Contemporary Colonial...

For a current Icon Interiors' project, we are specifying these beautiful colonial style chandeliers, which are formed by successive tiers of ceramic 'ostrich eggs'. This kind of style works beautifully in an orangery or large conservatory, surrounded by ivory linen sofas and driftwood tables.

The 'antler horns' are actually made of resin, and mimic the horns of the kudu and other species of the gazelle family. These products are sourced from Bobby Breen in Cape Town, and his website http://www.bobbybreen.co.za/ shows many other examples of this african style.

The style is very much classic colonial, yet the simplicity of the design brings this look up to date, echoing styles of african and asian boutique hotels. We often team this look with woven grass papers on the walls, natural silk scatter cushions, and contemporary artwork. Mohair blankets are another export of South Africa, and work well draped over the linen sofas.

Natural Willow...

These beautiful curved willow structures created by Judith Needham - http://www.judithneedham.co.uk/ - work really well as focal points in a garden, and can be adapted as playhouses for children. Willow is a material which is annually renewable and which will gradually degrade over about 5 years, and as a renewable source of material, it is eco-friendly.

The Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouse is designed to meet the child's need for imaginative play whilst being an attractive feature in the garden in its own right. The curvy lines and arched windows give the house a fairy tale quality. The twin spires and forked flags swinging gently in the breeze put one in mind of a knight's encampment. Its ambiguous form transforms effortlessly from cottage to castle, wigwam to igloo.

At the end of its life, rather than needing to go into landfill, it can simply be recycled in your own garden. You could use the willow as kindling if you have a fire; you could put it in the compost bin or you could shred it and use it as garden mulch.

It's all in the detail...

Continuing our theme of Bespoke Kitchens, we had such a great response from our previous article, and our clients and contacts asked for more details of our beautiful kitchen cabinetry. Our recent installation in Amersham has a tailor made larder, with walnut veneer shelves, bread and snack compartments. Our client runs a busy household, with two active, sports-mad boys, and the brief for the kitchen was practical but elegant.

This tall double larder opens out to allow all food stocks to be visible, and baking goods, spices and cereals are neatly arranged. This means everything is organised and accessible. The special compartments for bread and snacks are hand carved, and of course the drawers can be initialled with any name or quote.

We also like to add curves to our kitchens, which work particularly well on large islands, and this helps to soften the whole look, giving a hand made feel to the design.

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.