Projects

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Design for Living
Marylebone, London

We designed this London apartment with the intention to create a place where the owners could entertain lavishly. The result was inspired by Halston’s radical 70s New York apartment, layered in tones of white with a limited palette of materials.

The kitchen was relocated from the rear of the apartment and brought into the reception area to encourage open-plan living and to gain more bedroom space. Designed to fit an awkward space, crafted by hand using materials that would last, it was half the cost of leading designer brands.

We had fun transforming the small room where the kitchen used to live into a library with charcoal grey walls, bespoke bookcases and new sliding doors to a terrace. This became an intimate space, where evenings in front of the TV would be more inviting.

We convinced the client that the dining/entertaining space should be in the double-volume front room, which was perfect for their frequent parties. Lighting integrated into the bottom of built-in seating on the outer edge of the room, echoes with concealed lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling, and visually integrates the mezzanine study into the reception below.

In order to maximise floor space we managed to find some ingenious stairs that were lightweight, ready-made and good value. We worked with a talented woodsman to create a sculptural wall of rough-hewn oak, which harmonises the two floors.

The bathroom was reconfigured in order to install a large shower and hide the wc from view of the bedroom. We continued the layering of white tones, this time adding texture in the tiles.

The master bedroom is fitted with bespoke book-matched oak panels and an upholstered headboard inspired by Mies Van der Rohe’s iconic Barcelona chair.

Completion date: July 2012; Total cost including bespoke joinery (excluding furniture) £160,000.

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Chelsea Suite
The Berkeley Hotel

The Berkeley Hotel has always been one of the coolest and most discreet hotels in London.

I was asked to take a look at the Chelsea Suite. I found it charming and original but the layout was wasteful and there was no circulation. I resolved to retain the charm but bring the layout up to date and return the glamour that once made the suite Peter Ustinov’s choice of residence when in town.

By removing the secondary entrance hall, I could double the size of the bathroom. Double doors were placed between the bedroom, bathroom and sitting room to improve flow in the suite.

With the spatial planning problems resolved, the suite’s décor could be reinvigorated, retaining the beautiful period features and introducing modern sophistication and style.

The bespoke interior incorporates a carpet evocative of 50’s “Mayfair Regency” that we specially designed for the suite and the curtains are made in a textile that is a revival of a 1930’s Venetian design by Rubelli.

A cast bronze bar was designed in the studio and made by Based Upon, a London-based team of artists and designers known for their large-scale artworks and sculptural furniture.

Crocodile-skin covered chairs have a hint of rock-star glamour; the aesthetic repeated in the bedroom with a wall upholstered in a satin fabric.

The bathroom was decorated with black granite and handcrafted marble mosaic tiles. This room was also given a secondary door as a “secret escape” into the entrance hall.

The redecoration of the Chelsea Suite has proven to be a great success for the Berkeley Hotel, with a new generation of celebrities – the staff whispered to me that it’s the favourite stop over for David and Victoria Beckham.

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Regency House
Kensington, London

A Regency house which featured in House & Garden in the 1970’s had been purchased by a newly married couple ready to start their family life. Whilst stunning in its time, the house had become tired and needed updating, which paved the way for the rooms to be reconfigured to maximise space and views of the beautiful garden to the rear of the property.

Still learning the parameters of each other’s design tastes and wanting to achieve the best for the long-term, every detail needed to be considered from practical spatial requirements to selecting the right furnishings, so we were engaged to guide them through the possibilities and processes of this undertaking.

Evenings were spent with them pouring over drawings and samples in order to fully understand their needs, and to get a feeling of what they really wanted from their home. This process highlighted their differing tastes and shared desire to have a uniquely crafted interior with character, rather than relying on recognisable designer brands.

The key was to create rooms with individual personalities that would unite with consideration and attention to detail in material and colour choices. It would be a marriage of individuality and craftsmanship, with carefully sourced craftsmen and artists creating commissioned pieces for various rooms.

Spaces were configured to create specific areas for formal entertaining as well as private spaces for relaxation. The ground floor was the main family space with a kitchen that led into a conservatory-style dining room with doors leading out to the garden. These rooms were painted in a tranquil grey, soft greens contrasted with the striking red chairs in the conservatory, and black granite surfaces in the kitchen offset the bespoke cabinetry by Plain English. There is something re-assuring and familiar about the drawing room without it being old fashioned.

News

Fitzbillies

Fitzbillies

Recently we were asked to help revive an old institution in Cambridge, Fitzbillies. Famous for its Chelsea buns, sadly the building had seen better days.

Following a tweet by Stephen Fry mourning its closure, Alison and Tim Hayward decided to buy the business, Tim is the food writer for the Guardian and Financial Times. They took us on to  kick life back into the building. It was a scary moment, I had a very small budget, a building that was in dire need of work and delightful art nouveau façade to preserve. Whilst hanging out there in a very empty and rather smelly shop pulling together the designs and specifications, we had frequent knocks on the door by well dressed, elderly gentlemen, I guess retired dons. “I hope you aren’t going to change the place too much, I’ve been coming here for sixty years”. No pressure then.

Today the business is thriving, the Chelsea buns again world famous, they do dinner too - worth a trip up to Cambridge.

 

 

Affordable 20th Century Classics

Material Life

Many have asked where they can purchase the furniture as seen in the Evening Standard article. Material Life was the main supplier.

There are many badly made fakes of classic 20th Century furniture available on the internet. Tempting, but would you buy a fake handbag?  Copies don’t last and you can tell they are not the real McCoy.

Brian and Stephen at Material Life supply the real thing from the likes of Vitra and Knoll for a lot less than can be found on the High Street.

Tempo

Tempo Bar

Recently we completed the refurbishment of Tempo restaurant and bar in Mayfair for Henry Tonga. The establishment has been around for over 50 years and we worked in retaining its style and yet bringing it up to date. We re-used the original 50’s chairs now upholstered in Amalfi turquoise together with new tables covered in hand painted marbled glass. The real secret is upstairs, hidden there is a rather special bar, which features original Rococo panelling. The chef is Japanese trained in Italy, many say it’s one of the best Italian restaurants in London.

Located on one of the best locations in London, Curzon Street, which is always worth a visit, Saturday lunch is always a treat.

To link to Tempo click here

Intelligent Design

ES article

We were thrilled in the Studio to have an article on one of our latest projects published in Evening Standard’s Homes and Property section.

Ruth Bloomfield used the project as an example of how to make the best of a small apartment in central London, describing it as “intelligent design”.

To read the full article, please click here

Tile Trends

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The Studio recently attended a workshop on emerging tile trends presented by Taylor Howes and Surface Tiles.  Click here to watch an overview of the presentation complete with sound-bites from Dan.

Our personal favourites included the much improved and quite marvellous timber porcelain ranges, the patchwork mosaic in geometric shapes and patterns and the wonderful texture and relief now available in so many finishes.  Watch this space in 2013 where we will be showing you how we’ve used these trends in our current projects.

Fire Safety

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Tuesday 11th December 2012

As Director of Continuous Professional Development at the BIID, I have arranged the latest lecture which is crucial for those in professional practice.

I, like many other designers, have gained our knowledge of fire regulations for buildings and furnishings over many years of experience. However, we can all do with a refresher especially as the regulations are frequently updated.

For more information, click here.

About

Studio

Founded by Daniel Hopwood in 1993, the studio is a multi-disciplinary practice that includes interior designers as well as architects and landscape architects. The aim is to remain a small, bespoke studio offering clients a creative and practical, but ultimately very personal, design service.

Projects are a mixture of residential and commercial work. Over the years we have worked on restaurants, both budget and Michelin starred, hotels from boutique to luxury 5-star, and private members’ clubs.

Personal recommendations form a great part of our heritage and private clients often return when they move home or their family grows.

Design

The majority of the team has been part of the studio for many years, however, when possible, we welcome newly qualified design professionals as they bring in fresh ideas and skills.

The team has extensive professional experience and works efficiently within specific budgets and time frames. We always ensure that all possible costs and obstacles are identified and discussed before work commences on a project.

Presentations are created using a combination of 3D visuals, AutoCAD drawings and presentation boards created from our extensive in-studio reference and sample libraries.

Client

We know that every client values their home and wants it to reflect their individual tastes and personality. Whether they want to be very hands-on, have little free time or live abroad, we adapt accordingly and deliver projects that combine the client’s vision with seductive glamour, cool subtlety and originality.

We believe that it is very important to engage and spend time with our clients during the evolution of the project, making the process enjoyable, accessible and fun for everyone involved .

Realisation

We always ensure that the skeleton of the building is in good shape before dressing it. As much of our work is in based in central London, we have a wealth of experience with old and listed buildings.

Collaboration with the on-site team is essential so site visits are frequent and every detail of a completed project is quality checked before we hand it over to the client as the finished product, their home.

Furnishing

As well as visiting the main European trade shows including London, Milan and Paris, we are in close contact with the best ateliers and workshops, always looking for the most exquisite new and vintage products. To ensure our clients are guaranteed the best value, we pass on all trade prices on furnishings directly to them.

We also have access to an enviable collection of talented craftsmen and accomplished tradesmen, many of whom have worked with us for a number of years.

Masterclass

Occasionally some clients like to direct their own projects, with a little help and experienced guidance. The studio then acts as a backup team – being able to supply drawings, as a connection for trade purchasing, or even just as someone with whom they can bounce ideas. We aim to ensure that you leave our studio with a fully considered and designed scheme ready for implementation.

For this service, we charge by the day for working with us in-house and using our facilities.

People

Daniel Hopwood

Aware Interior Design is a career that requires both education and experience, I decided early on to enjoy the experience of getting there. I started as an assistant to a furniture buyer, learning how to recognise quality and where to find it.

As an admirer of beautiful craftsmanship, I spent a year learning stone and wood carving, gilding and polychrome work. Working for restorers, I gained knowledge of European antiques, which I still use today.

Graduating with a degree in Architecture, tutored in the Corbusian manner, I then joined the Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture where I gained a classical training. I worked in various architects' offices, including the award-winning Hampshire County Architects. I had an opportunity to find and design an apartment for an architectural critic, and took the chance setting up on my own in 1993.

With years of valuable experience, the BIID has recently appointed me as Director of Continuing Professional Development. I am a guest tutor at the KLC School of Design and have worked as a trends consultant for Dulux. I often give talks at trade shows such as Decorex and 100% Design. I write about design for magazines and presented a series of "Britain's Best Homes" for Channel 4. I am happiest, however, working on projects either in the Studio, on site, or meeting with clients.

Bashir Khwaja

After graduating with both a BA Hons and Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture in London, Bashir has worked as an architect in the construction industry since 1999. He went on to qualify as a Chartered Architect in 2007 after gaining much experience in various architects’ offices.

Dan and Bash have worked together on a wide variety of projects for over 15 years and know exactly how each other works and complement each other very well. While specialising in delivering high-end residential properties, commercial projects have included working with clients such as the Dhamecha Food Group, ICICI Bank Plc and Bestway Holdings Plc. Over the years he has gained a wealth of experience delivering projects on short deadlines, and with his personable demeanour and strong communication skills, he takes pride in his work adding value to clients’ projects.

Bashir is a Registered Architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board. He is also a Health & Safety CDM Coordinator and Party Wall Surveyor.

Marc Theron

Marc graduated with a Diploma in Interior Design from KLC School of Design in 2006. He immediately joined the Studio where he has honed his skills as an all-round designer with a practical, hands-on approach to interior design.

He works closely on all aspects of a project from design conceptualisation to installation and completion, and is equally at home when meeting with clients, liaising with contractors and suppliers, or rolling up his sleeves and getting on with the preparation of specifications, drawings, budgets and FF&E procurement.

Prior to joining Daniel Hopwood, Marc worked in event management and hospitality for eleven years which laid the foundations for a thorough understanding of administration, project coordination and customer service.

Gordon Evans

With his BA Hons and Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL, Gordon went on to complete his MBA through the Westminster Business School.

Gordon has an in-depth knowledge of current housing regulations and, while focussing on sustainability, specialises in creating high-end solutions across a range of projects, from basement conversions to zero carbon schemes. He is often called upon as a guest speaker at trade and industry conferences, and has been featured in a number of building magazines.

Gordon is a Registered Architect with the Architects Registration Board. He is also a member of the Association of MBA Alumni and an alumnus of University College London.

John Micklethwaite-Howe

With a BA in Landscape Architecture from the highly regarded School of Landscape at Leeds and a Post Graduate Diploma from Manchester, John has worked as a Landscape Architect and Urban Designer in private practice for the majority of his career. His portfolio includes projects throughout the UK, in Europe, the USA and the Middle East.

Passionate about design in general and the quality of our external environment in particular John has provided specialist landscape input on behalf of niche commercial developers and upscale residential properties for private clients. With a belief that client relationships are fundamental to the success of any project John has built his reputation around the traditional values of understanding client needs and a focus on spatial relationships. Allied to strong communication skills he brings experience and professional expertise to deliver thoughtful projects of integrity.

John is a Chartered member of the Landscape Institute in the UK and an active member of several design and environment forums.

Wioletta Wesolowska

Wioletta has recently joined the Studio as an Interior Designer specialising in 3D visuals.

She has a degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Lodz, during which she spent an exchange year with the prestigious University of Eindhoven.

Wioletta followed this with an MA in interior design and has a number of years’ experience working in Architectural and Structural Engineers’ offices.

Carole Buck

Carole was the administrator for Leith's Restaurants for many years and has looked after finances in the Studio for the last ten years. She is a crucial lynch pin here as we are often entrusted with the responsibility of handling clients’ money.

Fiona Knight

Fe has taken on her first role as Interior Designer in the Studio having recently graduated with a Diploma from the KLC School of Design.

After working for over 20 years in the finance and IT sectors she took the giant leap of changing careers to fulfil a long-held desire to work in design. She grew up living on building sites as her parents were both keen building and furniture renovators, so was inevitably destined to spend her life creating beautiful spaces. “Nothing gives me more pleasure than transforming something ordinary into something extraordinary be it with floral, landscape or interior design”.