Earlier this year, we took a trip to North Lincolnshire to visit \nSawcliffe Manor\n, the centuries-old ancestral home belonging to the Elwes family. A labour of love spanning three decades today, it is a characterful and colourful holiday home. We took a tour around the property and chatted to Emily Elwes about why colour is not to be feared, how to use leftover paint to transform your stairs, and the plan for redecorating their Library Room.\n\n\nWhat’s the history behind Sawcliffe Manor? Do you feel a need to maintain its traditional style or do you feel like you have the freedom to put your own stamp on it?\nSawcliffe is a farmhouse with very ancient roots dating back to the Middle Ages. We’ve spent almost 30 years renovating it and now, with the help of the income that we generate from hosting large groups of Airbnb guests (we sleep up to 48) we’re working on saving its numerous out-buildings from ruin too.\nIn many ways, the manor’s history really dictates the style of the rooms, as its original features are so strong. We have living rooms with Tudor stone windows and Inglenooks on one end of the Manor, and others with high Georgian ceilings and panelled windows, each dictates what it wants and we let that inspire us. We wish there was a science to it that we could share with you, but our style is very much dictated by gut feeling and whatever we feel like experimenting with at the time!

The house is a gorgeous mix of old and new. Would you say the wall mural in your kitchen, proclaiming “Out with the old and in with the new” sums up your attitude towards decorating? \n“Out with the old in with the new” is our life motto. To let something new in you have to let go of something old. We don’t like to be too precious about decorating and things in our life - we like to have fun and be creative wherever we can. Life is short, and this manor will certainly outlive us!

Sawcliffe Manor is a heady mix of traditional furnishings paired with textiles from around the world and a liberal dose of colour. What would you describe your style as and how do you approach marrying different elements together? \nMaximalism with a whole lot of fun added in. We love to collect inspiration and colour combinations from all over Europe.\nThe only thing we love more than a hand-painted staircase is a hand-painted staircase using leftover paints. Where did the inspiration come from and how did you decide on the colours and designs that you went for? \nOh, well we just used all the leftover wood paint that we had and let creativity take hold. Mum likes to paint in a ‘naive’ style, so she doesn’t think too much about making her patterns perfect. If it goes wrong, you can always paint over it.

With 9 staircases, 22 rooms, and 26 windows, it must have been a daunting project. What would your advice be to someone taking on a period property renovation? \nPatience, and lots of it. This isn’t a sprint it’s a marathon. Renovating is much more of a lifestyle choice rather than anything logical. We think that early on it’s a good idea to get used to things being imperfect, as period properties always have their quirks.\nBeyond that, we’d highly recommend paying homage as best you can to original building techniques. Using plasters and water-based paints to help your property remain breathable will be a good long term investment for the health and longevity of your home, even if it might seem like a big expense to begin with.\nFinally, get yourselves a subscription to World of Interiors, they have lots of fascinating period properties and articles that you can paw over and get inspiration from.

Each of Sawcliffe Manor’s 7 bedrooms is decorated in a unique style. What was the inspiration behind the rooms and how did you keep them looking tied together yet still individual?\nFor each room we tend to pay attention to the light streaming into it (is it north facing with a blue light? Or is it south facing with a warmer light), and from there we combine that insight with the proportions and shape of the room to help us make decisions. A large 3-meter high room with original mouldings will naturally call for a grand design with more sumptuous colour and fabric choices, whereas an attic room with low ceilings will call for something cosier, maybe even chocolate colours. We also try and sleep in each room before we make any decisions - even the kitchen!

The house is filled with quirky antiques. What’s your secret to sourcing them and where would you recommend our readers begin? \nWe were reluctant to let you in on this tip, but since the pandemic, most local auction houses have gone online and have fabulous shipping options. That means that you can now shop for antiques from the comfort of your own sofa.\n\nMaintaining the house must be one thing, but the grounds of Sawcliffe Manor are extensive. We love your Cottagecore style—how do you keep them looking as beautiful as they do? \nWe have a lot of garden to tend to, that’s true! We like to say, “if you can’t beat them, join them”, so we have created rewilded borders, areas for nettles and moles, and even planted wildflowers for the birds and the bees. We have a real love of living willow garden ‘fledges’ - these are fence hedges. They are beautiful woven structures and we work with Lincolnshire Willow every year to renew them.

Let’s talk about that yurt. It looks like such an incredible entertaining space! What was behind the decision to go out and buy it? \nWe’re not sure that there was much decision-making behind it, it was more of an impulsive eBay purchase which was the bargain of the century at the time. We originally bought it as a studio and office space for Mum, and it’s so nice that it’s now enjoying a new lease of life as a glamping spot and a party venue for our manor guests on the weekends.\nWe absolutely love its structure and style. Every year we take it down and put it back up again ready for its spring clean, and we never get tired of seeing this magnificent structure, holding this fabulous dome up by geometry. Photos definitely don’t do it justice!

Whilst you’ll seldom see it referenced on the pages of a glossy interiors magazine, budget impacts every level of a decor project. What would be your top tips for decorating on a budget? \nPaint is one of the most cost-effective ways of adding style and interest to a room. We promise you we’re not just saying this because we’re being interviewed by Lick, we’ve always been huge lovers of using paint as a first port of call. We’d also recommend thinking about large antiques like wardrobes and other large items. \nIn sales and auctions, these items have a similar price tag to shops like IKEA and other furniture stores. Finally, if you are buying antiques, go for whatever you find fun, not what’s necessarily on-trend. Right now for instance, Edwardian furniture is very affordable, or items from the 1930s. You can find fab bargains of excellent quality by going against the tide.\n\nIf you had to choose just one, what would your favourite Lick paint colour be? \nThat would be like choosing a favourite child.\n
Find out more about \nSawcliffe Manor\n on their website or follow them on \nInstagram\n to stay in the know about upcoming events and availability.

When Zoe Lower and her boyfriend Titus moved to Margate back in 2020, no one could have predicted what the upcoming years would have in store. Inspired by their own travels around the world, they spent most of lockdown transforming a six-bedroom townhouse into a colourful haven for the global gallivant. Each room will take you on a journey across the world, from Japan to Morocco.\nIf Zoe’s glittering transformations at \nThe Mermaid Cave\n (the travelling business she founded back in 2015) were anything to go by, it was apparent from the start that \nThe Tides\n, Margate was going to be a saturated success story. From reupholstering their own furniture to creating their own art, their seafront guesthouse and shoot location is a love letter to the repurposed, second-hand, and vintage.\nWe sat down with Zoe to talk about all things eco-friendly decorating, going bold with contrasting colours, and DIY corner-cutting.
\nWe love how each of the rooms takes you on a tour around the world. What was the inspiration behind each of the designs? \nIt was actually my boyfriend, Titus’ idea to do themed rooms. Each of the rooms are inspired by places we’d been on our travels.\nMy boyfriend Titus has spent quite a bit of time in Japan, so that’s where that came from. As the Japan room was initially our bedroom, he wanted it to be restful and have a monotone colour scheme, hence the black and white (with a bit of gold thrown in too). I’m obsessed with the kimono hanging above the bed in there too. Honestly, I’d grab Onyx (the cat) and that in a fire.

The vision for the Moroccan room was to create a dilapidated palace feel. Once I found the rugs it sort of took on a psychedelic sixties twist. Our only real extravagance was the rugs in the Moroccan room: they’re art for the floor! We’ve tried to buy as much as possible, locally, but you’ve got to have Moroccan rugs from Morocco. We got them on Etsy (which is a carbon-neutral company) and they’re also vintage, which makes me feel slightly better about it.

Bali’s probably the place I’d been to the most. I wanted to offer something a bit more ‘monk-like’ but still with a ‘Tides’ twist. The room’s neutral colour scheme gives it such a calming atmosphere, and everything in there is built for comfort. Many of the rooms have the most unbelievably soft sheets by Paragon Bamboo. It was so important for us to design spaces that felt like a retreat for our guests, and the sheets in the Bali room are the comfiest you will ever sleep in!

The Mexican room was inspired by our trip to Oaxaca just before lockdown. It’s very rainbow, with lots of cobbled streets. It’s got a really romantic feel there. We were inspired by the colourful, little churches you find there. So we decided to have stained glass windows in the bathroom. It’s meant to be a sort of cobbled courtyard garden. The walls are actually encrusted with used coffee grounds to create a textured look. So I kept them in the freezer for months before I started on those!

In three words, how would you describe your decor style? \nHand-crafted, surrealist, detailed.\nYou have a wonderful attention to detail. How did you go about sourcing all the fittings and furnishings? \nI always know what I’m looking for, sometimes I just haven’t found it. When you do know what you’re after, Facebook Marketplace is great; otherwise, it can be a bit of a rabbit hole. We haven’t sourced anything from high-street retailers or Amazon. I actually did a panic dash to TK Maxx just before we opened, and had to take the stuff back as it just didn’t look right. Most of our fabrics are second-hand from eBay. Margate is great for antique and charity shops.\nI love things that have a history, like the parasols in the Japanese room. I sent pictures of the room to a few of the people we bought them from, some of them were clearing out their granny’s loft, and they were so happy. It's lovely to be able to give something a new life, to show it’s gone from being hidden in the attic to pride of place in a new home.

What was your approach to sustainability when designing The Tides?\nMaximalist design with minimal impact. That’s the key take-home, to tread lightly. Because I’ve been trying not to buy new, I’ve found some really weird and wonderful things. We want it to be escapist. We want guests to come here and feel like they're transported. I think one of the main things that makes us unique is that almost everything, from the canvases to the fabrics, is sourced second-hand. What isn’t, we’ve bought from brands that are ethical and eco-friendly. Our zero waste solution to bathroom luxury was found with the gorgeous FIILS products. They provide an all-natural, divine smelling range in a closed-loop supply, so we can offer all the hotel luxuries without the guilt of any waste in packaging. I also use \nleftover paint\n for my artwork and \nupcycling furniture\n. Nothing goes to waste!\n
\nWhat would your advice be to first-time upcyclers?\nI’m a bit of a corner cutter, and my advice would be not to do this. The pieces where I’ve followed the steps are the ones that look the best. And they’re the ones that will stand the test of time.\nWe love how brave you’ve been with your colour combinations. How did you go about putting the colour schemes together?\nI feel like I’m always treading the line between colourful and garish. But for me, colour soothes me. I probably have the same reaction when walking into the Moroccan room that most people get when walking into a neutral room. I'm a big fan of colour contrasts. I do a lot of fashion photography, so I’m always considering gradations and tones.\nWhen it comes to putting a colour scheme together, sometimes it’s one random piece that can inform the whole palette. My biggest learning from the Moroccan room project was that it’s so much more difficult to find the perfect rug once everything else is in place.\n \nFind the rug first and then you can weave in the other colours and fabrics.

Fancy a trip to The Tides? You can book your stay on their \nwebsite\n or give them a follow at \n@the.tides.margate\n to keep up to date with the latest news.  

If you’ve ever dreamt about building your own home, you’ve most likely watched and swooned over \nChannel Four’s Grand Designs\n. Presenter and designer Kevin McCloud has been running the show for more than 30-years now. He has seen plenty of setbacks, budget disasters and fallouts throughout his tenure of more than 200 episodes. So, what’s the secret to making a design project, no matter how big or small, go smoothly? We caught up with him to find out how best to embark on your own Grand Design.\n\nWhat’s your advice to anyone undertaking their own design project for the first time?\nKM: “I say this to everybody, and I’ve been saying this for 30 years – the world is full of brilliant people that want to help. Whether that’s your aunt, your best mate, your uncle’s friend who happens to be a builder, or your local architect. We show such extraordinary self-competence as human beings - we think we can do everything. But putting up shelves is very different from building a house. Asking for help in our lives is not something that most of us are very good at doing, but it’s a really important thing to do. When you do, your blood pressure drops, your heart skips a beat and you feel good. Just asking for help from any human being is the first step.”

What advice do you have for people to try to help them stick to their budget?\nKM: “That’s a really good question because it cuts right to the essence of what it is to be a human being. We are a species in which hope drives us. It gives us our ambition and desire to change our world – to make a better living room or bedroom, to build a new house, or to change our street. All of these things are good motivations, but with hope comes desire and an inevitable drive to overreach. We think we will get more done in a day than we can and we think we will build a house cheaper than we actually do.”

It’s like they said in the military: ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. If you plan and prepare it’s where you will save money.

“If you get a good quantity surveyor on board who can look at your project dispassionately and tell you how much it’s going to cost, then that’s a good start. It’s asking for help, and you need someone pragmatic to help you. It’s like they say in the military: ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail.’ If you spend three years planning a project you will spend three years building it, but if you spend five years planning a project then you may only spend one year building it. If you plan and prepare it’s where you will save money.”

What about dealing with setbacks in a project?\nKM: “The trouble is that on television we are used to seeing people get into trouble and then magically getting out of it. How did they do that? Usually by writing a very large cheque. Chequebook architecture, or spending your way out of a hole, is a lazy way of dealing with problems. I think that most of us forget that the best solutions are those which are thought about.”\n\n“We want things to be made good instantly in our lives, but that only happens with hard work, application, and thought. The best thing about us as a species is that we are creative and we can think our way out of problems. Don’t be duped by fairy tale stories – roll your sleeves up, sit down with those around you and share the problem to see how you can solve it.”

How is sustainability changing the way we design?\nKM: “Whereas the green home of 15 years ago might have had technology bolted on to it, now the sustainable home almost has an aesthetic. It can look like anything, but it should have thick walls and heavy concrete for cooling, triple glazing and external shading. These demands really affect how a building looks. Architecture is being driven by science and functionality, and the physics of the fact that summers are getting hotter and winters are getting wetter. As our weather patterns are changing, we are becoming much more aware of a need for resilience and so we are designing that into buildings and that’s changing the way that they look.”\nIf you could only choose one colour for an interior project, what colour would it be and why?\nKM: “As I get older, I’m fitting more into my socio-economic age group stereotype and I’m using more white. Here’s a piece of colour physiology: the average 70-year-old only has 12% of their colour receptor cells in their retina, so you need between seven and eight times as much light when you are older. If you ask a 25-year-old what colours they’re using to paint their house they use dark, rich and deep colours and they can because they’re in their 20s. Whereas I am at an age where I am thinking that I need five times as much light and I need everything to be white please.”\nTempted to embark on your own Grand Design project? We have all of the \ntools\n that you need to start your own home makeover. For more tips and insider info on how to get started, check out the \nlatest tips and tricks\n on our magazine.

Grand Designs Live will return to Excel London from 30th April – 8th May 2022.\nGrand Designs: The Streets airs on Wednesdays, 9pm on Channel 4.\nFor more information visit \nwww.granddesignslive.com\n.

It was a sunny, spring afternoon - with the sound of honking geese and the smell of hyacinths in the air - when we made our way through Hyde Park. Destination: The Magazine, arguably London’s sleekest lunch spot. Urban parks have become a lifeline to many city dwellers, no more so than Hyde Park, the city’s largest green space.\n\nOpening last summer, in the midst of more pandemic uncertainty, The Magazine, brought to you by Benugo, was the remedy to our covid woes. Housed in the late Zaha Hadid’s curvaceous extension of the Serpentine’s North Gallery, style, sustainability, and a seasonal flair abound at this triumph of contemporary architecture and the new wave of modern eco-dining.

The motto here is ‘maximum taste and minimum waste’. Head Chef, Tomas Kolkus has created a simple yet seasonal menu including charred kohlrabi, rope-grown mussels, and slow-roasted cauliflower. Working alongside the Cooking Sections Climavore project, the menu is created with the ‘new seasonalities’ resulting from the climate emergency.

Creating delicious food with minimum impact on the environment is the restaurant’s \nraison d’etre\n. Even the menu is printed on 100% recycled grass paper. It's this thought-provoking cooking, set against the backdrop of Zaha Hadid’s fluid and light-filled contemporary architecture, that creates a unique dining narrative. The setting is a work of art in itself. With that in mind, whilst you’re here, why not dine on culture as well as the cuisine and pop into The Serpentine Gallery for one of their year-round free exhibitions.\n\nAt the time of writing, you can catch Radio Ballads, the culmination of three years of work by artists Sonia Boyce, Helen Cammock, Rory Pilgrim and Ilona Sagar, this collaborative work was created with the social workers, carers, organisers and residents featured, exploring stories of labour, and who cares for who and in what way. Exhibiting until 29th May 2022. Or catch Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster’s sci-fi inspired Alienarium 5, from 14 Apr—4 Sep 2022.

So, whether you’re stopping for lunch or just grabbing a quick coffee for a stroll around Hyde Park or to take in the latest exhibition, \nThe Magazine\n remains one of London’s most stylish spots. For more sustainable guides to the UK’s capital, take a look at our round-up of \nLondon’s best eco-friendly hotels\n, \nLondon’s best eco-friendly bars and restaurants\n, and \nthe best sustainable homeware shops in London\n.   

Lovers of \nmid-century modern furniture\n should run, not walk, to Home Union: a bright space full of one-of-a-kind treasures for the home in Williamsburg, NYC. The vintage furniture store was founded by partners Daniel King and Meghan Lavery back in 2016, a natural outlet for their shared passion for 20th-century design and growing collection of antique finds. The duo share a keen visual eye; their backgrounds in fashion and woodworking inform a curated selection of textiles, housewares, and mid-century modern furniture.

We’re fans of mixing and matching pieces from different eras, and Home Union makes it easy to plan, envision, and experiment with that—whether you’re shopping online or in-store. Take, for example, the 1906s rattan basket chairs by Egon Eiermann, and imagine them illuminated by the 1970s Caprani lamp. Both are available either in-shop or online (...for now, and likely not for long). Or give your living room an upgrade with one of their stunning credenzas: a 1960s Danish teak option by Arne Vodder stands out for its subtle variation in drawer size and stunning wood grain.

It’s the little things that turn a space into a home, and Home Union has plenty of vintage candlestick holders, glassware, spice grinders, teapots, and other knick-knacks to stock your shelves. Hand-blown tumblers by Brooklyn-based brand Sticky Glass will add a playful element to your kitchen, and these sculptural ceramic dishes with a handkerchief print will do the same for your living room.

If you’re looking for a statement piece, there’s no better way to transform a room than by adding a modern rug bursting with colour or in an eye-catching pattern. If you’re open to both at the same time, consider the Home Union x PIECES collaboration: a line of unapologetically loud rugs inspired by the whimsical aesthetic of ‘60s and ‘70s modern Italian design and countless Italian-American institutions around Williamsburg.

Whether you’re looking to redo a room or simply add an eye-catching new element to a space you already love, \nHome Union\n might have just the pieces you need. Go have a snoop on \ntheir Instagram\n if you don't believe us.

A lavish hotel space bursting with retro-inspired colours and bright features, this Miami Beach destination is an interior designer’s dream…\n\nMiami is synonymous with opulence. Its historic homes, Art Deco architecture, and hedonistic lifestyle create a unique atmosphere that draws people to its shores throughout the year. Exciting new spaces are often emerging on the Miami hospitality scene, but one particular hotel is turning heads with its fresh design and playful spirit.

The Goodtime Hotel is a creative partnership between restauranter David Grutman and singer and producer Pharrell Williams. The duo describe the hotel as an escape from reality, a place to relax, and a home to revelry. Located in the heart of the historic South Beach area of Miami, the Goodtime Hotel is just moments away from the beach and hubbub of Ocean Drive.

Grutman and Williams called upon the famed designer Ken Fulk to create the vibe of the hotel. Based in San Francisco, Fulk's designs and productions are renowned to be sophisticated and theatrical, and include Boston members’ lounge The Quin House, San Francisco’s Battery Club and Boulevard restaurant, and the Big Sur wedding of tech guru Sean Parker (which made headlines with its extraordinarily lavish nature).

The aesthetic of the hotel is very much Miami and the striking entrance truly sets the scene. “When you arrive at the hotel and walk through our doors, it becomes a full-on experience,” says David Grutman. “When you’re at the Goodtime, we want you to feel like your worries and anxieties have been left outside.” 

A lush, double-height atrium bursting with plants greets guests and visitors, while an Art Deco palette of pastel colours, leopard prints and palm tree accents adorn the interior. The hotel embraces the use of bright, patterned wallpaper and hand-painted murals as well as plush furnishings to create an immersive design experience. Fulk’s attention to detail and playful approach to design is showcased throughout the Goodtime Hotel. Imprints of wet footprints – as if just imprinted by a guest coming from the pool – are incorporated into the hallway carpet and bright pink vintage phones are placed on the bedside table.

One of the most interesting spaces is 'The Library', a co-working room to be utilised by the hotel's guests throughout their stay. The design team used Wes Anderson’s film \nThe Royal Tenenbaums \nas a creative touchstone, particularly focusing on Gwyneth Paltrow’s character Margot for inspiration.
\nThe whimsical design strikes an effortless balance between fun pieces, vintage furniture, and contemporary amenities to create a peach-hued space to work and relax. The guest bedrooms are compact but the design definitely still packs a punch. The vintage glamour of the 1920s is delicately incorporated in the palm tree print robes, custom drapes, wicker furniture, and pink-hued bathroom tiles.

Moving outside, the pool is one of the hotel’s standout features. Divided by a runaway and adorned with pink stripes, it is one of the most ‘Instagrammable’ places in Miami. The pool’s ‘Strawberry Moon’ cabanas are privatised areas where guests can lounge and relax away from the heat of the sun. The tropical experience is further enhanced by the pool area’s use of Palm trees and foliage, designed by landscaper Raymond Jungles. Each weekend, the hotel hosts DJs and entertainers by its pool, deck, and lounge area to further add to the party atmosphere.

An impeccably designed space that has certainly made its mark on the Miami world, guests of this hotel are sure to have a good time. \nBook a room at the Goodtime Hotel here\n and soak up what Miami has to offer.

York has seen travellers and traders come and go for thousands of years. From Roman settlers to Viking invaders, the famed York Castle was built by none other than William the Conqueror. It played a key role in the rich tapestry of England’s history, from a medieval trading hub—still visible as you wind your way along the narrow, cobbled streets of The Shambles​​—to a cornerstone of England’s railway network. But today, the York in which we lay our scene (and our heads), plays a more contemporary tune. Enter, \nNo.1 by Guesthouse, York\n. We caught up with Martin, of \nMartin Hulbert Design\n, the man behind the interiors of York’s hottest ticket in town.\n\nFilled with antiques, local paraphernalia, statement art, and curated gallery walls, Martin explains how the process of sourcing the artwork ended up being quite organic. “We often buy things and don’t know where they’re going to go,” he explains. “Otherwise it can feel contrived. This way it has soul and feels lived in. There’s a spontaneity to it”. The aim was to make it feel like a home and in that, Martin has succeeded. Behind that double-fronted Georgian facade, there’s a warm and welcoming retreat. It feels smaller than its 39 rooms⁠—guests chat over coffee or cocktails.

A yellow-based, neutral backdrop creates a feeling of friendliness, whilst allowing the art to do the talking. Eye-catching geometric works, commissioned by a local artist, are a contemporary take on the Medieval encaustic floor tiles in York Minster. Whilst in the bar, two steam train oil paintings (not to mention a miniature train set, which sets off on a course around the room every half hour) is yet another nod to the past and York’s rich history. If it's all too folksy it can end up feeling a bit pastiche”, Martin explains.

The bedrooms are anything but. Decorated in Martin’s signature paired-back style, there’s something quite dreamlike about those capacious four-posters and white-on-white linens. “When you go away for a long weekend you just want a sanctuary, you don’t want to be challenged. You can have too many things going on in your eyes”, says Martin. “We had great ceiling height, so that makes the rooms feel more dramatic than your average hotel room. The aim was to acknowledge the past whilst looking forwards”, Martin explains.

There are lots of thoughtful touches too. No.1 by Guesthouse, York doesn’t just pay lip service to being child and dog-friendly. They go out of their way to make your children (two-legged or four-legged) very welcome. From in-room tee-pees, a ‘help yourself’ tuck shop to dog beds, bowls, and lots of treats. Not to mention a local guide for dog-walkers. For grown-ups, there's a record player and a library of LPs. The Nespresso machine hidden within a doll's house is one of the most playful examples of ‘shy tech’ we’ve ever seen.

Even the drinks menu pays a subtle nod to York’s vibrant history. From the Utter Shambles (vodka, camomile, lime, vanilla, passionfruit, and egg whites), named after the city’s medieval shopping street to award-winning sparkling wine from the Yorkshire Wolds. Dinner is smart without being overly formal and the menu is filled with lots of comforting dishes like shepherd’s pie and popular Sunday lunch with all the trimmings (and ‘proper’ Yorkshires), all made with produce local to ‘God’s Own Country’.

Not York-bound anytime soon? No.1 by Guesthouse has an equally smart hotel in \nBath\n and will be coming to \nBrighton\n in 2023. We’ll see you there.

A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach, Sketch has become one of London's most iconic (and most photographed) restaurants since its opening in 2014. Known for its millennial pink palette, 239 David Shrigley artworks, and some Tate Modern worthy afternoon teas, did you know that those interiors were only supposed to hang around for a couple of years?

Proving so popular, they stayed put. Until now… Sketch has said farewell to pastel pink; hello, mellow yellow. And quite frankly, we're obsessed. The redesign was once again the baby of Iranian-French designer India Mahdavi. She was the creative mind behind Sketch's original dreamlike iteration (as well as those much-reproduced marshmallow chairs. That's right, those are hers!) and projects for Ladurée. So, you can see where she gets her inspiration from.

It feels like a new dawn for the restaurant. As \nCharlotte Cropper, our International Colour Consultant\n puts it, "whilst pink is always on our radar -our decorators love it- and it will always have a place in our hearts and our homes, this transition to yellow just feels a bit more grown-up. It's still joyful, bold, and a total escape from the outside world, but it's all done in a slightly more sophisticated way". To paraphrase, "it feels like a sunny escape from reality".

This transition to yellow feels a bit more grown-up. It's still joyful, bold, and a total escape from the outside world, but it's all done in a slightly more sophisticated way.

According to colour psychology, yellow connects us to our emotions. So these walls will warm, inspire and encourage conversation (if even just about the décor). "It adds a dose of optimism that we're all yearning for right now", says Charlotte.

Mixing up more than just the wall colour, there's also a new artist in residence, \nBritish-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE\n, whose 14 colourful works adorn the walls. Sketch's celebration of African crafts continues throughout, including fabrics by Dakar-based Aissa Dione and handmade wall lights made by Ghanian weavers and designed by Inés Bressand.

And it's not just the interiors that are changing. The menu's getting a fresh look too. Head chef, Pierre Gagnaire, has created an all-new West African-inspired menu including 'Yinka Rice' an interpretation of local staple, 'jollof' and the Yinka Zobo, a rum-based cocktail that slips down dangerously easily.\n
What do you think? Decide for yourself and head down to Sketch to dine amongst art and feast on its new interiors. Like the look of this fusion of style and art? Take a read of our spotlight on '\nWhere East meets West End: a fusion of pattern at Beaverbrook Town House\n' for some serious interior inspiration.

There’s a lot to love about \nNura\n, a breezy new date spot in Greenpoint, NYC, from the husband-wife duo behind \nOtis\n. The opening is already making waves, in part due to the fact that they’ve got \nRobertas\n’ ex-executive chef in the kitchen, in part due to the breadbasket. Because we know you want details on the latter, cosied up in a golden yellow cloth you’ll find puffy, Tandoori oven-baked garlic-coriander naan and miniature loaves of maple cornbread, served alongside three dips: yogurt, spicy hummus, and a blended, spiced carrot situation.

But hey, we’re not here to talk about dips. Not today. Nura is also a gorgeous space we can look to for biophilic design inspiration: the rising design trend of bringing nature and elements from the natural world into a space for our optimal health and mental wellbeing.\nFrom the hundreds of plants within the light-drenched warehouse to the onion-stained alpaca lampshades hanging overhead, let’s get inspired by how Nura brings this biophilic dreamscape alive.

1. Mix and match plant textures, heights, and containers\nWe’ve seen a rise in biophilia in recent years, as more and more urbanites realise we have an innate need to connect with nature. We are actually biologically encoded to respond positively to natural elements—perhaps due to the thousands of years spent evolving in nature before ‘big city life’ became a common reality. Countless studies have shown that exposure to plants decreases anxiety, lowers stress, and promotes overall wellbeing.\n\nTo that end, the designers behind Nura filled the space with hundreds of potted trees and tropical shrubs, with the goal of  “[emphasizing] the natural beauty of the corner space.” We can look to the intentionality of their choices and placement as inspiration when designing our own green oases.\n\nApproach combining plants the same way you mix throw pillow textures or bedding materials. Combine different plant textures, placing something like a towering Ficus tree with small, shiny oval leaves beside a short Dracaena with long, striped foliage. Take the same approach towards the containers. First, thoughtfully select a colour palette to play within, based on the overall vibe of your space, then take an eclectic approach towards mixing container shapes and shades. For inspiration, note how Nura’s dining room container palette includes brass, grays, and terracotta, complementing the restaurant’s overall Moroccan design.

2. Lean on natural materials and earthy tones\nIt’s not just plants that can transform a space. As Biophilic Design author Stephen R Kellert states, “The use of natural materials such as wood, and spaces that include natural geometries such as fractals and curves can be highly evocative and satisfy biophilic design needs.”\n\nAt Nura, a massive skylight and floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with sunlight at magic hour and the night sky after sundown. The space was formerly an auto-body shop, and they pay homage to that through an exposed industrial ceiling and gray stone floor, while adding biophilic elements like curved-back dining chairs with caramel-colored leather seats and onion-dyed alpaca lampshades.\n\nTaking inspiration from Nura, consider how you can add biophilic design elements to complement the bones of your space. Choosing curved wooden furniture, natural materials for shades, rugs and blankets, natural artisanal dishware… these are all ways to add peaceful, biophilic appeal beyond trees and plants.

3. Use plants to create cosy nooks within a larger space\nWhen dealing with a large, cavernous space (like an old auto-body warehouse… but also like a large living room or basement in your own home), it’s worth thinking about how you can compartmentalise the space to create more intimate vibes for lounging and conversing.\n\nNura does this through thoughtfully arranged furniture and plants. Unlike walls or space dividers, plants and trees can provide the feeling of a segregated space while still allowing air and light to pass through. Placing potted plants on small tables, mixing trees with shrubs and smaller plants, and alternating between plants and statues or other art can all add variety and interest when creating a Nura-inspired nook.

Whether you’re working with a warehouse or apartment, there’s a lot to be said for incorporating biophilic elements into your space. We love getting inspired by the thoughtfully designed spaces in our favourite cities, and Brooklyn’s \nNura\n is no exception. We can’t wait to stop by again and devour that bread basket while enjoying the peaceful ambiance. 

One of the American south’s most anticipated restaurants, the designer behind Sean Brock’s Audrey shares inspiration, advice, and insight.\n\n\nWhen a prestigious chef announces plans to open a 10,000 sq ft restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee that blends his love of Japanese design with his southern heritage, people take notice.\n\nSean Brock’s hugely anticipated Audrey opened in October 2021 to much acclaim. In addition to the artfully created menu, much of the attention centered on the building’s design. Katie Vance is a partner and chief creative officer at \nPowell\n – an award-winning architecture, interior, and construction firm based in Nashville, Tennessee, who spearheaded the design of the 10,000 sq ft restaurant. Katie closely collaborated with head chef Sean Brock to deliver the visually stunning space as a homage to Sean’s grandmother.

How has the Audrey project differed from others you have worked on? How did you approach this differently from previous projects?\nThis project was expansive – two different restaurants, a bar, a research and development lab, a wellness room, and a podcast studio, to name a few of the spaces. Each needed to be conceptualized differently and strategically designed for its own functionality and aesthetic.\n
\nThe walls of Audrey feature several prominent art pieces by local creatives. How important was this to the project's vision and how has this influenced the ambience of the restaurant/ bar area?\nHandmade materials and artwork play a huge role in the design. From tile to light fixtures to wallpaper, furniture, and art. The handmade pieces (most are from local makers) are used throughout the space to infuse hand-hewn character and personality into the restaurant.  We wanted real materials made with thoughtful care and an artful precision – paralleling the food program that Sean created for Audrey; this contributes to the ambience by providing a sense of humanity in each space and contributes to the overall warmth of the restaurant.

Is there any advice you would give on how to incorporate different artworks into a space?\nHave fun with it – be ready to mix and match mediums and sizes! We hung over 250 pieces of art.  We grouped areas by artist and really connected each with complementary colours and textures. Photography, textiles, paintings, and drawings were all used in the space.
\nYou've discussed creating a 'full sensory experience' at Audrey. Can you expand on that?\nWe wanted to create a space that leaves a lasting memory with the guest and is a full sensory experience from the moment you enter the building till you pay your check.  Every sense is engaged – from what you taste, see, smell, hear and feel. Guests see the artful and inviting restaurant space, they smell fresh firewood cut for the hearth in the vestibule, they hear music hand-selected by Sean of his favourite artists and they feel the soft chenille upholstery, the white oak tables and the handmade ceramic pottery. Guests should feel immersed in experiencing the southern landscape through Sean Brock's lens.
\nAudrey draws on Sean Brock's appreciation for Japanese design and architecture. Are there any specific artists, architects or creatives that you were inspired by?\nGeorge Nakashima comes to mind; he created the Straight Chair which we used in the dining room at Audrey. The Straight Chair is a mix of Eastern and Western aesthetics and is a modern interpretation of the traditional Windsor chair that is heavily used in southern interiors.  While Nakashima was born in the US, he studied Japanese architecture and traditional Japanese woodworking. As for the architecture, the Japanese technique of Shou sugi ban (burnt wood) was employed as the largest part of the exterior finish palette.  Shou sugi ban originated in Japan in the 18th century as a way to make cedar shingles waterproof – the technique involves charring the wood surface to a deep charcoal black.

The design has succeeded in fusing Southern Appalachia with Japan. How do you approach balancing two such distinctive cultures/ influences?\nSome key Japanese design principles include Kanso – The Art of Simplicity, Shizen – Natural Over Artificial and Seijaku – Bring Stillness Inside. These guiding principles are showcased through a southern lens.  The architecture is simple and functional with clean lines and a modern take on the Appalachian tobacco barn.  Many of the materials used for the design are native to or inspired by the flora and topography of Appalachia, the mountainous region that runs through southwestern Virginia.  The interior design provides elements of comfort and calm – the colour palette gleaned inspiration from organic tones of ground cover and sky that creates a soothing, nature-evoking experience.\n\nWhat piece of advice would you give to individuals who are interested in design but don’t know how or where to start?\nI would suggest travelling and taking notes of each space you interact with.  Is there a style?  How do the materials work together?  What trends do you see? How is the lighting laid out?  Travel can provide inspiration for all styles of design.

Next time you're in Nashville, we recommend stopping by \nAudrey\n, or check out their stunning \nInstagram\n.

Read exclusive interviews with fascinating people shaping the design world, and check out Lick's favourite inspirational spaces, from hotels to restaurants.

People & Places: Interviews & Exclusive Tours

With installations across the UK and some exciting projects across the pond in the pipeline, interior designer Pandora Taylor’s work has featured on the pages of House & Garden and Town & Country to name a few. We fell in love with her idiosyncratic style because of the way she manages to seamlessly mix the contemporary and the antique. So, we met up with Pandora and her adorable Sealyham terrier, Mr Bingley, in their south London home for a little Q&A on all things \neclectic decor\n, affordable art, and home renovations.

As an interior designer, what would be your three top tips for a novice decorator? \n\nBe adventurous and push your boundaries, but always remember that function is key. \nDon’t be afraid to explore different styles and colours—you’ll be surprised by what you might  like! \nMost of all, trust your intuition. If you love it, go for it. \n

The wall mural in the living room\n—\nwe love it. What was the inspiration behind it?\n\nI love the idea of old country houses with large tapestries on the walls. They have such a warm,  earthy feel. I wanted to bring that feeling to the living room and create something a little unexpected for a Victorian house in London. 

What would your advice be for our readers who like the idea of a wall mural but are perhaps a bit scared to make the jump? \n\nStart with something not too expensive, then if you don't like it you can just paint over it!  \n\nYou’ve spoken before about inviting your clients to think about colours other than white. Why’s that? And what would your alternatives be? \nDon’t get me wrong, white certainly has its place. For me it just seems a shame when there are so many wonderful colours to choose from. I use the colour blue like other people use white—it’s my neutral. It’s the perfect uplifting base for everything else. Something like \nBlue 15\n.

You design your own furniture and have collaborated with Ensemblier. Where to begin when designing a  piece of furniture—where do you get your inspiration?  \n\nI am really inspired by architecture, whether it’s classical or modern, there are lines and motifs  that translate so perfectly to furniture. I particularly like sitting on the top deck of the bus as you notice details on buildings you just can’t appreciate from street level. I also pick up a lot of shapes and colours from nature—all my  headboards are named after the natural world.

And what’s your favourite piece in the whole house?\nVery tough! But I would probably say the toleware table in my living room. It’s from one of my  favourite antiques shops, Hand of Glory Antiques & Interiors. It was the last thing I bought for this room and it just feels like it was  made for the space. The top half is a tray which sadly no longer comes off, but the handles are so  handy for moving it around, which seems to happen a lot!\n\nWe love how you mix period pieces with modern designs. What’s the secret to doing so  without it jarring?\n\nI think even my modern pieces have an edge to them, they don't have a brand new untouched feeling. I try to steer clear of any new furniture that feels too sharp and clean. I prefer objects to feel  like they have seen a few things.

You’ve got quite the art collection. Where do you find your pieces and how do you decide which ones to buy? \n\nI have collected various pieces over the years. I used to love trawling through charity shops when I was younger which is where most of the small traditional pieces are from. But in more recent years I have bought pieces at the Affordable Art Fair as well as galleries like Blue Shop Cottage.\n


I never go out looking for art, but if I see something and have a physical response to it then I snap it up, as (luckily for my bank balance) it’s something that happens rarely.

Do you have a favourite?\nDefinitely the large oil painting of my old family dog. It was based on a photo I had taken of him  where he looked so soulful and imperious staring off into the distance, I wanted to portray him like an Edwardian gentleman.\n\nYou bought this house in 2019 as a fixer-upper. What would you recommend our readers look for in a renovation project?\n\nIt has to have great bones. The best thing about this house are the proportions, the ceilings are  really high and the rooms are generous and wide. These aren’t really things you can change unless you end up doing serious structural work.

Anything you wish you’d done differently?  \nThe only thing I don't LOVE are the timber floors. All the floors are original pine which is fantastic and made it much more cost-effective, but they came up so yellow once sanded. We did them in a bit of a rush and given more time I would have liked to look into painting them. Having said that, everyone else thinks I’m mad when I mention this as they love them!\n\nAside from your own house you’ve worked on some seriously  desirable projects. Which one would you say is your favourite and why?\nSo hard, as every project has its own highlights, however I did really love doing my Dorset House project. It was the first country house interior I had ever worked on and it was fun to be able to embrace the style fully. Although of course it has a Pandora Taylor twist on it.\n\nAnd finally, any words of wisdom for the budding interior designers out there?\nRemember to enjoy it! People often don't realise that there is a lot of admin that goes into interior design, but it is all worth it for the end result.

Oh, and it’d be rude not to. If you had to pick just one, what would your favourite Lick paint colour and wallpaper be?\nWeirdly, as you would think I would choose a blue by looking at my house, I love \nGreen 10\n. It is hard to find a really rich grass green like this and it can be a really fun punch of colour when used as an accent.\n\nIn terms of the wallpapers, I love Canopy 02.

Head over to \nPandora's website\n for more of her eye-catching interior designs or \nshop\n some of her statement furnishings. Give her a follow \n@pandorataylor for the latest updates.\n

People & Places

Sawcliffe Manor: an ancestral home turned colourful escape

Take a tour of this magpie’s retreat in Margate: The Tides

Insider tips: how to embark on your own Grand Design with Kevin McCloud

Sustainability, style, and sustenance at The Magazine, Hyde Park

A look inside Home Union: a mid-century furniture mecca in Williamsburg, NYC

The playful Art Deco charm of the Goodtime Hotel, Miami

All aboard for No.1 by GuestHouse, York: a look inside this stunning art-filled hotel

Hello yellow: London's Sketch just got a sunny new makeover

Three design takeaways from Nura, a biophilic dream in Brooklyn

The inside design scoop on Audrey, Sean Brock’s stylish Nashville restaurant