Iconic Design at Harrods

Christopher Guy's iconic designs can now be found in a spectacular new showroom at Harrods. These overscale designs are perfect for the proportions of Victorian and Georgian Houses, and give a quirky twist to any interior design scheme.

At Icon Interiors, we have used this tall chairs in a dramatic hallway, teamed with italian chandeliers and bespoke rugs.

Composition is key when arranging furniture, and we often use this 'pyramid' formation of two tall chairs, with a central console and large mirror or painting to bring the whole composition together.

We like to view each room elevation as a separate view, and consider balance and proportion for each wall. This furniture has an Alice in Wonderland quality because of its huge proportions, and is an iconic statement for any interior design project.

Voyage Enfants

We were recently contacted by a client to check if we could decorate a young teenager's bedroom. The client had become frustrated at limited options offered in the high street, and her daughter had outgrown the ubiquitous princess themed bedrooms.

We suggested the Voyage Enfants range of fabrics, which contain appliqued fabrics with fashion motifs in muted peacock blues and fuchsia.

To work with the craftwork/vintage trend, there are also hotpotch style fabrics with patchwork flowers and florals. We suggest keeping the walls in simple neutral colours such as Farrow and Ball All White, and using the soft furnishings to add splashes of colour.

For older teenagers, other fabric ranges by Voyage Boutique may also appeal, as they have an artisitic/painterly quality to them, continuing the vintage style theme with Baboushka motifs. Additional colour can be added by high gloss lacquer painted furniture.

Voyage Fabrics

At Icon Interiors, we are always looking for new fabrics which are not available on the high street, and we have recently become suppliers of a range of fabrics by Voyage Decoration. The styles range from simple, muted greys to painterly, rich colours.

The Couture collection takes inspiration from the

catwalk, with embellished silks and linens, finished with swarovski crystals. The soft voiles are textured like origami, and fabrics are embossed to create texture.

The Lorient Studio Line collection takes inspiration from impressionist

paintings, with splashes of bold colour, floral motifs and botanical prints.

We are often asked if we have a signature style, and we encourage clients to understand that we aim to access the client's personal style by spending time with them in their home.

Good design takes into account the architecture of the building, family lifestyle, as well as aesthetic considerations. So we are delighted to offer a wide range of products to suit all client styles.

An Aga Saga...

One of the interesting parts of our interior design business at Icon Interiors, is working with clients to design a bespoke kitchen. Our painted kitchens can be styled with contemporary stainless steel fittings or be transformed into a country style kitchen by including traditional items such as an Aga or a Rayburn.

These traditional ovens can be fuelled by a variety of sources, such as gas, oil and wood burning - they can also be converted to electrical supply, which can be an attractive option given recent oil price rises. It also is possible to re-engineer solid fuel cookers to run on oil or gas, and vice versa. It is also possible to switch between fuel types. Lately, there has been an increasing demand for electric AGA cookers running off a simple 13 amp circuit. AGA Twyford in conjunction with AGA Rangemaster Ltd., are in the forefront of this technology and can offer fully authorized on site conversions as

well as detailed factory changeovers together with complete or partial renovations.It is important to find a reputable supplier and conversion company for all of these products as there are many considerations to be taken into account, ie ventilation, placement, and maintenance.

AGA Twyford Limited (formerly Twyford Cookers) was started by Ian & Rose Norman in 1990 and is the only Aga cooker renovating company authorized by AGA Rangemaster Ltd. to carry out the worldwide professional restoration of AGA cookers. See their website http://www.twyford-cookers.com for further details.

A Quintessentially English Velvet Rose...

In a quaint Hampshire village, the quintessentially English quirky designs by Marsha Swanzy have developed a cult local following. Based on treasured finds at auctions, flea markets and car boot sales, Marsha transforms antique furniture with vintage fabrics. The upholstered furniture is now transformed into an heirloom piece to be handed down through generations.

Marsha's background in fashion design, combined with experience as an upholsterer, ensures her shop, Velvet Rose, is fully stocked with bespoke vintage clothing, furniture and jewellery.

At Icon Interiors, we could use Marsha's designs for commercial projects, such as gastro pubs and boutique hotels, or for holiday cottages for our London clients. Velvet Rose is based in Whitchurch, Hampshire and for further details see the website http://www.marshaswanzy.co.uk/.

Interpreting the Cult of Beauty...

We continue our theme of the Cult of Beauty, and how this aesthetic

movement can be interpreted using modern suppliers. The essence of the aesthetic movement encapsulates the theory of Art for Art's Sake, and these beautiful hand painted wallpapers by De Gournay are both wall covering and artwork.

The floral motif designs are drawn from the naturalistic style of this movement, whilst embracing influences from chinese and japanese design. The bespoke quality of these papers allow our clients to have panels created exactly to suit a particular room.

Design schemes can be created in subtle, muted/neutral tones to suit a minimalist interior, or with vibrant yellows with bold chrysanthemum motifs to suit a classical interior.

THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

The world of interiors is currently inspired by The Cult of Beauty Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum (2 April to 17 July 2011).

The Cult of Beauty is the first major exhibition to capture the essence of Aestheticism, exploring an artistic movement which sought to escape the ugliness and materialism of the Victorian era by creating a new kind of art and beauty. This artistic movement encompassed artists, designers and poets, and explores how they promoted the idea of ‘art for art’s sake. This myriad of artistic influences would greatly affect how domestic interior design evolved for the middle class home, with the notion of ‘The House Beautiful’ as an embodiment of cultured living.

The collaboration between artists and designers continues today, and in the UK, we are fortunate enough to have our own quiet design revolution adhering to the principles of the Cult of Beauty. Hence, it is possible to recapture the essence of Aestheticism, yet reinterpret the original design ideas for contemporary living.

Influenced by natural motifs, classical art, Japanese and Indian design, Cole and Son have been manufacturing wallpaper since 1875. The Cole & Sonarchive consists of approximately 1,800 block print designs, 350 screenprint designs and a huge quantity of original drawings and wallpapers, representing all the styles from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Amongst these are some of the most important historic wallpaper designs in the world.

The large scale floral motif of this ‘magnolia’ design, with its simple background, has a contemporary edge and would work well as a feature wall. For a bolder design statement, the ‘woods’ design works beautifully in a long hallway or garden room. For smaller rooms, the classical landscapes from the Fornasetti collection are an intriguing design feature.

Demonstrating that the collaboration between art and design has never been more intertwined, Benchmark Furniture produces contemporary furniture in a sustainable way that will last several lifetimes. As well as championing up and coming designers, world renowned names such as Terence Conran and Thomas Heatherwick are also part of the design team.