Sheffield and London spotlight: 4 inspiring interiors I've seen this week
I finally visit Sketch, drop in at the stunning Maison Assouline and share more great examples of interior design I've seen on my travels this week
There have been a lot of wedding and birthday celebrations this week – it’s been a week of train journeys, pillow hopping, prosecco, hair and makeup, flower arranging, rainy runs, public speaking, cheese boards, post-TfL sweat, and time spent together.
I also saw some pretty cool interiors on my travels, so I thought I’d share those below.
Sketch, London
I know, what took me so long? While the main room or gallery at Sketch has undergone a number of transformations over the years (from white, to millennial pink, to mustard) the toilets haven’t been updated since 2002. In this day and age, that’s some seriously enduring design. I loved them. They’re fun. They make going to the bathroom an experience and they’re a key part of Sketch’s cult status as a luxury tearoom and cocktail lounge.
The fish-eye mirrors, maze of egg-shaped pods, and music gently emanating from each toilet create a slightly surreal and dreamlike atmosphere. These toilets are pretty special, but I always recommend visiting the toilet in a restaurant or hotel because that’s where you’ll see interesting design executed in a small space – designers have been asked to create impact, often on a small footprint, so you’ll find interesting tile and wallpaper.
And although the idea of creating spaces for Instagram moments feels a bit… influencery, I guess that’s kind of the era and world we live in. And it’s such a unique space you can’t visit without a mirror selfie, you just can’t.
Maison Assouline, London
Before Sketch, we dropped in at Maison Assouline for a birthday toast. If you love a good coffee table book, you’ll love Maison Assouline, a bookshop and bar in Piccadilly with a real sense of grandeur. It feels a little bit like walking into a library, with its high, decorative ceilings, parquet flooring, and walls filled with Assouline’s beautiful coffee table books. The space feels sophisticated, intellectual, and moody. A great place to come and browse if you’re passing by.
Espen Sunde’s house in Norway
While having my lunch the other day, I watched a house tour of Espen Sunde, an interior designer in Norway. Espen Sunde has a very minimalistic style (as pictured, he has hung white canvases on the walls that he has painted almost the exact same shade as the walls, to ‘add some structure’). But I liked it a lot more than I expected. It reminded me that actually, sometimes a neutral is okay.
This beautiful, old home in Norway has been renovated so that it works for modern-day life in 2024 while being very respectful of the history of the house, keeping its wooden panelling, fireplaces, stained glass, wood flooring, and so on. The pared-back design lets the architectural details, such as beautiful archways and staircases, shine without any distractions.
He also says his statement light fittings, for him, are the ‘artwork’ and that a large, rounded corner bench in the casual dining area is always the spot where people congregate, explaining that, as a guest, choosing a seat on the sofa or a chair in the dining room can feel like a ‘commitment’ and so the bench feels more inviting.
Marmadukes, Sheffield
I already feel nostalgic about this picture even though I still go here all the time (I was literally there this morning having a post-running club coffee).
Marmadukes on Cambridge Street is always busy. Why? Because it feels homely and cosy and stylish. I think the interiors are understatedly great.
At first glance, you’d think there isn’t much going on in this picture. But the interiors create a strong impression of warmth. It’s warm and inviting but cool at the same time.
There are warm, natural wooden tones throughout the flooring, seating and tables. This makes us feel grounded (studies say looking at wood lowers our heart rate). Then we have some simple wood panelling in a cool neutral, which adds a slightly traditional and homely look while still feeling ‘daytimey’.
Circular wall baskets draw the eye down to the back wall, creating a focal point, as well as giving the space more texture, pattern and shape. Industrial elements (the metal hanging light fixtures and stainless steel chair legs) toughen the space up, striking a balance between cosy and cool. There are a couple of small plants, but otherwise, it’s uncluttered, while fitting a lot of seating in. Often, it’s the spaces that look effortless are the ones where the interior design is working hardest.