British Designers At Home

by Jenny Rose-Innes

For anyone interested in interiors, there is so much inspiration available online and in magazines these days of carefully curated spaces and contemporary homes. But what sort of spaces do interior designers themselves live in?

British Designers at Home is for anyone curious to find out more about designers, and glean ideas and practical information for their own homes. This engaging and visually enticing book profiles over 20 of the most important names in British design and decoration in their own personal spaces.

Names Alidad; Edward Bulmer; Emma Burns; Nina Campbell; Jane Churchill; Octavia Dickinson; Mike Fisher; Veere Grenney; Beata Heuman; Gavin Houghton; Roger Jones; Kit Kemp; Robert Kime; Rita Konig; Penny Morrison; Paolo Moschino; Wendy Nicholls; Guy Oliver; Colin Orchard; Carlos Sânchez-García; Daniel Slowik; Justin van Breda; Sarah Vanrenen and Philip Vergeylen.

Each designer has been profiled and photographed at home – alongside details of their working life and the story of how they became interested in design, they talk at length about the house itself and the thinking behind its design and decoration. From the unexpected to that classic British look, this is an exciting look at modern British interiors.

Genres: Interior Design, Design, Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books

320 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2020

Reviews

[Beth Bonini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I can look at again and again - always finding something new depending on what I’m looking for. Although it’s described as “British Designers”, some of these big names (Alidad, Beata Heuman, Carlos Sanchez-Garcia) are originally from other countries; the thing that they have in common, though - in addition to living and working in the UK - is the way they work within a British vernacular.

There is great variety in terms of style and colour and era, and a mixture of London flats and country houses (both grand and more simple), but I did notice that very few of the houses feel overly designed and flawless. The majority of them have built-up layers of furniture, objets and textiles, and there is no matchy-matchy or minimalism. Most of the houses look comfortable, with squishy sofas, generous chairs, lots of lamps and side-tables, coffee tables and ottomans. They are obviously homes - that’s the point - and not show places for the designer’s brand. Lots of art, lots of textiles, lots of antique pieces, and the majority of designers also have their passions (in terms of collectibles) on show as well.

I really enjoyed the interviews with the authors and the casual “at home” feeling of the accompanying photographs. The editor of the book is a South African/Australian and I think she brings an excellent insider/outsider eye to the project. A nice touch is her list of “favourite British books” (fiction and design, mostly) which features at the end of the book along with exact references to fabrics, paints, furniture, etc. Wonderful.

[Liina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore British interior design for its comfort, coziness, layers colors, and patterns. This book - showing the most important British designer's own homes - had all that and more.
Apartments and country houses, some grand some less so but all designed with a love for well-crafted things, history, antiques, and art. I didn't love all the homes in the book - in some of them I myself could not live. But all of the designers who showed their homes had a unique vision of how to approach an empty space and make it something more than just a space filled with things. Almost all the rooms in the books told a story. That is why I love a room filled with things and objects. Every one of them is a decision made and tells something about the preferences of the person who lives there. I especially eyed the bookshelves of course. A minimally designed empty room does not speak, it is a void, an anonymous space that could belong to anyone. It is mournful and sad that can only be saved by great big windows and trees casting different shadows throughout the day and seasons.

With its more than 300 pages, excellent photo and paper quality, mini-interviews with the designers and extensive reference list about fabrics, furniture etc in the photos featured, it is a gem for anyone who loves British style.

And if you ask me my favorite home in the book it is of course the late Robert Kime's. Pitch perfect eye for creating a house that feels so inviting and layered but not stuffy and pretentious.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this design book- it was fun getting a peek at so many different designers' homes. It was a great way to get a sampling of each one's style!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with lovely insights from various designers on how they experience home. I loved the uniting factors that shone through - things that make a place home equal the "feeling" and the people/pets/memories/personal touches. This made me realize the influence my European relatives and their style have had on my own style and the things that bring me comfort. Love the maximalist and cozy vibes of the English country homes, with a bit of a mix including homes in the city as well.

[Dity · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book to get lost in... Though when it comes to Gavin Houghton's - whose work is on the cover - "colourful ceilings", I would like to see more of them in the pictures chosen! A small pet peeve in an otherwise perfect volume.

[Lupin Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed the textual and visual elements! I am very inspired by Kit Kemp particularly.

[SassieMolassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. It spoke to me and my weird little wallpapered, maximalist brain. I loved almost all of these interiors, ALL of the exteriors.

[Tanja Schwärzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book full of inspiration for every British interiors lover!

[C · Rating 1 out of 5]

With the exception of some of Robert Kime's collection, perfectly horrid. And can someone in Britain turn on the lights?