Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Living Etc

Global Editor in Chief @pip.rich If we’re being honest, sustainability is difficult, isn’t it? Last summer I listened to Greta Thunberg give a rousing speech at Glastonbury Festival about how desperate the situation is and that we need change. She is so right, I found myself thinking. But, ashamedly, I also knew I wasn’t going to cancel my holiday f lights later that season. So what other improvements can I make? More recently, as the decorating of my house continues, I’ve tried to make greener choices – starting with painting my office in Livingetc Style Awards winner Graphenstone’s eco paint (the White Sage colour, since you ask – it’s a shade that looks green in some lights, which will inspire creativity, and a soothing off-grey in others). But what of…

Architect – the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s first-ever designer showhouse – made a splash when it launched last year. Working under his eponymous architectural practice and 3D printing design service FabPub, he’s pioneering a new kind of sustainable design – one he’s extending from architecture to furniture and beyond. Why is circular design so important to you? The term circular implies that we understand where things come from and where they go. The idea of life cycle is important: what happens at the end of a concrete building’s life? There is a contradiction between our notion of durability and sustainability; circularity means that we understand things in their totality. What inspired your design for the extraordinary WOW!house facade? The design and printing technique refers back to the sand mandala, a…

KITCHEN Lime plaster walls are an eco choice and have a characterful patina. Bespoke units with Silestone worktops in Basalt by Little Greene, designed by Emil Eve and built by Evoke Projects. Polished concrete flooring, Lazenby. Light, Spark & Bell. Tap, Hansgrohe. EcoMortar R50 lime plaster, Saint-Astier DINING AREA This light-filled space is in an extension built using Douglas fir from viable forests in Wales. Vintage table, Ercol. Chairs, Ercol and Heal’s. Wall light, Spark & Bell. Ceiling pendant, Isamu Noguchi for Vitra COURTYARD Extra light is pulled into both the living room and kitchen thanks to this ingenious design idea, which also gives the couple another outdoor space. Wood panelling in Douglas fir. Table and stools, Habitat. Terracotta floor tiles, Baked Earth What a relief that the idea of…

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CHRISTOPHER FARR CLOTH What defines an art piece? It’s not always an expensive canvas framed on walls. Your wallcovering and upholstery too could be those collectors’ items that up the ante of your interiors. That’s the case with this collection by Christopher Farr Cloth, inspired by the late German textile artist Anni Albers, in association with the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation. This series of woven fabrics and wallpapers preserves the original sense of scale and patterns, allowing them to translate into one-of-a-kind pieces dipped in style. Take it from us, this collection is all you need to decorate your homes this year.…

It may have been millennials that rekindled our collective obsession with arches, but designers have long finessed the classic architectural feature, experimenting with anything from shape, material and scale to recontextualise this age-old design. ‘I think our inspirations never stop evolving – we want something more natural and abstract,’ says Hélène Pinaud, co-founder of Paris’ Heju Studio. ‘We have seen a lot of round arches lately, so people want to have something different at home.’ Contemporary doorways, in particular, fatigued from the right angles of cookie-cutter construction (read: rectangles), offer the perfect framework for articulation. These features, when given a surprising twist, can make the transition between two rooms worthy of punctuation; an eye-catching passage that’s worthy of a full stop. And while classic designs reign for a reason, improved…

Decorating a playroom doesn’t sound like serious business, does it? It’s a room that, in theory, you can go all-out with, making it as riotous, colourful and creative as you (or your kids) desire. But that all hangs on the presumed notion that a playroom is something to be hidden away behind closed doors – a separate space that children are sent to play in that contains the mess and anything that’s going to be particularly jarring with your home’s ‘grown-up’ decor. However, enter into a conversation with any interior designer and you’re likely to quickly discover this set-up is actually less than ideal, for both adults and kids alike. ‘The biggest mistake that people make when designing a children’s play space is thinking that they can create a place…

honeyed tones WARM AND INVITING, THIS GOLDEN PALETTE IS CREATING SOMETHING OF A BUZZ SUNNY SCENE Texture reigns supreme in this bedroom and workspace. All-over terracotta is broken up by choice pieces of wood, and alcoves form areas of light and shadow for a space that’s warm, cocooning andarchitecturally beautiful. Design byNoa Santos for his studio NAINOA COSY CORNER Paired with a blue rug flecked with tones of white, a statement burnt orange sofa bolsters this scheme. It adds an immediate warmth to the off-white walls and invites textural interest into the space, too. Mario Marenco sofa for Arflex. Design by Studio DB DARK BLEND For a richer interpretation of a honeyed palette, this wallcovering – with tones of black running through the diamond pattern – is a design best…

True sustainability is hard – really hard. But we don’t want perfect to be the enemy of good and brands are now pioneering new methods and materials, innovating in a way that is truly inspiring. Take Calligaris’ Greenbow initiative. The brand’s statement is honest: ‘We do not immediately promise you 100% green in everything, but certainly 100% commitment and transparency to make our contribution to a sustainable future.’ Designs under this label are – if not wholly circular yet – more considered and closer to circularity than ever before. In this issue, we will be highlighting the brands and ideas making a difference, and underlining our commitment to supporting those doing this important work.…

HOME GROWN Ideal for bar and glassware storage, the Adzed cabinet by Sebastian Cox sits on an elegant sycamore frame, grown in the UK and handmade in London. With the body carved from lime wood and the curved doors adzed by hand, this is craft at its finest. We raise a glass to such artisanal genius. £8,225, Sebastian Cox OLD MEETS NEW Merging traditional crafts with a contemporary aesthetic, the Nera high table by Monica Förster for Zanat will bring a refined elegance to any home. With its coloured-glass top and black-stained maple base, it’s a monochromatic marvel. Ideal as a side table in the living room and even more striking when paired with its lower counterpart. A delightful duo. £850, Monica Förster for Zanat STAND THE TEST OF TIME…

1. MIRROR, MIRROR I came across this hung in the bathroom at the Palazzo Maresgallo hotel in the historic centre of Lecce, Italy. The contrast of its rustic edges against marble walls is sublime. Arbo Dark mirror, £484, Deknudt Mirrors 2. GLOW UP Turquoise lacquered wood with brass collars in between six curvaceous arms combined with marbled paper lampshades are pure fun. I just want to burn the night hours under this warm glow for eternity. Dunnock chandelier, £520, Pooky 3. TO THE POINT This console has a sexy silhouette and sharp lines, which are very eye-catching. I always pop into Julian Chichester and come out having found something fab. Angel console, £2,840, Julian Chichester 4. CHARACTER STUDY Carol Wainwright is a painter, potter and textile artist based in Yorkshire…

Rokh. Kimchi. BTS. Squid Game. You can’t have lived through the last few years without coming across at least one of these phenomena – or any of the other fashion labels, food staples, Oscar-winning films and more that hail from South Korea. Korean culture, if you’ve read the thinkpieces, is very much on the rise. But there’s another wave on the way: that of Korean furniture design. In September last year – the same month that the V&A opened its exhibition, Hallyu! The Korean Wave – the Korean design furniture platform iamHERE showcased designers’ work at Design London, as did the art fair-trade shop L’Diff. Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen has collaborated with Korean designers and artisans for the first time in its 150-year history for an anniversary exhibit in…

PRODUCTION Luanne Toms KITCHEN AND DINING AREA In this open-plan space, Wolf used shou sugi ban, an age-old Japanese method of charring a wood surface to weatherproof the timber, for the bespoke cupboards. The table and benches were designed by Wolf. Forest candelabra, Jan Ernst. Ngwenya glasses, Wiid Design LIVING AREA The building’s structural timber, cladding and flooring are from radiata pine trees felled according to ancient moon-phase harvesting so it dries quicker and straighter. With its wood-clad walls, earthy textures and light-filled spaces, this calm inner-city abode feels more Scandi retreat than Cape Town cool. The incongruityofitslocationinBo-Kaap – one of the city’s oldest, most vibrant residential areas – is more intriguing when you realise that, although the building fits the local architectural vernacular, it’s a new build. And a…

LIVING ROOM The use of reclaimed wood and locally quarried stone has given the entire home a real sense of authenticity. Marks in the wood and stone were left to add to the honest rusticity of the schemes. Custom sofa, Betsy Brown; upholstered in Rogers & Goffigon fabric. Vintage small coffee table by Carl Aubock. Floor lamp by Serge Mouille. Chair (closest to fireplace) by Carl-Axel Acking, Morentz. Armchair by Pierre Jeanneret, Antiques Trade Gallery. Painting by Jean-Marc Louis the download THE OWNER Interior designer Betsy Brown, who is the head of her eponymous studio based in Alabama. THE PROPERTY Located south of Asheville, North Carolina, it’s a single-storey ranch-lite cabin built in the 1960s. It has a high-ceilinged centre hallway, running from front to back, which is used as…

THE REAL DEAL So much misinformation exists when it comes to organic cotton: some fashion brands make claims around the material even when the percentage they’re actually using is low. To guarantee 100% organic, de Le Cuona undertakes every stage of the process itself, from planting and picking to weaving and dyeing – a real dedication to the cause. Throw and bolster in Pure Equator cotton in Wildfire; cushion in Pure Equator cotton in Sienna, both £264m, de Le Cuona CALM AND CONSIDERED It’s hard to imagine that this soft fabric has been constructed from something as tough as plastic bottles and food packaging. The plastic is melted down, transformed into fibres and woven into this wool-effect fabric. It comes in a 300cm width, ideal for curtains, and you can…

ARTEMIDE Artemide has produced some of the most iconic pieces of Italian lighting design from the 1960s onwards, including Ettore Sottsass’ Callimaco uplight. Ettore managed to imbue all he did with a sense of life and positivity. I love this lamp: it has a heavy foot, a helpful handle and a strong graphic. We used it in the interiorsatTheLasletthotelandinCaraDelevingne’s Londonhome. MATTER MADE Matter Made is one of the impressive new cohort of American design houses that produces its own pieces and works in collaboration with other designers. We used the Arca chandelier by Philippe Malouin in triplicate in a huge room in a residential project in Austria. Philippe creates an incredible silhouette that is clear and precise, but also fits within a tradition of chandeliers that makes it feel right.…

BAR STAR The Tivoli bar cabinet, from Julian Chichester’s latest collection, is made from African walnut, finished with mirrored interior, pull-out verre églomisé shelf and sliding cane doors. The perfect spot for your favourite tipple. Tivoli low bar cabinet, £6,720; Tribal table lamp, £960, Julian Chichester NEW STRIPES Textile and wallpaper designer Kate Loudoun Shand’s new block-printed textile range came about when she saw a gap in the market. ‘There’s a lack of stripes w ith persona lit y and zest and I want this collection to be the answer to that,’ she says. Chaand Stripe in Brown and Pink, £234m, Kate Loudoun Shand LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT If you haven’t yet heard of Amy Somerville, this shapely sofa is sure to remedy that. The Marylebone-based furniture-maker presented her Chevron…

Let’s face it – grout is pretty low down on the list of things to get excited about when planning a renovation. But just like any functional element of design, it presents an opportunity. Designers are ditching the utilitarian white paste in bathrooms and kitchens and getting creative with pleasing tile and grout colour combinations and supersizing grout lines - a simple change that can create real impact on a budget. ‘Grout can work magic for making a bathroom feel special,’ says Barrie Cutchie of BC Designs. We’ve put together a handy guide to convince you that he’s right. Firstly, it’s crucial to get your head around the types of grout and what might work for your home. Sanded and unsanded cement-based, epoxy and caulking grout are the main types.…

blue stone A NEW WAY TO DO EVERYTHING FROM WALLS TO WORKTOPS IS WITH A SPLASH OF BLUE WOVEN THROUGH MARBLE AND GRANITE BATHING BEAUTY Striking blue marble takes centre stage in this Parisian bathroom. Carrying it over from the floor onto the bath, walls and basin creates an all-encompassing look, broken only by a wash of cream on the wall aboveand over the ceiling. Design byPierre Yovanovitch STAND PROUD Blue stone need not be limited to kitchens and bathrooms – it can be brought into living spaces to artistic effect. An ice-blue marble column here stands between sections of an open-plan room, highlighting the unique architecture of the space. Project, architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard CELESTIAL STYLE This coffee table needs no embellishment. The juxtaposition of marbles, including Azul Macaúbas and…

glam bars ARCHITECTS ROMAN AND WILLIAMS’ ONYX DESIGN FOR GWYNETH PALTROW HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR A NEW CLASS OF AT-HOME BARS COCKTAIL READY If you have the room for it, a bar of one’s own is the ultimate luxury. The high ceilings and arch details of this corner was the natural place for a dramatic and truly glamorous drinks area, complete with marble, lacquer and brass accents. Oh, and don’t forget the practicalities – a wine fridge, cupboard storage and open shelves to show off your favourite glassware are all musts. Project, Marie Flanigan SEAMLESS LOOK This built-in bar shows that a sophisticated drinks set-up is possible in the smallest of spaces. The bar area fits snugly into an alcove around which the staircase winds; an arch creates interesting…

TAKE A SEAT In three new collaborations, the Abinger chair by rising design star Christian Watson has been reimagined in limited editions using offcuts, reclaimed fabric and a textile made using deadstock yarns. The striking results showcase that sustainability can be done in style, thanks to the expertise and input of Watson’s partners Haines (shown here), House of Quinn and Ambar. Beautiful in every way. From £780, Christian Watson WASTE NOT Liaigre is exploring upcycling in its latest collection, Upcrafted, salvaging offcuts and transforming them into limited-edition pieces. Leather scraps, which are difficult to recycle, are instead reworked into distinct forms. Not only is the beauty of the material highlighted, but also the skilled techniques and talents of the artisans themselves. And, with half of the profits going to…

Remember when pine was last a thing? Roughly the era of the statement wall, the chrome coffee table and the Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen flounce. Well, with chrome back again (see last month’s issue) is it any wonder pine follows suit? When we spotted Finnish brand Vaarnii’s showcase at Salone del Mobile it felt like a breath of fresh (forest) air. Made entirely from Finnish pine and responsibly sourced, the design house’s woodwork takes an excitingly contemporary direction. This bench and side table nod to the desire to fill your home with dynamic shapes in materials you can understand, creating a space that is liveable and loveable.…

When Tom Dixon unveiled a 20th anniversary exhibition at London Design Festival and Milan last year, it served as a reminder of how the British designer has been exploring, experimenting with and pioneering materials for the past two decades. Perhaps the most interesting, right now, are those you could consider part of ‘bio-design’ – materials made from natural, regenerative sources. You can count timber and cork, both already part of Tom’s designs, in this category, but it’s the materials on the less-trodden path – a chair made from a type of seagrass, towers made from mycelium (the vegetative part of a fungus) – that are the real conversation starters. The question is, are these materials a novelty, or are they an important part of the future of design? ‘We’ve got…

LIVING AREA This space is super relaxed but works hard with doors leading outside to the lake, a cosy spot for nights around the fire and even a bar area for sundowners. KITCHEN This room has incredible views over the lake. ‘We maximised the windows on two sides and left out wall cabinets,’ says designer Chad. Drawers under the island and hob provide storage. Near the kitchen in the living area is the bar (right). after 16 years spent living in different cities across North America in pursuit of his hockey playing career, Tom Smith and his wife, Amanda, went back to their roots to raise their three daughters. The couple hail from British Columbia in western Canada, a region dear to their hearts, and found this site near the…

COURTYARD The rooms of the ground floor wrap around this outside space, which works as another living area. Homeowner Glenn made the chair using recycled timber and he repurposed an old wheelbarrow as a planter. The herringbone paving is made from recycled bricks. Similar timber chair, Greige. Similar wheelbarrow, Wickes. Similar tree trunk stools, Etsy the download THE OWNER This house was built by its owner, Glenn Lamont, an urban economist and co-founder (with his brother Justin) of LifeSpaceJourney, a Melbourne-based furniture design and manufacture practice. He lives here with wife Anthea, and children Jasmine, four, and Harley, two. THE PROPERTY Located in the suburb of Kensington in Melbourne, the adjoining buildings are arranged in an open-plan style with a central kitchen opening to living and dining areas, plus bathroom.…

A sought-after staple for the busy family home, the kitchen island works as a focal point. ‘People don’t realise what impact it can have on their daily lives,’ says Roland Spieth of kitchen brand Bulthaup. ‘A kitchen island changes the way families interact with each other. Preparing food changes from “work” to interaction; the morning coffee changes to a conversation at the bar.’ To help navigate you through the ins and outs, we’ve come up with some handy pointers. A kitchen island should have a minimum of one metre of space around it to keep walkways clear. ‘Consider what is happening in each walkway, such as placement of sinks, fridges and hobs, and space to open doors,’ says Emily Rumble from kitchen maker Tom Howley. The size of the island will…

FORM AND FUNCTION Everyone loves Falcon Enamelware’s utilitarian designs, and now the brand has launched its three-pint jug and tumbler in three new limited edition colours: a soft pink Marie Rose, gentle Cream and uplifting Tarragon (pictured). Functional, yes – but they’ll also make a fine addition to your kitchen shelves for a cheering dash of subtle colour. Jug, £37; tumbler, £8, Falcon Enamelware TEXTURAL TREND We’re not the only ones to have fallen for the trend for Venetian plaster, or stucco – so we were delighted to come across Kraftizen, Cosentino’s new surfacing collection from Dekton. Inspired by traditional stucco, but more durable and waterproof, it’s the perfect way to add texture to a kitchen or bathroom. We particularly love Umber, a timeless terracotta with tons of personality. The…

1 INTO THE LIGHT In this NY apartment shown above with low natural light, architect Martin Hopp took a different approach in creating a lighting scheme. ‘Lighting is hidden within the built-in elements and reinforces the feeling of natural light. Lighting has such a strong impact on wellbeing that we really emphasised its integration.’Martin Hopp, founder, Martin Hopp Architect 4HIDDEN VOLUMES 2 PUBLIC/PRIVATE In a stylish micro apartment in Sydney, architect Brad Swartz used a clever sliding panel that conceals either the kitchen or the bedroom, depending on where it is positioned. ‘For me it’s about trying to create a divide between public and private spaces (sleeping/bathroom and living) similar to what you would find in a much larger apartment. That might be a big sliding door that hides the…

Cap Karoso, Sumba, Indonesia IN A SENTENCE A complete immersion in Sumbanese heritage and culture, via a collection of modernist villas with interior design details to die for. DESIGN DOWNLOAD The owners are a Parisian couple who have brought their take on European culture to the island: the villa exteriors hint at Brutalism, the interiors feature rich teaks and textiles by Pierre Frey. But there’s also a real respect for Sumbanese design and craft, with art by Indonesian artists. THE ECO TWIST Sumba is a still relatively untouched part of Indonesia – something the owners of Cap Karoso are keen to maintain. How? Through land preservation, an on-site solar panel park and a three-hectare organic farm that almost fully supplies the hotel with produce. IN THE GROUNDS Visit the spa…

corner lighting NO MORE SKULKING AROUND IN DARK CORNERS – THIS TREND IS ALL ABOUT SCULPUTURAL OFF-CENTRE CENTREPIECES ON POINT Sometimes a designer creates lighting sobeautifulitbecomesthe immediate focal point of any room. One such piece is seen here in a pared-back scheme – it’s a work of art that needs no extra embellishment. Room scheme by Dan Burns Interiors. Fouette II suspended light sculpture, Niamh Barry ONE OF A KIND This innovative lighting system consists of a textile ribbon along which lighting components can be arranged for a unique look. In this space, it’s stretched from floor to ceiling with a single globe of light floating at eye level to create a beautiful and original alternative to the traditional reading light. Plusminus lighting system, Vibia striped upholstery WHETHER WIDE-SET OR…