Interiors Inspiration: Design Week’s pick of interior spaces

Yeast Bakery, by Run For The Hills

This East London bakery’s interior combines Bauwerk Limewash walls with accents of rich plum running through the café seating and dusky pink across the bar counter. As well as giving the space a lived-in look and feel, the limewash walls will also age well, requiring less maintenance over the years. The bakery’s exposed ceiling and galvanised extraction pipework is offset by the warmth of the colour palette, seeking to make the space less cold and industrial and more welcoming.

After ordering at the solid concrete deli counter, fronted with soft pink 3D porcelain tiles from ArchiTile, customers enter an open dining space separated from the kitchen by Crittall glazing. Yeast Bakery’s indoor dining area comprises a timber high bench-table, leather-topped tables with timber frames and a mix of zinc and black dining chairs. Run For The Hills opted for rattan and woven furniture for the outdoor seating as a way of softening the glazed-box shopfront. Decorative light fittings, such as the deVOL crackle glaze artisan pendants that hang low over the high bench table, were chosen to bring light levels down and add extra layers of materiality to the space.

Two Hands Nursery, by vPPR Architects

Two Hands Nursery in Shepherd’s Bush, London, has been designed with both stimulating education and eco-friendly practices in mind. The educational environment not only seeks to mimic home comforts, but also to encourage exploration and play – avoiding an overly controlled, prescriptive learning experience. Primary colours and shapes are used across the storage units, play spaces and walkways and some zones have been assigned their own colour. The dining room and sleeping room/stage area are separated by curtains rather than solid walls, allowing for a free-flowing space when needed.

As the nursery teachers need to be able to see the children at all times, vPPR designed the area with these viewpoints in mind. The integration of portholes in the walls allows the head teacher to survey the nursery from her office.

vPPR purposely chose materials that would be long-lasting with low carbon impact. Valchromat was chosen for the joinery as its wood fibres are less affected by bumps and scrapes; cork flooring made from recycled bottle stoppers was selected for its exceptional carbon balance and sound absorption qualities; and the outside courtyard makes use of locally sourced, shredded tyres that are water permeable and reusable.

The Libertine, by Studio Found

Hidden among London’s Grade I listed Royal Exchange vaults sits a new drinking and dining venue, with interiors designed to complement the space’s historical significance. Before climbing the spiral staircase up to the main space, guests are greeted by an antique shop full of equestrian-themed artefacts, in homage to Queen Elizabeth I’s love of horses. The 650 sq m main space is divided into a 14-metre-long bar, 90-seat restaurant, a more relaxed dining area with an open kitchen, a private dining area and an apothecary.

Acting as the focal point of the space, the bar is housed by glazed antique brass frameworks, which span the vault’s existing architectural, arches and brick work. In an effort to add more drama to the centre of the space, Studio Found also left exposed four 1000-litre copper beer tanks. Charred timber and fumed oak were selected as base materials, referencing the fact that the two previous iterations of the Exchange were burnt down, first in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and again in 1838. The restaurant area sees the implementation of high-quality finishes such as specially designed leather banquettes, a four metre custom wine display and bespoke lighting designed by Studio Found. Guests will also find custom-made grasshopper tiles which link to the golden grasshopper on Thomas Gresham’s family crest, the man who founded the Royal Exchange in 1565.

Grimsbury Manor Nursery, by Delve Architects

A Georgian Grade II listed ashlar stone manor house has bene transformed from a commercial office property into a 557 sq m nursery. Since the building already adopted a strong Gothic style – with its ashlar stone walls, pedimented porch and Tuscan columns – Delve’s intention was to adopt a light-touch approach for the interiors and carry out a refurbishment to make the space fit for purpose, rather than a complete overhaul.

Opting for a calming look and feel, Delve Architects made use of raw materials with neutral hues and designed the space to complement the flow of natural light. Though there is little in terms of colour, the space features hints of green on the cabinetry and kitchen front. The inclusion of small plants and trees throughout the space, making for a seamless transition between the nursery and the new garden space created for the children.

Civilian Hotel, by Rockwell Group

Rockwell Group has designed the interiors for a 27-story, 203-room hotel in New York’s theatre district, including its ground floor restaurant, first floor bar and rooftop lounge. David Rockwell – who has previously designed a number of sets for Broadway shows – took inspiration from well-known meeting spots in New York’s theatre history, such as Edison Café on Broadway and the Stage Door Canteen. The design of Civilian Hotel looks to appeal to performers and theatre lovers alike, evoking the classic look and feel of old theatres through marquee-inspired lighting, luxurious curtains, and other set- and stage-like elements. The furniture, fixtures and equipment combine textured materials such as wood, brass, cement tiles and metal with glass partitions and jewel-toned upholstery.

Civilian’s 150-seat restaurant, the Rosevale, features a rounded, ribbed leather ceiling with mirrored panels. Red leather banquettes and brass and glazed subway tile accents punctuate the space, along with bespoke round sconce light fixtures engraved with theatre façade sketches by set designers including Tony Walton, Es Devlin, Clint Ramos, Anna Louizos, and Mimi Lien. Aged leather upholstery and a stone bar top characterise the cocktail bar’s back-of house style, with clerestory windows connecting the space to a secret garden area.

The more sombre-toned Blue Room provides guests with a place to disconnect from the busier social spaces. Rockwell Group designed this space with a speakeasy in mind, pairing royal blue panelling with plush velvet banquettes, and surrounding the seating area with cabinets of theatre props and costume pieces.

The Fall bridal store, by Studio Jey

East London bridalwear store The Fall has been upgraded to a new larger space with the help of Studio Jey, which implemented bespoke furnishing and theatrical design elements to help elevate the store’s alternative bridal shopping experience. As well as considering that the clothing on display would feature tonal white and silky textiles, Studio Jey also had to consider which materials would work in contrast with the industrial elements of the space. The result was a range of bespoke aluminium furniture and retail consoles and hand-finished clay plaster and lime wash walls paired with neutral toned curtains and upholstery, seeking to add a softness to the space.

While the space wanted to be beautiful, functionality was crucial as there needed to be two separate appointment areas, allowing brides to have a sense of privacy during their experience. A partition wall located in the entrance aims to give the bride breathing space before guiding them into furnished welcome area. Two central fitting rooms and lounge areas provide a more intimate space than other bridal shops. The large curtains that enclose the private area introduce an element of retail theatre to the space.