THE FUTURE

FOR FURNITURE
Will 2010 be a good year for interiors?

INSPIRATION FOR INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS STORAGE FOCUS

Products, projects and profiles

Screen Sirens
Divide and conquer with our choice of the latest screens
DECEMBER 2009 / £4.99
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DON’T MISS THESE
MUST SEE EVENTS
Where you’ll find us in December
DECK THE HALLS
01 Rebecca Hoh,
assistant editor
The Geffrye Museum has a
whole host of Christmas
events coming up in
December. Including ‘Eco
Christmas’ where you can
make sustainable aware
cards and old decorations, all
in the nostalgically decorated
1950s room, all subjects close
to my heart! Eco Designer
Oliver Heath will also be
giving a short talk, before we
break out the mince pies and
mulled wine. No wonder this
is my favourite time of year!
www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
DROPPING IN
02 Jenny Brewer, editorial
assistant
I will be going through some
profoundly historical
keyholes this month at the
homes of some of our most
influential figures. Giving us
a chance to step into the
homes of William Morris,
01
Editors WELCOME | 05
Welcome
Kate Burnett
Editor
Benjamin Franklin, Dr
Samuel Johnson and others,
London Shh (small historic
I
houses) is a collection of
buildings with very famous
former residents. At Sigmund
Freud’s house you can even
see the infamous psycho- was really pleased and encouraged to read our
analytic couch.
www.londonshh.org.uk
lead feature this month where we talk to leading
showrooms and designers about the prospects for
ART-WARMING
03 Kate Burnett, editor the furniture business in 2010. I don’t want to
I enjoy the excitement of an
auction and when it’s for
come over all Ebenezer Scrooge but, as we all
charity it makes it all the know, this has not been the easiest year for the
more dramatic. Architectural
charity Article 25 will be economy so I wasn’t expecting such a range of
auctioning more than 30
works of art from famous
positive comments and optimistic forecasts. I was
names from the worlds of art recently speaking to Justin Pla, UK MD of Knoll
and architecture such as
Tracey Emin and Zaha
in its striking new London showroom and he was
Hadid. The asking prices are telling me that retail sales of Knoll furniture are
likely to be out of my range
but it will still be interesting up an impressive 15.4% year on year. Judging by
to attend the exhibition at
the Louise T Blouin
our article he is not alone. Many different
Foundation in west London. strategies have been employed to help weather the
www.article-25.org
current storm and minimize casualties. Let’s hope
02
2010 sees a glimmer of light at the end of the
tunnel and a strengthening of the positive trends
mentioned in our article. For now I’d like to thank
our many friends and colleagues for all their
support throughout 2009 and wish everyone a
very happy Christmas from all the team here at
03 idfx!
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

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205A St. John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TH
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enq 481
www.idfxmagazine.com
December 2009/issue 134
EDITORIAL
Editor Kate Burnett (kburnett@idfxmagazine.com; 020 7936 6818)
Assistant editor Rebecca Hoh
Additional reporting Jenny Brewer, Linda Clayton, Kay Hill, Amelia Thorpe
Staff writers Emma Gritt, Nicole Robinson
Sub-editor Maria Ainley-Taylor
Products researcher Esther Ademosu
(eademosu@idfxmagazine.com; 020 7936 6858)
Director of content John Band
PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Art director Paul Head
Online designers David Cooper (dcooper@progressivemediagroup.com)
Dan Rogers (drogers@progressivemediagroup.com)
Editorial production manager Dan Gardiner
(dgardiner@progressivemediagroup.com; 020 7936 6808)
Production manager Clare Ovenell
Production coordinator Steve Buchanan
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 December CONTENTS | 07

Contents
OPEN

05-14 05
09
10
12
Editor’s Letter Looking forward to a stronger year in 2010
Pulse The best new products for residential schemes
Diary Design-related events around the UK and worldwide
News The Design Council’s new initiative promotes ongoing
business skills training among professional designers
14 Company Profile Bella Figura’s new collections include the first
lighting products from John Stefanidis

FEATURES

16 How Have You Been? We all know it’s

18-52 been a rough year but what has 2009

really been like for our furniture
designers? And what about 2010?
22 Profile: Patrizia Moroso idfx meets
Moroso’s art director as the Italian
company opens its first UK showroom
25 Screen Sirens From silver stucco to
STORAGE FOCUS

smoke-glass panels, a selection of the
latest tempting room dividers and screens
29 Hard Times Job losses are the worst part
of any reccession. Here are our tips for
avoiding, making and dealing with
redundancy
34 Making Space Bespoke or off the shelf?
Stylish storage options for media and
bathrooms, dressing rooms and wine cellars
47 Stacked Up Arresting display systems
that make as strong a statement as
what they hold inside
49 Shelf Life Our pick of the slick shelving
systems that provide contemporary
all-in-one storage solutions
52 Boxing Clever Decluttering gets serious.
We talk to the experts who make a living
from sorting out other people’s objects

PORTFOLIOS

70 A Very Regal Residence Kelly Hoppen

70-81 had carte blanche to set a new standard

in show homes for developer Regal Homes
74 Mix Master Peter Phan takes inspiration
from many eras and continents for this
transformation of a 12 bedroom mansion
78 Agricultural Show Nicolas Tye Architects
combine two converted barns to create a
vast and minimal, modern home
81 Practice Profile Tim Gosling is a 21st
century champion of bespoke furniture

COVER CLOSE

ON THE COVER
THIS MONTH: 93-98 93 Showrooms New places and spaces from around the UK
94 Eco News Citu and Naughtone combine forces on Leed’s
groundbreaking Greenhouse residential development
Gold screen by 95 Interior Adventures The ups and downs of a typical month in
Boca Do Lobo
www.bocadolobo.com
the life of an interior designer
95 Making It New York designer Marcus Tremonto shines with his
futuristic, electroluminescent lights
96 Pulse Kitchen & Bathroom The very best of this month’s new
products in bathroom and kitchen design
98 No1 Fan Steve Charles glazes over for William de Morgan’s tiles

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

=FI
¾ÁÄ
 Pulse OPEN | 09

Open
01 This chest of drawers from Marcus White
has leather-lined drawers that open by
01
THIS MONTH
» 09 PULSE: THE BEST NEW PRODUCTS
» 10 DIARY: THIS MONTH’S KEY EVENTS
» 12 NEWS: WHAT, WHERE, WHEN & WHY
» 14 COMPANY: MOVERS AND SHAKERS

revolving outwards. Released as an edition of

100, the piece is hand made in Dorset and is
available in several veneers, including rosewood
with black walnut. www.designsbymw.co.uk 02

02 This Yardley sideboard is part of a 20-piece

collection from Black and Key created by
award-winning bespoke furniture designer
Karin Verzariu. Shown here in macassar radial
veneer, it can be customised to a client’s
requirements. www.blackandkey.co.uk

03 Liana Yaroslavsky’s La Luna table is made

using traditional Venetian glass-making
techniques to infuse the blown-glass spherical
base with air bubbles. www.lianayar.com

04 Ian Spencer’s Chaos series celebrates

natural wood’s beautiful range of texture and
tone. His sculptural Roccapina chair 03
is a three-dimensional mosaic of 18 different
types of wood. www.ianspencer.co.uk

05 The Hybrid series from Liqui breathes new

life into old furniture. This table is a typical
example from the range, which adapts classic
pieces using contemporary additions.
www.liquidesign.co.uk
04
06 Anna Dodonova of Anna Casa Interiors has
designed the G table for Reflex. Its bold graphic
shape is available in transparent glass or a
05
range of lacquered colours. www.annacasa.net

06

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

10 | OPEN
Diary

INTERNATIONAL HIDE AND

DIARY SEEK
Hidden Art, London
IFFT/Interior Lifestyle Living 2-4 December,
Tokyo International Exhibition Centre (Tokyo Big Sight)
www.ifft-interiorlifestyleliving.com Now in its
second year as a combined fair, this trade show
features interior and furniture design trends
and luxury products. The 2008 show drew
367 exhibitors and nearly 30,000 visitors.

Candida Höfer in Italy, Part 1: Florence

Must
Portraits of Space 11 December–24 January 2010,
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Via Camillo Cavour 1, See
Florence www.palazzo-medici.it An exhibition of
Candida Höfer’s photographs of Florence’s most
impressive interiors. The large-scale images of
famous spaces devoid of people aim to capture
the psychology of social architecture.

Interior Design Between the Wars Until 14

February 2010, Imperial Furniture Collection,
Möbel Museum Wien, Andreasgass 7, Vienna
www.hofmobiliendepot.at Viennese furniture and
interiors from the 1914-1941 period by
architects Felix Augenfeld, Josef Frank,
Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky and others. Loans
from the Vitra Design Museum link these
pieces to contemporary European design.
HIDDEN ART OPEN STUDIOS 28-29 November and 5-6 December, studios across east London
www.hiddenartlondon.co.uk Designer-makers in east London open the doors of their studios for two
weekends to sell to the public directly from their working environments. The products on sale
include homewares, ceramics, furniture and more. Maps to guide visitors to participating studios
can be picked up from the Geffrye Museum on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch on both weekends or
are available to download from the Hidden Art website.

01 03 04 06

02

01 East London Design Show 4-6 December,
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
www.eastlondondesignshow.co.uk This annual
Christmas sale brings together independent
designer-makers of glass, ceramics, homewares
and furniture from not just east London but the
UK and overseas. Free entry for trade visitors
on production of a business card.
03 Craft in Focus: Art and Contemporary
Designer Craft Show 4-6 December, Queen
Charlotte Hall, Parkshot Centre, Richmond, London
TW9 2RE www.craftinfocus.com British designers,
artists and craftsmen will sell original and
affordable textiles, paintings, furniture,
metalwork, glass and ceramics. Visitors can
also commission bespoke pieces at the show.
Mini Picture Show 10 December–22 January 2010,
Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton Street, London SE1 9JH
www.banksidegallery.com Members of the Royal
Watercolour Society and the Royal Society of
Painter-Printmakers will be selling original
paintings and prints on a small scale. Work is
available to take away framed or unframed and
the prices start at just £50.

02 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe 5-10
December, Christie’s of London, 8 King Street, London
SW1Y 6QT www.christies.com More than 150 lots
of furniture, sculpture, clocks and works of art
will go under the hammer. Estimates range
from £8,000 to £4m for a Louis XIV cabinet on
a stand attributed to Domenico Cucci and the
Gobelins workshop, circa 1665-1675.
04 Design Real 26 November–7 February 2010,
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London
W2 3XA www.serpentinegallery.org This is the
Serpentine Gallery’s first exhibition of
contemporary design. It will showcase objects
that push boundaries in form and function,
ranging from everyday items such as furniture
to products at the cutting-edge of industry.
06 Decode: Digital Design Sensations
8 December-11 April 2010, Porter Gallery, V&A,
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL www.vam.ac.uk
Developments in digital and interactive design
in works by leading artists and designers.
These include pieces programmed with
computer code that constantly change shape
and objects that interact with the viewer.

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

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News

DESIGN COUNCIL Bidwell launches

Beyond Weddings
by Hab Oakus’
fundamental

PROMOTES GOOD Chelsea Bidwell,

creator of Beyond
Design, has launched
principles - a strong
sense of community, a
belief in the
DESIGN PRACTICE sister company
Beyond Weddings to
cleverly combine
importance of public
space, and a
commitment to
New joint cmapaign urges designers interior design with a sustainable lifestyles
maintain professional standards bespoke wedding list and outstanding
service. Bidwell aims contextual design’.
to give clients a more The houses will be
personalised gift list built to Code 4 in the
that adheres to their Code for Sustainable
collective design ethos Homes with the
while working with potential to be
them to achieve a upgraded to Code 5.
truly individual www.haboakus.co.uk
interior. Offering three
levels of service:
personal shopping, Smart Report targets
decoration and design, furniture disputes
according to how A new low-cost
much interior design service has been
involvement the client launched to help with
needs, she draws on disputes with retailers
her wealth of design or manufacturers over

T he Design Council has launched an initiative called Good Design

Practice in association with the Design Skills Alliance. It seeks to highlight
New brands for Romo
Nottinghamshire-based
Romo Group will be
experience to adapt
the presents to
complement the
faulty furniture. For
£99, the Furniture
Ombudsman will
the need for professional development within the wider design community. couple’s new lives appoint a qualified
adding two new brands to
Head of design skills, Lesley Morris, is aware that designers are perceived its fabric repertoire. Zinc together. www. technician to visit
as some of the least well-trained professionals and has created this textiles, an urban beyondweddingsltd.com your home, inspect
initiative to direct designers to the wide range of tools and resources monochromatic range, and your furniture and file
Mark Alexander,
offered by the Design Council. According to David Worthington, the Design specialising in luxurious
an independent report
Skills Alliance deputy chairman, “statistics from the Labour Force Survey but simple fabrics, will be McCloud housing as to its condition.
suggest that a staggering 60% of designers admit they don’t understand added next month. project to go ahead The new ‘Smart
their clients’ businesses well enough. I believe that the UK design industry www.romo.com Television presenter Report’ from The
is the best in the world but we must start to develop our professional skills and design Furniture
for it to remain that way.” Information is available on the Design Council professional Kevin Ombudsman provides
website including guides to download and details of training courses. McCloud has won both you and your
www.designcouncil.org.uk planning permission retailer with an
for his first HabOakus indication as to
development project – whether or not your
a 42-home sustainable complaint is valid, the
development in cause of any damage
Wood Awards winners announced Floor Show finds new Swindon. Hab Oakus and whether it can be
home at NEC for 2010 is a joint venture repaired. The
The National Floor Show
Knox Bhavan Architects were named as will relocate in 2010,
between HAB, impartial opinion of
winners of the best private project in this moving from Harrogate to McCloud’s an expert is often the
year’s Wood Awards for its Carson Road the NEC Birmingham with development company key to deciding
project which involved the conversation of a new date - 22-24 June. and housing group whether or not to
The event’s new location
a Victorian house from three flats into a will allow for an improved GreenSquare. Glenn pursue your
contemporary family home. As many as show layout, as well as Howells Architects are complaint.
eight different types of wood were used for product categorisation, the project architects The Smart Report is
allowing visitors to
the exterior and interior of the house. with with landscape available from The
navigate the two halls with
Caroe and Partners architects were also greater ease. www. architects Studio Furniture
recignised for their work in the restoration nationalfloorshow.co.uk Engleback, and the Ombudsman by
and conservation of a period family home designs ‘are informed calling 0845 653 2064.
Established & Sons go
in Somerset. In the furniture category the online
winner was Elan outdoor furniture, a joint Established & Sons
initiative between Gloster and Enthoven launches its new website
with ecommerce partner
Associates. The award recognized the
Yoox.com on 10 December
innovative use of plywood based on teak and to celebrate its
veneer which allows free forms to be used Mayfair gallery will
and lowers the overall weight of the become a period-style
boutique for late night
furniture. Litton Furniture also was shopping until midnight.
awarded the production furniture prize for www.
its www.woodawards.com establishedandsons.com

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

=FI
¾»Ã
14 | OPEN
Company profile & People
LEADING
LIGHT
Bella Figura has teamed up with
John Stefanidis to launch the
renowned designer’s very
first lighting collection
WORDS KATE BURNETT
PEOPLE &
MOVERS
Cardon takes the helm at Linley,
Torgius joins David Edward, the
Lighting Association appoints Lucas
Kaldewei has appointed James Hardy sales
representative for the south west of England
and Wales. Hardy’s role will be to focus
on the entire trade customer base, including
independent bathroom retailers, merchants
and key distributors. www.kaldewei.com
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
T hese are busy times at Bella Figura. The
company is 25 years old this year and has built
up one of the widest ranges of decorative
lighting in the UK, thanks to the efforts of
founder Ned Cavendish, whose company was
acquired by Charles Wightman in January 2008.
As well as representing a wide range of
brands, the company has developed collections
with illustrious design names such as Linley.
This year is one of the busiest in the company’s
history and, in addition to launching two
collections of glass lighting and one of ceramic
pieces, Bella Figura is unveiling its first
collaboration with designer John Stefanidis.
This is his first ever lighting collection and
the designs are based on the Verona lamp, which
Stefanidis first designed when working on a
country house project 10 years ago. This
collection, inspired by his tour of all the
Palladian villas in Italy, comprises four lights,
each one hewn from a different Italian marble
(marron imperial, nero marquina, arabescato
and crema marfil) and there are two more
(rosso alicante and verde imperial) to come.
Importantly, the collection is made in
England and will be distributed throughout Bella
Figura’s worldwide network. The new glass
collections add further weight to the company’s
claim to be the UK’s leading supplier of
Venetian glass. The collection of lead crystal
and Venetian glass is one of the biggest the
company has launched. The chandeliers and
Left: the John Stefanidis matching pendant and wall fittings come in a
collection comprises range of options and colours and the collection
hand-crafted marble
lights based on his
also includes contemporary designs.
Palladio-inspired More glass lighting options are available in
Verona lamp the retro Murano collection, which takes its
Above: Bella Figura’s inspiration from designs of the 1950s and 1960s,
other new products
include these pendants usefully filling a gap in the company’s catalogue
in milk-white glass between the contemporary and the traditional.
from the Massimo Paradise, in white or gold-leaf glass, is a ceiling
Tonetto collection
or wall light made from layers of glass leaves.
Bamboo comes in white Murano glass with
gold- or platinum-plate decoration and is
available as a ceiling or wall light, floor or table
lamp. www.bella-figura-uk.com
Olivier Cardon has been appointed chief executive of British fine
furniture and interiors company Linley. In his new role, Cardon will be
able to draw upon the experience he has gathered during a decade of
working in retail and luxury goods — he previously worked as the chief
executive of Roche Bobois. Cardon will work on developing and expanding
the Linley brand at home and abroad. www.davidlinley.com
Jonathan Lucas of Elstead Lighting has become David Edward has named Kim Torgius its
the new president of the Lighting European sales director. She previously
Association. He hopes to lead the group worked at Gotham in Notting Hill. In
and its members through the many her new role, Torgius will focus on
changes that have affected the market over the building relationships directly with architects
past year. www.lightingassociation.com and designers. www.davidedward.com
 ENDIVE rug by Esti Barnes
EXCEL rug by Esti Barnesrug by Esti Barnes
ENDIVE
2/6 Chelsea Harbour Design Centre
London
2/6 Chelsea Harbour Design
2/6 Chelsea Harbour SW10 0XE
Centre
Design Centre London SW10 0XE Tel: +44 (0)20 7795 3333
London SW10 0XETel: +44 (0)20 7795 3333 Info@topfloorrugs.com
Info@topfloorrugs.com www.topfloorrugs.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7795 3333
Info@topfloorrugs.com
www.topfloorrugs.com
www.topfloorrugs.com
art works at www.studio226.co.uk =FI
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16 | FURNITURE FUTURES

rd T hinking
T
Forwa
here’s no doubt that 2009
iture makers
e
an
toughest tr

and , finally,
living memory

to
. B ut
ading years in cession-beating products
was one of th d retailers to reveal their
re
share their pla
rather

ns for 2010
, explain how
gloom,
than wallow in their

lection of furn ing conditions

we asked a se adapted to the challeng
ve
businesses ha

BENJAMIN HUBERT STUDIO Hubert designs for companies such

Benjamin Hubert opened his studio in
2007 so had only traded for a short
period before the recession hit. But he
says: ‘We are inundated with work and
clients — and everything seems to be
going really well.’ His lighting, such as
the Heavy range (pictured), has been
particularly successful.
as Viaduct, Ercol, Innermost and De La
Espada and has no plans to make or
market his own wares, saying: ‘I’m a
designer not a retailer.’ His strategy is
to create products that are simple to
produce and commercially viable, such
as his new Pebble range, which he
hopes will be a hit in 2010.

HEAL’S Chief executive Andrea

Warden says: ‘Heal’s has been trading
for 200 years and has a strong gift and
accessories business. It’s a good
business model because smaller items
become an important part of the
product mix in times of recession.
‘However, high-end items have fared
well, with customers wanting to invest
in pieces they will cherish.’
Heal’s is using its upcoming
bicentenary in 2010 to launch Heal’s
ReDiscovers, a range of furniture and
accessories from British designers,
inspired by key pieces and periods in
the company’s history. It includes the
Four Poster bed (pictured) and Slab
table by Tom Dixon and will include a
Matthew Hilton chair in the spring.

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

 FURNITURE FUTURES | 17

LIBERTY The store, founded in 1875,
had a top-to-toe makeover this year.
Furniture buyer Michelle Algar is
particularly pleased with sales of the
Claude sofa, which she designed to
celebrate the refit. ‘Upholstery is doing
incredibly well, especially if it’s at the
correct price,’ she says, mentioning
also the Mabel sofa by Donna Wilson
for SCP. ‘Next year I will be pushing
upholstery again in a big way.’
Algar plans to work with textile
artists such as Suzie Stanford to
develop one-off pieces such as her
Vintage English Teatowel Chair
(pictured right) and believes that
Indian and Moroccan prints will be the
key looks for next year.

ROCHE BOBOIS Marketing manager

Jennifer Barre says that while sales are
down, customers are buying ‘good
quality pieces that will last them a
lifetime’. The most popular sofa choice
has been the Mah Jong, a low-level,
modular range.
And despite the preponderance of
grey at the autumn shows this year,
Roche Bobois customers are buying
bright, choosing vivid upholstery
from Missoni Home and Kenzo
Maison. ‘People are becoming more ARAM Ruth Aram, daughter of the company’s founder, Zeev
confident,’ she says. Aram, says classics are the best sellers at the moment.
Roche Bobois opened two ‘People are much more price sensitive and less likely to take
showrooms in 2009 and plans to risks with their purchases,’ she says, adding that favourites
launch two big collections each year. by Eames (Rar chair, pictured), Arne Jacobsen and Eileen
Barre singles out the Axiome sofa and Gray are especially buoyant. ‘They are choosing pieces that
the Rythme sofa (pictured) from have proven longevity rather than something more edgy.’
Missoni Home for success next year. Aram plans to move into online retailing soon and to
extend the brands on offer next year. Her predictions for
next year’s best sellers are the Extending Table by Antonio
Citterio for Vitra and Essay, a wood table from Fritz Hansen.

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

 Specialists in the supply, manufacture and installation
of fine quality bespoke stonework of all kinds.
Visit www.limestonegallery.com
Photographer: Christian Richters

Showroom
Arch 47, South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1SS
Private spa in Bianco Neve limestone and Basalt T: +44 (0) 20 7735 8555 E: info@limestonegallery.com

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 FURNITURE FUTURES | 19

LIGNE ROSET UK director Bruno many have struggled. Allard says

Allard believes classic designs and
bright colours have been a winning
combination in ‘a difficult year’.
He adds: ‘What has been extremely
successful is the Pumpkin range by
Pierre Paulin [pictured].’
Ligne Roset relies on monobrand
franchises and stockists in the UK and
helping franchises with their cash flow
has been a priority. ‘I think 2010 will
be an interesting year and people will
feel more confident.’
Next year he aims to increase Ligne
Roset’s contract work, especially with
hotels, and to boost retail sales with
strategic brand partnerships.

DEREK WELSH Glasgow cabinet

maker Derek Welsh founded his
business in 2005 and describes 2007
as a ‘pretty poor year’. Luckily, 2009
has been ‘far better’. Bespoke contract
work rather than retail has kept him
busy and, although his studio is open
by appointment, it isn’t a showroom.
‘You could make a million things and
people would still want something
else,’ he says.
Welsh’s Dog Leg chairs (pictured)
and Spite and Malice tables have done
particularly well and he is considering
promoting them through online
retailers. Welsh plans to develop
products for next year’s 100% Design.
‘I will try to produce items that are
attractive to architects,’ he says.

HITCH MYLIUS Although the year An internal restructure has given

has been tough, Robin Phillips at Hitch
Mylius says that concentrating on
contract work has paid off. There was
‘a surge in business’ in May and, while
companies are taking longer to select
suppliers, work is still there. The most
popular products this year have been
the HM18 sofa (pictured) and Simon
Pengelly’s HM86 chair.
founder Tristram Mylius more time for
prototyping and working with new
designers. The company has taken on a
salesperson specifically to target
London architects and hopes to go to
Milan for the first time next year. The
product to look out for, says Phillips, is
the new HM58 stacking chair from
Matthias Demacker.

& THEN DESIGN Graduates Samuel
Wright and Jamie Bowler launched
& Then Design at 100% Design this
year. They have decided to split their
business into two divisions, one for
contract and one for domestic
products. ‘We didn’t want people to be
confused,’ says Wright.
He plans to sell to retailers and the
public through sites such as mydeco,
while dealing directly with interior
designers and architects. Although it
has been hard starting out in a
recession, Wright believes the weak
pound and the desire to buy British
have helped their business, which
designs and manufactures in the UK.
CHAPLINS Chaplins was founded in
1993 at the end of the last recession
and managing director Simon Chaplin
took swift action this time, stripping
costs and reducing staffing levels.
‘Businesses that didn’t react quickly
disappeared quickly,’ he says. But while
he is wary of a second dip, he says
sales have improved since April and are
back to pre-crisis figures.
Chaplin thinks the biggest trend in
interiors next year will be retro-
inspired looks and he is tipping the
sustainable, painted wooden furniture
by Established & Sons, such as the
Wrong Woods sideboard (pictured),
as a winning range in 2010.
NAUGHTONE ‘The biggest thing
we’ve noticed this year is that people’s
decision-making time has lengthened,’
says creative director Mark Hammond.
‘But we are seeing continued growth.’
He believes the five-year-old firm’s
strength lies in products such as its
Portion sofas (pictured above right),
which work in home, office and
hospitality environments.
Although Naughtone’s products are
available through retailers such as
Liberty and Selfridges, the company is
concentrating on contract work.
Hammond believes his latest product,
the Hush chair (above left), will prove
popular with architects and designers.

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

20 | FURNITURE FUTURES
TWENTYTWENTYONE Founder
Simon Alderson has noticed a
resurgence in the popularity of classic
designs, such as the 60-year-old
Wegner CH24 Wishbone chair, among
consumers. Contract budgets may have
been squeezed but specifiers are not
compromising on quality or longevity.
In developing the business to meet
the challenges of 2010, the company is
expanding its retail premises in
Islington and adding a range of
Japanese consumer electronics, the
Plus Minus Zero collection (pictured is
a humidifier) by Naoto Fukasawa.
‘This range is indicative of a growing
demand for quiet, lasting modernism,’
says Alderson.
DEADGOOD Elliot Brook and Dan
Ziglam set up Deadgood in 2004 but a
cash injection last year, courtesy of a
Government regional initiative,
enabled them to restructure.
The company’s furniture is made
and then sold in its Newcastle
showroom, online and through
retailers. ‘Everything seems to be
taking off,’ says Brook. ‘We try to
manufacture products that are suitable
for domestic and contract uses.’
The weak pound has helped
Deadgood establish a presence in the
US and the company is negotiating
with distribution agents to take on
products such as the new Timber
Stacker chair (pictured).
VERY GOOD AND PROPER
Patrick Clayton-Malone launched
VG&P in 2007 as a ‘modest company’
to provide furniture for his restaurants.
Such was the success of his Canteen
table, designed by Klauser and
Carpenter, that business is thriving.
At London Design Week, VG&P
showed at The Dock. ‘We had an
amazing response and are feeling very
positive about it,’ says Clayton-
Malone. At the moment, the Canteen
table is retailed at twentytwentyone,
while contract orders are done on an
ad-hoc basis, but part of his aim for
the coming year is to secure a detail
with a contract distributor or agent.
‘We are in it for the long haul,’ he says.
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
SKANDIUM Creative director
Chrystina Schmidt has been flexible in
the recession. After 10 years supplying
London with Scandinavian furniture,
she reports: ‘Customers are holding
back on big purchases but have been
buying lots of small things so we have
increased our accessories.’ Smaller
items such as glassware are
encouraging shoppers into the stores.
Schmidt has also looked again at
price points. Where once she might
promote Hans Wegner’s Wishbone
dining chair, now she is more likely to
suggest Jasper Morrison’s Air chair
(below right) at an eighth of the price.
‘People want to downsize in spending
but not in quality,’ she says.
CASE ‘People are looking for items
with longevity, rather than
spontaneous, fashionable pieces,’ says
Paul Newman, who co-founded Case in
2006. But despite slower trading, it has
been an exciting year, owing to a joint
venture with John Lewis. Its furniture
is now sold on the John Lewis website
and in its Oxford Street and Cardiff
stores. Case also launched its own
website to sell additional ranges.
Case’s Cross table and Profile
chairs by Matthew Hilton have been
the biggest sellers of 2009. For the year
ahead, Newman is looking at Hilton’s
Savile chair and Theo sofa and Slide
storage by Bethan Grey to provide
sales growth.
LIFESTYLE BAZAAR Chris Curtis
and Laurent Nurisso have been
retailing in London for two years,
opening their second store in May.
‘We’ve been bucking the trend by
growing our business,’ says Curtis, who
notes that smaller luxury items seem
to be recession proof.
While wealthy foreign holiday-
makers were absent from the stores,
the number of online customers has
quadrupled in a year. Curtis is
‘cautiously upbeat’ about 2010 — he
plans to expand online and to find
individual furniture makers to add to
the stores’ stock pieces, such as the
Mikado bookshelf (pictured) from
Edition Compagnie.
DE LA ESPADA This Portuguese
company has offices in London, an
own-name store in New York and sells
products sold through Skandium. It
works with designers such as Matthew
Hilton, Studioilse and Autoban.
The collaboration with Hilton was
particularly successful this year,
according to managing director Luis De
Oliveira, with the Light table series and
Hepburn sofa driving considerable
growth. ‘Customers have continued to
purchase,’ he says.
In 2010, De Oliveira plans to launch
one or two more designers, promote
Studioilse’s Seating for Eating
collection and furniture such as the
Hug sofa from Leif.designpark.
JIMMIE MARTIN A new showroom
and business strategy have brought
success for Jimmie Karlsson and
business partner Martin Nihlmar, who
have been making bespoke furniture
since 2005. At the end of the summer
they traded in their office, workshop
and showroom in Shoreditch for a
building in Kensington Church Street,
which now opens six days a week.
‘Our London clients tend to live
around Kensington so we now have
great walk-by trade,’ says Karlsson.
As well as wallpaper and furniture,
such as the popular Union Flag chairs,
the store now offers accessories.
‘If you can’t afford a chair, you can buy
a £35 candle,’ says Karlsson.
Control – in the clear light of day.
To save energy, Lutron integrates the control
of electric light with the control of daylight.
HyperionTM is an automated shading system
that adjusts Sivoia® QS blinds throughout the
day based on the sun’s position. This maximises
the available daylight, but minimises glare and
solar heat gain. It all helps create a more
energy-efficient, productive and comfortable
working environment.

Hyperion and Sivoia QS are part of Lutron’s new

range of scalable, energy-saving products for
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=FI
¾ÂÃ
22 | PROFILE
LONDON CALLING CAPITAL IDEAS
‘I really think London is Moroso’s double-height
the most important showroom, designed by
place in Europe — it’s a Patricia Urquiola, is filled
simulating city full of with Moroso’s furniture
creativity and new ideas,’ and rug collections plus
says Moroso the Flos lighting range
M aybe it’s because she feels like a
Londoner that Patrizia Moroso is so pleased to
have opened her first major London showroom.
Her company has taken an old market store on
Rosebery Avenue and, under the guidance of
Patricia Urquiola, turned it into a double-height
showcase for Moroso’s furniture and
accessories and the Flos lighting range.
‘I really think London is the most important
place in Europe,’ asserts Moroso. ‘Many of our
key designers are based here. London is so
energetic, a stimulating city full of creativity
and new ideas. Some of the most important
projects worldwide are led by architects and
designers based here. Our soul is reflected in
our showroom and our London space is special
— not so clean and perfect as our other
showrooms but, like London, it offers many
different experiences. And we have been able to
put all these feelings and energies together
without losing a feeling of the past in the space.
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
Perfection is not human and I have never seen
too much clean and white in London, that’s part
of its glamour, its appeal.’ The strong colour and
patterns that are a key element of the Moroso
aesthetic also reflect London, she says.
The London showroom joins a select band
of dedicated Moroso spaces in Paris, Cologne,
Amsterdam, New York and Milan. Unlike some
of these, the London showroom is open to trade
and retail customers. So far Moroso’s sales in
the UK have been to the trade. ‘Architects are
the perfect translators of our products,’ insists
Moroso. ‘We share a language and they
understand the quality of our products. It is
sometimes difficult to sell something this
complex to a woman on the street.’ Moroso’s
sales are roughly 60 per cent contract and 40
residential, though in the UK contract sales are
much higher — something Moroso hopes to
change now the new space is open for business.

Patrizia
Moroso
‘It has been difficult to reach the consumer
until now,’ she says. Domestic sales are much
stronger in Italy and Moroso hopes that a visit
to the showroom will convince UK consumers
of the quality of the products. ‘If you go close,
you can see how many stitches and curves
there are. Our products are made by very skilled
people, not done cheaply in China,’ she asserts.
The same emphasis on quality also defines
Flos, whose products sit elegantly alongside
those from Moroso. Piero Flos — like Patrizia
Moroso — is the second generation of the
family to head up the company. The two have
been friends for some time and were pleased to
team up to present their products to the London
market. The companies share space in
Amsterdam so it seemed natural to consider
another collaboration. ‘If I have to choose a
lighting company, they are the best,’ says
Moroso. ‘Our parents started in the 1950s and
developed fantastic relationships with
designers. Ours is a comfortable partnership.
It’s not forced. Nothing is better for an
upholstery company than a lighting company.’
The list of Moroso designers is impressive.
No less than 37 names, including such leading
UK lights as Ron Arad, Ross Lovegrove and Tom
Dixon, are listed in the back of its 2009 general
catalogue. The Moroso stand is usually one of
the grandest at Milan’s annual furniture fair
and this year showed a typically witty and
colourful mix of products from names old and
new, including Swedish designers Front, who
were profiled in idfx last month.
As well as creating its own designs, Moroso
formed a partnership with Italian fashion brand
Diesel last year, which resulted in a selection of
furniture pieces, alongside pieces of lighting
designed by Foscarini. As with Flos, Moroso
already knew Diesel and spent a year in talks
PROFILE | 23
Moroso’s art director is excited to be
opening her first London showroom
and introducing the family firm’s
quality upholstery to UK consumers
WORDS KATE BURNETT
with the company exploring ways to
collaborate. ‘Thanks to the work we did with
Diesel, we discovered there were other ways to
approach the market,’ she confesses. ‘We
realised that our problem is that, unlike a
fashion brand, we never think about what the
consumer is thinking. Fashion brands’ ideas are
all about the consumer, whereas we are really in
love with design. It was really interesting for us
to start thinking in a different way. Diesel
knows very well who its consumers are and so
it can imagine how their homes might be.’
Moroso also reflects on an important
difference between lifecycles in fashion and
furniture. ‘Diesel must introduce something
new every two or three years,’ she says. ‘With
Moroso we have pieces that are still popular
20 or 30 years on. Our story will continue —
in design everything can live forever.’
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
 Dining tables, Chairs, Occasional tables,
Mirrors, Lights, and Beds

New Showroom now open

A3 Chelsea Reach, Lots Road, Chelsea, London SW10 0RN

020 7351 7272

www.tomfaulkner.co.uk

Capricorn oval dining table in mirror polished stainless steel (214x120cm)

=FI
À»¾
 SCREENS | 25

Premiere
Screening
These stunning screens, ranging in style from
delicately feminine tracery to solid chunky
slabs, will enable you to divide and conquer
with panache WORDS JENNY BREWER

1 Flower power Haîku is composed of four

reflective smoked-glass panels that play with
light to give a sense of space while still acting
as a room partition. The sophisticated piece,
designed by Jean-Marie Massaud for
GlasItalia, is engraved with a delicate pattern
of blossom. www.glasitalia.com

2 Purple passion The Giano screen is in the

typically dramatic style of Promemoria’s
luxury furniture. The Italian company’s range
uses rich colours, such as the deep aubergine
shade of this screen, which also features
embellished leather inserts.
www.promemoria.com

3 Geometry lesson Christopher Guy has a

stunning range of screens, including this piece
in black lacquered wood. Bold geometric
shapes create a maze-like screen ideally
suited to a contemporary setting.
www.christopherguy.com

4 The thick of it Armani/Casa’s Winchester

screen in drafted silver stucco combines
simple textures and muted colours with
contrasting geometric detail hidden in the
hinges. The piece is made from thick veneered
panels and uses fabric to make a focal point
of the joints. www.armanicasa.com

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

26 | SCREENS
5 Off your own bat Look closely at the intricate
pattern of this screen from Just Not Normal and
the reason for its name, Totally Batty, becomes
clear. This quirky screen is constructed in
aluminium yet remains delicate, basing its
lace-like aesthetic on an 18th-century Japanese
fabric stencil. www.justnotnormal.us
6 Velvet underground Bombarock’s Velvet Rose
screen, a bold, red-panelled piece covered in
pleated velvet on one side and cotton on the
other, exudes edgy glamour. The art-deco-
inspired screen is adorned with three handmade
velvet roses and a studded border.
www.bombarock.co.uk
7 Good wood The solidly masculine Avenue
screen from Boco Do Lobo’s Coolors collection
is decorated with a combination of intricate
wood veneers, black lacquer and gold leaf.
The chunky piece is hand made in Portugal.
www.bocadolobo.com
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
8 Delicate touch Julian Chichester combines
floral and geometric shapes in the design of this
fretwork screen, part of the Anna furniture
collection that includes a matching headboard.
The three-panel piece is available in natural or
bleached oak. www.julianchichester.com
9 Catch the wave The rippling panels of Susan
Woods’ Architectural Wave room divider take full
advantage of the beautiful surface patterns and
sculptural qualities of poplar plywood. Each
piece from her collection is unique, being crafted
by hand. www.aswoon.com
10 Hot stuff Patricia Urquiola has designed this
paravent — a room divider containing integrated
heating panels — for Hansgrohe. Part of the
Spanish designer’s Axor Urquiola collection of
bathroom furniture and accessories, the screen
can be customised with mirrors and rails or
separated into panels to become individual wall
heaters. www.hansgrohe.co.uk
 recycled to last

DURAT UK Tel: +44 7977 857 848. Email: info@durat.com, www.durat.com Showrooms and retailers: EVITAVONNI, Chobham, Surrey. Tel: +44 8 700 66 3305.
Email: information@evitavonni.co.uk, www.evitavonni.co.uk 23 DEGREES, Brighton. Tel: +44 1 273 623 523. Email: info@23degrees.co.uk, www.23degrees.co.uk
FUSION DESIGN, Birmingham. Tel: +44 121 236 1020. Email: info@fusionlifestyle.co.uk, www.fusionlifestyle.co.uk MC STONE, London. Tel: +44 20 7289 7102.
Web: www.mcstone.co.uk ECO AGE, London. Tel: +44 208 9957 611. Web: www.eco-age.com Ireland: 2 COOL DESIGN, Dublin. Tel: +353 1 672 5402. Email:
info@2cooldesign.ie, www.2cooldesign.ie The Netherlands: BADEN BADEN, Amsterdam. Tel: +31 20 531 8418 Email: info@badenbaden.nl, www.pietboon.nl
Denmark: CPH SQUARE, Copenhagen. Tel: +45 33 22 3961. Email: info@cphsquare.dk, www.cphsquare.dk Norway: HA DET PÅ BADET, Oslo. Tel: +47 22 55 9520.
Email: post@hadetpabadet.no, www.hadetpåbadet.no China: DURAT CHINA, Shanghai. Tel: +86 21 6248 5266. Email: durat@163.com, www.durat.com
Spain: MARC IGLESIAS TORNES, Barcelona. Tel: + 34 93 767 77 07. Email: marc@markiglesiasdesign.com

DURAT Finland Huhdantie 4, 21140 Rimito, Finland. Tel +358 2 252 1000. Fax +358 2 252 1022. E-mail contact@durat.com www.durat.com =FI
¾ÄÃ
Showroom Vallilan Akseli, Lemuntie 3-5, 00510 Helsinki
Ceramic & Porcelain
Natural Stone
Wood Parquet
Mosaics
Bathroom Furniture
Baths & Showers
Hydromassage
Brassware
Sanitaryware
Spa & Sauna
Kitchens

Wood Parquet Collection

www.porcelanosa.com • 0844 481 8978 • group@porcelanosa.co.uk
Roble Ebano Luxor, 38.5 x 38.5 x 1.3cm
enq 362
 REDUNDANCY | 29

Hard
WORDS KAY HILL

Times
The recession is taking its toll on the interior
design industry as clients scale down their plans
or put their projects on hold. Here we offer
some advice on what to do if you are in the
unfortunate position of having to let staff go or,
even worse, find yourself out of a job

AVOIDING REDUNDANCIES
Making people redundant is costly,
A KING JOB CUTS,
M
TO AVOID LACE STAFF WHO
permanent and could leave you short of
good staff when things look up, so consider
other strategies first. DON’T REPRETIRE — AND DO
NATURAL WASTAGE LEAVE OR T TO MANAGE N
Don’t replace staff who leave or retire — YOUR BES THOSE WHO ARE O K
WITHOUT Y LEAVE OR OFF SIC
and do your best to manage without those
who are away on maternity leave or off sick.
If there is little work to be done, your staff
may be happier being busy — as long as they
MATERNIT
know that the positions will be filled once
business picks up.

SALARY SACRIFICE
If staff are paying for services such as childcare
and pension facilities out of their own pockets,
salary sacrifice can be mutually beneficial to
them and their employer. Under such
arrangements, an employee’s salary, which is
subject to tax and National Insurance, can be
reduced in exchange for things such as childcare
vouchers, pension contributions, parking spaces
and meals in the staff canteen — things the
employee was previously paying for out of their
after-tax income. Both the business and the
employee save on National Insurance contributions
and the employee pays less tax.

REVIEW STAFF BENEFITS

Shop around for cheaper life or medical insurance. And if the
circumstances are really bad, staff might prefer to lose their
health insurance than their jobs.

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009



  
 

 
 











 

 







 



 


 






 


 



 

  
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 REDUNDANCY | 31

FLEXIBLE WORKING AND UNPAID HOLIDAY

There may be staff who would jump at the chance to switch to a
four-day week on a permanent or temporary basis, or who
might like to take an unpaid sabbatical to go travelling or
pursue academic studies. It’s certainly worth making it known
that such requests will be considered favourably — but also
make it clear that they won’t be granted automatically.

ENFORCED SHORTER WORKING/PAY CUT

Unless it is written into an employee’s contract, a business
cannot just decide to cut their hours and pay (although you
could decide it is better for morale to give everyone a paid
day off a week rather than have bored, grumpy staff
sitting around doing nothing). ‘If you are going to vary
the terms and conditions of employment, you have to
do it by agreement,’ says Nicola Mayhew of Smith
and Williamson, which specialises in redundancy
advice for small businesses. ‘Employees might accept a
pay cut in order to keep their jobs but you must do a pay
cut across the board and you would need the agreement
of the whole workforce.’ Even trades unions can be
surprisingly receptive to these kinds of deals — unions
representing car workers at Honda and Toyota and
airline pilots at Thomson have all agreed in the past
couple of months to accept pay cuts in return for no
compulsory redundancies.

MAKING WORKERS REDUNDANT

First of all, it is worth noting that some workers
can be let go without going through formal
redundancy proceedings. Freelance workers and
contractors can simply be told their services are
no longer required and employment agencies can
be informed that the staff they supply are not
TA F F W H O WOULD
needed. Employees who have worked for a
Y BE S
company for less than a year can be dismissed
THERE MA AN C E TO SWITCH
with a week’s notice (unless their contract
HE CH
specifies longer). They are not entitled to claim
JUMP AT T W E EK ON A
unfair dismissal unless they are dismissed for
-DA Y
pregnancy, union activities, refusing to opt out TO A FOUR T EM P O RARY BASIS
of the working time directive or reasons relating
NT OR
to other legislation.
Staff who have been with the company for
PERMANE
between one and two years are not entitled to
redundancy pay but they must be dismissed ‘fairly’,
so it is advisable to include them in the same
process as longer-serving workers.
A company may decide to offer voluntary
redundancies — perhaps with an enhanced payment
package — but this does bring the risk that the staff
you least want to lose will be the ones who apply. And
while you can make it clear that you are under no
obligation to accept, if volunteers are refused and then
others forced to go, morale will be damaged further.
If compulsory redundancies are necessary, proceed
carefully, advises Mayhew. ‘The most important thing is that
you follow a fair and consistent process with everybody,’ she says.

STEP ONE: INITIAL CONSULTATION

‘You must have some form of consultation and give people the
opportunity to consider the proposals, and the company should go in with
an open mind’ says Mayhew. ‘It has happened that an individual
threatened with redundancy has come back with really constructive,
positive suggestions on how to make cuts in a less drastic way.’ For
example, Mayhew has dealt with a case in which two people whose jobs
were at risk agreed to job share.
Recommended practice is to hand the employee a letter inviting them
to a meeting at which it is explained that their position may have to be
made redundant. They have the right to be accompanied to that meeting

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

32 | REDUNDANCY

by a union representative or colleague. There should

then be a period of time allowing the employee to
respond (ideally about two weeks).
If you propose to make between 20 and 99 workers
redundant within a 90-day period, the Secretary of State for
Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform must be notified at
least 30 days in advance.

STEP TWO: CHOOSING SELECTION CRITERIA

You need to set criteria to decide who will be made redundant if
more than one employee do the same job. Those in the selection
pool should be consulted on the criteria and given time to
respond. ‘This is something a lot of organisations trip up on,’
says Mayhew. When choosing the criteria, you must ensure
you don’t discriminate against any group of workers — the old
‘last in, first out’ rule, for example, could fall foul of age
discrimination legislation because younger workers are more
likely to have a shorter length of service (although it could
still be used as a tie-break between otherwise equal
candidates). Similarly, basing a decision on absenteeism
could discriminate against disabled people (unless absences
connected with their specific disability are discounted) or
against women if maternity-related absences are not
discounted. Ideally, a company should already have
in place a robust process of appraisals, which
would enable a worker’s skills, aptitudes and
disciplinary record to be considered easily. The
final decision on who should be made
redundant should always be made by at least
two people to avoid allegations of bias.

STEP THREE: FOLLOW DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

The chosen employees should be informed in
writing about the redundancy pay they will receive
and their finishing date. The employer may pay
A LL THE CORRECT
AT
CHECK TH ES HAVE BEEN
them in lieu of notice, if desired. Employees used to
have a right to appeal against redundancy but this
U
was repealed at the beginning of April. PROCEDURD. IF NOT — OR IF YO OUT
FOLLOWE HAVE BEEN SINGLED PLAIN
Finally, says Mayhew: ‘It’s important to remember
the staff left behind because morale will be affected.
Consider having a follow-up meeting to ensure they are given the FEEL YOU — YOU COULD COMAL
UNFAIRLYPLOYMENT TRIBUN
positive message that the company has a future and they are
valued. Dealing with it fairly will make a big difference to how it
is received and how quickly your organisation can move on.’ TO AN EM
IF YOU HAVE BEEN MADE REDUNDANT
Check that all the correct procedures have been followed — if not,
or if you feel you have been singled out unfairly, you could
complain to an employment tribunal.
Ensure you have received the correct payment. Statutory
redundancy pay is half a week’s salary per year’s service for
18- to 21-year-olds, one week’s salary for 22- to 40-year-olds and
1.5 week’s salary for workers over 41. However, the payment
ceiling is just £330 a week. Make sure that you have been paid for
any outstanding holiday or expenses.
Register for Jobseeker’s Allowance. If you have paid enough
class one National Insurance contributions, you can receive
non-means tested benefits for six months while you look for a
job, currently £60.50 a week for the over-25s.
Don’t ignore debts — it is far better to speak to mortgage,
credit card and loan companies and negotiate payment terms
rather than just defaulting.
Don’t give up. There are jobs out there so use every means
available — call all your old contacts, use networking sites and
register with agencies. Perhaps this could be the chance you’ve
been waiting for to start your own business/backpack around
India/learn Japanese/move to the country. Contact your GP if you
feel overwhelmed — depression is a not uncommon reaction
to being made redundant.

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

=FI
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 36 What’s in store
From minimalist offices to opulent
dressing areas, the latest storage
solutions combine space-saving
practicality with style and luxury
47 Show offs
Striking cabinets and shelving
units make a design statement
while keeping precious
collections in perfect order
49 System addicts
Modular systems combine
versatility with sleek good
looks, making them ideal for
smart contemporary interiors
52 In the clear
Professional declutterers are
increasingly in demand but do
their efforts bring anything to
the interior design process?

Focus

STORAGE

FOCUS EDITOR REBECCA HOH

COVER
Library shelving by Timothy Hatton Architects
www.thal.co.uk
36 | STORAGE FOCUS

WHAT’S IN
STORE WORDS AMELIA THORPE

From minimalist home offices and intelligent media rooms to

opulent mirrored dressing areas, the latest storage solutions
combine space-saving practicality with style and luxury

BATHROOMS
Master plan
‘Storage in a bathroom is key,’ says Rachel
Beckett of R Interiors. ‘You don’t want things
like cleaning products on show, so somewhere
to hide things away is essential.’
This bespoke walnut cabinet with honed
travertine top and double basins, designed for
the master ensuite in the luxury Wall Hall
development by Octagon, was designed to
complement the exposed brick walls of the
room. Below the his-and-hers basins, it
combines roomy cupboard storage for tall
bottles and bulky items with a central section
of display shelving. ‘I like to include some open
shelving to display pretty things to create a
spa-like feel,’ says Beckett. ‘It’s also worth
thinking about creating recesses and adding
alcoves in other areas of the bathroom because
they add character and stop the room looking
flat — and they make good display and storage
areas for things like candles and fragrances.’
Cabinets located behind mirrors are another
useful storage feature — especially if they are
slim and unobtrusive — as are small ‘hidden’
cupboards above the WC to store toiletry items.
‘It does need to be a very practical room,’
continues Beckett, ‘but it can be luxurious too.
Beautiful veneers and natural stone add
character — and they make storage look
interesting and elegant, rather than bland.’
www.rinteriors.net

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com


BATHROOMS
Keep it simple
‘There’s been a movement away from fitted
bathrooms — just like the move away from
fitted bedrooms — towards more individual
pieces of furniture,’ says designer Chris Payne
of Alternative Plans. ‘Furniture, like a lot of
things in the bathroom, is very, very personal.
In my experience, the more storage you have,
the more you store!’
Payne says simple solutions — and not too
many of them — are the key to good design. His
recent projects have featured the Agape Flat XL
range of furniture, shown here in medium oak
veneer with Agape Square floor-standing taps
and glass basin, mounted on a peninsula table.
STORAGE FOCUS | 37
The wall-hung units have open shelving and
drawers for storage. ‘Drawers are a better
solution than flap down doors because you can
access everything easily when the drawer slides
out,’ he says. The units can also be put on the
floor on castors, rather than mounted on the
wall or on the counter top, enabling them to be
pulled into position around the room.’
He continues: ‘Storage in the bathroom
tends to work in two zones. One at basin level
or above for things like toothpaste and
cosmetics, and one below for towels and loo
rolls. Don’t cram the space — it need be no
more than that.’ www.alternative-plans.co.uk
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
38 | STORAGE FOCUS
DRESSING ROOMS
Wonder wall
The wall of this panelled dressing
area conceals both extensive
wardrobe space and the entrance to
an ensuite bathroom.
Cleverly designed in
‘rotationally grained’ squares of
American black walnut veneer —
and custom made by Interior-iD
for a luxury apartment by Matrix
Developments — the secret door to
the bathroom fits seamlessly into
the panelled wall.
‘The dressing area forms an
essential part of the master
bedroom in this apartment, so it’s
important that it looks very
beautiful and forms part of a
space where you want to relax and
sleep,’ says Bernd Radaschitz
of Interior-iD.
Each of the square veneer
panels has angled edges that serve
as finger pulls to open the double
doors at each end, revealing the
hanging space behind. Single doors
DRESSING ROOMS
Mirror mirror
You’d be hard pressed to find a
dressing room more glamorous
than Hill House Interiors’ totally
mirrored design for home
developer Octagon. ‘Make no
mistake, this is for people at the
very top end of the luxury housing
market,’ says Helen Bygraves of
Hill House. ‘They want something
different and are not afraid of
glamour and opulence. In just the
same way that they might wear a
big sparkly diamond, an indulgent
dressing room is something that
goes with their lifestyle.’
Part of a master bedroom suite
with his-and-hers ensuite
bathrooms and dressing rooms,
this 4m long dressing room leads
to the woman’s ensuite. Clad
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
MEDIA ROOMS
either side of the bathroom Smooth operator
entrance conceal shelving and This media room has been created with three
drawers. ‘The cupboard interiors purposes in mind. ‘It’s designed as a drawing
can be very sophisticated and room, with all the technology hidden away,’
made to suit the client’s needs,’ explains Simon Mathieson of Finite Solutions,
explains Radaschitz. ‘From basic the CEDIA-award-winning digital consultancy.
hanging space to special features In its ‘hidden’ state, the room is
— such as pull-out trouser holders, an elegant and subtly lit room with a
tie racks, laundry baskets, glass suede-padded feature wall, designed by Finite
drawer boxes, drawer dividers and and David Long Designs. However, with one
pull-down systems for tall press on the touch-screen remote control, a
wardrobes — it’s worth putting television screen, framed in black velvet,
thought into creating a very emerges from behind the two central panels of
practical interior.’ the feature wall while speakers drop down
Radaschitz also believes that automatically from the ceiling to direct the
well planned lighting is an sound towards the seating positions. And then,
essential feature for a dressing from a TV viewing room, the space can be
area. ‘Here we used concealed LED transformed into a 7ft projection home cinema.
lights that come on automatically A projector screen drops down from the boxed
when the doors are opened,’ he ceiling detail, as does a projector. And to
explains. ‘But, just as we make the complete the entertainment offering, two
cabinetry to any design and in any low-level cupboards either side of the feature
material, we can include lighting to wall store games consoles and DVDs.
suit as well.’ ‘Many of our clients like the idea of a great
www.interior-id.com big entertainment system at home but they
www.matrixdevelopments.com don’t want a 50in TV screen blaring out of a
wall and wires trailing everywhere,’ says
Mathieson. ‘Good storage, with everything
hidden smoothly and neatly out of sight, means
the equipment is there for occasional use but
the room is a relaxing living space the rest of
the time.’ www.finitesolutions.co.uk
www.davidlongdesigns.co.uk www.cedia.co.uk
Hidden talents
By concealing the TV
behind the feature wall and
the projector screen inside
the boxed ceiling, the
media room is transformed
into a tranquil sitting room
entirely in mirrors, the installation
was carried out by bespoke glass
specialists from Italy to Hill
House’s design. Closets on both
sides of the room contain full and
half hanging space, plus mirrored
shelving and shoe storage areas.
Oak drawer boxes have bevelled
mirrored fronts and rectangular
mirrored pulls and, in some cases,
clear glass inserts. ‘Even the
ceiling is mirrored, with a diagonal
detail and chrome button detailing
in the joins,’ says Bygraves. ‘The
look is Hollywood glamour.’ It also,
quite deliberately, contrasts with
the man’s dressing room, which
has sober, dark-stained oak
wardrobes panelled in shagreen.
www.hillhouseinteriors.com
www.octagon.co.uk

MEDIA ROOMS
Totally wired
This leather-clad media
cabinet for a London home
was recently shortlisted for a
CEDIA Award. It was designed
by Shahriar Nasser of Belsize
Architects, who worked with
Olive Audio Visual.
‘Rooms look more civilized
when screens aren’t
everywhere but, of course, they
need to be there when you
want to watch TV,’ says
Nasser. ‘So the best solution is
one where the screen and all
the equipment can be hidden
away and only revealed when
they are needed.’
A Future Automation
mechanism allows the centre
panel of the unit to disappear
and for the screen to be
revealed at the press of a
remote-control button. The
shelving alongside houses all
the AV equipment, including a
Sky box, Crestron multi-room
music system, DVD player and
an iPod docking station.
Simon Williams of Olive
lists some of the storage
essentials for AV equipment.
‘Heat is the most important
factor,’ he says. ‘There has to
be a flow of air through the
unit to allow heat to escape.
STORAGE FOCUS | 39
Shelves need to be deep
enough to house the
equipment and cabling, and
there needs to be access from
behind to neatly lace
everything together.’
Williams advises building
in some future proofing, if
possible. ‘Some flexibility is
useful to accommodate more
equipment or for replacements
when some things become
obsolete,’ he says.
www.belsizearchitects.com
www.cedia.co.uk
www.crestron.co.uk
www.futureautomation.co.uk
www.olive-av.co.uk
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
Domain 1/4:Layout 1 18/6/09 10:46 Page 1

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STUDIES
Nice work
‘Good design is essential to blur
the boundary between work and
living space in a modern study,’
says designer Simon Bray. ‘My
clients want all the latest
technology and equipment but
they want it delivered in a
luxurious, elegant and unfussy
way, which means beautiful
furniture with excellent storage.’
Bray designed this study using
walnut and poplar cluster for a
home in Kent from luxury
developer Green Amber. A sweep of
high- and low-level walnut
cabinets along one wall provides
storage for a printer, scanner and
other technology (complete with
power points and space for cabling)
plus sections for storing files,
stationery and books. Poplar
cluster wraps on the tall cabinets
STUDIES
Hidden assets
‘Most studies have got far too
many book cases with twaddle all
over them, which, unless you have
rows of matching encyclopaedias,
end up looking a mess,’ says Scott
Nicholson of Chamber Furniture.
‘We’re finding much more demand
for contemporary home office
solutions, which provide plenty of
storage but which look neat and
streamlined and don’t look out of
place in a living area.’
This bespoke, satin-painted
‘floating’ wall cabinet houses
printers behind fully retractable
doors on the right-hand side, while
in the centre there are drawers for
files. More shelving is concealed
behind the other doors, creating a
complete home office unit. The
steel legs of the kidney-shaped
double desk hide the computer
cabling while the desk surface
itself houses two curved pull-out
and poplar handles on the low
cabinets echo the eye-catching
design of the desk, while a glass
shelf mirrors the desk design and
adds more storage space.
The desk itself is the focus of
the room, wrapped in more poplar
cluster with black walnut lines and
supported by a burgundy lacquered
cradle with internal cabling for
computers. Drawers in the desk
provide easy-to-access storage,
while the raised glass writing
surface means paperwork can be
stored on the timber surface below.
‘I wanted to create a room with the
inviting feel of a traditional library
in a mansion in a period drama.
It’s a modern version with
luxurious veneers and individually
tailored storage,’ says Bray.
www.simon-bray.co.uk
www.greenamber.co.uk
keyboard trays. ‘This office forms
part of a living room and my
clients, who occasionally work
from home, wanted it to be as neat
as possible so they weren’t
reminded of work when relaxing on
the sofa,’ Nicholson explains.
He says a standard bookcase
might have a 600mm deep base
unit beneath 350mm deep
shelving. He chose to make this
wall unit 450mm deep. ‘By not
allowing it to protrude too far, we
were able make a bigger desk and
create a sense of space in the
room.’ www.chamberfurniture.co.uk
STORAGE FOCUS | 41
KITCHENS
Top secret
Designer Shaun
Fernandes of Jump
Studios chose the
Dada Tivali kitchen
as the neatest
solution for a client’s
London apartment
(pictured below right).
‘The proposition was
to create an open-plan
dining/kitchen/living
area, spread over
quite a small floor
space,’ he says.
‘This kitchen,
concealed behind
modern, minimalist
doors, manages to
disguise itself as an
extension of the living
room.’ When closed, it
looks like a simple
wall of cupboards.
When open, the KITCHENS
bi-fold doors in glossy Best cellar
white lacquer slide Want wine storage but stuck for space?
into side pockets to be Going underneath the kitchen floor can be a
completely out of the surprisingly useful solution, according to Lucy
way, revealing a Hargreaves of Spiral Cellars. ‘All you need is a
streamlined 2m2 space with enough room to open a trap
flush-fitted kitchen. door,’ she says. ‘It doesn’t require planning
Complete with a permission and it can store up to 1,870 bottles
hob, oven, extractor, of wine and champagne.’
sink, tap and Lisa Binfield of Harrington Interiors has
integrated included Spiral Cellars in several of her recent
dishwasher, the projects. ‘It’s not just about wine storage,
kitchen also has a although people are bowled over by its
stainless-steel work practicality,’ she says. ‘Increasingly, it’s seen as
surface and stainless- a special feature, especially when the trap door
steel internal is made of glass and the steps below are fitted
cabinetry to store with LED lights.’
crockery and food. ‘The Spiral Cellar is really an extension built
Integrated task downwards,’ says Hargreaves. Pre-cast concrete
lighting is another modules, with one step to each layer, are
practical touch. ‘It’s a installed in the hole, forming a honeycomb in
very good and useful which bottles can be stored. ‘The ground acts
solution for a room like a huge Thermos flask, insulating the cellar
where space is at a and maintaining an even, optimal temperature,’
premium — but I’ve she says. ‘Humidity is important to stop the
also used it as part of corks in the bottles drying out so the cellar has
a larger area, where two “passive ventilation system” pipes that
it’s good to be able to lead to the outside, creating a slow movement
keep all the kitchen of air in and out.’ And, if a glass trap door
clutter out of sight,’ doesn’t suit, doors can be made to blend in with
adds Fernandes, who the existing flooring. www.spiralcellars.com
has recently used the Harrington Interiors, contact lisabinfield@hotmail.com
Tivali for an office
project. ‘I didn’t want
the space to “read”
like a kitchen,
especially as meeting
areas are in view, so
this makes a very
practical storage and
cooking solution
that can easily be
hidden away.’
www.jump-studios.com
www.dadaweb.it
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
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LIBRARIES
Brought to book
This library (right) was previously
an office, housed in a drab
1980s extension built on top of an
18th-century building in central
London. Timothy Hatton
Architects, who had worked with
the private client before, took on
the task of turning it into a library
and study for the apartment below,
transforming it into a stunning
multi-purpose space on two levels.
‘The client asked us to design a
space for their book and art
collections. The brief took 18
months to realise from the
planning stages to completion,’
says Stefan Gehren, one of the
architects on the project.
Although the building beneath
the library space is grade 2 listed,
the fact that the extension was
built in the 80s meant it could be
STORAGE FOCUS | 43
demolished to create a bigger,
double-height space, complete
with a reading platform and
sculptural glass staircase.
Lighting, unsurprisingly, is of
vital importance to the library. The
huge windows that look out over
Westminster provide natural light,
which is controlled using the
motorized sunshades and blackout
blinds. The glass staircase can be
lit by LEDs to dramatic effect
while the shelves are illuminated
by xenon lights.
Three sides of the apartment
are lined with white plaster
bookshelves and the gallery floor is
constructed in steel and glass. It is
detached from the walls to give the
impression of weightlessness while
allowing light to penetrate the
lower space. www.thal.co.uk
WORDS EMMA GRITT
LIBRARIES
Fully booked
This design brief was to turn a
barn into a study and library to
house a collection of 27,000 books
on cricket. The owner wanted
somewhere to store and read his
books but the space was also
to be used as place for
entertaining guests.
Interior and furniture designer
Bevan & Hely-Hutchinson used
mahogany, leather and glass to
create a clean, classical look. The
library and entertaining area is
long and narrow so the staircase, form a large dining table or
which leads up to the study, was separated into 22 smaller units.
made of glass to create a sense of Each one is filled with books and
space and openness. has a cream-painted top that
Bevan & Hely-Hutchinson can be flipped over to form a
could not fill the walls with cherrywood surface when used as
bookshelves because the library is a dining table.
also used to display the client’s art The cabinets surrounding the
collection. The paintings are staircase are framed by pillars that
hung on rails to enable them also conceal books, while a glazed
to be moved around. bookcase beyond the staircase
The designers devised an houses rarer titles and artefacts
ingenious solution for storing the behind lock and key.
books. They created wheeled tables www.bandhh.com
that can be pushed together to WORDS NICOLE ROBINSON
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
making room for personality
made by you

Montana Møbler A/S produces and supplies storage systems, tables, and chairs for homes and modern office environments.
Montana is designed by Peter J. Lassen in 1982. The flexible modular system and the inspiring colour palette offer freedom
to create your own personal room and style. Montana’s table and chair series are designed by Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton,
Andreas Hansen, Peter J. Lassen, Joakim Lassen and the architects schmidt hammer lassen.
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Design by Peter J. Lassen

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ARAM Contracts
110 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5SG
T: +44(0)2072403933, F: +44(0)2072403697
E: aramcontracts@aram.co.uk, www.aram.co.uk
=FI
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 STORAGE FOCUS | 47

2
1
SHOW
OFFS 5
These cabinets make a statement while
keeping precious collections in their place

4
3
1 This polished aluminium tallboy by Paul Kelley is made from Polyrey aluminium laminates and mahogany. www.pk-designs.co.uk
6
2 The red anodised aluminium
FP storage console, created by French designer Martin Szekely, is available from Galerie Kreo in Paris. Each piece, in a limited edition of eight, is numbered and signed.
www.galeriekreo.com 3 German company Woodloops has created Maze from Forestry Stewardship Council-certified cherrywood. Designed by René Mueller and Nina
Griesshammer, the cabinet’s shelves are ideal for storing CDs. www.woodloops.de 4 Jaime Hayon and Nienke Klunder have collaborated to make this Disney-esque New York
Meets Miami cabinet. The highly lacquered pine and bevelled glass piece is one of eight. www.nienkeklunder.com www.hayonstudio.com 5 These Crop sculptural containers
by Spanish designer Nacho Carbonell are made from a mixture of corn resin, barley, wheat and oats with steel rod enforcements. www.nachocarbonell.com 6 Boca do Lobo’s
Guggenheim cabinet is shown here in rosewood and palisander. The interior shelving is intended for storing linen in the bedroom or glasses in the dining room. www.bocadolobo.com

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

THE INVISIBLE RANGE

205A St John’s Hill, London SW11 1TH

TEL: 020 7738 0202 FAX: 020 7738 9224
www.forbesandlomax.co.uk

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 STORAGE FOCUS | 49

UNIVERSAL BY VITSOE The 606 Universal Shelving System was designed by

Dieter Rams in 1960. The shelves, cabinet, workspace and other components hang on the
E-Track, which is attached the wall and allows the system to be reconfigured as needed.
Several sizes and depths are available. It is available in off-white or black eggshell lacquer with
beech surfaces for desks, cabinet tops and bottoms. www.vitsoe.com

SYSTEM
ADDICTS
These modular storage systems combine versatility with sleek good
looks, making them the perfect solution for contemporary interiors
WORDS NICOLE ROBINSON AND EMMA GRITT

MONTANA Montana comprises 42 basic units in four different depths and 46
colours. They can be filled with drawers, doors, shelves, trays and lights and can be made for
wall mounting or with plinths, legs or castors. The units are made of MDF coated in a
water-based lacquer but glass and mirrored finishes are available for the doors. Montana is
manufactured in Denmark and the units arrive fully assembled. www.iconsofdenmark.dk
BEL BY BURGBAD Initially developed for bathrooms, the Bel range contains
cabinets, sideboards, shelves and wheeled containers. Optional features include mirrored
elements, vertical lighting, sliding doors and clothes rails. Choose from high-gloss varnish or
melamine fronts in several colours. All the finishes are water and steam resistant and the
cabinets have handles or recessed grips. www.burgbad.com

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

 Chalon_quark:Layout 1 1/6/09 11:34 Page 1

Handmade Kitchens for

the Contract Market

Designed & Crafted

M AT T R E S S E S B Y S AV OIR B E D S
New brochure and DVD plus details of our bespoke
design solutions service L O N D O N T E L : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 7 3 1 1 2 7 9
B I R M I N G H A M T E L : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 2 1 4 2 0 1 9 6 6
Tel: 01458 254602 www.chalon.com W W W. S I M O N H O R N . CO M

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Courtyard Accessories
D E C O R AT I V E   A R C H I T E C T U R A L   H A R D W A R E

You’ll sleep better if your

clients are on a Savoir
To find out more about how we can tailor our bespoke
offering to your needs, be they private commission or
hotel, please contact our trade showroom to arrange a
visit or request a trade information pack.
Call 020 8838 4838. www.savoirbeds.co.uk

T:  01564 792312
F:  01564 792332
London Berlin Moscow E:  sales@courtyard-accessories.co.uk
W:  www.courtyard-accessories.co.uk

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 STORAGE FOCUS | 51

SISTEMA BY CAPPELLINI Cappellini’s Sistema range of modular furnishing

units for living rooms can be configured to suit the client’s requirements. A white lacquered
particleboard frame houses cubes with brightly coloured backs. They can be used to hold
drawers, CD racks, compartments with flip-up doors or sliding doors that are mirrored or
perforated. www.cappellini.it

INTRAMUROS BY ROCHE BOBOIS An almost infinite number of configurations
are possible by combining modules such as shelves, vertical panels, back panels, drawers and
sliding doors. These come in a range of sizes and finishes, including 11 lacquer colours in
either a matt or gloss finish, three wood veneers (wenge, grey oak or walnut) and even leather.
The system can be made to bespoke specifications if required. www.roche-bobois.fr
SPEED BY ZANOTTA These Speed drawer units can be paired with benches,
cupboards, wall-mounted units and shelves to create a comprehensive storage system. The
components have nickel-plated and brushed-steel bases and wooden frames. The sliding or
drop-leaf doors and drawer fronts are available in glossy lacquer or with natural or stained oak
veneers. The doors are also available in plate glass or varnished aluminium. www.zanotta.it

VITA BY MDF ITALIA The Vita range comprises seven different shelf and cabinet
units, all made of fibreboard with a matt white lacquer. One cabinet is available in four other
colours. Each unit is 60cmx60cm and can be rotated. Clients can preview different
compositions online using the Vita Configurator. Design and installation time scales can vary
but expect a delivery lead time of eight to 10 weeks. www.mdfitalia.it
PASS BY MOLTENI Pass, created for Molteni by Luca Meda, is a collection of
coordinating storage units, shelves and wall units designed to be mixed and stacked. Pass is
flexible, efficient and available in a wide range of finishes. The system’s versatility means it can
be used in corridors or access rooms as well as main living spaces. Expect a lead time of eight
to 10 weeks between order placement and delivery. www.molteni.com

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

52 | STORAGE FOCUS
DISPOSAL EXPERTS
Declutterers Cassie Tillet
and Jon Ramsey believe
they help interior designers
by creating a cleaner canvas
for them to work on.
Above, below and below
right: shelving and storage
cubes available from Store
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
IN THE
CLEAR
Professional declutterers are increasingly busy but
do their efforts bring anything to design projects?
WORDS JENNY BREWER
As a nation of hoarders, the UK is in
desperate need of a spring clean and
declutterers are just the people for the job.
Decluttering has been an industry for about 20
years in the US but it is relatively new in the
UK and growing fast. In her book, Things I
Wish My Mother Had Told Me, Lucia Van Der
Post may have the perfect explanation for the
rise of the professional organiser: ‘Most people’s
response to having too much stuff is to think
they need more cupboards. In fact, the problem
lies in having too much stuff.’
That is where the declutterers come in.
Clutterbee, run by Jon Ramsey, works with
clients to sort out their hidden hoards.
He believes his organisational expertise, used
before the design stage, can make the process
much easier for client and interior designer.
‘A designer has to know what the client owns
before they can create a higher aesthetic
concept,’ he explains. ‘The declutterer lays the
foundations to build on — the designer can then
go ahead with a redesign with more of an
understanding of what they need.’
The declutterer has the potential to assist a
design project by turning a chaotic mess into a
cleaner canvas. Rather than simply rearranging
things, a professional organiser will ask all the
right questions to make sure the client is not
stashing unnecessary and unwanted
possessions. This helps to deliver a more
individually customised interior design project
right from the start.
But the rise of the decluttering industry has
prompted a mixed reaction among designers.
Maria Speake from Retrouvius believes
decluttering is an important part of her job. ‘I
feel it is part of your brief as an interior
designer,’ she argues. ‘You have to identify what
it is your client accumulates, then make that
part of the design solution. The problem is most
people don’t accumulate beautiful clutter.’ So do
outside specialists really benefit a project?
When declutterers like Ramsey work
alongside designers or stylists, their efforts
often combine effectively when it comes to
storage. Simon Glanville, managing director of
Store, understands the impact a clear-out can
have on a home. ‘Increasingly, the homeowner
needs their space to work harder and in
multifunctional ways,’ he says. ‘Effective
decluttering is the key to a streamlined space
so modern storage solutions have to be
flexible and innovative to ensure a sustained,
clutter-free environment.’
For those still unconvinced, there is online
proof that this trend is here to stay. The
Association of Professional Declutterers and
Organisers UK, founded five years ago by Cassie
Tillet and Sue Kay, enables potential clients to
find a local declutterer. ‘It is also a directory of
links that enables members nationwide to share
clients and to network,’ Tillet explains.
Tillet, a declutterer with her own company
Working Order, believes that to design a bespoke
home successfully you have to start from its
core. ‘To get the greatest enjoyment out of a
beautiful house, the last thing you want is to be
hiding rubbish — the surface will be spoilt by
what is underneath,’ she says.
www.clutterbee.com
www.retrouvius.com
www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk
www.apdo-uk.co.uk
www.workingorder.co.uk
 S
Specifier’s
product
directory
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and services to keep you one step ahead

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»56 KITCHENS & BATHROOM
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»60 WINDOWS & TEXTILES
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enq 482
 54 |
Kitchen & Bathroom

Kaldewei
Kaldewei is the first manufacturer in the
sanitary sector to achieve green certification
ISO 14025. This major achievement is due to
three key factors: all Kaldewei 3.5mm steel
enamel baths and shower trays are made from
100% natural raw materials; secondly they
have unsurpassed longevity, guaranteed for 30
years; finally at the end of their lifetime they
can be 100% recycled without the need for
down-cycling. ENQ 100

Hansgrohe
Hansgrohe has launched a new XXL range of
overheads to join the popular Raindance AIR
shower family. Distinguished by an ergonomic
rectangular design with softened corners and
available in three widths, 24cm, 36cm and
42cm, the new Raindance E showers have
been created in collaboration with Phoenix
Design. The largest Raindance E 420 AIR 2jet
model pampers users with its RainAir spray
and the refreshing RainFlow flood jet that
cascades from the showerhead like a natural
waterfall. ENQ 101

Finwood Designs
Making good use of a precious natural
resource, individual mosaics are meticulously
crafted using stone that has been carved out
of a riverbed granite pebble when forming a
Pebble Bowl. A substantial feature piece with
a solid wooden frame, the Pebble Mirror
measures 810mm x 615mm and can be hung
either vertically or horizontally. Each tile is
hand-carved and carefully positioned for
perfection, achieving a natural blend of
colours that complement both contemporary
and traditional interiors. ENQ 102
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

Air Uno
The Main cooker-hood answers both the need
for a custom look and the colour matching, or
indeed deliberate contrasting, of your cooker
hood to your kitchen furniture. Available in
the 26 colours of Corian® and the 20 shades of
Parapan®, this Italian-designed model by Faber
features a sleek, rectangular hood in stainless
steel that can be combined with 6mm Corian®
or 4mm Parapan® as well as glass or any other
material suited to its frame. ENQ 103

Samuel Heath
Encompassing a full range of basin and bath
tap and shower options, Xiara is a
contemporary take on minimalist brassware
design. Made from the purest Northern
European brass, each element has been pared
down to give a pure, refined approach to
design; retaining modern simplicity with
subtle curvilinear forms that are feminine and
precise. The result is a soft and fluid
collection, intricately designed, hand polished.
ENQ 104
 | 55

Grohe
GROHE has introduced Nova Light, an LED-
illuminated coloured ring around the flush
button, which makes an innovative design
FIRST SIGHT
statement in a product that has traditionally
kept a low profile. Available in four colour
choices, which can be fixed or constantly
changing, Nova Light is mains powered, so
can be controlled by a timer. Thanks to the
LED component, it will last for around 17
years costing roughly 84p a year to run.
ENQ 105

Victoria & Albert Baths

There is nothing more comforting than
indulging in a hot bath on a cold winter's day.
And now Victoria & Albert has made the
experience extra special with the introduction
of a dedicated headrest for their award
winning Napoli. The Napoli bath measures a
generous 1900mmx855mm, offering ample
space to stretch out and enjoy the extra
comfort. With limestone rich QUARRYCAST®
being an ambient material, there is no nasty
cold shock. ENQ 106

Smeg
A first for Smeg’s range of retro-look
appliances, the 60cm FAB dishwasher is now
available as a built-in unit. Designed to
complete any kitchen, the DI6FAB is available
in fashion forward colours; cool cream and
pink finishes for neutral interiors and striking
black and red colour options to fit with any
slick décor. Boasting a triple A energy rating,
the DI6FAB features colour coordinated
cutlery and baskets, 14 place settings, ten
programmes and Aquatest. ENQ 107

Simplehuman
Make any bathroom feel like a luxury spa
with simplehuman wall mount shampoo and
soap dispensers. Unlike commercial soap
dispensers, which require one hand to release
the soap and another to catch it, simplehuman
shampoo and soap dispensers are designed for
easy, one-handed use. The dispensers have a
transparent soap chamber and elegant chrome
body that compliments any décor. They hold
shampoo, conditioner, body wash or lotion
neatly on the wall and come in triple, twin and
single units. ENQ 108

Atag
The ATAG QuliMax is a completely new
multi-functional, combination steam oven,
combining sophisticated technology and
Dutch design. A powerful all-rounder the new
combination oven has almost unlimited
options. It steams, bakes, roasts, grills, reheats
and defrosts offering the ultimate
functionality for the busy household with
programmes to inspire the keenest of cooks.
ENQ 109
 56 | Kitchens & Bathrooms
Twyford Bathrooms
Twyford Bathrooms has sought design
inspiration from decades past to create a
stylish collection with a touch of playful retro
chic. The result is Moda, a bathroom range
that references key ‘60s and ‘70s design.
Available in a choice of finishes, and under-
basin, side, or tall versions, Moda cabinets
complete the look. With a choice of 12 basins,
and Twyford Bathrooms’ patented Flushwise
technology, Moda offers wide flexibility
without compromising functionality. ENQ 110

Roca
W+W was one of nine bathroom products
awarded the gold standard for innovation in
the Product Innovation category at The
Design Awards. The product was recognised
for it’s forward-thinking design, which
combines two key elements of the bathroom to
create and all-in-one washbasin and WC
designed to maximize space and conserve
water. This ground-breaking idea,
incorporating Roca’s new ‘water-reuse’
technology, uses waste water from the basin to
fill the WC cistern. ENQ 111

HiB
HiB, the leading bathroom mirror specialists,
have introduced two new designs featuring
modern styling combined with technical
FIRST SIGHT
enhancements. Aspina and Petra both feature
HiB’s new steam free mirror surfaces. The
Petra can be used in either landscape or
portrait format and features an attractive
metallic chrome frame, back-lit with a unique
uniform light diffusion. Dimensions are 80cm
x 60cm x 4cm. The new mirrors are IP44
rated. ENQ 112
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

Castello Luxury Baths

Part of Castello’s new range launched at this
year’s 100% Design, the Oceanus Bath in
Stone White with optional mosaic inlay,
effortlessly delivers subtle elegance. In
dimensions of 1760cm x 995cm x 610cm, the
range is completed with the smaller, Adoni
Bath, and large Imperia Bath. ENQ 113

Finwood Design
The new Xone Washstand from Finwood
Designs will complement any bathroom
interior with a choice of either absolute black
granite or travertine stone for the countertop.
Allowing further creativity, this enduringly
simple design is available in two sizes,
accommodating either a single or double set
of freestanding basins. Here, the clean, fluid
lines of the Xone Washstand with travertine
countertop, provides the ideal backdrop for
Finwood’s intricate mosaic bowl. ENQ 114
 Lighting | 57

Concord: Havells Sylvania

Concord Stadium is an innovative low energy
spotlight range. Utilising 16 x 1 Watt LED’s,
generating up to 1200 fixture lumens this
cutting-edge spotlight introduces a new
highly flexible accent lighting tool. The
Stadium portfolio introduces two versions,
EVO and PRO, both with excellent colour
rendering, low running temperatures, very
long lamp life. ENQ 115

Hacel
Hacel's forthcoming catalogue features a
comprehensive range of Integrated LED
luminaires with precision die cast and
extruded aluminium construction, designed
and manufactured in the UK. All luminaires
in the range are supplied with branded, high
performance, LED reflector lamps with
impressive lamp life, which reduces re-
lamping costs. LED technology offers
significant savings in electrical load and
energy consumption, whilst the integrated
chip, driver and heat sink ensure performance,
thermal management and longevity. ENQ 116

Chad Lighting
Chad Lighting designs and manufactures
contemporary luminaires for use in leisure,
corporate and domestic environments.
Employing a wide range of high quality
materials, the company creates products that
are distinguished by their clean lines and
elegant proportions. New to Chad's range is
Galileo, a large ceramic table light with a
distinctive fluted form and matt glaze.
Bespoke items can be created to satisfy a
particular project. ENQ 117

Collingwood
The FireLED™ is a patented luminaire which is
fire rated and offers a multitude of benefits
including zero maintenance costs and simple
straight to mains installation process, in
addition to achieving light output equivalent
to that of a 50w lamp whilst using just a
fraction of the energy. Uniquely, the FireLED’s
power supply is pre installed onto the
luminare and therefore the FireLED™ is
supplied ready to connect straight to the
mains. ENQ 118

Diffuse Lighting
Diffuse’s new Butterfly Ball is a dramatic
spherical chandelier. It is composed of 176
porcelain butterflies each embossed with a
delicate damask texture the detail of which
comes alive when illuminated. The individual
butterflies appear to be swarming around the
six central light sources. This stunning
lighting feature can be used in a wide variety
of interiors from reception rooms to bedrooms,
bars to spas. The light it emits is warm and
dappled, both softening and animating the
interior it adorns. ENQ 119
 58 |
Surfaces

Porcelanosa
Add a new dimension to an interior or exterior
with leading tile, bathroom and kitchen
designer and manufacturer PORCELANOSA.
Clever round mosaics, like Firenze and Moon
create a fresh look, highlighting feature areas.
Firenze is a 20cm x 31.6cm ceramic tile that
slot together a bit like a simple jigsaw puzzle,
making them highly effective and cost
efficient, whilst the Moon mosaic tiles give
the luxury of natural stone on a mesh
backing. Available different colours and
textures; ceramic, natural stones and
ridescent glass. ENQ 120

To Grace
To Grace create bespoke designs as screens,
panels, cladding, doors and balustrade for
interior/ architectural applications
internationally. Recent clients include
Marriott, P&O Cruises, Crystal Cruises U.S,
Candy & Candy, South Tyneside Council,
HMPS Holloway and Urban Roof Gardens.
Birdsnest is a commission of stainless steel
sliding doors for a private residence in Central
London. ENQ 121

NAA: Interlam
NAA Ltd is the sole agent for Interlam panels
in UK and Ireland. Interlam Architectural
Wall Panels are a modern alternative to
traditional flat wall panels. They are available
in a variety of colours, textures, sizes and
finishes, giving the design professional the
freedom to express unrestrained creativity.
Interlam has eight different products in their
range, Art Diffusion, Elements, Mirage,
Screens, 3-Diculous, Stone Veneers,
Valchromat and Weaves. ENQ 122
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

FIRST SIGHT
Joro
Available in any colour, stainless steel or in
several metallic finishes including bronze,
brass, copper, aluminium and pewter, Joro
Originals are a highly unique and
personalised art-lighting product for the
home, business or garden and are already
gracing the interior and exterior walls of some
of London’s finest properties. They can be
produced any size up to a maximum of 2.5m x
2.5m and can be back lit in any colour of
micro LED lights creating an environmentally
friendly, low cost light source. ENQ 123
Formica
Formica Limited has launched an exclusive
Off-the-Shelf screen-print range through the
Formica® Bespoke laminate service. Six
striking designs provide the designer with a
selection of large scale, classic and geometric
surfaces ideal for any interior laminate
application; from cubicles, door skins, wall
panelling and furniture. These designs have
been carefully researched to reflect current
trends. The range is offered in a fixed sheet
size of 3050mm x 1300mm x 0.7mm. ENQ 124
 | 59

Tile of Spain
The Simbols range by Tile of Spain member
Natucer combines natural textures and vivid
colours. Available in a natural and semi-
FIRST SIGHT
polished finish, this range is suitable for
interior and exterior spaces. Available in
36cm x 36cm, six harmonious shades, ranging
from vibrant blues and greens, to more urban
smoky greys and charcoals, will leave you
spoilt for choice. ENQ 125

Kronospan
Renowned for breaking new ground in the
panels market, Kronospan is launching an
unprecedented 15 decors, delivering limitless
design opportunities and an inspirational
palette. Ivory Flax and Ebony Flax products
evolve this natural fusion concept and are the
first textile motifs to reach the UK market,
bringing the neutral appeal of woven fabric
and crisp, clean linen to any interior scheme.
All Fresh decors are partnered by matching
laminates and edgings. ENQ 126

Polyrey
Rey Solutions Partitions and Ceilings
incorporates all the advantages of a
plasterboard core and Polyrey’s melamine
surface technology to offer an economical,
environmentally friendly, acoustic, fire
retardant, recyclable decorative panel that in
comparative testing offers superior surface
resistance than PVC & vinyl. The panels
conform to Euroclass B-s1,dO, equivalent to
Class 0, and also have a low calorific value
which guarantees that they meet or exceed all
current fire legislation. ENQ 127

Parapan®
Parapan® can be used for a range of
applications, both residentially and
commercially. Bright white Parapan® was
chosen by Harrison Varma Construction Ltd
for its clear crisp finish and ease of installation
to create simple wall paneling and cupboard
doors in the sitting room of this magnificent
villa in Hampstead. Available in 21 up to the
minute UV stable colours that will never fade
Parapan® is waterproof, hygienic and easy to
maintain. ENQ 128

International Decorative Surfaces

IDS has added a new range of Aqua-Step
waterproof laminate flooring to its portfolio
that combines style, easy installation, simple
maintenance and a 100% guarantee of being
totally waterproof. There are 19 tile and
woodgrain effects to inspire and satisfy a wide
range of applications; from elegant travertines
to exotic woodgrains. Aqua-Step comes in
planks size 1200mm x 167mm x 8mm
thickness and offers easy installation with the
patented Uniclic system. ENQ 129
 60 | Windows & Textiles
Premier Shutters
Premier Shutters have been manufacturing
and installing interior shutters for over five
years. Working closely with interior designers
and private individuals, Premier Shutters
already have a reputation for meeting the
desired specification. With limitless designs
and colour options any look can be achieved
by the company, making their window
dressings truly fit anywhere. For a look that
will be admired by all and caters for all your
needs, both visually and practically, look no
further. ENQ 130

Prestigious Textiles
Created for lustrous window dressing and
coordinating scatter cushions, Passion
comprises two contrasting floral trails,
Patricia and Penelope; plus a boldly
interpreted yarrow head design called Petra.
The shimmering silken backdrop, which is
also available as the complementary plain
Penny, enhances the tactile appeal of the
three. Passion by Prestigious is available in a
suite of on-trend colourways including Lichen,
Cinnamon, Champagne, Oyster, Latte,
Fuchsia, Plum, Violet and Silver. ENQ 131

The New England Shutter Company
The experts in bespoke shutter solutions, The
New England Shutter Company manufactures
and supplies a truly bespoke range of beautiful
hand-crafted shutters. Their service includes
a complete project management service and
custom colour matching at no extra cost. The
Soho design with its entirely concealed tilt
mechanism has rebated blades that lie flush
in their frame, giving an ultra-sleek look.
ENQ 132
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

Panaz
In the worldwide hotel and maritime leisure
sector, Panaz continues to meet ongoing
demand for fabrics which combine conformity
to performance standards with a memorable
haute couture flair. A bespoke design and
colour interpretation service is available,
whereby project-unique concepts or colour
schemes are developed through collaboration
between the client and the Panaz creative
department. ENQ 133

Fabricant
Fabricant has introduced an elegant new
display block to present a stunning new
collection of curtain poles and finials. For
further information on any of the Fabricant
range contact their sales office. ENQ 134
 Furniture & Storage | 61

Girsberger
TOPIC's style is timeless, precisely what
furnishing a conference room
requires.Girsberger uses TOPIC to
complement its range of conference room
seating. But this discreet chair is also ideal
for use as a visitor chair. TOPIC is extremely
comfortable, thanks to its well-formed
backrest and strong, luxurious seat upholstery.
Although Dieter Stierli intentionally refrained
from adding technical subtleties, TOPIC has
shock absorbing suspension and a 360 degree
swivel function. ENQ 135

Blum
Alongside the look of a new kitchen, storage
has become the single most important
element of modern kitchen design. Two
fundamental principles must be observed: to
maximise the use of the internal cabinet
volume, and to ensure total and immediate
access to every item stored. Blum’s storage
solution achieve both of these objectives, and
in doing so offer up to 55% more storage
capacity over conventional kitchens. ENQ 136

Vilagrasa
Bloc is a new range of tables designed by
Gabriel Teixidó for Spanish furniture
manufacture Vilagrasa. Bloc is available in
either square or circular versions, and heights
of 45cm, 72cm or 105cm. The square version
can be specified in 60cm x 60cm or 75cm x
75cm dimensions. The circular table is
available with a diameter of 60cm or 75cm.
Bloc is made of cast aluminium and stainless
steel with a translucent plastic top. ENQ 137

Mobles 114
Pey is a new range of desks, tables, accessories
and storage units for contract as well as
domestic use. Coffee tables, dining tables,
office desks with dividing panels as well as
large meeting and library tables form only
part of the extensive collection. Pey has an
aluminium extrusion frame structure epoxy
painted in white or aluminium grey with a
translucent laminated or lacquered glass table
top. A number of size options are available
ENQ 138

NM Design
NM Design specialize in custom furnishings
for both domestic and commercial interiors,
producing anything from a coffee table to a
kitchen; display cabinets to boardroom
furnishings. Working with the highest quality
materials NM Designs incorporate veneers
and solid wood, mirror, stone, glass and
metals to realize your design vision. The
ARNO Sideboard shown features lacquered
walnut offset with ebony and customized
handles. ENQ 139
 62 |
Flooring

Hartley & Tissier
The existing Hartley and Tissier collection
includes a wide selection of striking stripes,
geometric and floral patterns across flat
weave, wool and nylon blend and hand-woven
wool and viscose yarns. However, for those
hoteliers, restaurateurs and bar owners
looking to make a statement all of their own,
designer Stephanie Tissier will develop a truly
original carpet that will never be replicated,
ensuring an exclusive, one-of-a-kind scheme.
ENQ 140

Antron® Carpet Fibre

Each style in the Elemental Spectrum
collection is influenced by the readings of
elements such as carbon, zinc and iron when
placed under a visual spectrograph, giving a
linear appearance that can either be strong or
subtle. The collection reflects these readings
in two groups, Elemental Brights and
Elemental Neutrals, with the complementing
Elemental Solids plain carpet tiles. The
performance of the carpet is also enhanced
with Mannington Commercial’s proprietary
ColorSafe® bleach resistant and XGUARD®
stain resistant technologies. ENQ 141

Junckers
Part of Junckers' extensive range of solid
hardwoods is Jarrah; one of many eucalyptus
species native to Western Australia. Jarrah
combines exceptional strength and density
with rich burgundy tones, varying from light
to dark to produce a very lively floor. Grown in
managed forestry secured by The Australian
Forestry Standard under PEFC, Jarrah offers
the opportunity to achieve a tropical red
timber floor that is ecologically sound.
ENQ 142
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

Jaymart
Installed at all Fitness First, Virgin Active, LA
fitness gymnasia and David Lloyd Leisure
Centres, BLADE-RUNNER rubber flooring
benefits from an extremely dense, elastic
structure making it incredibly durable and
easily able to withstand heavy equipment and
high-impact shocks. This same elasticity
means that BLADE-RUNNER absorbs the
impact of athletes’ bodies, increases comfort
and reduces injuries. BLADE-RUNNER is
offered in a wide range of 11 classic, and 25
Lee of Mohawk
custom, colours. ENQ 143
Focal Point is the latest modular collection
launched by Lees of The Mohawk Group.
A revolutionary fibre system that adds
permanent stain, soil and fade resistance,
Duracolor® is built into the fibre rather than
applied topically, making it impermeable to
moisture while also helping to reduce cleaning
chemical dependency. The tufted textured
patterned loop pile carpet tile features Lees’
ICT Fibreglass Reinforced Thermoplastic
Composite Tile backing and comes in a
60.9cm x 60.9cm format. ENQ 144
 Heating | 63

Bisque
The iconic Hot Spring has won awards
worldwide. It has been displayed in the
London Design Museum and the Philadelphia
Museum of Modern Art. A continuous coil of
steel tubing, it is an ingenious combination of
elegance and efficiency, suitable for large or
small spaces. It also fits neatly in corners
where it saves space. Hot Spring is available
in four sizes and an electric only version in a
choice of white, black, chrome and metallic
finishes. ENQ 145

Anglia Fireplaces
Anglia Fireplaces has introduced an exciting
range of horizontal and vertical lift-door
stoves from Belgium. The new range from M-
Design features single and doubled sided fires,
swivel stoves, and all boast an efficiency
rating of 85%. All the stoves incorporate
state-of-the-art clean burn technology,
ensuring the large glass window remains
clean and free of soot. All the fires are
available as wood-burning, with the Luna
range being available in gas. ENQ 146

Bisque
Petrus is an elegant radiator with oval tubing
that creates an undulating surface in chrome,
metallica or white. With 11 sizes available, it
can be shown to advantage in narrow, vertical
spaces or under windows where the oval ends
make for an interesting visual effect. Bisque
radiators have won awards world-wide and
the company was recently voted one of the
Coolbrands of 2009-2010. ENQ 147

Encompass
Available through Encompass, TURN 5 KW
log burning stove, rotates through 360 degrees,
with integrated log storage unit. Thanks to
FIRST SIGHT
optimum air combustion properties, the
combustion chamber grate and ash collection
tray are a thing of the past. Encompass are
suppliers of premium brands, exterior leisure
furniture and accessories, which include Royal
Botania, Fuera Dentro, Coro, Freek, Some and
Conmoto. ENQ 148

Jetmaster Fires
After relentless market research and a
demanding list of must requirements,
designers at Jetmaster have introduced the
Inset stove range simply called the 18i, 60i
and the larger 70i. Efficiencies of up to 84%
can be expected, as well as clean burning
technology. Other features include an option
to take the combustion air from outside if
further efficiencies are required. The unit is an
inner and outer box styled installation that
allows the flue to be connected from the inside
of the unit. ENQ 149
 64 | Stop Press
International Decorative Surfaces
More than a floor, the innovative Resofloor®
range available from IDS really pushes the
design envelope when it comes to laminate
flooring. Resofloor® offers specifiers a range of
six expressive flooring designs in fashionable
high gloss texture, with the guarantee of wear
resistance for even the most heavy-duty of
areas; whether in shops, offices, restaurants,
hotels or a domestic setting. The palette
includes snow white, black, stone and
metal-inspired finishes. ENQ 150

Allgood
Allgood is proud to announce the re-launch of
the original 14mm d line designs, the epitome
of the aesthetic and functional purpose of d
line, with the L shape and U shape 14mm
lever handles. Trends come and go, pure
design endures. The inevitable cycle of good
design has proven to be the case for the 14mm
design; representing the unique skill and
technique known to the d line product range,
which makes it so extraordinary. ENQ 151

Daedalian Glass
Daedalian introduces its new glass door and
screen range, that feature luxury fabrics and
original Daedalian design, with varying
degrees of transparency to catering to multiple
situations. Using Bridgestone’s UV resistant,
EVAsafe laminating system, which protects
against long-term light deterioration,
Daedalian are able to laminate most organic
and in-organic materials and have combined
fabrics, papers, and metals with other glass
working techniques such as etching and glass
painting to create truly unique results.
ENQ 152
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

Benchmark
Leading joinery and metal workshop,
Benchmark, has recently completed a large
bespoke commission for the new Eight
Members Club. Brass, dark oak, rippled glass
and leather have been incorporated cleverly
throughout the club; from the central ribbed
banquette seating topped with reeded glass
screens and brass detailing, to the dark oak
dining table with leather inlay in the private
dining room. Also made by Benchmark is the
stunning polished pewter bar. ENQ 153

Securikey
Securikey have added to their portfolio of
mirrors a new range of unbreakable stainless
steel mirror domes, specifically designed for
use in areas of high vandalism. Available in 4
sizes these mirrors are shallower than original
ceiling domes making them ideal for use on
walls and in passageways without
obstruction. ENQ 154
 | 65

Polyrey
Polyrey’s popular Cubicle & Washroom
collection has been updated to offer even
wider decorative and practical benefits from
its selection of HPL, compact grade laminates
and MFC solutions, which are ideal for
cubicles, benches, lockers, partitions and
vanity units. There are 51 different decorative
choices available in plain colours, woodgrains
and patterns. The new Sanitized® compact
grade laminate range is unique to Polyrey and
offers key hygienic benefits. ENQ 155

Flowcrete
A dedicated environmental zone has been
created at www.flowcrete.com to highlight the
company’s proactive approach to reducing its
carbon footprint. Details of Flowcrete’s unique
Floorzone Solution are also featured on the
new website, highlighting the environmental
and cost-saving benefits brought about by this
single-responsibility flooring package.
Floorzone incorporates the screed,
soundproofing, heating and decorative
seamless resin finish. ENQ 156

Gradus
The new accessories guide from specialist
Gradus contains full details of their extensive
accessories portfolio, including the new range
of XT Hardnose stair edgings, which offer
superior protection against the risk of slips,
trips and falls. Information is also included on
CXT aluminium stair edgings for use on
ceramic, stone and marble floors, as well as
pvc and metal skirtings, step and aisle

International Decorative Surfaces

lighting, transition strips and barrier matting.
ENQ 157
IDS, the UK’s largest distributor of decorative
surfaces, has produced its first Surfacing
Solutions for the Hotel & Leisure Industry
directory, giving specifiers and designers a
helpful working tool for selecting appropriate
surface finishes. Spanning 28 pages, the
directory covers the materials available in
IDS’s extensive portfolio including solid
surfacing, anti-bacterial laminate, exterior
cladding, flooring and wallpanelling. It is
purely application-led, broken down into five
key sections on furniture, doors, walls, floors
and exterior for easy navigation. ENQ 158

Victoria Carpets
Victoria Carpets Contracts Division has
announced a new portal for online contract
carpet at www.victoriacontracts.com. A useful
Quick Sample Request facility is backed with
the Select a Carpet feature that allows
specifiers to begin their journey by type,
colour or sector and the website’s
functionality is built around the quickest and
shortest route to the information required.
Specifiers can also seek inspiration and
catching up on the latest news and events.
ENQ 159
 66 |
Stop Press

Biok
A2 is a new range of office furniture designed
by Gabriel Teixidó for Spanish manufacturer
Biok. The range comprises desks, meeting
tables and storage units. The A2 system is
composed of an extruded aluminium beam
with chrome joints and the table top and legs
are available in glass, lacquered MDF and
various wood finishes including American
walnut, natural wengé, dark and white oak.
ENQ 160

Antron® Carpet Fibre

If design flexibility and lasting good looks was
not enough, INVISTA, manufacturer of
Antron® carpet fibre, is the first and only
carpet fibre manufacturer to have obtained a
certified Environmental Profile from BRE
Global Limited. Combine this with the
proprietary Infinity® RE backing that features
a minimum of 10% post-consumer and 20%
pre-consumer recycled content by product
weight, and the modular carpet has the
credentials for locations looking for style,
performance and sustainability. ENQ 161

Julie Langan Glass

Julie Langan Glass is an inspirational
contemporary design studio who specialise in
the creation of unique and innovative pieces of
glass art. The pieces, usually in the form of
panels, can be integrated into both interior
and exterior architectural spaces or simply
displayed as individual pieces of art. Now
with over 10 years experience within the
industry Julie Langan Glass have built up a
reputation for quality, innovation and
individuality. ENQ 162
FIND THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS AT www.idfxmagazine.com

Geberit
HyTronic infra-red taps use two-beam infra-
red technology for fast, intelligent detection,
resulting in an electronically controlled water
flow that requires no physical contact.
Geberit’s HyTronic infra-red taps are to the
highest specification and environmentally
sensitive. Operating programmes include
delayed shut-off and water-saving options as
well as a safety switch-off function to prevent
uncontrolled water consumption. ENQ 163

Maine
The new Mainepure range is made to the
same exacting high standards of excellence as
their successful Maineseries31 range. It can
also fit alongside their existing ranges to the
same wide range of heights and widths. The
Mainepure range has a clean, elegant facade
and a flush, discreet label holder, which also
acts as the drawer pull. Everything is
engineered for a beautiful result. ENQ 164
 | 67

Polyrey
Papago is part of Polyrey’s flagship 2007 –
2012 Collection, designed to combine colour,
decor, light and texture. Papago is incredibly
easy to specify for a wide range of interior
applications including leisure, retail, domestic,
healthcare and furniture. All of the Papago
colours are available in high-pressure
laminate and Compact (Thick self-supporting
laminate) and wide selection is also available
in Panoprey Melamine Faced Chipboard or
MDF with matching edgings. ENQ 165

Crown Trade
Crown Trade has launched an exciting new
paint colour collection for specifiers, designers
and decorators working on interior and
exterior projects. This extensive colour offer
covers the entire spectrum, featuring 1080
contemporary and established popular shades,
arranged into eight distinct colour families.
New fandecks and pocket size colour guides
are now available in Crown Trade’s new black
and gold signature style, with colour swatches
clearly referenced using Crown’s exclusive
SCAN™ colour codification system. ENQ 166

Bisca
Bisca has design and built a staircase, which
takes perceptions of stair design to a new
echelon. The brief was to create an
outstanding stair for the hallway that
complimented the surroundings. The result
was a stunning, gleaming curved staircase
made entirely of green-tinted glass and steel,
including balustrade, topped with American
black walnut handrails. ENQ 167

Antron® Carpet Fibre

Antron® LegacyTM carpet fibre is utilised in
Structures from Christy Carpets’ Studio
Collection that features in the exclusive
director’s lounge at three new Showcase
Cinema de Luxes. Antron® LegacyTM carpet
fibre is ideal for use where an attractive
appearance, maximum wear resistance and
easy cleaning are essential. The hollow spaces
throughout the carpet fibre scatter the light so
dirt is less visible. ENQ 168

Formica
Playful and modern, MicroDot is a subtle grid
of concave dots in a low sheen satin finish.
Interpreted in eye-catching solid colours, this
texture transforms the traditional flat surface
of plain colours. Available in a 3050mm x
1220mm x 1.3mm sheet size, the range offers
a total of 27 finish and colour combinations.
MicroDot and Gloss textures are offered in six
classic colours: Black, Folkestone, White,
Spectrum Blue, Spectrum Red, and Spectrum
Yellow. ENQ 169
Thinking space

We have thought hard about our show, to ensure it’s

packed with new ideas, stimulation and an array of
new products. Our improved product zoning means
you’ll easily find your way around, and exactly what
you need to develop your business.
So we hope you’ll join us knowing that your day
will pay for itself.

For more information about this year’s

exhibition, and to register for free entry
please visit interiorsbirmingham.com

75$'(21/<
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 Portfolio Inspiration from three of our favourite recent interior projects
To submit your project for consideration in idfx’s Portfolio, please contact Rebecca Hoh (rhoh@idfxmagazine.com)

A VERY REGAL
RESIDENCE
Developer Regal Homes was happy to give Kelly Hoppen
an enviably free rein in the design of this expansive seven-
bedroom house in London’s South Hampstead

70
GLOBAL GATHERING
The interior of this 12-bedroom Jacobean mansion mixes
art-deco style, antique furniture and accessories from
across the globe in a surprisingly harmonious scheme
BARN STORMER
This five-bedroom property, created from two former
barns, has been given a sleek contemporary look
that brings minimalism to a country setting

74 78
TRIPLE TWINKLE CLASSICS NOUVEAU
The cube chandeliers DK Home’s Fairytale
were made bespoke light hangs over the
for the ground floor breakfast area
formal dining room

A VERY REGAL
RESIDENCE
Developer Regal Homes was happy to give Kelly Hoppen
an enviably free rein in the design of this expansive seven-
bedroom house in London’s South Hampstead
WORDS REBECCA HOH PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS TUBBS

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

 PORTFOLIO ONE | 71

T his 5547ft seven-bedroom house in South

Hampstead is the first of six projects by Kelly Hoppen for
London property developer Regal Homes. Hoppen, chosen by
the firm for her contemporary yet elegant style, relished the
free reign she was given on the project. She took the
opportunity to create something different to anything else on
the development market while combining style with comfort.
‘Regal Homes approached me about a year ago and this
first project was fairly huge,’ says Hoppen. ‘But having the
design completely handed to me was a luxury you do not
always get so I have enjoyed incorporating architectural
forms with different textures and extreme attention to detail.
As with all projects that are not couture for a private client, I
have drawn on my own inspiration from around the globe.’
Luckily, the townhouse had no listing issues (with the
exception of the exterior) but it had been left derelict for
many years and was extremely run down. So the team gutted
the place — leaving only the four external walls — and
started from scratch.
The ground floor contains the formal entertaining areas
(a dining and double reception room as you enter) while the
family rooms — an open-plan kitchen, relaxed dining area
and TV room leading to the outdoor space — are located in
the basement. The master suites, with his-and-hers

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

LUXE LIVING
Hoppen’s signature
colour, white, has
extended to the
bespoke kitchen and
island unit

Bold contemporary
lighting has been used
throughout such as
this Swarovski Sock
ceiling light

FULL HOUSE bathrooms and dressing rooms, are on the first floor and the
Megaron Pebble other five bedrooms are found on the second and top floors.
tables in the formal
living room
The formal dining room — the first room you encounter —
is a real knock-out space with a trio of bespoke, cubic cut-
Italian company crystal chandeliers hanging over the Luz Interiors dining
Orrizonti supplied the table, which is surrounded by Meridiani Cruz chairs. The
Aran bed, with curved
headboard simple boxlike shape of the lights is echoed in the strong
rectangle of the CVO wall-mounted flueless fireplace.
Mimi table lamps and The palette here is rich and plush, with dark wood and a
bronze reading lights
from Porta Romana
mixture of mahogany-coloured fabrics and animal print. The
chairs at each end of the table have mock-crocodile
The slick bathroom upholstery and the bespoke curtains resemble a delicate
features products from zebra hide. The adjacent reception room continues the block
Hoppen own shutter
range, developed with theme with modular, framed Hamptons sofas from
Shutterly Fabulous Modenature.
Moving down to the family level, the palette is fresher,
with softer more comfortable forms, set off by the undulating
pattern of the curtain fabric that spans much of one side of
the open plan kitchen/living space, as well as the droplet
shapes that make up the Fairytale hanging light in the
breakfast area, from DK Home. This breakfast table is the
Savoy model from Modenature who also supplied the Plaza
chairs, all framed by a cream and mocha coloured rug from
Hoppen’s own shop collection.
In fact, as the unrestricted nature of the brief has allowed
her to create a project that is in line with her own tastes and
inspirations, it has also meant she has been able to use many
of sculptural pieces from the Kelly Hoppen range throughout
the project, such as the white unglazed coffee pots, Emperor
statues and faux corals.
Continuing the soft forms, key to the comfort-conscious
feel of family space, here the sofa style is less regimented,
with the use of Meridiani’s Quinn model. However, both
living spaces have Kevin Reilly Steeman table lamps,
referencing the block shapes once more.
Upstairs the bedrooms boast several different textures,
and have the calming, slightly Asian twist that Hoppen has
made her own. Much of the texture is provided by the
generous selection of fabrics, where both linen blinds and
sheer curtains are used in combination, as well as velvet
throws and silk cushions. This contrasts with the dark woods
of the stained oak flooring and bedside lamps by both B&B
Italia and JNL. The Master Room, however, takes it cue more
from a traditional English style, with a button back
headboard, with a slight curve around the Meridiani
Thurman bed.
The finished contemporary home really has brought
something new to the world of property development, so
often the realm of safe bets and neutral choices, Hoppen has
injected a warm, eclectic personality into this period house,
with ultra modern styling that somehow seems timeless. The
next projects with Regal are set to be new build flats and
Mews houses, so it will be interesting to see how these
properties receive the Hoppen transformation.

Contacts
»B&B Italia www.bebitalia.it »CVO www.cvo.co.uk »DK Home www.dkhome.com »JNL www.jnl.be »Kelly Hoppen www.kellyhoppenretail.com »Kevin Reilly
www.kevinreillylighting.com »Megaron www.megaron.org »Meridiani www.meridianisas.it »Modenature www.modenature.com »Orrizonti www.orizzonti-srl.com
»Porta Romana www.portaromana.co.uk »Regal Homes www.regal-homes.co.uk »Shutterly Fabulous www.shutterlyfabulous.com

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

 PORTFOLIO ONE | 73

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

I t wasn’t easy for Peter Phan to leave
the Andrew Martin nest — he had spent
15 years at the company, working as a
buyer alongside his ‘friend and mentor’
Martin Waller. He made the jump just
over a year ago and his biggest project to
date, North Aston Hall, seems to prove
that Phan made the right move.
‘It was hard but it was the right time
to move on. I will always be close to the
team,’ says Phan, ‘but there is a new
satisfaction in seeing a project through
from start to finish. I go back to this
house regularly and am still enjoying
the wow factor!’
Twelve-bedroom North Aston Hall is
a part-Jacobean property with Regency
additions and a chapel in the garden.
It is an ongoing project that will take
many years to complete. Phan
has finished the first phase of the
refurbishment and is preparing to tackle
the kitchen, more bathrooms and the
orangerie next year.
In its previous life, the hall was used
by a Swedish company as a summer
residence for its executives and the
decor was stuck in the late 1980s.
‘It was trying to be Laura Ashley and
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
failing,’ says Phan. No interior
structural work was required so once
the place had been stripped, Phan began
with what he believes to be the most
important room — the sitting room.
Here it is evident that the interior
designer loves to experiment with scale
and to mix styles from different eras. A
large sculptural armillery from Andrew
Martin is a decorative centrepiece atop
a chunky coffee table, while paintings of
society figures from the 1950s are
juxtaposed with art-deco-style sofas.
‘My forte is bringing together elements
from different times and places to
create something new and beautiful.
This is about restraint and using the
upmost care and consideration when
choosing the pieces,’ he says.
There is also an Asian influence to
Vietnamese-born Phan’s work. Antique
Chinese travelling trunks are used as
low tables and decorative Buddha heads
(copies of museum pieces to ensure
authenticity) have been sourced
from Thailand.
The entrance hall takes inspiration
from the Middle East. Afghan rugs
stretched over canvases hang on the
WORDLY WISE MAKE AN ENTRANCE
Above left: the sitting Main picture: the huge
room mixes cushions entrance hall, with its
made from bright original flooring, mixes
Tibetan blankets with scales and styles,
neutral designs from with large lanter ns and
the Andrew Martin an oversized toy
Augustus range aeroplane on a
Regency pedal stool
Far left: the walls of
the billiard room are
wrapped in 80m of
faux moleskin
Left: a Simpsons
mirror hangs above a
Chinese altar table
found in a London
antique shop
 PORTFOLIO TWO | 75

GLOBAL
GATHERING WORDS REBECCA HOH
PHOTOGRAPHY DOMINIC BLACKMORE

The scheme for this 12-bedroom Jacobean mansion mixes art-deco style, antique
furniture and accessories from the four corners of the globe. Yet despite its eclecticism,
the interior is harmonious and sympathetic to the building’s historic grandeur

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

 INSPIRED
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 PORTFOLIO TWO | 77

ECLECTIC MIX
Clockwise from top
left: the bathroom,
which has plenty of
traditional mouldings,
has a traditional basin
and taps with a satin
nickel finish

The glamorous master

bedroom has large
sitting-room lamps to
increase the drama

The boys’ bedroom

has a US theme with
a Levi’s poster and
Native American
throws and rug

Jacquie St one
made the bespoke
bedspreads in a
traditional style

Rabbit-fur throws and

Snow Bush pictures
by Stephen Lee
add cosiness to the
guest bedroom

grey walls. Grey — this one is Farrow &
Ball’s Elephant’s Breath — is something
of a signature colour for Phan.
The first phase of the North Aston
Hall project has involved completing
five of the 12 bedrooms. Despite the
large number, Phan has treated each
bedroom individually, giving each one a
theme and filling it with intricate
details. ‘The family is using these
rooms at the moment as we gear up for
the second phase but really they are just
the guest bedrooms’ he says.
The current master has silver-leaf
wallpaper, hand made in Japan and
sourced from Altfield. The room’s style
is inspired by Hollywood glamour of the
1940s, Phan’s favourite era.
Another room has a hunting theme,
using rabbit fur, guinea fowl feathers
and lizard skin on lampshades,
cushions and throws. Phan chose to
keep the original oak floorboards in this
room to emphasise its traditional
English country feel.
A third room, with walls painted in
another of Phan’s signature greys (this
time Farrow & Ball’s Slate) has twin
beds, each with a 1920s-style curved
and crested headboard covered in
suiting fabric. These were created by
Peter Jude, who worked with Phan on all
the upholstery on the project.
A bedroom for two boys takes it cue
from a totally different time and place
with its Native American styling. Many
Andrew Martin fabrics from the
Americana collection have been used
here on the bespoke blinds and
bedspreads, which were made by Jackie
Stone. Of course, Phan could not resist
mixing in some art-deco style — in this
instance the 1920s beds and a chrome
chest of drawers — before bringing it
back to the American West with a
framed Levi’s advert from the 1950s.
Phan’s design vision is giving North
Aston Hall a new lease of life. Such a
diversity of influences had the potential
to result in a rather chaotic look but
Phan has carefully orchestrated his
design approach, creating something
modern and chic that also pays homage
to the building’s history.

Contacts
»Altfield www.altfield.com »Andrew Martin www.andrewmartin.co.uk »Farrow & Ball www.farrow-ball.com »Jacquie Stone Creations tel. 01869 331 502
»Peter Jude www.peterjude.com »Peter Phan www.peterphandesign.com »Simpsons www.simpsonsmirrors.com »Stephen Lee www.argyllphotos.com

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

BARN
STORMER
This five-bedroom property, created from two former barns, has a
sleek contemporary look that brings minimalism to a country setting

WORDS REBECCA HOH PHOTOGRAPHY ANDY CARVER

BIG IDEAS
The 25m-long living
space is partitioned
N icolas Tye Architects was enlisted to transform two
huge 19th-century converted barns in Worcestershire into one
even larger family home on the recommendation of an architect
by a fireplace on a
hearth of rough-cast
friend of the clients. He would have done the job himself but
concrete, while white feared the potential tensions of the client/architect relationship
ash flooring keeps could have jeopardised the friendship.
the scheme bright,
Fortunately, the Nicolas Tye team presented a set of plans
clean and simple
that met the challenging brief perfectly, creating a home that
stretched to 25m in length. ‘First, it was challenging because
the clients are both in retail design so are used to a very high
standard and interesting style of design,’ says Tye. ‘Second,
they had invested a huge amount — both psychologically and
financially — in this project. Having essentially bought two
dwellings that would one day be sold as one, extra value needed
to be injected into the property. The couple travel frequently for
business and wanted to make this their long-term home with
their three children because of the great schools in the area.’
The plans incorporated some quite radical features.
Externally, Tye wanted to change the external elevations
from wood cladding to double-height glass. Internally, he
aimed to create large, clean, simple rooms to bring back the
feeling of a barn being an open, cathedral-like space.
The plan included an unusual ‘kicked’ corridor running
diagonally across the building to link all the living spaces.
‘As the clients already had a funky design mindset, they just
went for it,’ he says.
The team began by overhauling the space, which had
been cut up into a ‘rabbit warren’ of mean-sized rooms.
The ground-floor living space now stretches to most of the
home’s 25m length. This room has been divided into dining
and living areas by the central fireplace, which has a
rough-cast concrete hearth with a rusted metal grate and
scaffold poles that reference the barns’ agricultural past.
The white ash floor accentuates the airy and open feeling of

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

 PORTFOLIO THREE | 79

the room, as do the cream leather sofas. One of these is so MODERN COUNTRY
long it can accommodate 10 people. Above centre: a
double-height column,
The ground floor also contains the kitchen and utility clad in walnut, houses
area, a studio, bar and downstairs WC. The first floor has the airing cupboard
five bedrooms, three with ensuites, plus one large separate and coat storage
bathroom. There are two staircases, one created in timber
Above right: a bespoke
and glass by Flight Design. The other, which rises from the unit in the master
diagonal hallway, snakes around a double-height column bedroom houses the
clad in walnut, which houses the airing and coat cupboards. plasma screen TV,
fireplace and lighting
Tye has also kept the bedrooms minimal, using bespoke
cabinetry in walnut and opaque glass and installing Right: the master
contemporary fireplaces. The sleek look continues in the ensuite has a bathtub
ensuites, which have floating walls separating the wetroom- by Bette and slate and
terracotta tiles by
style shower areas and bathtubs. Slate and terracotta tiles Porcelanosa
from Porcelanosa add warmth to the scheme.

Contacts
»Bette www.bette.co.uk »Flight Design www.flightdesign.co.uk »Nicolas Tye Architects www.nicolastyearchitects.co.uk »Porcelanosa www.porcelanosa.co.uk

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

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New closed construction Milliken Obex, Prior and Forma, is high-tech,
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Y ou could say that Tim Gosling was born to
make furniture but the more you get to know
him and his team at Gosling, the more you
realize that sounds like a trivial summary of a
life dedicated to the art of furniture making.
Gosling makes pieces for connoisseurs and
Tim Gosling seems to carry the future of
British furniture on his shoulders (undoubtedly
broad, symmetrical and perfectly proportioned).
For those who can afford a Gosling piece, the
company offers the finest craftsmanship. The
furniture is designed in the company’s studio
in Clapham and brought to life in its workshops
in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
This craftsmanship is explored in the recent
Prestel book, Gosling. It guides the reader
though the commissioning process, explains
the luxurious materials used and the methods
of manufacture with a view to nurturing an
appreciation of the quality of the team’s work
and English craftsmanship in general.
‘It’s amazing how little information is out
there,’ says Gosling. ‘This the first book of its
THE FURNITURE MAKER’S FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP
IS CELEBRATED IN A NEW BOOK WORDS KATE BURNETT
Left: Tim Gosling says the
Prestel book will ‘help
readers understand
amazing materials and
how to use them’
Above: the Gosling team
in the studio, a former
Victorian laundry (right)
generation. It will help readers understand
these amazing materials and how to use them.’
Gosling began his career in set design,
working on major productions in London and
Las Vegas. He then joined Linley in 1993,
staying there until he set up his own company
in 2005. ‘It was very important for me to be
able to gain recognition in my own right,’
Gosling explains. ‘I imagined it would be a
small practice but was surprised when we
exceeded our projected annual turnover in the
first few months. Linley was enormously
successful as a brand but people imagine they
know what that brand will be. I wanted to
stretch those ideas way beyond what is
expected and now I am able to do that.’
The studio team includes three staff who
worked with Gosling at Linley. Photis Photi and
Philip Sturdy are both designers — Gosling
describes them as ‘two geniuses — technically
extraordinary’ — while Russell Thomas
coordinates the production and delivery of
these highly complex pieces to site. Jean Gomm
PRACTICE PROFILE | 81
GOSLING
met Gosling when she was a client at Linley
and she now works alongside him as a
director, overseeing the company’s strategic
development. Gosling describes her as ‘very,
very objective and staggeringly tough’. Jane
Dundas is Gosling’s right-hand woman, who,
he says, ‘has an enormous positive impact on
our client relations’.
Gosling has an evangelical approach to his
craft. He lectures at the Inchbald and KLC
schools and gives regular talks to the team in
the workshop. ‘I want to do more things. I would
love to start a working museum,’ he says.
As well as having strong connections with
museums, including the Courtauld and the
V&A, Gosling works with designers such as
Anouska Hempel and Kelly Hoppen and a
penthouse project in Hong Kong will see him
work with Tara Bernerd for the first time.
Positive energy exudes from Gosling and his
team and it is this passion for perfection that
will undoubtedly establish Gosling as a great
modern furniture maker. www.tgosling.com
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
82 | DIRECTIONS
Sites to be seen
01 02 03

04 05
01. Handles and Fittings, Tel: 0800 389 8821
www.hafdesigns.com

02. Armourcoat Limited , 01732 460668

www.armourcoat.com

03. Domain, Tel: 01403 784846

www.domainfurniture.info

04. Juliette Balcony Design, Tel: 020 8980 1000

www.juliettebalconydesign.co.uk

05. Scott Beaven Radius Ltd, Tel: 0191 491 5000

www.scottbeaven.co.uk

06. Ecolec, Tel: 01902 457 575

www.ecolec.co.uk

07. Johnson Tiles , Tel: 01782 575575

www.johnson-tiles.com

08. Handles and Fittings, Tel: 0800 389 8821

www.hafdesigns.com

06 07 08

December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com

 Sites to be seen DIRECTIONS | 83

09 10 11

12 13
09. Leisure Plan, Tel: 01279 816001
www.leisureplan.co.uk

10. Leisure Plan, Tel: 01279 816001

www.leisureplan.co.uk

11. Leisure Plan, Tel: 01279 816001

www.leisureplan.co.uk

12. Philip Watts Design, Tel: 0115 926 9756

www.philipwattsdesign.com

13. Ciesse S.r.l., Tel: 07775512836

www.ciessecucine.it

14. Richard Baker Furniture, Tel: 0208 336 1777

www.richardbakerfurniture.co.uk

15. Via Arkadia, Tel: 020 7351 7057

www.via-arkadia.co.uk

16. Clemaron Wood Interiors, Tel: 01483 201080

www.clemaron.co.uk

14 15 16

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

84 | DIRECTIONS
Showcases
01
04
07
1. Julian Chichester enq 423
Tel: 020 7622 2928 www.julianchichester.com
Specification – Design – Manufacture
Furniture design interpreted in a unique and
contemporary way.
4. Crofts and Assinder Ltd enq 425
Tel: 0121 622 1074 Email: general@crofts.co.uk
Crofts & Assinder have, for 135 years, brought
excellence to all furniture types with their
peerless approach to trailblazing designs.
7. Quarella enq 422
Tel: 0800 107 7870 www.pianofortequartz.co.uk
PianoForte Designer Quartz Work Surfaces by
Quarella Ideal for Kitchens & Bathrooms
offering an unrivalled selection of colours
and finishes.
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
02
05
08
FGU72
2. Edwin Loxley enq 408
Tel: 0800 083 4118 (24-7) www.edwinloxley.co.uk
Totally bespoke, fitted furniture with an
unrivalled specification at a realistic price.
5. Busby & Busby enq 420
Tel: 01258 881211 www.busbyfabric.com
Busby & Busby is a fiercely independent and
creatively led company recognised as a leading
producer of original and inspirational fabrics.
8. Febland Group Ltd enq 424
Tel: 01253 600600 www.febland.co.uk
Georgian dining chair as seen on Hell’s Kitchen.
Available in a large chioce of fabrics, wood
finishes and trims.
03
06
09
3. Seagreen enq 433
Tel: 01896 753361 www.seagreenltd.com/chair.php
Seagreen UK manufacturers of quality contract
fabrics. Picture shows new stripe 4546 generated
using new online upholstering feature.
6. Rume Ltd enq 421
Tel: 01273 777 810 www.rume.co.uk
Designers and suppliers of beautifully made
English furniture, lights of English and European
origin and cushions from just about everywhere.
9. JIS Europe enq 401
Tel: 01444 831200 www.sussexrange.co.uk
The JIS Sussex range already included a wide
array of towel rails in many shapes and sizes.
The addition of the Newhaven Rail extends the
options open for bathroom design still further.

10
13
16
10. Richard Baker Furniture enq 371
Tel: 0208 336 1777 www.richardbakerfurniture.co.uk
The new Bubble wardrobe available from
Richard Baker Furniture adds to the range
of classic furniture with a modern twist.
13. Loomah Limited enq 316
Tel: 0207 371 9955 www.loomah.com
Luxury bespoke hand-made carpets in any size,
shape or colour.
16. Clemaron Wood Interiors enq 357
Tel: 01483 201080 www.clemaron.co.uk
One of our contemporary bespoke storage cabinets
in oak with a solid ebony wood inlay. A prime
example of just one of our exclusive products.
Showcases
11
14
17
11. Focus SB enq 304
Tel: 01424 858060 www.focus-sb.co.uk
A sleek, slim line plate to suit any interior, the
Titan range features Allen Key fixings for a
strong, secure attachment.
14. You Are Art enq 359
Tel: 020 7384 1113 www.youareart.co.uk
Commission a modern portrait from You Are Art.
They work from your photos. You simply choose
the style, size and colours you want to feature.
17. Pegler Yorkshire enq 388
Tel: 0870 120 0284 www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk
The BRITA Filter Taps from Francis Pegler is the
only range of taps to give you BRITA filtered
water and demand and interest in this product
has never been greater.
DIRECTIONS | 85
12
15
18
12. Feature Radiators enq 387
Tel: 01274 567789 www.featureradiators.com
One-stop port of call for high performance, stylish
heating. Contemporary and traditional designs.
Competitive prices. Nationwide delivery. Expert advice.
15. Tambo Design Ltd. enq 364
Tel: 01324 810000 www.tambodesign.co.uk
Original artwork, fine art prints and picture
framing for trade customers. Available in any
size and any colour palette.
18. Lee Filters enq 313
Tel: 01264 366 245 www.leefilters.com
Get creative with LEE Filters - Coloured
Fluorescent Sleeves, Over 200 colours to
choose from, Fit T5, T8 & T12 diameter tubes.
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
Classified

enq 377 enq 396

enq 391 enq 324

 Classified

Bespoke murals
Dramatic prints
Exclusive blinds

We give you unique

access to some of the
most exciting imagery
around and create
ebsite
high quality bespoke
New W nched interior graphics to
au suit your environment.
Now L
Explore our website at
www.surfaceview.co.uk

Soft Blue Beetle. Exclusive graphic derived from original Haynes Manual technical drawing.

enq 392 enq 302

Little Greene
Environmentally Friendly
Paints and Wallpapers

in association with

For your free colour card please call us or visit

www.thelittlegreene.com
UK & Overseas - +44 (0) 161 230 0880

enq 417 enq 303

Classified
a Matthew James Kitchen

J>; 8;IJ >?=> =BEII 7L7?B78B;

enq 412

Centro range
now available from Aestus

A little light relief from Davey! For further details please call 01902 387080
www.davey-lighting.co.uk 01394 386768 or email sales@aestus-radiators.com
for product range and catalogue request
enq 415 enq 411
 Classified

Lightweight Composite Limestone

Quick and easy to install.

Texture of hewn English Limestone.
Interior Feature Walls. DecSTONE

T: 01452 307 700 E: sales@decoramouldings.com

enq 410 enq 307

Institute of Materials Select HAF doors

Selectdoor doorsets from HAF have been installed

at the new IOM3 building in Grantham.

IOM3 took full advantage of the wide range of

Selectdoors that HAF provide. Steel framed doorsets
were used in the washroom and kitchen areas and
the work spaces were partitioned using glass sliding
doors and track. The minimalist theme using natural
light was enhanced with pivoted glass doors. IOM3
are rightly proud of the effect achieved, particularly
in the library, which may receive an award.

HAF supplied all the internal doorsets, glass, track

and ironmongery ready for fitting. Offsite
manufacture helped reduce onsite traffic, storage,
preparation time and wastage. Crucially, the
product's durability and design significantly reduces
maintenance and the life time cost of the installation.

All Selectdoors are fully compliant with fire and dB

regulations as appropriate and manufactured bespoke
to meet all requirements and variations required.

HAF will prepare door and ironmongery schedules for

bespoke Selectdoor systems in schools, hospitals,
care homes, hotels, offices and residential properties.

Handles & Fittings Ltd

01992 505 655
idfx@hafltd.co.uk
www.hafinternational.com

enq 416
Classified

Please note
our new telephone
and fax numbers
tel 0844 873 1949
fax 0844 873 1959
email sales@outliners.co.uk
www.outliners.co.uk

www.wschneide
www.wschneider.com

enq 418 enq 434

Wish provide this unique bespoke printed leather furniture for clients who require quality and individuality that has never been
possible before. There new process allows any Hi-resolution images-graphics and designs to be fused to their real leather and
retain its look and feel of the leather still.
All the pantone colours can be printed and the client can become a designer by altering the graphics to there requirements this
includes colourways and effects that can be easily achieved to produce that one off piece.
The specification of the Real Leather has surpassed all testing results for all Upholstery usages that no other leather or fabric can offer.

■ Bespoke Individual Look
■ A Flex test of over 1 Million Flexs
■ Waterproof Technology
■ No Stain Transfer
■ Flame Retardant
■ High Burst & Tear Strength
■ Washable
With over 60 years background in the Upholstery & Contract sector they can work along side you to create that Bespoke item you
require and then supply and make it using traditional and modern techniques here in the UK.
New products will be added on a regular bases like Scatter Cushions - Outside Wall art - Bedheads etc etc
Please visit Wish at www.wishinteriors.com
Wish Interiors Ltd Rowlands House, King Edward Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 3LA
email info@wishinteriors.com tel 07802 382732

enq 414
 S
Classified

SIMPSONS
M i r r o r s & F u r n i t u r e

Beige Marble Large Random

Floors or walls... Outdoors or indoors... You can expand your imagination

with Island Stone's Large Random Tile. Few effects compare with the
dramatic beauty of stone in random shapes and sizes.

1/7 Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

Lots Road, London SW10 0XE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7352 0397
www.islandstone.co.uk
www.simpsonsmirrors.com
Island Stone Natural Advantage Ltd
Phone +44 0800 083 9351 • Fax +44 0800 083 9352 • sales@islandstone.co.uk

enq 413 enq 400

COTTAGE CRAFT SPIRALS

Hand built cast Victorian & bespoke Timber spirals at Trade prices. Free Brochure

The Barn, Gorsty Low Farm, The Wash, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak Derbyshire. SK23 0QL
Tel: 01663 750716 Fax: 01663 751093
Email: sales@castspiralstairs.com Web: www.castspiralstairs.com
Tel: 01785 811555
“SPIRALS OF DISTINCTION” www.decolight.co.uk
enq 301

Designer Fabrics
Doors : Windows : Logos
Very best prices for Backdrops : Space Dividers
the top names in fabrics Tel: 020 8560 3337
and wallcoverings www.cicscreens.co.uk
C.I.C. SCREENS
Metro Centre St Johns Road
Tel: (01270) 610032 Isleworth TW7 6NJ

enq 380 enq 360

To advertise here please contact Howard Hassen

T: 020 7936 6859 | E: hhassen@progressivemediagroup.com

enq 353
Inside Out Contracts Ltd
13 Nelson Road
London SE10 9JB
tel: 020 8305 3130
mail@insideoutcontracts.com

London Showroom
s.c d
om
ct he
‘‘Try Before You Buy’’ Sample Service
ra nc

Commercial Use Guarantee

nt lau

Space Planning Service

co re
ut ust

Stock Items For Immediate Delivery

eo te j

Bespoke Seating
sid si

Delivery Promise
.in eb
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 SHOWROOMS | 93

Close
SHOWROOMS
01 02
THIS MONTH
» 94 ECO NEWS
» 95 MAKING IT & INTERIOR ADVENTURES
» 96 KITCHEN PULSE
» 97 BATHROOM PULSE
» 98 NUMBER ONE FAN

03 04

Find Flos lighting in central London,

Maytag appliances in Croydon and
Mereway Kitchens in Rotherham

01 Moroso and Flos 7-15 Rosebery Avenue,
London, EC1R 4SP www.moroso.it 020 3328 3560
Renowned Italian design firms Moroso and
Flos have opened their first flagship store in
London. The 600m2 space, designed by
Patricia Urquiola, is spread over two floors
and showcases their furniture and lighting.
03 Nigel Coates Studio 25 Thurloe Street, London,
SW7 2LQ 020 7838 1068 www.nigelcoates.com Nigel
Coates’ appointment-only studio opens with
his White Light installation. It features his
pieces from the Loop outdoor collection for
Varaschin, the Scubist collection for Fratelli
Boffi and the Corona lamp for Slamp.
Maytag at Home Whirlpool UK, 209 Purley Way,
Croydon, CR0 4XE 020 8649 5000 www.maytag.co.uk
This showroom brings together four brands —
Amana, KitchenAid, Maytag and Whirlpool —
in multifunctional display and presentation
areas. Maytag’s appliances are displayed in
built-in and freestanding settings.

02 Loewe Galerie 237 Kensington High Street,
London, W8 6SA 020 7937 7007 www.loewe-uk.com
The new Kensington store joins existing
Loewe showrooms in Hampstead and
Battersea and concessions in Selfridges and
Harrods. Among the audiovisual products on
display is the Loewe Reference high-definition
flatscreen TV.
04 Mark Wilkinson Furniture 10 West Halkin
Street, London, SW1X 8JL 020 7235 1845
www.mwf.com The lower floor of this showroom
features three kitchens: the designer’s latest
style, Shan Gara, in exotic veneers and
vellum; the Victorian-influenced Etruscan and
the art-deco-inspired Metro. More kitchens
and studies are on show on the ground floor.
Mereway Kitchens Sarah Street, Rotherham,
South Yorkshire, S61 1EF 01709 380 065
www.merewaykitchens.co.uk Mereway Kitchens’
trade-only showroom uses split-level displays
to showcase the latest in kitchen design, door
and cabinet styles and a selection of granite
samples from showroom partner the Original
Marble and Granite Company.

FLEXED FOR
SUCCESS Showroom
Flexform and Interdesign have of the
come together under the same roof month
to bring classic Italian style to
Design Centre Chelsea Harbour
Flexform G30 Design Centre Chelsea Harbour,
London, SW10 0XE 020 7376 5272 www.flexform.it
The Interdesign showroom in the Design
Centre Chelsea Harbour has been completely
refurbished and rebranded under the Flexform
name. The store is aimed predominantly at
architects and interior designers and displays
Flexform’s luxurious range of Italian furniture,
which includes sofas, modular seating, chairs,
tables and storage systems. A selection of
Flexform’s bestselling items, including the
Groundpiece sofa designed by Antonio
Citterio, are on display along with
complementary products such as lamps,
vases, rugs and other home accessories.

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

94 | CLOSE
Eco News
LIVING THE
GREEN DREAM
The pioneering Greenhouse project
in Leeds has set a national standard
for sustainable development
WORDS REBECCA HOH
T his year’s Estates Gazette Green Award
for Residential Development went to the
Greenhouse in Leeds, a pioneering project by
Citu. The mixed-use property, which cost
£27m to create, houses 172 apartments.
It combines the latest energy- and
carbon-reduction technologies and won the
award for creating a nationwide benchmark
for sustainable development.
‘We wanted Greenhouse to be unique, not
only in its groundbreaking ideas but in the
way it would ensure sustainable living by
changing residents’ behavioural patterns,’ says
Chris Thompson, director of Citu.
As well as an offsite wind turbine, which
ensures the development generates more energy
than it uses, the technology at Greenhouse
LEE
Filters
www.leefilters.com
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
includes an IP network in each home to enable
residents to monitor their utility bills.
Real-time data showing energy use translated
into carbon emissions and pounds is streamed
into homes and accessed via the TV screen.
There is also an open-loop borehole and
ground-source heat pump to recover and
distribute heat through the development,
something that has not been used in a
residential property before. The scheme will
save an anticipated 169 tonnes of carbon and
3.8m litres of water a year, making it about
60 per cent more efficient than the average
new-build development.
Citu has also collaborated with Naughtone,
another local company, on the interiors of the
show flats. The environmentally conscious
Glass Dichroic Frosted Glass
Filters Dichroic Filters
enq 487
team has sourced all the materials from within
a 20-mile radius of the Greenhouse. Eighty per
cent of these products are from Naughtone,
which is less than 10 miles from the site. These
include sustainable bamboo flooring and
Portion sofas, made from 100 per cent wool on
solid Forest Stewardship Council-certified
timber frames. Naughtone is also offering an
interior package for buyers who would like to fit
out their Greenhouse apartments in the same
style as the show flats.
The project is proving popular — the first
100 apartments to go on sale in 2007 were
sold within a fortnight and generated 2,500
enquiries. The remaining flats will hit the
market in January. www.greenhouseleeds.co.uk
www.naughtone.com
Two-tone Fluorescent Sleeves
LEE Two-tone Fluorescent Sleeves
have two different colours within the
sleeve. With over 250 colours to
choose from, the number of different
colour combinations are endless!
Glass Diffusion Holders &
Filters Louvres
Interior Adventures Making It CLOSE | 95

ONE DESIGNER’S
DIARY...
in which the walls have ears and the decor speaks volumes

JAIL BREAK
I get a bit carried away on a mammoth royal shopping spree at the
temporary Highgrove Christmas store, situated in a drawing room
at Clarence House, and end up carting heavy bags of organic
hampers around various meetings. I end the day at an embroidery
sale for Fine Cell Work, a charity that teaches needlework to
long-term prison inmates. When one of the volunteers spots my
Duchy of Cornwall bags, she confesses to her somewhat
schizophrenic life — on Tuesdays she works at Highgrove as a
garden guide and on Fridays helps out in prison.

WHOLE LIGHT
BY MARCUS TREMONTO
WORDS REBECCA HOH

CREASED UP
On a shopping trip with a client, we pass a Mayfair hairdressing
salon owned by a slightly eccentric family who are clients of a
colleague. On the day a sumptuous white carpet was laid at the
daughter’s new Docklands penthouse, my friend received a call to
say the carpet was ‘broken’. Unable to make sense of this unusual
N ew York-based artist and designer Marcus
Tremonto has added these slimline lights to his
claim, he drove over to east London to find a small crease in the futuristic collection of luminaires, which made their
carpet resulting from the roll being crammed into the li to get it debut at London’s SuperDesign show. Whole Light
to the top floor. He reassured the anxious client that the wool and Vakpak continue Tremonto’s theme of using
would spring back in a day or two and was relieved to get the materials that ‘reflect the modern age’.
message the next morning that the carpet was ‘fixed’. Both hanging pieces are
created using incredibly thin,
electroluminescent electronic paper as
their light source, a flexible surface
that Tremonto has been experimenting
with for almost three years (and was
first seen in his Paper Landscapes
CHRISTMAS JEER range shown at this year’s Euroluce).
No festive season goes by without a client demanding at short Leaps and bounds are being made with
notice that a piece of furniture or pair of curtains must arrive for this technology as a result of its use
Christmas. I am oen tempted to repeat my laconic curtain maker’s in the competitive field of display
annual exclamation: ‘They’ll look just as nice in January, dear!’ lighting, for example, for billboards.
This year, an upholsterer confides, is worse than ever because even Electroluminescence is an optical
though the designers have been efficient and planned early, the and electrical phenomenon. It occurs
clients aren’t paying up until the very last minute. Understandably, when a material emits light in
the designers are unwilling to risk bad debt — so a few behinds response to an electrical current being
will be siing on threadbare dining chairs while their owners tuck passed through it, causing the atoms
in to the turkey this Christmas Day. of the material to emit photons. The
electroluminescent material needs to
be sandwiched between two layers of conductors, the
top layer needs to be transparent and, in the case of
Tremonto’s work, Perspex is used. Vakpak in
particular takes
advantage of way the material can be used in
PINE AWAY razor-thin proportions — the a double-sided light
It’s the time of year when I debate whether to have a proper tree — image is only 2-3mm thick.
and face the new year prospect of hoovering up pine needles from Tremonto loves the way the material allows the
three floors of communal stairway — or do something cuing edge light source to take on so many shapes. But he does
(and non-dropping) with twigs. At least the fairy lights are never a not like to dwell on the technical side of his work,
problem. I now always follow a wise designer colleague’s advice of preferring to let the products do the talking.
planning a Christmas tree socket in every electrical scheme I do. www.treluce.com

www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009

96 | CLOSE
Pulse Kitchen
01
02
01 Aeon’s Grandeur radiator, which doubles as
a bench seat, is a great example of a two-in-one
product. Its stainless steel construction is
available in a brushed or polished finish.
www.aeon.uk.com
02 Norbert Wangen’s K1 Single Block kitchen
for Boffi comprises a fully functioning kitchen
in a single 5m-long block. Sliding open the
island reveals appliances, sinks and worktop
and creates a bar or serving area. www.boffi.com
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
03
04
05
06
03 The AKR 809 MR Glamour Hood features
Whirlpool’s EDS³ system, which reduces noise
output. This clever black glass hood with touch
controls also adjusts power levels automatically
to achieve optimum air quality. www.whirlpool.co.uk
04 Fired Earth’s first fully fitted kitchen range,
the Moderne collection, has been designed by
Charles Smallbone. It combines beech and oak
veneered doors with painted finishes and
marble surfaces. www.firedearth.com
05 Minotti Cucine has joined forces with stone
specialist Antonio Luigi. The result is a new
Frappuccino stone and Bolivar wood version of
its celebrated streamlined Inca kitchen.
www.minotticucine.it
06 Mereway Kitchens has added a ready-to-
paint option to its Lincoln range, which enables
cabinets to be painted on-site to match other
finishes. The units can be mixed with solid
timber doors. www.merewaykitchens.co.uk

01
01 Made from Corian, the Evolution shower by
Touchtile is controlled by a touch sensor and
offers 15 temperatures and five flow rates.
It is available in any of the 100 Corian colours.
www.touchtile.com
02 The shelf-like design of Brandoni’s Moby
radiator allows you to stack towels to ensure a
continuous warm supply. It is available in any
shade on the RAL colour chart, enabling it to be
matched to any scheme. www.brandoni.com
Pulse Bathroom
04
02
05
03 The Relais suite from Ceramica Globo is
being touted as a modern reinterpretation
of classical sanitaryware, featuring squared
silhouettes with rounded corners.
www.ceramicaglobo.com
04 Bathrooms International has taken a
contemporary turn with its new Lennox
Collection. The range includes floor, wall and
counter-mounted brassware in chrome, nickel
and satin gold. www.bathroomsint.com
CLOSE | 97
03
06
05 Bibliotheque’s Ebony Fabricated Wood tiles
are a waterproof alternative to timber. Colour
runs through the body of the porcelain tile,
allowing it to be moulded to recreate the grain
of real wood. www.bibliotheque.co.uk
06 Indigenous’s Riverstone bathroom collection
is sourced from the riverbeds of Central Java.
The bespoke bath tubs, basins and sink
pedestals are crafted from volcanic rock.
www.indigenousltd.com
www.idfxmagazine.com | December 2009
98 | CLOSE
Number One Fan
ICON:
ARTS AND
CRAFTS
TILE
BY: WILLIAM DE MORGAN
FAN: STEVE CHARLES
Inside story William De Morgan’s
superlative skill in tile design and production
secured him his place in history alongside William
Morris, his collaborator and friend. In the late
1800s, during the height of the Arts & Crafts
movement, hand-painted tiles were increasingly
popular for use in interiors and De Morgan’s
involvement in their design and production made
him one of the movement’s key players.
He is also well known for using intricate and
unusual techniques — such as reduction firing for
lustre finishes — and for detailed illustrations
created using fine tissue transfers that would burn
away on firing. De Morgan’s interest in medieval
illustration can be seen in the imaginative designs
of many of his pieces. His depictions of fantastical
creatures remain popular today.
The tile pictured above is an earthenware piece
that has been dust pressed and painted with
ruby-red lustre glaze. It was made in Chelsea
between 1872 and 1876.
December 2009 | www.idfxmagazine.com
STEVE CHARLES’ expertise in
stone and ceramics has made a
dramatic impact on the interior
flooring industry. He employs increasingly
innovative production methods and strives
consistently to combine the newest techniques
with a tried-and-tested knowledge of his craft,
gained over a 40-year career.
By establishing Paris Ceramics in the early
1980s and, more recently, developing his own
brand, Charles has been responsible for
reviving many native stones, reclaimed antique
stone and terracotta floors. He has also
introduced many important stones, such as
white limestone, to the industry.
The leading practitioner in the field of stone
and flooring, Charles also undertakes bespoke
commissions for many prestigious interior
projects. For these, he uses a wide range of
materials, including marble, metal, glass,
semi-precious stones and bone.
W illiam de Morgan has
been a huge inspiration to me
throughout my working life
because he was a pioneer of
design and craft.
He explored every technical
aspect and used materials and
colour in ways that few
designers had done before.
He also rediscovered the lost
technique of lustre glazes in the
late 1860s and, following this,
created the ruby-red lustre tiles
with fantastical figures that I
admire so much.
In my 40 years of working
with decorative stone, I have
followed De Morgan’s example
by discovering and pioneering
new materials and techniques
for my work.
De Morgan was central to
the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood,
a collective of artists that
pooled their skills and
inspiration. This connects
PHOTO: ©V&A IMAGES/VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON
strongly with the way I work
because I currently work
with around 20 craftspeople at
the forefront of their fields.
Like De Morgan and his
contemporaries, we pool our
skills and varied material
expertise to create our unique
floors and surfaces.
www.stevecharles.me.uk
WILLIAM DE MORGAN, a ceramic
artist and craftsman, was the one
of the most influential members
of the Arts and Crafts movement.
From 1859, De Morgan studied at the Royal
Academy alongside important artists and
painters such as Frederick Walker, Simeon
Solomon and Henry Holiday. It was Holiday
who introduced De Morgan to William Morris.
His celebrated decorative works include the
tiles, stained glass and pottery he produced in
his Chelsea workshop for his own company,
along with works for Morris Marshall Faulkner
& Co, some of which can be viewed in the
Morris room and the new ceramics galleries at
the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The strength of De Morgan’s technical
knowledge of tile production also led him to
design and build kilns and pottery equipment.
He died in 1917, having enjoyed considerable
success as a novelist in later life.
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