THE MAGIC OF MUSHROOMS

The magic of mushrooms was never a mystery to me. No, I did not grow up in a hippy commune as one could assume - anything but. My mother, a researcher in mycology, simply would talk about her work at home. She’d be waxing lyrical about fungi as the “almighty kingdom” of the natural world, explaining to her skeptical teenage children how science had merely scratched the surface of their seemingly infinite potential.

Fast forward a few decades and, admittedly, my mother turned out to be right on this topic too. Research labs are churning out building materials, medicines, cleaning products, textiles, biofuels, packaging, and countless other products from fungi. As a designer, I’m particularly drawn to mycelium applications in the design and architecture industries for their intrinsically sustainable and recyclable qualities.

However, you know you’re onto something good when established fashion brands of the likes of Hermès, Adidas and Stella McCartney are designing products with a high quality alternative to leather developed from mycelium.

As we may be on cusp of seeing fungi-based products becoming mainstream, I find myself dreaming of sofas upholstered in soft mycelium leather only to realise that my mother’s legacy is very much alive, well beyond my fungal sibling named after her.

Images: MycoWorks, Mylo, Sebastian Cox

KEEPING UP WITH THE JOHNSONESES

I never thought wallpaper could become the hot topic of current affairs but, being a fan, I’m hardly surprised by its irresistible allure.

If, on the other hand, you’ve never considered this decorative tool, the gallery below might enlighten on its extraordinary transformative power.

Choose wallpaper and you’ll never regret it - if you have budgeted for it, that is.

Fore more wallpaper inspiration, check out my dedicated Pinterest board here.

PRETTY AS A PICTURE (aka the instagrammable interior)

Theatricality in commercial interiors certainly was a thing long before Instagram - think the iconic Sketch designed by India Madhavi back in 2003. In the era of the selfie, however, creating “Instagram moments” has become an essential part of the brief given to designers in hospitality, retail and even some residential projects.

What makes an interior “instagrammable” , might you wonder? Photogenic appeal seems to be powered by a strong graphic essence, a fearless use of colour, surprising and whimsical elements, playfulness and fun. Interestingly, pink is often the hue of choice - but then, it’s a most flattering colour for all skin tones.

For designers, planning interiors for the gram is definitely a challenge: get it wrong and you’ll create something gimmicky and lacking authenticity, get it right and you’ll hand to your clients a very powerful branding tool, as well as having people flocking to take pics of your loos. Now, that has to be a legacy worth working for.

Image source: Sketch - La Durée - Milk Train - Defhouse - Ice Cream Museum - 2LG Studio - Dyce - Buha’i’rest bar - Annabel - Shoreline Hotel - The Berkeley Bar - Caffetteria - Aubaine - Tiffany

FINDING YOUR TRUE COLOURS

For as long as I remember, I felt a certain clarity when it came to colour: I knew what I liked and had the confidence to trust my own instincts. The reason is simple enough: I just really like colour.

Working with clients, however, I’ve realised that, for many, choosing colour for their homes can be a daunting task. There’s a real anxiety of getting it wrong, which can translate into playing it safe - or worse, in the inability of making any decision. Fear not, there’s help at hand.

GO FOR PAINT Paint is readily available, easy to apply even for the unskilled and, most importantly, relatively inexpensive. Premium brands offer better quality pigments, therefore more colour depth, but any kind of paint has a hugely transformative power.

THE SCIENCE BIT Familiarising yourself with the colour wheel theory can be a useful way to start. In summary, a monochromatic scheme would use one colour only, in different shades (it’d feel uncluttered and harmonious). A complementary scheme would use colours that sit opposite on the wheel (by playing on contrast, it’d enhance the intensity of opposing colours and add drama). And finally, a related scheme would use adjacent colours on the wheel, with one being the dominant colour and two on either side used as companions (good way of successfully implementing existing colours).

THE RULE BOOK I don’t believe there are rules to be observed as such but there are a few things worth considering. Warm colours can make a room feel cosy by making spaces feel smaller. On the other hand, cool colours can make a room airy by making the spaces feel larger than they are. North facing rooms (in the northern hemisphere, that is) can be tricky as the light coming into the room can feel cool - colours with warmer undertones are therefore preferable to counter balance this. Forget about having to paint a darker room in a light colour to make it more interesting - you’ll be achieving exactly the opposite of that.

SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE! Never choose a paint colour from a tiny chip on a colour card - it’s a recipe for disaster! Select the colours you’re attracted to and buy sample pots for them. Instead of applying paint directly on walls, create large sample cards with cartridge paper (A4 at least). Move the samples around the room you wish to paint and look at them in different light conditions (natural, artificial, morning, afternoon, evening). Different light conditions can affect the perception of colour immensely, so always take your time before jumping ship.

If you still haven’t found the colours you’re looking for, or would like an extra hand getting started, do get in touch for a colour consultation.

IN & OUT CLUB

Great to see that, at last, renovation works are well under way in Cambridge House, Piccadilly (also known as the In & Out Club). PDP London have been appointed to transform this derelict Palladian style hotel particulier, and its adjacent buildings, into the lavish “Cambridge House Hotel & Residences”.

I’ve been fond of Cambridge House since I moved to London, as I would walk past it on my daily commute to work. Such was the sadness of seeing this fine building in a state of abandon - for so long - that I took it upon myself to work on it for final project at the Inchbald School of Design. This gave me the chance to get to know it intimately - with a detailed on site survey first and then endless hours spent on its floorplans.

This is how Cambridge House looked like back in 2010:

And this is how Cambridge House will look like once resurrected by PDP London to its former glory - a splendid 5 star hotel, plus seven residential apartments fully serviced by the hotel, right in the heart of London:

Free from the commercial pressure of the real world, my student project was somewhat more radical: a club for artists, curators, collectors, and curious people alike, where they could meet, relax and enjoy contemporary art in a not museum-like environment. Not much of a runner, obviously, but great fun to work on!

Floral Phoenix

It was 1996 and a couple of brilliant creatives were plotting, on behalf of Ikea, the death of chintz. Dave Buonaguidi and Naresh Ramchandani couldn't have known their ad would have such impact on British interiors - and for years to come. Those were the Nineties though, a time of optimism and openness to foreign ideas such as bright and minimal Scandinavian aesthetics.

Fast forward a couple of decades and we find ourselves in a rather different scenario. These are uncertain times and the general need to seek reassurance is reflected in much cosier, embracing interiors. In a context where “granny chic” has become a lasting trend, tried and tested pillars of British aesthetics have been resurrected - and chintz has found, once more, pride of place in contemporary homes. The irony of it all is that Ikea, once chintz’s archenemy, is now selling a sofa that looks suspiciously flowery to me (see pics below).

I guess the moral to this story, if there is one, is never to get rid of anything - sooner or later you’ll surely come to regret it.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING STYLED

Bellamont Forest, a beautiful 18th century Palladian villa in County Cavan, Ireland.

One drawing room, three different stages of styling. Designed originally by Edward Lovett Pearce in the late 1720's, the room is blessed with grand proportions and fine original features. Fast forward almost 3 centuries,  the late John Coote lovingly restores it, banning chintz and picking the most perfectly balanced persimmon pink. His choices in styling the room, however, really bring it to life. From the blue check linen on the chairs to the 19th century rug, from the contemporary art to a sprouting leafy branch instead of flowers. His styling is bold and unconventional, yet never shouty or out of place. His bravery and balance show how it takes more than fine room to create something special.

FRINGE FESTIVAL

According to family folklore, my grandmother refused to speak to my mother for a week when, once married, she opted for a simple window treatment with no swags or valances in sight. You have guessed it, my granny was never a modernist. As a child, I used to find her place rather pompous and heavy. Imagine then my surprise when I started noticing trimmings and tassel everywhere - and liking them.  Grannies' fringes are having a moment, though they look anything but old - think Dimore Studio and their flair for combining contemporary elements to a certain nostalgia for the past. Does that mean I'll be switching to swags in my next projects? Never say never...

LIGHT FANTASTIC

Having missed the last two editions of Euroluce, no wonder this year's was the highlight of my Milanese week. Like any good accessory on simpler outfits, the right light fixture can lift even the most linear project to a different level. Lighting can be decorative, entertaining, sculptural or simply very clever but it does the trick. Some of my favourite finds in the gallery below. For more lightastic inspiration, please visit my dedicated Pinterest board by clicking here.

CONCEPT ROOM

Better late than never, I'm posting some pictures from the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, which ran at the Royal Arsenal from the 17th to the 20th November.

The Concept Room, designed by EFR Interiors in collaboration with Paint and Paper Library London, showcased in a living room setting gorgeous prints curated by the Brocket Gallery. For more information on the artists and the Fair itself, click here

A very big thank you to all those who made it possible: 

Wall colour: Plimsoll by Paint and Paper Library

Temple Sofa: The Virginia White Collection

Rug: Woven

Armchair: Marie's Corner

Pendant lights: Tala

Fabrics & Cushions: Hugh St. Clair

Cube colours: Wax Bouquet, Blue Bird, Spruce, Slate V, Paarl, Beetlenut, Soba, Salvia & Aeoli.

WHAT YOUR HOME SAYS ABOUT YOU

Successful interiors manage to communicate the nature of people living in them. If clients hold back for some reason, or aspire to something they're not, their space inevitably becomes soulless or, worse, fake.

I found some pictures of Donald Trump's houses and I can't help thinking what terrible damage he'd do to the White House...

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

In decoration, as in life, association brings powerful advantages. When something ceases to be a unit to become a family, acquires strength and visibility. So, even the meaningless and the mundane, when grouped, can turn into something worth looking at. Whether by mere repetition or audacious juxtaposition, whether structured or organic, assortments of art pieces but also everyday objects become a more complex narrative that, inevitably, catches the eye and entertains. A few examples of the most disparate nature below. For more inspiration, visit my board on Pinterest by clicking here.

ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM

It takes some effort for a chromophiliac like me to live life in black and white. However, working on a Scandinavian inspired scheme for a client, I'm discovering the joys of monochrome. The resulting space is soft, bright and serene, rich with textures and punctuated with black accents.

THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF

My antidote to S.A.D., and the overbearing greyness outside my window, is to seek refuge in my imagination. Dreams, fairy tales, nature: all these elements have the power of enchanting and distracting us from the predictability our daily lives. How can we resist bringing a little whimsical to our interiors?

SEEING CELADON

A flying visit to Maison et Objet where, amongst many other delights, I have noticed an enthusiastic use of a colour I love: celadon. Fresh, soft and relaxing - the perfect antidote to the grim times we live in. Bring it on!

GRAN TORINO

The last thing a born and bred Torinese would ever do, it's to blow its own trumpet. However, I feel that, after all the years away from my hometown, I'm allowed to sing its praise a little. Torino is beautiful, of a subtle, somewhat secretive, sort of beauty. Sophisticated and elegant, poised and subversive, always delicious. Its wide avenues lined with plane trees and galleries, with myriads of secret courtyards leading off them, the explosions of baroque behind its deceptively simple facades, have shaped my perception of the world: call it an inescapable aesthetical imprinting. 

So there you have it: my unapologetic declaration of love for la mia Torino, a city full of wonderful architecture by visionary architects, past present and future, inside and out.

THE POWER OF PAINT

Some good quality paint, a brush and a free afternoon: is that simple to bring new life to even the most tired of corners.

MAD FOR MILAN

It's a good thing the weather has been glorious in London, otherwise missing Milan's Saloni this year would have been truly tragic. Some gems of creativity fresh from Milan in the gallery below.