CONTAGIOUS INTERIOR DESIGN

RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS: head to toe makeover

2010-08-03T16:53:00.015Z

Residential lettings need regular attention and a complete refurbishment approximately every ten years. These shots refer to work recently completed in a flat in Chelsea: 3 new bathrooms, one kitchen and much decorating and joinery work later and... the rental income is back in line with the market. Quality of workmanship and fittings were never skimped on but a few simplifications helped to contain the overall budget and always please tenants, estate agents and landlords alike. Regardless of trends I have never regretted keeping things too simple!

With thanks to Logan Photography

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE WITH FURNITURE: fitted, antique, modern or re-styled?

2010-04-09T01:48:00.010Z

The eternal hunt for storage space makes fitted storage a must in our homes. Good quality storage units designed to fit specific spaces can greatly increase our ability to win the battle against clutter. Too much fitted furniture however and we run the risk of achieving the "hotel look" without intending to. Adding beautiful one-offs, be it an inherited antique piece or an ultra modern indulgence, adds balance to personalizes your furniture layout. However, the fact of the matter is that most have acquired along the way a few mediocre items. For sentimental, financial or environmental reason we may not wish to dispose of all of them. A table may have been our first ever furniture acquisition, a mirror may have been a wedding gift and so on and so forth. There are a number of ways of "dealing with unwanted furniture". One can find environmentally and socially acceptable ways of parting company with less than loved furniture quite easily these days. Or should I say with less trouble than one would have encountered 5 years ago?

Then there is the "furniture make-over". When holding on to something in its current state is no longer an option but neither is binning it, that's when a gifted specialist finisher will come up with solutions you might have never dreamed of. Clearly painting furniture is only viable if the piece has no intrinsic value. In some cases however pieces will be transformed to the extent where they become firm favourites thanks to their new look and their (now) interesting history. It looks like specialist paint finishers are set to regain their rightful place in the world of interior design; thanks to humbler pieces of furniture it would seem they are headed back to where they were in the 80s, the decade of the stipple finish, of obsessive marbleing!
With "fussier" furniture it usually pays off to keep things simple. Blocks of colour work extremely well . A couple of pieces combined, in the same colour, often result in a bolder and more pleasing statement than each piece would have made if displayed on its own.

BATHROOM FIXTURES: best in class

2010-03-15T23:32:00.007Z

Value for money, design for practicality, this would be our latest shopping list (sanitary ware from Catalano, worktops from Cimstone)

TRADITIONAL FURNITURE DESIGN: the gentleman cabinet maker

2010-01-23T02:02:00.021Z

The client asked for functional, contemporary furniture inspired by traditional late 19th century designs. My aim was to avoid blatant reproduction while following the brief. Michael Moore's skill, imagination and love for cabinet making, applied to a couple of rough sketches I provided him with, produced two beautiful pieces.
Inspired by simple principles borrowed from the Arts & Crafts movement and its late followers into the first years of the 20th century, this sideboard and tall corner unit totally satisfied the initial brief.

Straight grain walnut panels laid at opposite angles produce square detailing mirrored by mouldings, feet and knobs. A dark stain suits the design. Contemporary pieces in a traditionally inspired interior design scheme.

UNLIMITED COLOUR SOLUTIONS: lava stone worktops

2009-09-15T23:59:00.003Z

I had forgotten all about this table I had made for a client's conservatory. The metal base supports a lava stone worktop in the most gorgeous gun metal finish. Most colours can be matched. All products are made to order, regardless of whether they are kitchen worktops, table tops, basins, sinks, etc. A great alternative to stone and marble. The templating method is similar as are costs but all colour constraints are lifted. Design freedom!

THE BAN ON LIGHT BULBS: panic buying

2009-08-28T01:09:00.008Z

While we are on the subject of Kyoto induced changes: those who haven't already overdosed on "energy saving light bulb arguements" might like to catch up. The rest of us have probably already purchased a few spare incandescent bulbs while the market irons out its problems? Most of the antique light fittings I have purchased over the years will definitely NOT suit the new ES bulbs so I am supporting the "mild stockpiling".

I guess it's a bit like sticking with XP while other PC users act as product testers for Microsoft's Vista: selfish but probably sensible. While panic buying is never a clever option I'd really prefer not to have to replace 50% of my light fitings...

Reuters reported a massive grouth in the energy saving bulb market. Well...sure! Here is one of the many ES lamp online suppliers' help links now available.

NEW WINDOWS: double glazed is now the standard

2009-08-27T23:55:00.015Z

Buying a traditional single glazed casement or sash window is now effectively impossible. The standard is now double glazed and placing an order for a custom made unit is the only way you will get a traditional single glazed window. That is.... if you are allowed to install one!
This is the direct result of changes in building regulations introduced in 2002 and revised in 2006. These came about following the Kyoto agreement where the UK Government made commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Document L is the section of Building Regulations for England and Wales which sets out standards of energy efficiency in buildings. The new Document L now comprises two separate sections: L1 (L1A refers to new dwellings and L1B to existing ones) and L2 (relating to non-dwellings).

As more energy efficient buildings help to reduce pollution and preserve dwindling natural fuel resources it is now a requirement that more energy efficient building products are used both in the construction of new houses and the refurbishment of existing ones. Windows are clearly weak points as they allow heat to escape and cold air to enter if not appropriately sealed and - now - double glazed.
However, where refurbishment work and improvements on existing dwellings are concerned there are a number situations which may be considered exceptions and in which the use of single glazed windows may therefore be allowed. This would for instance be appropriate on front elevations of listed buildings where only a limited number of units were being replaced. However identical the new timber frames may be to the original ones, double glazing causes light to reflect in such a way that will always highlight the increased depth and the presence of a sealed glazed unit.
Whether your planned refurbishment qualifies as an exception is something you or your designer need to determine before you reflect on the aesthetic and practical merits of single versus double glazing.

From Building Construction Handbook

(6th Edition) by Roger Greeno

WALL PAPER: where more at home than in London?

2009-08-19T16:40:00.013Z

Thousands of gallons later I am still a great supporter of Papers & Paints' Not Totally White. The milky emulsion allows a feeling of crisp cleanliness while preserving a hint of warmth. The perfet canvas for layers of subtle interior design. But England's tradition in wall papers is such that they never make a complete exit from the trendy magazines. The weather calls for an illusion of warmth in this country and lath & plaster walls - specially typical of London's historic houses, can always do with an extra little bit of "help". Logic is never far behind good interior design choices. So where to source your papers if you have time only for a couple of pit stops? Cole & Son (I am still waiting for a chance to use one of the Fornasetti papers). Recently I have discovered the smart and understated collections by Phillip Jeffries. Check out the linens: trendy and timeless is a difficult combination to achieve and Leo's Luxe Linens do it for me. Adding warmth in the Winter yet looking suitably fresh in the Summer, linen is a winner once again in my book.

ARCHIVE PHOTOS

2009-08-17T23:59:00.008Z

A new request for archive photos has made me realise the importance of investing in a professional photographer. The nature of one's projects is that, by the time they are ready to be photographed, the owners have moved in. These are a few of the pictures I should have commissioned and resorted to snapping myself (hence the poor outcome). The above are only a few examples of past bathroom, kitchen and furniture designs, lighting layouts and children's bedroom and bathroom schemes. For additional information please contact me by telephone or email

SUBTERRANEAN DEVELOPMENT: loft extensions, conservatories and now... new basements

2009-08-17T23:28:00.006Z

Over the last few years a number of clients have come to me with plans to extend their property under ground.
Subterranean development, as it is referred to, is a means of extending the square footage of a property either by increasing the size of an existing basement or by digging an entirely new floor below ground. The latter is often described as a ‘retrofit' and is clearly more expensive to achieve than an extension. In either case the figures seem to stack up in prime central London where the cost of extending or creating a brand new basement space is only a fraction of the value of the additional residential square footage achieved.
Needless to say the work involved is expensive. The necessary digging, which at the very least must achieve the legally required 2.4m finished head height, is done partly by hand to avoid excessive vibration. Underpinning can only be carried out at a rate of one alternate metre at a time thus avoiding disruption to the foundations. Damp proofing is now dealt with in a different way to the traditional “barrier” concept. The latest method allows water to flow between walls and a waterproof membrane. The water is managed so as to eventually flow into the waste water system thanks to under-floor pumps. This clearly implies maintenance which in turn implies ongoing costs but the argument is that the overall life of the new basement will be longer when compared to the life expentancy of a basement reliant on water-proof renders.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is often credited with being the forerunner of the “subterranean extension” trend in the residential property market. During the following years local authorities granted planning permission fairly liberally. More recently however concerns have grown that the cumulative effect of brand new basements sprouting all over central London may equate to an underground “Swiss cheese” effect. Some local authorities may use changes in planning laws to take a tougher line and it has therefore now become essential to check the latest planning documents (see for instance the Royal Borough of Kensignton & Chelsea’s subterranean development document)
Your neighbours’ cooperation is going to be essential if you are planning such an extension. In addition to the necessary party wall agreements, unavoidable where terraced properties are concerned, good communication and abundant information is going to prove helpful. Owners planning to extend under ground may find it helpful to provide their neighbours with information such as the Arup Geotechnical Scoping Study on Subterranean Development (referred to in the RBKC document above mentioned as well as in a number of archive articles – check out Telegraph and Guardian online).
Finally, a visit to one of the specialists might give you an idea as to what can be achieved. Have a look for instance at the London Basement Company’s website.

Only time will tell whether the trend is as safe as we hope it is. One thing is for sure: the recession seems to have made it more popular than ever!

TRADITIONAL DESIGN: a contemporary twist

2009-03-31T00:09:00.024Z

Some clients have extremely contemporary tastes while others prefer traditional space layout, antique furniture and ornate fabrics and wall papers. One of my current jobs falls in the latter of these categories. The room I am using as an example is a traditional dining room. The following are some of the suggestions I put forward to place the client's taste for traditional full length curtains, chandeliers etc. within a more contemporary framework. A Victorian style mahogany dining table and matching chairs were previously purchased by the client and will clearly be the most prominent items of furniture in the room.

A traditional Cole & Son wall paper (dusty pink grey with silver pattern) sets the early 20th century tone.

Porta Romana's Lartigue ceiling light brings a slightly contemporary twist to the equation.

The crinkled silk like dark fabric from Villa Nova (top colourway) adds drama and sets the background for the tieback in nickel to stand out.

The Fabricant pole (gun metal paint finish, not black as shown in the picture) tilts the balance back towards a more traditional take on window dressing and so does the

matching tieback (part of the 2009 Fabricant collection).

A possible alternative to the above

pole and tieback could have been

this Fabricant plain timber pole with

simple cap ends

and a Jason d'Souza clear tieback

RENTAL PROPERTIES: keeping it simple

2009-03-23T02:29:00.006Z

Having tried a number of different solutions the basic formula revealed itself to be the best: keep it simple! "Simple" may mean neutral colours, which will allow any colour scheme the tenant may wish to introduce, but it also means:
- durability v. quality issues should be carefully considered (in the kitchen shown above a laminate worktop was preferred to real wood, which requires regular maintenance, but a 40mm thick "top end of the market" product was selected)
- quality materials, fixtures and fittings should be used: they pay off in the end
- pay attention to maintenance issues (allow for inspection panels and ease of access to pipework etc., comply with regulation regarding labling of all fused switches)
- generous and well equipped storage spaces should be provided in proportion to the number of bedrooms in the property
- wiring should be laid and sockets (power, TV & phone) should be as numerous as possible to allow for different furniture layouts without the need for later (surface and unsightly) additions

Simple rules always work best.

RECESSED & CONCEALED TV SCREENS: difficult to keep it simple?

2008-12-27T00:01:00.006Z

Months ago we talked about disguising large flat screen TVs. At the time I was concentrating on sourcing a mechanism which would allow the painting or panel concealing the screen to be lifted mechanically. Having sourced a couple of such mechanisms I moved on to planning the necessary prep work to the wall. Whether the item concealing the screen lifts/slides manually or through a motorised system, the fact remains that a number of issues need to be considered before installing the screen itself.

Your design for the wall will have to take into consideration, among other points:

Future proofing,*

allowing for extra power supplies,

ventilation,

access,

cable management**,

screen removal/replacement

* In plain English this means you should lay every type of cable you might need should you decide to add equipment to the system long after the initial installation; future proofing therefore means "allow for every possible cable, using the best possible quality, even if you are not connecting it to anything at the moment"

** This simply means you should plan to make it as easy as possible to connect your screen to new or additional equipment, the latter to the satellite dish, etc.; cable management therefore relates to the ease of access you have built into your cable routes.

The sketches below show my initial plan for one such wall. In that case we intended to conceal a Sky box in the wall, allow for DVDs to be stored on the open shelf under the screen and external speakers at high level as well as a base unit to be free standing on the floor.

Although working notes are not included in this post you will see from the coloured icons the areas I was drawing the client's attention to. These all relate to the points listed above.

The next sketch indicates the 3 areas where glass or stone or lacquered MDF could be used to complete the installation. In this case a DVD player was going to be installed in the room immediately behind the wall. As neither DVD player nor Sky box were going to be in plain view of the remote control infrared connectivity needed to be allowed for. This can easily be done either with a simple IR signal extender or with a slightly more specialized flush fitting "eye" manufactured for joinery work.

The simplest looking installation is often the hardest to achieve.

INTERIOR DESIGN DIRECTORY

2008-11-04T12:55:00.004Z

There are a few sites we refer to when we quickly need to bring up details of all suppliers or manufacturers in any given field. One of these (probably the one listing the largest number of our favourite companies) is

OLD FAVOURITES: clean shapes for elegant furniture

2008-10-29T01:19:00.031Z

When planning furniture layouts I find helpful to create a framework of simple, solid pieces. Clean shapes and good quality are the foundation of a design which will then allow "dressing up" or "down" with accessories. Here are some old favourites, furniture and upholstery design I revisit all the time given their versatile proportions:

Dark, nearly black, stained oak furniture with modernist inspired chunky detailing and proportions

Upholstery, unless you are designing an accent piece, benefits once again from clean shapes (whether including traditional scroll arms or 20th century square detailing)

The more detailed the piece the more crucial it becomes that quality is impeccable. If budget is an issue, simple choices always pay off.

Once a framework of smart pieces of furniture has been created... colour and accessories can be added.

It's a simple recipe but one that will allow future changes without too much disruption.

LIMITED FURNISHING BUDGET: no limit to good taste

2008-10-21T16:37:00.011Z

If you are on a limited budget, whether furnishing a first time buyer's flat or a rental investment, the golden rule has to be "keep it simple". The lower the quality the more important it is to keep detail to a minimum. Where tables and worktops are concerned thicker depths often make items look more expensive. In an earlier post you saw a small kitchen designed for a rental flat. The following are some of the furnishing suggestions made for the same property. These should give an idea of how a limit on budget does not have to result in a limit on good taste. Stick to your "simplicity" rule across the board. When it comes to fabrics make plainess and budget inversely proportional: the smaller the first the plainer the second! See the board below: plain fabrics can be of a lesser quality and the difference will hardly be noticeable while patterned fabrics need to be better quality.

Compare this to a more complicated design. Take for instance one plublished months ago which included laquered side tables and a mother of pearl chest. Given the quality of those items the design was a success. On a smaller budget the lime green would probably have to be dropped and the overall number of colours decreased. The risk is that the room would otherwise look slightly amateurish.
(furniture and fabrics above, among others, from Dwell and Andrew Martin)

ELECTRONIC PRESENTATIONS: basic cad design

2008-10-11T02:23:00.012Z

A number of basic CAD programs are now available on the market. Most of them offer a reasonable alternative to those who do not need the intricacies (or the steep and lengthy learning curve) provided by AutoCad. Some of these packages come with reasonable 3D rendering built in. Usually the 3D visuals can be saved as images and therefore emailed to clients together with additional details. In other words... electronic presentations are now a reality within everybody's reach. Floor layouts, furniture, pretty much anything can be created on a laptop in a format that can then be either emailed of printed. The equivalent to traditional sketches and mood boards were, in this case, created using TurboCad and Paintshop Pro X. Below is an example which shows a standard rental flat kitchen solution together with a photograph of the suggested finishes. Through that sketch and photograph the client was able to agree the design and issue his instructions. The kitchen, nearly completed, was photographed today. As you will see the simple 3D sketch was a very realistic, if simplified, visual indication of what was then actually fitted. This is now for us the standard way of making presentations, whether through printed or electronic versions of the same files.

LOSING THE INTERIOR DESIGN FORMULA: office furniture at home

2008-10-06T01:51:00.032Z

We are refurbishing offices for the first time in years. As a result we have recently looked at various manufacturers and distributors of office furniture. The wealth of styles and qualities available on the market today allow for a number of "cross-over" permutations. Clearly office furniture can be used in studies or home-offices, but many boardroom tables will serve as wonderful dining tables and a number of sheleving solutions could be ideal for media rooms and home cinemas. Have a look around. You might like to start with Matteo Grassi's leather topped meeting table or Tecno's uncompromising clean shapes and proportions.

LOSING THE INTERIOR DESIGN FORMULA: in the kitchen

2008-08-19T03:11:00.016Z

Interior design cyclically loses it's formula. And what inspiring times those are... Periods when high street and top end of the market designs all seem to strive for the same "look" are contrasted by phases during which interior design heads in multiple directions. The quest for the holy grail, a new and original union of practical and aesthetic concerns, is momentarily open on more fronts.

After a long period during which the UK looked to its European neighbours and actually saw them, the "minimalist formula" was found. Interior design in the 90s applied this formula at every opportunity. Over the last decade however British designers' confidence has grown. Furniture, fabrics, wall papers, just about all expressions of mainstream interior design appears to be searching for a new recipe. Lines are being softened, colour is embraced, pattern is no longer to be frowned upon, every expression of design is potentially acceptable.
This lack of an apparent formula does however confirm an underlying principle which is as valid for interior design today as ever before: the talented lead the way and manufacturers follow, albeit with a delay of a decade or two.
Take kitchen design: Johnny Grey has been producing kitchens like these for the last 3 decades or so. While the price tag falls miles outside the scope of most budgets the inspiration it provides is as cutting edge as it gets. The "soft geometry", the confident colour palette, the quirky references to familial comfort, this is the stuff that 2008/2009 interior design trends are made of!

REFURBISHMENT & RESTORATION: historical buildings in the centre of Rome

2008-06-05T14:28:00.009Z

In a city such as Rome a vast proportion of refurbishments take place within historical buildings. Obiously protected by conservation laws, these buildings are also safeguarded by the inborne love of historical detail present in most Italian architects. Interestingly, in Italian the words "refurbishment" and "restoration" have virtually idential meanings and there is a single translation for both terms: "restauro". The framework of each project is set by the historical value of the structure. This however in no way limits the immagination and capacity for experimentation of some young architects. While searching for a valid example of a small scale project to demostrate the work of young Roman architects I noticed this 60 sq m space developed into a studio by a young Roman architect, Carola Vannini. Here an old store space under the arches in Piazza Vittorio (in the area of Rome known as the Esquilino) has been restored with great understanding of past, present and world trends.

NO GLOBAL DESIGN: the italian connection

2008-06-05T00:29:00.004Z

Prof. Morlacchi's work could not be more Roman and less globalised. After decades teaching architecture and conservation techiniques at the universities of Rome, Chieti and Pescara, Prof. Morlacchi has printed some of her painstakingly accurate surveys of the historical centre of Rome (available in various formats from approx. 50cm to 150cm wide). The problem? If you want one of these prints you'll have to write in for the address, find your way through Villa Borghese, up and down a hill and through a small gate. There you'll find her at work under overloaded shelves of drawings, sketches and prints. But you never know.... you might be able to mail her the cash (credit cards and cheques strictly out of the question).

ID & ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINES: the Italian connection

2008-06-01T21:15:00.016Z

While in Italy I thought I'd read every interior design magazine I could get my hands on. In the UK mags are basically available in two flavours: standard (indipendent publications) and free (i.e. distributed as integral part of a daily newspaper on a particular day of the week/month). In Italy there is a third variety, the semi-free mag. My favourite is distributed with "La Repubblica", which costs slightly more on the last Saturday of the month. Presumeably this allows the publication not to be entirely reliant on advertising and advertorials. Other daily newspapers publish interior design inserts and for some reason these appear to me more informative and up to speed than some of the standard Italian i.d. publications. Have a look at Repubblica's Casa&Design and ATCasa by Rizzoli Corriere della Sera. On a slightly more radical level, and involving a bigger commitment both in terms of time and money, you might prefer to acquaint yourself with Domus, The architecture and interior design magazine founded by Gio' Point in 1928 (or their website, also available in English). Taschen recently published a 12 volume collection covering the Domus years between 1928 and 1999.

COLOURS AND SHAPES: confident interior design

2008-04-29T18:01:00.013Z

As new interior design trends emerge our level of confidence wains and, periodically, we tend to follow new, strict, unwritten rules. As we absorb and come to better understand new influences, we appear to gain the necessary confidence to break some of those rules. Over the last few years British interior design has become familiar with oriental influences, retro design, simplified structural detailing, subtler use of colour and overall cleaner lines. This new "language" of design has now become so familiar that many designers are attempting slightly richer combinations.

While leafing through an old copy of Architectural Digest (Italy, Jan 2008) I came across a photograph which illustrates this approach. Interestingly however, the project belongs to a design firm based in Brescia (Angelo Brignolli and Antonio Feraboli of Studio Linea) whose background, judging by their online portfolio, is very different to that of their UK counterparts. Most of their projects appear routed in the history of Italian architecture and furniture design and executed in conpemporary style. In the bedroom shown above the predominance of clean lines and good proportions allow the designers to play with colour and softened shapes. Ethnic influences are interpreted, not slavishly obeyed. The resulting elegance in no way forfeits comfort or warmth: an interesting example of contemporary UK design from Italian designers! There are obviously many routes one can follow to competent design...

BATHROOM DESIGN: practicalities vs aesthetics

2008-04-29T01:31:00.004Z

Bathroom design has changed dramatically in the UK over the last 20 years. Whereas the clean minimal look may not survive indefinitely, I doubt we will return to unhygienic fitted carpets or the “country” look any time soon. Most good decisions in interior design represent a compromise between being sensible and being fashion conscious. With bathroom design the sensible part of the equation lies with the choice of non-absorbent materials and uncluttered spaces, all of which area easier to keep clean. The fashion conscious portion of the equation relates primarily to shapes and sizes. There is in fact no other reasonable explanation as to why I can’t remember the last time I selected a 10x10cm ceramic tile, nor can I remember the last client who insisted on raised and fielded panels for their vanity unit doors. The sensible part of the equation, in this day and age, should involve us looking at waterproof membranes for shower enclosures (something which is far from standard in the UK). The fashion part involves our keeping track of the more subtle changes: basins for instance have gone from the square pedestal (with lethal pillar taps dispensing either scorching hot or freezing cold water) through the “free standing bowl phase” and onto the square look with “attitude”.
There are a number of buzz words in interior design. They change with time and depending on which part of the home you are addressing. One of those words is “wet room”. Everybody wants the wet room look and by that they mean the absence of a shower tray and a step onto the showering platform. Without getting too technical, it is clear to anybody who stops to think about it that a wet room is only possible if the shower’s waste pipe can be angled to guarantee efficient drainage. This, in many houses and flats, is simply not possible. Shower manufacturers have taken note of the demand and started producing a number of trays which try to guarantee both looks and efficiency. Not as easy as it sounds: shallower trays allow less overflow tolerance and less access for maintenance and inspections. As ever, a good compromise between practicalities and aesthetics is not easy to reach. Peter the contractor’s advice is: start by working out where your pipes need to be and how you will conceal them and then choose your sanitary ware and taps.
Practicalities however are not as much fun as design. So: have a look at the Duravit website for the latest on sanitary ware, Crosswater for taps, Hansgrohe for showers and CP Hart if you want to have a stroll through a virtual retail showroom.

FURNISHING AT STARK'S: lucite & the age of jazz

2008-04-09T01:02:00.008Z

Pick up a copy of Architectural Digest online if you have moment to spare. Stark's Manhattan's showroom must be worth a visit... especially so if you are inspired by the 30s and 40s and keen on Lucite!

FLOORBOARDS: to stain, oil or varnish?

2008-04-08T22:42:00.003Z

Wooden floors have become extremely popular. The trend moves towards ever wider boards, either engineered or solid. In terms of colour, light oak used to be all the rage until wenge became hugely trendy where furniture is concerned and the general taste in wooden floors followed suite, darkening. Even restricting one’s choices to oak, the old favourite, a number of important decisions remain to be made: namely colour and type of finish. Any type of wood can be tinted, darkening is easiest (through stains) while lightening can only be achieved through liming and similar procedures. My personal preference is to either select a wood I like in its natural state or to opt for a smoked finish. An oak onto which a very dark stain has been applied will reveal its original colour when scratched or dented and this will make the damage considerably harder to repair.
Once an exact shade has been agreed upon you will need to select a way of sealing it and protecting the board from traffic. The choice is between polyurethane varnishes and oils (or waxes). The first has to be applied by a specialist who will sand the entire floor and seal it with a number of coats. Ongoing maintenance of this type of finish is easier (just wash with a soft cloth) but damage cannot be rectified without the intervention of a professional who will once again sand the entire floor and re-varnish it. Oils and waxes require more maintenance (oil needs to be re-applied every few months during the first year and twice a year thereafter in my experience). However, oil is a much more forgiving finish. Should the floor become scratched or dented it is possible to lightly stain the scratch (I have successfully used boot polish in some instances) and re-seal it. Oiling a single floorboard is in fact possible and this, in cases of minor damage, is a much more viable solution.
The bottom line is that there is no bottom line with wooden floor finishes. As with most interior design related issues the decision should be made on the basis of how the property will be used. With a rental property for instance I would
- avoid a brushed finish (as the roughness imparted to the board through brushing would be removed by the sanding machine during maintenance work),
- select an oiled finish for short lets (so as to avoid costly maintenance every few months), avoid a limed finish, which shows “traffic tracks” in the most used areas.
As ever, a list of your top priorities needs to be your starting point. Gain some knowledge of products available and find the best compromise between the benefits and drawbacks that come with them. I can’t stop saying it: interior design is as much the art of excellence as it is of compromise!

SASH WINDOWS: sound insulation possible?

2008-04-07T23:20:00.004Z

If traditional sash windows are the only barrier between us and London traffic we might be able to tackle the problem simply by improving or installing draught seals. As well as draughts, these seals also reduce airborne noises which find their way through the smallest and least noticeable gap.
If the problem persists one might be tempted to consider secondary glazing. Effective as this solution may be, the “aesthetic” compromises it implies often mean it is not a viable solution. If secondary glazing is not an option the sash window glazing needs to be addressed. This will need to be upgraded to a “sealed unit”, i.e. two sheets of glass sealed on all fours sides and installed, in the case of sash windows, within the sash bars. One of the sheets of glass used is often an acoustic glass. There are many types of acoustic glass, available in various thicknesses (4.4mm to 12.8mm in terms of window glazing) and designed to control various levels and types of noise. Developed and tested by the larger glass manufacturers (e.g. Pilkington Glass) the results are often not as impressive in real life situations as they may be on paper. Noise travels in waves on varying frequencies. Sound insulating materials attempt to control noise by disrupting the flow of these waves. Every time the wave passes through a barrier it is diminished and the shape of the wave is altered. Acoustic (laminated) glass is comprised of 2 or more layers, laminated together with a special film separating the layers. As the sound wave passes through each layer it is diminished: the thicker the sheet the more effective in breaking down the sound.
Here comes the inevitable compromise: as the glass gets thicker it also becomes heavier and so the weights used to raise the traditional box sash window will have to be increased accordingly. More weights will result in less room to move within the box itself and the window will therefore become less functional: the weights will have nowhere to slide and one of the sashes will effectively become fixed.
The “art” of compromise is therefore based on understanding. Sound insulation is probably best achieved via well fitted windows with good draught strips, laminated safety glass 4.4mm or 6.4 mm thick may not be quite as acoustically efficient as the best specialist glass but, at a fraction of the price, it will dramatically assist in an overall noise reduction plan.

PAINT: not as easy as it sounds

2008-04-04T18:38:00.009Z

Over the last decade paint has become the finish of choice for most designers. "Off-white" has become the password when it comes to decorating. The market has moulded itself around the increase in demand and every manufacturer has created extensive ranges of lightly saturated colours. As the collective preference for lighter colours developed so did the "designer paint" market. A three tier market seems to be the result. Purely based on price, paints seem to fall into three broad categories: standard, designer and specialist. Nothing strange there. What might be surprising is how difficult it can be to select an off-white, even an extremely white off white! That's where I find quality pays off. You can spend a fortune, both in money and time, going backwards and forwards collecting samples and applying them to the wall. You can spend even more time finding out that the colour may be exactly what you wanted but the texture and lasting qualities of the paint you purchased are not up to scratch. That's when you might discover that there is a place and price worth paying for good paint and, above all, expert advice. After searching high and low for an off-white which wouldn't err on the side of pink or yellow, I discovered the expert advice of Papers & Paints. If you live outside London I am sure there must be an "old-fashioned" advice based paint specialist near you. In shops such as these you may be paying extra per gallon but if you ask the right questions you’ll be given the answers you need. I am not sure what it is in the actual makeup of paint but the best manufacturers certainly seem to succeed in avoiding crude and cheap-looking colours. Even where the more vivid hues are concerned a certain elegance is present in most colours of most top-end of the market paint collections. Is it the raw materials? Is it the research behind the formulas? While many paint shops maintain they can "scan and mix" any colour by any manufacturer in their own paint (i.e. using the paint they sell) I wouldn't bank on it looking like the “original”. There will be exceptions but think of how the same concept works in the world of fashion… There is a place for the imitation and one for the original. My standard recommendations from Papers & Paints never disappoint (see samples and application - above).

DOORS & WINDOWS: back to basics

2008-03-12T22:59:00.026Z

Successful interior design needs to be based on the "skin and bones" of a house. The structure, fixtures and fittings are often left unquestioned. These subconsciously but immediately inform our initial perception of our surroundings. On a more practical level, a hollow poorly fitted door provides little sound insulation just as an inexpensive or badly maintained window causes the same problem as well as allowing heat loss.
I work mainly on listed buildings and properties within conservation areas where the replacement of windows usually has to be implemented on a strictly like-for-like basis (i.e. timber for timber, sash for sash, with allowances made for modern sealed glazing units). There are many firms out there offering the benefits of sealed glazed units applied to traditional timber window designs. Having spotted their "conservation range" I recently contacted Mumford & Wood who are assisting me with the planned replacement of Georgian style sash windows. I will post once "before & after" comparisons are available.

Where doors are concerned there is often more scope for choice as the rules are somewhat less stringent (in non-listed buildings of course). In an ideal world no expense would be spared. If the budget allows for this I would not hesitate in contacting Longden whose doors grace many of the top developments in central London.
Should the budget only stretch as far as an improvement, I would at least consider solid paneled doors, oak if possible (in spite of the tradition for pine where painted doors are being specified). As always, when savings have to be made, one's understanding of doors will be tested far more than it would be if the made-to-measure route were an option:
1. the sizes of existing door openings will dictate whether standard sizes will fit;
2. some doors will more than likely have to be fire rated and sourcing these to match the style of the non rated doors is not quite as easy as it sounds;
3. as a result a combination of made-to-measure and standard sizes often ends up being the only possible way forward.

So what do all these different types of doors cost?
One shortcut to the answer is provided by this table available on the GreenSpec web site. The purpose of the table is to assess the cost of each type of door and its maintenance over a 60 year period and therefore needs to beread with its scope in mind. The background research provides however, at the time of writing, a good indication of how much each door will cost you (although fitting and decorating costs have probably undoubtedly increased since).

LARGE FLAT SCREEN TV: an alternative to monopolizing living rooms

2008-02-27T18:36:00.009Z

Many of us feel slightly uncomfortable at the thought of a "loads of inches" plasma/LCD TV as the focal point of our living room. Even more so when it usurps the very spot traditionally reserved to one's favourite mirror or painting, above the fireplace.
At the cost of sounding like a broken record, interior design is - among other things - the art of compromise. The clever people at AUTON in California provide us with just the compromise for our TV conundrum. Want a big screen and have nowhere to put it other than above the fireplace BUT don't want a plasma taking over your living room? Hide it! say the people at Auton. Other companies have reached that conclusion in the past and effective mirror fronts have been created for the purpose. This solution however looks at home in an up market bathroom or in a high tech office. In a living room a painting or a large photograph may look more at home. This can be achieved with a completely custom made solution but, as of 2006, Auton's Shadow Trak and the In-vis-o-trak provide a much cleaner solution. Ask your designer to contact Auton direct (as they have no distributors in the UK at the time of writing). Also, ensure your building contractor has been correctly instructed as to how to prepare the wall or chimney breast on which the track will be fitted.

VINTAGE LEATHER ARMCHAIR: one of the "musts"

2007-08-20T00:43:00.002Z

Trendy as they may be, vintage leather armchairs need to be comfortable. Open the debate: do we sacrifice looks in the name of comfort (i.e. go for a reproduction) or do we make no concession to our nether regions and stick with the weathered and sleek look of an original early 20th cent. specimen (ideally a vintage Vanity Fair armchair by Potrona Frau)?

As always, there are added complications: repro is not only a concept to be avoided at all costs but it often fails to guarantee the very comfort in the name of which we sacrificed our design integrity!

Lets look at some figures to better understand the options available. At the time of writing the cheapest repro (top picture) could be bought for approx. £300 on the internet. Poltrona Frau were selling their Vanity Fair (new, as shown above in red) for ten times as much. I doubt a good vintage specimen of the Vanity Fair would cost any less. Time seems to have failed to alter the design as well as the price tag of this classic.

On that basis the sensible solution seems to be, as always, the most time consuming: finding an importer of French originals who is willing to work with you on therestoration process. Hopefully this will ensure the chair is re-sprung and restored where necessary and a gorgeous leather can be chosen if complete re-upholstery is required. Interior design: the art of seemless compromise...

Note: if money and time are no object you know what to do.

EISENSTAEDT'S PHOTOGRAPHY AT MICAHEL HOPPEN'S GALLERY (ended 1/8/07)

2007-07-27T17:56:00.001Z

We nearly missed it! If black and white photography of the first half of the 20th century is your thing.... you might want to stroll down to Michael Hoppen's gallery on the Kings Road. Margaret Bourke-White aside.... Alfred Eisenstaed has got to be one of the best American photographers of the period. Get all the necessary info at http://www.michaelhoppengallery.com/

CONSERVATION: hurdles and concepts

2007-07-12T22:49:00.001Z

Listed buildings, houses within a conservation area: issues one deals with repeatedly specially when working in central London. However, at least in my case, it is true to say that one is often guilty of not addressing the "concept", simply aiming at the "result". For some reason, a Chelsea mock-Georgian house has allowed me the time to notice my shallow approach. I've been trawling the internet and talking to people about the whole idea of conservation boundaries. Picket fences around buildings deemed to be of note (often by non-specialised professionals who possibly are unsure about exactly.... which note). Electric fences around sections of somebody's home which, therefore, they only partially own. More like a person whose destiny one can never totally control, than like a house - a material possession which can be moulded around wishes and made to conform to our plans.
An article* by Julian Holder points out how distinctly anthropomorphic are most of the concepts applied to buildings by conservation enthusiasts. "Can a building really be 'compromised', its 'integrity' questioned, its 'character' altered?" He adds that "to accept the[se] concepts ensures that all the participants are already treating buildings as people, as living breathing beings, whose fate we care about, and not simply as bricks and lime mortar. At its best it is a linguistic slight of hand....... At its worst it is a transparently bullying misappropriation which fails to impress the hard headed and leaves conservation looking distinctly amateur".
I must confess that the house which started this whole thought process is, indeed, one of those houses one would describe as "honest". Clearly not in the human sense of the word; more so to describe its simple declaration of intents. My view is that remaining identical to oneself is not necessarily the ideal state for man-kind. I therefore doubt this can be ideal for a utilitarian, perfectly coherent, teen ager (if house years are worth half as much as dog years) of a residential property.

* The Building Conservation Directory 2001 http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/pdf_concept/concept.pdf
General descriptions: listed building and conservation area. http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/conplng/conplng.htm

PROPERTY MARKET: conditio sine qua non of interior design

2007-06-12T22:50:00.003Z

This might not be an interior design link as such but, then again, most people obsessed with interior design are also interested in the property market. After all... you've got to buy it before you can decorate it! So, if you want to be up to speed with property related news and gossip, you might do a lot worse than starting right here: http://theratandmouse.co.uk/

LIGHTING DESIGN: an afterthought?

2007-06-05T01:19:00.001Z

Often the afterthought, lighting still appears to be low down on the list of most home owners. Interior designers stress the importance of lighting design, clients agree but often struggle to pay anything more than... lip service to the idea.
London lighting retailers recently seem to have taken a different approach to the issue. As the likes of Mr Resistor start offering lighting consultancy services the high street finally makes room for light planning as well as the lamp selling. Specialised lighting consultancy used to be limited to projects with extremely healthy budgets. Naturally this raises the question of unbiased advice. Clearly, as fixed fees and hourly rates become more competitive, specifying becomes crucial. It is hardly surprising that some retailers - now consultants - will be specifying more or less exclusively from the manufacturers and ranges they stock. Nothing wrong with that if the products are worthy of the price tag!
As a clearer understanding of the subject emerges, as simple yet rational light layering becomes standard, as the function of each light source becomes more clearly defined .... only a select few lamps will be required to be decorative objects in our homes and more will be able to aim for excellence.

GORMLEY AND EXTERIOR DESIGN

2007-06-01T00:39:00.002Z

As Antony Gormley's wonderul figures stood on the rooftops gazing at us gazing at them from the Southbank's terraces earlier today... some serious design cross pollination took place. I found myself thinking how important the exterior of one building is to the interior of another. To some extent what goes on outside our windows is as important as what goes on inside. The outside of the house opposite ours is possibly more important to us than it is to its owners. Whether we like it or not we are all responsible for each other's aesthetic pleasures and traumas when it comes to rooms with a view. A call for "considerate design" for those planning roof terraces, balconies and window boxes? Just one of the many contagious thoughts provoked by Gormley's interesting BLIND LIGHT exhibition on at the Hayward Gallery until August 19th. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/gormley/

ARTS & CRAFTS TRAIL AT MGM 2007

2007-05-25T01:41:00.001Z

While trawling the web for a client in search of Arts & Crafts resources I came across
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/london/trails/TRA46697.html?ixsid=mPpBLLUG5R5
MP3s also available for those preferring to set upon their trail with earphones rather than clutching a printout.

PETER JONES' BUYERS

2007-05-25T00:41:00.001Z

"Never knowingly undersold". PJ has been reassuring us with their price matching and their excellent warranties for decades. SW London inhabitants invariably elect to pay that little bit extra for the sake of that warranty. The extra money PJ makes from all those yummy mummies must go towards recruiting A1 buyers. It's only logic, as that in turn will keep PJ from loosing a fortune honouring those guarantees. Hence... the overall highly respectable quality of stock. When making a decision on a kitchen appliance or on hi-fi I must confess to often double-checking my conclusion against the PJ buyers'. Chances are they bypassed products with known technical or delivery issues. Chances also are that they have a lot more inside info than I do!
This time however it's worked the other way round. I spotted this lot years and years ago. I have admired Turnstyle Designs since they first appeared on the market http://www.turnstyledesigns.co.uk/ All I will say is that I have been able to use their door handles, drawer and light pulls and much more in every style of home. Quality is always extremely versatile. PJ buyer obviously thought so too....

DECKING - MORE GARDENING!

2007-05-23T16:00:00.001Z

Two people asked me about top end of the market garden decking this week. I don't actually do gardens but I asked a man who does. Adam at http://www.bls1.co.uk/ gave me the bottom line.
1. Hardwood v. softwood: hardwood seems to be an allround winner, with the only possible exception of Cedar (which Adam says looks better in rustic/country environments).
2. Grooved v. flat: although the arguement originally was that grooves allow better drainage of rain water, Adam's take is that the grooves reduce the amount of foot grip and may therefore be more slippery; grooves also tend to collect dirt making it harder to clean the deck.
3. Types of hardwood: it's no conincidence that teak is mostly used on boats. Iroko and Greenheart were also mentioned. Clearly, the higher the content of oil the more durable the wood when exposed to the elements.
4. Reccomendations: great preparation prior to laying the deck will ensure lack of movement and absence of weed re-growth.

N.B. This is all fairly expensive stuff. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the trated softwoods and, somewhere in the middle, Ipe, Massaranduba, etc.

CHELSEA FLOWER . . . RICKSHAW 2007

2007-05-22T23:44:00.001Z

True Chelsea residents are divided in two categories when it comes to the Chelsea Flower Show: those who put up with the week of confusion because they are garden enthusiasts (and will attend) and those who passively support the Spring fixture (but won't attend). Scenes of evening mass exodus await us: something vaguely resembling anarchy creeps onto SW3 pavements. This year the scramble has an eco-twist: the rickshaw. Wonderfully British vignettes were enjoyed by all on Royal Hospital Road around 8pm this evening (pictures record beautifully English fashions statements). "What about the gardens?" you may ask... They have been accurately and repeatedly documented by terrestrial TV, Freeview, Sky, radio, websites, podcasts and all kinds of publications. But.... maybe you live outside the little tringle squeezed between the Thames, Chelsea and Pimlico!? I guess you might, so here is the BBC link to most of the above: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/flower_shows/chelsea_2007/videopodcast_index.shtml

GARDEN DESIGN WEBSITE

2007-05-22T12:13:00.001Z

Everybody takes up tennis during Wimbledon just as we all go shopping for plants when the Flower Show is on. Well...it's on! It might be an idea to let the professionals lead the way. Even if you are only looking for inspiration you'll enjoy a wander through this site
http://www.mylandscapes.co.uk/

DOES MY BUM LOOK BIG IN THIS? What happens when a house asks you?

2007-05-22T00:33:00.000Z

You've had your first meeting with the client. The house is nice, you could do something really special with it. The budget is there, at least potentially - you're only guessing at this stage, and you would really like to do the work. Edwina (you though she was a man when she signed the initial email "Ed") is telling you how much she looks forward to working with you and then, just as you are leaving, she drops the bombshell. "Is there anything in the house you think we should get rid of? Please do tell me if you think any of my furniture would not fit in with our plan...".
You go into automatic pilot and say that you need to think it all over: you'll get back to her. As you are driving home you have your first out of body experience. Yes! The tightness in your stomach, the cold sweat, surely these belong in another body. Maybe to a rabbit caught by the headlights of a speeding Range Rover or to an inexperienced young man whose first girlfriend asks for the second* time "does my bum look big in this"?
You've asked that same question yourself many times. This feels like nemesis: serves you right! Now what do you do?
You know perfectly well that 90% of the contents of Edwina's home have got to go. You know perfectly well that if they don't she is better off not hiring you as there is nothing you could possibly do to make the house look smart. BUT IS TELLING HER
a) right for her (she really did want to know... that's why she asked) but wrong for you (the whole job is riding on this answer and you must stop being your own worst enemy)?
b) right for her (she gets an honest and unbiased opinion) and right for you (you've given yourself a fair chance, an opportunity to do a good job: if she backs off because of your integrity it simply was not meant to be)?
c) wrong for her (she only wants to know truths within budget, her question was relative not absolute!) and wrong for you (being a good designer is not only about being creative but also about being professional: that also means giving clients what they want and not necessarily what you know to be best)?
d) wrong for her (she does not need to be pushed into questioning the last 20 years worth of taste and furnishing decisions) and right for you (the time has come for you to decide whether you are a contracts manager or a designer: if you are the latter then good design is the one thng if you cannot do without).

Seriously... Have you ever asked the question and did you want the honest answer? I'm referring to the houses's bum... not yours. We both know you asked that question and I think we know what you did NOT want to by answered.

* The first time Inexperienced Guy answered the question truthfully. No churning feeling preceeded his reply, just a week of no sex. This time he knows: the DMBLBIT question leads to unavoidable churning, whether higher or lower, minutes long or days long.

KICKSTARTING A BLOG

2007-05-21T23:55:00.000Z

Blogs blogs blogs. Funny ones, useless ones, celebrity ones. Every shape and size of blog is now online. Since turning the first virtual page of this blog a couple of years ago I have been wondering whether the world really needs another bLOG. The answer, clearly, is NO! But then again... the world doesn't need another Prada collection or another series of Lost and yet... we want more. Far from lining myself up with such pilasters of modern life, I do however think that some of my long suffering clients and a few of my friends might enjoy dipping in (and probably swiftly out) of the evening musings of a London interior designer.

P.P.I.

2005-01-26T22:16:00.001Z

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ppidesign/
Archive images from PPI Project Library