Walk In Wardrobes: How To Get Them Right
Have you always wanted a walk in wardrobe? A space that is beautifully designed with you in mind? A dedicated area that will house all your clothes and accessories? Installing a walk in wardrobe beings many benefits to your home and can transform your lifestyle. As a team, we ensure that our design projects use space as effectively as possible, and that they are tailored to your needs and your desires. There are certain decisions to make, along with the help of your interior stylist, when planning your walk in wardrobe: (more…)
Clerkenwell Design Week 2016
Once again the Clerkenwell Design Week was incredible, justifying its claim to be the UK’s most popular independent design festival. It gets larger and better every year – 35,414 visitors attended in 2015, but it seems that 2016 attracted even more visitors. Visitors and exhibitors convene from all over the world to exchange inspiration and witness the latest design trends. Running between 24th and 26th May, the exhibition displayed the best in design from furniture to cars, and an array of other products. Many, many brands showcased their latest designs at the Clerkenwell Design Week 2016, which comprised showroom events, exhibitions, live talks, workshops and installations. Our interior design services are enhanced by the inspiring things we see, and hear, at events like this. Here are a few of our favourite finds:
KUFCakes, ornamental cake sculptures by all round-creative Kia Utzon-Frank.
Giles Miller Studio. Made using British Ceramic Tiles transfixing waves with identical small-square tiles. The effect is mesmerising.
Geometric ‘Gemma’ sofa range by Daniel Libeskind. This feature sofa perfects the contemporary look of this room, showcasing the best of experimental design.
‘The Church’ – a collaboration between Tom Dixon and Andrew Baughen. The unusual lighting makes this room truly unique.
Tom Dixons product in a 17th century church. We love the contrast between the traditional and the modern.
Yenchenyawen design studio’s ‘Landscape of Oxidation’, exploring the different results of copper patination and iron oxidation of jesmonite, inspired by the Japanese pottery restoration technique of ‘kintsugi,’ using gold to mend them together and create a new style.
The diverse talents on show at the Clerkenwell Design Week 2016 was nothing short of breathtaking. This pays homage to the city of London as being one of the design capitals of the world.
As interior designers in London, our services need to be dynamic and adaptable. Viewing the latest interior architectural trends enables us to stay imaginative with our work. Please contact our dedicated team to discuss the design possibilities for your residential or commercial space.
Storing Fine Wine: We Interview Paul from Wine by Design
In the ever-evolving world of interior architecture it is important to be versatile in your approach; maximising the potential of your space is best achieved by being inventive. Catering for a client’s needs and exceeding expectations are two of our most important aims that we bear in mind whenever we undertake a project. While luxury interior design in London is often impeded by space constraints, certain features, or whole rooms, can be added on to existing space to increase the value and style of your home. When we were approached to completely renovate a spacious Kensington House, our imaginative and dynamic approach to design enabled us to integrate an array of stylish features, one of which was a sophisticated wine cellar. Fast becoming staples of luxury properties, wine cellars represent the ultimate in luxury living. We see wine cellars as a chic addition that can improve the charm of any home.
We spoke to Paul van Maaren from Wine by Design, a trusted partner of Callender Howorth, to find out more about the advantages of storing fine wine. Discover the benefits of converting your basement into a sophisticated wine cellar:
Why Store wine?
The reality is that nine out of ten bottles of wine bought are probably consumed within days of purchase. Perhaps the percentage is 95 out of 100. Nothing wrong with that. Most wines are designed to be enjoyed within a year or two of the vintage.
Which wines age well?
The principal international red grape varieties which age successfully are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah/
The ageing process in the bottle
Red grapes for keeping wines, with the exception of pinot noir, have naturally high concentration of phenols; anthocyanins (the colouring matter found just under the grapes’ skins) and tannins(the mouth puckering dry ingredient found also in skins and pips and the wood in which wine is aged.)
These ingredients help keep the wine fresh, but during ageing tannins gradually soften (they ‘polymerise’ or form larger chemical entities) and the colour changes from bluish red via ruby, mahogany to finally becoming pale and brown.
More importantly, during the process the primary aromas of fresh fruit develop more complicated and persistent secondary and tertiary aromas. The bouquet and flavour of fine mature wine have many nuances and layers of complexity that make it worth the wait.
When is the right time to drink?
This depends on the original quality of the wine (the potential of the vineyard); the vintage (lighter years mature more quickly); the storage (a dark place and a steady coolish temperature of 13ºC or so help; see below); and even the size of the bottle (half bottles age faster than full bottles or magnums).
The right age depends too on personal taste, whether you prefer the accent to be on primary fruit or you look for the added complexity that comes with age. Taking the above into consideration, some wines can age effortless for 60 years plus whilst other peak at 5-20 years.
Why wait?
As with other good things in life, pleasure may be enhanced by taking a little trouble and savouring the moment in advance. Discussing, selecting, anticipating a bottle before you drink it can simply be a sensible way of making the most of your purchase. It is part of the magic and fun. Quite simply, good wine that its designed to age gets better the older it gets.
The best way to age wine
The best way to age wine is in temperature and humidity controlled cellars.
If you are interested in installing a wine cellar to improve your home, contact our friendly team. We will assist you in all aspects of interior design.
Reflecting on Salone del Mobile 2016 in Milan
The biggest names in furniture design descended upon Milan for the 54th Salone Internazionale del Mobile. The annual Milan Furniture Fair showcases the latest innovations in international furniture and design from the very best luxury interior designers. The event took place on 12th-17th April 2016 and encompassed everything from lighting to specialist home furnishings. This year, Salone del Mobile celebrated the biennial Eurocucina exhibition with 120 international brands who displayed their quality kitchen products spread out over 23,000 square metres. It also dedicated time to emerging talent under the age of 35-years-old who exhibited their work at the 19th edition of Satellite, a popular secondary exhibit.
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The week-long event is really the place to be for interior architects and design enthusiasts. From offsite events and installations to product presentations and launches, Salone del Mobile does not disappoint. We’ve selected a few of our favorite pieces that were exhibited at the 2016 trade fair.
1.The Shoe Tree – Beatrix Ong and Samuel Chan
Wallpaper* magazine’s ‘Handmade’ exhibition is always one of the fair’s highlights. This year, British shoe designer Beatrix Ong MBE and Samuel Chan, founder of the artisan collective Joined and Jointed, collaborated to bring the ‘Shoe Tree’ to Milan. It’s a moveable and flexible tower of American black walnut shoeboxes which tackles the problem of shoe storage in an aesthetically pleasing way. The Shoe Tree comprise 15 shoe boxes that rise upwards with each box containing a small window so you can glimpse the shoes inside. Samuel Chan commented that “Boxes are intriguing; they hold surprises and invite discovery. They are also useful…Beatrix wanted to express this combination of intrigue and utility.”
2. “Reality or Illusion?” – Foscarini
Lighting brand Foscarini are always innovative and stylish and this year they brought more food for thought to the Salone del Mobile. Enlisting designer/architect Ferruccio Laviani to experiment with size and scale in a graphic world, the team created colourful illusions aided by oversized Foscarini lamps. It was a real ‘Alice in Wonderland’ experience.
3. The Butler – David Chipperfield
Another interesting design from the Wallpaper* Handmade section was David Chipperfield Architects contribution to this year’s theme of ‘Travel’. It was designed to deal with the reality of unpacking in hotels. David Chipperfield described his inspiration: “Most hotels have badly designed wardrobes and cupboards. They are not well organised and unpacking your suitcase is not enjoyable. The idea of Butler was to design a ‘dressing table’ that makes unpacking in a hotel room a joy.” His team collaborated with furniture-makers e15 and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) to use American willow in creating the bespoke piece of furniture that makes unpacking enjoyable and convenient.
4. Run Tables – Emeco
In these space-deprived and community-oriented times, people often share the same surfaces for different activities. With this in mind, London studio Industrial Facility created an aluminium and ash table, bench and shelf system for American brand Emeco. The design was based on communal space, and Industrial Facility’s co-founder Sam Hecht described his inspiration, “The way we use tables is changing; we could be having a conversation or a meal and someone could be sat next to us working on their laptop, and we wouldn’t feel it’s weird.” The collection comprises a shelving unit, a table and a bench, which feature plank-like surfaces available in either anodised aluminium or three types of wood.
This year’s Salone del Mobile was one of the most successful yet and there was plenty of inspiration available to interior architects and designers. Contact Callender Howorth to discuss your interior design requirements.
Images courtesy of Salone Milano.
Supplier of the Month: SLS Builders
At Callender Howorth we take great pride in working with the best partners available for each project we take on. Knowing how to put together the right team to bring a property to life is a skill in itself and something that takes all the experience and expert knowledge of our staff. Specialist high-end refurbishment firm, SLS Builders Limited, has proved to be a valuable asset to our luxury interior designers in recent projects.
Supplier of the Month: MAUGER
MAUGER is a contemporary gallery and art consultancy based in London UK, operated by two directors: Richard and Dan Mauger. The brothers have over 20 years of experience in the art world, advising collectors and developing strong connections with art networks, other commercial galleries and specialist dealers.
During this time, they have been in a position to foster relationships with a wide variety of international artists, from painters to photographers, street artists to video artists.
The gallery started in the historic city of Bath, and then, as the number of London based clients increased, a move to London was a logical progression. Over the past 8 years, the gallery has had a strong global presence on the art fair circuit.
Art fairs are for many contemporary galleries an essential part of the gallery’s annual rostra of events – they work on many levels, from exposing artists work to a completely new audience, to the ability to meet up with loyal collectors who follow the gallery keenly, and also to introduce new collectors to the artists on show. The choice of works and the curatorial decisions in the booth all expose the creative direction of the directors minds. Well aware of the importance of the art fair system, the directors attended as many as possible, sometimes showing at 8 or 9 fairs per year and traveled all over the world, from London to Delhi, Miami to Seoul, New York to Barcelona.
Art fairs are for many contemporary galleries an essential part of the gallery’s annual rostra of events – they work on many levels, from exposing artists work to a completely new audience, to the ability to meet up with loyal collectors who follow the gallery keenly, and also to introduce new collectors to the artists on show. The choice of works and the curatorial decisions in the booth all expose the creative direction of the directors minds. Well aware of the importance of the art fair system, the gallery attended 8 – 10 international fairs per year, from London to Delhi, Miami to Seoul, New York to Barcelona.
In addition to art fairs and shows MAUGER collaborates with leading interior designers, curators, companies and brands to create bespoke shows and installations. In the spring of 2014 MAUGER worked with McLaren to turn their LA Beverly Hills showroom into a gallery space, managing the attendance of over six thousand people and orchestrating the VIP special preview evening, A-list attendees included Matthew McConaughey, Jay Leno, Cristopher Nolan, Prince Rudolf Knaise Melikoff and Bill Maher. MAUGER has also curated shows at the British Consular residences, both in Miami, and LA.
To see images from recent MAUGER projects, click here If you would like an informal discussion with a MAUGER curator about a specific project please send an email to consultancy@maugermodern.
Exclusive Product Launches at the Top Drawer Trade Show
Here at Callender Howorth, we know that interior accessories are essential in creating the perfect home, that how the functionality of a product is just as important as its aesthetic appeal. We also understand that a well-designed gift can have an uplifting effect on the recipient. That’s why we love the Top Drawer Trade Show that takes place twice a year at Olympia – London’s most beautiful exhibition venue. Top Drawer’s 2016 Spring Show took place on 17-19th January and showcased beautiful, design-led and innovative products from world-renowned exhibitors. It attracted many London interior architects, who sought inspiration for their projects.
We picked some of our favourite exclusive new products that will be blazing a trail across all corners of the design industry.
Above and Beyond
This concept-driven home accessories range has a strong minimalist graphic identity, highlighted by it’s monochrome designs. Above and Beyond launched a striking ‘Between the Lines’ cushion, made from 100% cotton, which come with a range of different coloured backs.
Polite Company
Polite Company specialises in stationery and already has an excellent collection of lively, colourful standout products. They presented new additions to their ‘Tools for Thinking Collection,’ which pursues a thought-provoking approach to product design. The range is inspired by some of history’s most innovative and creative minds, such as Oscar Wilde and Frida Kahlo. Additionally, the ‘Seeds of Virtue Notecards and Seed Set’ combines cards that display virtuous proverbs, paired with a seed packet, thus allowing you to metaphorically blossom along with the flower.
Elleffe Design
Belle Creation launched the beautiful Italian design range, Elleffe into the UK market. Already popular within European hotel and restaurant chains, their stainless steel kitchenware products combine innovative shapes, sleek lines and decorative finesse with a functional purpose. We like their stainless steel wine coolers and stylish cake stands.
Welovecushions
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has launched a range of RHS cushions in collaboration with the renowned specialist company, Welovecushions. There are 23 cushions currently in the range but more will be introduced throughout the year. The beautiful designs are inspired by images from the vast art collection of the RHS Lindley Library.
Mini Moderns
Mini Moderns, an interior design brand, also proved to be a big hit at Top Drawer. Their popular Whitby wallpaper print has been turned into a new enamelware collection, continuing their collaboration with Wild & Wolf. The new range features a distinctive wave motif, capturing life on the open seas. The stunning collection will be available in store in May.
Top Drawer is the best place for retailers to discover uniquely designed products, share ideas and gather on-trend business advice. The event is based around five sectors: Gift, Craft, Home, Fashion and Food. It also includes a section called ‘Spotted’, which celebrates new British talent and has helped over 80 businesses make their trade show debut. Callender Howorth endeavours to keep up to speed with current trends in design, yet uses them as influence to produce truly unique interior design projects. The Top Drawer Trade Show is the best place to experience the best and most current trends in the market.
Three of the Latest Kitchen Gadgets
In any home the kitchen is key. Whether you have family, or are simply an entertainer by nature, the kitchen is often the hub of the house and brings people together, combining a place to eat with a place to socialise. When creating interior designs for our clients, we focus on delivering outstanding finishes and introducing useful, ingenious tools to utilise the space and deliver optimum results.
Three of the Latest Kitchen Gadgets
In any home the kitchen is key. Whether you have family, or are simply an entertainer by nature, the kitchen is often the hub of the house and brings people together, combining a place to eat with a place to socialise. When creating interior designs for our clients, we focus on delivering outstanding finishes and introducing useful, ingenious tools to utilise the space and deliver optimum results.
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