Welcome to The Art Of Design
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Antony Holter

  • KLAFS at Guncast: Setting the Standard for Saunas

    Bringing innovation and elegance to the booming UK health and wellbeing industry, KLAFS at Guncast provides market-leading sauna solutions to those looking for the ultimate spa experience.

    From traditional log designs to modernist glass structures, KLAFS at Guncast offers almost 20 different sauna designs, each made to measure and entirely customisable, creating truly unique and personalised spa settings ideal for the home, hotel or exclusive development. Continue Reading

  • New Designs, Top 5 Favourite Collections

    The Collections bring audacity, privilege, and strong statements. Selected materials, luxurious finishes along with Swarovski crystals create a pure blend of opulence, grandeur and sophistication. These lighting fixtures give a stunning golden gleam to the space, enhanced by the exquisite charm of their elegant designs. The lighting treasure concept celebrates a creative and stylish manner of avant-garde lighting spirit.

    Continue Reading

  • The Auction House

    Kelly Hoppen MBE’s 9,000 square feet home in London is an homage to her talent as one of the most celebrated interior designers of our time. Having taken one year and 3 months to complete, this ancient auction house boasts six bedrooms and bathrooms, walk- in wardrobes, a study, a gym, underground parking, a laundry and flower room and a large open-plan high ceiling living/dining/kitchen space, along with a breakfast area.

    Kelly Hoppen designed her new home in her signature style, using her neutral colour palette of taupe, whites, beiges and greys, complimented by beautiful pops of green, bronze, nickel and rose gold. The designer’s love for texture is obvious, enriching and adding a new dimension to the space.

    As you enter into each room of the stunning property, you are captivated by its elegance, softness, extraordinary art collection and fantastic views. Each area is as inviting and intriguing as the next, imbued with luxury whilst remaining true to Kelly’s laid back lifestyle.

    Iconic and vintage furniture can be seen throughout as well as bespoke pieces designed by Kelly Hoppen herself. In fact, the ambitious project is a true picture of the British designer’s famously sought after style. Kelly’s design philosophy has always been to create timeless and understated elegance whilst fusing the eastern principles of simplicity and the western taste for sumptuous textures and luxurious finishes.

    Situated in a residential area in London, the property was a dream of Kelly’s, which finally became a reality. The ancient auction house was a blank canvas for the designer whose starting points were the impressive columns that are the core of the structure, linking the vast panels and staircase in the main space. Kelly Hoppen elegantly plays with texture and material, mixing different shades of wood and metals, something which is very characteristic of her world renowned style and the basis of the entire project.

    The bespoke light in my entrance hall is the result of a discussion with Herve Langlais and Galerie Negropontes at PAD London. It is a great addition to the entrance and draws beautiful vertical lines that emphasize the height of the ceiling. The soft curves of the metal around the delicate round paper shades are to me, the perfect balance.

    The area is tastefully accessorised and decorated with flowers and black and white photographs. Kelly found the round mirror at Les Puces flea market in Paris. It was originally found in a train station in Eastern Europe, on the side of the railway. A striking image of Marilyn Monroe from the Michael Hoppen Gallery hangs in the entrance hall as well as an imposing photo of Mohamed Ali. These are part of Kelly’s art collection that she has been gathering over the years. It is very special to her. I used up-lighting for the sleek stairs that lead you to the main open- plan living area, adding to the elegance of the space.

    The long marble ledge that starts from the entrance steps, runs against the wall all the way to the study located on the other side of the living area. This creates a continuity within the space and is a stunning architectural feature. Kelly also use this to display pieces she has collected during my travels, Kelly’s home jewellery and her artwork, which is easily interchangeable depending on my mood and the season.

    Kelly has seductively designed the living room with stunning wooden floors. These shade of the floorboards took 6 months to perfect, finally obtaining the perfect tone. The main idea behind the design of this space was the designer’s love of hosting.

    Wooden arches were added to the impressive pre-existing columns, lighting up and adding monumentality to the space. The pendant lights above the seating area and dining table were lowered to balance out the space. Indeed, balance was extremely important to bear in mind when designing this area of The Auction House due to its vastness and open-plan nature.

    The bespoke lighting has the capability to dramatically and softly light up the room, suiting all moods and ambiances. The stunning bubble lights above the seating area are designed by Kelly and stand in stark contrast to the straight lines of the lights above the dining table, yet they do not clash. The glass bubbles are almost floating and add to the balance of the main space.

    The golden disk floor lamp is a sculpture called the Ribot lamp by DeCastelli. Kelly designed the sofas and armchairs of the living room and some of the pieces are from her own range. The Le Corbusier armchair upholstered in linen is just the right mix of natural materials and modernist design.

     

  • DOMINIC HARRIS

    Dominic Harris is an artist who uses technology to construct highly personal interpretations of the natural phenomena which surround us. His reverence for nature coupled with his fascination for code offers a surreal and whimsical take on reality, which ultimately challenges our own perception of the world around us. His responses – aesthetic yet playful – conceal a carefully observed commentary on the digitisation of our daily experiences, which play upon both our emotions and our relationship with technology-fuelled 21st century pop culture. Continue Reading

  • Let there be light

    Sadly, the days are getting shorter and we will soon have to put on the lights earlier. Now is a good time to think about the lighting in your home. Lighting is so important for creating just the right atmosphere and there is so much to choose from. Pendants, floor lamps, table lamps, wall lamps and of course lights to work from. Continue Reading

  • OPULENT FRENCH APARTMENT

    Before Cochet Pais’s incredible work, this opulent French apartment was all set in just one floor, with a surface of 150 m2. The project consists of the elevation of the building, to create an additional floor, transforming the luxury residence into a 250 m2 duplex facing the port of Cannes. The construction, remodeling, and decoration were done over 2 years. The family-owned design studio created by Yannick Cochet and Gregory Païs has developed this amazing French apartment overlooking the port of Cannes and Boca do Lobo had be in the heart of this amazing interior design project. Continue Reading

  • Nottingham House by Alexander James Interiors

    Winner of Best Interior Design for A Private Residence in the South East of England – UK Property Awards 2018/19.

    THE STORY…

    The owners approached Alexander James Interiors because of our well-respected reputation in the Home Counties, and because of our complete design service, incorporating all of the services that they required for their project. This included interior architecture, space planning, specification, soft interiors and furnishing, and even the accessories. We have transformed what could have been a cold and lifeless property into a contemporary family home bursting with colour, texture, pattern, and personality. Continue Reading

  • 2020 FABRIC TRENDS

    With a catalogue of classic and contemporary designs, Cheshire-based Arley House looks to 2020 as it prepares to launch its next collection of fabrics. Head of Brand, Louisa Tratalos, takes us through the new year’s biggest trends, set to rock the fabric of our interiors. Continue Reading

  • SBID appoints Tom Marquardt as new SBID President

    The Society of British & International Design (SBID) has appointed Tom Marquardt as the new SBID president for a 12-month term following his two years induction as Vice President.Tom replaces Diana Celella who succeeded SBID’s Founding President, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE.

    Director of Interiors and Former Vice President of HOK global interiors, Tom Marquart will undertake his new position of President from 2nd October 2019. As an internationally respected leader, Tom’s innovative work with interior’s, interdisciplinary design and branded environments have been recognised for over 30 years.

    Discussing the new position Tom stated

    “I am honoured to be appointed by the SBID Executive Board. My role will include championing industry improvements, design and thought leadership with the organisation to further the vision of SBID in raising standards of the design profession across the world. This is a crowning career role for me, and I will work hard to use this platform to continue to contribute to the success of the industry in the coming months and years”.

     

    To find out more, visit www.sbid.org

  • Oxshott Oasis

    When undertaking a complete renovation of this much-loved detached family residence, Hill House considered the degree to which the building and its gardens may be changed to serve a family who were now all grown up, whilst retaining its character. Continue Reading