the last word
conference
The last
WORD
Designing with
Antonia Stewart
specialises in high
quality residential
a family in mind
projects in the UK and
overseas. Providing a
complete interior design
service; from the initial
By Antonia Stewart
design concepts,
through to the
Having worked with many families, Practical finishes for furniture and
specification and
and having recently moved to a walls create a more durable family
execution of each
family home myself, I regularly living space. Fabrics which are
element of the project,
develop schemes that work for the washable or at least wipe-clean
and through to the final
whole family unit, future-proofing work well in high volume areas where
delivery on site, Antonia
the property to ensure each area jammy little fingers are a threat, and
and her team have
can be used not only by an striped or patterned carpets for hall
quickly established a
expanding family, but also to and stair areas are more forgiving
reputation as a dynamic
meet the changing needs and against the inevitable spills and trips.
practice that produces
requirements of the children as I tend to stay away from age specific
individual and elegant
they grow older. themes when designing a child’s room,
interiors. Working
Antonia Stewart studied
opting for colourful fabrics and
closely with clients to
History of Art at University and
wallpapers that work equally well for a
ensure that their house
then went on to spend seven
two year old all the way to 10 years of
is suitable for their
years at one of London’s leading
A
t the outset of designing a new
family home there are key areas
that need to be considered to age. This avoids having to update the
needs, Antonia and her
interior design practises before
achieve the best scheme. The critical room as frequently as the child grows.
team have built up an
founding her design studio,
and over-riding themes are always the Flexible space has to be at the heart
impressive client base
of designing a family home. In
which ranges from
which changed from Antonia
same: space, storage, practicality,
safety and security. particular, smaller properties where
families with one or
Lazenby Ltd to Antonia Stewart
flexibility,
With space often at a premium rooms are limited will require a flexible
more homes in the UK,
Ltd in 2008.
I encourage my clients to apply a space that can be used for play time
to city professionals and
ruthless approach to their belongings and social interaction but can also be
international clients.
before work even begins, to de-clutter adapted to accommodate other uses
Recent projects range
in order to create more space. Little or more people when needed.
from the refurbishment
people come with a lot of kit and as A child’s incessant tendency to
of a penthouse in
they grow their possessions accumulate investigate every corner of the house,
Chelsea to a Georgian
(at an alarming speed), so paring down coupled with an ongoing balancing act
family house in the
is essential if the space is to be as they learn to walk, are just two safety
Cotswold, from a
successfully maintained. considerations. Simple solutions like
contemporary new
Storage is a key element of getting locks on cupboards and not placing
build property in
the space to work. Designating storage valuable or delicate items at low levels
Moscow to a Regency
for specific items makes things easier to make for a safer and ultimately more
London townhouse.
find and easier to put away. I use harmonious space. Finally, a recent
solutions such as a combination of Ofsted report maintains that locked
open and closed storage enabling doors can invoke feelings of parental
children to easily access their toys by distrust amongst children, so avoid locks
day whilst the adults can reclaim their on internal doors to generate a stable
space in the evenings. emotional and social environment. ■
Interior Design Today 33
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