Elle Decoration - December 2015

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Style23 This month’s best buyA striking

mirror by French Connection isautumn’s high-street hit

25 NewsDesign trends,must-havepiecesand how to create bathroom bliss

42 People Japanese artist TakahashiHiroko, whose prints adorn kimonos,textiles and home scents

44 Design heroBritish Arts &CraftsiconWalter Crane, who createdbeautiful illustrations andwallpapers

46 CraftMeet KylaMcCallum, thepaper artist behind our fabulouscover; plus, howRichard Brendonis bringing history to the table

DECEMBER 2015

ON TH E COV E R

WINTER LUXEFrom sculptural architecture to opulent accent pieces, eachof these indulgent interiors has its own definition of luxury

Home90 Small wonderThis compact

apartmentmakes themostof itsenviable location inFlorence

100 Velvet goldmine In thismonth’s Style Steal, we look atliving roomswith sumptuousfabrics and gleaming finishes

106 Natural curvesAn oak treebrings greenery to the heartof this Johannesburg home

118 Putting on the glitzClose tothe French Riviera, this houseis a lesson in laid-back luxe

128 Space to breatheA calm,clean-lined property withan eco-friendly design

136 Nature nurtureAn inspiring,cosy 18th-century apartmentin Bologna’s old town

148 RawmagnetismThisdramatic concrete house isframed by glass andmetal

156 Bohemian rhapsodyTheinterior of this apartment isinfluenced by 1920s Paris

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25DECEMBER 2015 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 5

GET YOURDIGITAL DESIGN FIXSubscribe to the digital editions of ELLE Decoration for instantaccess to expert interiors advice and creative decorating ideas

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Solutions65 The trend to try thismonth

Turn your bedroom into a havenof tranquillity with a black palette

67 UpdatesWhy gold and green isthe colour combination of theseason, ways to work industrial-look porcelain, and new ideas tomake themost of your stairwell

83 TechnologyWe investigatethe rise of domestic droids; plus,the latest gadgets for your home

Escape165 If youdoone thing thismonth

The Barbican’s Eames exhibition

167 NewsGlobal cookbooks, gift-makingworkshops and the best places inLondon for a shopping pit-stop

176 ArchitectureAffordable housingand London’s first indoor cyclelane; plus, the story ofMussolini’sPalazzo della Civiltà in Rome

Finally13 SubscribeFantastic offers for

ourmost loyal readers

180 StockistsThe addresses to know

194 DecodedThe inspiration behindCartier’s timeless ‘Tank’ watch

ELLEDecoration is alsoavailable onGoogle Play,AmazonKindle, Barnes&Noble and Zinio

PLUS! Download thefirst ELLE DecorationDirectory – packed withover 360 insider designdestinations. Availablenow for just £1.49

51Christmas editEverything you need to celebrate in style, from

beautiful gift wrap and contemporary cards to naturaldecorations and our favourite stockings

65

6 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK DECEMBER 2015

AlexKristalTwitter:@thekristalsAboutAlex isELLEDecoration’snewDecoratingEditorInteriors style Intheory, anoasisofcalm: textures,natural coloursandrandomstoriedobjects. In

practice,myhomeisaproject stillwaiting tohappenInspirationThemakersandartisansdedicatedtohoningtheircraft, likeSuzusan,whichhasbeenmakingtextilesusing theancientshibori techniqueintheJapanese townofArimatsu forover100yearsDreambuyAprefabhouseandaplotof landwhereIcouldbuilda ‘forever’home

ShaunSwainlandTwitter:@madebyradioProfessionIllustratorFeatureRiseof theRoboticMaids,p83InspirationVintageephemera,collectibles and randomsurprising

findsat carboot sales. I love the typography, logosandcoloursof oldpackaging, tooDesignheroesCharles andRayEames (readmoreabout theBarbican’s exhibitionon theduoonp165)Favourite design objectThe ‘Phonosuper’ radiobyDieterRamsandHansGugelot. I lovehowsimplistic it is; it really is a greatpieceofwork

KylaMcCallumTwitter:@FoldabilityAboutKyla isadesigner-makerwhocreatedourfabulouscoverart (readaboutherstudio,Foldability,onp49)InfluencesPeople likepaperartistRonReschandphotographerTim

Walker,whobothhaveacuriousapproachtotheworldInteriorsstyleMid-centurymodern.AndI liketohavemyrailsofvintageclothingondisplay!DesignheroI’minaweofsetdesignerShonaHeath,whocreatesdream-likeworldsthatmakemesmileDreambuyA‘Ruché’bedbyIngaSempéforLigneRoset,withagiantheadboard

MICHELLE OGUNDEHINEditor-in-Chief

Editor’sAssistant/FeaturesAssistantCharlotteBrook(02075342522)[email protected]

72BroadwickStreet,LondonW1F9EP(elledecoration.co.uk)

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HomesEditorJackieDaly(02075342512)DecoratingEditorAlexKristal(02075342514)ArtEditorPhilippeBlanchin(02075342518)ChiefSubEditorClareSartin(02075342519) SeniorSubEditorSarahMorgan(02074395343)

PhotographyAssistantJamesWilliams(02075342513) JuniorDesignerEloiseAdler(02075342581)Homes/FocusInternMelanieMay(02075342515) AssociateFeaturesEditorEmmaLove AssociateEditor SarahSlade

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THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS


JANUARY ISSUE ON SALEDECEMBER 3, 2015

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WINTER LUXEI love this time of year because I like to do layers,onmypersonandathome. It’showyouget tocreatepersonal palettes of varying weights, colours andtextures in which to cosset yourself against winterwind. Also, I’ve been making a bold, and quiteunprecedented, foray intocolour inmyattireof late,so I’mrather revelling in thedelights ofmixing andmismatching turquoise shirts and pale pink coats.My house is not quite somulti-hued (more a rangeofpalewateryshades throughout), but it is certainlyavery textural affair.Forexample, Iwasdeterminedto have full-length pale celadon velvet curtainsupstairs–hang theexpense, hang thepracticality. I love them. I evenlove the way that the sun bleaches their edges. They are luxurious,yetplainandsimple. I’veno ideawhypeople thinkvelvet is abit fusty;as our shoot on p100 shows, it’s eternally contemporary and it alsofeelswonderful – soft, lustrousandsmoothly sumptuous.Perfect forwinter. Which also means, yes, the moment has come… it’s timeto get prepping for Christmas!Whatever one’s beliefs, you’ve got toadmit thatdarkernights and fairy lights are anundeniably seductivecombination. They never fail to cheer me. And to add joy to yourheart, we present our definitive Christmas edit: the wrap, wreath,crackers, cardsall sorted, soyou’ll havemore timetodrophintsaboutyour gift list (see ours in the next issue). Happy nearly holidays!

Follow me on Twitter: @MOgundehin Check out elledecoration.co.ukFollow us on Instagram: @elledecorationuk

PS I’m excited to reveal that I’ve been involvedwithChannel 4’sGrand Designs: RIBA House ofthe Year, to be broadcast weekly for fourweeksstartingonWednesday4November.Theseries,frontedbyKevinMcCloud, looksatthelonglisted

projects for this annual award, andI’m one of the presenters, visitingsomeof thehomes to interview theowners or architects. As to whowill win, nobody knew at time offilming (it’ll be revealed in thefinalprogramme on 25 November), butmymoney’sonFlintHouse, locatedon Lord Rothschild’s WaddesdonestateinBuckinghamshire.DesignedbySkeneCatlingde laPena, it’s trulyapieceof outstanding architectureand I was thrilled that I got to seeit up close and personal. We alsodid some fabulouslywhizzyfilmingwith cameras on drones!

Onset forChannel4withLordRothschildatFlintHouse inBuckinghamshire

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CountryLivingThecomplete lifestyle titleforanyonewhoseheart is in thecountry

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•AppleyardSave 50% on the fabulous‘Velvet Rose’ seasonal bouquet

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SHOPPING • DESIGN • CRAFT • ECO • NAMES TO KNOW • BIG IDEAS

STYLE

THIS MONTH’S BEST BUY. . .FRENCH CONNECTION HOME’S newautumncollection is awashwith

beautiful, affordabledesigns, includingvintage-style rugs in fadedhues, shelvingunits in a gunmetal finishand industrial-style console tables.Our favouritepiece,though, has tobe this ‘TwoTone’mirror (above, £210),which is aworkof art.

From left ‘VintageKing’rug, £125; ‘Veyed’console table, £295; ‘Berlin’armchair, £320;‘AdjustableOne’ lamp, £115, all FrenchConnectionHome(frenchconnection.com)

FOR MORE OBJECTS OF DESIRE, V IS IT EL LEDECORATION.CO.UK/SHOPPING

SEASONED PROA pinch of pinkHimalayan salt, gratedparmesan or freshly chopped garlic canelevate ameal from tasty to terrific. Takeyour seasoning seriously by investingin these functional and attractive storagepots and cleverly designed tools, which arepart of the new ‘Prep+’ collection bycontemporary ceramics brand Loveramics.Their simple, rounded formswill make astylish and practical addition to any kitchencountertop, and they’re affordable, too.From leftGrater, £18.47; salt pig, juicer andgarlic pot,£14.77 each, all byLoveramics,Amara (amara.com)

PUREANDSIMPLECanvas Home sells ceramics, glassware, cutlery, linen and furniture, allcrafted from sustainable natural materials. Founded in America in 2008by British designer and entrepreneur Andrew Corrie, who initially mademany of the pieces to fulfil specific needs in his own home, the brand’s nameplays on the idea of a house being full of possibilities. For our money, the‘Abbesses’ dinnerware collection is a modern classic: hand-glazed andpainted porcelain in classic shapes (above, from £5.71 for a side plate).Pair it with the minimal ‘Oslo’ cutlery, brushed with 24-carat gold (right,£71.50 for a five-piece set). All available from Selfridges (selfridges.co.uk).

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RAIN OR SHINEWeBrits have a healthy obsessionwith theweather. Place thebeautifully illustrated ‘Lovebird’clockwith built-in barometerby your door and itwill tell youwhen youneed your umbrella.From£275, Loaf (loaf.com).

FLEXIBLEWORKINGThe articulated tasklight is a useful additionto any workspace. Welove the refined formof the ‘Arigato’ lampby Croatian design trioGrupa. It exposes themechanics of everymovement, turningfunction into art. Thedesign comes in wall,floor and ceilingversions, so you cancreate a directionallighting scheme in anyspace. From £151(grupaproducts.com).

CREATIVESPARKSThese customisable lights are a funway to personalise your home. LucaNichetto’s ‘Alphabeta’ pendant lamps(left) allow for, amazingly, 10 billionpossible design combinations, witheight hand-crafted spun steel shapesand a choice of three colours foreach (from£191, Hem; hem.com).The shades conceal two bulbs: oneshines light on the ceiling and theother on the floor. Also consider the‘Candyofnie’ pendant lights by Fatboy– thread on your choice of glassshapes to create a unique design(above, from £149.95; fatboy.com).

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SPOTLIGHTON...SCANDINAVIANDESIGNTravel anywwywhere in Scandinavia, or watch oneof the ‘Scandi noir’ TV serials so popular at themoment, and you’ll see that good design is anessential in Nordic countries, not an afterthought.Fabulous lighting, chic wooden chairs and naturalmaterials grace even the humblest of homes.Perhaps that’s why the region continues to produceoutstanding homeware brands on a regular basis.Here, we highlight three to get excited about.

COOEEFrom its idyllic base deep in the forestsof Småland, Sweden, this brand createswonderful ceramics, slimline candlesticks(above, £27 each) in warmmetallics andcool, neutral colours, and stylish trays(above, from £39; cooee.se).

LOUISE ROECOPENHAGENGreat, cosy textiles (above, from £59for a cushion), glassware andmarbleaccessories (top, from £26 for a smallblackmarble bowl) are the strengthsof this Danish brand.We also love itsgrown-up colour palette (louiseroe.dk).

NORVEGRHailing fromNorway, Norvegr has beenmaking fine down duvets since the 1950s.Its new travel set (above) – a pillow andsingle duvet in a calfhide or canvas holdall– has just launched in the UK. From£730,Hostem (hostem.co.uk; norvegr.com).


BLOOM TIMEBritish designer LeeBroom has launched hisfirst collection of vases:the ‘Podium’ range. It hasa dramatic, sculptural feelthat shows off flowers togreat effect. Choose fromthree shapes in clear leadcrystal – a cylinder, globeor bowl – which can eachbe paired with a simpleblack or white marblecube base. From £345each (leebroom.com).

BRAND WATCH ALESS IWhimsical, functional and often very shiny: Alessi’s products areinstantly recognisable. The brand’s signaturematerial, polishedstainless steel, is used tomake everything from coffee pots to fruitbowls, honouring a tradition of creating finely craftedmetalaccessories that goes back to the Italian firm’s foundation in 1921.Current president Alberto Alessi, grandson of founder Giovanni

Alessi, has introduced a stellar cast of designers to the company’sranks since he took the helm in 1970. Under his guidance the brandhas become a ‘factory of Italian design’; amaker of functional,glamorous industrial objects by the illustrious likes of EttoreSottsass, Achille Castiglioni, Philippe Starck and RonArad.This autumn’s collectionmarks an important turning point.

One of Alessi’s great designers, the Post-Modernist architectMichaelGraves, died inMarch aged 80, leaving behind his two final projects– a new version of his iconic ‘Kettle 9093’ with a dragon stopper inplace of the original bird, issued to celebrate the design’s 30thanniversary (below, ‘Tea Rex’ kettle, £99.95; twowhistles, £13),and the ‘MG35’ tea infuser, toppedwith a bird (below centre, £25).As one icon of the 1980s departed, another arrived. Architect

Michele de Lucchi, co-founder of theMemphis collective, hascreated his first design for Alessi: the ‘Pulcina’ espressomaker(far right, from £43) is an anthropomorphic form (the nametranslates as ‘chicken’) whose stepped exterior has a practicalpurpose – it facilitates steady heating and cooling.Other notable new launches include Japanese designer

Naoto Fukasawa’s sleek ‘Cha’ teapot (top, £109) andaccessories; French talent Inga Sempé’s shapely‘Collo-Alto’ cutlery (centre, £44 for a place setting); andthe ‘RundesModell’ cutlery collection (centre, far right,£75 for a place setting), a classic from 1906 by JosefHoffmann, co-founder of theWienerWerkstätte (Austria’sanswer to the Arts andCraftsmovement). That’s six greatreasonswhy now is a perfect time to hotfoot it to Alessi’sflagshipMayfair store or browse its online shelves (alessi.com).

Visit now The great British high street just got evenmore exciting, with two of our favourite brandshooking upwithmajor retailers this autumn. Design powerhouse The Conran Shop has launched a newconcession at London department store Selfridges (selfridges.com), while Brooklyn-based furniture brandWest Elm has opened a shop-within-a-shop at the John Lewis flagship on Oxford Street (johnlewis.com).

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1Take inspiration from themost beautiful hotelbathrooms and keep your space calm and

uncluttered. Themarble bathroom in theHotel CaféRoyal’s Dome Penthouse (above; hotelcaferoyal.com)is flawless, but we also love the tranquil greybathrooms at Stockholm’s Ett Hemhotel(etthem.se), designed by Ilse Crawford.

2For a stylishly uniform look, decant bath oilsand salts into apothecary-style glass jars

(top right, from £9, Balineum; balineum.co.uk).Gather soaps and sponges in one of Dutch storeOttomania’s traditional silver hammambowls(above right, from £10; ottomania.nl).

3Keep products conveniently to handwithNeunzig° Design’s dainty Corian ‘Skyline’

tray stand (far right, £585, Boffi; boffiuk.com)– it’s the bathroom equivalent of a bedside table.

4Our pick of the latest products to fill it with? LumiSpa’s ‘Winter’ bath oil (right), delicately scentedwith

sweet almond oil (£42, Skandium; skandium.com);Editions de ParfumsFredericMalle’s new ‘LysMediterranée’ bodywash, a warming scentwith notes

of ginger lily,musk and vanilla (£35); andRodin’s neroli and jasmine scented bath bar(above, £28, both Liberty; liberty.co.uk).

5Be sure to have plenty of thick towelsand a plush bathmat.We likeHay’s

contemporary bath towels inmint greenwith a flash of fluoro lime (£25, Selfridges;selfridges.com) and Anthropologie’svintage-style ‘Philippa’ bathmat(above, from £42; anthropologie.eu).

6Finally, add some relaxing readingmaterial. F Scott Fitzgerald’s

short storyThe Diamond as Big as the Ritz,published inFlappers and Philosophers(left, Penguin Classics, £14.99), featuresa suitably extravagant bubble-bath scene.

THEULTIMATEBATHTIMERITUALDark winter days call for pampering with fluffy towels and comfortingscents. Here’s how to have a spa-like bathing experience at home

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BRAND TO WATCHNOVAMOBI L IMaking its UKdebut this autumn,this furniture brand offers anaffordableway to buy into Italianstyle. Established in 1953 by theBattistella family, it uses recycledwood and amodern colour palette.The company excels at storage – this‘Reverse’modular system (£6,000 asshown) combines concealed and openshelves. Available fromGoModern(gomodern.co.uk; novamobili.it).

THE SHOP MONOLOGUE LONDONFurther proof that Redchurch Street is amust-visit destinationfor homeware shopping comes in the form ofMonologueLondon, with its array of goodies bymodern European designers.Who owns it?Polish-born interior designer Pavel Klimczak,who studied in Toronto andMilan beforemoving to east Londonand setting up the store and, soon, an interior design consultancy.What’s so great about it? Its a brilliantmixture of unusual

pieces by hip European brands. ‘I wanted to create a designdestinationwhere people could come regularly and alwaysfind something completely new,’ says Klimczak.Why do shoppers love it?For presenting affordable treasuresalongside extravagant finds. A visitmight offer up anything fromaNepalesewall rug costing four figures to a carafe by an artisanpotter for £44. 93 Redchurch Street, E2 (monologuelondon.com).

BEST OF THEWEB : A SPLASHOF COLOURThis cleverly curatedonline shop makes iteasy to find productsthat will complementyour decor. Pick a colourfrom the rainbow ofinspirational shades onthe homepage and thesite will display lighting,furniture and art tomatch. FounderNatasha Broady hasgathered unique pieces,such as (clockwise fromtop left) the ‘DepeapaMemphis 3’ cushion(£27), ‘Schneid EikonRay’ pendant light(£258) and ‘Pie Chart’coffee table (£506) byHierve for H Furniture(asplashofcolour.com).


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TRENDALERTInstantly update your home, with five of this season’s hottest new looks

GEOMETRIC SHAPESAll things angular are in, with facetedforms and graphic patterns makingthis a fierce new look for autumnFromleft ‘RobotToo’sideboard,£534,&New(andnew.co.uk). ‘Brook’pouf, from£760,Moroso(moroso.it). ‘Gem’candelabra,£185,TomDixon(tomdixon.net). ‘Boxinbox’sidetablebyPhilippeStarck,£2,290,GlasItalia (glasitalia.com). ‘Corners’byNendo,availableSpring2016,Moroso(moroso.it)

CHILDLIKEDESIGNThe design world is embracing its playfulside this season – the fun began withMoooi’s adult-sized rocking horse (left)From left ‘Arion’byMarcelWanders,£8,420,Moooi (moooi.com). ‘RubberDucky’moneybank,£2,400,Asprey (asprey.com).‘Opera’trinketdishes,£18each,Anthropologie(anthropologie.eu). ‘PandaLux’byPaolaNavone(prototype),Cappellini(cappellini.it)

CERULEANBLUEIndigo, cobalt and powder blue have allbeen in favour, but now it’s the turn of thisbright hue. Team it with warm woodsFrom left ‘Hackney’ pouf byWrong forHay,£269,Twentytwentyone (twentytwentyone.com).‘Bouchon’ stool, £618, Porada (porada.it).‘Campaign’ chest of drawers, £1,920,NicholasHaslam (nicholashaslam.com). ‘Wingback’dining chair, £1,600,TomDixon (tomdixon.net)

WALL SCULPTURESThree-dimensional art can make aninteresting change from flat paintingsand photographs. Take your design cuefrom Sir John Soane’s Museum (right;soane.org), where friezes, mouldingsand carvings adorn the packed wallsFrom left ‘ConsoleRocheuse’, £222,AtelierPolyhedre (polyhedre.com). ‘Talia’wall art, £75,Lombok (lombok.co.uk)

1970S REDUXChunky shapes, rounded corners anda colour palette of rust, gold and blackproduces a new interpretation of retroglamour. Plus, it’s the return of that1970s staple – the cocktail cabinet!From leftBench, £2,770,Monologue(monologuelondon.com). ‘Elliott’ side table, £3,570,Minotti (minotti.com). ‘Claude’walnutbar,£2,095, JonathanAdler (uk.jonathanadler.com)


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What does an old library smell like? Leathery, from allthose ancient book bindings andwell-worn club chairs?Of dusty, musty corners left long undisturbed? Thegingery smell of old paper, perhaps? Nostalgic and lovelyas these thingsmay be, they’re not the first aromas youmight imagine as the ideal scents for your home. Yetthere aremany perfumed candles that claim toencapsulate a library-like atmosphere. Ranking highamong them is Swedish perfumery Byredo’s‘Bibliothèque’, whichmanages to transform a scent thatcould be fusty into somethingmodern andmagical.The candle takes themood and smells we associate

with a library and recreates them in away that’s at oncefamiliar and unexpected. The tangy-sweet odour of oldbooks and beeswax-polishedwood panelling is rendered

with notes of plum, peach, vanilla and leather; powderyviolet suggests a faintmustiness in the air; and dry,earthy patchouli evokes a contemplative space wheretime has stood still. ‘It’s a timeless scent, unique andquite addictive,’ says BenGorham, founder of Byredo.‘It’s also one of themost popular of our home fragrances.’This November sees the launch of a limited-edition‘Bibliothèque’ room spray – packaged, like the candle,in classy black andwhite. No other Byredo candle hasreceived this honour, so whatmadeGorham single thisone out? ‘I thought it would be the perfect indulgence toenjoy at home on a cold winter night,’ he explains.Withits warm, caramel-sweet overtones, it will be an excellenthome comfort. Candle, £50; limited-edition room spray,£60, both Liberty (liberty.co.uk; byredo.com).

HOME SCENT ICON ‘B IB L IOTHEQUE’ BY BYREDO

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Style | NEWS

Set in a picturesque valley 75mileswest of Stockholm, the Skultunabrassworks (far right) is a beautiful old brick factorywith a riversidetea terrace, a collection of outlets by heritage Scandinavian brandsand amuseum. It’s also the homeof one of Sweden’s oldest designmanufacturers. If you’re heading to Sweden, it’s well worth a visit.Skultunawas established in 1607 byKingKarl IX, in the hope that

a new brass foundrywould boost his country’s export income and payoff some of its debts. The location he chose – at a crossroads betweena brook that providedwater power, the Falun coppermine, anda natural source of charcoal to fuel the furnaces – is where Skultunastill resides today, despite three occasionswhen the factory has burntdown (in 1671, 1780 and 1913) and anotherwhen it was destroyedby a spring flood (in 1818). The company is renowned for its beautifullysimple brass homewares, including a classic chamber candlestick

known as ‘TheOffice’ (above right, £48), which has been in productionsince the 1630s. But its great strength has long been its collaborationswith contemporary designers, startingwithCarlHjalmarNorrström– a prominent exponent of ArtNouveau – in the 1890s. In themid-century period, silversmith Pierre Forssell produced restrainedModernist pieces including the ‘Tulip’ candlesticks (£176 for a setof three) and in the 1980s, Swedish prince turned industrial designerSigvard Bernadotte created a line of diningware.Today, much of the brand’s output is strikinglymodern, from

jewellery designer Lara Bohinc’s ‘Wilkinson’ desktop accessories(top, from £62 for a letter rack) to Danish duoGamFratesi’s ‘Karui’trays (from £70 each), which combine spun brass – a signatureSkultuna technique –with coloured leathers from the Tärnsjötannery near the foundry. However, Skultuna’s historical buildingsare still celebrated in the delicate design of the ‘The Factory’ tealightholder (right, £52). All pieces are available online or at the brand’sconcept store in central Stockholm (skultuna.com).

INSIDE STORY SKULTUNA

Founded in 1607, the company remainsknown for its beautiful brass homewares

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Style | NEWS

My favourite poem isThe Breeze At Dawn by13th-century Persian poetRumi. I love all of his poemsbut find this one particularlypowerful. It reminds us tostay alert to the beauty of theworld. Itmakesme feel

positive and hopeful and has a calming effect.The last exhibition I sawwas the ‘SummerExhibition’ at the Royal Academy of Artsin London. I loved the rainbow-striped,vinyl-taped staircase in the entrance byestablished artist Jim Lambie. It’s inspiringto see the show’s eclecticmix of work bylesser-known artists from all walks of life.If I had a free day in London, I’d drive

to PetershamNurseries inRichmond, pick up some plantsformy garden and have aleisurely lunch there. I alwaysleave with a car boot-full ofgoodies and amuch slimmerwallet! I’d then takemy dogMr Plum for a run in the nearbypark to work off some of hisboundless energy. I’d finish theday with dinner inmy favouritelocal restaurant, Lemonia(below), in PrimroseHill, whereI’ve lived for the past 20 years.

I love the area’s village feel andhilltop view of London (above).I have two favouritedestinations. One is the Keralabackwaters, a chain of lakesand lagoons in southern India

(above left), which I love for their idyllic, naturalenvironment and simple way of life. I also really likeDeià, a coastal village inMallorca (top), for similarreasons – it’s charming and relatively undeveloped.I was a total technophobe until recently. However,likemany others, I’ve now caught the Instagram bug.I’ve also become fascinatedwith e-commerce, asmyready-to-wear clothing brand has just become anexclusively online business.

After studying fashion and textile design at Central SaintMartins,MatthewWilliamson showed his debut ready-to-wear collection, ‘Electric Angels’, in 1997, which establishedhis signature look of colourful, boho-chic designs. In 2002,he joinedDesigners at Debenhams and createdhis successful ‘Butterfly byMatthewWilliamson’ range. He has also collaboratedwith TheRugCompany andOsborne&Little(@MWWorld;matthewwilliamson.com).

I’m currently listening to the soundtrackfrom recent film Inherent Vice starringJoaquin Phoenix. Like themovie, themusichas a very cool, gritty, slightly dark 1970s feel.I don’t have a favourite piece of music asI get bored quickly if I stick with one style orgenre. I prefer tomix things up –my favouriteplaylist jumps through the decades and acrosscontinents, fromBeyoncé toMozart (right) andeverything in between. ThankGod for Spotify!One song that makesme feel instantly happyis Soul II Soul’sBack to Life (However Do YouWant Me). I remember buying the 12-inch asa teenager and playing it constantly formonths.When I hear it now, it takesme back but still feelscurrent. It doesn’t seem to have aged.The book that’s influencedme themost isThe Power of Now: A Guide toSpiritual Enlightenment by EckhartTolle (below right, YellowKite, £6.99).It’s a simple but inspiring read thatanalyses whymany of us are losing theability to see life as it is – we’re eitherwrapped up in the past or worriedabout the future, and so are losing theability to appreciate the here and now.

MY CULTURAL LIFEMATTHEW WIL L IAMSON

We ask a tastemaker whatthey are reading, watching,downloading and listening to

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TAKAHASHI HIROKO could be the younger, morecontemporary sister of groundbreaking artist YayoiKusama – with her penchant for graphic outfits and forstyling herself as a living artwork, the similarities arestriking. Kusama famously fixates on bright polka dots,but for Hiroko, it’s circles and straight lines in black andwhite – she sees them as ametaphor for a simple life.Hiroko has been enchanted by fashion and textiles

since her childhood, when she would spend hoursdressing her dolls in costumes handmade by hermotherand grandmother. She went on to study dyeing andweaving at the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts,where she fell in love with the art ofthe kimono. Her modern versions ofthe traditional garment, featuringeye-popping patterns, are exhibitedhung flat on walls, alongside portraitsof the artist wearing them (far right).Hiroko works from her studio in

Tokyo, a former factory converted byJapanese architect Jo Nagasaka intoa three-storey, glass-and-steel space(right). Its top floor is a lush indoorjungle where exotic plants and herbsare grown and the second floor isa showroom (top), while the ground-floor exhibition space plays host torows of kimono-clad mannequins, crafted to resembleHiroko (bottom). She has collaborated with the likes ofItalian designer EnzoMari (on a series of chairs covered

inher prints) and IsseyMiyake(on a line of kimonos), createdweddings rings and ceramics,and launched her own brand,Hirocoledge, selling t-shirts,fans, cotton bags and jewellery.This autumn, she’s releasingher first collection of exquisitescented candles and roomdiffusers adorned with hersignature patterns (right).There are five scents in the

range, each featuring unusualaccords inspired by Hiroko’schildhood memories: ‘Go’ for

instance, is a blend of tomato, rhubarb, honey and jasminethatevokessummerholidays,while‘Yon’hintsattheartist’ssweet tooth, with notes of cinnamon, burnt caramel andpopcorn. What really seduces, though, are the bone chinavessels that house them, each one adorned with dots,stripes and curlicues – they’re objects to cherish forever.Candles, £60 each; diffusers, £75 each, Unique & Unity(uniqueandunity.co.uk; takahashihiroko.com). ED

TAKAHASHIHIROKOThe Japanese artist whose bold monochromeprints adorn a new range of home scentsWords AMY BRADFORD

Hiroko sees themonochromecircles and linesthat adorn herkimonos andthe vessels ofher new scentsas ametaphorfor a simple life


Style | PEOPLE

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WALTER CRANE (1845–1915) was a keymemberofBritain’sArts andCraftsmovement.A prolific polymath, he created handmadewallpapers, textiles, ceramicsandstainedglass.Healso illustratedmanybooks, fromchildren’sstories such as The Baby’s Own Aesop, whichfeaturedshortenedversionsof theclassic fables,to Edmund Spenser’s 16th-century epic poemThe Faerie Queene. Like his hero and friendWilliam Morris, Crane was an early socialist,bent on reviving traditional crafts because hebelieved industrial manufacturing robbedworkersofcreativeandpleasurable involvementin what they made. Crane’s multidisciplinary

approach sprang from his politics: a return togreater craftsmanship in all areas of design, heargued,would help to bring art into everyone’sdaily lives. Ironically, his admirablydemocraticidealswerecompromisedsince, asheadmitted,‘Cheapness in art and handicraft is well-nighimpossible’. Indeed, itwasmainlytheburgeoningmiddle classes who could afford his designs.Born in Liverpool, Crane followed in the

footsteps of his father Thomas, also an artist.Aged 17 and living in London, he exhibitedapicture entitledThe Lady of Shalott, basedonthepoembyAlfred,LordTennyson,at theRoyalAcademy. Several years earlier he had been

DESIGN HERO WALTER CRANE

The Arts and Crafts hero’s work is revived in a new children’s bookWords DOMINIC LUTYENS


apprenticed to wood engraver William JamesLinton and, in 1863, was employed by printerEdmundEvans to illustratenurseryrhymesandfairytales.Crane’s formative influences includedthe Pre-Raphaelites, Italian Renaissance artand Japanese prints.From1875, Jeffrey&Coproducedhis frieze-likewallpapers,which teemwith exotic, large-scalemotifs – peacocks,swaggering swans,Madonna lilies andmythological figures – in rich tones such asmoss greenandburntorange.Cranealsomadepottery and ceramic tiles for Wedgwood,Lancastrian pottery brand Pilkington’s andStaffordshire tile specialistMaw&Company.In later life,Cranebecame involved in theArt

Workers’ Guild, founded in 1884 to promote

‘unity of all the arts’, and its offshoot, the ArtsandCraftsExhibitionSociety,whichhelddesignshows at the New Gallery on Regent Street.Crane also exhibited hiswork inAmerica, and,in 1898, was appointed principal of the Royal

College of Art.Fastforwardtotoday,

and a newly publishedchildren’s bookWendyand the Wallpaper Catby Jason Hook andIlaria Demonti (V&APublishing, £11.99)

attests to Crane’s enduring appeal. Its heroineis cured of insomnia after seeing her GrandpaWalter’s wallpapers come to life – a gloriouslywhimsical tale thatpromises to introduceanewgenerationtoCrane’s sumptuousdesigns. If youlike thedesigner’s style, youcanbuya selectionofprintsfeaturinghisillustrationsatArt.co.uk. ED

Wallpapers, fromleft‘OrangeTree’; ‘Seashore’;‘TheFormalGarden’; ‘Saxon’;and ‘NurseryRhymes’AbovePages fromnewbookWendy and the Wallpaper Cat,(V&APublishing,£11.99),which is set tobringCrane’swonderfullywhimsicaldesigns toanewgeneration

Crane believed that areturn to craftsmanshipwould help bring art intoeveryone’s daily lives


Style | PEOPLE

THINK OF HAND-PAINTED FINE CHINA and floral patternsprobably spring to mind – which is why Richard Brendon’s new‘Arc’ collection of Art Deco-inspired tableware, with its matt blackand burnished gold design, is a breath of fresh air. Not only doesit push the boundaries in visual terms, it also showcases the skillsof decorators working in the potteries of Stoke-on-Trent today.Brendon’s interest in the skill of hand painting was piqued in

2011, when he was working on his ‘Reflect’ collection. For theproject he paired vintage saucers with new cups gilded in platinumand gold (far right). ‘I scoured antiques fairs buying secondhandsaucers and observed how the world of hand-painted ceramics haschanged during the last 300 years,’ he explains. ‘In the 1920s, handpainted details were much more graphic compared to any otherperiod in British ceramics. For the “Arc” collection, I wantedto bring that back but in a contemporary, relevant way.’

Over the last few years, Brendon has garnered a reputation forhis fine china collections – including a boldly striped collaborationwith Patternity for Fortnum & Mason; ‘Details from Willow’,a pared-down take on the traditional Willow pattern; and ‘Speck’,which celebrates the tiny black dots left on china after firing.He has recently introduced a new bespoke service that meanshis designs are now available in a palette of 12 colours.Brendon has also branched out into a newmaterial: lead crystal,

which was first developed in England around 400 years ago. His‘Diamond’ collection of barware (right) consists of a decanter andfour glasses, each mouth blown and hand cut with a tiny diamondpattern that reflects the light and is incredibly tactile. ‘As with myceramics, I’m using a traditional material that lasts forever andworking with craftspeople who are the best at what they do,’he enthuses. ‘Hopefully in one hundred years’ time, people willlook at these collections and still think they’re beautiful.’ We don’tdoubt it. ‘Arc’ collection, from £50 for a bread plate; ‘Diamond’collection, from £40 for a shot glass (richardbrendon.com).

Clockwise fromtopBrendon’s ‘Arc’dinnerwarecollection is inspiredbygraphicArtDecodesigns; allofhisbonechinapiecesaremade inStoke-on-Trent, thehistoricheartofBritishpottery;Brendonwithhis‘Reflect’ cupsandsaucers; thehand-cut‘Diamond’barwarecollection

THEPASTONAPLATEBritish designer Richard Brendon’slatest tableware collections reinventtwo historic craft formsWords EMMA LOVE

Richard Brendon’s ‘Arc’ collection pushesthe boundaries in visual terms, but alsoshowcases the skills of traditional potters

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POTTED FASHIONInspired by offcuts from the fashion industry, Yiqi Yan and Yang Li – who last yearset up a joint practice, Sisal Studio – have launched ‘Fabric’, a range of plates, cupsandmisshapen vesselsmade from recycled clothes that have been brushedwithclay then fired in a kiln. ‘The fabric is soft, so it changes shapewhen it’s fired,’ saysLi. ‘The designs are environmentally friendly and every piece is unique, becauseeach item of clothing has its own story.’ From£30 for a cup (sisalstudio.com).

TEXTILES TIPThese gorgeous cushions are partof lifestyle brand Tiipoi’s firsttextiles collection. The brandaims to bring the best of Indiancrafts to a western audience,and this range was inspired by thehorizontal lines and bold coloursof traditional southern Indian‘jamakkalam’ techniques –whereweavers rhythmically throwa shuttle across a five-metre pitloom to create patterns of blocks,lines and dashes. Each cushionismade from organically dyedcotton. A great way of addingOp Art graphics to your sofa orfloor. £70 each (tiipoi.com).

ONE - STOP SHOP‘Present & Collect’ is a newselling exhibition at theContemporary Applied Artsgallery in Southwark thatfeatures everything fromtableware by potter DerekWilson (top) to gorgeousblue lampshades by glassartist Michael Ruh, woodenfurniture by Angus Ross(‘Unstable’ stool, bottom)and monumental ‘moonjars’ by ceramicist AkikoHirai. It’s the perfectplace to snap up craftyChristmas presents, as wellas sought-after collectors’pieces. 19 November–24December (caa.org.uk).


Style | CRAFT

JOIN THE FOLDPaper artist Kyla McCallum (above) is the talented makerbehind our fabulous cover art – she hand-folded 50 bespokedesigns that look like a mix between falling snowflakes anddiamonds, as well as the letters of the ELLE Decoration logo.‘The idea was to echo the luxurious theme of the issue,’ saysMcCallum, who makes framed prints and delicate paperlampshades inspired by origami for her studio, Foldability( foldability.co.uk). She also features alongside ceramicists(such as Nicola Tassie, right), weavers, spoon carvers and

cobblers in new book ‘Makersof East London’ (Hoxton MiniPress, £30). The title goes behindstudio doors to offer an insightinto the working lives of thecraftspeople who are leadinga ‘handmade revolution’. Designblogger Katie Treggiden tellstheir stories, while photographsby Charlotte Schreiber show howthe objects we love are made.

See a video of Kyla making oursnowflakes at elledecoration.co.uk


Style | CRAFT

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The festive frenzy is almossst upon us! But don’t fret, we’ve done the harddd work for you.Here are our sevennn simple steps to make your home merry and bright

‘FallingLeaves’mobilebyKanehen,£395,The

ShopFloorProject(theshopfloorproject.com)

Want to make your presents look stylish under the tree?Use this glamorous gilt gift wrap, illustrated with

a charming bird’s-eye view of London

ALTERNATIVELY, DECORATE YOUR GIFTS

WITH BROWN PAPER AND STRING, THEN ADD

ARTY SNAPS FOR A PERSONAL TOUCH

AboveThisChristmaswewillbe taking inspiration fromArtifactUprising (artifactuprising.com),whichhasgiventraditionalbrownpaperandstringpackagingacreative twistbyattachingpersonalisedInstagram-stylephotos– from£9.99 foraboxof 12prints,Photobox(photobox.co.uk)–andsprigsof festive foliage.ScribbleyourmessageonthebottomofeachsnapOpposite ‘GoldLondonMap’wrapbyMichaelAHill,£1.50persheet,LagomDesign(lagomdesign.co.uk)PI

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Style | INSP IRAT ION



Welovethisoriginaldecorating ideabyCraftberryBush(craftberrybush.com).Here ishowyoucando ityourself The feathersFoldpiecesofbrowncardandtissuepaperdownthecentre tocreate theveinsof the feathers, thencutout theshapesandmakesmall slitsalongtheiredges tocreate the featheryeffectThewreathPurchaseanembroideryhoopandgluethecardandtissuepaper feathers to it,beingsure tomixupthesizesandtextures foranatural look

Christmas is the perfect time to get creative. And this indoordecoration is fun to make, so start cutting and sticking

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Get more bang for your buck duringthe festive season with these stylish

monochrome numbers

Clockwise fromtop left ‘Whitechapel’ card,£3,TomPigeon(tompigeon.com). ‘SurpriseNoel’card,£2.80,OneMustDash(onemustdash.com). ‘FoilBauble’card,£2.95,Ola(olastudio.co.uk). ‘MerryChristmas’card,£3.95,StudioSarah(studiosarah.co.uk). ‘ChristmasStag’card,£2.99,Chase&Wonder(chaseandwonder.com).

‘I’mDreaming’card,£2.10,AlisonHardcastle(alisonhardcastle.com) Opposite ‘Black&White’crackers,£60,KatieLeamon(katieleamon.com)

SPREAD A LITTLE COMFORT AND JOY BY

FILL ING THESE CHIC CONTEMPORARY CARDS WITH

WISE WORDS AND WONDERFUL WISHES

A Christmas card can be a thing of beauty rather thangarish and glitzy. Here’s our pick of the season’s best

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THERE’S NOTHING

QUITE L IKE THE SCENT,

LOOK AND MAGIC

OF A REAL TREE,

SO NEVER GO FAKE

Adorn your tree with these totally timeless gems.Carefully create a cherished collection, adding

a few new designs every year

Clockwise fromtop leftWoodendecorationbySebastianCox,£9,Heal’s (heals.com). ‘BirchBark’ snowflakedecoration,£16.50 for24,Cox&Cox(coxandcox.co.uk).Brassgeometricpendant,£15,Darkroom(darkroomlondon.com). ‘Metal3DStar’bauble,£4.50,JohnLewis (johnlewis.com).‘BirdHouse’decoration,£14.70,MaryNeesonCeramics (maryneesonceramics.com).Brassgeometricpendant (seeprevious). ‘MiniPorcelainBell’

decoration,£22for12,TheWhiteCompany(thewhitecompany.com).Woodendecoration(seeprevious). ‘GoldGeoWire’decoration,£4,OliverBonas(oliverbonas.com). ‘MonochromeandGold’paperbauble,£45 for6,Rose&Grey(roseandgrey.co.uk).Woodendecoration(seeprevious).

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Make a kokedama! We didn’t know what they were at first either,but now we’re smitten by these Japanese versions of bonsai

Wanttomakeyourown?SlowLivingWorkshops(slowlivingworkshops.com)explainhow 1Chooseyourplant–we’veselecteda fern–andtake itoutof itspot2Gently loosentheroots,beingsurenot toremovetoomuchof thesoil3Addanewlayerof soil to theroots,dampening it so thatyoucanformaball4Placemossaroundtheoutsideof theball5Wrapitwithstring tokeepthemossandsoil inplace6Attachtheendof thestring toaneedleandsewit into themossball tosecure PI

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CREATE THESE

DANGLING BUNDLES

OF FESTIVE GREENERY

FOR AN ORIGINAL

CHRISTMAS DECORATION



Dangling from a mantelpiece or at the end of your bed, thesestockings in subtle shades are the only ones to hang thisChristmas – and they’re stylish enough for adults, too!

Top left tobottomright ‘AntaresStar’ stocking; ‘HarbourStripe’ stocking; ‘Chevy’ stocking; ‘Cove’ stocking; ‘ClassicClarendon’ stocking; ‘Boulder’ stocking;‘SmallBroadwayPattern’ stocking; ‘KensalCheck’ stocking; ‘HamiltonSmallSpot’ stocking, all£60each,45cmfromtoptotoe,ToriMurphy(torimurphy.com) PI

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FOR MORE HOME UPDATES, V IS IT EL LEDECORATION.CO.UK/SOLUT IONS

DECORATING • KITCHEN & BATHROOM INSPIRATION • EASY UPDATES • EXPERT ADVICE

SOLUTIONS

THE TRENDTO TRY THIS

MONTH. . .SET THE TONE FOR

A RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEPwith an all-black backdrop tocreate a tranquil environment.Dulux’s colour experts are

predicting a shift towards deep,light-absorbing paint shadesfor the coming season, with

colours such as its new ‘LightsOut’ (£24.99 per 2.5 litres;

dulux.co.uk) taking centre stage.Complement with bedlinensin shades of grey – for similartryH&M (from£79.99 for

a double duvet set; hm.com).

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SHEERDELIGHTOpaque material provides privacy and a cosy atmosphere withoutblocking out all of your precious daylight. This ‘City Lights’ fabricby Jane Churchill is the stylish, modern alternative to traditional netcurtains and allows a soft, diffused, ‘twinkling’ glow to fill the room.Hang yours with a draping pencil pleat to create a contemporarywindow dressing. £79 per metre, Colefax and Fowler (colefax.com).

EASY INDUSTRIALUse these large porcelain tilesto give your floor, wall or kitchensplashback a weatheredmetallicglow. The ‘IMetalli’ designs byLaminam are easy to install andmimic the industrial look ofrusting or patinated iron, brass,copper and bronze without theupkeep. They can be used asexterior cladding, too. £119.56 persquaremetre (laminam.co.nz).

‘PlutonioOssidato’

PAINT BYNUMBERSAmerican brandBenjaminMoore’sfortified resin paintscome in a choice of 3,500rich hues that don’t fade,mark or rub off. Thepaints also have greatcoverage: two coats willbemore than enough,even for the darkestshade. ‘Regal Select’,£17 per litre (benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk).

‘PlumbeoOssidato’

‘MadreperlaOssidato’

‘FerroOssidato’


Solutions | UPDATES

Sarah Lavoine’sMondrian-inspired‘Radieuse’ wall lights are an easy wayto imitate the interior designer’s colourconfident style in your own home

BOLD AND BEAUTIFULInterior designer Sarah Lavoine (left)believes that we should all be a bitmoredaring with our use of colour. Since formingher studio in 2002, Lavoine has gaineda reputation for vivid designs and hastransformed some amazing spaces –mostrecently the chic eatery Victoria 1836 and

her eponymous boutiques in Paris – by artfully contrastingamonochrome palette with rich jewel tones. She has evencreated her own signature paint colour, ‘Bleu Sarah’, whichis splashed generously across the walls of her own apartment,

also in Paris. Now, Lavoine is on amission to bring a littleof her colour confidence to your homewith her new collectionof vibrant,Mondrian-inspired ‘Radieuse’ wall lights (below).‘Lighting is key to any interior’, she explains. ‘It underlinesits soul’. The lights come in four different colour combinations,each one a functional piece of art –mix andmatch them fora scheme that’s consistent without being samey. Theywillbrighten up a plain wall, but we advise you to take a leaf outof Lavoine’s book and be brave, clashing themwith a vibrantpaint job. From£101 each (sarahlavoine.com).

Fromtop Thebrighthallway inSarahLavoine’sownParisianapartment,painted inhersignature ‘BleuSarah’hue;Mondrian-inspired ‘Radieuse’wall lights(from£101each; sarahlavoine.com)

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Solutions | UPDATES

‘Tilesquare’ tiles ingrey,£6each,TineK(tinekhome.com)

1 ‘Keidos’ tilesbyAlbertoSánchez, from£94.47persquaremetre,MutDesign(mutdesign.com)2 ‘WarpedDiamond’ tilebyJethroMacey,£190persquaremetre,Workhouse(workhousecollection.co.uk)3 ‘ZigZagLight’ tilesbyPophamDesign, from£200persquaremetre,AnnSacks (annsacks.com)

4Moroccantile,£50persquaremetre,BestTile (besttile.com)5 ‘Orchard’ tilesbyClaessonKoivistoRune,£117persquaremetre,MarrakechDesign(marrakechdesign.se)6 ‘Arlequin’ tile,£87persquaremetre,Emery&Cie(emeryetcie.com)7 ‘MotifPois’ tile,£87persquaremetre,Emery&Cie(emeryetcie.com)8 ‘PencilChurriana’ tile,£25persquaremetre,Bert&May(bertandmay.com)9 ‘GeoCrissCross’ tilesbyDeborahOsburn,

from£4.21per tile,Cle (cletile.com)10 ‘Zest’ tilesbyIndiaMahdavi,£153persquaremetre,Bisazza (bisazza.com)

CEMENTYOURLOVEOFTILESWe love the subtle colours and textural feel of cement tiles and today’s hottest designs feature geometricprints and figurative patterns. The traditionalmethod ofmaking encaustic tiles has remained relatively

unchanged fromwhen it was first devised 150 years ago: cement is hand poured, compressedwith ground-upmarble and stone and infusedwith pigment, before being dried out in the sun. Unlike other tiles, the

pattern on cement ones will never wear off, because the colour is worked through the whole tile rather than justthe top layer. Lee Thornley, founder of Bert &May, recommends that once installed, encaustic tiles should

be left to dry out for a week, at which point they can be protected with a wax sealant. Cement is anexcellent heat conductor, so the tiles workwell with underfloor heating, too. Below is our pick of the best.

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Clockwise fromtop leftMarbleshelf, £68,HouseDoctor (housedoctor.dk). ‘TrueColor’vasebyLexPott,£190,&Tradition(andtradition.com). ‘Laust’plate, £30,BrosteCopenhagen(brostecopenhagen.com). ‘Timothy’pendant light, £110,Pooky(pooky.com). ‘Limba’wallpaper, £69.10per ten-metreroll,Casamance(casamance.com).Wall lamp, £263,HouseDoctor (housedoctor.dk). ‘Selke’cabinet, £2,360asshown,Hem(hem.com). ‘Etah’chairbyPaolaNavoneforBaxter,£870,AnnaCasa (annacasa.net). ‘Circus’poufbySimonLegald, from£380,NormannCopenhagen(normann-copenhagen.com). ‘Karui’ traybyGamFratesi,£235,Skultuna(skultuna.com). ‘Siena’side table, from£910,TomFaulkner (tomfaulkner.co.uk).‘Minx’armchair, £5,396,AmySomerville (amysomerville.com) W

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THERICHESTOFGREENSPair this season’s sumptuous shade of deep green with

the warm lustre of patinated metal – very apt given thathistorically pigments used to make the colour green werebased on copper minerals such as malachite; or verdigris,

a brilliant hue produced as a result of the oxidisationprocess. Start with your walls – Little Greene’s ‘Dark

Brunswick Green’ ( from £75 for five litres; littlegreene.com)is a good match, or try ‘Malachite’ by Fired Earth (£62.50

for five litres; firedearth.com) – then choose fromour edit of opulent furnishings.

Above ‘Spon’bedlinen, from£130forapairofpillowcases; ‘Bis’pillowcase, £110; ‘LiteZigs’cottonand linenpillowcase, £195 forapair; ‘Metric’duvet cover, £450; ‘Nodo’wool throw,

£475; ‘Paco’alpaca throw, £475,allbySocietyLimonta,Harrods (harrods.com)

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Fromleft ‘Cut&Paste’wallpaper,£125per ten-metreroll,AllTheFruits (allthefruits.bigcartel.com).‘Sentiments’wallpaperbyIngrid+Mika,£69fora ten-metreroll,Milton&King(uk.miltonandking.com)

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Above ‘MixnMatch’wallpaperin‘Tropic’ (top)and‘Monochrome’(bottom),both£95foraten-metreroll,KirathGhundoo(kirathghundoo.com)

PLAYWITHPATTERNWallpaper does not have to be uniform. Be creativewith your decorating scheme by mixing graphicpatterns for a look that is individual. No needto invest in multiple designs, though. We’vediscovered three exciting companies that offerpapers which include a mixture of complementarypatterns on every roll – from left, All The Fruits,Ingrid + Mika and Kirath Ghundoo (details below).‘Cut and paste sections, apply them landscape orportrait. It’s fun and spontaneous,’ says Ghundoo.


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ROCKSTARSMimic the intricate patterns of strata(layers of earth or rock formed overthousands of years) using the latest fabrics,accessories and wallpapers – Fornasetti’sillustrations of malachite make a strikingwallcovering in this room designed byGreg Natale (left, £76 per ten-metre roll,Cole & Son; cole-and-son.com).

Clockwisefromtop ‘AgateRed’pendantlight, from£550,Rothschild&Bickers(rothschildbickers.com).‘QuartzBlock’wallpaper,£137permetre,Tektura(tektura.com). ‘StrataStudy’fabricbyApparatus,£133permetre,ZakandFox(zakandfox.com). ‘Topo’rug ,from£3,890,MarcPhillips(marcphillipsrugs.com).‘Fossil’table,£355,TheSofa&ChairCompany(thesofaandchair.co.uk). ‘Envisioned’fabric(onsofa)byKravet,£95permetre,GP&JBaker(gpandjbaker.com).‘Carriere’fabric,£105permetre,Lelievre(lelievre.eu).‘BlueLagoon’tile,£96persquaremetre,Stone&CeramicWarehouse(sacw.co.uk). ‘Malachite’coasters,£78forasetoffour,JonathanAdler(uk.jonathanadler.com)

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ROCK STARS CONTINUED.. .Take the strata-inspired trend to a wholenew level by using its intricate patternson your ceiling. This apartment inNewYork, designed by Architecture At Large(architectureatlarge.com), featuresa breathtaking hand paintedmural byNota Design (from£5,170; notadesign.com).It’s a luxurious feature that gives the spacea textural focal point and helps to draw theeye upwards, making the room feel larger.

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STAIRWAYHEAVENWith a little ingenuity the area under yourstairs can be transformed into anything froma miniature office to a cosy reading nook.Here are four ways to make use of this oftunder-utilised space – to replicate anyof these looks in your home, first locate anexperienced joiner (try ratedpeople.com).

THEOFFICECreate a whole new room,like this tucked awayworkspace designed byHugh Jefferson Architects(austinarchitect.com).THECLOAKROOMThis Finnish home includesa cupboard, with pull-outrails and shelves, thatremoves the clutter of shoesand coats from the hallway.THEREADING SNUGWhyworkwhen you canlounge? Employ a joiner(see above) to create a sofathat will perfectly fit thenook beneath your stairs.THEBOOKCASEHere, Ikea’s ‘Billy’ bookcaserange has been used tocreate a grid of perfectlyfitted storage (ikea.com).PI

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RISEOFTHEROBOTICMAIDSRobots? In your home? It’s the future, and it’s closer than you think. Meetthe subservient domestic droids eager to perform all of your dreary chores

Words TOM BAILEY Illustration RADIO


OPULAR CULTURE HAS TAUGHT US THAT ROBOTSare bad. The laser-red eyes, the creepy sing-song voices,the whole ‘hell-bent on wiping out humanity’ thing

– it feels likeHollywood ispreparingus forascary, robot-run future.But whether it’s out of curiosity, excitement of the new or sheerlaziness,more andmore of us are starting to invite robots into ourhomes, embracing the idea of domestic ’bots doing our chores.The market for robot helpers is already worth £1.7 billion, and

experts say that thisfigure is set toquadruple in thenextfiveyears.Aside from robot vacuum cleaners (more onthemlater), youcanalreadybuya ‘RoboSnail’(£132; robosnail.com)tocleanyouraquarium,a ‘GrillBot’ (£85; grillbots.com) to scrub thegunge off of your barbecue, and the iRobot‘Looj’ (from £330; irobot.com), which clearsleaves out of your guttering.There are robot lawnmowers, too. Sales of

thesemodernmiracles are growing 15 timesfasterthanthoseoftraditionalmowers.Optionsrange fromHonda’s ‘Miimo’ (below), designed to trimgrounds thesize of Sandringham’s, to the iPad-controlled ‘Robomow’ (from£791; robomow.com).Of course, thereare robots forurbanites, too.The ‘Winbot W930’ (below) is an amazing gadget that vacuum-attaches to glass ormirrors and scampersupanddowncleaning asit goes. It’s likewatching a tinymetal Spider-Manwith a squeegee.As yet, none of these domestic helpers have reduced us to

a smoking pile of asheswith their laser eyes. Far from it – sales arebooming. Even John Lewis sells robots (such as the Samsung

‘VR9000’, below). The market is growing so fast in South Koreathat the government has gone as far as decreeing that every singlehouseholdshouldownadomestic robotby2020.Thecountryhopesto become the world’s first ‘super-productive’ nation, freeing itscitizens from domestic chores so that they can spend more timegenerating national wealth and enjoying family life.Starting towarmtothebenefits?Well, thegoodnews is thatwe’re

not too far behind South Korea. British firmMoley and designerSebastianConranrecentlyunveiledtheworld’sfirst ‘robotickitchen’,

apairofgraceful robotarmscapableof slicing,dicing, stirring andwhiskingwithMichelin-starred precision. Moley hopes to make itavailable in 2017, alongwith an iTunes-stylelibrary of recipes. Don’t fling your Magimixblender intoaskip justyet, though–the ‘robochef’ is expected to cost upwards of £10,000.‘When I was child, my mother took me to

amillionaire’shouseandhehadadishwasher,’reminiscesSebastianConran,whenasked for

his takeondomestic robots. ‘Itwasa spectaculardeviceat the time,but I imaginemy reaction to itwasnodifferent to someone seeinga pair of robot arms today.’ So does he think that, in 20 years time,everyonewill have a robot kitchen? ‘Yes, but at themoment I stillprefer to cook something myself because I enjoy it. But that’s thepointof robots: theycanhelp thosewhocan’t lookafter themselves.In20years timeI’ll be80, soperhapsby then I’ll needa robot chef.’Butbackto thepresent foramoment.Themostpopulardomestic

robot remains the vacuumcleaner, and there are plenty to choose

The SouthKoreangovernment believesthat every householdshould own a domestic

robot by 2020

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‘VR9000’ bySamsungThisvacuumcleaner isbuiltwithadvancedtechnology, including10

sensorsandacamera, toeliminateblindspots,meaningthat it canaccurately

navigateyourfloors, avoidingobstaclesandprovidingano-hassleall-overclean.

£800(samsung.com/uk).

ROBOTIC HELPERS 3 YOU CAN BUY NOW

‘WinbotW930’byEvovacsRoboticsNeverendangeryourselfupa ladderagain.Simplyopenyourwindowandplace this

gravity-defyingrobotontheoutside. Itwillscanthedimensionsof thepaneofglassbeforebuffingevery inchof it toa ‘radiantshine’usingreusablemicofibrecleaning

pads.£330(ecovacsrobotics.com).

‘MiimoHRM520’byHondaHonda’s robo-mowerwillkeepyour lawnincheck.Usethediscreetwireprovidedtosetupa fencearoundyourgarden; ‘Miimo’will thenautomaticallykeepeverythingwithinthatboundaryneatandtidyandreturnto itschargerwhenitsbattery is

running low.£1,999(honda.com).

‘The fact that we cannow talk to robots – andthat they can talk back– is starting tomakethemmore accessible’

from. Samsung, LG and iRobot have all honed the design of theirvacuumcleanersover the lastdecade.So,whilepreviousgenerationsmight have bumped around, blind to their surroundings, today’srobo-vacuums feature infra-red sensors and3Dcameras toensureaccurate cleaning and reduce the amount of scratches on yourskirting boards. Even heritage brandHoover has joined the party,with the launchof itsmid-range ‘Robo.Com3’ (£500;hoover.co.uk).‘We bought a robot vacuum for our workshop,’ says Conran.

‘I fully expected it to break down, but it hasn’t. The big differencethat we’ve noticed is not so much the visualcleanlinessbut the improvement inairqualitybecause the floor is kept so clean.’Market leader iRobot has sold 10 million

of its robotic vacuum cleaners over the pastdecadeandsays that thegadgetsnowaccountfor 18percentof themarket.Nextyear,Dysonwill release the much-anticipated ‘360 Eye’(below). Pitched as a leap forward in homecleaning intelligence, it can scope the layoutofyourroomsusingpanoramic3Dcamerasandhasasuper-powerfulmotor that’s capableofpickingupa speckofdirt 600 times smallerthan this full stop. ‘Most robotic vacuum cleaners don’t see theirenvironment, have little suction, and don’t clean properly,’ saysinventor James Dyson. ‘They are gimmicks.’ The ‘360 Eye’ alsofeatures tank tracks rather thanwheels, so it canmoveeasily fromhardfloors to carpets, and canbe scheduled via a smartphone app.Conransumsup today’s domestic robotics sceneashaving ‘huge

potential’. ‘Robots andcomputers started life at the sametime, just

after the war,’ he says. ‘But while computers havemade their wayinto our pockets, robots are only just becoming mobile thanksto improved battery life and more accurate GPS technology.The fact thatwecannowtalk to them–and that they can talkback– is starting tomake themmore accessible.’Conran’snotconvincedwe’veperfectedrobotics justyet, though.

‘One of the problems that doesn’t get talked about is the noise,’ hesays. ‘Some robots sound like an orchestra tuning up! That’s notpractical in amodern home or office, when you’re on the phone or

tryingtoconcentrate.Ialsothinkit’s importantto manage people’s expectations. When wethinkof a robot,wemight thinkof somethinglike C3-PO from Star Wars, which talks andmoves like a human. But robotic humanoidsare quite away off– a robotwith legs uses 30times as much energy as a robot on wheels.Instead, today’s robotswill actascompanionstoushumanoids–they’retheR2-D2s. Itmighttake 20 years to get to the C3-PO stage.’

By then, say experts, domestic robots will have become multi-functional – more like personal assistants. They’ll carry our bagsand efficiently run our domestic lives, like a high-tech version ofDownton Abbey’s head butler. In the meantime, in order to avoidevery surface inyourhometeemingwithmechanisedworkerbees,it’s wise to carefully pick the domestic robots that will be of themost help to you –we’ve selected some of the best (see below).

Find more of our top robotic helpers at elledecoration.co.uk

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‘Furo-i’ byFutureRobotPopularinSouthKorea,thisrobotisanall-roundhomehelp.UsingtheFamily-LinkappitactsasaWi-Fi-connectedsecuritycamera,makesvideocallsandcontrolssmarthomedevices, fromheatingtolighting.Available2016(myfuro.com).

…AND 3 MORE COMING SOON

‘360Eye’byDysonWithamazingdust-collecting

suction, ‘goanywhere’ tanktracksthateasilynavigatehardfloorsandcarpet, andpanoramic3Dcamerasthataccuratelymapyourhome, thiswillbeagame-changingrobotic

vacuum.Available2016(dyson.com).

‘Atmobot3’ byEvovacsRoboticsThismobileairpurificationrobothuntsoutairborneodoursand

pollutantsbeforedestroying themusing itsonboardfiltrationsystem.LEDsonthetopglowredwhenyourairquality ispoor.Available2016

(ecovacsrobotics.com). ED

i PAD FOR ARTISTSApple’s new tablet computer,the ‘iPad Pro’, is nearly twiceas powerful as the ‘iPad 2’and features a bigger, 12.9-inchtouchscreen. It’s ideal forartists, architects, designersand doodlers, with the pressure-sensitive Apple ‘Pencil’(available soon) making itpossible to write and draw byhand with incredibly realisticprecision. £599 (apple.com).

EASY RIDERTheKickstarter-funded folding electric ‘Gi Flybike’is a very sleek and sophisticated affair. Theworkof Brazilian designer Luca Toledo, it’s lightweightand ideal for urban commutes. As well as beingable to charge your phone as you pedal, it hasanti-puncture tyres and a greaseless belt chain,to ensure that you arrive atmeetings without blackgunk on your trousers. £1,320 (giflybike.com).

COMETH THE HOURTimewas, wearing a smartwatchwas about as cool as carryinga Tamagotchi. The new Pebble‘Time Round’, however, is themost discreet piece of wearabletechnology yet. An ultra-thinsmartwatchwith a customisableelectronic-ink screen, this istechwith style. As well as tellingthe time, it can displaymessagesand calls, control yourmusicand charge in just 15minutes.From£222 (pebble.com).

COUTUREHI-FILinn’s ‘Series 5’ speakers look as good as they sound.The Scottish audio firm offers its ‘520’ and ‘530’ floorstandingmodels in a range of bespoke fabrics, includingHarris tweed,and prints by contemporary Glaswegian design firmTimorousBeasties (above). Every cover has a light, openweave so as notto compromise audio quality.Want to change your decor?Don’t worry, the speakers can stay – simply unzip the covers,remove and replace. From£9,250 (linn.co.uk). W

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THIS MONTH’S MOST INSPIRING SPACESHOME

FOR MORE STYL ISH INTER IORS, V IS IT EL LEDECORATION.CO.UK/INSP IRAT IONS

Reconfigured to make the most of itscompact size and enviable views, this

attic conversion in the heart ofFlorence is a stylish haven of calm

for its fashion-designer owner

Words HANNAH BOOTHPhotography FABRIZIO CICCONI/LIVING INSIDE

Styling FRANCESCA DAVOLI

SMAL LWONDER

LivingareaThewhitesofa isbyCappelliniandthetwoblack ‘Sdraio’ loungechairsarebyPieroLissoni forLivingDivani

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R affaele Stella Brienza’s 16th-century apartment inFlorenceisbijoucomparedtoitsneighbour, theRenaissance-eraPalazzoPitti.Butwhat the fashiondesigner’sopen-plan

homelacksinspaceismorethancompensatedforbyitsextraordinaryview of the Florentine landmark, which lies on the south side oftheRiverArno.Even so, had it not been for some ingeniousdesignwork, the full extent of the vista would never have been revealed.Raffaele’s apartment is situated in the attic of a warehouse that

once served the palace. Previously owned by two elderly women,theproperty consisted of a long corridor connecting several smallrooms, most of whose windows were set so high in the wallsthat, while letting in light, they were near impossible to lookthrough. ‘I fell in love with the view,’ says Raffaele, ‘so, of course,themost important thing formewas to be able to see it’.Working closely with the owner, architects Federico Minarelli

and Julie Janssen – aka Fred&Juul – reconfigured the 70-square-metre layout, demolishing the internalwalls and installing a shortstaircase leading from the living room to the kitchen, which theyraised by installing a platform. Now, thanks to the absence ofconventionaldivisionsand thecreationofdifferent levelsbetweenrooms, the picture windows perfectly frame an outlook onto thelarge, imposing palace and the Old Town beyond.Althoughtheapartment isanawkwardshape, thearchitectshave

achieved a sense of cohesion bydesigning a built-in bookcase thatoverlooks the living room and continues round a corner into thekitchen, where it serves as a wall of cupboards. From there, theunits continue seamlessly into the bedroom, which is separatedfrom the kitchen by a glass partition – the steel frame was coatedin brass paint, to lend it a burnished look, and then polished.‘The obvious limitations of the space actually helped us,’ says

Julie. ‘Byopeningup theapartmentandbuilding the shelvingunit,we turned what would have been a long, narrow hallway into

‘LUXURY ISANYTHINGTHAT HASLIMITLESSCHARM ANDBALANCE –ANYTHINGTIMELESS’

somethingthat isuseful.And,ofcourse, itwas important forRaffaeleto have plenty of closet space because he owns a lot of clothes.’The interior of the apartment has elements of Art Deco style,

introduced by a monochrome palette mixed with dashes of brassand gold. ‘I love the decadence of that period,’ says Raffaele. Theroomsarepaintedwhitewithaccentsofblack, and thefloor ismadeof stainedwood reclaimed fromwinebarrels. ‘Iwanted touse a lotof black andmetallics – it’s a masculine place. Because I live herealone I could indulgemytastes,’ saysRaffaele,whoshareshishomeonly with his belovedwhite dog, Sbirro.The furnishingsareanassemblageof vintagepiecesandbespoke

designsbyFedericoandJulie.These include thedining table,whichismade of the samewood as the flooring but with a natural finish.When it came to sourcing pendant lights for the kitchen andbedroom,Raffaele couldn’tfindanythinghe liked.So thearchitectscreateda simpleblack shell in the shapeof a starwithabrightbrassinterior – ‘we named it the Raffaele pendant,’ says Julie.One of Raffaele’s favourite spots in his home is the dark,moody

bathroom, which has a large black tub at its centre. ‘It makes mehappy – I can completely relax,’ he says. ‘It feels like being on themoon.’ Julie confirms that the roomwas ‘a realpointofdiscussion’.‘Raffaele is a fashion designer, so he’s daring. We urged him to betrue to who he is.’ fredandjuul.com ➤

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

KITCHEN

LIVING AREA

DININGAREA

KitchenThe‘K65’barstoolsarebyAlvarAaltoforArtek.Thestar-shapedbrasspendant lightsweredesignedfortheowner

andareavailabletobuyfromarchitecturefirmFred&JuulStockistdetailsonp180➤

DiningareaThechunkyparquetdiningtableandstoolsaremadeofwoodreclaimedfromwinebarrels.Thechandelier isavintagefind➤

‘I WANTED TO USEA LOT OF BLAALACKAND METALLICS.I LIVE ALONE,SO I CAN INDULGEMY TASTES’

BathroomFornasetticandlesandbrassfixturesoffsetthe

lookofthisstrikingblackspaceBedroomBrass framedglass

partitionsseparatethisroomfromthekitchenandbathroom ED

Fromleft ‘Calvin’bedbyEnricoGirotti,£1,055,Twils (twils.it).Cushionscovered in ‘Harald2’ fabricbyRafSimons,£96perm,Kvadrat (kvadratrafsimons.com).‘GongLux’side table byGiulioCappellini,£1,450; ‘Meltdown’table lampbyJohanLindstén,£477,bothCappellini (cappellini.it). ‘Overdyed’rugbyEzioGrassi,£1,168,TappetiContemporanei (tappeticontemporanei.it). ‘Parvento070’screen, £3,900,DimoreStudio (dimorestudio.eu). ‘Abra’ side tablebyNeulandIndustriedesign forB-Line,£207,Wayfair (wayfair.co.uk). ‘FosterSoftLoveSeat’sofabyAndreaParisio,£3,880,Meridiani (meridiani.it).Cushion, stylist’sown.‘Tetris’side tablebyMassimoCastagna,£528,Gallotti&Radice (gallottiradice.it). ‘IronVotives’coppercandleholderbyPolsPotten,£32forasetof three,Amara(amara.com). ‘Sunset’vasesbyManuelaDiLoreto, from£95each, Incipit (incipitlab.com). ‘Orla’armchairbyJasperMorrison,£2,340,Cappellini (cappellini.it).‘RoyLettura’floor lightbyMarioNanni,£1,125,Viabizzuno(viabizzuno.com)➤

Photography ADRIANO BRUSAFERRIAssistant ILARIA BACCIOCCHI

Sensual and sumptuous, jewel-toned velvet is the fabricof the moment. And it’s not just for upholstery – rugsand walls are also being treated to some tactile luxury

VELVETGOLDMINEFromleft ‘Womb’chairandottomanbyEeroSaarinen,£3,120,Knoll (knolleurope.com). ‘AFloorLamp’, £420,Aust&Amelung(aust-amelung.com). ‘Doria’armchairbyFendiCasa, from£3,960,InteriorSupply (interiorsupply.co.uk). ‘Rooms’rugbySerenaConfalonieri,£469for170x240cm,CarpetEdition(carpetedition.com). ‘StitchedCity’ fabric (onscreen)byJabAnstoetz,£67perm,TMInteriors(tm-interiors.co.uk). ‘Tubo’deskbyIndustrialFacility forTOG,£305,Heal’s (heals.com). ‘Quattrolati’table lightbyHishamKulhanek,£1,104,Tatotato (tatotato.com). ‘WeightHere’candleholderbyKibisi,£72,Menu(menu.as). ‘Plissé’mirrorbyFedericoAngi forAtipico, from£395,MonologueLondon(monologuelondon.com). ‘LT04Colour’ light (onfloor)byEngesvikandRybakkenforE15,£1,310,Viaduct(viaduct.co.uk). ‘D.270.1’chairbyGioPonti,£550,Molteni&C(molteni.it)➤

VELVETGOLDMINEFromleft ‘Catilina’armchairbyLuigiCacciaDominioni forAzucena,£2,247,GMRInteriors (gmr-interiors.com).‘Collar’sofabyRodolfoDordoni,£9,810,Minotti (minottilondon.com).StoolbyLudovica+RobertoPalomba,£1,786,Amara(amara.com). ‘Triangles’rugbyBertjanPot, from£1,519,Golran(golran.com). ‘Haiku’side tablebyMarcoZito forSabaItalia,£335,RhoadesPartnership(rhoadespartnership.co.uk). Copperbowl, stylist’sown.Lamp(onfloor)byStudioLievito,£401,PuraPietra (purapietra.it). ‘LTE5Imbuto’floor lampbyLuigiCacciaDominioni forAzucena, from£702,GMRInteriors (gmr-interiors.com).Wall covered in ‘Candiotta’ fabric, £125perm,DesignersGuild (designersguild.com).BookcasebyRonGilad, from£622,Adele-C(adele-c.it).WirebowlbyNormArchitects,£33,Menu(menu.as).Glass, £6; tray, £40,bothTineKHome(tinekhome.com). ‘Cloe’chairandcushionbyStudiopepe, from£1,867,Spotti (spotti.com).TablebyJohannaGrawunder forGlasItalia,£999,Chaplins (chaplins.co.uk).LampbyStudioLievito,£401,PuraPietra (purapietra.it) ED

NATURALCURVES

Nestled in a quiet, leafy oasis in central Johannesburg, this

family home embraces its lush surroundings, which create

Words KERRYN FISCHER/FRANK FEATURES Photography ELSA YOUNG

a dramatic backdrop for its owner’s treasured art collection

StaircaseThissculpturalconcretestructureemphasises

thegrandscaleof thehouseBarareaThegranitewall,

inspiredbygeometricIslamicdesigns,washandcarvedinChina;thebaritself,cladin

Mazistatiles, isbyarchitectWilhvanderMerwe;andthe‘Pepe’

stoolsarebyCatellanItaliaStockistdetailsonp180➤

LivingareaAwood-burningstovebyHergom,greysofasbyB&BItaliaandmosaicsidetables,discoveredinLahore,Pakistan,createacosyyetdramaticeffectStockistdetailsonp180➤

DiningroomLarge-scaleblue‘Plass’ lightsbyFoscarini(available fromDavidVillageLightingintheUK)aresuspendedovertheMatumihardwoodtableStockistdetailsonp180

his house is a triumph of formand function.Designed by South African architect Wilh van der Merwe, theproperty stands on a large but narrow2,500-square-metre plot inone of Johannesburg’s oldest residential districts.An ancient oak tree that stood in the grounds when the owners

viewed theplot–and isnowthe focalpointof an internal courtyard(below) – influenced the design of thisModernist building, whichalso takes inspiration fromtheEast. ‘I like the restraint ofEasterndesign in terms of materials: concrete for structure, wood forwarmthandglass for light,’ saysWilh. ‘TheJapaneseexcelat shiftingthe focus of a house from the indoors to the outside. It was thisemphasis on thebeauty and tranquillity of theoutdoors thatmostinterested theownerswhenwediscussed thebrief for theirhome.’Thehouse is approachedbyameanderingdriveway,which,Wilh

explains, ‘hints at the principles of ancient Greek architecture:when the approach of a building was all about walking aroundit to observe its profile before reaching the entrance’.Once inside, it is the capacious proportions of this space that

grab the attention: thefive-metre-high, double-volumeceilings inthe main living area set the scene for the homeowners’ extensiveart collection – they have acquired pieces from Pakistan (theirhomecountry), aswell as India, Bulgaria,Kenya andSouthAfrica.The muted palette used throughout helps to give this palatial

spacean intimate feel.Concrete surfaces andrichly grainedwoodscreate layers of texture. In the bar area, a handcarved granitewalllends a decorative flourish inspired by geometric Islamic designs.Elsewhere, artworks add lively pops of colour – the homeownerrequested that the antique chairs in the living area, purchasedat auction, be painted a bright saffron shade.Sprawling luxuriouslyover three levels, thehouse iswonderfully

spacious.On the lowerfloor, every roomopensonto a timberdeckthatconnects to thepoolandgarden.Aspirallingconcrete staircaseleads upstairs towhere a second ‘pyjama lounge’ is situated – thisis where the family hang out and relax. From this floor, a furtherflight of stairs leads up to the quiet of the bedrooms.The rear of the property wraps around the old oak tree that so

enchanted the homeowners. This living centrepiece not only actsas a ‘lung’ for the house, but the circular courtyard in which itstands is awonderful lightwell, washing almost every room in thebuilding with sunshine. Upstairs, the children’s music room andbathroom have windows thatlook out at the tree’s canopy.This is ahome that embraces

itsnatural surroundings– itwastheabundanceof lushgreenery,after all, that first drew thesehomeowners to this idyllicsetting in the city.wnw.co.za ➤

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ure, wood

forwar

mth and g

lass for ligh

t’

Thissweepingconcretestaircase is thefocalpointof thehouse,andwascastonsitetothearchitect’splans➤

FIRST FLOOR

DINING AREA

GUEST SUITE

KITCHEN

PATIO

OFFICE

MAINBEDROOM

LIBRARY

TV ROOM

GARAGE

ATRIUM

GROUND FLOOR

DESIGN BRIEFThis had to be a family house.It needed to be just as comfortablefor the homeowner’s teenage sonand daughter as it was for them.The couple wanted to live inaModernist building that wouldincorporate the trees on the plotand allow for a strong connectionbetween the house and garden.There was no preference fora particular architectural style,but the family did specify that theywanted a designwhichwas responsiveto the site and that, wherever possible,would reduce energy consumption.The homeowners’ art collectionwas an important consideration fromthe earliest stages of planning thisproperty. Their desire for a largemainfeature wall onwhich to hang theirprized artworks proved to be pivotalto the design of themain living area.


BathroomThelargewall-mountedbasinmaintainsthecleanlinesinthissleek,concrete-cladspaceMainbedroomAclusterofTomDixon ‘Lustre’pendant lightscreateastunningdecorative featureStockistdetailsonp180 ED

PU T T INGON TH EG L I TZThe owners of this weekendretreat near Saint-Tropez haveused shimmering brass accentsand luxurious soft textures toimbibe their home with glamour

Words MARZIA NICOLINIPhotography VALENTINA SOMMARIVA

LivingroomTheemeraldgreensofabyBaxterandcurtainsbyLarsenpopagainst thedarkbackdrop.Thespace ispepperedwithmetallicaccents, suchasachandelierbyGallotti&RadiceStockistdetailsonp180➤

onica Damonte, an interior designer andownerof Italian interiorsboutiqueOdulia, discovered thisholidayvilla inGassin,France, twoyearsago.Perchedonahill, thepropertyis set ina smallmedieval villageat theheartof theProvence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The area,while rural, is just four kilometres from thecosmopolitan port of Saint-Tropez and the French Riviera.The villa is idyllic: built from rustic stone, it nestles within

vineyards and is framed by blooms of oleander and rosemary thatfill theairwithadelicate scent. ‘It’s amagical spot forquietholidayswith my partner, Carlo, his son, Andrea, and my two daughters,Victoria and Ginevra,’ says Monica. ‘I immediately felt that thiswas a place we could escape to whenwe needed tranquillity.’The family live andwork inLiguria, northern Italy. As such, the

the seating, which is layered with luxurious fabrics includingcrushedvelvet. ‘It’s our cocoon.We try to visitmostweekends andin the holidays to spend quality time together,’ she adds. ‘WhatI lovemost is sitting in the livingareaonmybelovedEames loungechair while reading or gazing out to the garden.’The colour palette used throughout is not typical of the

Mediterranean: bright shades are eschewed in favourof darkhuesand rich, jewel-like tones accented with brass to elevate thelook. Monica designed much of the furniture herself – the sleekkitchen cabinets are her own creation, as is the modern glassfireplace in the living room, and the dining tables both inside andon the outdoor patio. She has fused these bespoke items withcarefully selectedpieces fromher favouritedesigners,mostnotablyTom Dixon, whose ‘Fan’ chairs are arranged around the table inthe kitchen. ‘We love gathering here for snacks in the evening.We’re always keen to try the local delicacies,’ she says.Thefireplace is thefocalpointof the livingroom,whichiselegantly

furnishedtobecomfortable inboththesummerandwintermonths.‘Thebeautyof spendingour free timehere, soclose toSaint-Tropez,is thatwecandip into the livelyRivieraatmosphereandthenreturnto solitude and relaxation,’ says Monica. ‘A glimpse of the sea orthe vineyards around the house is all that it takes to restore ourenergy. In theevening,we sit on theverandawith friends, lit by theflicker of candles, and chat long into the night, listening to thesoundtrack of the chirping crickets.’ monicadamonte.com ➤

‘THIS HOUSE IS A MAGICAL SPOT TO SPEND QUIET HOLIDAYS. WHATI LOVE MOST IS SITTING IN THE LIVING AREA ON MY BELOVED EAMESLOUNGE CHAIR WHILE READING OR GAZING OUT INTO THE GARDEN’

M

OppositeApairofFornasettivasesstandoneithersideofthefireplace.Ontheedgeofthemantelpiece isa ‘Taccia’ table lampbyAchilleandPierGiacomoCastiglioni forFlos.Acollectionof ‘Form’bowlsbyTomDixonisarrangedontheBaxtercoffeetableStockistdetailsonp180

renovationofthevillawasan18-month-longlabourof loveconductedin their spare time.Monica compares her interior design work tothat of a tailor and was exacting in creating a flexible living spacethat ‘would adapt to any familyoccasion, aswell as to the changingseasons’. She has added a second storey to the house – where theguestbedroomsare located–whichhasdoubledtheaccommodationtomore than200squaremetres, anddesigned thepicturewindowsin the living room to perfectly capture the evening sunset. ‘It’smyfavourite time of the day. I just couldn’t resist,’ she says.Thescheme inside thevilla isdarkanddramatic, butalso refined.

‘I wanted it to feel as if the house was embracing us with a warmhug whenwe stepped through the door,’ saysMonica, pointing to


CLASSIC MEDITERRANEAN BRIGHTSARE ESCHEWED IN FAVOUR OF

DARK HUES AND RICH, JEWEL-LIKETONES ACCENTED WITH BRASS


KitchenThecabinetryandtablearedesignedbythehomeownerandteamedwithasetof ‘Fan’chairsandstoolsbyTomDixonStockistdetailsonp180➤

‘I WANTED IT TO FEEL AS IF THEHOUSE WAS EMBRACINGUS WITH A WARM HUG’

BathroomAlargevanityunit, toppedbyasquaremarblebasin, is litbyan ‘OK’ lightbyKonstantinGrcic forFlosBedroomThemetallicroundsidetablesarefromZaraHomeStockistdetailsonp180➤

BedroomTheblackwallsarecomplementedbyaseamlessrowofbespokewardrobeswith largebrasshandles,designedbythehomeowner.Thefloor lampisbyFlosandtherichvelvetbedisbyIvanoRedaelliStockistdetailsonp180 ED

MY FAVOURITE THINGSAll of the rooms in the villa aredesigned for enjoyment. I love sittingin front of the fireplace in the livingroom or in bed reading.I still remembermy first visit tothe house: the light in the living roomat sunset was intense. I immediatelyfelt warm and serene.My beloved Eames lounge chairby Vitra has accompaniedme onmanymoves and is a piece that transcendstime and fashions.I have two old Louis Vuitton trunksfrom the private collection ofMonaBismarck, whowas an icon of Americanfashion. I discovered themmany yearsago in Capri at an antiques auction.I can see the sea and the bay ofSaint-Tropez frommy bedroomwindowin one direction and the hills surroundedby the vineyards of ChâteauMinuty in theother. In themorning light it’s magical.My favourite place in Saint-Tropezis the art gallery owned by our friendAndrea Preiss (preissfinearts.com). Inthe evening, we often dine at Banh-Hoï(12 Rue Petit Saint-Jean, 83990 Saint-Tropez), or formore casual daytimedining,webrunchatClub55 inPampelonne(43 Boulevard Patch, 83350 Ramatuelle).


SPACETOBREATHEDesigned by its architect owner for his young family, this serenehome in Bavaria provides the luxuries of clean lines, capacious

rooms and a connection with the natural world

Words EMMA LOVEPhotography MADS MOGENSEN


LivingareaThehomeownerdesignedmuchofthefurniturethroughoutthehouse, includingbuilt-inseating inthelivingarea,whereheandhis familyspendtimerelaxing

andenjoyingtheviewscapturedbythefloor-to-ceilingwindows➤


A rchitectManfredLux isaspecialist inbuildingrestoration;but when, three years ago, he secured this plot of land inthesmallBavarian townofSchlipsheim, theregionhegrew

up in, he promised his pregnant wife, Naciye, that he would buildthemaproperty fromscratch. ‘Therewas a 19th-centuryhouseonthe site that was typical of the region, but seriously affected bywoodworm,’he recalls. ‘Itwasnoteasy toconvincemywife tomovein–wewereexpectingourfirst child. Sheaskedmetodesignanewspace, so that is what I did.’ The result is this three-bedroomModernist house, which took two years to complete.Manfred designed the 100-square-metre property with an

environmentally friendly sensibility. ‘There is little talk aboutenergy [efficiency] within the context of housing inGermany, so Iwanted to address this issue inmyownhome,’ he says.One look atthe clean-lined building reveals his efforts: the concrete roof iscovered in stonecropsand thyme, and thewalls are clad inwooden

screens on the outside and concrete on the inside. ‘In summer thewalls arecoldand in thewinter, theyarewarm.Wedohaveheating,but usually we only have to turn it on for about five days a year,when the temperature drops below –15 degrees outside,’ he says.The architect also considered the windows, which are floor-to-

ceiling glass – the biggest, in the main bedroom, weighs 8,000kilograms and was hauled into position by a large crane and sixworkers– ‘theother threewalls andtheceiling framethe landscape,so when you look out of the window, you feel as though you areamongnature,’ explainsManfred. ‘Aswedrawcloser towinter, thethe sun lowers in the sky, so it shines right into the house.’ Thefamily –Manfred and his wife now have two daughters, Laila (11)andRosalie (nine) – also spend a lot of time outside in the garden.‘It’s suchabeautiful plot of land.Wehaveapple, cherry andwalnuttrees,ahammockforreadingandrelaxing in,andanoutdoorkitchenwhere we cook homemade pizza,’ saysManfred.

‘Thewalls and the ceiling frame the landscape, so when you look


Downstairs, theopen-planspaceconsistsofa livingroom,kitchenanddiningarea. ‘There isnoentrancehall – youenter straight intothe room,’ says Manfred. ‘I wanted to avoid those after dinnersituations when guests are leaving and they have to put on theircoats and shoes in a cramped hallway.’ Instead, the first thing yousee upon entering is a piano placed against one wall, which thedaughters can often be found playing. All the furnishings weredesignedbyManfred tofit his homeexactly –which is just aswell,as there are a few awkward corners – from thefittedwindow seatsto the floating steel staircase. To maintain a sleek look, all of theplug sockets are hidden and the lighting is discreet.Not surprisingly, this house has been included in the German

Architecture Annual 2015 by the German Architecture Museumin Frankfurt. ‘For this building, for our own home, I didn’t wantto do something ordinary,’ says Manfred. ‘I wanted to createsomething fresh and different.’ lux-architect.com

LivingareaTheinterior’scleanlinesareenhancedbyhandlelessstorage,hiddenplugsocketsanddiscreet lighting.Thefloatingsteel staircasewasdesignedbyhomeownerManfred,picturedleftwithhiswife,Naciye➤

out of thewindow, you feel as though you are among nature’


With its clever, energy-efficient design and sleek,angular aesthetic, thisModernist property is a winning

combination of clarity, purpose, warmth and light


KitchenThelargediningtable ismadefromoakandhasbeenplacedbesidea largewindowsothatthefamilycanenjoytheviewwhileeating(Heal’s ‘A-Frame’oaktable issimilar)BathroomThisgeometricallyrigorousspace isgentlysoftenedbythecurvesof thefreestanding

bathandthewarmthofthewood-cladwalls Stockistdetailsonp180➤


BedroomThefocusof this roomis itsglasswall,whichallowssunlight topour in; thedaybedis theperfectplace fromwhichtoenjoytheview(tryJohnLewis forasimilardesign).Thebed

sitsonaplatformandstorage isconcealedbehindwall-to-wall cupboards Stockistdetailsonp180

‘As winter draws in, the sun lowers in the skyand shines right into the house’


MY FAVOURITE THINGSI love looking at the trees. In the summer I have a viewof the violet plums; in the autumn, the colours are cooler.One of my favourite places to sit is by the Schutter, a small,snaking river nearby. Thirty years ago there weren’t manyanimals to see around here; now there are beavers and storks.There is a nice brewery about 10 kilometres from the housecalled Schwarzbräu (schwarzbraeu.de). Sometimes I go therewithmy family to eat traditional food and have a drink.I like the house at night because, from our bedroom, I cansee the twinkling streetlights of Diedorf, a town about threekilometres away. Itmakesme feel as if I’m looking out at LA. ED


NATURENURTUREOrganic materials, handcrafted furnitureand a pared-back palette form an airy,inspiring Italian home for one talentedflorist and her creative familyWords EMMA LOVEPhotography FABRIZIO CICCONI/LIVING INSIDEStyling FRANCESCA DAVOLI

LivingareaThecast-ironfireplace isanaturalfocalpoint–andhomeownerAnnalisaLoPorto’s favouritespot.AblackslateclockfoundataFrenchfleamarketsitsonthemantelpiece.Thesofasandthecoffeetablearehandmade➤


FloristAnnalisaLoPorto(left) shares this three-bedroom,200-square-metrehomeaboveherflowershop,Flò, in Bologna with herfashion product managerhusband, Francesco, andtheir sons, Lorenzo (22),a chef, and Leonardo (18),a filmmaker. ‘We are thefamily of four Fs: flowers,fashion, film and food,’ she

jokes of the creative gene that runs in the family. ‘My sonsgrewupseeingmyhusbandandmealwaysexperimentingandtravelling, trying to look at the world in different ways. Theyare also independent, because we both work hard; they cansee that we are passionate about what we do.’The family relocated to Bologna from Treviso more than

20years ago, opting for thiswell-proportioned, 18th-centuryapartment in themedievalOldTown,close toPiazzaMaggiore.‘Living above the shop meant that I could work as a floristand take careof theboys easily,’ saysAnnalisa,whoworked inthe advertising industry before having children. ‘I also useour home for meetings,’ she adds. ‘When I am talking topeople aboutmaking flower arrangements for events, I bringthemhere andwe have a coffee by the fire.’Naturally, theapartment isa fragrantshowcaseforAnnalisa’s

floral designs. Seasonal, rustic arrangements are scatteredthroughout the space: from twigswith pretty red berries anda composition of lichen and rosehip in an earthenware bowlon the coffee table, to a vase of dried wild carrot and ears ofbarley in thekitchen. ‘In the summerwehaveflowers, but forwinter I try to use natural materials that anyone could findand put together,’ she says. ‘My work is about taking a pieceof nature and bringing it inside in an easy, unfussy way.’A loveoforganictexturesandtones isevident inthematerials

that thecouplehavechosen for theiropen-plan living, kitchenand dining areas: thinkwooden floorboards, a gentle, mostlywhite colourpalette, a rustic, cast-ironfireplaceand furnitureeither made by artisans or sourced from flea markets.Annalisa describes the look as ‘a mix of English and Danishstyles’. The finishing touch is a series of striking artworkson the wall by Roberto Dapoto, an artist and gardener whoworks with Annalisa at the flower shop.Food is another important ingredient of this family home.

Francesco isusually away inMilanduring theweek, butmosteveningsAnnalisa andher sonsgather fordinner. Sometimes,Lorenzocooks themall pasta– ‘mymother is fromVeniceandmyfather is fromSicily, soLorenzo loves learninghowtocookdifferent traditional Italian recipes,’ says Annalisa. Later onin the evenings, the family usually drift over to the sofasin front of the fireplace, which is Annalisa’s favourite spot.‘We all sit around and talk for hours. It’s how I like to live– simply and spontaneously.’ flofiori.com

LivingareaAnnalisaLoPorto’sfloraldesignsforherhomeareseasonallybased:summerisallaboutblooms,whileduringwintertheapartmentmightcontainarrangementsconsistingoftwigsandberries,ordriedwildcarrotandearsofbarley➤


StudioLeadingtoa leafyatrium,thisarea is furnishedwithalongwoodentable ladenwithmaterials thatthehomeownerusestomakebotanicalarrangements, includingnaturalhemprope,birchbark,mossandNorwegianlichensLivingareaAnothersmallerreceptionroomcontainsthreearmchairscoveredinahempfabric fromtheearly1900s,

alongwithavintagechromelampanda ‘Cannot’ sidetablebyCappellini Stockistdetailsonp180➤


LivingareaAnartworkbyartistandgardenerRobertoDapotoadornsthewallsnextto lengthsofmottledsaplingKitchenTheopencupboardswerepurchasedatafleamarketanddisplayhandmadestonewarevasesandcrockery

designedbythehomeownerforFlò. Thehomeowneralsodesignedthekitchentable,whichwasmadebyalocalartisan➤

Statement columns, rough-hewnnwnfloorboards and abundant natural

light conspire to give this cityytypropertyyty a subtly bucolic ambience


DetailsThehomeownersson,Lorenzo(above), isachefandoftencooksforthefamilyKitchenThediningtable is illuminatedbyaseriesofhangingbulbsstrungfromsimplehooks.Shinycoppersaucepanscontrastwiththemoremutedtonesof thehomeowners’ stoneware➤


A DAY IN THE LIFEThe first thing I do in themorning is drink amug of coffeewith honey. I don’t like cookingmuchmeat, only simpledishes – pasta with tomatoes and vegetables, for instance.My perfect day at home involves curling up on the sofain front of the fireplace, reading a book.Mymost treasured items in the house are twowoodenboxes in the bedroom. In one, I keep all ofmy family pictures;in the other I havemementos ofmy sons: their first hats, toys,little things that symbolise their childhood.I like to buy food fromMercato della Terra (Piazza ElvioPertinace, Alba CN).My son always laughs atme becauseI only buy bread, Parmesan, olive oil and vegetables, butthey are themost important ingredients.I spendmost of my eveningsworking, then I relaxby reading the newspaper or writing notes about the tasksI have to do the next day before going to bed.I like that feeling you get when you return from a trip.We love this house andwe are always so happy to come home.

BedroomHanginginprideofplaceoverthehomeowners’bedisFromtheTrain, aphoto-printedartworkoncottoncanvasbyRobertoDapoto.Thebedlinenis fromBorgodelleTovaglie.Thecosyfauxfurthrowwasagift fromafriendStockistdetailsonp180 ED


R AWM AGN E T I S M

Stainless steel, concrete and a restrainedapproach to design have resulted in this luxuriously

slick home and office space in Bangkok

Words TRISH LORENZPhotography ANDERS SCHONNEMANN/CHILLI MEDIA

Styling LENE LYNGS

LivingroomThebespokestainlesssteelstairraildesignedbyVaslabechoesthegeometryofthebuilding’sarchitecture.TheleatherchairbesidethedrumkitisfromPapaya,avintagefurniturestoreinBangkokStockistdetailsonp180➤

hisdramatic550-square-metreabode intheupmarketSukhumvitRoad area of Bangkok is both a home and workplace for architectVasu Virajsilp (left). After 10 years spent studying andworking intheUS,Vasu returned toThailand in2004andset aboutdesigningand building this house, which he completed in 2006. ‘Bangkok islike New York or London. It’s very dynamic and multi-cultural;it’s a 24-hour city,’ says Vasu. ‘I like that luxury and undergroundtrends sit side-by-side here. You can eat in five-star restaurantsbut find delicious, authentic street food on the same road.’Vasu’s soaringdouble-height concretehome,which is framedby

glass andmetal, feelsModernist, but there are details, such as thepale green tiled swimming pool and the geometric lines of theinterior, that also convey a subtle Thai influence. ‘This is quitea conceptual design, inspired by Dante,’ says Vasu. ‘I think I’mmore influenced by the West in my work, but I grew up in thisneighbourhood and the house fits within the local context.’The two-storey property is divided into areas of work and rest,

withVasu’s growingarchitecturepracticeof 15peoplebasedon thesecond floor. ‘There are two staircases,’ he says. ‘The one at thefront leads to theofficeand there’s aprivateflight to thebedrooms

at the back of the house.’ The interiors echo the bold, industriallines of the building’s exterior. The space has strong, masculineaccents and stainless steel is used throughout – for the stair rails,on the base of the bespoke dining table and to create the punchedmetal doors that separate the living and dining rooms. Carefullychosen furnishings, such as the transparent ‘Louis Ghost’ diningchairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell and the modern-yet-gothicchandelier thathangsabovethediningtable, injectasenseof luxury.‘I don’t like colourful architecture,’ says Vasu. ‘I think that the

combination of raw, industrial materials and a monotone palettecreates a more sophisticated feel.’ Indeed, the house has beendesignedwithMinimalistprinciples inmind.Thereare fewobjectsondisplayand it’s thearchitecturaldetails– thedeepconcretebaseof the stairs, the dark wood ceiling and the geometrically shapedwindows– that serve asdecorative elements. ‘I like todisplayonlythings that are meaningful to me. If there are too many personalitems, you lose the pared-back feel of the interior,’ he explains.Minimalist living requires a certain rigour that relies on ample

storage and the personal discipline to avoid acquiring too manybelongings. But, as Vasu’s home shows, the rewards are worth thenecessary restraint.Here,hehascreatedaproperty that is all abouttranquillity and theopportunity toappreciatearchitecturalbeautywithout distraction. vaslabarchitecture.com

T‘TO ME LUXURY IS ABOUT GOODDD TASTE IN DESIGN,

WHICH EXTENDS ACROSSSS MATERIALS, SPACE AND FURNITURE.THINGS DON’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE TO BE LUXURIOUS’


LivingroomThelargewhitesofa,abespokedesignbyVaslab, iscoveredinatexturedthrowandcushionsfromBangkokinteriorsstoreCasaPagoda.The ‘LC4’chaise longueisaModernistclassicdesignedbyLeCorbusier,CharlottePerriandandPierreJeanneret forCassina in1928Stockistdetailsonp180➤

DiningroomTheglasstable,with itsstrikingstainless-steelbase, isbyarchitecturefirmVaslab. It issurroundedbytransparent ‘LouisGhost’chairsbyPhilippeStarckforKartell(availableatJohnLewis intheUK)Stockistdetailsonp180➤

‘I DON’T LIKE COLOURFUL ARCHITECTURE.I THINK THAT THE COMBINATION OF RAW,

INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS AND A MONOTONE PALETTECREATES A MORE SOPHISTICATED FEEL’

BathroomThetubisbuilt intoaconcreteplatformunderthewindow.ThemetalcandleholderfromCasaPagoda(left)addssomeThaiglamourtotheschemeBedroomForsimilarlycrispbedding, tryTheWhiteCompany.Thechair isamouldedplywooddesignbyCharlesandRayEames forHermanMillerStockistdetailsonp180 ED

MY CITYI love the dynamic energyof Bangkok. I grew up in thisarea of the city. There are somehip new restaurants and shops,but overall it is still as peacefulas it was thirty years ago.In themorning the first thingI do is read the newspaperwith a cup of coffee. Last thingat night, I quickly checkInstagram and Facebook.I’ve got an old turntable anda big vinyl collection. I like torelax in the living roomwhilstlistening to 1980smusic.I like to visit the local RocketCoffee bar (46, 21/13 KlangAlley,Watthana; rocketcoffeebar.com).My favouriterestaurant is an Italian placecalled Appia (20/4 Sukhumvit31; appia-bangkok.com), butthere is also a great noodleeatery calledWattana PanichBeef Noodles that’s been openfor decades (336–338 SoiEkkamai, Sukhumvit 63).I tell my guests to head toThong Lor. It’s one of the newcool districts in Bangkok, withplenty of bars and nightclubs.

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

KITCHEN

DINING

LIVINGAREA

HALL

BALCONY

MAINBEDROOM

BEDROOM

OFFICE

Bohemianrhapsody

From Chinese ornaments and Moroccan textilesto flea-market finds that reveal their owner’s

love of French style, this Copenhagen apartmenttakes inspiration from every corner of the globe

Words HANNAH BOOTHPhotography/Styling/Production IBEN & NIELS AHLBERG

DiningroomAvintageFrenchEmpirecrystal chandelier (tryG&P

Cohnforsimilar) is juxtaposedwitharustic tablemadefromtimberplanks.

ThestrikingpaintingonthewallisbyartistKastanjeAndersenStockistdetails onp180➤


‘Imust have been French inapast life,’saysfashiondesignerandinteriorsstoreownerMaria

Toft (right), who has her ownclothing labelcalledEtcEtc. ‘I loveeverythingaboutFrance.WheneverI visit, I feel as if I’ve come home.’AlthoughMaria’s actualhome is

Copenhagen–inagrandapartmentthat she shares with her son, five-year-old Noah – you could beforgivenforthinkingthatit’s locatedin a soignée corner of Paris. Fromtheoutside,theturn-of-the-centuryapartment block inFrederiksberglooksas if ithasbeen liftedstraightout of Le Marais. Inside, Maria’seclectic decor is reminiscent ofearly 20th-century bohemianParisian salons. Reminders of France are scattered throughout– anEiffel Tower here, a glass panel fromawine shop there, and prettylace curtains that waft in the breeze at the windows.But as well as being a true Francophile, the designer also adores her

own neighbourhood in the Danish capital, which has some of nearbyVesterbro’s hipster energy butwith a littlemore upscale elegance. ‘It’sa really beautiful part of the city,’ saysMaria. ‘There are nice parks andcool cafes to hang out in – lots of actors and young families live here.’Maria travels regularly, often with Noah. The pair visited Morocco

this spring, andreturnedwithahaulof rugs,poufs, cushionsandAfrican

masks, someofwhichwill finda temporaryhome inher interiors store,BohoHabits, which opened in June.Her apartment is a treasure troveof curiosities: French flea-market discoveries are paired with Chinesesculptures and picture frames are propped casually against the wall,while anarrangementof vintagemirrors is the focus in thedining room(left). Everywhere there are unusual objects in unexpected places –a palm tree stands proud on the kitchen table and an ornate crystalchandelier hangs over the weathered trestle dining table. This blendof styles creates a home that is filled with life and inspiration.Despite theproliferationofobjects, the interiordoesnot feelcluttered,

thanks to the simple backdrop of white panelled walls, classic parquetfloors,oldstuccodetailing,highceilingsandpicturewindows. ‘I’veneverlived in suchawhite spacebefore,’Maria says.Her stylemayhavemanyoutlets, but her home is an extension of herself: laid-back, global andbohemian. ‘It’s an apartment full of stories,’ she says. bohohabits.com

DiningroomClassicblack ‘DSW’chairsbyCharlesandRayEames forVitra(tryTheConranShop intheUK)arepartof themismatchedensemblegatheredaroundthetable.ThehomeownerboughtherantiqueMoroccanrugatasoukinMarrakech(tryFrancoisGilles forsimilar).Vintagemirrorscreateanunusualfocalpointonthewall Stockistdetails onp180➤

Despite the proliferation of objects, theinterior feels uncluttered thanks to itsclassic white walls and parquet flooring


Diningroom Thevintagedresser isfilled

withmismatchedcrockeryandaRoyal

Copenhagendinnerset.Findsimilar lacecurtainsonEtsy

LivingareaAyellowantiquearmchairand

simpleweatheredstoolformacosyreadingspot,surroundedbyvintageephemera.Thesofa isfromNordicdesign

brandBolia Stockistdetails onp180➤

The house is a treasuretrove of curiosities,with unusual itemsin unexpected places


KitchenAmarble-toppedtable ispairedwith industrial-stylestools(tryRockettStGeorgeforsimilar)BedroomAgreyheadboardanddelicatelypatternedwallpaper

createaFrenchboudoir-style lookDetailsAminimodelof the Eiffel

TowerandaChampagnesignbetray theowner’s loveofParis

Stockistdetails onp180

MY FAVOURITETHINGSI lovemy yellow velvet armchair,which I found onmy last trip toToulousewhen visitingmy father.When I haveamoment’s peace I like to sit in it, rightbeside the window, and read.My favourite memory here is ofmy40th birthday. I had a big dinner partyat the house for all ofmy friends withgood food and lovely wine. I decoratedthe whole apartment for the occasionmyself andwe had a blast.One of mymost cherished piecesis a beautiful antique churchcandleholder that I inherited frommymum: it’s decorated with pale roses.It’s wonderful here when the lightfrom the setting sun floods the livingroom and glides over the window seat.I like the view from the window thatlooks out to themost amazing little parkaround the corner. I often visit – it’s likeentering paradise. It has big trees,flowers and ducks, and is so well kept. ED


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IF YOU VISIT ONE EXHIBITIONTHIS MONTH…

‘THE WORLD OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES’, A MAJOR NEWEXPLORATION of the work of two of themost important designersof the 20th century, recently opened at the Barbican and is not to bemissed. Themost definitive andwide-ranging display of the couple’swork to date has been three years in themaking and features roomsets, models, films and original artworks. Until 14 February 2016;

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2-FOR-1 TICKET OFFER, PLUSWIN AN ’EAMES ELEPHANT’!Book two tickets for ‘TheWorld of Charles and RayEames’ for the special price of £14.50 instead of £29and you could win this Vitra ‘Eames Elephant’designed by the couple in 1945 andworth £173. Forfurther details and to discover your promotionalcode, visit elledecoration.co.uk/news/eames

Developed in collaborationwith the EamesOffice andmembers of the Eames family, and curated by designspecialist Catherine Ince, the Barbican’s new exhibitionincludes letters between Charles and Ray, experimentalfurniture from the couple’s early days together anda prototype of their ‘La Chaise’ lounger, on loan fromtheMuseum ofModern Art in NewYork. The show alsoplaces the duo’s work in context, highlighting their interestin technology, science and education to demonstrate theirongoing relevance to design today. ‘TheWorld of Charlesand Ray Eames’, until 14 February 2016 (barbican.org.uk).

Clockwise fromaboveAroomsetcollagebyRayEames(1949); thedesignduo(1957);Charleswiththe iconic loungerandottoman(1956);‘Ball’ clock(1948); a still fromTraveling Boy (1950), afilmbythecouple;Eames-inspired ‘Geometry’notebooksbyTomPigeon; theexhibitioncatalogue; the famed ‘DSW’sidechair (1950); ‘HouseofCards’mug


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TheNordic Cookbook(Phaidon, £29.95) is a beautifulcompendium of landscapesand larder recipes inspiredby Swedish über-chefMagnusNilsson’s travels acrossScandinavia. Recipes forclassic north-European fare– such as lingonberry jamand spicedmeatballs – sitalongside ones for less familiardishes, including rosehip soupand juniper and honey beer.

NOPI: The Cookbook (EburyPress, £28) offers fans ofYotamOttolenghi’s ‘mostrestauranty restaurant’, Nopiin London’s Soho, the chanceto recreate itsMiddle Eastern-inspired dishes at home.Colours and flavours abound– think baby artichokeswith pink peppercorn aiolior black rice porridge withsnowywhite coconutmilk.

Fig&Olive: The Cuisineof the FrenchRiviera(Assouline, £32) is foodescapism at its best: stepout of cold British climesand onto the French Rivieravia beautiful sun-drenchedphotographs, fresh, deliciousrecipes and insider tips(such as how to find the ripestmelons at themarket, justby looking at them).

Fernandez&Wells: Rustic(Hardie Grant, £20) is the firstbook by Jorge Fernandez andRickWells, co-founders ofa successful chain of Spanish-meets-British cafes andwinebars – of which there are nowsix inLondon.Thecaffecortadomightbebest left to thebaristas,but the book also includeseasy bakes such as breakfastmanchego and chorizoomelette and Eccles cakes.

COOKBOOKS OF THE WORLD, UNITEThese four adventurous recipe books recreatethe pleasures of travel through their globallyinspired dishes and gorgeous imagery

PEDAL POWERThanks to soaring numbers of commuters takingto two wheels, the success of Team GB’s cyclistsat London 2012 and the arrival of stylish bikeshops serving mean flat whites, cycling is a hottrend. ‘Cycle Revolution’, a new exhibition at theDesign Museum, celebrates the movement. ClassicPinarello models and accessories belonging toSir Chris Hoy and Paul Smith will be on display,as well as Brompton models (above). 18 November–30 June; tickets £14 (designmuseum.org).

BLACK, WHITE ANDREAD ALL OVERWe take our hats off to Penguin, which continuesto safeguard the future of the printedword viabeautiful and imaginative editions of classicbooks. New out isThe Penguin Book of The BritishShort Story (above; £50), an anthology held in twoperfect cloth-bound volumes. Featuring worksby everyone fromZadie Smith to Charles Dickens,its gunmetal-greyandblack jacketsareemblazonedwith a classic typeface (penguin.co.uk).Also out thismonth is a limited-edition box-set

of all 80 of Penguin’s Little Black Classics –miniature books printed in understated black andwhite (£80; or 80p per book). Curl upwithFlaubert’sA Simple Heart or Kate Chopin’sA Pairof Silk Stockings – could there be amore appealingantidote to the whirlwind of Christmas parties?


Escape | NEWS

INDIANWINTERWhat could blow away the cobwebs of dark autumndays better than an influx of Indian tastes, textiles andtexts?We’ve compiled a to-do list for the season that’ssure to brighten yourmood.VisitThe V&A’s flagship exhibition ‘The Fabricof India’ (2 and 3, 3 October–10 January; vam.ac.uk)is a fascinating exploration of textiles as clothingand currency. Elsewhere, Amsterdam’sRijksmuseum is displaying Indian treasuresfor ‘Asia inAmsterdam’ (1 and 4, 17 October–17 January; rijksmuseum.nl), including piecesfrom the era of the Dutch East India Company.DineLondon’s hottest contemporary IndianrestaurantsDishoomandGymkhana have bothopened new outposts.Dishoom’s courtyardcafe is located offCarnaby Street inKinglyCourt (dishoom.com), whileHoppers( jksrestaurants.com), an informal eatery onFrith Street by the siblings behindGymkhana,is inspired by Sri Lanka’s roadside kiosks.Read Revel in the dazzling craftsmanshipof architecture, art, temples and trinkets fromRajasthan – aka the ‘Land of Kings’ – in Assouline’slush new bookRajasthan Style(5, Assouline, £55). It’s a workof art in its own right andwillhave you dreaming of Delhi.Book aheadThe Jaipur LiteraryFestival promises books,Bollywood and blazing sun. Heldin January, this is a hot ticket.This year’s stellar roster ofspeakers includesMargaretAtwood, AnjumHasan andStephen Fry (6, 21–25 January;jaipurliteraturefestival.org).

OUR TYPEOF WRITERAn insider piece ofinformation: at ELLEDecoration, all magazinearticles are first filed inCourier, the font that echoesthe original serif script ofthe typewriter. And with anelectronic typewriter thattook Kickstarter by storm nowin production (the Freewriter,a ‘distraction-free writingtool’ comprised of mechanicalkeyboard, e-ink screen andautomatic cloud back-up;astrohaus.com) and UrbanOutfitters selling original1970s typewriters, suchas the pretty pink ‘Travel-Riter Deluxe’ by Remington(below, £220), it seems thatthis retro writing tool ishaving a real moment. Ifyou’re not ready to invest inone yourself, delve insteadinto ‘The Art of Typewriting’(Thames & Hudson, £39.95),a beautiful new compendiumcataloguing the device’simpact on everything fromadmin tasks to artwork.

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Visit this The Artist Open Houses Christmas festival is the perfect place to pick up a special Christmas gift.Sculptors, jewellers, potters and print-makers in Sussex towns Brighton, Hove and Ditchling will be openingthe doors to their homes and studios every weekend from 21 November to 13 December (aoh.org.uk).

THE ABSTRACTARCHITECTA lesser-known fact about famousDutch graphic artist MauritsCornelis Escher (1898–1972) isthat he started out training as anarchitect. Indeed, our favouritesof his chimerical prints are theinteriors and architecture-basedlithographs (such as ‘Relativity’,left), which are structurallyimmaculate, but laced withflights of fantasy. This month,head down to south London’sDulwich Picture Gallery, wherea large show of Escher’sextraordinary prints, woodcuts,lithographs and watercoloursis on display. The show includessome of the draughtsman’s mostrecognisable and mind-bendingpieces, as well as a range ofinteresting archive material.‘The Amazing World of MCEscher’, until 17 January(dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk).

3 OF THE BEST V ISUAL LYDAZZL ING THEATRE SHOWS

SLEEPING BEAUTY ChoreographylegendMatthewBourne’s spectacularlygothic production of this ballet classicreturns to London’s Sadler’sWells bypopular demand, with a new special‘surround-sound’ set design that rendersthe Tchaikovsky score immersive andmodern. 1 December–24 January, ticketsfrom £12 (sadlerswells.com).

THEODYSSEY:MISSINGPRESUMEDDEAD Plays in the intimate SamWanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’sGlobe are performed by candlelight. Yourexcuse to visit thismonth is a politicalpiece by British poet SimonArmitage –it dabbles in both fact and fiction, butremains convincing. 3–14November,tickets from£15 (shakespearesglobe.com).

FUNNYGIRLBrit star Sheridan Smithwill play the lead role in this sassy andstylish new revival of the hit Broadwaymusical that launched Barbra Streisand’scareer. 20November–5March, tickets from£29 (www.menierchocolatefactory.com).

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Escape | NEWS

SCENTEDCANDLESTucked in a quiet Belgraviamews houseis the serene atelier of candle-makerRachel Vosper, who offers private coursesfor groups on an on-demand basis. You’llbe greeted at the start of your lessonwitha glass of Champagne, asked to choosea scent from the library of fragrances,and then Vosper will impart the basicskills ofmaking a candle from scratch;you’ll take your creation home in abeautiful glass vessel. £600 for up to sixpeople; open courses for individuals areheld on a Saturday once amonth, £100per person (rachelvosper.com).

CHRISTMAS CAKEAll the glorious goodies served at Gail’sLondon cafes are devised at its open-planpastry kitchen in Blackheath. This winter,budding bakers are invited to the stylishHQ for a festive cooking class.Make andtake homemince pies, gingerbread andamega Christmas cake that will be boozy,fig-filled andwrappedwith ribbon.£80 per person; 14 and 27November,5 and 10December (gailsbread.co.uk).

GIFT LABELSFor those not blessedwith the flawlesshandwriting required for beautiful giftlabels, book in for a workshop inmoderncalligraphy or contemporary brushedlettering with stylish stationer QuillLondon, at its pop-up in London storeWest Elm.Materials are all supplied,along with coffee and lively conversation.From£49 for beginnersmoderncalligraphy course (quilllondon.com).

FESTIVE FLOWERSHead south to The Pullens Yards,a cluster of 60 live/work studios thatare opening their doors to the publicon 4–6December. Jam Jar Flowers(which is the go-to florist for fashionbrandsMulberry and J.Crew) willwelcome visitors formulled wine andthe chance to put together a seasonalposy or garland (pullensyards.co.uk).Also, in Islington, Sweet Pea Flowersis taking up residence at design emporiumAria. Book now for classes on how tomakewreaths and festive bouquets.£65; 1 and 8December (ariashop.co.uk).

STOP WHILE YOU SHOPWhether you find it exhausting orexhilarating, Christmas shopping requiressustenance – so here’s our pick of newlyopened eateries in London’s prime retailareas that are perfect for pitstops.In central London, escape CoventGarden’s hustle and bustle by stoppingfor tea, tasty pies or even a stiff cocktailatMrFogg’s Tavern (mr-foggs.com),a Dickensian-style gin parlour thatpromises a joyously eccentric refugefrom the high street. Further north onMaryleboneHigh Street, enjoy a leisurelylunch at newBasque restaurantLurra(above; lurra.co.uk). Thewood-fired grillmenu is well considered, as is the designof the space: whitemarble tabletops areoffset by azure blue andwood-clad walls.Over in the east, a southern Italian

lunch at L’Anima’smore affordable sistervenue,L’Anima Café (lanimacafe.co.uk),is a treat as you pause from trawlingShoreditch’s design shops. Again,the decor is glorious: it’s entirely kittedout in gorgeous B&B Italia furniture.For thosemaking a day-trip to the

capital, cool new brasserieCambridgeStreet Cafe (cambridgestreetcafe.co.uk),under red-and-white striped awnings,is perfectly located behind Victoria railstation and servesmodern, garden-freshfood.We love the cosy ‘club room’downstairs, where you can recoup onreclaimed furniture with a cup of excellentcoffee; book into the stylish ten-bedroomtownhouse hotel,Artist Residence,upstairs if one day of shopping isn’tenough (artistresidencelondon.co.uk).

THEGIFTOFGIVINGHandsome, homemade presents are magnificent things.Here, we round up the best courses and workshops whereyou can learn to create something beautiful to give tosomeone special this Christmas. No experience necessary!

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WELCOMETOTHECLUBWhat better present is there than a year’s supply of free,

unlimited information and inspiration? An annual membership– be it to a museum, charity, subscription service or gallery – istop of our Christmas wish list. Here are four of our favourites

BEST VALUE Tate (tate.org.uk)Cost £70 for one person; £110 for twoWhat’s included?Free exhibition entry to all four Tategalleries (the 2016 calendar includes a blockbuster GeorgiaO’Keeffe retrospective at Tate Modern and a Francis Baconexhibition at Tate Liverpool), plus curator talks, tours,queue-jumping rights and a quarterly magazine, ‘Tate Etc’.The chic Members’ Rooms – Tate Modern’s has one of thebest views in London – almost warrant the cost alone.Unexpected bonus Stylish and subsidised travel betweenTate Modern and Tate Britain, thanks to a 25 per centdiscount on Tate-to-Tate riverboat rides.

BEST FORTAKING FRIENDS Friends of the RoyalAcademy (royalacademy.org.uk)Cost Standard Friends, £97 for one person; joint friends(membership for two people), £140; membership includingaccess to new-look private members’ club The Academicians’Room (above), £300 per year plus a £240 joining feeWhat’s included?Free entry to exhibitions for the memberplus an adult guest; previews; extended hours’ access toshows; a subscription to the ‘RA’ magazine; and accessto Keeper’s House, a favourite haunt of actor Bill Nighy.Unexpected bonusThe Keeper’s Garden – which, despiteits city-centre location, is a truly tropical oasis of calm.

BEST FORARCHITECTURE FIENDSRoyal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) Friendof Architecture (architecture.com)Cost £45What’s included?Membership to the RIBA includes theopportunity to enjoy friends-only guided architecture walksand curator-led tours; a subscription to the RIBA’s bi-annual‘A Magazine for Architecture’; and discounts in the cafeand bookshop at the academy’s HQ in London’s PortlandPlace ( just think of the coffee-table tomes!).Unexpected bonusFor this Christmas only, new recruitswill receive a free print from the RIBA Collections.

BEST FOR PHILANTHROPISTSThe House ofSt Barnabas (hosb.org.uk)Cost £600 per year, plus recommended £100 donationWhat’s included?Blurring the boundary between charity,art and hospitality, this not-for-profit members’ club andemployment academy is located in a Grade-I listed Georgiantownhouse that has been a House of Charity for the homelesssince the 1860s. Its permanent art collection includes worksdonated by Jeff Koons and Tracy Emin; member eventsinclude a book club, live music nights and arts talks.Unexpected bonusAccess to the tiny but exquisitemedieval-inspired chapel, and the quiet garden.

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REVISITTHECLASSICSEven if you haven’t heard of Andrea Palladio,you’ll be familiar with his style. The 16th-centuryItalian is an icon ofWestern architecture, whorevived Greek and Roman design principles andspearheaded the neoclassical movement (right:Villa Cornaro, Venice, c1570). His influence onproportion can be seen everywhere, from theCapitol building inWashingtonDC right downto the humble cowshed. A new exhibition atLondon’s RIBA, ‘PalladianDesign: the Good, theBad and theUnexpected’, celebrates Palladio’swork by juxtaposing it with that of a selectionof Britain’s leading historic architects, includingColen Campbell,WilliamKent and EdwinLutyens, who between them turned Palladianisminto a national style. Exhibits include beautifuloriginal drawings from the RIBA privatecollection, as well asmodels, photographs, filmsand designs by contemporary architects such asOswaldMathias Ungers (above: Glashutte, c1985).Until 9 January (architecture.com).

Coming soon London’s South Bank is to gain a brand-new theatre. Award-winning architectural practiceHaworth Tompkins’ 900-seat venue, close to Tower Bridge, is set to open in spring 2017. Ex-National Theatredirector Nicholas Hytner, known for hits such as ‘The History Boys’ and ‘WarHorse’, is the driving forceand hopes to showcase ‘exciting new plays from exciting new playwrights’ (londontheatrecompany.co.uk).

THE MODULAR HOMESir Richard Rogers’ practice Stirk Harbour + Partnersis responsible for some of London’s most notablelandmarks, including the Leadenhall Building (aka ‘theCheese Grater’), but its latest project sets out to prove thataffordable housing can be impressive, too. The Y:Cubein south London is an innovative housing scheme for theyouth charity YMCA made up of 36 prefabricated cabins,which are stacked in three-storey blocks and placedaround a central courtyard. The lightweight, flatpackedone-bedroom flats are designed to be easily transportedand quickly installed, offering cool but cheap modernhomes – each one costs just £30,000 to build (rsh-p.com). W

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ALPHABET STREETNorth London-based architectural practice Studio RHEhas converted a 1930s office blockon London’s Finsbury Square into Alphabeta, a new social working environment. In placeof the standard office format, the building has a central glass atriumfilled with natural daylight,aroundwhich are clustered a network of informalmeeting spaces, chill-out zones and a rooftopterrace. The best detail, though, is the winding bike ramp (above), which allowsworkersto cycle off the road and straight into the heart of this creative space (alphabetabuilding.com).

HOLL IN ONEStevenHoll is one of themostsuccessful American architectscurrently working, known forthe award-winning SimmonsHall atMIT in Cambridge,Massachusetts. HisMaggie’scancer care centre at London’sSt Bartholomew’s Hospital iscurrently under construction.Steven Holl (Phaidon, £59.95),showcases his 30-year career,with photographs andHoll’sownwatercolour drawings.

TALK OFTHE TOWNChicago is hosting its firstarchitecture biennial,joining Venice and SaoPaulo in the tradition.Addressing the theme‘The State of the Art ofArchitecture’, there will bean installation by architectSou Fujimoto, designer of2013’s Serpentine Pavilion.Until January 3 (chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org).

HOUSE FORHAMPSTEADFollowing the success ofGrayson Perry’s ‘House forEssex’, which opened earlierthis year, Charles Holland,one of the creative mindsbehind the project, is workingon another eccentric building,this time in north London.The ‘Hampstead House’(render, right), created withLiving Architecture, willfeature rooms devoted tohistoric local heroes: poetJohn Keats, painter JohnConstable and legendarypsychoanalyst Sigmund Freud(living-architecture.co.uk).

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TODAY, THE IMPRESSIVE COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS thatformtheEUR,orEsposizioneUniversaleRoma, southof theItaliancapital city is a hub for international cultural events and coolbusinesses. The pristine 1930s structure that stands at its centre,knownas thePalazzodellaCiviltà Italianaor ‘ColosseoQuadrato’(Square Coliseum), has played host to catwalk shows by GiorgioArmani and recently became the new headquarters of fashionhouse Fendi. Yet the building has a troubling past.The Palazzo, constructed between 1938 and 1943, is an icon of

20th-century neoclassicism, but it is also a monument of ItalianFascism. Dictator Benito Mussolini was more successful thanHitler in Germany and Franco in Spain when it came to makinghis mark architecturally, and the EUR complex was devised asa celebration of Italy at the planned World Fair of 1942, which

never took place due to the outbreak of WWII. Mussolini’s chiefarchitect, Marcello Piacentini, shared his leader’s ideals, seekingto create an example of modern, ‘simplified neoclassicism’,as he described it. The Palazzo captured this style perfectly, cladin pale travertine marble with white stone details and decoratedwithmythological sculptures and friezes. Its symmetrical arches– six rising vertically and nine across each side – represent thenumber of letters inMussolini’s Christian name and surname.If you find yourself in Rome, look beyond the romantic ruins –

the Palazzo is a vision of what Italy’s first city might have lookedlike had history taken a different path. Visit between 23 Octoberand 7 March, 2016 to see ‘Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana andtheEsposizioneUniversaleRoma’, anexhibitionbyFendi featuringphotos by Karl Lagerfeld.Quadrato della Concordia, Rome, Italy

ARCHITECTURAL ICON PALAZZO DEL LA CIV I LTÀ ITAL IANA

Marvel at Mussolini’s vision for a new imperial Rome

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SCANDINAVIAN SURFACEBrand new! Scandinavian Surfaceproudly presents themural 'LostLandscape, dark' from the newcollectionNordicMoods.Our fascination for hand paintedwallpapers found in ancient castleshas been the inspiration for thisdesign. Faded tales of themagnificence of long gone parks andwoodlands.We create an illusion ofa worn canvas revealing a faintimprint of a weatheredNordiclandscape. Comes in two versions:Dark and Light.See the new collection atwww.scandinaviansurface.comScandinavian Surfacemural designsare to be found in public spaces andprivate homes all over the world.Order atwww.photowall.co.uk(or the webshop for your country)and check out their excellentcustomer service!

MOGWAII DESIGNMogwaii Design offers a captivatingcollection of lampshades, cushions andwindow blinds crafted by Sarah Campbell inher studio on theHebridean Isle of Lismore.Sarah combines print, sketch, appliqué andembroidery in her quirky depictions of thesurrounding flora and fauna and invitescollaborations with private clients,architects and interior designers to createbespoke pieces designed to inject 'wow' to aparticular space. For further informationseewww.mogwaiidesign.com

SWOON EDITIONSFrom artisanworkshops direct to yourdoorstep, discover new designs every daywithout the inflated price tag at SWOONEDITIONS. Like themade-to-order Tivolithree-seater sofa, shown here in Elderberrywool andwalnut. A hand-made designwithfeather-mix cushions, customise it to yourtaste with either oak, birch or walnut legsand thirty fabric choices from£579,including delivery. Readers also save £20on orders over £200with voucher codeELLEDECORATION. To order, go towww.swooneditions.com/elledecorationor call 020 3137 2464.Offer expires on 03.12.15.

MATTER & HOMEMatter &Home harnesses the power ofthe healing arts and its lifestyle intohandcrafted aesthetic objects andthoughtful design. This is a unique lineof home accessories that incorporatesintentional design, ritual concepts, andgem and herbalmedicine to supportinner growth and awareness.Working with local artisans and selectpeople who have developed a uniquecraft. Our candles are hand pouredwith ritual, andmedicines according tothe intention. Our work aspires toinspire, invoke sustainability, personalgrowth, lasting quality, and harmonywith our environment.www.matterandhome.com


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Unique and elegant airplant design gifts from £13, by etairnity www.etairnity-airplants.com

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Natural wax&woodwick scented candles, available fromCorpo Sanctowww.corpo-sancto.com

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Inspiring Danish design home accessories, jewellery & gifts, fromwww.caralifestyle.co.uk

“Deck theHalls” holly wreath £42.99&Table centre piece £20, fromwww.bloomsandbuds.co.uk

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CONFLICTOF INTERESTInspired by thetracks that propelledRenault tanks alongthe streets of Europeduring WWI,Louis-FrançoisCartier createdthe sleek, elongateddesign of the ‘Tank’wristwatch – still inproduction today.

The making of a modern classic

# 18.The ‘Tank’ watch by Cartier

DESIGN DECODED

Whowould have thought that a single complaint couldspark the invention of something so elegant, iconic andtimeless? In 1904, aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont pointed out to his friend, Parisian-bornwatchmaker Louis-François Cartier, howdifficult itwas to check the time using his pocket watchwhileairborne in an open cockpit (air travel was a bit differentin those days). Cartier solved the problemby creatingone of theworld’s first wristwatches, which he christenedthe ‘Santos’. The seamless blending of the squarewatch-face into the strapwas considered revolutionary.AsWWI raged, Cartier witnessed hundreds of tanks

sweeping throughwestern Europe; the rollingmechanism that propelled them inspired him to designa newwristwatchwith a rectangular face thatmergedmore completelywith the strap. In 1917, Cartier presentedGeneral JohnPershing, Commander-in-Chief of the

AmericanExpeditionary Force, with the first ‘Tank’watch. The timepiece featured extravagant curvesthat were fashionable at the time and it was an instanthit; in the years since, the overall design hasn’t alteredfrom this original, innovative vision.Variations have, however, been added to the range

– some haveRomannumerals, othersHindu-Arabic;some sportmetal-link straps, others leather. Popularmodels like the ‘Tank Louis Cartier’ (a rounded designexemplifying Art Deco style, worn by Louis-FrançoisCartier himself ), ‘TankAmericaine’ (featuring anelongatedwatch case) and ‘TankFrancaise’ (which hasa chain-link bracelet) have beenworn by countless actors,writers and artists. Jackie Kennedy, AndyWarhol andYves Saint Laurent have all adorned their wrists with thisquintessentially French timepiece, cementing it as aclassic for all time. From£1,850, Cartier (cartier.co.uk). ED

Words JAMES WILLIAMS

TIMELESS DESIGNThe first ‘Tank’ watch (above)went on sale in 1919. Differentstraps and faces have beenadded (left), but the essence ofthe design remains unchanged.

FAMOUS FACESThis French timepiece hasglobal appeal. It has gracedthe wrists of such icons as AndyWarhol and Jackie Kennedy.


PICTU

RES:

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TY,A

LAMY

Elle Decoration - December 2015

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