My Secret Globetrotting Address Book
Favourite hangout close to home? It has to be Claridge's for me. I love the design inside and of course the service is excellent. As it is opposite my office in London, It is easy for me to visit, either for lunch, or a glass of wine after a busy day. The interior is glamorous, with its beautiful art deco influenced interior design by David Collins, who is a favourite of mine and a real inspiration for my work. I don’t need an excuse to take client’s there, they all love it too.
Best global getaway for design inspiration? Well this is an interesting question because it depends so much as to what I am designing. For instance, if I am designing something on a beach for a client, then I will visit a similar area to get my inspiration. Likewise, if I am designing a city pad, then my inspiration may come from London, New York, or Istanbul - they all offer such interesting and thought provoking architecture. I would take elements into my interior design work such as designing a piece of furniture based on the shape of the “Gherkin” in London, view the Roman-era Hippodrome for historical inspiration, or take the shape of a beautiful shell on a beach and use it to create a stylish staircase. Wherever I am, I observe nature too, the colours of Capability Brown’s gardens, and the mix of texture that we see in nature throughout the world and recreate this in my work.
Panoramic roof top terrace or garden haven? I love my gardens in the UK and in Barbados. I am very lucky to have a house on the beach in both locations. I get to smell the sea, listen to the waves crashing against the coral in Barbados, and watch the yacht racing from my decking in the UK. I love the sea and I spend all of the summer (and more if it is warm enough) sitting by the waters’ edge at the end of my garden, it is so relaxing and I love to hear people enjoying the water.
Top destination to visit on your bucket list? It has got to be the Island of Capri. It has such a fantastic and glamorous history to it, a favourite with Roman Emperors, artists and writers and although I have yet to visit it, I am completely drawn to it. I would love to visit the blue grotto which is supposed to be magical with electric blue waters, and to see the ruggedness of the Island as it is made up of limestone, and the picturesque Italian buildings. I am very sure it will totally inspire my design work.
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