Interview | STYLE
was at this point I realised I was more interested in the architecture of the store than the fashion itself, and in 1988 I got a job with Geoffrey Harris, running his Oggetti store in the old David Hicks showroom, in London’s Jermyn Street,” says Mark.
Geoffrey Harris also owned Chelsea’s ‘London Lighting’ and was at the forefront of introducing classic 20th century lighting and objects. Mark soon became fascinated with the Bauhaus Group’s lighting, furniture and rug designs, Fornasetti’s wonderfully eccentric furniture and homewares, Fontana Arte and Murano glassware and other leading product designers’ work.
By this point, Mark was completely hooked on a new world of interior design, so he decided to take a year off to study the subject at the Chelsea School of Design.
Upon completing the course, Mark went to work for furniture designer, William Yeoward. Nowadays, William is well known for both his successful store on Chelsea’s Kings Road and his collection of crystal and glassware based on English and Irish Georgian pieces. “Working for William I probably learned the most, since my responsibility covered all aspects of running a (then) small business as well as honing my creative skills, while learning about cash-flow, finding (and keeping) new clients, helping with all aspects of buying stock, merchandising the store and working with the press,” Mark says.
Finally, in 2000, after eight years with William, and after working his way up to creative director, Mark decided it was time to go it alone. “It was a difficult decision, but I believe that if one is involved in a creative process, it is quite hard always to defer to someone else’s subjective view, so we parted the best of friends — and continue to be so.”
At this point a couple of interior design clients and colleagues had offered Mark work and one of them introduced him to the managing director of Smallbone Kitchens, who were looking for someone to style their flagship Knightsbridge showroom. Mark secured the contract and kept them as a client for
some years, working on various UK showrooms and a couple of private residences belonging to Smallbone board members. These included a family house in South Kensington and a houseboat on Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, both of which were featured in House & Garden magazine. Around the same time, Mark was asked by his friend and talented interior designer, John Minshaw, to assist with the refurbishment of a small group of boutique hotels for the newly formed Handpicked Hotels.
Work had really taken off for Mark and a steady stream has continued for nearly 20 years since, most coming by introduction.
Mark’s decision to move to the Island came following a desire for more space. He tells me how he came to appreciate the Island’s variety of geography, from the rural centre to the amazing coastline.
“The Island feels like it has changed a great deal — for the better,” says Mark. “It feels like it has a younger demographic now, and the restaurant scene is better than ever.”
With the help of local agents, Spence Willard, Mark found and purchased an 1850 vicarage on the rural outskirts of Newport to make his own. Unsurprisingly, he chose a property which required renovation and, after just over a year, work is almost complete.
With connections to London only a couple of hours away, Mark plans to continue to travel with his interior design business, Smith Creative. Work in progress at the moment includes a family house in Chelsea, a 16th century manor house in the Cotswolds and a family holiday home in Mougins in the South of France.
“After many years in London, I see moving to the Isle of Wight as the next phase in my life and hopefully some great commissions will come along on the Island. I love the marine style of properties around Cowes, Yarmouth, Bembridge and Seaview. My plans for the future include a small gallery/ design studio somewhere on the Island, so watch this space!”
September and October 2018
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