Seminar speakers

Dan has had his own interior design practice for over seventeen years which includes interior designers, architects and landscape architects. He has a degree in architecture and has also trained in conservation and restoration. He has worked on a number of hotels and restaurants but is known mainly for his domestic interiors, many of which have been published. He frequently gives talks at KLC design School and you may have caught him on TV presenting the first series of “Britain’s Best Home”. Dan is a member of the British Institute of Interior Design and heads up its CPD Committee.

Confessions of an Interior Designer
In these days of fast changing fashions in interior design and tedious TV makeovers, Dan considers the alternatives. Famous for his slow burn approach to design, he took us on a tour of his own projects letting us into a few trade secrets and sharing the ups and downs of how he achieves the finished result.  Sometimes serious and often very funny, his talk convinced us about the necessity of using an interior designer and, at the same time, refreshed even the most jaded professional.
 

Nicky Haslam

Nicky Haslam is one of Britain’s ultimate interior designers, having been in the industry since 1972. Working with his creative director, Colette van den Thillart, he has created influential interiors of offices, restaurants, retail environments and residences for high profile and celebrity clientele as well as the decors of some of the world’s most glamorous parties.

NH Design, Nicky’s design and architectural firm, produces high-end design and bespoke furnishings as well as its own fabric line. Nicky’s style is ever changing with the times, yet distinguishable for its humour, charm and wit and is recognisable all over the world with projects undertaken in cities such as London, New York, Barbados, Monaco, Los Angeles and Paris.

Sue Crewe in conversation with Nicky Haslam
Editor of House and Garden magazine, Sue Crewe, spoke to celebrated designer, Nicky Haslam

While always moving the magazine forward and introducing new elements such as the popular ‘Green by Design’ and ‘Hotels by Design’ supplements she guards its reputation for publishing the most beautiful and inspiring homes in the world and seeking out the most innovative artist and craftsmen. 

Susan writes, lectures and broadcasts, dividing her time between her London home in Notting Hill and her Cumbrian coastal retreat. She has two adult children and three grand children.

Sue Crewe in conversation with Nicky Haslam
Sue Crewe spoke to celebrated designer, Nicky Haslam

Mark Woodman

Mark is one of America’s most respected colour specialists and forecasters. He combines his extensive colour knowledge with his “can do” attitude to successfully tackle each colour challenge that he accepts.His personal design accomplishments vary in scale from styling private residences to colouring an entire streetscape in Charleston, South Carolina. The international news organization, the Associated Press, recently invited him to create a design for one of the famous White House public rooms and he frequently appears on television and radio as a colour theory specialist.Mark is a spirited and accomplished speaker who has lectured for prominent organisations such as ASID, IFDA, IDC, Surfaces, NeoCon and Furnitex Australia. His career within the colour industries has spanned over two decades, giving him extensive first-hand experience and making him an integral member of Global Colour Research’s international team.

Direction, Perspective and Nuance: Colour Excitement for 2012/13  by Mix Trends.
Global Color Research, colour trend consultancy and publisher of Mix magazine, brought its US representative Mark Woodman to London. Woodman is one of America’s most respected colour specialists and forecasters; he has worked with Global Color Research for the past 3 years. We joined him as he revealed important upcoming stories, influences and inspiration, detailing what hues will emerge, what shapes and textures to expect and suitable applications for different markets.

Rene Dekker

Interior Designer René Dekker is a residential team leader and Associate at SHH - a 55-strong leading London architecture and interiors practice, with a global, award-winning portfolio. René and his team specialise in the creation of show-stopping interiors schemes, winners of design awards across three continents and which have featured in Objekt International, The White Book, Architectural Digest, ELLE Decoration and IDFX amongst many other leading global titles.  In 2011 René was listed in Country & Town House Magazine’s ‘Top 50 InteriorDesigners in Britain’. René has been a judge for both KBB and Rugmark and has written on interior design trends for The International Interior Design Yearbook, as well as speaking at leading UK interiors conferences.  In the prime residential market, Rene works as an Interior Designer, Decorator and Stylist right across the spectrum, from classical, traditional, period and listed buildings to modernist villas, houses and apartments, as well as on completely one-off, signature schemes.

New interpretations of ‘Sanctuary’ in the luxury homes market
The word ‘sanctuary’ has become something of a cliché over the past decade in the world of residential interiors.  It is nearly always associated with bathrooms and their promise of offering escape from the worries of the world – not to mention the demands of one’s own family!

In the prime residential market, however, our clients are exploring the possibilities of finding sanctuary in many other kinds of spaces in the home.  The huge trend for digging down and creating super-basements has seen underground pools, gyms, spas and saunas become almost commonplace, but we are also starting to see requests for spaces for many other types of relaxation space  – from cinemas studies, libraries and his’n’her dressing rooms to art galleries, double-volume underground tennis and squash courts and even vaults dedicated to classic car collections.  The world of adult play has now entered the home environment…

Micheline Taillardat

A Self-taught person, Micheline Taillardat joined a Company specializing in contemporary furniture in Paris when she was 18, then she moved to Orléans and found a job in a manufacture of ancient furniture, where she climbed the rungs of the ladder until becoming a decorator. With a strong determination she dashed into the adventure of the new business start-up In 1987. Her small business only proposed 4 pieces of furniture made at home with the help of some craftspeople. Five years later, by means of work and of tenacity the company became a « House » and proposed 71 models. Nowadays, more than 250 pieces are being made by about 20 crafstmen. At the end of 2011 the workshops will be moving South of Orléans to grow from 800 to 1800 m2 and allow a larger production capacity.

When traditional furniture gathers designers from different worlds
The session detailed when Taillardat gave five designers - Chantal Thomass, Nina Campbell, Pierre-Yves Rochon, Serge Mansau and  Tristan Auer - the opportunity to design a piece of furniture for them. Micheline introduced the audience to each model and how the project has brought success to a company used to making traditional furniture.
 

An innate sense of adventure has defined Katharine Pooley’s life and shaped her design philosophy.

The contents of her eponymous boutique on London’s Walton Street reveal many of the influences that inspire her work. Rare and exquisite objects from distant corners of the globe jostle for space with simple yet luxurious home accessories and furnishings, and a growing range of her own-label designs, many displaying oriental motifs. Quality and craftsmanship are evident in every item.

By rights, putting this incredibly diverse, eclectic collection together in a small space should not work. Yet everything seems perfectly at home.

The Far Eastern influences are explained by a former career in investment banking, living and working in Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam. Returning to England after more than two decades abroad to pursue her passion for interior design, Katharine’s talent for understanding and marrying diverse cultural influences with elegant interiors quickly gained her a following among London’s international design cognoscenti.

Her unique approach succeeds in capturing the essential diversity of classical contemporary living without sacrificing comfort, coherence or style. Add in a keen sense of humour and a typically English love of understated luxury and the result is a remarkable interior design business.

Katharine was a natural choice to design the interiors for the Royal and VIP Lounges at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Recent London projects include townhouses in Belgravia, Chelsea, Kensington and Notting Hill and penthouses and apartments at many of the capital’s most prestigious addresses. Noteworthy international projects include a condo in the heart of Singapore and a palace in Kuwait. She has won two, prestigious Decorex awards and is frequently featured in the prestigious Andrew Martin Top 100 international interior designers.

With her reputation firmly established in London, over time Katharine plans to open brand outposts in Asia, the Middle East and North America.

Panel discussion: Interiors today, interiors tomorrow
How we can create designs and products that are built to last. In this age of environmental considerations, we should not be producing items with built-in obsolescence, but instead building sustainable things that last. How do we create the antiques of tomorrow?
 

Tim Gosling

Tim Gosling graduated from the Central School of Art & Design in 1987 with a BA (Hons.) degree in Theatre Design. Tim joined David Linley shortly after, becoming a director in 1993. At Linley he was instrumental in developing the company’s design style and expanding their bespoke business over 18 years. 

In 2005 Tim set up his own company, Gosling, giving him the freedom to design a wider range of furniture while continuing his working relationships with interior designers worldwide. Gosling creates anything from a single, unique piece of furniture to an entire interior design scheme, tailored to each individual client's exact specifications. The company’s objective is to create a bespoke service of design and furniture that has style and longevity. Each commission begins with the very intimate process of working with the client to ensure the designs reflect their needs and taste. Every piece of furniture is made to the most exacting of standards using the finest materials and traditional cabinet making techniques.

Panel discussion: Interiors today, interiors tomorrow
How we can create designs and products that are built to last. In this age of environmental considerations, we should not be producing items with built-in obsolescence, but instead building sustainable things that last. How do we create the antiques of tomorrow?

Joanna Wood

Joanna Wood set up as an interior designer 28 years ago and is now recognised as one of Britain’s leading figures in the international world of Interior Design, heading up a group of six design-related companies. Joanna Trading offers a total design service, fully committed to architectural as well as interior design. Her talent for creating elegant rooms combining British and European traditional and contemporary styles draws clients from all over the world. With each client, furniture, colour schemes and fabrics are carefully chosen to reflect the individual’s taste. Joanna Trading has an impressive private and commercial client list and commissions are as diverse as they are versatile. Many of Joanna’s clients are establishment figures and a number are celebrities. These have included John Reid, Nigel & Polly Havers, Denise O’Donoghue and Jim Henson.

Panel discussion: Interiors today, interiors tomorrow
How we can create designs and products that are built to last. In this age of environmental considerations, we should not be producing items with built-in obsolescence, but instead building sustainable things that last. How do we create the antiques of tomorrow?

Tim Wallace

Editor of idFX, Tim Wallace, hosted a panel discussion consisting of Tim Gosling and Joanna Wood.

Panel discussion: Interiors today, interiors tomorrow
How we can create designs and products that are built to last. In this age of environmental considerations, we should not be producing items with built-in obsolescence, but instead building sustainable things that last. How do we create the antiques of tomorrow?

Lori Weitzener

Lori Weitzner’s passion for her work is driven by what inspires her to create. Inspiration can be found in anything that offers stimulation to the senses. Her CEU-accredited presentation, “The Preservation of Passion”, focuses on the artist's never-ending quest for new sources of inspiration. The presentation will concentrate on the process through which Weitzner goes to find inspiration in her work and give the listening audience practical tools with which to ensure their own success. Inspiration can be found in something as specific as a color palette taken from a single artifact or as extensive as a cultural time period, both of which can act as a nucleus for creativity. “The Preservation of Passion” is conceptually stimulating and fresh, with the fundamental goal being to offer sources of inspiration for the listening audience in their own work.

The Preservation of Passion
Lori Weitzner’s passion for her work is driven by what inspires her to create. Inspiration can be found in anything that offers stimulation to the senses. Her CEU-accredited presentation, “The Preservation of Passion”, focuses on the artist's never-ending quest for new sources of inspiration. The presentation concentrated on the process through which Weitzner goes to find inspiration in her work and gave the listening audience practical tools with which to ensure their own success. Inspiration can be found in something as specific as a color palette taken from a single artifact or as extensive as a cultural time period, both of which can act as a nucleus for creativity. “The Preservation of Passion” is conceptually stimulating and fresh, with the fundamental goal being to offer sources of inspiration for the listening audience in their own work.

For the last 10 years Nicholas has been Head of Interiors at the British clothing company Paul Smith. With over 575 stores worldwide he works closely with Paul, defining the design concepts from the initial build to fabric choices for upholstery.

He has worked on major flagship stores in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo.  In addition to this he runs the furniture store in Albemarle Street, Mayfair and has organised a wide variety of exhibitions themes ranging from photographs such as Norman Parkinson, Willy Rizzo, Elliott Erwitt to young designers Michael Marriott and Ben Radcliff.

Before working for Paul, Nicholas owned a successful Antiques Business in London’s Notting Hill for fifteen years.

Maggie’s Teapot'
Piers and Nicholas discussed how they worked together to create the Maggie Cancer Caring Centre in Nottingham, an incredible space that offers hope and solace to anyone affected by cancer.

Piers Gough

Born in Brighton in 1946, Piers Gough studied at the Architectural Association in London between 1965 and 1971. After this, he worked alone or with his future partners, before the practice CZWG Architects LLP, was set up in 1975. Principal buildings of the practice include: China Wharf, Cascades, The Circle, Wolfe Crescent, Dundee Wharf and Batsons & Regents Wharves all in London’s Docklands; 200 Aztec West; various buildings at Bryanston & Uppingham Schools; the Street-Porter house in London, 66 Vauxhall; Summer’s Street, Soho Lofts, Bankside Lofts, Bankside Studios and The Glass Building in London; the Westbourne Grove Public Lavatories and flower kiosk; new galleries at the National Portrait Gallery; Steedman Street at Elephant & Castle and the ‘Bling Bling’ building at Liverpool One. 

‘Maggie’s Teapot'
Piers and Nicholas Chandor, Head of Interiors at Paul Smith, discussed how they worked together to create the Maggie Cancer Caring Centre in Nottingham, an incredible space that offers hope and solace to anyone affected by cancer.

Samantha Towle

Ethical Sourcing for Designers
As designers, how can we make sure that the products we specify are ethically produced and we have not unwittingly contributed to the illegal exploitation of children or the stripping of a rainforest? Samantha Towle of GoodWeave highlighted current issues, commonplace in developing countries, with particular focus on rugs, hand-woven textiles and timber for furniture, and explained how to avoid the pitfalls.

Transforming your design ideas for presentation
SketchUp is a simple to learn and easy to use modeling tool from Google. If you’ve not used it before, you can guarantee that one of your colleagues has!
  
Google SketchUp enables you to take the first step in 3D design but while great for 3D modeling, that’s as far as it goes. If you want to take your design concepts to the next level, you need to add a rendering tool.  


 

The Bill Amberg group of companies was launched in 1984 by Bill Amberg, driven by a vision to create beautiful leather goods. Now boasting 26 full-time employees working from their own workshops and design studio in West London, Bill Amberg incorporates an international fashion wholesale business, a specialist design consultancy, a bespoke architectural projects department, a three-store portfolio, a successful online business and retail distribution across the UK and US.

Many people cite Bill Amberg as the leader of a renaissance, which has seen quality leather become more accessible and more widely used in a range of applications. It is this versatility that inspired Bill during his apprenticeships, under leather craftsmen in Australia in the 1970s, and it was here his love for leather truly was born. Bill describes his relationship with the medium of leather as a restless, creative engagement which constantly tries to find new ways of cutting, folding, treating and using the material in new ways for new purposes.

Pecha Kucha: Inspirations from Crafted
Bill Amberg introduced the very best UK craftsmen from the Crafted programme - from silversmiths to weavers, ceramicists to letterpress printers – each shared a unique insight into the practices and processes involved in their craft.  In this rapid-fire Pecha Kucha session we discovered just how much skill and expertise is involved in such fine craftsmanship, after which we joined the makers on stand E161 and view their work. 

Crafted provides mentoring, business support and public platforms for exceptional craftsmen to showcase and grow their businesses. Up to 12 businesses are supported each year from across the spectrum of craft disciplines. They select the finest craftsmen in the country and match them with the best British luxury brands for mentoring and support. 

Crafted has been developed by Walpole in partnership with Arts & Business, and is supported by the American Express Foundation. To find out more about Crafted visit www.crafteduk.org.

Tara Bernerd

Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award winner, Tara Bernerd is a woman at the very top of her game. Focusing on space planning, interior design and styling, Tara’s portfolio of work ranges from unique private residences to large property and leisure developments as well as designing a bespoke range of cushions and rugs for The Rug Company. Tara is, by her own admission, a ‘forceful character’, with strong ideas of what works and what does not.  She is known for her bold designs, strong use of colour and texture and seamlessly fusing contemporary with traditional. Tara’s expertise, enthusiasm and talent have resulted in her seat on the design board of mydeco.com.  Other highlights have found Tara included on the Dulux Creative Board, as well as being on the committee for ACT. Tara Bernerd is the contributing editor on design for British GQ.

What is luxury?
Tara Bernerd addressed the topic of luxury - what it is and why we aspire to it - with reference to recent projects and some “luxurious” iconic designs, both in residential, commercial and yacht design.  Luxury is an important element of every project, whatever the budget.

Angus Gibson

Angus Gibson is a pioneer of the British audio visual industry, starting his first business in the early 1980's and more recently joining Symm to head up its London office.  Symm is synonymous with quality, craftsmanship and fine finishes in its work as building contractors for high end residential and new build projects. His wide experience working with many of the country's leading interior designers and architects gives him a unique understanding to provide the most effective and least complicated solution.

Home technology for today's savvy client ... how technology has finally been made simple and compatible with our Wi-Fi lifestyle
In recent years technology for the home has been turned on its head; there is now really no necessity for complicated systems at often high prices.  Angus will discuss how TV/satellite, i-Pod music, film downloads, music streaming, lighting, security etc can be controlled through thoughtful design and installation and simple touch screen technology, eliminating the need for miles of cabling or cumbersome electronic equipment.  He also addressed the relationship between interior designer, a savvy client and the new breed of geek who provides this technology.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Martyn Lawrence Bullard is an illustrious and multiple award winning interior designer known for his glamorous and worldly interiors for high profile and celebrity clientele that ranges from Rock Stars to Royalty. His global visionary point-of-view of making homes luxurious sanctuaries has made him an arbiter of taste whose larger than life client list includes Cher, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Christina Aguilera, Eva Mendes, Ellen Pompeo, Kid Rock, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and Tamara Mellon, founder and President of Jimmy Choo. In addition, he has worked extensively on commercial projects including Colony Palms Hotel Group, executive suites for both Paramount and Warner Bros Studios, the Beverly Hills luxury emporium, Shizue and restaurant projects including the Purple Palm and Five Feet. Currently, he is working internationally on a diversity of projects which include America’s first Green LEED certified estate in Malibu for the acclaimed actor/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans, a 12th century castle restoration in Umbria, the Jimmy Choo corporate headquarters in London and a 40,000 square foot beach front estate in Mexico.

Life, love and decorate
Martin spoke about his book, life and how to turn a design career into tv magic!

Holly Becker

Holly Becker is the founder and editor of decor8, the internationally-known design site dedicated to delivering fresh design ideas meant to inspire its over 48,000 daily readers to live a more fulfilling, authentic and creative life. Holly is an American freelance journalist, author and design consultant living in northern Germany while also maintaining a US office in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In addition to decor8, she is the founder of the first online e-course about creative blogging, Blogging Your Way, which was launched in March 2009 and includes written lessons, videocasts and podcasts along with a dedicated forum for students to interact with Holly and her co-teachers. Her debut book, Decorate: 1,000 Professional Ideas for Every Room in Your Home sold out during pre-release and quickly became a Wall Street Journal Best Seller at 2, and has maintained it's standing at 1 on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk since March. 

Blogging Your Way For Designers
Design blogs are not a passing fad; with top designers launching blogs it's obvious that those in-the-know want to be where their customers and potential customers are -- online. Blogs can be a powerful tool to make meaningful connections with your clients and to expand your client base. With a bevy of new blogs launching daily, it's smart to seize the moment and get involved in this global, interactive conversation because your competitors are out there using blogs and other social networking tools to reach their clients and quite possibly, yours too.

This lecture outlined key points that every interior designer and decorator should be aware of when it comes to blogging about your business from the benefits, general rules of etiquette, how to write from the heart, growing a loyal following and lots of fresh ideas to help you make your blog stand out from the pack. Like a blog, this lecture was an interactive discussion so notebooks, pens, and plenty of questions were brought!

Arianna Trapani, Heart Home magazine

Arianna Trapani

Will Taylor, Bright.Bazaar

Will Taylor

Susan Llewelyn

Susan Llewellyn is the founder and director of the Susan Llewellyn Academy of Interior Design. Susan has long been an established and recognised professional of the British interior design scene. Her reputation is built on award-winning restoration projects in the UK and internationally. Susan’s practice, Susan Llewellyn Associates, has overseen every kind of commission, from the refurbishment of palaces and museums to designing offices and setting the style for new luxury homes. Qualifications include; DARA (Interior design Buenos Aires), Affiliate RIBA, RADA graduate.In her earlier career, Susan actively responded to the growing need to formalise the practice of interior design and decorating. Along with other colleague’s, Susan established the Interior Decorators and Designers Association, now known as the BIID.

Home Sweet Home
Ever since Susan started working as an interior designer she has strived to uncover the complete essence of what makes a house a home. Drawing on personal experience, Susan uncovered the symbolic role of the house as an expression of the social identity. Susan delved deeper into the creativity of our individually designed home interiors and exploring the factors that have contributed to our changing tastes over the centuries.

Having graduated in Business Studies and Mathematics back in the early ‘80s, as an “immature” student not yet ready for the real world of business, but with a love of sailing, a simple application was made via a classified advertisement in Yachting World to join a 90-foot sailing yacht as a second mate, deck hand, chef and any other crew position that wasn’t currently occupied on board. This introduction to the world of the superyacht lasted no more than a year, after becoming relatively bored with the slow pace of life and the constant polishing and sanding of varnish and teak.  

Rosemary Alexander

Rosemary Alexander is the Principal of the English Gardening School at Chelsea Wharf and the author of several books on garden design, now translated into many different languages. Her  own garden in Hampshire opens regularly under the NGS and this year she has been awarded the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Gardens and Designers – using texture and colour for outstanding effects
Rosemary Alexander, Principal of the English Gardening School at Chelsea Wharf, discussed the elements of good contemporary garden design and planting. Examples of gardens by leading designers in the UK and the USA, some private gardens and how to use varying foliage texture, size and colour to transform a border.

Jonathan Rose

With current projects including the 20 year expansion masterplan for the University of Cambridge and the realisation of Singapore Sports Hub, Jonathan is a Principal at AECOM Design & Planning and a Masterplanning Practice Leader.  Since 2003, AECOM’s Design + Planning London practice has played a leading role in the development of both the London 2012 Olympic and the Legacy Communities masterplan, at the heart of their wider contribution to the regeneration of East London, including masterplans at Canning Town and Hackney Wick.  Current work in Brasil includes Nova Luz, a major urban regeneration initiative in central Sao Paulo and the competition for the Olympics masterplan for Rio 2016.  Jonathan’s other work has included a new international conference centre promoted by the Mayor of London and the LDA, a new central urban quarter for the historic city of York and the concept masterplan for the rejuvenation of Cardiff City Core and Central Business District.

The Druk White Lotus School – the first 10 years
Jonathan spoke about this outstanding project and how it has helped to affect the lives of people in this area http://www.dwls.org/

Peter Phan

Although his career spans twenty years, during which he has gained international recognition, Peter was recently described by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as 'one of the interior design world's best kept secrets.'    His inate modesty belies a talent that has been engaged by Hollywood film studios, multinational retailers and blue chip PLC's.  His private clients have included some of the most recognised names in film, sport, business and music. 

Favourite projects have included work on the refurbishment of Marlborough House on Pall Mall and working for Andrew Martin International in New York and London.  Currently Peter is designing interiors for super-prime residences in Mayfair, Belgravia and Regent's Park.  He continues to do interior styling for Chanel and plans to complete a redesign of the Chateau de Belair at the Les Bordes resort in France later this year. 

Peter's signature style has been described as 'modern classic - old school but with an up to date feel.'  While his interiors have been acclaimed as 'stylish and relevant' Peter takes his greastest satisfaction from the face that they are 'most of all, comfortable.'    Peter and his small dedicated team work from offices in London and Beaugency. www.peterphandesign.com

Scale within Design
How Big is enough? As designers we use 'proportion' to indicate the relationship between objects and 'scale' to discuss the relationship between those objects and the space they inhabit. 

However, it seems to me that the most important questions a designer needs to be able to answer are - 'is this big enough? and 'how big is too big?' Someone said 'too much of a good thing is fabulous' and it's an ethos that may have some place in the wide world of design.  However, drawing on two of my recent projects; a twenty room Georgian mansion in Oxfordshire and an historic French Chateau, I'd like to promote that idea that its' the right amount of a good thing that's fabulous and that ultimately, size really does matter.