Dreaming of a tranquil, serene and contemporary space, the client at our Notting Hill project desired a beautiful, minimalist yet memorable spa. In creating the interior design for any luxurious home spa, there are a handful of critical criteria to consider: ambient lighting, durable yet impactful finishes and exquisite detailing. The most important element to consider though, is creating a specific ‘wow’ factor that the overall scheme can be built around.
I like to incorporate a feature wall with sculptural pieces to draw the eye; in this case, an incredible ‘living wall’ installation by specialist supplier, Artigreen, creates an incredible verdant backdrop, harnessing nature’s calming energy. The impact of a ‘living wall’ is doubled by the beautiful reflections created in the pool’s surface below. Two life-size ‘Diving men’ sculptures by artist, Nicki Taylor, float elegantly above the tranquil swimming pool. The combined effect adds a sense of life, texture and figurative grace to an architecturally minimalist space.
Selecting furniture that is suitable for a pool environment is essential. Its durability is, of course, crucial, but ensuring the pieces are aesthetically pleasing and complement the overall design is also key. An absolute favourite supplier of mine has to be Mckinnon and Harris. Their designs are perfect for terraces, pool areas and yachts. In this case, I have chosen their ‘duVal Sun Chaise’ loungers, whose graceful shape and elegant, light grey, high-performance, aluminium frames contrast beautifully with the limestone slabs cladding the pool area, with the tranquil spa and relaxation sitting behind the large viewing window beyond.
A personal passion of mine is to include luxurious, unique and cutting-edge finishes in domestic settings. A spa is the perfect environment for sleek and contemporary finishes, such as this incredible, burnished bronze, poured, metal panelling (which clads the hidden kitchenette and juice bars) from futuristic artist collective, Based Upon. Based Upon create extraordinary bespoke pieces and are renowned for the quality and collectability of their work. You can see we created a shoal of fish detail with jewel-like resin inlays to complete the mesmerising effect.
For me, nothing says luxury interior design for a spa more than a bespoke chandelier installation. Working with one of my favourite European suppliers, Lasvit, who skillfully hand-make their incredible glass chandeliers in the Czech Republic using age old traditions, the initial concept was a swirling shoal of fish travelling towards the pool. The delicate, hand-blown glass pieces catch the light beautifully; each one containing fine gold dust for additional sparkle.
Often considered as a deeply personal space, it is very important to consider the clients’ passions when designing the interior of a luxury home spa. In this case, for example, the client is passionate about Japan and Japanese Art, something that is reflected in the large pair of 19th Century Japanese screens that adorn the walls of the spa. Produced by talented London design studio, DKT Artworks, Japanese elements are also present in the stunning 12 ft high plaster carving of a Bonsai tree “growing” up the back wall of the staircase. Completely unique and incredibly beautiful, this is my favourite piece in the entire property!
