French Gray, Old White and Agas...

This beautiful kitchen in Buckinghamshire has just been completed by our team. The client brief originally stipulated an uber-contemporary kitchen, but after a sourcing trip in London, and lots of discussion about the architecture of the house, we completely changed the brief to accommodate a classic/contemporary kitchen style. The client particularly liked the Aga-style of cooking, and we planned the kitchen around this feature. For the summer months, the Aga can be switched off, and a standard integrated oven is used.

The flooring is engineered oak, the worktops are ivory quartz, and the paint colours are Farrow & Ball French Gray and Old White. The walls are decorated with Farrow & Ball Clunch.

We also incorporated a wine rack and media cabient for the dining area, and paid particular attention to lighting. This side of the room now has a wonderful warm glow, and is perfect for family suppers or smart dinner parties.

From Wallpaper to Abu Dhabi...

In the interior design industry, we meet a multitude of suppliers, ranging from bespoke cabinet makers to fabric and wallpaper designers. This is part of our efforts to build a network of unique sources, to offer our clients a bespoke interior design service. We pride ourselves, where possible, in sourcing directly from the artist or supplier to gain the best deal possible for our clients.

However, nothing quite prepared us for meeting Kevin Dean, who is an artist and designer with a varied portfolio, ranging from fabric and wallpaper design to mosaics, ceramics and book illustrations.

Working with Fantini Mosaici of Milan, Kevin has created a unique floral design for the marble floor of the 18,000 sq m Sahan or courtyard in The Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi. He also designed other large floors and archways within the mosque in collaboration with the international architects Spatium, Milan.

In May 2008 Kevin showed his first collection of wallpapers at The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York. The English Roses collection of wallpapers is traditional/classic but the scale of the designs, the colours and materials used give the collection a very contemporary look. Kevin's designs can also be found at Liberty's in London.

Contemporary Chinoiserie...

The Chinoiserie style was at its height from 1750 to 1765, and was inspired by art and design from China, Japan and other Asian countries. In the 18th century porcelain, silk and lacquerware imported from China and Japan were extremely fashionable. This led many British designers and craftsmen to imitate Asian designs and to create their own fanciful versions of the East.



This trend of constantly re-interpreting the chinoiserie style continues to this day, with beautiful bespoke designs being offered by Fromental. The designs range from classical scenes to ornately embellished designs in regal colours.




These intricate designs work in contemporary homes when the wallpaper itself is treated as artwork, and furniture and soft furnishings should be simple and understated. The pared down designs of cherry blossom and willow trees are iconic chinese and japanese images, which suit modern interiors.

It's all about the motifs...

The resurgence of interest in hand crafted products and focus on the home is reflected in the emerging designs of younger textile designers. Catherine Crew's final degree show at the Winchester School of Art has an edgy, hand crafted quality, using strong motifs of domesticity. Images such as cutlery and clocks are arranged with architectural precision. The colour palette of soft blues and greys are lifted by flashes of pistachio and white.

At Icon Interiors, our clients are constantly asking us to source products which do not come from the high street, and where they can meet the artist directly to discuss their works or commission bespoke pieces. As interior designers, we are delighted to be contacted by artists and often visit gallery exhibitions and artists' studios.