WHY I LOVE HOXTON
WHY I LOVE HOXTON
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
Any interior designers worth their salt would head straight to the Museum of the Home just for its Rooms Through Time displays. A myriad of room sets depict how Londoners have lived over the last 400 years, from 18th century parlours to 1970s front rooms. If the Victorian era floats your boat, a visit to Hoxton Hall is a good follow up. Built in 1863 in a traditional music hall style, it survived two world wars and now provides a lavish, velvety backdrop for today’s performance artists. Art of a different kind also flourishes in Hoxton, especially after Jay Jopling’s White Cube contemporary art gallery burst onto the creative scene in 1993. While the original gallery has relocated, its legacy is a flourish of creatives exhibiting across Hoxton’s spaces, including galleries Peer, D’Stassi Art and Flowers.
Love to shop
If arranging books was an art form, surely there would be a prize for Hoxton Books. Its cool, minimalist styling lets the book covers really catch the eye. If it’s your olfactory sense that needs stimulating, head to Angela Flanders – an artisan perfumery in a perfectly restored Victorian shop. Her collection of fragrances for the home and body is exquisite – a venture that started with pot pourri in 1985. Finally, Columbia Road Flower Market is where sights, sounds and smells collide. Find London interior decorators there every Sunday morning, collecting their much-loved floral arrangements and house plants.
Love to eat
Hoxton is overflowing with places to eat and drink, so it’s hard to pick a few favourites. If I’m in a convivial crowd, Rapsa is a great restaurant as its Filipino fusion food is designed to be shared. Night owls in need of a nightcap should head to Hoxton Square. There’s a diverse choice of hostelries, from the neon wackiness of Tonight Josephine, the speakeasy vibe of Happiness Forgets and the Pop Art-meets-Chesterfield sofa interiors at Gigi’s. If I’m in Hoxton for business and not pleasure, Gaff is the place to order a coffee and open your laptop. Inspired by loft interiors and simple lines, it lends itself to catching up on emails or researching materials for the next luxury interior project.
FRENCH DOORS: THE OOH LA LA OF OPENINGS
French doors: the ooh la la of openings
Luxury interior design often leans heavily on Gallic influences and one of the most popular trends from across the Channel are French doors. These are thought to have originated in France during the 16th and 17th centuries, when architects strived to achieve elegant proportions and maximum natural light.
In the UK, our love of French doors blossomed when the humble patio door fell out of fashion. To explain the difference, patio doors traditionally have a sliding mechanism, while French doors open outwards via a hinge system.
Of course, the bifold door is the opening de jour but if you’re aiming to achieve a high end interior design that’s underpinned by classic styling, French doors will lend authenticity and a sense of sophistication.
A set of French doors thrown open can frame a beautiful view in a way patio doors can’t, enticing people to make the transition from inside to out. They can also add a sense of drama and draw attention to attractive aspects. Here are four places where French doors would fit the interior design bill:
Orangeries
An orangery has long been a luxury design feature, originally added to a property at great expense to protect tender and exotic plants. Today, orangeries are an excellent way of adding another reception or dining room to a property. Orangeries are traditionally light-filled spaces, with a roof lantern, therefore French doors are the perfect partner.
Rear extensions
It’s natural to borrow a piece of the garden for a first-floor extension, so retaining access to the outside will become an integral part of the architectural design. If you have your heart set on an expanse of glass to the rear, you don’t have to forgo French doors. There are modern takes on the classic design – even if you’re following an Art Deco path. A set of black-framed, Crittall-style French doors can be seamlessly woven into your design.
Pantries & wine storage
French doors can be used inside instead of solid cupboard doors – perfect if the contents are too good to hide. Well organised pantries with exquisitely-labelled glass jars are in vogue and French doors will allow you to show off your organisational skills - especially if the shelves are lit with spot lighting. The same applies for wine storage, with racks of Chateau Lafite, Cabernet Sauvignon and Burgundy a real showpiece. Even a glimpse of glass-fronted wine fridges can make a bold design statement.
Internal partitions
Many interior design companies in London recognise that homeowners actually prefer to switch between open-plan living and separate rooms, and one way to achieve this is to specify internal partitions with openings. We would add the widest possible French doors between rooms so they can be opened to yield one fluid space, or shut to create more intimate, cosy rooms. Internal French doors can be solid for maximum privacy, or partially glazed to let natural light flow yet noise be contained.
The Rudolph Diesel Interiors team would be delighted to discuss how French doors could add a certain je ne sais quoi to your home. Please get in touch for design inspiration.
WHY I LOVE GREENWICH
WHY I LOVE GREENWICH
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
Greenwich is a visual feast that has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Maritime Museum celebrates life at sea and its art collections are some of the finest in the country. Directly opposite is the Old Royal Naval College – an architectural masterpiece in the baroque style, with The Painted Hall a stunning focal point. You can’t visit Greenwich without seeing the world’s most famous clipper – The Cutty Sark – while the Royal Observatory gives the opportunity to lift your gaze upwards to the stars. And don’t forget to stand on the Prime Meridian Line, where time literally starts, before taking in Greenwich Park’s panoramic view across the London skyline.
Love to shop
Greenwich has long been the home of browsing and Greenwich Market remains one of the finest examples south of the river. Depending on the day, the square will be packed with arts and craft or antique stalls, with a supporting cast of street food vendors, jewellery, fashion and lifestyle traders. If your mantra is to support local as you plan your luxury interior, pop in to Made in Greenwich. It carries the work of more than 100 local artists and guarantees your purchase will be pretty unique. Personally, I’ll head straight to Pickwick Papers & Fabrics for an utterly disarming array of textiles, fabrics, wallpapers and paints – it’s where us London interior decorators flock!
Love to eat
If you’re a Francophile, there’s only one venue for you. Champagne + Fromage may be boutique in size but it oozes Parisian chic and is bursting with French favourites, including vintage fizz, snails de Bourgogne and raclette. In contrast is Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, where the interior designers have crossed Nordic minimalism with Japanese brand Muji to create a slick décor. Feast on maki, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori skewers while admiring the pared back beauty. If you like loft concept interior design, Midpoint hits the right notes. Here you can order an endless supply of Turkish meze while admiring the raw brickwork and exposed pipework. Finally, coffee and cake lovers with a conscience should head to Arapina – a vegan and vegetarian bakery where the mushroom croissants are served among a carefully curated indoor garden.
INTERIOR DESIGN VS ARCHITECTURE
Interior design versus architecture
The ‘90s have a lot to answer for. In 1996, the first ever episode of the BBC show Changing Rooms was broadcast and it quickly defined, rightly or wrongly, the image of interior design. While flouncing about in frilled shirts, rag rolling paint onto walls and making clients cry was a hit with TV viewers, it didn’t portray the true depth and skills of interior designers.
Interior designers are responsible for so much more than fluffing cushions and arranging flowers. We cross over with architects and construction professionals almost daily in our quest to execute the perfect project.
For me, the overlap with architects is especially acute. While working on a recent interior in London, I quickly identified that when creating the structure of the property, the architect had added a library next to the kitchen but failed to leave any space for a dining table.
Architects, while highly skilled at the technical elements of property design and remodelling, don’t always plan for how a space is to be used – the daily dynamics, family interactions, ergonomics and domestic anthropology. Of course, architects are vital. Their detailed drawings and measurements will ensure a project is safe, feasible and most likely to gain planning permission. Their blueprint will also inform the construction stage and without their input, a project would be in chaos.
Many interior designers, however, have what I call an ‘holistic eye’. They see space on multiple levels – the structure, the position of fixtures and the specification needed to meet the client’s brief. They advise on the best skirting board or cornicing, devise a flattering lighting scheme and devise a furniture layout based on the property’s orientation and flow of natural light.
Frequently, an interior design studio in London will ask an architect to make revisions based on their wider project plan – perhaps moving a wall here or making a doorway wider there. It is often these tweaks that elevate a house into a well-performing home.
With this in mind, there are a number of interior design architects in London, with some qualified or highly experienced in both disciplines. This really is the next level up in terms of skill and knowledge, and is as far away from the cast of Changing Rooms as you can get.
It’s very rare that an architect will be able to lead a client on the entire design and build journey. An interior designer should be involved throughout any refurbishment or new build process, from the first meeting on site, to the day the project is signed off. We’re here to shape, advise and inform, ensuring the finished product is cohesive and on point. Speak to Rudolph Diesel Interiors for an expert’s take on interior design.
SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT
Small changes, big impact
Title: Small changes, big impact: 8 easy ways to update your home
Not everyone has the time, money or inclination to rip it out and start again but if your home is in need of an update, there are a number of shortcuts to improve home style. Here are 8 property styling tips for those stuck in an interiors rut.
1. Replace net curtains: nothing says the 1980s like lacey net curtains and swapping these out for something more modern will provide an instant update. Keeping windows completely unobscured is what interior designers prefer but if all-day privacy is important, plain voile panels or roller blinds are simple, unfussy alternatives.
2. Upgrade your gas fire: radiant bar-style gas fires were a thing of beauty in the 1960s but if you’re still nursing this source of heat, your home will feel dated. Interiors in London often require a gas fire if they lie in a smoke control area and thankfully, there are some stylish living flame and log-burner style options available.
3. Repaint pine furniture: the orange undertones and shiny varnish usually applied to pine furniture takes us back to the 1990s but there are a number of upcycle fixes if the item is functional but plainly unfashionable. The quickest is replacing original wood handles and feet with contemporary metal alternatives but sanding back, priming and repainting will complete a total transform.
4. Remove dried flowers: even if you’ve removed all traces of chintz from your walls and upholstery, your choice of accessories can let you down. With the exception of the creations from a few dried flower specialists, dried flowers and potpourri belong in a distant decade. Instead, fragrance your home with reed diffusers and scented candles, and dress your home with real house plants.
5. Cover unsightly carpets: a heavily patterned, worn or stained carpet can ruin your home’s overall appeal but it’s an expensive change to make. A large rug will cover a myriad of sins and can be bought in a more modern style that reflects how you have redecorated the rest of your home.
6. Apply a fresh coat of paint: fashionable paint colours usually have a limited shelf life, so the joy of your coral feature wall or teal guest room may quickly evaporate. Timeless, modern house interiors are usually painted in the polar opposite – either a crisp white or Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe black – so opting for monochrome will make all the difference. Just add pops of colour with artwork and accessories.
7. Swap old light shades for new: often overlooked, light shades can really set the tone of a room. If you currently have fabric shades, think about opaque glass or rattan examples. If your shades are neutral and plain, swap them for Liberty or Morris & Co prints.
8. Change switches & sockets: white plastic light switches and plug sockets scream boring basics but it’s easy to elevate the aesthetic with a visit to a hardware store. Look out for chrome, brushed gold, copper and matt black options that will provide the perfect finishing touch.
If you are planning more major interior and structural changes, please contact Rudolph Diesel Interiors for a full consultation, design and installation service.
WHY I LOVE CROUCH END
WHY I LOVE CROUCH END
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
Crouch End is a mélange of easy-on-the-eye Edwardian and Victorian buildings, with warmth provided by red brick, white plasterwork and architectural flourishes. The town’s iconic clocktower appeared in 1895 and although its era is late Victorian, it celebrates the more frivolous Italian Renaissance style. Its octagonal cupola, blind arcades and supporting corbels, Kentish ragstone, iron weathervane and banded brickwork are hard to miss. If you like your landmarks with a pint of lager, you’re in luck. The Queens public house, on the corner of Tottenham Lane and Elder Avenue, is a grade II* listed edifice. It was built by the architect John Cathles Hill between 1898 and 1902, with wonderful Art Nouveau stained glass by the most magnificently named Cakebread Robey.
Love to shop
I love fashion design as much as interior design, so the ever-changing window display at Niddle Noodle always fascinates me. This children’s clothing and gift boutique is just one of a myriad of independent traders in the Topsfield Parade area of Crouch End. Flashback Records is where you’ll find vinyl lovers, while The Crouch End Cellars is a must for wine, beer, charcuterie and cheese. If your antipasti isn’t complete without some freshly-baked bread, Sourdough Sophia is the best for baked goods. And don’t miss Park Road too – a shopping enclave home to Little Paris Store, with its carefully curated vintage furniture and quirky homewares.
Love to eat
If you believe breakfast is the best meal of the day, Café Beam is a must. The owners enjoy a Middle Eastern heritage so it’s no surprise to see Turkish eggs and Shakshukaf on the menu. Always exclaiming ‘let’s do lunch’? You won’t be disappointed in Crouch End. Personal midday favourites include Bistro Aix and Lyon’s Seafood & Wine Bar – both with luxury interior designs to check out. Night owls can nestle in at Little Mercies – a cocktail bar and restaurant serving wonderful small plates in a very pared back, sophisticated interior.
WHY I LOVE PUTNEY
WHY I LOVE PUTNEY
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
You can kill two birds with one stone as you walk along Putney Embankment. Not only will you be treated to some of the best riverside views in London, you can follow the Putney Sculpture Trail that encompasses nine installations by British sculptor Alan Thornhill. Find them dotted between Leaders Gardens and Riverside Quarter. If art floats your boat, pop by The Russell Gallery, which is set just 400 yards from Putney Bridge and is a space devoted to modern, British art. Speaking of boats, Putney also provides the starting point for the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – it really is a spectacle worth seeing.
Love to shop
For cosy yet pared back interior design, form an orderly queue outside Blåbär Nordic Living on Putney’s Lacy Road – even I can sometimes be seen in line for the ceramics and Icelandic sheepskins. London’s luxury interior design often calls for a larder in the kitchen and smart jars are de rigueur. Head to The Source for a plethora of glass options with bamboo lids, and for an assortment of larder essentials that will allow you to go plastic free. Of course, home fragrance is now an integral part of interiors in London and you can stock up on Charles Farris candle tins at Huttons.
Love to eat
With a prime riverside spot, stunning balcony and garden terrace,The Boathouse is a must. The kitchen specialises in fish and seafood, so book a table and enjoy dishes such as Scottish mussels as the sun sets over the Thames. While eating al fresco is sublime during the summer, nothing beats a hearty Sunday roast inThe Spencer when the seasons change, especially if you bag a table by the wood burner. A quirky alternative isPutney Pies, where the British staple is served alongside a pleasingly-curated cocktail menu and travelling art exhibitions. If that wasn’t enough, top DJs regularly take over the premises’ basement nightclub - The Vault.
INTERIOR DESIGN VERSUS INTERIOR DECORATING
Interior design versus interior decorating
How are your DIY and design skills? If you’re not filming your furniture ‘hack’ success stories or posting room reveals on social media, you may need professional help when attempting to redecorate or remodel your home. There are two main disciplines to come to your aid: interior design and interior decorating, and there is a big difference between the two.
While many people enter the world of interior decorating because they have a good eye for detail and a healthy following on Instagram, interior design is a profession that requires training, qualifications and credentials.
What’s unique to interior design
High end interior design projects, especially the schemes we execute in London, are complex and multi-layered. Interior designers liaise with architects and structural engineers, as well as trades and suppliers, frequently stepping into the role of project manager.
At the heart of interior design is spatial planning, which may involve substantial remodelling or structural work. The Rudolph Diesel interior design studio in London is where our CGIs are produced. These accurate representations of space, light, colour and texture allows us to reposition walls and add in new furniture in a digital capacity, and can only be produced by skilled artists.
How does interior design work in practice? A client may want to improve how they entertain at home, requesting a mix of formal and informal areas, all executed with a new degree of luxury. An interior designer would perhaps recommend adding double doors to a wall that separates the dining room and the kitchen to unite the rooms; installing an island with a wine cooler and multiple bar stools for casual gatherings; and commissioning a bespoke dining table that could be extended to seat 8, 10 or 12.
Not only would a space plan be created, an interior designer would advise on new lighting and power supply requirements. They’d also position the fixtures and fittings to accommodate the client’s style of entertaining and create an aesthetic that fits the brief – all while orchestrating furniture designers, builders and carpenters.
The common ground
There is no doubt that interior decorators can produce some stunning luxury interiors but they are usually best used when the essence of a property is to remain the same and just a cosmetic overhaul is required.
The beauty of interior design is the individual or company behind the project will invariably have the training required to also carry out an interior decorator role. Luxury interior designers in London will have studied the psychology of colour, the use of upholstery and the intricacies of furniture design, while being in tune with the latest paint, wallpaper and accessory trends. They’ll also have a good grasp of ergonomics and anthropometrics so a finished project is functional as well as fabulous.
Rudolph Diesel is an interior design specialist and the team co-ordinates all aspects of remodelling, renovations, redecorating and home staging. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
WHY I LOVE WANDSWORTH
WHY I LOVE WANDSWORTH
Love to look at
If you have an interest in unusual architecture, you’ll love Royal Victoria Patriotic Building on Wandsworth Common - a Victorian edifice in a Gothic Revival style, combining Scottish Baronial and French Châteauesque elements. Now a complex of studios, workshops, a drama school and residential apartments – many of which boast a stunning interior design – the best way to appreciate the architecture is by dining in the on-site restaurant, Le Gothique. If architectural flourishes are not your thing, head to neighbouring Battersea, where the brutal but brilliant Power Station dominates the skyline. Join the self-guided Heritage Trail or pre-register for Lift 109 – a ride in a glass elevator to a viewing platform atop one of the iconic chimneys.
Love to shop
I’m a huge fan of high end interior design with biophilic notes, so Neal’s Nurseries on Wandsworth Common is my go-to for house plants - it’s the largest plant centre within Central London. Bayley & Sage on Wandsworth’s Old York Road offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ experience if you’re entertaining or being entertained, with wine, cheese, charcuterie, deli ingredients, bakery services and hand-tied bouquets all on offer. Just to the west of Wandsworth Park in Putney is Blåbär – Nordic Living. Not only is it a gorgeous café, it also stocks the most amazing Scandi chic home furnishings, which elevate the ordinary to design luxury. Also a hop, skip, jump or job from Wandsworth is Lark in Earlsfield. The store is packed with homewares, gifts and clothes – I defy you to leave without a purchase!
Love to eat
You simply can’t write about Wandsworth’s gastronomic scene without writing about Chez Bruce.This Michelin-star establishment has been the ‘south of the river’ restaurant of choice among the stars for decades, offering discretion and a delectable menu. No less unctuous but without the waiting list for a table is The Toast Rack – Wandsworth Common’s best bakery and casual restaurant – they had me at waffle benedict with truffle butter! Balham is within walking distance of SW18 and promises a sensory feast with more urban vibes – head to Post Market on the High Road for a smörgåsbord of pop-up food vendors. At the other end of the spectrum and just a 10-minute drive away isTrinity – a refined restaurant proudly holding a Michelin star.
WHY I LOVE HAMPSTEAD
WHY I LOVE HAMPSTEAD
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
You can’t mention Hampstead without mentioning the Heath but while the focus usually falls on the swimming ponds, there’s a little known attraction that demands your attention. The Hill Garden & Pergola was commissioned by Lord Leverhulme specifically for hosting lavish summer parties. Today you don’t need an invite to explore this abandoned Georgian arbour, terrace and grounds. If you’re looking for period interior design ideas, look no further than Burgh House & Hampstead Museum. This Queen Anne, Grade I listed property is packed with original features, wood panelled rooms and a romantic flourish of wisteria around the front door. Hungry for more historic splendour? Visit English Heritage’s Kenwood House. The dwelling’s interior design story is fascinating, especially the 2012-2013 refurbishment project. This saw over 400 paint samples taken from the library alone, enabling the house to be reinstated to its original colour scheme. Kenwood House has featured in a number of films too, including Notting Hill, Mansfield Park and 101 Dalmatians.
Love to shop
As a luxury interior designer, I’m always drawn to the unique, unusual and valuable. That’s why I can’t pass Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium without nipping in. From Art Deco objet d’art to turn-of-the-century furniture, it’s literally a treasure trove. As well as the luxury brands that line Hampstead High street (L’Occitane, Maje, Aesop, Whistles and Zadig & Voltaire included), don’t overlook Lords at Home for upscale kitchen paraphernalia and Judy Green’s Garden Store for what every high end interior design needs – gorgeous vases, house plants and bunches of beautiful blooms.
Love to eat
Heath Street Kitchen combines two of my favourite past times: eating and art admiration. This former gallery has transformed into a bistro café, with some amazing art on the walls and a menu that always feels fresh yet indulgent. Missing the Amalfi Coast? Head to Oddono’s for gelato that’s super authentic and made daily. Flavours include pistachio, panettone and nocciola piemonte. And while we’re sweet talking, no visit to Hampstead is complete without a pit stop at La Crêperie de Hampstead. Its crêpes and galettes have been wowing visitors since 1985, with even singer Harry Styles has been spotted queuing at the kiosk.
INTERIOR DESIGN FOR BEDROOM
Interior Design for bedroom
Whether referred to as the boudoir, dormitory, chamber or master suite, luxury interior designers in London know the bedroom is one of the most important spaces in a property.
Designing a new bedroom can also be one of the most creative and expressive experiences. You can dispense with the more restrained and demure approaches sometimes applied to social areas, such as living rooms, and instead embrace wilder designs as the audience is more private. Here are three interior design for bedroom ideas you may like to consider:-
There’s something about Louis
Picture 18th century France and the ‘Louis’ eras, when monarchs Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI were in power. Often referred to as the ‘golden era of French furniture’ by interior designers, this exquisite and often flamboyant style found its home in the bedroom – and it’s still finding favour today.
To achieve the ‘Louis’ look, our interior design studio in London will specify beds and dressing tables with curved, cabriole-style legs and ornate carvings, before accessorising with chandeliers and a chaise lounge. We’ll then elevate the luxury interior theme with lashings of chinoiserie and silk damask fabric, gilt accents and marquetry.
White out
If the desire is to create a Zen sanctuary away from family life, you can’t go wrong with an all-white interior design for bedroom. After all, if it’s good enough for Jennifer Lopez – whose touring rider stipulated an all-white dressing room with white candles, flowers, drapes and tables – it’s good enough for the best interiors in London.
We stop the overall look feeling too clinical or cold in two ways. Adding texture via fabric is a failsafe strategy – think curtains, cushions, blinds and throws in white linen, cashmere, boucle and jacquard. Alternatively, we can layer different shades of white on the walls, furniture and accessories. To give you an example of the variety on offer, Farrow & Ball has over 20 shades of white alone.
Over on the dark side
The bedroom is one space where you can get away with a majestically moody interior design as there’s less concern about natural light and more emphasis on a soothing, cocooning effect. The bravest bedrooms will be colour drenched – a design movement I’ve previously written about where walls, ceilings, woodwork and even radiators are painted the same shade: Carragheen and Top Hat from Fired Earth are two sumptuously rich paints to try.
For those seeking a compromise, a white ceiling and white bedlinen will temper darker walls, or you could opt for wallpaper. Anthriscus Dusk by Graham & Brown and Indian Sunflower in Graphite from Designers Guild are suitably dramatic but have a botanical pattern overlaid against their dark backgrounds, which serve to break up the blocks of colour.
For a professional approach to creating your dream bedroom, please contact Rudolph Diesel Interiors. As well as aesthetics and dressing, we can advise on architectural and structural alterations, such as knocking through two rooms to create a large principal bedroom, converting an attic and adding walls to yield an en suite.
WHY I LOVE SHOREDITCH
WHY I LOVE SHOREDITCH
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
Shoreditch is where street art thrives and the best way to admire the brick-based work of Stik, Sweet Toof and even Banksy is to take a walking tour. It’s full of dedicated art spaces and independent cinemas. Rich Mix is a venue for creatives - emerging artists, comedians and musicians, as well as a cinema.
Not quite a London landmark or a historic house, Ballie Ballerson is definitely something to look at - even if you’re just a spectator. This cocktail bar is home to two giant ball pits filled with over a million balls, with neon lights making this a grown-up’s playground paradise. The London Shuffle Club is another Shoreditch sight to see, where bright young things engage in the traditional old game of shuffleboard, cocktail in hand.
Love to shop
The original Boxpark opened in Shoreditch back in 2011 and the shipping container chic is still going strong. For a mix of Nordic-inspired clothing and homewares, head to Absence of Colour, or go to The Gift Box for cute and kitsch decorative accessories. Outside of Boxpark, interior designers are often seen in Aida for fabulous objet d’art and sustainable fashion, while fans of modern design form an orderly queue at SCP. For the ultra-creative among us, Cowling & Wilcox is Shoreditch’s art supply store - rammed to the rafters with paints, papers and pens.
For flowers and old style traders in full song head to Columbia Road flower market.
Love to eat
A sure-fire winner in Shoreditch is BiBo at The Mondrian – a Spanish kitchen serving authentic tapas. I’ll savour the oxtail brioche and padron peppers while admiring the luxury interior, before heading upstairs to Laurel’s On The Roof for a cocktail around the rooftop pool. A Japanese Garibaldi served in an authentic 1970s glass, anyone? If I’m in Shoreditch with friends, I’ll book us in for the feasting menu at Lahpet. It’s the best way to experience Burmese cuisine, with a menu so authentic you’ll think you're dining in Yangdon, Myanmar. For flying visits, you can’t go wrong with Wacka. Its breakfast and brunch options are ideal before an interior design meeting - Turkish eggs on sourdough toast or pistachio and pumpkin seed granola will hit the spot.
WALLPAPER: BACK ON THE INTERIOR DESIGN AGENDA
Wallpaper/Wallcoverings: back on the interior design agenda
How will Boris Johnson’s leadership be remembered? The outgoing Prime Minister will be most remembered for the interior make-over of No. 11 Downing Street – especially ‘that’ wallpaper!
Gold wallpaper, costing more than £800 a roll, was the talking point of a luxury interior design scheme at No. 11 reportedly costing more than £100,000. The lavish covering was specified by high end interior designer Lulu Lytle - the co-founder and director of Soane Britain. Her handcrafted paper was supposedly so heavy it started peeling off, needing specialist attention to remedy the issue.
While the funding of the Prime Minister’s renovation was the real scandal, the media frenzy did bring wallpaper firmly back into the luxury interiors spotlight. Wallpaper and wallcoverings can completely transform a space, with so many options that you can let your imagination run wild.
In our little black book here at Rudolph Diesel Interiors, we gravitate to a wonderful supplier, Arte International, who create the most sensational wallcoverings - bold, beautiful, striking and of excellent quality.
If, like the Johnsons, metallic wallpaper has caught your eye, you’re in luck. We think Arte International’s Metal X Stellar collection is a luxe addition to any interior design. We have used the oxidised metal-effect sheets in cloakrooms, living rooms and even bar areas – opt for the gold 37510 colourway for a more affordable alternative to Lulu Lytle’s wallpaper! We also adore Silk X for an opulent and timeless result. The subtle sheen of this metallic, textured wallcovering really elevated a West London office we had the pleasure of refurbishing.
If you’d like to incorporate more wallpaper into your home, book a consultation with us. Our interior design studio in London is a hive of wallpaper ideas and samples, and we can use CGI technology to illustrate how any room could look with an unlimited number of wallpapers choices on the walls.
INTERIOR DESIGN FOR SMALL HOUSES
Interior design for small houses
London is a beautiful city with amazing architecture and fascinating residential quarters. As well as grand, spacious townhouses, there are also plenty of what I like to call ‘bijou’ buildings. Some of the new homes - built to meet the ever-growing demand - can be described as compact.
It comes as no surprise that many people turn to interior design companies when they want to get the best interior design for a small house. The good news is small can be perfectly formed.
Some of the best interiors in London have been executed in modest spaces but it takes more than good fortune and a trip to Heals’ furniture department to find the right balance of practically functional and practically empty.
It may be stating the obvious but the right choice of paint is vital. Light-reflecting colours, such as White 01 from Lick, Warm Putty from Coat and Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light, are perfect for small rooms but you can go one step further than the walls.
Light colours are perfect for colour drenching – when you paint all the internal surfaces with the same shade – ceilings, metalwork, woodwork and plasterwork included. This gives the illusion of the walls receding and it’s a great trick for making radiators meld into the background.
Furniture placement is another big interior design consideration when you’re working with limited space. Our interior design studio in London uses space plans and CGIs to work out how much furniture a small house can handle. This forward planning also allows us to position items for the best flow and I’ll let you in on a trade secret – we may not push sofas back against the walls, even in tight spaces.
Sometimes we eschew freestanding furniture in smaller properties and follow the built-in path.
This carries the advantage of utilising high ceilings and alcoves - and always gives a room that luxury interior edge.
Furniture should also be positioned to ensure the maximum amount of natural light enters the property. A good interior designer will take windows and bifold doors into account when specifying items, avoiding anything too high, bulky or solid. Sight lines are another overlooked aspect when it comes to interior design, especially if the space is open plan. Again, CGIs are a great tool in preventing a property feeling cramped and blocked in.
There are a myriad of other tips and tricks luxury interior designers in London use when creating an interior design for a small house. Get in touch and we’ll explain how you should go big when it comes to rugs, why a picture rail may be your secret weapon and how mirrors can bring style to a small property.
WHY I LOVE MUSWELL HILL
WHY I LOVE MUSWELL HILL
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
Ally Pally, or to use its formal name Alexandra Palace, is Muswell Hill’s iconic Grade II listed entertainment and sporting venue. Its 19th century Victorian façade is best known for the Rose Window – a stunning circular stained glass window. A walk around the grounds is a great way to appreciate this landmark. One of the best visual spectacles in Muswell Hill is, however, the view. The neighbourhood’s elevated position grants wonderful panoramas over the city, framed by the beautiful Edwardian red brick houses – many of which are the work of James Edmondson and William Jefferies Collins. Head to Hillfield Park or The Avenue for a prime snap-happy position.
Love to shop
If your luxury interior design is in need of some aesthetically appealing kitchen props, head to
WMartyn on Muswell Hill Broadway. This coffee roaster, tea merchant and purveyor of delicatessen goods groans under the weight of pretty caddies and canisters (and the chocolates are a divine treat to eat too). It’s a safe bet that Muswell Hill’s most luxurious home interiors sport a few items from Cosi Homewares and Misk – both on Fortis Green Road. I have my eye on some enamel jugs and textured house plant pots. For clothes, What Mother Made a few doors away is an exceptional concept. Every item is handmade and maintains a zero waste policy. If ethical clothes shopping is your thing, Boutique by Shelter is another must-visit. The store, designed by Wayne Hemingway, sells designer, high-end High Street and vintage one-off finds at fabulous prices.
Love to eat
Serving possibly the most Instagrammed brunches in London, Kiss the Koala has perfected the art of beautiful bowl food. Expect warm breakfast naans, Korean chicken waffles and hazelnut dukkah, among other tantalising delights. If you like your afternoon caffeine fix and cake alongside a quirky interior in London, head to Bob’s Café on The Broadway. My eye is always drawn to the fascinating combination of exposed brick, eclectic mirror collection and ceiling-suspended house plants. The Victoria Stakes is a popular gastropub where comedy and cocktails are often on the same menu – great for an after-work gathering - while if your carb of poison is pasta, head to Fasta Fresh Pasta Bar. Try the strozzapreti with a side of stuffed vine leaves for something satisfying.
INTERIOR DESIGN TO MAXIMISE SPACE
Interior design to maximise space
Whether your property is blessed with generous proportions or you are working with rooms of a more ‘bijou’ stature, there is a uniting thread – the space will be of a fixed size unless you start knocking down walls, remodelling or extending.
The right design, specification and placement of the three ‘F’s - fixtures, fittings and furniture - can be the difference between a cramped, unworkable room and a harmonious, functional environment. Rudolph Diesel reveals four ways you can use interior design to maximise space.
1. Opt for a tonal treatment
A smorgasbord of different patterns and colours may look good on the pages of Country Life magazine but a busy interior design can make a room look cluttered and more compact than it really is. Taking a tonal approach is what interior designers often do when space is at a premium. Using the same shade across carpets, upholstery and walls – creams, light greys and pale greens, for example – will give the illusion of openness, even in small rooms.
2. Think vertically
If all your freestanding furniture is below eye level, it may be taking up more floor space than necessary. Wall space above waist height is often under-used but floor-to-ceiling bookcases and storage units take up less room and often accommodate more. A smart luxury interior design trick it to back open shelves and cubby holes with mirrors to help bounce around light, making rooms feel bigger and brighter. In kitchens, opt for cabinetry that goes all the way to the ceiling and don’t discount a suspended pan rack over an island, a la Nigella Lawson.
3. Swap to multipurpose furniture
Items that do two things at once are beneficial when creating an interior design to maximise space. Look out for console tables with drawers, a side table with hidden storage, and beds that lift up to reveal a huge cavity for the stowing of linen and blankets. The star performer of the season, however, has to be the ottoman. Its storage space will keep rooms clutter free but an ottoman can also double as a coffee table and an occasional seat.
4. Create a floorplan
Our interior design studio in London relies heavily on floor plans and CGIs to plan a room before any furniture is ordered or installed. Taking precise measurements and often working with a ‘bird’s eye view’, we can establish the right size, scale and placement of items so everything requested fits in but doesn’t overwhelm the room or compromise the usability of the space.
If you have an interior space that needs the professional touch, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
WHY I LOVE HIGHGATE
WHY I LOVE HIGHGATE
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
Did you know there is a ‘magnificent seven’ of cemeteries in the city of London and Highgate is one of them? While it may sound macabre to recommend a day out among the dead, Highgate Cemetery is a fascinating must-see and the burial place of many famous people, including Karl Marx and George Michael. The area is heavily wooded for a mystical backdrop and the memorials rather elaborate – many in an imposing Victorian Gothic style. A guided tour is the best way to explore the extensive cemetery, ensuring you don’t get lost among the graves.
Love to shop
Interior designers like me gravitate to Wolff & Grace, flooring experts on Highgate Hill. The team has a real eye for fine detail and stays on top of current trends, so choosing carpet and tiles is a breeze. From floors to florals and fruit! Greens of Highgate is the finest purveyor of flowers and seasonal produce in N6. Its irresistible bouquets and fruit-bowl favourites are essential if you’re putting the finishing touches to a high end interior design. And finally to food. Superette is a supermarket with a difference. Head to its Swain’s Lane store for limited edition, hard-to-find and exclusive food products, from Korean sauces and gins to bone broth and ice cream. Every product is pantry perfect so fill your basket if you like to display your wares.
Love to eat
Highgate is a great place to head if you’re hungry. Bournes is a brilliant fishmonger by day but it’s an even better seafood bar at night. Pop in after 6pm for oysters, lobster, langoustines and crab, washed down with something crisp and cold. The Bull is arguably Highgate’s best bar and dining room where even the snacks are outstanding. Find me deliberating over oyster mushroom tempura, artichoke crostini and gordal olives. The venue has recently been revamped, so expect a fresh luxury interior design. If you’re in N6 on a flying visit, spare 20 minutes for a pitstop at Coffee Delights. From turmeric lattes to iced teas, there’s a wide range of reviving drinks and a host of pastries for a sugar fix. Personal favourite? The just-set pastel de nata.
INTERIOR DESIGN TO SELL YOUR HOUSE
Would it surprise you to know that some of our most successful interior design projects are commissioned by people about to sell their properties? Although this may sound completely counterintuitive, interior design to sell your house is one of the most sensible uses of our trade. Indeed, staging your property before you sell can be one of the best investments you make.
The Home Staging Association’s 2021 annual Home Staging Report supports the latter point. It revealed 67% of estate agents said that staged properties sold one to two times faster than non-staged properties. In addition, 100% of agents said home staging increased the value of offers when comparing similar properties, with 33% commenting that increases in value could be as much as 15%.
So what is the relationship between interior design to sell your house and greater sales success? It’s all to do with portraying a lifestyle and appealing to the right demographic. If you want your property to attract an upscale audience, only a luxury interior design will do - even if it means replacing what you already have.
Bear in mind your first interaction with potential purchasers may be on a superficial level – they’ll be leafing through your brochure or perhaps watching a video tour. If they can’t relate to your sense of style, they may make a snap judgement and discount your property. It really can come down to the choice of liquid soap in your cloakroom.
Interior designers will ensure your home appeals to the highest-paying target market possible by redefining your home’s purpose. You may enjoy living in a pristine, all-white townhouse but this look may exclude affluent family buyers. Repurposing a guest bedroom so it’s dressed as a nursery will bring a new complexion to your sales proposition, as would reconfiguring an open plan space to create a dedicated home office or injecting a sense of cottage into your kitchen, for example.
Don’t forget, many of our clients are developers who, when the dusty, dirty work is complete, are left with a starkly beautiful dwelling devoid of lived-in life. An interior design studio can get involved to fill each room with furniture and flair before it goes on the market. Even for developers whose budgets don’t stretch to the whole interior design kit and kaboodle, Rudolph Diesel Interiors can create a set of CGI images that will show every space dressed to impress!
We understand that interior design to sell your house needs to be balanced with the value it can add to your property, expressed by how much buyers would be willing to offer. Our careful planning will ensure the sums add up for a successful sale. Get in touch as we’d love to hear about your moving plans.
WHY I LOVE COBHAM
WHY I LOVE COBHAM
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he heads out to the Home Counties to revisit one of Surrey’s most prestigious locations.
Love to look at
Cobham in Surrey has been christened the ‘Beverley Hills of Britain’ and it’s not hard to see why. Sprawling residences are dotted all around, with some of the very best examples on the Eaton Park Estate and in the Ockham Village enclave. Surrey interior designers are seen flitting between period properties and newly built mansions, with clients including dignitaries, entrepreneurs and sports stars – the latter perhaps a result of Chelsea Football Club’s training facility being located in the village. While you may see Mason Mount et al parking their supercars at Waitrose, Painshill – 158 acres of Grade I listed landscape gardens - provides the perfect foil for Cobham’s excess.
Love to shop
Every good luxury interior can be elevated with the right scent and I love Pip & Gray on Church Street for its selection of home fragrances. I also have a weakness for kitchen paraphernalia so when in Cobham, I’m often found in The Art of Living – a cookware specialist that stocks the traditional (Le Creuset) through to the ultra-modern (Black & Blum). If something sparkly is in order, a trip to the exquisitely-fitted Gordon Marks jewellers is just the ticket - the interior design warmly cossets and cocoons. It also has a Royal appointment, so if it’s good enough for the Queen……And if that something sparkly is of the liquid variety, I’ll nip into The Cobham Larder for gin and tonic supplies, purchased together with some wonderful cheeses and charcuterie.
Love to eat
I always make a beeline for the Coppa Club in Cobham Village, where high end interior design meets a biophilic backdrop and a mouth-watering menu. Another aesthetic crowd pleaser is The Ivy on Cobham High Street as it has a remarkable Art Deco luxury interior design. The very distinctive orange banquettes are the perfect place to sip the house speciality – a peach negroni. If you’re all about the coffee and not the cocktails, head to Coppers Coffee Roasters. Although this store specialises in wholesale coffee beans and barista equipment, it serves the finest brews to the public between 8am and 12 noon, Monday to Saturday.
INTERIOR DESIGN WITH DADO RAILS
Interior design with dado rails
You can’t move on social media for one particular interior design trend – wall panelling! It’s really having a moment, with MDF batons being used to replicate the real deal. While panelling certainly has its place – particularly original examples seen in London’s fabulous Georgian townhouses – dare I say it, it’s beginning to feel a little over exposed.
There is a more understated option for those who like their luxury interiors with a wall adornment – the dado rail. This often ornate but subtle strip of wood was introduced as a safety buffer after interior designers of the past noticed the shunting back of dining room chairs was damaging the expensive Chinoiserie wallpaper.
A dado rail’s primary function explains why it was always set around waist height and many interiors in London still sport a dado rail roughly a third of the way up the wall. Now classed as a period feature, there is an entirely unique approach to interior design with dado rails.
Interior design studios will often specify different paint colours or wallpapers to go above and below a dado rail. For instance, if we were asked to make a room with low ceilings feel grander, we would apply a darker paint shade below the dado rail and a much paler shade above.
Quirkier takes on interior design results when you combine wallpaper, paint and a dado rail. Using patterned wallpaper – perhaps a bold Liberty print – above and below a dado rail will instantly add impact but this can be further elevated by painting the dado rail either a complimentary or even clashing colour – the more unexpected, the better.
One of the simplest but most striking ways to incorporate a dado rail is to follow a monochrome path. Painting white (Clean White from Paint & Paper Library is ideal) both above and below the moulding may feel safe to start with but if you paint the dado rail in an inky colour (Down Pipe from Farrow & Ball is a good place to start), you’d bring a heritage feature into a contemporary realm.
Of course, you may inherit a dado rail as part of a listed property and feel it’s an intrusion on your interior design plans. If this is the case, camouflage may be your best option. Paint from top to bottom in the same shade – walls, skirting board, coving, cornicing and dado rail included - and the rail will blend into the background and you’ll have achieved another high end interior design trend – colour blocking.
If interior design with dado rails is proving a challenge, feel free to use us for advice.