Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Living Etc

Last month, the Livingetc team sat round a table to share ideas for what design will look like next year. There were new colours we’re seeing designers use regularly, textures cropping up a lot and general moods being created by room schemes that capture the zeitgeist perfectly. You’ll have to wait until a future issue for a full report on all our findings (sorry!), but one keyword that kept coming up was ‘optimism’. Yes, really – we’re starting to realise that your decor can make you feel more positive about the future. Previously, we’ve looked at rooms that can uplift in the moment, but what about ones that serve a function that stays with you? The designer Jake Arnold put it succinctly to me when he said that if you…

It’s been quite the year for paint finishes. Farrow & Ball’s Dead Flat is luxuriously matte, Atelier Ellis’ Beginnings collection is so rich even the neutrals feel cocooning and now another Livingetc favourite, Mylands, has launched the Olive Stone emulsion. It’s made with byproducts of the olive oil industry – is that why it creates colours as warming as a trip to the Med? – and its plant-based content is surprisingly – and highly – durable. Better than that, this finish has such depth to it that walls covered in it seem to almost glow with a lavishness that is seriously impressive.…

COLLECTED COOL The concept of ‘shopping your home’ has gained traction in recent years as we seek to buy less. We should be striving for curated spaces, choosing pieces carefully to create intentional displays that can be chopped and changed at will without having to buy much – or anything – new. Of course, it’s much easier to do this if you’re a collector with a gallery of fabulous art and design pieces at your fingertips, like the owner of this Brooklyn home – find out more in our tour on page 44.…

LIVING ROOM With the colour, Giulia wanted ‘a full-on effect, a welcoming “envelope” with a velvety texture’. DINING ROOM The table by Carlo Scarpa was bought from an antiques dealer in Naples. Giulia swapped out the original top for black glass to ‘lighten’ it. this Milanese apartment, located in a typical northern Italian tenement from the early 1900s, radiates life. It’s infused with the personality of the jewellery designers Giulia di Pace and her mother, Paola Grande, owners of the brand Paola Grande Gioielli. ‘I currently live between Naples and Milan for work reasons, so I felt the need to have a home in both cities. In Milan I wanted one that was practical and welcoming at the same time,’ says Giulia. The creation of the small but perfectly designed…

In the foreword to Brigette Romanek’s debut book Livable Luxe, out this autumn, Gwyneth Paltrow talks of the designer’s ability to create spaces to ‘love and be loved in’. Feeling good in your environment is a tenet of Brigette’s practice – so of course, we couldn’t wait to quiz her about the intricacies of this design philosophy. ELLEN FINCH Your idea of ‘livable luxe’ really speaks to me – a space that feels amazing, but is practical, not precious. How can you achieve this balance? BRIGETTE ROMANEK It’s about creating spaces where you feel supported. As awful as Covid was, maybe the only benefit was people really living in their spaces: you stopped and thought about its purpose, how you wanted it to function for you and your family. I…

worth £14.99 Subscriber benefits ■ Free welcome gift – the Modern Home book ■ Enjoy 6 months of Livingetc, with beautiful inspiration inside every edition ■ Never miss an issue with the luxury of home delivery YOUR GIFT The Livingetc team has curated some of the most inspirational homes that have appeared in recent issues of the magazine – from luxurious apartments to stunning houses – and shone a light on what makes them special. We chat to interior designers and homeowners to hear the reasons behind their design choices and discover tips on how to achieve such sophisticated interiors. two simple ways to subscribe ONLINE AT www.magazinesdirect.com/letcnov23 BY PHONE 0330 333 1113 – quote code XD84 Lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm and Saturday 10am-3pm UK time Offer open to…

’Tis the season to hunker down inside – and there’s nothing that can compete with the cosiness of a fireplace. But if replacing your old one fills you with dread and you’re left feeling confused by the ever-changing rules, we’re here to help. First, it’s vital to check that you have proper chimney access and ventilation. The flue needs to be lined and clear if the fire is going to be lit. ‘Many of our fireplaces are purely used as a focal point to the room and not used for open fires – although as long as flues are clear, they can be,’ says Owen Pacey, antique fireplace specialist and founder of Renaissance London. To check, burning smoke pellets is your best bet. If the smoke is drawing up into…

RESTAURANT READY As beautiful as your kitchen cabinetry might be, it can be instantly let down if your appliances aren’t up to scratch aesthetically speaking – and, of course, no kitchen is a joy to be in if they’re performing sub-optimally, too. Luckily, neither are an issue for Unox Casa’s SuperOven Model 1S, which won a Red Dot Design Award this year. It’s the oven to buy if you want restaurant-level excellence in your kitchen – keen cooks will have a field day with the 400-plus cooking programmes on offer.…

The first advantage any architect might attribute to spiral staircases is efficiency: they average less f loor space than straight staircases. But saving room isn’t the only surface-level perk: in modern interiors, curving stairs can be downright stunning. ‘To me, spiral staircases are like a beautiful ribbon threading through a space like a piece of art,’ says Australian architect Susi Leeton. There is unmistakable fluidity and beauty to this style, one increasingly relevant as designers emphasise modern curves and silhouettes throughout architecture. Of course, today’s designs are a far cry from their centuries-old origins. Spiral staircases recall places like fortresses and churches in medieval Europe, once used to gain an upper hand in the event of an attack. Later, designs traded armour for aesthetics, growing more luxurious as they took…

GOLDEN HOUR The revamp of Italian ceramic tile brand Marazzi’s Milan showroom created a colour palette that has stuck in our editor Pip Rich’s head since he first saw it earlier this year. ‘The shades all seem to have a hint of gold pigment in them, even the blue,’ he says. ‘They evoke a sense of sunlight and have got me thinking differently about how to use strong colours, to look for the subtle heat in everything. I think this is the approach that will form much of 2024, and I expect to see these tones in fabric, furniture and even fittings.’ You heard it here first.…

MID-CENTURY MAGIC Sourcing distinctive furniture from markets and thrift shops across the world, Como-based design duo Draga Obradovic and Aurel K Basedow have reimagined mid-century designs using their artistic flair. The Heritage collection, launched within the Rossana Orlandi Gallery at Milan Design Week, is created through the deconstruction followed by the restoration of each piece using techniques such as screen printing, resin covering and brass casting. From €14,000, Draga & Aurel WONDER WARDROBES Don’t have the wall space for a large-scale art piece? The one-off creations by artists Gijs Frieling and Job Wouters of FreelingWaters studio for The Wrong Shop will add just as much impact, as well as providing practical storage. All are antique cabinets that have been transformed with bespoke artwork featuring geometric patterns and typography in an…

designer Angus Buchanan is the creative director of Buchanan Studio, known for creating layered interiors and for that trend-starting Studio chair. His background in set design has been the foundation of this ability to put together the most richly curated spaces, blending contemporary and classic with ease. PIP RICH It’s not often I believe in macro trends, but I do think you started one with the Studio stripe chair. It’s because the chair taps into a bigger trend for us all wanting things in our home that make us smile – and your design is so instantly evocative of deckchairs and good times on holiday. PATTERN CAN BE OVERWHELMING – START SMALL, USE IT SPARINGLY AND KEEP THE WALLS AS PARED BACK AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THE ROOM, OVERALL, STILL…

LIVING ROOM ‘The vintage floor lamp kicked off the scheme,’ says designer Crystal. ‘We layered rugs and Lauren and Will’s dog and kids love to lie on them.’ both in their mid-thirties, Lauren and her husband Will had lived in the Big Apple for nearly a decade when they decided the time was right for them to move out of their Manhattan apartment in search of more space for their growing family. Leaving their beloved city, however, was out of the question. In the end, it took them eight months to find this house, which dates back to 1901 and occupies a typical brownstone in Brooklyn’s quaint South Slope neighbourhood. Lauren and Will fell in love with their new home’s historic details, such as its stained-glass windows, plaster mouldings and…

VISUAL FEAST If you weren’t already craving something sweet, we’ll bet you are now. It’s not just the mochi sending us straight to the kitchen, but the delectable paint shade that shares the same name. This hue is part of Little Greene’s Sweet Treats collection, a range of warm, neutral shades inspired by our favourite desserts and little pick-me-ups – we’re talking Madeleine (a buttery, muted gold), Affogato (a rich mid-brown) and Ganache (need we even explain?). Mochi has to be our favourite, though it’s a tough choice. Inspired, as some of the shades are, by a National Trust property – in this case, the dining room of Derbyshire’s Calke Abbey – it’s a soft, contemporary neutral with a hint of pink and plenty of depth.…

Burgundy plus pistachio is a real eyebrow raiser. I love a surprising never-would-have-expected-that colour combo – they don’t happen very often, but when they do, it’s such a pleasure. In this kitchen by Australian design studio State of Kin, colours exist in separate universes: the dark red of the sculptural extractor fan, the coordinating vinyl floor and the pastel cupboards with their clean lines. The opposing hues sit alongside each other like strangers on a train, happy in each other’s company, but acquaintances rather than friends. It takes confidence and nerve to set such a dark, intense, full-bodied tone against the restful, natural paleness of a shade like soft green – could they be much more different? One blazing hot, one as cool as a cucumber… The result is startling,…

INTERIORS DESTINATION It’s been 30 years since luxury furniture retailer Chaplins hit the scene – and to this day it remains one of the go-to places for contemporary furniture, stocking the very best brands (to name a few: Edra, Bontempi, Porada, Gallotti&Radice). To celebrate hitting this milestone, the company’s Hatch End showroom is set to display exclusive designs from long-standing partners, including Ligne Roset and B&B Italia, throughout the year – making this the perfect time to pay a visit and see some truly cult pieces in the flesh.…

Shopping British is so much easier when you have seriously world-class design names on your doorstep – Sebastian Cox, Susie Watson, Salvesen Graham. In the lighting world, the name to know is Original BTC, whose understated pieces fuse top-notch craftsmanship with an understanding of exactly what people want from their homes right now. Take, for example, the new Hector pleated ceiling lights, with shades made from bone china in the company’s Stoke-on-Trent factory, in a similar shape to the brand’s classic Flowerpot model. They’re a warmer, friendlier alternative to spotlights if you struggle with a low ceiling, thanks to the short, decorative flush mount – and even if you don’t, they make for a pretty scene set over kitchen counters like this.…

TEXTURED GRANITE When Studio Moore founder Andrea Moore began converting an old dairy farm into rural retreat Ross Farm, her first instinct was to go out onto the land for inspiration. ‘It’s a beautiful part of Victoria, Australia, and I wanted the spaces to feel anchored to the landscape that we’re a part of.’ Wanders among the ‘raw, prehistoric’ topography of Wilsons Promontory National Park, famed for its giant granite boulders, proved fruitful. ‘I used an honed finish on the bench top for ease of cleaning, with a more textured finish on the vertical surfaces,’ explains Andrea. ‘It’s extremely durable, so it’s also a practical option for a kitchen.’ RECLAIMED WOOD Anyone with a remote interest in reclaim will know the name Retrouvius; husband and wife team Adam Hills and…

1 GO DARK Contrary to what you might think, dark colours can add depth to a small room and, with the right finish, even bounce light around, as shown in this room by Melissa + Miller Interiors. ‘We highlighted the room’s size, or lack thereof, with dark tones, lining the walls with a Phillip Jeffries textured paper to create real warmth.’ Melissa Urdang Bodie, co-founder, Melissa + Miller Interiors 2 PATTERN PLAY Bold geometrics, small-scale florals, candy stripes – all off-limits in small spaces if you subscribe to this rule. Happily, it’s confidently broken by designers all the time. It’s about strategic choices. ‘Use the deliberate combination of contrasting patterns, colours and textures to create a bold statement and point of view that allows the mind and eye to wander…

COCKTAIL HOUR David Collins Studio has worked its magic once again, creating the lavishly sumptuous Velvet bar at London’s Corinthia. The hotel itself is pure elegance, but this newly refurbed bar is next-level plush, with red velvet curtains, plump banquettes and the most outrageously decadent Art Deco style this side of an Agatha Christie. Go for the live music (the piano is built into the bar), stay for the cocktails and leave with an intent to add more crimson to your own home.…

When I started planning a trip to celebrate my 50th birthday, there was only one place I wanted it to be – my home country, Scotland. I grew up in Scotland and left for America at the age of 25, and being Scottish still remains a huge part of my identity. I was privileged to spend two weeks witnessing the evolution of this dynamic and stunning country through my lens as an interior designer. Edinburgh GO FOR… A little bit of everything. Filled with history yet definitively modern, Edinburgh is a unique city and has a very special place in my heart. It’s architecturally diverse, a mix of the mediaeval Old Town and the elegance of the sandstone Georgian buildings in the New Town. It has a thriving arts and…

double denim Indigo striped fabrics come together beautifully in the Carlisle patchwork textile by Schumacher (shown below left), which can be applied in multiple ways: think table runners, curtains or as an upholstery option for soft furnishings. Crafted from the upcycled remnants of leftover fabrics from the brand, it’s a circular option, too. £357m, Schumacher WINTER WARMER Based in West Dorset, Projektityyny takes inspiration from its founder’s Finnish heritage, paying homage to the wonderful textile traditions of the region. The Agnes patchwork quilt is handmade in India and combines earthy tones of green and rust to bring a calming ambience to a room. Drape across a sofa for added comfort or layer onto the bedspread for extra warmth in the winter. £395, Projektityyny (PATCH) WO R K OF ART Displayed as…

With the festive season on the horizon, there are fewer brands better placed to talk about celebration and conviviality than Cattelan Italia, whose pieces are designed with the idea of fostering connection at their heart. We spoke to Paolo Cattelan about the new collection – and the guiding principles behind this proudly Italian brand. Much of this collection is centred around the dining room – why did this space become your focus? The dining room represents a safe space. It’s the room where you gather with the people with whom you want to spend meaningful time. When we design a space we imagine the people who, like us, begin the design of their home from there. We love the idea that a Cattelan Italia table will be the gathering point…

dining tables have been in our homes for many hundreds of years, but we’d argue that it’s a design that’s not quite been perfected. If you’ve ever planned a wedding, and had to choose between rectangular banquet tables or round ones, you’ll have an idea as to why. The standard shapes of dining tables have their limitations when it comes to hosting larger numbers. Large rectangular tables are more intimate, but your guests end up in smaller pockets, while on a large round table, you may be able to see all your dinner party-goers, but they’ll feel a little distant, and the centre of the table out of reach. However, we’re now seeing new forms for tables that are upending the traditional dynamics created around dining furniture. Irregular shapes, faceted…

SEATING AREA ‘This is a place for conversation and taking a moment at the end of the day,’ says homeowner Lauren. LIVING ROOM ‘I like having art that is also functional, like this hand that is also a chair. Pieces like this brighten up life,’ says Lauren. DINING ROOM ‘The house was missing original features, so we added character with mouldings and detailed cabinetry,’ says Lauren ‘I had to be reined in when it came to designing my home, otherwise it would have been just too OTT and definitely not practical for life with two small children,’ laughs Lauren Sands, talking about her Park Slope dwelling in NYC’s Brooklyn, which has the enviable distinction of actually being two townhouses knocked into one. Although not an interior designer herself, Lauren revels…

ORGANIC DISPLAY In the yellow living room, a vignette on a shelf above the fireplace showcases Sebastian and Brogan’s love of wood on a smaller scale, with framed artwork – including a hand-drawn sketch by Sir Terence Conran, a print by Polly Fern, original sheet music from the 1920s and a lino print by Sebastian’s aunt, Charlotte Molesworth – and an elegant natural candle holder. ARCHITECTURAL ACCENT An ash trim frames the sightlines through from one living space into the other – an acknowledgment of a new era in the home’s design after Sebastian and Brogan opened up the two rooms. It’s also one of the only unpainted pieces of architectural woodwork: the skirtings are adorned in the same shade of pink as the walls. Instead, a side table and…

BÉTON BRUT This is a modernist furniture dealer run by a friend of mine, Sophie Pearce. You can get one-off pieces dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, and she always reupholsters them in beautiful fabrics. You’ll find a few showstoppers – and if you’re going down the more individual route of not wanting a sofa everyone else has, this is a good place to start. I also use Sophie all the time for chairs, mirrors and lights. To be honest, I have an eye on so many of her pieces. ARLO & JACOB Ideally I like sofas to be made in the UK or Europe and Arlo&Jacob–who make sofas right here in this country – offer top quality, while still being at an attainable price point. You can jazz…

SIT AND KNIT Who needs a chunky knitted blanket when you can get it in chair form? The Knitty lounge chair by Nika Zupanc for Moooi is one of the latest additions to the Dutch brand’s playful line-up – and its super-oversized weave is both whimsical and extremely tactile. See also the dynamic geometric shapes of the Pallana light, designed by IDEO – another example of this brand’s unique take on design. Knitty lounge chair by Nika Zupanc, £5,938, Moooi EARN YOUR STRIPES Fans of Studio Atkinson’s Sassy stool will be pleased to know there’s now a sister product to covet, too: the Sassy bench. With the same stylish take on upholstered furniture, the bench boasts a neat, tailored structure and can be customised with contrasting or matching fabrics (shown…

NATURAL OAK Minimalist, serene and pared-back, this design by After Bach studio is a love letter to an unexpected yet elegant bathroom material. Oak is naturally quite water-resistant so treatment isn’t always necessary, but this will be dependent on exposure to water in the room. ‘For wood, it was a Japanese and modernist reference,’ say Jessica Barouch and Francesco Balzano, After Bach’s founders. The oak works to envelop you in this room but is never overwhelming – always a gentle embrace. RAW STONE Not all unique bathroom materials have to be new, as proven by this sculptural boulder basin featured in Jackson, Wyoming-based studio WRJ Design’s cloakroom. Under the warm glow of the wall lights on either side, the piece is captivating. ‘We worked with the homeowner and builder to…

In conversation with an interior designer recently, they told me they’re not decorating with houseplants like they used to. For a long time, homes were filled with plants – every shelf lined with a variety of interesting and exotic choices. Now, they tell me, we’re seeing a more minimalist approach. A focus on a single indoor tree, for example – something that feels a little more low-maintenance, without necessarily losing its impact. Could this be the end of an era for the dedicated plant parent? Perhaps the more pressing question: how does this aesthetic change affect how healthy our homes are? After all, houseplants have been held by some as the poster child of the biophilic design movement, while others have questioned how realistic it is that a few plants…

Fowey Hall, Fowey, Cornwall IN A SENTENCE A beautifully aesthetic hotel… that welcomes dogs! And isn’t just friendly to them, but actively looks after them. DESIGN DOWNLOAD The historic house on a hill, overlooking the Cornish sea, has recently undergone an upgrade. The furniture is that members’ club blend of dark wood and a light touch of modernity; the rooms are coastal chic and no one bats an eyelid if dogs jump on a heritage-print couch. Even better, the hotel doesn’t look like dogs have jumped on the heritage-print couches. ON THE MENU For dogs or humans? The à la bark canine feast option is as brilliant as it sounds, while the large restaurant does a really good line in steak in red wine sauce. Breakfast can be taken outside,…

CLEAN SWEEP There couldn’t be a better backdrop for this sweeping piece of architecture than the dramatic landscape of a Montréal forest – especially come autumn, when the leaves turn to fiery reds, oranges and yellows. Created by Jean Verville architecte as a retreat for an art- and Italian design-loving couple, with the studio’s characteristic penchant for disruptive design, it draws on the geometries and colours of the Memphis Group. Inside is all kaleidoscopic reflective surfaces and warm metallic colours; outside, demure black wood panelling serves to draw attention to the slanting lines and curved geometry of the building’s silhouette.…