor with numbered doors, the farthest of which is open just enough to offer a glimpse of incandescent light. Two girls and a torn decrepit sunflower are the focal point of the scene. Perhaps it’s depicting the loss of childlike innocence? The message is unclear. I think the most fascinating thing about this painting is what’s behind the door. Could it be a sunlit desert or a burning inferno? This is a transitional moment in a transitional space before an exciting explosion. It reminds me that instead of being overlooked spaces to pass through, corridors and hallways are spaces to dream, let the mind wander and…

HAPPY HUES Add a dash of colour and tactility to your bathroom design with Claybrook’s Breton concrete basins, which come in eight eye-catching shades. The basins come in three shapes – the rounded Nuku, the oval Bora, and the soft rectangular Rocard – all embracing the trend for more natural fluid forms in the bathroom. Pick a basin to form part of a striking palette, or let it stand firm as the star attraction. Breton concrete basins, from £475 each (claybrookstudio.co.uk) Ancient history French artist Louis Barthélemy manages to capture the vibrance of modern-day Egypt, while giving a respectful nod to the past in his captivating hand-painted ceramic tiles. Prepare yourself for fantastical scenes of strong men, frolicking animals and naturalist motifs. Egyptomania by Louis Barthélemy half square, £29.57 each;…

Let’s be frank, traditionally, extractors have never been the most scintillating aspect of any kitchen design. For many of us they are a necessary evil and for a long time there was never any reason to think otherwise – hulking hoods cutting through a beautiful run of cabinets was a look to be tolerated, rarely welcomed. So there was a collective sigh of relief a few years back when extractors started to move towards less intrusive designs, whether they were flushed against the ceiling or downdrafts that popped up while cooking on the hob. But now the tide has turned again and the extractor hood has become a cause for celebration. Forget its old status as the elephant in the room, the new trend is to treat it as a…

Are you familiar with the concept of shinrin-yoku? Otherwise known as forest bathing, it’s a practice that sees you immerse yourself in nature as a form of meditation. Forest bathing may have entered our lexicon much in the same way that once-trendy Scandinavian imports like hygge and lagom did, but beyond its image as an aspirational lifestyle, there’s some real weight behind the benefits it could offer you. Originating from Japan, the philosophy’s effect on both your health and mental wellbeing has been the subject of studies that confirm what we really already know. Spending time outdoors is good for you. A study by The Forest Bathing Institute found that when undertaking some of their forest bathing activities, participants registered higher levels of feeling safe and relaxed, feeling compassion for…

Daylighting is a design strategy that focuses on glazing and predicting how it will affect how much natural light your home gets. There are lots of different elements that feed into balance – the orientation, height and type of glazing among them. If we design rooms that are dark most of the time, we have to use electric lighting to supplement. Not only does it not feel as pleasant to be constantly relying on artificial sources of light, but there’s also an energy use issue. There’s always a risk of overheating and glare, though even when using glass box architecture in a sunny spot, you can make sure that the glazing is specified in order to mitigate that impact. Daylighting can help produce the glazing calculations to take that into…

serves 4-6 200g wholegrain freekeh125g fine green beans100g sugar snap peas100g baby broad beans100g peas (fresh or frozen and defrosted)3 spring onions, sliced50g cashews, toasted50g pistachios2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley2-3 tbsp chopped mintSeeds from ½ pomegranate3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil1 tbsp pomegranate molasses1 tbsp lemon juiceSalt and freshly groundblack pepper Serve with a couple of pickled green chillies, roughly chopped, for a wonderful hit of flavour 1 Rinse the freekeh grains under cold water, place in a saucepan, cover with water, add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Simmer for 25-30 minutes until tender. Drain, refresh under cold water and leave to cool. 2 Trim the fine beans and cut into 3cm lengths on the diagonal. Trim and halve the sugar snaps. Refill the pan with salted…

ATHENA CALDERONE A restrained palette allows the architecture to be the focal point in this sitting room at Athena Calderone’s Amagansett home. A carefully curated edit of furniture and accessories sits easily against the backdrop of textural plaster walls. ROMANEK DESIGN STUDIO LA-based designer Brigette Romanek has taken inspiration from what lies outside the windows of her home in Laurel Canyon, keeping the decor neutral so as to fully appreciate the greenery beyond. STEWART-SCHAFER ‘When designing this kitchen we wanted the natural materials to be the focus,’ say James Veal and Christine Stucker, the owners of Brooklyn’s Stewart-Schafer. NAINOA Designer Noa Santos used grey-greens to create a soothing dining atmosphere. ‘When we pair colours, we aim for a similar base – so there’s a relationship between shades,’ he says. HOME…

TRULY BUFF Tan always works well on stylish seating and it harks back to the brown-tone heydays of the 1960s and 1970s. Which tanned beauty looks best? It’s got to be the Eliseo, whose base comes in either a wood or die-cast aluminium finish and has a handy 360-degree swivel function. The whole package is rather James Bond-style swish, don’t you think? Eliseo armchair, price on request, Antonio Citterio Design for Flexform SLIMLINE DETAILS It might be those spindle feet, or the vertical, sunburst-style linear line detail on the main backrest and seat pad sections, but this chair reminds us of the graphic 1960s textile designs by Lucienne Day. The swivel base brings a lightness and movement to the whole aesthetic. Colibrì, price on request, Fabrice Berrux for Bonaldo MATERIAL…

1 JOIN TOGETHER Each of Isabelle Hayman’s art pieces are designed like a puzzle, as motifs and textures from different cultures and eras are juxtaposed to create a wonderfully maximalist aesthetic. Blue Figures Puzzle 1 artwork by Isabelle Hayman, £570, Partnership Editions 2 LIGHT UP How sensual and tactile is this lamp? On or off, this will add interest to any space as the reflective base and textured shade play with light and shadow. Beige cylindrical lamp, €300, Los Objetos Decorativos 3 SPOT ON Imagine a cocktail in this – funky, fun and fabulous! Oversized rainbow polka dot glass, $298 for a set of two, Rosemary Home 4 BOX CLEVER Designed in homage to the iconic sculptures of Constantin Brancusi, these versatile boxes crafted in solid maple can be used as…

international designer Tom Dixon’s eponymous brand turns 20 this year. He has created interiors for Shoreditch House, a flagship store and restaurant at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross and made modern-classic pieces like the Copper pendant light. He will be showing his latest collection in Milan this month. PIP RICH I always feel like your designs were made for a social world – rooms to have fun and gather in, and then Coal Drops Yard is literally a place to get together at. How are you feeling about the role of design right now? TOM DIXON King’s Cross is a unique place. It’s great to see life coming back again and people keen to go out once more. The thing I’m surprised about is how few people – especially…

making the well-trodden move from London to the idyllic Cotswolds four years ago, Guy Wengraf and his wife Kitty were soon welcoming a deluge of friends and family seeking a weekend escape in the country so they decided to build a welcoming guest cottage in their garden. Originally intended as an overnight retreat for people they knew, as well as an escape for themselves from time to time, they soon realised that it would work well as a holiday rental, too. ‘We’ve stayed in many “okay” holiday homes, but have always craved something more stylish and sustainable,’ says Guy. ‘Our idea was to create a place that was both enchanting in its setting, but also very luxurious in terms of comfort, design, and wellbeing.’ Designing and constructing the cottage from…

Subscribe today for 50% off ■ £29.94 for 12 issues ■ never miss an issue with every copy delivered direct to your door ■ exclusive subscriber-only cover each month magazinesdirect.com/letcjul22 two simple ways to subscribe ONLINE AT magazinesdirect.com/letcjul22 BY PHONE 0330 333 1113 QUOTE CODE A43U. Lines are open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm UK time. Offer closes 01/07/2022. Offer open to new UK subscribers only. Twelve month subscription for £29.94, saving 50% on the full subscription rate of £59.88. This price is guaranteed for the first 12 months and we will notify you in advance of any price changes. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery of your first subscription issue (up to eight weeks overseas). For full terms and conditions, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/terms. For enquiries please call: +44 (0) 330…

For Canadian-born, London-based Scott Richler, creative director and founder of furniture and lighting brand Gabriel Scott, the satisfaction of design lies in the intricacy of the detail. ‘I often think of a seductive detail before knowing what the object will be,’ he explains as we meet in Gabriel Scott’s elegant, pared-back showroom just a stone’s throw from Mayfair’s Savile Row (the company has another showroom in New York’s SoHo and a manufacturing base in Montreal). With an earlier career in designing women’s fashion accessories, as co-founder of the internationally successful brand Jennifer Scott, the architecture-trained designer was inspired to transfer the component-driven approach behind making jewellery into furniture and lighting when he first established Gabriel Scott with his brother-in-law Gabriel Kakon (no longer involved in the business) in 2012. Take…

This cold-water pot filler is understated and lets its form do all the talking. It fits beautifully with no-fuss kitchens and is available in five finishes including chrome and our fave, dark platinum matt. Pot filler cold-water valve in dark platinum matt, £1,074.60 (dornbracht.com) Available in a number of finishes including satin brass, this pot filler by Perrin & Rowe is fully extendable and can be folded flat against the wall or splashback when it is not in use. Armstrong pot filler in satin brass, £760, (perrinandrowe.co.uk) This sleek beauty from Waterworks has a modern edge but adds a traditional twist with a sturdy oak lever. You also get a choice of six finishes including brass and nickel. Canteen wall mounted articulated pot filler with oak lever handle in nickel,…

SMOOTH AS SILK Looking for a stylish pendant to put above your dining table that also ticks the box on individuality? Then head to Aqua Creations for the just launched Code 130˚, a buildable collection of decorative lighting. Made from silk-covered plexiglass, a transparent glass substitute, the limited edition collection comes in 16 colourways. C2 pendant light in Flame, £1,376.42, aquagallery.com SCALE UP After last year’s successful launch of the National Trust’s Tile Collection by Sarsen Stone Group, four new ranges have been added into the mix. Taking inspiration from the Trust’s Riverlands project, the Riverlands Scales collection is rooted in nature – seen here in this emerald green Watercress shade. £189.60sq m, sarsenstonegroup.com BACK IN TUNE Smeg has launched a limited edition of its iconic classic, the Piano Hob,…

The thing I love most about design is that it is subjective – I can appreciate most interior styles (whether or not I actually like them is another thing). Kitchen design, however, is way more prescriptive than most rooms; where function must outweigh form to achieve a useable and practical space to cook, dine and entertain. I always start with layout to ensure I nail the day-to-day functionality and flow of the room. Personality and character arrive later. A true undertaking, but one of my favourite spaces to design. Google will tell you that a triangle from hob to fridge to sink is the Holy Trinity. I happen to disagree. The fridge can stand apart, you don’t need access to this in the same way as a hob or sink.…

DAPHNE X TRANSATLANTICA ‘PINK FRAGRANCE’ This pretty scented pink shrub grows to a metre in height and spread, with the benefit of a really long flowering period. VALERIANA OFFICINALIS ‘Try this flowering perennial for an informal aesthetic,’ says Alexandra Noble. PHILADELPHUS ‘BELLE ETOILE’ This highly-scented shrub reaches a height of 1.5m and has a profusion of pretty flowers in late spring and early summer.…

1 CURATE A FOCAL FLORAL TABLESCAPE We worked with one of our favourite florists, Kernius Vaitulevicius, to create a lavish bouquet to become the central focus of the room. We wanted the flowers to be natural and viewed from every angle. To create a similar three-dimensional look, we recommend trying out a flat tray or bowl. Floral foam is great for arranging flowers exactly as you wish, rather than relying on gravity to do the work for you. 2 EXPERIMENT WITH TEXTURED ARCHES The arches were a new intervention, inspired by traditional Georgian balconies. They create a cinematic framing of the bakery’s counter. We tested purple shades to recreate Tbilisi’s iconic pinkish-purple hues. The final tone, a red mahogany stain, brings out the texture of the wood. If your space…

The one thing that makes me feel good when I step through my door is a feeling of mental comfort. A combination of light, colours and objects. The colour palette in my home is actually pretty sober with neutral nuances. I prefer colours that are, let’s say, calm and good for the mind. My house is directly above my studio in Milan. I strongly wanted this casa bottega some years ago to avoid commuting and especially to create a balanced, work-life, enlarged studio community. So, at home I have many furniture pieces I’ve designed over the years but also several prototypes that I’ve brought home from the studio. I like this approach of refined environments, it includes a touch of ‘laboratory’. Curtains and fabrics add luxury to a home. They give…

LULU LYTLE Lively pattern and zingy colour enliven this hallway by Lulu Lytle, designer, manufacturer and creative director of Soane Britain. ELIZABETH HAY It pays to be decorative in a small room, but be sure to bring in elements of surprise to retain a modern edge. In this sitting room by Elizabeth Hay, a wraparound bookcase in a bright blue paint ensures a cosy yet upbeat atmosphere. Create a cohesive scheme by linking paint colour to upholstery, as done here with the bright blue sofa trim. STUDIO PEAKE Interior designer Sarah Peake of Studio Peake created this standout basement area. ‘To create a lively space in contrast to how dark and neglected a lot of basements can be, we went all out with large-scale patterns and bold colours,’ she says.…