Why I love Notting Hill
Rudolph Diesel is an interior designer whose work is in much demand in London. Here he describes one of his favourite spots in the capital.
Love to look at
There's something about Notting Hill that just makes me smile. The area has a cool, bohemian, culturally diverse vibe you won’t find anywhere else in London (it is, after all, the home of the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival and yes, that film starring Hugh Grant). The architecture here is similarly diverse: grand terraces and idyllic garden squares contrast with tiny, Victorian cottages painted in vibrant colours. The classical façade of St Peter’s Church, surrounded by majestic, white stucco townhouses, is just a short stroll away from the edgy urban street art found on Portobello Road.
Love to shop
When I’m creating luxury design interiors there’s no better place to look for unique pieces than Portobello Market. I also adore the range of bespoke embroidered fabrics you can find at independent home design store Baker & Gray. Of course, no trip to W11 is complete without a visit to the iconic Rough Trade record store in Talbot Road, where they have been selling great music since 1976.
Love to eat
It might not be immediately obvious, but with a little digging, you’ll find Notting Hill has dining options for every occasion and style of cuisine, from bistro pub food and international flavours to quirky pop ups and fine dining.
The Shed is a particular favourite of mine, with a seasonal, local and wild menu complemented by some very good English wines. For a novel twist on Greek classic food, Mazi on Hillgate Street never disappoints. I’ve also been spotted enjoying a rum cocktail at Trailer Happiness, a glamorous award-winning Tiki-style bar in Portobello Road.
I find that interior design clients in Notting Hill have an eye for quality, detail and the unusual . Whether my team and I are working on an ultra-modern house interior design for a developer, or a classically elegant luxury interior for a private homeowner, I always enjoy spending time in this exciting and cosmopolitan part of town.
The one-stop shop for interior design perfection
Shopping for interiors, online or in a high street store, is an absolute passion of mine. After many years creating luxurious interiors with my team, we've developed a sixth sense when it comes to sourcing exciting and desirable pieces. It seemed like a natural extension of our interior design activities, to provide an online shopping resource for clients on the Rudolph Diesel website. A carefully curated collection of our favourite items.
Working with brands such as Eichholtz, Porta Romana and RV Astley we can offer an incredible range of items, from armchairs to armoires and from pendant lights to pot plants.
360º walkthrough videos
The interiors that really work for me are those with a clear, overall vision that brings the look together, and that was one of the reasons for setting up our online store.
Achieving a high quality interior design has never been more important, especially since virtual house tours have now become the accepted way for buyers and renters to shortlist a property. I must admit that when I’m viewing a walkthrough video, my attention is invariably drawn to the lighting, furniture and accessories used in each room. Maybe that’s inevitable when an interior designer views properties online!
Home tours I’ve seen recently were of luxury homes where the interior has truly benefited from home staging. The London property market is highly competitive and careful home styling is a proven way to attract more viewers.
Sourcing unique items
With so many high quality items available through our shop, you should find everything you need to complete your interior design project. But if there’s something you are unable to find in our shop or elsewhere online, please call or email us and we’ll do our best to source it for you.
Why not take a moment to browse our products? I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Why I love Holland Park
Rudolph Diesel, head of London Interior design studio Rudolph Diesel Interiors, explains why Holland Park is one of his favourite places. Quite simply, Holland Park is beautiful. This smart neighbourhood in Central London is centred around a 56 acre park, ideal for those who like plenty of green space, while also being close to excellent restaurants and pubs, stylish cafes and shops.
Love to look at
Holland Park owes its name to the grounds of a country mansion once owned by the Earl of Holland, a member of the aptly-named Rich family. During the Blitz, the house suffered extensive damage, so, sadly little of this historic property remains today. However, the romantic ruin forms a stunning backdrop to the world-famous summertime operas staged in the park.
It’s almost impossible to walk the streets here without bumping into film stars and rock icons queuing up to purchase the grand white stucco Italianate properties that line Holland Park’s most desirable streets. Here you’ll find some of the largest detached homes in London.
Love to shop
Lidgate the butcher has been selling high quality meat to residents for over 160 years: their rare breed beef is legendary. Jeroboams on Holland Park Avenue is another go-to destination for fine foods (you might like to try their excellent wines too). Whenever I’m working as an interior designer in Holland Park, I drop in to Lipp Interiors, a hidden gem that sells an eclectic range of homewares.
Love to eat
Although The Ledbury – run by Michelin-starred chef Brett Graham - is temporarily closed, it has been named as one of the top ten restaurants in the world. Flat Three is another favourite, offering inventive Korean and Japanese-inspired tasting menus and a la carte dishes. In the summer months the Belvedere is one of my favourite places to meet friends. Based in the opulent Summer Ballroom once attached to Holland House, it’s now an ultra-fashionable eatery in the heart of the park, overlooking rose gardens, fountains and strolling peacocks.
Holland Park is home to a fascinating mix of people; it’s always a pleasure and a privilege to create luxurious interior designs for clients in this relaxed and glamorous part of town.
Home staging: the picture-perfect interiors that sell properties
‘Home staging’ (also known as ‘home styling’ or ‘property styling’) may be hot in London right now, but the term was actually invented in the early 1970s by American interior designer Barbara Schwarz.
What is home staging?
Home staging is the process of presenting a property for sale in its best possible light, in order to attract more buyers and achieve a higher price. Research shows that professionally staged homes can sell for 10%-15% more than the competition.
It’s all about stripping back clutter and de-personalising the space to create a beautiful, welcoming interior. The aim is to ‘sell the dream’ to homebuyers and tenants as soon they step through the front door.
Why do I need a home stylist?
The London property market is highly competitive, so home sellers/vendors need to match, or even exceed, the presentation standards of similar properties be it new builds or renovation projects. Research suggests that 18% of viewers (buyers and/or tenants) decide whether they will make an offer the moment they enter a property.
Over 80% of viewers (buyers and/or tenants) find it hard to visualise a property’s potential, so the professional home stager’s job is to help them make that imaginative leap, often using just a few well-placed items. An expert stylist can turn an empty room into a welcoming living space with little more than a comfortable occasion chair, some carefully dressed 3 tier shelves, a sofa and a few understated artworks.
Time is money for property developers, so it’s even more important for new build homes to show off their full potential. The home stylist will create a mood board, space plan accordingly, arrange for the procurement of furniture, lighting and accessories and in many cases with Rudolph Diesel Interiors the new buyers or tenants want to buy the look or alternatively developers offer the new furniture as an incentive to buy the property.
At London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors, we offer everything from home styling for individual properties to a 360º service covering every aspect of branding and presentation. Alternatively, if you prefer to shop the look yourself, you can find inspiration here.
If you are looking for anything specific, please feel free to get in touch with the team hello@rudolph-diesel.co.uk
Why I love Kensington
Luxury interior designer Rudolph Diesel, head of interior design studio Rudolph Diesel Interiors, shares his favourite London haunts.
Love to look at:
From the domed splendour of the Albert Hall and the gilded excess of the Albert Memorial to the Romanesque Revival architecture of the museum's quarter, it’s no wonder that Kensington has been described as a ‘Victorian citadel’. There are some striking examples of contemporary architecture here too, including Zaha Hadid’s sensuous design for the Serpentine Sackler Gallery extension. Kensington’s public parks are tranquil havens of green space: Holland Park, with its glorious open air opera venue, and Kensington Gardens, where I just have to stop at the Italian Gardens Café, by Colicci, for an intense espresso or a refreshing gelato, and listen to the splash of fountains.
Love to shop:
Dedicated foodies head for the Whole Foods Market, located in the old Barkers department store building. Independent bookstore South Kensington Books is one of my favourite haunts, while The Conran Shop is a home-from-home whenever I’m in the area. Based in the old Michelin Building, it’s the ideal place to browse for contemporary homewares and furniture when I’m home staging those special London interior design projects.
Love to eat:
The tongue-in-cheek ‘London-themed’ afternoon tea served at the Kensington Hotel’s Town House restaurant - with cakes inspired by city landmarks, warm scones and fragrant jasmine tea - is a bit of a guilty pleasure. For a more sophisticated dining experience, I’ll go for Yashin Sushi in Argyll Road (I love their ‘no soy’ policy) or Dishoom on Derry Street: an atmospheric fusion of jazz, cocktails and Art Deco decor.
Whether I’m working on graphic design and branding for a major new development or creating luxury design interiors, I feel particularly at home in Kensington. Residents here appreciate the good things in life, and that’s evident in their confidence and sense of style.
A multi-talented London interior design house
Life is always exciting at luxury interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors, where our multi-skilled team create perfect interiors for our London clients.
Whether we are home-staging a luxurious new build development, reinventing a retail space or creating cutting edge CGI to show what a finished design could look like, we work hard to deliver the project’s overall vision, managing all the elements so we can finish on time and on budget.
Here are three recent projects that demonstrate the range of work we undertake for our clients:
This project required us to create the brand, interior design, marketing and staging for a quaint coffee shop in Acton. The client asked us to create something that would be different from other coffee shops and the result is a vibrant and welcoming space, filled with texture and colour.
We were thrilled to be asked to work as Chelsea House’s interior designers. The exterior of this elegant private home is designed in Arts and Crafts style, and the owners’ brief for the interior was to blend modern with traditional. The result is our own take on the Arts and Crafts movement, using clean lines and stunning statement pieces to redefine the movement’s ethos for the 21st century.
This project was commissioned by one of our repeat clients, Derwin Developments, who asked us to create the CGI for Alma Place, a collection of gorgeous duplex apartments in Crystal Palace. The CGI videos we make will be used as visual aids to market the properties before the build is complete.
You can view more inspiring designs by visiting our Projects gallery, or keep up to date with us on Instagram. Alternatively, if you have a London luxury interior design project you’d like to discuss, why not get in touch?
Why I love Mayfair
Interior designer Rudolph Diesel shares his favourite London haunts
Why I love MAYFAIR
Love to look at …
From the elegant Art Deco façade of the Dorchester Hotel to the classic portico of St George’s Church (once frequented by the German composer Handel), Mayfair exudes exclusivity and sophistication. The area became a playground for wealthy aristocrats in the 17th century and the party continues to this day, with discreet members’ only clubs such as The Lansdowne, high-end hotels and luxurious fashion stores. Not to be missed (or difficult to miss), is ‘Room’, the giant cuboid figure, a semi-abstract sculpture by Antony Gormley that presides over the Beaumont Hotel.
Love to shop …
Wealthy fashionistas make a beeline for the exclusive shops on New Bond Street, Mount Street and South Molton Street, while consumers of bespoke tailoring head for Savile Row. Browns, one of the first multi-brand boutiques to open in the UK, has been here since 1970, but Victoria Beckham, who opened her Dover Street fashion store in 2014, is a relative newcomer. With the Ritz being in close proximity, it is hard to not stop in to enjoy afternoon tea whilst admiring the decor and architecture. No trip to Mayfair is complete without buying a few delicatessen from Fortnum & Mason and enjoying an alfresco picnic in Berkeley Square.
Love to eat …
While upscale eateries can be found everywhere in Mayfair, on a sunny day there’s nowhere nicer for lunch than the Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack in Brown Hart Gardens (a paved terrace area on the roof of the old Duke Street electricity substation). When it’s raining, I head for Avery Row or Lancashire Court: two attractive little lanes full of busy restaurants and cafes.
At Rudolph Diesel Interiors we have undertaken some super special interior design projects in Mayfair, ranging from graphic design and branding for major property developments to commissions for interior design and home staging. Our London clients are extremely discerning and we love to create luxurious interior designs for them, using the highest quality furnishings, fittings and finishes. Everything has to be just right to meet our clients’ high expectations.
When I have time to spare, I love strolling around Mayfair, people watching and browsing those perfectly dressed shop windows.
Rudolph
Eye for detail: a luxury interior designer explains his process
Rudolph Diesel heads up acclaimed London luxury interior design studio Rudolph Diesel Interiors. Here he explains how he and his team work with clients to deliver exceptional interior design projects.
Step 1
“It’s vital to establish the client’s needs and wants at an early stage, so the first step is to undertake a full consultation.”
Step 2
“If the project involves renovation, I’ll ask the architect (if one has been appointed) for their CAD files or send in my team to measure up so we can produce an accurate floor plan.”
Step 3
“We set up a Google docs folder for the project and create a schedule that itemises everything that has to be done, down to the smallest detail. From this point, the schedule acts as the heart, or engine, of the project.”
Step 4
“In most cases, clients are eager for a preview, so we create CGI images of their luxury interior design, incorporating all the items already agreed. Alternatively, we can put together a mood board, showing how all the elements will work together.”
Step 5
“Once the client has approved the look and feel of the design, we get quotes from the professionals who will carry out the work. I like to use my own team, but can also work with the client’s preferred contractors if required.”
Step 6
“I don’t wait until the end to sort out snagging issues: if something is wrong, I’ll fix it right away. When the job is done, I’ll go in and stage the home, so everything’s absolutely perfect for the client handover.”
Rudolph combines inspirational vision with a painstaking approach in order to create luxurious interiors for his clients. To view some of Rudolph’s exquisite designs, visit his projects gallery. To keep up to date with the latest projects visit Rudolph Diesel on Instagram page.
Why I love Knightsbridge
Interior designer Rudolph Diesel reveals his favourite London haunts
Why I love KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Love to look at …
The architecture here may be classically elegant but it has a warmth and human scale that is often missing elsewhere in the capital. I love Trevor Square’s Regency townhouses with their delicate ironwork, and the Dutch-inspired red brick residences in Pont Street. Designed with Victorian flair, they created a whole new style known as “Pont Street Dutch”.
Love to shop …
It’s impossible to write about Knightsbridge without mentioning Harvey Nichols and Harrods, but I’m going to pass over those famously feuding department stores in favour of some passionate smaller retailers. On trend opticians Cutler and Gross have their flagship store here, while Feathers Boutique in Hans Crescent offers one of London’s most innovative and interesting shopping experiences. Finally, Lee Caston of Knightsbridge Flowers has been selling bouquets to Knightsbridge residents for over 25 years and still has a smile for customers, even at 9pm on a Sunday evening.
Love to eat …
My favourite spots for coffee are the atmospheric Carpo Knightsbridge and EL&N on Brompton Road. When it comes to fine dining, Marcus earns rave reviews for ambience and service (not to mention Marcus Wareing’s sensational Michelin-starred menu). Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is the flamboyant alternative to Marcus: try the Fruit Meat followed by Duck with Black Turnip.
Over the years at Rudolph Diesel Interiors we’ve undertaken some memorable projects in central London with the latest one being on Brompton Square one of the oldest squares in London, dating back to 1821, ranging from graphic design and branding for major property developments to commissions for interior design and home staging.
London is the best place in the world for interior design and at Rudolph Diesel Interiors we love working with clients in different parts of the capital as we [create stunning townhouse interiors or film 3d home walkthrough videos]. In those brief times when I get to snatch a break or wind down after a day’s work, I can truly appreciate the character of this amazing city.
Rudolph