Bauwerk Colour – champions of limewash paint – have reimagined this ancient material for the contemporary home, with an extensive palette of sophisticated shades created with natural earth pigments. Limewash has a distinctive textural effect due to the nature of lime and the brushed application process, giving variation and movement to the finished effect. The lime contains light-refracting calcite crystals which give the wall treatment a distinctive glow, and unlike most modern emulsion paints, are plastic and VOC-free, and also produced using 100% green energy. Limewash is a breathable material allowing moisture to evaporate rather than being sealed into walls which can lead to damp – the breathability makes it suitable for application onto heritage and contemporary materials and for both interior and exterior settings.

@bauwerkcolour

Architecture studio, Forgeworks, creates innovative and modern homes with a clear sense of character. Influenced by traditional construction techniques, their designs harness and celebrate the beauty of natural materials, often in experimental ways which result in expressive shapes and detail.

Carefully balancing form and function, the nuances of everyday life are cleverly addressed with spatial problem-solving and close collaboration with clients. The studio develops each design through hand-sketches, 3D modelling and detailed technical drawing; a rewarding process for clients to gain clarity of the design concept and translation to the finished form.

With studios in London and the South-West, Forgeworks continue to build a strong portfolio of residential projects throughout the country.

Image credit: French + Tye

@forgeworks.uk

Bibbings & Hensby is the workshop established by London-based furniture makers, Jack Bibbings and Matthew Hensby. Making contemporary wooden furniture with a focus on functional craftsmanship, the pair build on vernacular traditions with their designs.

Using hand tools and solid wood construction, Bibbings & Hensby combine traditional craft with modern design, making work that feels grounded and relevant. The use of hand tools ensures a connection to the craft and instils an individuality and soul into each item. Sustainability is a fundamental objective; the company is continually assessing each element of their process with this in mind, from using locally sourced timber to natural glues and finishes.

@bibbingsandhensby

Established in 2009 by Ross and Emma Perkin, Emil Eve Architects have carved out a niche working with historic buildings, complex briefs and sensitive locations. Known for imaginative and contemporary design, the practice is always looking to develop project-specific methods of construction and craft to bring a unique response to every build.

The studio forms part of the Dalston Architecture Collective and has won a number of awards including a Wood Award 2021, an AJ Specification Award 2020 and the St Martin’s Church International Design Competition 2019.

@emilevearchitects

Danish design brand, NORR11, craft pieces from natural and textural materials such as oak, ash, leather and rattan in a neutral colour palette to create their sophisticated and sculptural designs.

The Copenhagen-based design team draw inspiration from nature and Asian aesthetics, both of which heavily influence the brand’s furniture and lighting design. A commitment to sustainability means materials are responsibly sourced and a zero-waste policy is strived for in production. The pieces are built to last; the company’s goal is for them to be passed down through generations, becoming the design classics of tomorrow. Functionality, comfort and longevity are at the core of NOR11’s design sensibility, bringing personality and timelessness to modern interiors. 

@norr11

Hackney-based architecture and design practice, Yellow Cloud Studio, was founded in 2013 by architects Eleni Soussoni and Romanos Tsomos. Driven by a passion to explore new ideas and challenge stereotypes, the founders reflect their diverse architectural studies into their unique approach to each project. Spatial analysis, innovative thinking and attention to detail are core to the studio’s offering. 

Despite being a relatively young practice, Yellow Cloud Studio has been shortlisted for the New London Architecture awards and completed over 10 projects, focusing mainly on residential design, and also completing projects in the retail and commercial sectors. Their work has been featured in a variety of design publications such as Dezeen, ArchDaily and Elle Decoration.

@yellowcloudstudio 

Image credit: Yellow Cloud Studio (header image and 1-8); Alex Forsey (9-10).

Gruff Architects have a clear vision – to provide quality and integrity, to create architectural experience far beyond functionality; to be brave and think differently. Established in 2010, the South-East London-based practice is run by Directors Rhys Cannon and Emily Burnett, who lead a close team of dedicated architects and designers.

The practice has developed a diverse portfolio, with a focus towards unique house extensions, refurbishments and one-off houses. Collaboration is key to every project as they seek to incorporate the clients’ personality, style and influences into the development of a strong narrative. Embracing space and light, uniqueness and individuality – Gruff Architects incorporates these alongside a high standard of design. The context of a build and surrounding landscape are also important influences, as are considerations of the project’s environmental impact.

Regularly recognised within the industry, their Little Donnyland extension and refurbishment project won a 2020 British Home Award for interior design, and another project, Pitched Black (Director Rhys’ new-build home) was shortlisted.

Image credit: Pitched Black by French + Tye (1-2); Little Donnyland by Ben Anders (3-5); Evelyn Street by French + Tye (6-8); Algiers Road and Cranfield Road by Ben Blossom (9-14).

@gruffarchitects

Tom Raffield founded his eponymous company in 2008, just after completing his degree in 3D Sustainability & Design. Having discovered the traditional, age-old technique of steam bending wood over his studies, he was determined and eager to put it to use, creating intricate curves and pleasing twists that mimic the organic shapes found in nature – Tom’s primary source of inspiration.

Today, Tom Raffield Ltd’s team of designers and craftsmen hand make lighting, furniture, accessories and spaces, all from the company’s Cornwall base. The remastering of this ancient craft for modern times leads to low levels of wastage, and negates the need for toxic glues. And, a deep understanding of both material and process means that the studio’s attitude to creativity is both broad and exciting.

Sustainability provides a further, central tenet for Tom Raffield Ltd, as their ethos sees it as integral to good design. Pieces are built to last and to be used through generations, and the efficiency of the steam-bending process means less waste is produced and less energy is used. The company recently became members of the WWF 2030 Circle to support the Trillion Trees programme.

@tomraffield

WoodEdit was founded by husband and wife team, Paul and Maria Le Mesurier, to create timeless, hand-crafted wooden furniture for the home that’s built to last. Based in the bucolic South Downs in West Sussex, each piece is hand-made to order by Paul in his workshop. Creative Direction is headed up by Maria, who designs and styles the furniture, allowing the pleasing simplicity of the items to shine through. WoodEdit have built their business around a deep-rooted respect for nature, simplicity and authenticity. Each piece can be crafted from carefully considered selection of responsibly sourced wood types – ash, walnut or oak – and can be created to a bespoke size to suit any home.

@woodedituk

Norlha was founded by mother and daughter Kim and Dechen Yeshi. Dechen travelled to the Tibetan Plateau in 2005 to research the region’s economical and cultural dynamics and, after developing a strong connection with the place, decided to stay. Dechen’s knowledge and care for the communities she met, combined with Kim’s passion for textiles and sustainable development, lead to Norlha being established as the Tibetan Plateau’s first Yak Khullu Atelier in 2007.

Norlha uses yak khullu for its textiles, which is the soft under down that yaks grow in the autumn, and shed in late spring. Its incredibly enduring, soft and warm, and ethical too – the fibre is collected from the yaks as it starts to loosen naturally, so the animal is never deprived of its winter protection. Norhla place the exceptional qualities of this rare fibre, the skill of the artisans they work with and the creation of high-quality products at the heart of everything they do.

@norlha_atelier

With over 30 years of experience sourcing and selling antiques, Goldsmiths alumnus Christopher Howe went on to launch his own handmade furniture and lighting brand, Made by HOWE, which coincided with the opening of his second showroom on London’s Pimlico Road in 1995. With creations based on his favourite historical designs, customers can commission pieces ranging from sofas, fireplaces, tables and chairs; tailoring size, fabric and details to suit their taste. Each piece is made in Britain, with meticulous attention paid to the choice of timber and the traditional methods used to make each item. So much so, that HOWE London has furnished works for some of Britain’s most trusted institutions, including Hampton Court Palace, Strawberry Hill House, The National Gallery and Sir John Soane’s Museum.

In 2004, Howe became the first person to have a single owner sale, Christopher Howe: The First Twenty Years, at Christie’s in South Kensington. This sale included items of furniture from the 18th-20th century, plus a selection of bespoke pieces from the HOWE London collection.

@howelondon

Landscape architect Stefano Marinaz has carved out a career from his life-long love for plants, having grown up in a family of horticulturalists in Northern Italy. After completing degrees in both Agronomy and Landscape Architecture in his native Italy, as well as an MA in Landscape Architecture at the University of Greenwich, Marinaz worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew and Arne Maynard’s studio, with private clients that took him across the globe. In 2012 Marinaz established his own practice, undertaking commissions that range from large-scale, hard landscaping projects on country estates to smaller, urban plots. His work extends well beyond the usual plant schemes to include furniture, lighting, sculpture and fencing, as well as a thorough follow-up maintenance programme with the help of two Kew-trained gardeners that he employs.

Image credits: Queens Park by Ed Reeve (1-2); Rus in Urbe (3-4), North London (5-6) and Gasholders (7-9) by Alister Thorpe.

@stefano.marinaz.landscapes.uk