Nostalgic and cinematic – two moods that sum up the work of London interior designers Alexy Kos and Che Huang. The two recently struck a major blow in the British capital, in the heart of the Mayfair District.
The aim? To revisit a residence for a hotelier and restaurateur, while at the same time designing festive spaces. The two designers saw the site as a veritable blank canvas. “The inspiration for this project came from Yves Saint Laurent’s Grand Salon, rue de Babylone in Paris. We wanted to develop an authentic design language, balancing Art Deco references with 1960s & 70s Modernism (…) The spacious salon is a social space, a place where guests can gather in a warm, relaxed environment. Here, we’ve assembled a mix of 20th-century furniture collectibles, complemented by an eclectic collection of sculptures, heirlooms and art books, contributing to a singular atmosphere.” The spectacular space is equipped on each side with narrow skylights running the length of the walls to bring daylight into the building.
The designers also structured the space through a series of wooden library walls, subdividing the interior into various zones, including living, dining and study areas. The focal point of this spacious living room is the large, undulating fireplace beneath the linear skylight. The gentle curves have been sculpted in polished plaster, contributing to the soft, ethereal atmosphere. “This fireplace was designed to bring a sense of scale and permanence to the space.”
On the furniture side, the two designers’ proposals range from delicate Japanese paper to Ingo Maurer lamps perched on white marble side tables signed Calacatta Viola. Added to this are mid-century finds such as Bruno Mathsson’s “Pernilla” lounge chair, the Caprani bentwood floor lamp and leather armchairs by Danish master Kristian Vedel, arranged around the large asymmetrical maple wood coffee table, which was designed by the duo itself to perfectly match the warm tone of the iconic Eames screens.
A resolutely modern space combining good taste and absolute comfort.
England -London