Our buildings shape us

“We shape our buildings and, afterwards, our buildings shape us” (Winston Churchill)

I doubt you were expecting to hear from Churchill in this newsletter! The quote from 1943 is taken from a speech about the Commons Chamber after it was damaged in the war. We know that we feel and behave differently in different buildings, different homes, different rooms. Think about the dark, claustrophobia of a night club, vs the muffled sounds and light of a library. Architecture and interior design do this - so why not harness this power in your own home?

And seven years after Churchill’s insight, the outcome was a new chamber and a new snuff box made from the timbers of the old building.

Light and Space

The calm of this photo belies the challenge that this project posed. It was a glazed extension to a pied à terre, tucked away on a quiet lane in a busy part of London. With no vehicle access, a very tight entrance down some narrow steps and lots of neighbours working from home, the logistics - and the many relationships - needed careful management. But it was worth it, and now the client has a new light-filled entertainment space and kitchen that have given the apartment a completely different feel. The remodel of the existing space also resulted in a second bathroom and a self-contained guest suite. We just had to hold our nerve and keep in mind the end game. Click here to see it a few weeks in.

Passementerie - it’s a thing

Tassels, fringes, edgings, braid, pom poms - the choice is enormous. The word itself dates back to 16th Century France, and for years it was only really associated with traditional design. But it is having a resurgence, and suppliers are coming up with contemporary designs including metallics and leather. By the end of a project, decision fatigue can set in, but the small decisions at that stage are just as important as the big decisions at the beginning. Take a plain fabric and add a trim, and suddenly you have something completely unique. The bullion fringe on this ottoman added texture and some fun opulence to my clients’ snug. This is pretty understated, but some of the more elaborate items can take days or weeks to make. Click here to see what is possible.

16 shades of gold….

This month’s brand story is about a furniture and lighting company, Porta Romana. Often assumed to be Italian because of its name, it was, in fact, set up 38 years ago in a small London workshop. Inspired by the artisans of Florence and forms from the natural world, it remains committed to working with exceptional artists and makers from across the British Isles, including glassblowers, ceramicists, metalworkers, and sculptors. Amongst their many finishes, they offer 16 different shades of gold. Now a global brand, they have become renowned for their quirky pieces including the Duck Feet lamp, (guaranteed to put a smile on your face), the Mushroom chandelier and Mussel Shell wall light. With 80% of their products made within a 45-mile radius of their workshop, they also make their own lampshades. I have seen an estimate that moving their lampshade studio in house has saved 32,500 miles of lampshade travel!

Image courtesy of Porta Romana

Working with Sarah Ross Design

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