Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i Living Etc

I’m writing this on day two of Milan Design Week, in the back of a cab, crawling through traffic between meetings. And the excitement in the city is more buzzy than ever before. Designers are hanging out of showrooms drinking rooibos spritzes in the sunshine, brands have queues around the block of people essentially waiting in line to see a new tap, albeit in a fantastic piazza. The furniture I’ve seen so far has shown a new playful side not often displayed on the global stage, which tends to lean a little more conservative. Yes, this year, design is truly about fun. It’s a sentiment I’ve held for years. At Livingetc we’re serious about good decor but only in so far as it should be harnessed to raise a smile,…

The beguiling collection marrying old and new Threads of India is the result of Sofas & Stuff’s collaboration with the V&A. We love this velvet upholstery in a burnt umber hue, which draws on a 19th-century satin weave cloth from India known as Mashru. Used on one of Sofa & Stuff’s modern designs and paired with marble pieces, it embodies the mood of the moment – one of warmth and casual opulence. Stockbridge large corner sofa (shown partly) in V&A Threads of India Opulent Velvets in Ikat Mirage Burnt Umber, £11,890, Sofas & Stuff Moody murals for sultry, layered and soulful schemes Abigail Ahern’s new collection with Graham & Brown is as luxe as we’d expect. Inspired by archival textiles and with an emphasis on handpainted artwork, the 10 new…

PIP RICH I’ve not known murals to be as popular as they are right now – they’re finding their way into all sorts of design schemes and rooms. Why do you think this is? LIZZIE DESHAYES There is just something about having nature on the walls, an excitement it brings that isn’t matched by anything else. And when you choose a panoramic instead of a wallpaper with a smaller repeat pattern, your eye tends to journey around, travelling to find continual joy. You discover new things all the time, and are therefore constantly delighted. PR Fromental is 20 this year – coincidentally I became a design journalist 20 years ago too. I look back at how wallcoverings have changed since my early days, and don’t miss those damasks of 2005.…

it’s not often an interior designer gets the opportunity to go back and redesign an old project, so Greg Natale was thrilled when the new owner of this pretty house in Sydney asked him to work his magic a second time. ‘Eleni fell in love with the proportions of the home and envisioned something more,’ says Greg. ‘I was grateful that she trusted me to take it to where she wanted to be. You have a close connection with any house you design, and it has been really interesting for me to learn about how I’ve evolved as a designer.’ Where once the style was Hollywood Regency – think red bamboo dining chairs and Greek key-patterned rugs – Eleni asked for something ‘calm and Zen-like, so we went for a…

MATCH MAKER With its rich palette and heritageturned-contemporary patterns, Heir by Kirkby Design deserves serious attention – so it makes sense that the brand has teamed up with Coat to launch 12 bespoke, limited-edition paint hues that complement the textile collection. Spanning buttery yellow and blackened terracotta through to soft blush and classic forest green, there’s a complementary and contrasting shade to match each fabric – making it ridiculously easy to complete your scheme. All of the paint is crafted with Coat’s low-VOC, water-based formula and made to order. Wall in Title Pending; floor in Gown & Out, from £30 for 1ltr, Coat x Kirkby Design. Zodiac fabric, £120m, Heir collection, Kirkby Design…

Q When is it a good idea to colour drench? I think there is a time and place for colour drenching, a term for when you take a paint up the walls and over the ceiling. Size is not something I’d worry about when wondering whether to drench – it’s not true that strong colours make small spaces smaller. Instead, I use this technique when I’m trying to evoke a certain mood, to add vibrancy and warmth, for spaces in which I want to entertain and feel cosy. My living room is drenched in Dutch Orange by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, a tone that is highlighted by the different glows from the many lamps. Where else would I colour drench? Cloakrooms are perfect – go dark for a sophisticated and glamorous…

It’s that perfect time of year again, when summer is in view and the possibility of long, hot afternoons outdoors seems like a delicious reality. And if there’s one interior designer who has mastered the art of alfresco living it’s the British-born, LA-based Jake Arnold, a man who has truly embraced the weather of the place he calls home. ‘I love to be outside, to bring people together,’ he says. ‘Breakfast is my favourite time of day, a buffet of fresh fruits, hot coffee, the doors are open and it’s all very White Lotus. The luxury of sunshine and time.’ Croissants in the fresh air sounds very Californian, but Jake says it’s a feeling and a vibe we can easily recreate wherever we are – his new line of outdoor…

AMANITA LABS Natascia Berutto’s move into the design industry was something of an ‘intuitive shift’. The founder of Amanita Labs was drawn, she says, ‘to the way ideas take shape through materials to tell a story’. Designing and making sculptural and functional vases, lamps and homeware, she uses 3D printing, stonelike casting materials and other experimental techniques. ‘My approach values asymmetry, organic textures and a sense of quiet presence,’ she explains. The result is a collection of shapely pieces that beckon touch and interaction. Based in her design lab on the Suffolk coast, Italian-born Natascia predominantly works alone in small batches. ‘[It] allows for a slower, more considered approach,’ she explains. ‘Each piece is part of an evolving process rather than a fixed outcome. It also makes sustainability tangible –…

you’d have to look hard to find the imperfections in this – let’s face it – pretty perfect bathroom. But then there are two ways to interpret the Japanese art of wabi-sabi, the theory that was the inspiration for this space by the Sydney-based studio Se Déa. The more well known is to celebrate, even highlight, the marks and blemishes that materials naturally have. The other approach is to understand that less is more, that there is a quiet and fragile beauty found following a quest for simplicity. It’s this idea that was the starting point here. ‘We wanted to create a warm, serene space that reflected elements of wabi-sabi,’ says Samantha Birtles, the studio director. ‘We felt that adding timber to the ceiling was a way we could add…

FUN AND FUNCTION Outdoor flooring should be top of the to-think-about list when pondering a garden makeover; it’ll host all alfresco activities, from daily dinners to underthe-stars soirées. So why go for something boring? ‘I would like us to stop shying away from flooring choices and give them some personality,’ says architect Rosie McLaren, director of southeast London’s Architecture by Rosie. ‘An exterior floor can be just as influential on our mood as any interior choice and is a key element to embedding a design in its context.’ PRACTICAL MATTERS It’s not just about mood and beauty in the outdoor arena – firstly, there are highly practical matters that can’t be ignored. ‘The choice of materials and their suitability are key considerations,’ says Andy Young, senior principal at Chichester-based architect…

EASY DOES IT There’s a sense of calm to every collection lights&lamps puts out into the world – time and time again, it’s where we go for a softer approach to lighting. The brand also does materiality so well, combining warm whites and linens with aged brass and bronze accents; the shapes, too, almost always feature a curve or a soft line. One of our favourite designs is the Lindi, a pleated linen shade finished with a scalloped edge. So we’re pleased to see it now available in more sizes and formats, including the small pendant light pictured here – the perfect finishing touch to your bedside table vignette. Lindi small pendant light, £229, lights&lamps…

1 UNDER THE RADAR By drawing the eye to an unexpected pop, the ‘strategic’ placement of a touch of neon can energise a space. It’s certainly the case in this kitchen by Studio Idà. ‘Neon can be “too much” if you don’t associate it with more neutral tones,’ says co-founder Lola Guicheteau. ‘Incorporating neon colours into a pastel or natural palette can give the fluorescent look a real place to exist without dominating the entire space.’ 2 SCREEN TIME Neon colours aren’t an easy palette to work with, but opting for a more subtle accent is what makes ‘strategic neon’ strategic. ‘It could look like a single painting, a single book, or even a flower arrangement if you’re really non-committal,’ explains interior designer Taylor Simon. ‘I think the key is…

Who would have thought a cut-out, irregular-shaped rug could be the perfect piece to complete a room? It seems having a little something missing is what adds a little something more. ‘People are always seeking fresh design ideas, and cut-out rugs break away from the predictable rectangular format,’ says Sergio Mannino, architect and founder of Sergio Mannino Studio. ‘Their irregular shapes feel modern, allowing patterns and illustrations to take centre stage in a bold, expressive way.’ We’ve spotted rugs in irregular shapes over at Tai Ping, with the flower budshaped Alizea I from the Biophilic Collection and Rodolfo Agrella’s Memorabilia Quince rug for the Edition Two collection, and in the Sea Shell design by Deirdre Dyson. The trend was also on display at Paris Design Week, with Fischbacher 1819…

FLIGHTS OF FANCY We always want the homes we feature in the pages of Livingetc to leave you feeling inspired, which is why every one is packed with ideas that you can take away and apply to your own project. But we also want them to be escapes – places halfway across the world, or closer to home, that you can dream about living in. Because who doesn’t love indulging in fantasy from time to time? This Aussie home, featured in full over the page, fits that bill completely – its sand-peach-rust colour palette and celebration of materials like warm woods, microcement and veined marbles have us adding it straight to our mood board, but it has the feeling of a holiday retreat that makes us want to sit down…

mostly, people want the biggest extension, as many bedrooms as possible and en suites throughout,’ says Jo Edwards of Edwards Rensen Architects. ‘But one of the attractions here was that the clients didn’t want to squeeze every bit of space out of it. They just wanted to make a beautiful family house for themselves.’ Owners Purvi Harlalka and Jyothish George viewed 40 properties before finding the neglected terrace – previously formed of bedsits. ‘We arrived for our viewing and Jyothish said, “There’s no way we’re buying this dump!”’ says Purvi. ‘But I convinced him of its potential.’ Edwards Rensen’s redesign proved her right. Purvi’s brief was to generate a sense of spaciousness. ‘I like space. Instead of more rooms I wanted more space,’ she says. To this end, the house’s…

there are few designers whose work appears in Livingetc quite as often as Maddux Creative. Helmed by Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud, their projects are like treasure chests, filled with delights: jewel tones, antiques, bespoke fabrics and character aplenty. The houses they work on tend to be period properties, those high ceilings and ornate detailing lending themselves to the Maddux approach and all the riches they like to layer in. Which makes their take on this penthouse apartment in Clerkenwell all the more intriguing – the way they have still managed to fold in their trademark personality despite the flat itself having, well, not very much of its own. ‘It’s sat on top of a brand-new development, with floor-to-ceiling windows,’ Scott says. ‘A timber frame construction with a timber frame…

Has someone turned on the sun? I’m suddenly gloriously warm, filled with golden light and enveloped in cosiness. This is how a bedroom should be, the space welcoming you in with broad open arms and folding you into itself. Many rooms impart the feeling of ‘a hug’ – a lot of those have painted ceilings, hint hint. But this is more: it hugs you before tucking you into bed and stroking your hair for a while. Rich cobalt plus tangy ginger? What a power couple. They seem to clash and harmonise at once, which is due to their position on the colour wheel, sitting directly opposite each other, making them ‘complementary colours’ that create visual friction and juxtaposition. They’re certainly doing their job here. Despite their official status as counterparts, the…

ALL IN THE DETAIL Trimmings and embellishments are such a big design trend, why save them only for your indoor schemes? Samuel & Sons has launched a new range of semi-custom performance yarns that meet all our passementerie needs: use it to decorate plainweave cushions, as in this shot, to line the edge of a favourite outdoor dining chair or to add playful tassels to a sunlounger. HOLIDAY VIBE The geometric weavings of Faro, the new indoor-outdoor collection from Élitis, is inspired by the Portuguese city’s Moorish influences; it also includes embroidered effects, botanical jacquards and rich plains. Its palette – blue, green, camel and sunshine yellow – bring to mind holidays by the sea. The pattern clash here feels particularly contemporary, the different shapes united by a soothing, nature-themed…

FIVE A DAY Get your fruit fix with Faro, the new indoor-outdoor collection from French brand Élitis. This cheery apple design certainly puts a smile on our faces – who doesn’t want fun stripes and punchy yellow bringing a bit of joy to their garden? Used on upholstery or as a hit of pattern on a cushion cover, it’s happiness in a fabric. Faro in OD 154 20 (yellow fabric), £192lin m; Faro in OD 156 63 (green fabric), £110lin m, both Élitis In the shade Parasols don’t just offer sun protection – they also add height and a welcome pop of colour or pattern to your garden. Luxury brand Plia Parasols has recently launched a new range with frames made from bamboo – which is robust enough to withstand…

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT The hype for smooth, suave brown in interiors isn’t going anywhere and we’re particularly into the palette for kitchens – it makes the space feel smart, sophisticated, more like a place you want to be in, to live in, than something merely functional. So of course we were drawn to this shot from ABI Interiors, featuring its Elysian tap in a client’s kitchen. The soft shine of the brushed copper against the fluid stone surfaces and matte wood cabinets is enough to make us salivate – imagine how good cooking in this space must feel. Elysian commercial pull-out kitchen mixer in Brushed Copper, £270.99, ABI Interiors…

LEFROY BROOKS It’s a well-known design rule, but one that bears repeating: hardware is always worth spending a little more time and money on. It’s one of the things you’re going to touch every day, and you’ll soon notice the difference between pieces made to a high standard with the right materials, and those that aren’t. Lefroy Brooks falls into the former category, with a range of elegant options for bathrooms and kitchens that are made to last. The signature range, 1900 Classic, has a timeless look without feeling too ‘period’ in style. In this bathroom, hardware in unlacquered polished brass is enriched with a natural patina – and it only adds character to this charming space.…

DOWN TO EARTH A self-sustaining structure with no columns or beams, this project in Tamil Nadu, India, flows from room to room through a series of arched walkways in a fluid form – what architectural practice Earthscape Studio calls ‘fold architecture’. To emphasise its organic form, the building is covered in layers of thappi plaster outside and mud plaster inside, with traditional lime plaster underfoot. Even the finishing touches tap into the site’s deep connection with nature. ARCH RIVAL How to add a little of the organic into an urban home? Arches! We were wowed by Polysmiths’ extension of this east London house, carving curves inside and out to create an open-plan layout that feels more Mediterranean than middle-of-the-city. Soft-toned, mottled lime plaster and walnut joinery add to the organic…

The Standard BANGKOK, THAILAND IN A SENTENCE Distinctly ‘Standard-coded’, yet punctuated with enough regional idiosyncrasy that it never feels standardised, this hotel is the design landmark of the central business district. DESIGN DOWNLOAD The feel of a boutique design hotel, supercharged with sky high suites, penthouse views and a rooftop pool straight out of Mad Men. Art deco, yet 1970s. A Marc Quinn here, a Miro over there, The hotel is a space devoted to lovers of art and design, created in collaboration with visionary creative Jaime Hayon. OUT AND ABOUT Being located between Sathorn and Silom means that Bangkok’s Old Town, the Chao Phraya River and Lumpini Park are all within walkable distance, making this sprawling city feel remarkably manageable. NEED TO KNOW Rooms start at £188 a night including…

FRESH APPROACH When people order tiles from us at Balineum, it’s normally pretty predictable how they’ll use them – for only about 10% of the projects they end up in, am I surprised. But with the French architects and creatives Studio Classico’s work, I am always surprised. Always! In fact, I’d say that, on seeing their photos of our tiles for the first time, my mind was blown. They had ordered a mottled tile, a stripe and a plain white tile which, let’s be honest, are among some of the more predictable tiles we do, but the way they installed them was incredibly fresh, the tiles laid in a host of unexpected ways. Studio Classico are an up-and-coming talent, consistently boundarypushing and interesting in what they do – I recommend…

Furniture trends are always interesting to track because, like trends in colours and materials, they say something about the way we want to live in our homes. You can tell a lot from the shapes, sizes and silhouettes that are en vogue – whether popular pieces are cosseting and comfortable or formal and rigid says plenty about the mood their owners want to create through their use. With that in mind, this deep dive into the now and the next in furniture tells us that we’re feeling playful, restless, a little brave – but that underneath it all, we still want to feel supported by our furniture pieces. ‘The predominant mood in furniture design right now leans towards softness – both in form and materiality,’ says designer Greg Natale. ‘Curves…

The design was inspired by chairs that were made to sip gin and tonics in,’ says Knud Erik Hansen, CEO of Carl Hansen & Søn, neatly encapsulating the enduring popularity of the Safari chair. Upholstered in canvas with armrests in saddle leather, it practically beckons you to come sit in it, to sink into it, and yes, to drink a long cocktail in it. And despite being nearly 100 years old, its appeal to today’s current yearning for convivial furniture makes it feel totally right for contemporary decor. The famed Danish architect Kaare Klint designed it back in 1933, wishing to evoke the sense of casual bonhomie he’d seen during a trip to Africa. ‘He was a great admirer of simplicity, introducing the world to the Danish Modern look, cutting…

This fashion force is reimagining a modular classic with undeniable flair Debuting at New York Fashion Week AW25, fashion designer Armando Cabral’s inspired reinterpretation of Swiss brand USM’s modular furniture has us thinking about the ways we can incorporate his ideas into our own homes. His installation at the brand’s SoHo showroom features a bookshelf, platform bed, lounge chair, side table and valet wardrobe in hues of dark green, orange and black – blending Armando’s West African heritage with USM’s European craftsmanship. Spotlight on: Corded cushions Embellishment is a huge trend in interiors as well as fashion at the moment (see page 28 for more) and the design brand nailing the brief right now is none other than Jonathan Adler. The new collection features brightly hued cushions with corded motifs…

With its coral facade, Moorish arches and palm-studded garden, it’s easy to mistake interior designer Jen Cadman’s home for a lush Moroccan getaway. In fact, it’s tucked away on a leafy hillside just a 10-minute walk from Palm Beach, an hour north of Sydney, Australia. But when she escapes here with her family, it feels for all the world as though she could be on another continent. ‘I guess I deliberately leaned into its exotic appeal,’ says Jen of the house, which was built in 2000 and originally featured a demure sand-coloured finish. ‘I love to travel and take inspiration from around the globe and I just felt the place was calling out for those holiday retreat vibes.’ Despite the kids teasing her that the unveiling of the pink facade…

AS A DESIGNER, MY JOB IS ABOUT LOTS OF TINY DETAILS THAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T SEE BUT THAT MAKE A PLACE VERY COMFORTABLE, SOFT AND EASY TO LIVE IN being a designer with the opportunity to create your own home is the dream project, says French interior architect Constance Laurand – she had no clients to persuade, she was brimming with knowledge and ideas and her ‘very nice’ husband gave her carte blanche. So, she says: ‘We made an apartment for us – we didn’t design it for resale but for how we wanted to live.’ For example, as a family that loves hosting friends, Constance cleverly designed into the expansive library a 35sq m guest apartment, with a mezzanine bedroom at the top of a spiral staircase and a…

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ON REFLECTION When embarking on the design of the show apartment in the recently restored Mayfairdevelopment60Curzon, Tatjana von Stein says it was a beautiful blank canvas to begin with. ‘Our goal was to capture the essence of art deco while reinterpreting it in a contemporary way,’ she says. ‘The ceiling, crafted from backpainted glass, was a deliberate choice. I love how it interacts with the space, creating a dynamic play of reflections that transports guests into a theatrical setting. Reflective surfaces like this can make the hallway feel more immersive.’ BLUE SKY THINKING Colour drenching a space and accessorising with tonal hues can offer a warm welcome, as displayed here in this scheme by Owl Design. ‘We wanted this hallway to feel like a little slice of the sky –…

GREAT OUTDOORS Gone are the days when finding tasteful and genuinely good-looking garden furniture was like searching for a needle in a haystack – our favourite brands are awash with designs crafted to make your outdoor space feel as warm and liveable as your interiors. Oka is one of those brands – its impressive garden collection is a treasure trove of lovely pieces, from teak weave coffee tables to stripy ceramic stools. Our pick is the Shorwell dining table and chair set. The conical shape of the table is sculptural, the synthetic rattan is on-trend and the teak accents make the whole thing timeless and elegant – we’re sold on this. Shorwell garden dining table, £2,595; chairs, £795 each, all Oka…

1 THE DINING TABLE Baxter is celebrated for its exceptional craftsmanship and we appreciate how the brand combines bold, contemporary designs with timeless elegance. My admiration for Baxter stems from our long-standing relationship with the brand, which reflects our commitment to working with designers who share our passion for quality and creativity. We chose the Jupiter table by Studiopepe for Baxter as a central anchor, with the chairs added later to complement its bold yet refined aesthetic. The table’s geometric base and striking top harmonise effortlessly with the angular chairs, creating a cohesive visual dialogue between these pieces. 2 THE DINING CHAIRS Another pick from Baxter, we chose the So Far chairs by Studiopepe for their sculptural quality and luxurious materials, which perfectly align with our philosophy of blending functionality…

In colour West One Bathrooms has curated a colourful collection of standout pieces by Azzurra Ceramica. A selection of basins, furniture, WCs and shower trays, the collection provides the tools to go all out or select one or two pieces to dial up the colour in your bathroom. Shown here is the Azzurra Graal free-standing basins in Mango and Cherry, from £2,040, West One Bathrooms INTO THE GROOVE Textured surfaces are at their zenith, and Silestone is hot on the case. Originally conceived by LA-based designer Claudia Afshar for sister brand Dekton, Ukiyo is the striking fluted surface treatment bringing depth and dimension to Silestone’s signature composite material. Ukiyo is available in matt and polished options. Silestone Ukiyo in Lime Delight, from £400sq m CREATIVE COLLAB Kitchen design firm Pluck…

CREATIVE LICENCE Clerkenwell Design Week is back with a bang this May, featuring three new venues – including the medieval and Tudor building The Charterhouse and Charterhouse Square. Against a backdrop of historic and modern architecture alike, the festival will be celebrating all things design, with installations, a public art piece by Alex Chinneck and a plethora of launches from the likes of Pluck, String and Arte. Whether you’re a designer searching for ideas or simply an enthusiast keeping up with goings-on, Clerkenwell is the place to be this month – we’ll see you there. From 20-22 May. Pictured is Geberit’s Parallel World installation from Clerkenwell Design Week 2024…

DAVID KORDANSKY GALLERY 5130 W Edgewood Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90019 Whenever I need a dose of pure creative adrenaline, this is always my first stop. David has this exceptional eye for artists who are redefining what’s possible – exactly the kind of pioneering spirit that makes Los Angeles such a magnetic force for innovators all over the world. THE WINDOW 6825 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 This showroom is pure magic – it’s the kind of place that makes me want to rearrange my entire home. Housed in a spectacular 1930s industrial art deco space that once served as a Ford Model A showroom, the curation is impeccable, mixing rare vintage finds with contemporary pieces in a way that feels distinctly Los Angeles. E. BALDI 375 N Canon…