THE STYLISH STUFF: A VERY INSPIRATIONAL INTERIOR

4th August 2016

I spend a lot of time seeking out fabulous locations for shoots. The upside is I get to nose around other people’s houses, the downside? I’m generally always wishing I had another room to ‘do up’. Last week’s nostalgic denim story found The Stylish Stuff shooting in deepest Surbiton, in the most surprising, tardis like location. Jessica Harris and her partner Martin took a modest sized bungalow and created a New York loft-style retreat within. Their use of glass, exposed brick, art prints and eclectic finds make for a homely living area full of light and character, it’s also an open and inspiring environment for their 5 year old son Beau to grow up in.

Inspired by a mutual love of industrial design discovered during their travels to New York and Berlin, the couple have elevated suburban bungalow dwelling to an entirely new level of chic.

Jess: “We bought the house a few years ago and although it wasn’t my dream home, far from it, we thought we could make it work for us. We knew we wanted an industrial aesthetic, our first flat had an exposed brick wall which I loved and despite the builders protests we insisted on that again with the house. The exposed iron beam and kitchen were my husband’s idea and my very talented father’s design, the iron frames and sliding door were made at an iron workers a few miles away. The leather armchairs are from an antique shop in Surbiton and the cushions from H&M. We found the bench the TV is housed on in a reclamation yard, it’s an old school PE bench with the metal baskets underneath that you’d put your plimsols in.”

The vintage chandelier was a house warming present from Jess’s mum (she found it at Kingston Antique Market), too big for the low ceiling in the centre of the room, instead it becomes a striking feature in the corner. The drinks trolley was an eBay find, just £15.

Exposed brick – bringing a sense of texture into the home as well as a clear nod to their love of industrial design.

Jess: “The dining table and shelves were made by my husband using old scaffolding planks, a true labour of love.”

The ‘I Do’ fluorescent tube light was a wedding present to the couple from Martin’s sister which was then framed by Jess’s Dad in a metal box. The overhead cage lights were from http://www.urbancottageindustries.com/

Jess: “The artwork is picked up from our travels and the newest print (the pink one above the TV) was from an art collective in Berlin called ‘Your Local Dealer’. My favourite print is the David Bailey poster, which my husband and I purchased on one of our first dates, and it’s moved from flat to flat, unframed until this year.”

The openess created by a kitchen boxed off by glass is very clever – separate from the rest of the living space and yet still an integrated and visible part of it.

Jess: “I photographed the collage image shown here on my iPhone in NYC and then printed it via a website called www.foto.com – the prints easily fit IKEA frames so it’s a cheap way to frame your favourite photos or artwork. The gold plant holder (currently awaiting a new tenant) is from a fabulous website called www.bloomingville.com“

Jess: “The letter lights were made by my dad (I am very lucky) he saw them in a shop and thought he could do a better job, so did! He also made the brass pipe candle holder.”

Jess: “The red ‘H’ was found in a vintage shop near Hampton Court, I spotted it in the window and had to have it. I also love a scented candle, what girl doesn’t and my current favourite is this bespoke candle from Jo Loves.”

Soho House has provided a great source of inspiration to the couple. Exposed brickwork, fabulous vintage finds – from the plush velvet or antiqued leather upholstered chairs and sofas, to chandeliers and hard edged industrial style finishes on lights and scatterings of collected artwork.

Berlin restaurant Pauly Saal, another favourite of the couple;

“The garden has been a big project, it was in a terrible state when we moved in. We enlisted the help of an old colleague who had recently became a garden designer @marcfinds, Marc designed a wonderful space that reflects our aesthetic outside. The plants he selected are fabulous and it’s been fascinating watching it grown and develop.”

The garden BEFORE….

After… modern, minimal and simple in it’s floral colour palette, this is the perfect retreat.The choice of chairs and slick, black painted pergola ensure the interior design aesthetic is reflected in the garden space.