WHY I LOVE ST GEORGE’S HILL
WHY I LOVE ST GEORGE’S HILL
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he leaves the London environs and revisits a leafy part of Surrey that’s earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
St George’s Hill in Surrey is one of the world’s most prestigious addresses, nestling next to leafy Weybridge and within an easy commute of the capital. In fact, St George’s Hill was built by W.G. Tarrant in 1910 as a ‘gentleman’s refuge’, to provide London’s wealthiest businessmen with the original ‘escape to the country’. If you can pass the scrupulous security - loved by residents who have included Elton John and Kate Winslet – you can marvel at a myriad of mansions dotted throughout the lush 964 acres, no doubt each with a luxury interior design.
Love to shop
Any good interior designer in Surrey would have Nasim Hakiemie on speed dial. A specialist in antique oriental carpets and rugs, Nasim’s Weybridge gallery is a must visit. Surrey interior designers also beat a path to The Home Library – be dazzled by the lighting displays and roam the room sets for design ideas. Another favourite is No. 44 in nearby Cobham, which stocks a vast range of French painted and Lloyd Loom furniture. If I’m in the mood to celebrate a new Surrey interior, I’ll stop by The Vineking Independent Wine Merchants - even better if I’m taking the train and coincide my visit with an event at its Tasting Rooms.
Love to eat
If you are lucky enough to enjoy membership to St George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club or St George’s Hill Golf Club, you’ll have exclusive use of their highly-rated dining facilities. For those languishing on the club waiting lists or whose ‘plus-one’ invites are lost in the post, there is the über smart town of Weybridge close by. Whether a client wants to meet for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, I always book a table at Mimis for fresh Mediterranean flavours and light tapas. If it’s fully booked, the delightful Italian Osso Buco is the perfect plan B.
INTERIOR DESIGN WITH PLANS
Interior design with plans
Benjamin Franklin was an exceptional scholar noted for his remarkable turn of phrase. He coined the saying ‘no pain, no gain’ and popularised the proverb ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’. But perhaps his most famous phrase of all, however, is ‘if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’ – and this is particularly pertinent in the world of luxury interiors.
An interior design with plans will always yield a more coherent and considered outcome than a project without. Plans actually come in a number of highly-detailed and almost scientific forms – it’s far more than wafting about with fabric swatches and a mood board, although the latter is a useful planning tool for interior designers.
The planning of house interiors almost always starts with a space plan. Each room is measured, the square footage calculated, windows and doorways noted, and the orientation plotted so a ‘to scale’ line drawing can be created.
While a space plan is ideal for plotting new fixtures, fittings and items of furniture, we may also work to more technical plans that indicate the materials used in construction, angles and floor levels. Extra layers of detail are added when power, lighting and data supplies are mapped out and suddenly, you have a complex set of plans that allow for pinpoint precision when refurbishing a property.
We also use computer generated images (CGI) as a planning asset at the Rudolph Diesel interior design studio. Using specialist software packages to forecast outcomes and make alterations brings a new meaning to ‘interior design with plans.’ Positioning, repositing, repainting, reupholstering, reordering and radically redesigning can all be done on screen before any time (or money) is spent on site.
Even if your plans are no more ambitious than revamping your ground floor cloakroom, a set of plans will keep the mind focused, prevent procrastination and reduce the risk of mistakes. Our design team is here to draw up any plans you may need and execute your interior design vision, so please get in touch.
WHAT INTERIOR DESIGN IS TRENDING?
What interior design is trending?
Once upon a time, we relied on the paper magazines Living Etc, Wallpaper* and Elle Deco to tell us what interior design is in style. These glossy bibles were a feature of every interior design studio and decor-conscious dwelling but we had to wait monthly for news from manufacturers and decadent locations.
Now we have the power of the internet – simply type ‘what interior design is trending?’ into Google and off you go…..if only it was that simple. While magazines used to bring us a carefully curated selection of luxury home interior design ideas, search results can run into their millions, bringing with them a sense of overwhelming design paralysis.
Interior designers are the bridge between a design drought and an overload of information. It’s our business to attend trade shows such as 100% Design, KBB, the London Design Fair and Decorex. If I’m lucky, I may even find myself attending Maison & Objet in Paris or IMM in Cologne. It’s at these shows where interior design fashions are forecast, styles crystalised and ideas taken away.
One trend that is beginning to filter through is ‘new luxury’, with different iterations to suit different tastes. Uber luxury marries fine crafts with new technology – think LED threads, silk combined with copper and fully-connected yet beautifully crafted sofas. Lux populis is another emerging area, fed directly by pop culture and social media. With the latter, expect the unexpected – Mickey Mouse depicted as a golden sculpture and limited edition Banksy prints instead of Old Masters.
Another interior design style burning bright is biophilia – an unmistakable pull towards nature. While 2021 was the year of the house plant, luxury interior design is moving flora and fauna up to the next level. Designers will amplify our connection with the natural world by using bold botanical prints, specifying furniture made exclusively from natural materials and keeping colour palettes light, all while retaining the real life ferns and fig trees.
Finally, curves are back. After years of acute angles and sharp edges, our interior design studio in London is embracing soft contours and circular sweeps. A nod to the trend can be as subtle as an oval gilded mirror, rounded corners to worktops or an arched headboard in a principal bedroom suite. We can also see dramatically-curved drop ceilings and undulating kitchen islands featuring in our summer design plans.
If you would like to discuss 2022’s design direction, get in touch. Rudolph Diesel Interiors works with a combination of mood boards, computer generated images, social media and yes, even coffee table magazines to create on-trend schemes.
WHY I LOVE PECKHAM
WHY I LOVE PECKHAM
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
While there may be a lack of National Trust houses and postcard-worthy landmarks, Peckham has an engaging cultural quarter with a reputation envied across London. The Copeland Gallery is a vast exhibition, gallery and events space to admire. It’s even better when filled with one of its vintage markets – perfect for picking up a luxury interior design finishing touch.
With an exterior as handsome as the artwork inside, the South London Gallery is another Peckham highlight. The building’s period features have been retained throughout, providing the perfect foil for some exciting contemporary art collections.
And no visit to Peckham is complete without a trip to the Bussey Building. This red brick remnant of the Edwardian industrial era is a community focal point, especially its open air rooftop bar – in the spring and summer it is the place to sip sidecar cocktails and watch the sun set.
Love to shop
I love a multi-purpose shop and the General Store in Peckham ticks so many boxes. Not only are the displays up to high end interior designer standards, there are some exquisite homeware finds stocked alongside deli-style groceries and cult ingredients. If your style of buying means extensive browsing, then Peckham Levels on Rye Lane is for you. There are almost 100 local and independent creative businesses plying their trade – look out for emerging textile and print artists who can add something unique to any luxury interior.
Love to eat
A match made in heaven is Donnelly’s Street Food and Peckham Riviera, located between the bridges of Peckham Rye station. The cobbled courtyard and container bar strike the right balance of urban chic, while the burgers are something else! Keeping with the train station theme, nestled in one of Queens Road’s station arches is the Blackbird Bakery. It’s impossible to resist the freshly-made breads, brioches and chocolate brownies – dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan, if you require.
Also along Queens Road is Pedler, where the all-day menu is brimming with Asian-influenced dishes and mouth-watering sharing platters. Try the peanut butter tofu buns - you won’t be disappointed! If you like your food on the more avant garde side, try Kudu. There are plenty of ingredients on the menu that I had to Google but sound amazing!
WHY I LOVE DULWICH
WHY I LOVE DULWICH
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Dulwich is one of the most photogenic places in London - there’s even an Instagram account called Door of Dulwich, by Door Gal devoted to images of the prettiest Dulwich front doors! You can upscale your love of exteriors at Dulwich College. The Palladian red brick structure, gables, finials, turrets and cupolas – all designed by one of the finest interior architects in London, Charles Barry Junior – are very evocative of Hogwarts.
Even a stroll around Dulwich Village will have you reaching for your camera. The area remains a private estate and gained conservation status in 1968. It bristles with Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian properties; approximately 80 shops, pubs and restaurants; cricket, golf and tennis facilities, and a very village-like atmosphere.
Finally, I love SE22 for its fine and modern art excellence. Rembrandt, Rubens, Gainsborough and Canaletto – they’re all in Dulwich, safely tucked up in the Sir John Soane-built Dulwich Picture Gallery, alongside a permanent collection of Baroque masterpieces and highly acclaimed touring exhibitions.
Love to shop
If you’re looking to create a luxury home interior, Rigby & Mac have three award-winning stores in the Dulwich area, each with a different style but all with the same high quality and originality - Ed on North Cross Road provides a veritable feast of homewares and objet d’art, plus it is a stockist of the wonderful Annie Sloan chalk paints. The Dulwich Trader in West Dulwich is a personal favourite of mine as it also stocks larger items of furniture, while Tomlinsons in Dulwich Village is good if vintage-style French and Scandinavian accessories tick your high end interior design boxes. If you only had time to visit one shop, however, Forest would be a contender. It’s arguably one of the best eye-candy establishments in SE22, overflowing with utterly lush house plants and complementary homewares.
Love to eat
If you’re like me and are making a concerted effort to eat less meat, the perfect spot for brunch is East Dulwich’s veggie-centric Spinach restaurant and bar – the Honduras baleadas are perfect around 11am. An alternative if you have the luxury of time is Yama Momo – a contemporary Japanese Izakaya and sushi restaurant bar also in East Dulwich.
Vegetarian but not vegan? Then you must stop byHeritage Cheese in Dulwich Village. If you’re not going to sunny Marbella and can therefore eat carbs with your fromage, The Dulwich Bakery in West Dulwich will sate your appetite for warm bread, and provide everything you need for a doorstep-style sandwich.
WHY INTERIOR DESIGN IS IMPORTANT
Why interior design is important. Why it matters.
An artfully draped throw here, a cluster of objet d’art there and the plumping up of a huge pile of scatter cushions. If you thought this was the extent of luxury interior design, it’s time to revisit why interior design is important and the scope of a home interior designer.
Whether you are buying a brand new home or are remodelling where you currently live, the remit of an interior design studio is vast and invaluable. A company such as Rudolph Diesel Interiors will be involved in off plan decision making, right through to completion and property marketing – it’s never just finishing touches.
Take for instance space planning; even before a mood board has been made, I will be working with architects, contractors and clients to establish the very best use of the square footage available. Aspects such as orientation and the lifestyle of those living in the property will influence how each room - and the furniture within - is planned.
My space planning is so meticulous that I’ll often create a series of 3D floorplans and realistic computer generated images, which give me control over the look, feel and flow of a space before any definitive decisions are made.
Working closely with my team, I’ll try different permutations involving layouts, furniture, colours and textures, with accurate depictions of how natural light falls and journeys from room-to-room.
The Rudolph Diesel approach is also designed to solve problems. Good interior design can rework a space so there’s more storage, create an extra en-suite bathroom where it wasn’t thought possible and redesign an entire floor so it better suits entertaining.
More than just candles and cosmetics, I love instructing the building of a new internal wall or commissioning a bespoke item of furniture. My service is cohesive, insightful and perceptive, and I often assume the role of Project Manager at development projects. Having an overview of a project and foresight of the end result is a particular strength, and it’s why I have exceptional working relationships with architects, property developers and estate agents across London.
On a final note, interior design is just as important when selling or renting your home as it is when living in it. Rudolph Diesel Interior Design home staging service is used by clients and agents so a property appeals to the optimum target market, with a flair and character that compels people to make the highest offer.
If you would like to discuss the full scope of an interior design package, please contact Rudolph Diesel Interiors today.
DIFFERENT ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
Is there anywhere else on the planet where such an array of architectural styles sit cheek-by-jowl than London? Even to the untrained eye, there are clear, distinct flourishes that denote different eras, monarchies and fashions.
Take, for instance, the phrase ‘stucco fronted’ – a term used to describe the façade of many highly desirable properties in London. This refers to a smooth render, painted white or cream, used to masquerade the building materials underneath. It was an architectural ploy most prevalent during the 18th and 19th centuries, and how much render was used can help distinguish between Georgian and Regency dwellings.
From the early 1700s (the Georgian era), properties would be half rendered, half exposed brick, with modest detailing. By the 1800s (the Regency period), entire exteriors would be rendered and decorative additions started appearing, such as wrought-iron railings. Common themes across both periods include sash windows, townhouse layouts and perilously high ceilings that interior designers love today, as they can take the most impressive of chandeliers!
Some of London’s most coveted 19th century properties were designed by the Prince Regent’s designated architects, John Nash and Decimus Burton. The duo took lofty proportions, fine detailing and ornate façades to a new level. If you’re ever near Regent’s Park, walk along Cambridge Terrace and admire Nash’s row of Grade I listed mansions.
It’s around this time that more neoclassical elements moved to the architectural foreground. Hanover Terrace is perhaps Nash’s most remarkable work. This luxury design house plan was originally laid out as 20 residences, with dramatic columns, Roman Doric porticoed pavilions and intricate friezes.
Another unmistakable London architectural style is Pont Street Dutch, which saw exposed red brick replace the stucco finish. Much of the Cadogan Estate in Chelsea adopted this style between 1877 and 1900. The Royal Court Theatre and the Holy Trinity church - both on Sloane Square - are fine examples.
The Pont Street Dutch architectural movement peaked in the 1880s, when a row of quite magnificent gabled properties were built along Pont Street in Knightsbridge. Today, they change hands for millions of pounds and are resplendent with luxurious interiors to match their extraordinary exteriors.
London has always had the amazing ability to switch effortlessly from one architectural style to another in the blink of an eye, and the juxtaposition between Pont Street Dutch and Art Deco illustrates this perfectly. The period between the 1920s and 1930s saw new apartment blocks built, bearing either curved brickwork and balconies or very crisp lines. White render made a return, while windows styles switched from sash to metal-framed.
Stanbury Court in Haverstock Hill (architects Trehearne & Norman), Kingsley Court in Willesden Green (architect Peter Caspari) and Cholmeley Lodge in Highgate (architect Guy Morgan) showed how concrete, cast stone and Crittall purveyed luxury architecture, London style.
There are many other architectural styles I could cover. We haven’t explored the British Brutalist movement that spawned The Barbican Complex, the stained glass and fireplace obsession that characterised the Victorian era, or the gorgeousness of Edwardian times - but we would need a week together, a walking tour around London and regular coffee stops to fuel a deeper dive into London’s astonishing architectural scene.
WHY I LOVE BATTERSEA
WHY I LOVE BATTERSEA
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Large, lofty and unapologetically looming over Battersea, the Power Station is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks. This fine specimen of industrial design has interior designers salivating as much as architects, thanks to its renaissance as a luxury residential hub - think £18 million penthouses, sky villas and a gravity defying suspended glass swimming pool.
While not as gargantuan, the shiny new American Embassy in the Nine Elms quarter is worthy of inspection – an edifice designed by Philadelphia-based architecture firm KieranTimberlake and described as ‘a translucent crystalline cube’. If you can’t take any more bling or brutalism, you can always find solace in the 200-acres of Battersea Park, with its riverside promenade, bandstand and zoo.
Love to shop
Battersea is very much a tale of two halves. For now, locals have a rich choice of independent and family-run stores, such as The Source for plastic-free, zero-waste food and household goods and Saluto London, which repurposes vintage textiles into luxury garments. There’s also Battersea’s famous Affordable Art Fairs and one of my favourite London interior events, The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair - both running at Evolution London in Battersea Park.
In the near future, the iconic turbine halls at the Power Station will offer a shopping extravaganza, with space pre-let to brands including Ray-Ban, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, The Kooples, Aēsop, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Watches of Switzerland and Jo Malone have already been announced. They will be joined by an 18,500 sq ft food hall and Apple’s new London Campus.
Love to eat
Did somebody say gourmet pastries? They’re just part of the scrumptious offering at the Luxury Picnic Café on Battersea High Street. If sustainability is high on your agenda, head to the Social Pantry Café on Lavender Hill, where seasonal, locally-sourced food is served with a hefty dose of high-end interior design – the exposed brick is a real highlight.
For special occasions, you can’t go wrong with Sinabro along Battersea Rise, where modern French cuisine has been delighting diners since 2014. If you prefer a sense of theatre and seafood excellence, the Wright Brothers’ Battersea restaurant is a must – the ‘pound a pop’ oysters are best consumed with a glass of fizz in the shadow of the Power Station chimneys.
AUTUMN STYLING
Autumn Styling
As a luxury interior designer, I find so much inspiration in late Autumn. One of life’s joys is to walk through Hyde Park to see how the limes, chestnuts and beeches around the Serpentine are turning from lush green to golden yellow, deep russet and fiery copper. The display is one to rival New England and everyone in our London interior design studio feels that comforting slide into the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.
As well as ushering in richer hues outside, autumn sees interiors in London adopt earthier tones. Mood boards are noticeably different and designs created in the colder months can take on a more magical, mystical air.
Setting the tone are sumptuous, more opulent shades. A dining room decorated in Farrow
& Ball’s Brinjal or a bedroom papered in Paint & Paper Library’s Aeonium in Gamboge would
look stunning – deep colours that capture autumn’s allure and ease you into winter.
Autumn really does suit design luxury and interior designers embrace the switch from linen and voile to velvet and chenille. One of my go-to upholstery collections is found at Osborne & Little – you could go all-out Victorian parlour with the lavish Fullerton fabric or opt for the ornate paisley patterns of Patara.
A quick way to complement autumn’s colour scheme is to swap chrome or silver finishes for the warmth of gold, rose gold or copper. A good place to start is with photo frames, lamp bases and trinket trays but also keep your eyes open for textures woven with gold thread or gilded wallpapers. I can’t wait to use Cole & Son’s Boscal Oak wallpaper or specify some bespoke cushions finished with Colefax and Fowler’s pav drop fringing in antique gold.
Of course, autumn ambience is all about creating a cosy atmosphere and lighting is crucial. Harsh overhead lights should be shunned in favour of wall lights and table lamps, complemented by candle light and the flicker of a real flame.
And don’t forget seasonal scents. TryDr Vranjes’ reed diffuser in mirra zafferano – a fragrance designed especially for autumn - or Diptyque’s Wood Fire candle, which is evocative of open fires and preparing for winter.
WHY I LOVE SLOANE SQUARE
Rudolph Diesel is the founder of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
London is famous for its squares and central Sloane Square in Kensington and Chelsea does not disappoint. Rather than genteel and relaxing, Sloane Square is buzzing with life 24/7, thanks to its location as the gateway to the King’s Road and its social reputation. One of the best pastimes here is people watching, so perch by the square’s fountain or head to a pavement café to observe.
Also of interest - especially to interior architects in London – is the Royal Court. This Grade II listed Victorian building yields a convention-challenging urban reinterpretation of a theatre inside. Also of distinguished merit is Cadogan Hall – now part of the immensely attractive Cadogan Estate. Admire the stained glass works of Baron Arild Rosenkrantz, who trained under the auspices of Tiffany in New York, while you listen to the resident orchestra - the Royal Philharmonic.
Love to shop
I’ll leave you to decide whether the ‘Sloane Ranger’ is a fabricated stereotype or a true reflection of SW London but if one was determined to buy a new set of pearls or the latest polo shirt, Sloane Square is a faultless place to start. As well as the legendary department store Peter Jones & Partners (ground floor for furnishing fabrics, floor 3 for haberdashery and floor 4 for high end interior design accessories), there’s Ralph Lauren, Cartier and David Mellor – the latter for tableware that’s pure design luxury. My personal favourite? Armani Casa on Sloane Street – once inside it’s possible I’ll never leave!
Love to eat
Find me in the barista bar queue atSloane Street Deli as the flat whites and take-out labneh always hit the spot. While I wait, I’ll be admiring the revamped surroundings designed by London/NYC luxury interior designer, Rawan Muqaddas Behbehani. If I have time, I’ll book a table at the Fuji Grill at the Beaverbrook Town House. The sushi, sashimi and nigiri are outstanding, eloquently matched by the work of interior designers Nicola Harding and Sir Frank Lowe. The Botanist is another favourite. You can order a wood-fired pizza to be delivered to your al fresco table overlooking Sloane Square itself, book in for a lazy brunch or cosy up with a cocktail at the bar. If I’m looking for some luxury treats to eat at home, I can rely on Partridges, located on The Duke of York Square. Don’t just take my word for it, family run Partridges has the royal seal of approval too, as a world renowned grocer to the Queen.
BALCONY PLANTS
Balcony Plants
It could have been a floral failure but by slipping down the calendar to September, this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show provided a stunning masterclass in autumnal design. It was a pleasure to see Chelsea interior designers step aside for Chelsea garden designers, with the forced flowers of early summer making way for dahlias – the new darling of the gardening world – together with salvias, asters, fruit-laden apple trees and even plump pumpkins.
The horticultural spectacle was a timely reminder that plants have a luxury interior quality both inside and out, no matter the season. While Chelsea provided a blaze of manicured colour, balcony plants are starting to look a little grey and withered.
It’s easy to lose interest once the summer months have passed but with a little TLC, pots, baskets and troughs placed on a balcony can complement interiors in London through autumn and into winter. Here are four ways to be a better balcony gardener this winter:-
Choose your pots wisely: porcelain and terracotta pots can be susceptible to frost damage, while being incredibly heavy when filled with water-logged soil – not a great aspect when balcony gardening. Instead, you could choose from a vast selection of durable yet lightweight fiberglass and polyethylene options.
Select the right soil mix: always refresh the soil in your pots, as outgoing plants will have depleted the nutrients. Choose a special balcony plant or container mix but remember, good drainage is essential in winter. Apply a liberal layer of pebbles or crocks to the bottom of every pot as plants do not like cold, stagnant water. Raising pots up off the balcony floor using pot feet will also improve drainage.
Get ready to overwinter: any perennials, shrubs and small trees you may be growing on your balcony may need protecting from biting winds and cold snaps. Arm yourself with horticultural fleece or even bubble wrap, watch the weather forecast religiously and move plants to the most sheltered spot.
Plant winter wonders: if you use your balcony to create riotous displays using summer annuals, your pots may look forlorn come autumn. Create year-round interest by planting bulbs for spring and fill any gaps with winter flowering plants (cyclamen, pansies and violas are excellent), together with hardy evergreens such as ivy, skimmia and carex grasses.
Although we are a London interior design studio, we are only too happy to advise on matters of flora, fauna and foliage, both inside and out. Plants add architectural elegance, colour and focal points to any home environment, so if you’d like a lush, luxury edge to where you live, please contact us for ideas.
WHY I LOVE CHELSEA
WHY I LOVE CHELSEA
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Interior designers in Chelsea head to one place first and foremost – Chelsea Harbour Interior Design Centre – one of the richest sources of pattern, colour, form and textural inspiration in the capital. I’m often found browsing the exhibitions and installations before I start work on my next luxury interior design.
Us Chelsea interior designers have been influenced by botanical elements for some time now and though the neighbourhood is synonymous with a certain RHS flower show, year-round displays can be admired at the Chelsea Physic Garden on Royal Hospital Road, where they have a collection of over 5000 different edible, useful and medicinal plants. I love that its roots (sorry!) are in growing for apothecary uses and you can even take home something to try from the shop.
The Saatchi Gallery is another must-visit for a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity. The 70,000 square feet of space are conveniently located at the start of King’s Road – a short stroll from Sloane Square Tube station.
Love to shop
The King’s Road never fails to deliver a sublime shopping experience, beating an out-of-town retail park hands down. The smartest interiors in London aren’t complete without works of art and 508 Gallery is the ideal place to browse if you have an empty wall. The King’s Road is also home to the flagship Designers Guild store – if there ever was such a thing as fabric porn, you’ll find it here! If you have time, stop at John Sandoe Bookshop, where weighty tomes and rare finds are tucked away in a pretty 18th century store. Don’t forget, the Duke of York Square is a day out all on its own, with its 30 stores, restaurants and artisan food market.
Love to eat
You can’t say you love all things Chelsea if you haven’t dined at Bluebird. The Art Deco edifice is home to a ground floor café and courtyard, a refined restaurant and bar on the first floor, a wine cellar and food store. If you love soul food, head to Seasons on Fulham Road. The menu is as fresh and as sustainable as possible, so you’ll leave with a clear conscience and a full belly. If you’ve only got time for a take-away, you can’t go wrong with Amar Café Chelsea Green on Cale Street. Its lemon yellow façade never fails to lift the spirit, and the flat white is pretty fortifying too. If you like your coffee with an alcoholic hit, head for Chelsea Black – a cocktail bar that specialises in espresso martinis. Chin chin!
SPRUCING UP EXTERNALS
Sprucing Up Externals
Are you considering selling a property you own? They say ‘sex sells’ but ‘they’ obviously don’t work in property. What really wins buyers over is kerb appeal. Whether it’s an online listing or glossy brochure, the exterior of a property is almost always the lead photo used by estate agents – and a home’s façade is the first thing a potential purchaser will see when they arrive for a viewing.
Quite often, however, there is a disparity between the luxury interior designs that lie within and the outside of a property – and that needs addressing or people will judge a book by its cover. While the internet is full of advice on adding hanging baskets and hiding recycling boxes when creating kerb appeal, the advice often glosses over the more involved projects that will really add value and make a difference.
Projects that can add those magic ingredients and attract potential buyers include:
Adding off street parking
Stripping off unattractive cladding or plaster
Replacing inauthentic uPVC windows and doors
Repairing and restoring period features, such as columns, tiles and stained glass
Landscaping the front garden
Here’s some advice from our interior design studio in London:-
Call in the professionals
Interior designers are just as able to work their magic outside as they are in. Their skills lie in sourcing reliable trades; specifying improvements that will complement the property and its London locale; scheduling work; ensuring sites are kept tidy, and managing projects so they’re finished on time and without upsetting the neighbours. For instance, the Rudolph Diesel team offers architectural design and project management services alongside our designer interior packages, with our eye for detail ensuring your home stands out from the crowd.
Be mindful of restrictions
Interior architects in London will be familiar with homes that have listed status and those that are in Conservation Areas – all of which can influence what can and, crucially, what can’t be done to a property’s exterior. You may be limited to what masonry paint colours you can use and whether it’s possible to create a drop kerb and driveway, for instance.
Use tech to plan your project
Overhauling your exterior is a major commitment and any mistakes can prove costly. At Rudolph Diesel, we use computer generated images to show clients what the end result will look like before they go ahead with the project. It’s much easier – and more prudent - to change window styles and front doors on screen than after they have been installed.
Don’t forget finishing touches
Any ironwork, such as fencing and handrails, should ideally be freshly painted in black for a crisp, classic look, while a sensor light at the front door is practical as well as pretty. Door furniture – yes, such a thing exists in the world of luxury interior design – is an exterior flourish that shows a property owner really cares. As such, a new letterbox, door number and knocker – polished to perfection - is an easy win.
If your property exterior could do with a lift, whether that’s new windows, the addition of a porch, repainting or garden landscaping – contact Rudolph Diesel for a complete design and project management solution.
Feel free to get in touch to discuss your project.
WHY I LOVE FULHAM
WHY I LOVE FULHAM
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Fulham has always been a place to see and be seen. Fulham Palace House & Gardens is free to visit and provides hours of visual inspiration, whether it’s in the botanic grounds or the historic former home of the Bishop of London. In the 1960s and 1970s, Fulham was where fashions of the time were debuted, with designer Ossie Clark famously holding a fashion show simply walking along the Fulham Road.
Good design is easy to find, with the Peterborough Estate and Bishop’s Park Estate; the Bishop’s Park conservation area brimming with beautiful period properties from the Edwardian and Victorian eras, with luxury interior designs to match.
Eel Brook Common is another coveted Fulham enclave and the perfect place to pitstop with a picnic. There is plenty of open space in which to spread out and relax but for something more upbeat, book a seat at Neverland. This SW6 venue takes on seasonal themes in an explosion of food, drink, live acts and activities. In early autumn the sandy beach makes way for Fulham Oktoberfest, before Winterland rolls in and the mood turns festive – it’s the new place to be seen!
Love to shop
Many interior designers use books as object d’art when dressing a home and rather than opt for the obvious – Chanel Catwalk or Mario Testino Portraits, for example – I prefer to browse Sokol Books on Fulham Road. It specialises in Medieval and rare manuscripts, which can make interesting additions to coffee tables and bookshelves.
There are other reasons why I love visiting Fulham Road. One is Michelin House, which always provides a timely reminder of what good design is. As well as being home to Bibendum and legendary chef Claude Bosi, you’ll also find florist Petals – a place to buy exquisite blooms that will complete any luxury interior design.
If you’d like an extra pop of colour in your new house interior, visit Indian Summer; the homeware it stocks comes in an array of shades, from electric neons to the softest pastels. The Edition 94 is another Fulham treasure, brimming with accessories destined for the smartest interiors in London.
Love to eat
If you eat with your eyes, you must visit Colette on Fulham Road – a gourmet traiteur and delicatessen. Its trademark flower arch at the entrance is just as Instagrammed as its food. Didn’t get to grips with your sourdough starter over lockdown? Don’t fret. The Little Sourdough Kitchen on Munster Road bakes daily and sells fabulous coffee too – a win win! If, like me, you’re often scurrying across London with a laptop under your arm, you should set-up camp in Boys ‘n’ Berry – the brunches served here will certainly make working ‘on the fly’ a little easier.
JUST MOVE IN & ENJOY
Move into a fully furnished home without lifting a finger.
Who doesn’t love luxury show home interiors? For almost everyone, it’s a case of love at first sight - padding across a deep pile carpet, admiring the artfully placed accessories and marvelling at how crisp the bedlinen is.
Buying a show home, kit and caboodle, is the instant way to achieve interior design luxury but what if the property is a rental? Often marketed as unfurnished boxes devoid of any design character, many rentals fail to tick the boxes of more discerning tenants.
That doesn’t mean style can’t be achieved; a beautifully curated look can be installed before the tenant moves in. The Rudolph Diesel interior design studio in London is already working with a number of letting agents to offer tenants a full pre-let property staging, space planning and interior designer service.
Our designer interior package is simply included in an agent’s marketing details, with the service already proving a hit with professional tenants, those relocating to the UK from overseas, corporate tenants and time-poor high-net worth individuals. It’s a ‘must include’ option for letting agents and relocation agents who want to offer the highest quality, turn-key ready properties to prospects.
The beauty is the tenant, relocation agent and letting agent do not have to lift a finger or arrange any removals. Rudolph Diesel Interiors will manage the entire process, furnishing a typical two-bedroom London apartment for a budget of around £10,000. The quoted price will include the purchase and delivery of everything needed, plus a full interior design and staging service to achieve that polished show home look.
Our hand-picked property letting furniture, lighting, accessories and soft furnishings will be in place in good time prior to the arrival of the tenant. We will have even laid the dining table and made the beds for a welcome that rivals the most luxurious serviced apartments and hotel suites in London.
If offering furnished lets is integral to your letting agency’s success, please contact us to discover more about our design and furniture packs.
WHY I LOVE BROOK GREEN
WHY I LOVE BROOK GREEN
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
There is bountiful beauty in Brook Green – an amazing West London neighbourhood that manages to exude calm Zen despite its location between Kensington Olympia and Hammersmith Broadway. Many London enclaves claim to enjoy a village-like atmosphere but few match the vibe in Brook Green.
The area oozes period buildings and Blythe House is just one of them – I love to spend a few hours behind the detailed façade as the building is used as an overflow store by the Victoria & Albert, Science and British Museums. At the other end of the scale is Brook Green Pavilion – modern luxury architecture in London – a pared back yet elegant combination of Jura Beige limestone, zinc, timber louvres and wood cladding that’s home to a fantastic ice cream and coffee kiosk. Somewhere in the middle? Try the Brook Green Hotel, where the eclectic yet luxury interior design will inspire as you sip a slimline and tonic or make it an overnight stay.
Love to shop
No interior in London is complete without art adorning the walls and the most professional framing service for miles can be enjoyed at Picture. Close behind something fabulous and framed are fresh flowers, and Brook Green’s vases are filled with blooms from the Green Florist. Finally, who can resist a stop off at Holloways of Ludlow's Brook Green showroom. It’s where I, plus a number of other interior designers, eye up the lush lighting options – quite a few may find their way into my next new house interior project.
Love to eat
Wednesday evenings and Saturday daytimes are full of gastronomic delights, thanks to Brook Green Market & Kitchen. Gorgeous smells and mouth-watering sights fill the playground at St Mary’s Primary School, although the wares on sale are somewhat grown-up. Find free-range meat, fresh fish and organic vegetables alongside the Borough Cheese Company, Wiltshire Truffles, 40 Ft Craft Brewery and Man In Pasta, among other indulgent stalls. The street food vendors include the divine Bun House - a personal favourite for Korean flavours. If you’re more of a ‘dine in’ person, you can’t go wrong with Pentolina on Blythe Road, The Bird in Hand and the Brackenbury Wine Rooms.
Interior Design Trends 2021
Design Trends 2021
Hand’s up if you’re guilty of trawling Instagram and Pinterest for interior inspiration? Perhaps you buy every home magazine in search of the next big trend? If you’ve ever scrolled endlessly or flicked through the pages, wondering how homeowners have stayed on top of luxury interior designs, read on.
There is a relatively small pool of interior designers who are not following the curve but who are actually ahead of it, with insider knowledge of the future house interiors that will create the most envy-inducing results.
I was invited by The Huffington Post to comment on the 9 biggest home trends for 2021. Together with other top luxury interior designers, I contributed my industry insights to create an informative feature for anyone wanting to design their property in line with interior experts.
My predictions include luxury vinyl flooring – a very hard wearing and surprising upscale alternative to carpets used in even the most prime London interiors. Luxury vinyl is available in convincing wood, stone and even earthen plaster examples, and can be laid in fashionable herringbone patterns – a far cry from the thin vinyl bought on rolls and seen in many 1980s kitchens.
The Huffington Post was also compelled to feature my tip-off about ‘moody rooms’. I’m not suggesting we create places in which to sit and sulk - far from it! Instead, we will see the continued use of darker paint hues, with these shades being used more widely on walls, doors and even ceilings, rather than being confined to just kitchen islands and items of furniture. In fact, deep, bold paint colours scream design luxury this year. When used well, they create a rich, inviting and homely atmosphere that envelopes you in a comforting bear hug.
Using an interior designer is the easiest way of staying ahead of home décor trends and a professional will know how to make The Huffington Post pointers work inside your home. I know the Rudolph Diesel Interior Design team can do wonders with Farrow & Ball’s Downpipe and Amtico’s Gardenia parquet floor but don’t be surprised if we start suggesting 2022’s interior designer trends.
WHY I LOVE ACTON
Rudolph Diesel is the founder director of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Is there such a thing as urban charm? If there is, you’ll find it in Acton’s Askew Road community. This city spot behaves like a village, with smart boutiques and pavement cafés, although the beautifully preserved Victorian mansion blocks serve as a reminder that you’re in an upscale London enclave. More design luxury can be found over at Hanger Hill Garden Village. Built between 1928 and 1936 as the pinnacle of London suburbia, with ornamental gardens and open spaces to give a gentrified air, the unmistakable mock Tudor houses and flats that felt so new when constructed now form a pretty conservation area.
Love to shop
If your London interior design needs a dose of Scandi chic, head to Max Inc on Askew Road, where original pieces of tasteful, pared-back Danish furniture could teach Ikea a thing or two. If, like me, you also love luxury show home interiors, you’ll know it’s the accessories that complete the look.
Luckily, Acton residents have The Village Trading Store in the ever-so-cute Poet’s Corner part of Churchfield Road – simply fill your basket with glassware, candles and cushions, then artfully arrange them when back at home. If a new red wine decanter or set of champagne flutes ‘accidently’ falls into your shopping basket, don’t leave Acton without visiting Askew Wine – an independent retailer who seeks out small, independent wine producers for something a little out of the ordinary.
Love to eat
Laveli Bakery has long been Acton’s go-to place on Churchfield Road for Fair Trade Organic hot drinks – its rocket fuel keeps many luxury interior designers going when they’re hard at work in W3. While you can be virtuous with an Americano, I defy you not to order a slice of something sweet - always temptingly displayed on glass cake stands when I’m having a moment of weakness.
If carbs are your craving, then a visit to Happy Sky Japanese Bakery & Café on Askew Road is a must - who knew a Fuji farmhouse white loaf was a thing! And while food is a bit of an aside at Acton’s Aeronaut Pub, there are not many places in the world where you can chow down on sausage and mash while watching a drag, cabaret, comedy, burlesque or circus show. Prefer to cook at home? I always swing by the Ginger Pig butchers and delicatessen on my way home but be prepared to join a queue!
Open plan versus broken plan
Open plan versus broken plan
It wasn’t too long ago that clients were screaming at luxury interior designers in London to ‘tear down those walls’ in a bid to make dark, closed off properties light and open plan. It was ‘de rigueur’ to make your dining room and kitchen one united space and even remove the wall between your bedroom and bathroom.
Fast forward to 2021, and our lifestyles have changed to accommodate new ways of working and more time spent at home. Property styling has almost come full circle, with clients asking for a return to more defined rooms. This is especially true of the home office, with many London professionals now finding that a desk in the corner of the living room doesn’t cut in when it comes to peace and professionalism.
While we are working in some properties to reinstate separate rooms, using our interior design CGIs to re-plan layouts and illustrate what is possible, interior designers are increasingly helping clients to adapt using the ‘broken plan’ approach – a style of interior design that retains the bright and free-flowing aspect of open plan yet creates a sense of separate living.
Broken plan centres on keeping spaces free of internal walls, with ‘zoned’ areas thanks to the clever use of furniture, colours and finishes. For instance, my luxury interior designs may include a prudently placed breakfast bar that provides delineation between a kitchen and a snug, or I may commission a high-line shelving unit from bespoke joiners HUX London, which can be used to divide a dining area from a living room.
Another way to create distinction is to change the flooring within one space. For example, limestone tiles in the kitchen can become a deep pile carpet as you move through to the living area, for a sense of transition and new purpose. Even a colour shift can work – either contrasting tones or different shades from the same colour family can be used to create separate areas within the same room.
Talk to the Rudolph Diesel team about your property’s layout, whether your concern is space division, privacy or sound proofing. We can present a set of luxurious interior designs that will open your eyes to new ways of living, working and relaxing at home.
WHY I LOVE BELGRAVIA
WHY I LOVE BELGRAVIA
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Belgravia is one of the most exclusive districts in London – so synonymous with quality, luxury and the high life that an address here is coveted by the global elite. Former residents give a clear endorsement of Belgravia’s calibre and the greatest luminaries have occupied the famous crescents and squares, from Mozart to Margaret Thatcher.
As you would expect, handsomeness is around every corner, including the former home of master builder Thomas Cubitt – now transformed and brimming full of luxury interior designs – while the swathes of charming properties managed by the Grosvenor Estate are architectural eye candy of the highest order. As for prime London interiors, follow my lead and walk around Eaton Square, Ebury Street, Chester Square and Wilton Crescent for a lesson in how to style a London home.
Love to shop
Belgravia is very much boutique and bespoke, starting with the world-renowned milliner, Philip Treacy. His studio on Elizabeth Street is the place to order custom-made hats for special occasions – weddings, Ascot or even a knighthood accolade. In fact, Elizabeth Street features a veritable feast of upscale outfitters, including Mungo & Maud – purveyors of dog and cat garments for when ‘matchy matchy’ is a must. Don’t miss the groaning humidors at Tomtom Cigars and the couture letterheads at The Grosvenor Stationery Company. Pantechnicon on Motcomb Street, however, is a ‘must visit’ for everyday shopping. Not only can you dine in one of five different areas, there’s a curated studio and market full of Nordic & Japanese treasures, including some stunning items for the designer house interior.
Love to eat
Belgravia is blessed with cobbled streets and hidden courtyards that create the perfect backdrop for a sophisticated café culture. If I’m in this part of town, I’ll do my best to nab an outside table at The Buttery at the Lime Tree Hotel. My guilty pleasure? The menu’s buttery bacon butty with a breakfast tea! Belgravia isn’t short of gastronomic big hitters though – I’m talking Petrus by Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, among many others. If your Instagram feed is looking a little lacklustre, no Belgravia visit is complete without a stop at legendary bakery Peggy Porschen, where the shop’s floral displays are as sweet as the cakes.