1st Option location agency blog
Our second edition of the classic spot the difference comes from Hopton. As always, it’s all a bit of fun, but if you can find all ten differences by the end of April, we’ll give you a half price booking fee on your next shoot!
If you live in London, you’ll be well aware of the age-old debate; which is the trendiest part of London? East Londoners will hark on about how they have held the crown for the ‘coolest’ spots over the last decade, while the South London community are saying that it’s currently their time in the sun. If you travel to West London, however, residents will point to their sheer wealth as evidence of status. Nevertheless, one thing that can’t be overlooked is that North London seems to tread the waters of all three other parts of London – there’s an abundance of wealth and it’s always been deemed just as ‘cool’ as East. Furthermore, a North Londoner will rarely tread south of the river, speaking volumes to the credence they put on their home. People from North London may hold it in high regard, but does it actually have the trendiest properties in London? Before we get into it, however, make sure you check out our top five for East London and let us know which is your favourite.
We can’t talk about trendy shoot locations in North London without mentioning Nash; this striking family home near Islington is the epitome of stylish! Designed by the interior outfit All & Nxthing, it is fairly clear to see why Nash makes our top five. Nash boasts a forward-thinking, contemporary aesthetic, with neutral, pared back Scandi furnishings. However, it’s not the touches of Scandi decor that make Nash so trendy. You’ll struggle to get more on-trend than the open-plan kitchen/ dining/ living room. Open-plan living is right at the forefront of what’s popular right now. Combine the natural elements and concrete flooring with the juxtaposition of simple white decor and eye-catching black cabinets, and you have a Pinterest-ready space. Other elements that elevate Nash include a gorgeous, painted white, exposed brick feature wall, fabulous crittal doors and skylights that immerse the space with natural light. If you’re after a blend of Scandi, with slightly brutalist elements, natural materials and heaps of space, Nash is the place for you!
After witnessing the exceptional work that All & Nxthing achieved with Nash, it’s easy to see why our second location to make the cut is also designed by them – welcome to Arezzo! Located between Kentish Town and Hampstead Heath, right in the heart of the trendiest parts of North London, Arezzo is an exceptionally spacious family home, impeccably designed to the highest of standards. There is a sophisticated layout here, with an on-trend open-plan kitchen/ living/ dining room, offering the majority of the shoot space. Raw and natural materials like steel, concrete, oak and leather provide the visual connection and depth throughout the house. Warmth is also supplemented through the use of the kitchen island, finished with warm sand tones and a ribbed effect, adding texture and depth. To add the sense of luxury and quality, this fabulous location also features crittal doors and has a gorgeous oriel window that brings oodles of natural light into the space.
After two more traditional-style family homes, our next location is Birchwood House, one of the most fascinating properties you’re likely to see! This incredibly memorable shoot location showcases a unique look, blending an original 1860’s cottage with a modern 2000 sq. ft glass extension – something that’s hugely popular in 2022. Arresting elements include a double-height atrium with large glass roof, concrete flooring, gorgeous columns and original lattice windows, found in the old cottage. However, the jewel in Birchwood’s crown is its incredible courtyard. Courtyard properties are on the rise and this might be one of the best in the game! Surrounded by gorgeous birch trees and an array of eye-catching seating covered in patina, the courtyard adds a wealth of character and charm to an already showstopping house. Some of the most noteworthy instagrammable touches include a suspended wood burner, glass walls, a spiral wooden staircase and the most outstanding wall of marble in the bathroom.
In 2022, you can’t get much more trendy than biophilia! Our fourth location to make the list, Jansons, is the absolute embodiment of this. Biophilia is the trend towards bringing the natural world into our lives again. Doing this provides intrinsic benefits, including making us happier and healthier, allowing for satisfaction, inspiration and peace, and therefore improving our total wellbeing. Jansons has intertwined the whole property with the natural world. Not only is this striking location inundated with a gorgeous array of potted and hanging plants – adding texture and visual weight – but it has gone one step further into the ever-popular world of biophilia. This includes the adoption of adapted natural materials like plywood and polished concrete flooring, the use of the colour green, the great many plants and the wealth of natural light that floods the space through floor-to-ceiling windows and the immense central skylight.
Featuring elements present in all of the above properties, our final location that had to make our top five trendiest North London locations is Kingsley. This Highgate-based shoot location is an ultra-modern courtyard-style property with bundles of premium touches! Following the common theme across the rest of the houses on the list, Kingsley also offers an open-plan layout, with vast floor-to-ceiling windows, acting as glass walls throughout the space. This is balanced by a mass of walnut panelling that creates a subtle premium vibe! Finished to an exceptionally high spec, with elements such as an impressive wood burner, wooden floors, great views and a luxurious pond found in the courtyard, Kingsley ticks most boxes when it comes to design features. Thanks to its inside/ outside aesthetic, Kingsley wouldn’t be out of place in Japan or LA and because of this, it had to make our list!
The new location showcase is back and boy have we brought it back with a bang; our third location in the series is the modern-yet-retro Palm Springs.
Located in the bustling town of Haywards Heath, 36 miles south of London and 14 miles north of Brighton, Palm Springs is conveniently located a short drive from the two busiest cities in the South.
The property itself is an extremely eye-catching 1960’s/ 70’s-style family home, with a combination of original brickwork and modern glass extensions.
An intriguing front entrance plays host to a striking fountain that can be viewed through a glass feature wall, found behind the 2 Bibendum chairs, the first remarkable pieces of mid-century furniture.
Upon entry, you are welcomed by wooden floors, white-painted exposed brickwork, a whole host of funky artwork and an inviting hallway that leads to the unique stainless steel and wood, open tread staircase that connects the ground and first floor.
The ground floor provides the majority of shooting space at Palm Springs and is where you’ll find the first of the memorable living areas. This broken-plan room is finished with brushed grey carpet, solid strip wood panelling and a wealth of mid-century furniture, including sofas, chairs, tables, lamps and cabinets.
Couple these with the abstract art and the fantastic wall divider with double-sided gas fireplace, and the retro aesthetic can really be felt immersing the space.
A unique layout presides at Palm Springs, with the study, sun room, kitchen and indoor swimming pool all found towards the rear of the property, utilising the space usually reserved just for the kitchen.
Reached either through the sliding glass doors from the main living room, or down the rear hallway from the kitchen; the sun room offers another imaginative space to shoot. This eye-catching room features more retro furniture and quirky artwork, such as this Robert Stewart textile wall art…as well as tiled flooring, biophilia and tons of natural light that floods the space from all angles.
Conversely to the rest of the property, the kitchen features more of a traditional British country feel, with tiled flooring, white painted exposed brick, white cupboards and a quintessential blue AGA.
Neighbouring the kitchen is the indoor swimming pool, featuring an exposed brick feature wall, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and an array of majestic plants that add visual weight and depth.
Venture up to the first floor to find the four bedrooms and four ensuite bathrooms that are available at this outstanding shoot location
Much like the main living room, the master suite takes you on a journey back to 70’s, with slate blue walls, brushed grey carpets, wooden furnishings and more unique artwork.
Follow the room round to find the hair and makeup area, complete with built-in wardrobes, more retro furnishings and a Poltronova Ultrafragola mirror/ lamp.
Complementing the aesthetic of the house, Palm Springs also has an outdoor swimming pool, located in the large back garden, surrounded by interesting sculptures and views of the Sussex countryside.
The house is equipped with Wi-Fi, an ironing board, clothes steamer and the owner is happy to provide tea & coffee for crews.
Animals, children and food shoots are allowed here, but the owners have asked for only small-scale filming at the property.
There is a long driveway at Palm Springs that provides parking for up to 10 cars or 2 large lorries and the closest train station is Haywards Heath; a short 45 minute journey from London Bridge.
If you are looking for a one-of-kind, retro property and are happy to travel a little ways outside of London, then come and have a look at Palm Springs and give us a call to find out more.
It’s that time of the month again; when we like to give you the lowdown on the top properties that came through our doors in March. Keeping the bar extremely high and carrying on the trend from the beginning of the year, we’ve been fortunate to be able to add even more fabulous new locations. With properties ranging from textile factory conversions to architect-designed new builds in South East London, as always we have a little something to cover all angles. Despite it being late in the month, we know you love our breakdowns, so no need to fear, our top five for March is here.
First up is the incredibly eye-catching The Compound – the foremost creative space in Birmingham. Originally a 10,000 sq. ft textile factory, The Compound has now been converted into one of the most outstanding shoot locations you’re likely to see. Attention to detail is a prevailing aspect here, with an impeccable standard of decor. This includes a wealth of crittal, exposed brick, polished concrete flooring, mezzanine floors, wooden beams, steel framing and steel bridges and balconies, as well as two Eames armchairs and an array of interesting artwork. This impressively versatile space also contains a 25 seat cinema, a speakeasy bar, and an art studio, speaking volumes to its title as the foremost creative space in Birmingham. With a very industrial-chic aesthetic and a striking courtyard, you are not going to be short of awesome shooting opportunities here. The multifunctionality and size of the space means it can be transformed into many creative styles and is perfect for filming and photoshoots.
Moving on, we take you from a former textile factory to a gorgeous Victorian terraced house, situated in the heart of East London. This arresting shoot location is finished almost entirely in black, with subtle sand tones and loud leopard prints. As a Victorian property, period features are never far from view, including Victorian floorboards, exceptionally high ceilings with wooden beams and original fireplaces. Nevertheless, the house has been meticulously designed with an array of premium touches, bringing it firmly into the 21st Century. Expect to see exposed brick, crittal doors, parquet flooring and a grand drawing room adorned with Carl Fagerlund chandeliers and wall lights. Unique decor, with texture and visual weight are the overarching themes at Panther, so we would recommend photoshoots as well as small-scale filming here.
Third up see’s us move from a period property to a fascinating architect-designed contemporary family home, set over 3,300 sq. ft and 6 floors, with 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and a tiered garden with roof terrace. Premium features dictate the style of the property with glass walls, parquet flooring and skylights that immerse the place with natural light across all levels. If this wasn’t enough to tickle your fancy, this eye-catching South East London home also houses a gym, cinema room and shower room, as well as a large garden and makeup area. The standout shooting area within the home comes from the first floor, offering an open-plan kitchen/ living room that is connected to the ground floor by the use of an incredible glass walkway, with views to the floor below. Other features that make this location special include polished concrete areas, a concrete feature wall, a striking wood burner and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the mature trees in the gardens below. With an array of floors to shoot on, Canopy is perfect for a photoshoot brief looking for many diverse areas.
Moving away from London, our fourth location to squeeze into our top five is Farah – an industrial barn conversion with a simple-yet-chic decor. All set over one floor, this eye-catching shoot location features a largely open-plan aesthetic with extremely high vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and natural materials as far as the eye can see. As with a lot of barn renovations, quality and attention to detail rule supreme. Check out the polished concrete flooring, concrete walls and the abundance of crittal, adding to the stylish industrial atmosphere. Nevertheless, the decor felt within the space is more of a modern minimalist vibe, with a delicate finish, pared back furnishings and lots of natural materials. Due to the towering gable windows at the back, despite being on one floor, without many windows, the space experiences a great deal of welcomed natural daylight, so if you are looking for a bright photographic space, Farah may be ideal. Furthemore, with large open-plan spaces and grounds to the rear, we would also recommend filming at this property.
Our last location is by no means an afterthought, come and have a look around Martini – a gorgeous 1930’s detached family home that’s recently undergone a renovation and added rear extension. It’s this area that really plays host to the magic of the property! Here you can expect to find a fabulous open-plan kitchen/dining/ bar area, finished in a rich purple hue, with engineered wood floors, exposed brick, crittal doors and hits of gold. The front living room continues in the same vein as the kitchen, with a predominantly purple colour scheme and parquet flooring, however, there is a unique North African aesthetic here, with luscious green plants and four eye-catching floor cushions. We love the way they have blended a period property with a modern extension, creating a truly unique location with many design features perfect for photoshoots. The kitchen/ dining/ bar area also makes for an excellent filming spot due its size and open-plan layout!
Giving your home an update or refresh can be a daunting thought, let alone task, especially when you have a limited budget and even less time. However, breathing new life into your home doesn’t have to break the bank if you’re smart and savvy with your ideas. Luckily for you, we’ve done the research and have thought of 15 brilliant home decor ideas that don’t cost the earth to implement, saving you those much needed pennies. With things as simple as styling your bookshelf, or rearranging your furniture, you can have your entire space feeling fresh, refined and bang on trend. All the ideas can be tackled in one day, with the results looking like they have taken much longer, so if you want to be the talk of the town, make sure you read on and check out our 15 design ideas to spruce up your space.
It might sound simple, but giving everything a home and decluttering will instantly transform any space. With all your belongings back in their official place, you will have tons of new space, creating the illusion of a larger room. Add a few pieces that can ease those organisation worries – consider installing a coat rack or coat hooks on the wall, it looks incredibly stylish and clears up your mess by the door before it gathers.
Creating a focal point is one of the most cost effective ways to revamp your home. Half the time you will already have these items or elements in your home; you perhaps just didn’t know how to utilise them. Creating a focal point will tie your whole room together and allow the rest of your furniture to blend into the space effortlessly. Be careful, however, to make sure that nothing stands out too much or oversaturates the room. Things that work great as focal points are mirrors, fireplaces, artwork or oversized tables and lamps. Heed this advice and you’ll completely change the dynamic of your space, giving off the appearance of an entire room renovation.
Plants and natural elements are a superb way to breathe new life into a space! Natural materials not only bring colour to your room, but also bring texture, depth and warmth, complementing foliage. Think materials such as seagrass, rattan, jute, wood, brushed concrete, and marble. Floral arrangements can also beautify a room all on their own – structural plants like Elephant Ears or Birds of Paradise are very popular at the moment, they will add weight and form to the space. If you aren’t particularly green-fingered, or your rooms don’t receive much natural light, there are some incredible fake plants that will add plenty of visual impact too.
For a long while, people steered clear of black paint, thinking it would harden up their space, instead opting for fresher hues. Think about not being that person though! Black is in fact a neutral colour; rather than harshening one, so it will actually soften it. Because of this, it also helps bring your standout features to the fore. If used on a feature wall or feature room, it can help elevate your space. Check out Curious, Brighton House or The Rock to see how it’s done. You can also add wood panelling to create a premium effect that can’t be matched by lighter hues. Black can be perfect in a bedroom, standout living room or study/ library and all it takes is a lick of paint!
If you have an empty space where a fireplace used to be, styling this can be a dead simple and very cheap way to enhance your room. Try making it the focal point by turning it into a small gallery, with vases and artwork. Alternatively, you could fill it with logs, or place your weekly bouquet of flowers there. How about re-tiling or filling with books or magazines? If you have a bit of money to spend, log burners are really on trend and look great in fireplaces. This will cost a bit of money to implement but is definitely worth it if you have the time and money. Check out Apollo and Bamboo for inspiration on how to fill your fireplace with logs, or alternatively Minton House and Midnight for an inspiring arrangement of flowers.
Similarly to styling an empty fireplace, if you have a bookshelf, this can be an especially easy way to tie your room together and add that desired bit of zhuzh. Rather than keeping it just as a bookshelf, play around with colour, make it a feature wall on its own, or if you already have a feature wall, blend it in with that. Likewise, add decor accents through elements such as vases, sculptures and plants, which will help to break up the monotony of a wall of books. This has the added effect of creating texture and depth for your wall. If you have enough books you can colour coordinate them, making the space feel more cohesive whilst incorporating colour blocking into your design. On the other hand, asymmetrical looks are very popular at the moment too, have fun with the design and try to think outside the box, like the kind of style seen in The Kitchen or Bobbin.
Show your nooks some love and your house will certainly appreciate it! It’s often easy to overlook the smallest rooms in the house; this will most likely be your guest bathroom. Due to the size of these rooms, they take no time at all to elevate – add a fresh lick of paint to make the space stand out. Take it a step further by hanging some art or photos on the wall and if there’s enough natural light, decorate with bathroom friendly plants like a Birds Nest Fern, Pothos or perhaps a few air plants. Your small room will now pack a punch with an eclectic mix of colour, texture and imagery.
If your walls are looking tired, lacklustre or merely a bit bland, adding a gallery wall can really elevate the area. This can be anything from some standout pieces of artwork, photos, or perhaps something a bit more crazy like a wall of mirrors or plates; all ideas can be great as they not only add visual weight but showcase your personality to the viewer too. You could take this one step further by playing around with shapes, sizes and frames! If you find a gallery wall excessive, oversized art or sculptures can achieve similar results and can also act as a much needed focal point – bringing visual depth and weight to the space. Check out Carlo and Havana to see how this can be effortlessly achieved.
If there is one single thing that can tie a room together, it’s a light fixture. Want to make your room feel more sophisticated and refined? How about a couple of elegant sconces or a hanging pendant light? Bedside table lights can look chunky and geurish, so opting for something more delicate can look far more chic. Furthermore, they can add far more contrast to the more traditional elements throughout the bedroom. If elegance isn’t to your taste, bold floor lamps are a great way to bring any room to life – they are sleek, stylish, striking and quirky enough to draw attention without taking away from the essence of the room. A brilliant example of this is the fabulous Marsham Place. If you can source one that doubles as a piece of art, you’re on to a winner. Check out Palm Springs’ incredible retro mirror that triples up as a light and standout piece of sculptural artwork.
In 2022, symmetry is becoming slightly outdated; why do your sofas and tables have to line up anyway? Try flanking the sofas with a side table and if you don’t have room for chairs, how about some striking floor cushions by the coffee table? Floor cushions are becoming incredibly popular this year and will really help to create a cosy and interesting environment. Likewise, by shifting the furniture a few inches from the wall, you can create a far more intimate aesthetic that completely transforms the vibe of the space. Take a look at Martini, Half Acres or Gee Street for inspiration.
Following on from the point above, playing with the proportions of furniture can add tons of visual depth and weight. Changing shape and scale offers a universe of inspiration and possibilities – try oversized mirrors and looping lamps, placed next to low coffee tables, or a large sofa and small chair in the corner. Check out Carlo for a great example of how to play with proportion.
However small or large your living room is, a coffee table is a must! Not only are they practical, they’re decorative and give the rest of the furniture a focal point – making the whole space feel more intimate. To add further depth, have a look for a coffee table with storage. Show off your personality even more by showcasing your favourite items. By changing the items from week to week, you have the ability to change the dynamic of the area and keep it fresh.
What did we say about symmetry earlier? Gone are the days where you had to opt for a perfect set of chairs in your kitchen or living room; so try swapping out a set of formal chairs for some upcycled rustic wooden or metal variations that add character and personality. Mismatching can be far cooler than you think and is bang on trend. Play around with colour and style to showcase your personality even further.
Another material that is really in at the moment is sheepskin. Adaptable and suitable all year round, if your space is feeling bare or austere, sheepskin is a great solution for adding depth and character. It’s perfect for any room or situation as it brings warmth, texture and comfort, whilst being especially easy to implement. Similarly, it has the effect of making a space look luxurious, so start draping them across seating and beds or place them on the floor for a rug effect. Check out Ophelia for some great inspiration.
Antiques and collectables are a great way to revamp your rooms. They are special and so instantly draw the eye. Use the natural focal points as a place to show off your favourite pieces. They create visual weight and show off personality, so instead of hiding away your knick-knacks, perhaps create a shelf predominantly for them and place them front and centre!
Welcome to the first edition of our new spot the difference series, this week at Marilyn. It’s all a bit of fun, but anyone who can find all ten differences and send them to us before the next edition goes live is welcome to a half price booking fee on their next shoot!
A new year often brings many changes with it, one change it can’t bring, however, is the amount of incredible new locations that flow through our doors on a monthly basis. Following on from the outstanding end to 2021, we have been incredibly lucky to welcome a multitude of amazing new locations. January 2022 may well be the best January we’ve ever had – seeing us take on properties ranging from one-of-a-kind architect designed homes to Grade II listed Georgian Villas, gorgeous East London family homes to Georgian manor houses set within 88 acres of land. Before we get into it, if you want the inside scoop, make sure you check out our interior design predictions for the year ahead, in the meantime, here’s our top five for January.
Designed by the incredible interior design outfit that created Nash and Angel – amongst many other superb properties – All and Nxthing has brought another masterpiece to life. Welcome to Arezzo. This exceptionally spacious family home in North London has been designed meticulously. Prevailing interiors consist of raw materials including steel, concrete, oak and leather, all of which provide visual connection throughout the space. This is matched by the living room’s solid oak slatted ceiling, which adds warmth, whilst mirroring the kitchen and its island’s ribbed oak cabinet doors. Likewise, the circular kitchen island, dining table and library poles also add weight and sophistication, juxtaposing the clean lines on show. Light inundates the space, beaming through the 3.5m skylight, the large crittal doors and the oversized oriel windows – all of which add to the refinement of the space. Minimalism presides throughout the rest of the house, with standout features including original artwork, tons of natural hues and natural materials from end to end. Due to the size of Arezzo, we would recommend only small-scale filming and photoshoots here.
Staying in North West London, just a short walk from Arezzo, our second new location this month is the rather memorable Birchwood House. This remarkably unique location combines old and new, bringing together an 1860’s cottage with a lateral 2000 sq ft modern glass extension, all set around a glorious courtyard. This light-filled property features a striking double-height atrium, discovered upon entry, with a large glass roof, concrete flooring, original columns and to top it off, original lead lattice windows found in the old cottage. Outstanding features are part and parcel of being a shoot location, however, Birchwood House’s courtyard is a lion amongst sheep. The area is surrounded by gorgeous birch trees and an array of eye-catching seating covered in patina, adding character to this spectacular home. Interiors consist of a contemporary minimalistic aesthetic, with remarkable touches throughout, including a suspended wood burner, glass walls, a spiral wooden staircase and the most outstanding wall of marble in the bathroom. Birchwood is vast, with tons of space for shooting, so filming and photoshoots are ideal here.
We are absolutely delighted to announce our third new location this month! Take a look around Homestead, a marvellous East London Victorian Villa, with spacious rooms, great natural light and a huge 159 ft south-facing garden. The house itself features an extensive kitchen/ living/ dining area, finished with bundles of premium touches. These include polished concrete flooring, crittal doors, brass fittings, neutral hues and skylights that immerse the space with natural light – making it perfect for day shoots! You don’t have to look too hard to find exceptional elements at Homestead, as this outstanding property is brimming with original period features; check out the original 1920’s Versailles parquet flooring with walnut trim, a working Victorian style marble fireplace with a classic Chesney’s fire basket, bay windows, sash windows and biophilia that can be found throughout, adding that touch of elegance. If we hadn’t sold Homestead enough already, the huge rear garden incorporates a garage, a large patio, a wooden-clad summerhouse and an outdoor kitchen that steals the show. With open-plan spaces and tons of opportunity for pull-back, there are many areas within this special home that filming would be ideal for. And with an array of rooms offering different shooting opportunities, we would recommend photoshoots here too.
From a family home in East London, to a manor house situated within 88 acres of parkland, on the edge of the Salisbury plain – we could not offer you more variety if we tried. Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, our next location is Medallion: a classic Georgian manor house, approached through an enchanting tree lined drive that will have you swooning before you even enter the property. This 10,000 sq ft location house, with 8 bedrooms and 4 reception rooms offers a unique and eclectic mix of period decoration and contemporary art and furniture, with a plethora of colour throughout. You would be right to assume that a property of this magnitude is littered with remarkable touches. Venture inside to find quirky decor throughout the drawing and ballrooms (both of which feature soaring vaulted ceilings), and step outside to find 4 acres of formal and informal gardens, a swimming pool, kitchen garden, tennis court and a Georgian stables complex, complete with stable yard. With such extensive assets, you won’t struggle to find unique filming or photoshoot opportunities here at Medallion.
Our final location of the month takes us to Crystal Palace. Check out Ophelia, a Grade II listed, semi-detached Georgian Villa. Built as one of the original exhibition Georgian Villas in early 1830, the property offers a gorgeous blend of original features, offset against a modern, but complementary extension. Interiors consist of 2 formal, period living rooms and a large open-plan kitchen/ dining room; expect to see traditional furniture, exposed brick, tiled flooring, a muted colour palette and skylights – allowing for natural light to beam in. Plants are the overarching theme when you proceed outside, where you’ll find a gorgeous manicured garden area, designed with an Italian feel. This consists of a flower room and summer house, set upon 3 levels. If you like the look of Ophelia, we would recommend opting for stills or very small-scale filming in the kitchen/ dining area.
In our first part of this two-part interview series with Ed Reeve of Blackwood House, we spoke about his life as a photographer and what it has been like as a location house owner. If you want his tips and what he looks for in a location agency, make sure you check out part one here. In this second part of our interview with Ed, we sat down to talk about his design style, how it influenced his one-of-a-kind home and the work that went into building such a unique property.
Rob – “So, do you think your work as a photographer has influenced your design style within the property Ed?”
Ed – “Yes definitely! Because I work in the field of design and architecture, I get to see and experience a lot of great architecture and design. So along the way, I’ve just made lots of notes and Pinterest is always there to help collect inspiration. There’s also all the contacts I’ve made along the way, Sir David Adjaye designed this house with me, for example.
Rob – “We will definitely get into that in more detail later. But for now, can you elaborate on anything that influenced your design style within your home?”
Ed – “Of course! So despite the minimal look, we do have stuff, it’s just very well hidden. We have lots of storage and I think that’s the key to at least appearing like a minimalist [laughter]. I mean, we’ve got kids, there are toys and everything else that comes with children. But because we have a lot of shoots here, having storage makes it very easy to tuck it all away and then it’s never a problem if we get a last minute shoot.”
Rob – “So how did you decide that minimalism was what you were interested in?”
Ed – “Well, I think I first became a minimalist, not so much by choice but because I didn’t have any money. Minimalism was just a way to explain not buying anything. I’d have people round to my warehouse in Shoreditch, who’d ask where all my things were. Being a minimalist is a choice, whereas being strapped for cash isn’t, so I guess then it was out of pride. These days I don’t like having a lot of stuff, so now it’s a choice, but I have the things that I need and a few items I cherish. My aim is to have things that satisfy both beauty and usefulness.”
Rob – “Would you say it’s become a way of life also or more just an interior design style?”
Ed – “I think it’s more of a way of life, we like to keep things simple; we don’t like to complicate our lives and that tends to lead to a stress-free life. It’s that classic – tidy space equals a tidy mind. I also find that the more that you own, the more it owns you. Everything you have requires some sort of maintenance, storage or cleaning and so the more stuff you have, the less time you have. I think people are starting to understand that now, there’s not so much reward and satisfaction from having things; people are starting to spend more time on experiences rather than possessions. So, I think minimalism is a sort of cultural shift that has happened organically everywhere.”
Rob – “Do you have any influences in design?”
Ed –“I get inspiration from lots of designers and architects. I love the work of Charles Eames because you can just see the thought process that went into creating. I went to an Eames exhibition at the Barbican many years ago and they showed how they’d test chairs for durability; it’s fascinating how they make these pieces of furniture to last, but they are also incredibly comfortable and are aesthetically pleasing.”
“I think when you have design that accomplishes all of those things (durable, aesthetic and comfortable), you are left with perfect design. It’s not too easy to achieve all three, so I tend to drift towards designers that can.”
“So here, we like to have a few standout pieces that we really like and admire, rather than having lots of satisfactory things.”
Rob – “Can you describe your favourite pieces of furniture that represent your style within your property – you do have some outstanding pieces”
Ed – “Thank you, we think so! So, we’ve got the classic Eames armchair upstairs, which is probably the oldest item of furniture I own; I’ve had it for a very long time and it’s become a bit of a cliché, but I love it. I had it in my old Shoreditch warehouse, which I got from a client who was a furniture dealer. But then I’ve also had a few things made to fit the aesthetic of the house.”
“I have this amazing friend, whom we call Jona the genius joiner – he’s made a lot of things in the house. For example, the media cupboard we have in the living room upstairs – it’s this beautiful white, glossy unit that houses all the ugly components of a media system. So, you’ve got your amplifier, your digibox, all your wires etc, all out of sight. It has a fabric door in the middle, which was an idea I had, so we could have the sound and the remote control work through the fabric, without having to open up the cupboard.”
“I also had the dining room table made, as I wanted a simple dark wood table. It’s solid walnut. The kitchen is a grey stained oak by Poliform – they’re an Italian kitchen maker. So there’s a lot of dark wood in the house, the stairs are a dark wood, with a really nice solid feel to them. Jona also made all the cupboards upstairs, which are great for hiding away all our books and things, we do have a fair amount of stuff, it’s just well hidden.”
“I mean even though we do have these classic design pieces, we also have a lot of Ikea which is great when you have kids, you can just tuck everything away. Like these cupboards here (downstairs living room) are all Ikea, we just had them jumbled up, which makes it look really contemporary, interesting and unique.”
Rob – “So moving on to the design of your house – you mentioned that you and your friend, Sir David Adjaye designed it together. Can you go into a bit of detail about that?”
Ed – “So I met David early on in both of our careers. We had both just graduated and both needed pictures for our portfolios; he needed images of his architecture and I needed a portfolio of photos of great architecture. So I photographed lots of his work – he was very appreciative and said he’d return the favour in the future. I kind of jokingly said ‘oh are you going to design a house for me?’ To which he said ‘if you want’. So, years went by and I stumbled across this plot of land, it was just a builder yard, so a completely empty site. He kindly came to have a look, told me it was perfect and that I should buy it. So I did!”
“We sat down and I told him what my vision was. It was incredible, I just gave him this list of things I wanted from a home; he’s brilliant at interpreting people’s visions and creating a design from it. Not just your practical needs, but also your emotional needs, the way you want to live. I think in my case it was even better because he already knew who I was, he had an understanding of how to bring my ideas to life.”
“He was able to design something that was sympathetic and compatible with my character and lifestyle. My wife and I both lead very busy lives, we travel a lot for work, so one of the key things we needed was for the house to be low maintenance. We are both time poor, so we couldn’t have anything too fussy or overcomplicated, a nice clean design and somewhere we could come back from our travels and immediately relax, spend time with the kids and have friends over.”
Rob – “Was the black stained wood always on your mind when creating the home?”
Ed – “No it wasn’t actually; all I knew was that I really wanted wood. David had previously done a lot of incredible architecture, but it had all been concrete. So, I said to him that I loved the aesthetic and style of what he was doing, but I wasn’t a big fan of concrete. It’s also not very environmentally friendly; I travel a lot, so I already have a big carbon footprint with a lot of air miles every year. So, to offset my guilt I suppose, I asked if there was something we could do with wood.”
“Not only is the look of the house wood, with the exterior entirely clad in wood, the superstructure is also wood. All the floors and walls of the superstructure are solid timber, not just the frame. The structure of the house is like giant sheets of plywood that were made in a factory, brought over on two trucks, one each day and these panels of plywood, as wide as a truck, were craned into place and screwed together. Essentially, the house structure is just solid timber sheets with really long screws. There’s no steel, no concrete, nothing else – completely ready engineered as it came out the factory. Following that, it was just putting the windows in and cladding, incredibly simple and quick to implement. I personally think it’s the way forward.”
Rob – “So before we move on, our readers love to know the answer to these next two questions… Can you describe any of the highlights you had while designing the property?”
Ed – “It was actually a really enjoyable process working with David; he’s so insightful, you throw all these things at him and he’s incredible at coming up with solutions. At the end of the day, designing a house is problem solving. We spent a lot of time thinking about the light and where we would be in the house at different times of the day. Also, just the practicalities of what it would be like living in a house like this.”
Rob – “I was watching a programme the other day on unique building designs and they said that skylights bring in around 60% more light. It does make sense, but is just fascinating to hear and comprehend.”
Ed – “Well one of the main reasons we built this extension to the side of the kitchen was to bring more light into the space. With a solid wall there, it could get quite dark in the kitchen as I’m sure you could imagine.
Rob – It really added a lot to the space, I suppose with the skylight and the glass wall, you get tons more light in here. It’s really nice that you were able to do it with an old friend as well!”
Ed – “Yes, it was amazing being able to do it with a friend, it really was.”
Rob – “So did you face any challenges or setbacks when designing the place?”
Ed – “Any challenges or setbacks? We actually thought there would be great challenges as it was a new house in a conservation area. Not only did we have the challenge of getting planning permission for something that was very different. But we also had to get past the conservation area committee. So, I went to see Hackney Council and said ‘look I’m thinking of buying this plot of land, am I being crazy or am I going to be able to build something interesting there?’”
I said that ‘I want to build a contemporary house’, to which they responded, ‘that’s perfect, we actually hate pastiche’. ‘Please don’t build a modern copy of a Victorian house, as they look awful’. All they asked was for the build to be sympathetic, to follow the building line at the front and the eaves line at the top (the roof line). Don’t go bigger or grander, stick to the dimensions and proportions of everything else around it and you’ll be fine.”
“So, that was actually enough guidance for me to go ahead and buy the land. I went round to all the houses on the street, introduced myself, letting them know that we were going to become neighbours, that I wasn’t a developer and was building my family home. I wanted to make sure that they were all happy with what I was doing and if they had any concerns, to voice them then, in the design stage, rather than on site. There were a few concerns, but they were all happy with what was being built and were relieved that it was something interesting. I think their fear was that a developer would buy the land and build some cheap flats that would completely ruin the aesthetic of the road; It’s actually become a real asset to the area.”
“The neighbours were great in the whole process, they all wrote letters of support, so we got planning permission and conservation area consent in 8 weeks – it went straight through with no objections and five letters of support. So that’s a tip, if you want to build, get all your potential neighbours on side. Even if you’re a developer, just be sympathetic with the road, the people and what’s already around you.”
Rob – “That’s so interesting! Would you consider working with Sir David again on another property?”
Ed – “Absolutely! It was a wonderful experience! I mean, anyone who has watched Grand Designs before knows that as much as it can be a rewarding experience, it can be incredibly stressful; you inevitably go over budget. But working with David was actually this great experience. I felt taken care of and listened to and I loved all the things he was coming up with. So, if he wanted to design another house with me, I’d jump at the chance. It might be a bit difficult though, as he’s moved back to Ghana with his family. We’re still great friends though and keep in touch. I would like to design another house though, for sure!”
Rob – “I was going to ask, is this your forever home now or…”
Ed – “We’ll be here for a long time. We love it here, it’s great for the kids, they’re at a really good school round the corner and it’s a great location that’s really easy to get into town.”
Rob – “Okay amazing, Ed, thanks so much for everything – a superb interview, I’m sure our readers will love to read.”
Rob – “We recently sat down with Ed Reeve, the owner of the Iconic Blackwood House, situated in North London. In an incredibly insightful interview, we spoke to Ed about his job as an architectural photographer, his design style, how he built his incredible home and what it’s like to be a shoot location owner. So without further ado, let’s get straight into it.”
Rob – “Hi Ed, how’re you doing today?”
Ed – “Very well thank you, has been a nice day for the shoot.”
Rob – “It certainly has, the weather has been on our side.”
Rob – “So, can you tell me a little bit about what you do for a living?”
Ed – “I’m an architectural and interiors photographer. I shoot for luxury and leisure brands, so I shoot fashion retail, restaurants, hotels, but I also do museum exhibition photography, residential and public buildings as well.”
Rob – “That sounds fascinating, how long have you been doing it for?”
Ed – “I’ve been taking pictures professionally for around 25 years.”
Rob – “Wow, amazing, so how did you get into it?”
Ed –“How did I get into photography? To be honest, I think it all started when I was a kid, I was always making pictures with my eyes through windows and frames, even without a camera. My parents obviously spotted what I was doing, so they quickly bought me a camera, as they realised I clearly had this eye to frame things [laughter].”
“So following that, I started it properly at the end of school, doing a diploma in photography, while I was doing my A Levels. I then got into Art college and did an Art foundation that specialised in photography and film. Went to uni and got a degree in photography and then after that, I actually got my first commission straight out of uni, so I didn’t take the normal route of assisting, which actually threw me a little at the start.”
“I did a fashion shoot for a hat designer who found a postcard I’d had printed for my end of uni show; I did a fashion campaign for her and just started getting work from there. I never assisted, so I kind of just made it up as I went along. I still don’t really know what I’m doing [laughter], but here we are 25 years later.”
Rob – “So, speaking of 25 years later, how long have you been a location owner?”
Ed – “So we’ve been in this house for fifteen years and a location house for fourteen of those years. The only reason we actually didn’t start sooner was because the house wasn’t ready. We moved in and the interior was still a bit of a building site.”
Rob – “1st Option were one of the first companies to start the industry around twenty years ago, so you’ve been around since the very early days”
Ed – “Yes, there are so many location agencies now, but there really are only a few that are ‘professional agencies’. And they’re the ones we like to work with most. My advice for anyone who wants to become a location house – go with the big professional agencies that have years of experience, like 1st Option. They’re the companies that will bring you the most work, they’re the companies that will look after you. And to be honest, it’s the smaller agencies that can actually lose you money. They might book you up for days and days, not be on the ball and forget to let you know that the client has released. You then find out those days are now free at the last minute, meaning you miss out on other potential shoots. It’s all those little things that are incredibly important and make the difference.”
Rob – “What encouraged you to start taking shoots 14 years ago?”
Ed – “Well, I used to shoot a lot of lifestyle, renting all these location houses. So I quickly built a picture of what worked and what didn’t. One of the reasons I actually decided to take a minimalist approach here was that, when I got to shoots, the location would be wonderful with all this amazing ephemera – you’d be like wow, all these objects are fascinating – but they were all very personal and not right for our shoot. So, we’d often spend the first hour of our day moving other people’s stuff, which is a waste of your shoot time. I thought to myself, this doesn’t work, so I decided if I were to do it, minimalism would be the way forward. We have personal items, but we keep them away, out of sight or in one of our many storage units around the house. But I do think minimalism is really good for a shoot location; just concentrate on creating interesting angles and potential for creative shots.”
Rob – “So I’m guessing you had becoming a shoot location in mind, prior to building?”
Ed – “I did yes, absolutely! First and foremost, it’s our home, so that was the priority, but David and I did work very carefully on the direction of the light during the day, trying to maximise that, whilst creating interesting angles.”
“Actually, touching on your question earlier about if the colour black was always in mind for the cladding, I always wanted the house to be wood, so we decided to clad the exterior like this. We were going to leave it in its natural state, however, we found that the exterior weathered very quickly and unevenly, even while we were still building. It looked scruffy and patchy, so David came up with the idea of staining it. We tried out all these samples from brown all the way to black and it was an easy decision in the end. It actually works perfectly for shoots, it’s a very neutral colour that you can put any fashion against and it will look great.”
Rob – “I think it ties in perfectly with the minimalist aesthetic as well.”
Rob – “So, moving on, what’s been your favourite shoot to date?”
Ed – “Oh wow, we’ve had so many, occasionally we get to meet celebrities – we try to stay out the way, but occasionally you open the door to them. There was this one time, however, where David Attenborough turned up to the shoot and the crew weren’t ready for him. So I greeted him, brought him in and made him a cup of tea. He’s exactly how you would imagine him to be, extremely interested in everything, and had loads of questions about the house and me and the family. He’s just genuinely interested in what you have to say. We told him we had a three day old baby at the time, so he asked to meet her; we now have a photo with David Attenborough holding our three day old baby.”
“The nice thing is, pretty much every shoot we have here is interesting. If you want a unique shoot location, it’s normally for an interesting reason.”
“Another cool shoot we had here was Stormzy. He was a really nice and decent bloke. The whole crew were. After that, we had loads of grime shoots, we became the house of grime. We’d always joke after they left, we’d say we’re cleaning up the scene of the grime [laughter]. So we had all the grime shoots here, but what we found funny was on camera they try to give off this persona of gang culture and such, but in reality, they’re all really lovely people, very polite and respectful of your home.”
Rob – “I guess to make it in that industry, having the drive to get out of the rough areas they’ve grown up in, means they must be decent people”
Ed – “I guess, not always, but to be successful in any industry, it pays to be nice. We had Gillian Anderson here recently for NET-A-PORTER and we couldn’t hear all of it, but she was so lovely to everyone. You could tell that she didn’t think she was above anyone. It’s a breath of fresh air when you have that level of fame and it still hasn’t gone to your head. There was a really nice atmosphere around her.”
Rob – “So what exactly encouraged you to sign up with 1st Option?”
Ed – “So I guess it’s what I touched on earlier, 1st Option’s reputation on being one of the most widely known and most used agencies in the country. I think I had also booked locations with you guys before, so I knew you were reputable. Before I started, I didn’t really know much about any of the agencies, but working with 1st Option is and has been great since the start. It’s the professionalism and care you get; the little things, however small you think they may be. For example, as small as putting the client name in the subject heading of an email. So many other agencies will just put things like ‘stills shoot’ or ‘new enquiry’ and it’s like they’re all new enquiries and shoots, how do you expect us to rifle through all the enquiries we get and find the right one, especially if they are all titled the same thing. We might have a couple shoots a week, but we might have five enquiries a week, so it can get frustrating trying to go through all the emails.”
“The communication at 1st Option is also amazing, you guys keep us informed on the status of the shoot every step of the way, even if the client hasn’t made a decision yet. Just getting an email once a week keeping us informed with where the client is at, goes a very long way.”
“A lot of these new agencies will get in touch, say a month before a shoot, we pencil in the date, a month will go by with no word. Inevitably we then have to turn down other shoots because of this, as we had a 1st with the original company. It comes to the week of the shoot, we email to see what’s going on and they get back to us saying ‘oh that was pulled weeks ago, very sorry.’ We then lose out on another shoot, which is very annoying. Just having that level of professionalism makes a huge difference.”
Rob – “That’s everything from me Ed, is there anything else you wanted to add?”
Ed – “If I wanted to give advice to anyone thinking of renting out their home as location, I’d say work with the top agencies, they will get you the most work and are the most professional. There are the other agencies, they may get you one or two shoots a year but stick with the people who know what they’re doing.”
“Have a collection of teas, as the models like their herbal teas and have a good stock of builders tea, milk, coffee, sugar etc – make sure you look after the crews. Have some house rules, they will change over time as you get more shoots. But, it’s not just rules, it’s about having some information so the crews know where things are and how things work. Then they don’t have to keep troubling you while everyone’s working.”
Stay tuned for the second part of this amazing interview! In part two we will be diving into Ed’s design style, how it influenced his one-of-a-kind home and the work that went into building such a unique property.
2021 was a year of change and growth for everyone – homes have become a hybrid of living and working, as well as our much needed sanctuaries away from the uncertainty of the pandemic. Nevertheless, our endeavour has been seen front and centre and we have stood up to all tests, turning things like working from home into positives. 2022 is going to see this progress and working from home is going to be part of everyday life for the foreseeable future. However, we will see a variation on the traditional ways of looking at this; sustainability and a renewed interest in the natural world is bringing about hybrid, versatile settings, restructuring the way we look at space. And if we look directly at design touches, you can already see that antique, vintage and retro aesthetics are starting to have their time in the light again. Make sure to read on as we look further into the changes in design, what colours will be on the rise and the materials you can expect to see more of in 2022.
Cast your eye back to our 2021 interior design predictions and you may remember that we forecasted the boom of the home office; 2022 will see this taken a step further embracing the trend towards hybrid working, necessitating a move to a more evolved work space. The home has become a blend between a professional space and our haven to relax. Rather than segregating or zoning different areas within the house – one for working, one for entertaining and relaxing – 2022 will see spaces become more versatile, with the ability for furniture to have multiple uses. Rather than going overboard and turning a room that was previously used for entertaining, into an office space, find furniture that can be used for both and still looks attractive. Open-plan living has become so popular that people don’t want to zone off their homes anymore. This is leading to pieces of furniture having dual functions that can adapt throughout the day. The key is to design comfortable work spaces that can easily be tweaked to create an entertaining or relaxing space, through the use of ergonomic chairs that look attractive, good storage options that can tuck away your work mess and beautiful desks that would look fantastic anywhere.
The age of antique has returned, with vintage and antique finds becoming an increasingly important trend as we head into 2022. With people’s tastes becoming progressively discernible, along with issues with supply chain over the past year or so, we are seeing a movement towards buying one off antiques, as opposed to the mass produced pieces that too often end up in everyone’s living rooms. With the focus on the environment and sustainable ways to live, we are seeing upcycling become more popular year on year – Millennials and Gen Z are now looking to markets and vintage stores rather than chains that mass produce. More than simply providing alternatives to the fast fashion prototype, vintage and antique finds have one-of-a-kind details that make them perfect for showcasing your personal creativity, character and individuality – homes should celebrate people’s uniqueness, and furniture choices are a great way to do this. Antique furniture has a story to tell and as such, can become great conversation starters; this is especially popular with wooden furniture. We have seen mid-century pieces at the forefront of design for a while now, however, decorative antiques with ornate carvings are having a moment as they tell their own story of history. This is evident in the fact that we are seeing increasing amounts of antique dealers pop up all across the country. We are now at a point where fast fashion is producing pastiche, highlighting the moment that antiques really are having.
The past six months has seen a definite trend towards vintage, antique and retro purchases. People don’t want modern, mass produced items anymore; they are looking for one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story. Nothing tells a story more than a retro piece of furniture that oozes nostalgic character. By harking back to the 60’s/70’s/80’s, you are able to introduce bold, notable, standout furniture that really add to your space; statement pieces such as velvet armchairs, plush comfy rounded chairs, eye-catching mirrors etc. This was already starting to show towards the end of 2021 with a resurgence of nostalgic design references like coloured glass, boucle and metallics that were popular in the past. Over the next year, expect to see retro lighting make a huge resurgence with the 70’s trend of luxe greens, sunshine yellows and warm orange hues, as well as mushroom lamps.
As mentioned above, we are seeing a shift towards a credence on sustainability with the rise of biophilia and an increased exposure to climate change over the last few years. Once a view becomes the dominant narrative that people subscribe to, you tend to see it eek into all branches of society; this is especially true of the interior design world. With this current revolt against fast fashion, looking for quality materials, timelessness and longevity, we are seeing people build their spaces by incorporating elements that epitomise their surroundings. Consumers are shifting towards reclaimed woods, recycled and steel piping, as well as vintage textiles, fabrics and materials. So expect to see more sustainable materials like cork making appearances in 2002 – it brings warmth and texture to any surface or space, whilst insulating the room. The perfect addition to a 2022 kitchen!
Dark accents are going to have their time in the proverbial sun next year. Not only are they great ways to add depth to any space, they look amazing on hardware furniture; adding a real touch of class. As a base, dark colours are very neutral, however if used as an accent alongside light neutrals, dark accents can really contrast a space. Think about black accessories to help accentuate an area and add interesting depth – the key is to add contrast and weight to your rooms. You may have had your Instagram feeds flooded with dark and moody palettes this year, however experts, like Elle Decor and House Beautiful are seeing a shift towards richer, deeper hues in the new year. Brown, copper and earthy tones, mixed with black and grey look great and touch on the natural side of things, which will play a huge part next year. Play around with pieces of furniture in dark rich colours as your accents, offset against your earthier tones.
Whether it’s because we have spent the past two years becoming more accustomed with our homes and getting cosy, or whether it was just time, textured fabrics will reign supreme in 2022. Cosy fabrics aren’t just for the bedroom or storage cupboards anymore, you can easily throw a chic blanket over a sofa and have it elevate a space, adding texture and dimensions to any room. The ‘it’ fabrics to look out for are velvet, boucle, sherpa, jersey and twill. They are all incredibly comfortable and cosy materials; perfect for the modern homeowner spending more time inside. They are also exceptionally chic, allowing you to stay cosy whilst entertaining your friends and family.
Something else that working from home and hybrid living has brought into view is living room bars and drinks trolleys in contemporary settings. Where drinks trolleys were exclusively part of the Art Deco scene before, we are now seeing them enter the conventional family home and look great within them. If you have unused space, creating a drink shelf or cupboard is simple and adds oodles of style to the room. If space is limited, the drinks trolley can double up as an extra piece of furniture; they scream Art Deco, so will add a sense of opulence to any area and are great conversation starters!
The move towards health and wellness is on the rise within all aspects of society. This has been adopted by almost all industries and none more so than interior design. This is evident in Biophilic design, which has been growing exponentially in popularity over the last 2 years. If we look at interior design as a concept that begins with the experience, taking into consideration the emotional, physical and mental needs of people, then it is a human-centred reflection of how we live today. As we are focusing on the promotion of health, welfare and sustainable living, it is intuitive to see and understand why biophilia has become such an influential and popular trend in interior design, with the benefits intrinsically connected with nature. When we interact with nature we gain satisfaction, inspiration, peace and therefore improve our wellbeing.
After the turmoil that the world has endured this past year, it makes sense that a colour that promotes tranquillity, peace and calm would be the focus in 2022. Last year, Dulux named “Bright Skies” as its colour of the year. It’s light and airy – making it perfect for any bedroom, or a gorgeous base hue for a bathroom or kitchen. By now it’s well documented that colours can have an effect on your mood; blue brings us closer to nature with its natural elements, helping us to relax, so it makes sense that it is being used more than in years gone by. Whether you add a dark blue feature wall or incorporate a blue textured quilt, the colour is known to help calm the mind and produce a feeling of tranquillity – and who doesn’t need that in 2022. However, blue isn’t prominent just for its relaxing benefits, but also its boldness and warmth help form a far better background for other pieces within your home.
