TRENDS

TRENDS

About a year ago I made a quick off-the-cuff comment to a client suggesting that his new home "should not look like a home at all". Confused? He certainly was, however I now believe that this type of concept may offer something imaginative for the near future, if it isn't already emerging as a new trend.
 
Ever since I have thought deeply about this ethos not only for homes, but for all areas that my studios work in. A current Hilton project won't look like a hotel and a large HQ for CISCO, won't behave or look like an office. This thinking is leading to some of our most creative and individual designs to date, which bring refreshing styling and liberating ways in which people react to and utilise their spaces whether at home or at work. People are loving our spaces.
 
Take a humble kitchen, then remove its cabinet door handles, add some large flush doors, shadow gaps to flush worktops, introduce some nice finishes & suddenly the kitchen units become pieces of free standing sculptural objects, rather than being that fully fitted kitchen brimming with individual 600mm wide base units bolted together as a kit of parts. A kitchen with objects of furniture that "doesn't look like a kitchen" makes the space feel individual, it becomes a space to properly entertain especially as we all naturally congregate in the kitchen. The space becomes relaxing for lounging, working from home, dining and of course cooking to. In these tough times, it becomes a great space to eat from home more regularly. Whack in a squishy soffa, a very cool pendant, a supple rug and the space will look cool, it will look larger, feel more spacious whilst being very multi functional. It will be the most sociable space ever. "It won't look like a kitchen."
 
Another interesting departure has already evolved with the layouts of new & converted homes. The move emerged many years ago with an abundance of "knock-throughs" between kitchens, lounges & dining rooms in the 80's & 90's. These were all in the aid of creating space, some were brave, some ended up being arches. Today this process has evolved with a clear trend where open plan homes are begining to merely segregate bathrooms and bedrooms for direct privacy, with all other living spaces being one open plan space, perhaps overlooking a beautiful garden that is an extention of the interior. These types of homes makes a family respond differently to their home and subsequently, each other. The cellular and rigid ethos of seperate areas for dining, cooking, eating, working and sleeping should in my personal view be totally liberated. Openess, creates space both physically and mentally!
 
The way in which we use our homes is changing to and personally, I think this also opens new opportunities in design. Take fresh veg and rising food costs. More and more people are growing veg at home, its all good for reducing supermarket packaging, travel costs and emmissions. Its good exercise growing the veg, helping you to get some fresh air. This brings me on to thinking about our next project having the vegetables as the landscape to the garden, a grid of cabbages with decorative lighting could look very cool and ornamental. Sweet peas, tomato plants, fig trees, vines, herbs are all plants that have colour, textures and character and can become a feature instead of being tucked away behind a wall in the veg patch. You should quite literally be able to eat your garden and your garden should entertain you by creating a very cool space. This is proper inherent sustainability rather than bolt on solar panels or wind turbines. "It may not look like a garden"
 
Adopting my ethos of "not looking like a....." helps my studio to be creative & imaginative with the materials we select to furnish our projects, as it should do with your new finishes for your new project at home. In our profession as designers sourcing materials is the key, having the "knowledge" of where to source those special creative objects is the lock. If we are imaginative with materials and layouts, we tend to generate great designs. The materials don't need to be expensive and most often the more economic materials and objects used imaginatively bring the best rewards that your friends, family and colleagues will be impressed by.
 
When we commence a project it starts only with thinking, as should your next project. We then start to source material samples, we carry on with experimenting, trial & error, leading through to a bit of a discovery that can then turn into a practicable, magazine worthy scheme. Don't browse the DIY store for ideas. Browse the internet, get a bundle of glossy magazines, perhaps covering fashion, textiles & artwork as these are superb sources of inspiration when you look at a snazzy skirt or scarf as an interior fabric. The inspiration is endless.
 
At the end of the day we are all thinkers, as we are all designers. The only difference with with my studio is that they draw to.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lee Penson - CEO
Penson Group
 
FX International Breakthrough Talent Award 07
Mixology Newcomer of the Year Award 06