The inspiration for Gregory dining table flowed from the Colorado mountain setting in which this stunning table was designed to be placed. The Gregory dining table is a bespoke piece which is handcrafted in England and I sourced exquisite timber for the table top and added an organic twist to the base to bring flow and sculpture to the piece.

This handsome round top table for eight which is featured above is finished in veneer palm wood in high gloss with a chamfered edge. The Base is made of curved wood with bronze liquid metal finish.  This table can be used in a number of ways from an occasional table, display stand and dining table. The shape and form is perfect for conversation to enable friends or family to comfortably contribute over formal dinners or informal dining occasions.

My most creative piece to date which embodies the very spirit of April Russell is the Bunny Bar pictured above. The inspiration for the Bunny Bar stems from my childhood in New York and experiencing first hand the fun, laughter and glamour of Cocktail Hour. Crafted by hand in England, the Bunny Bar is a chic statement piece crafted internally in oak and the exterior frame is made up of reeded mouldings and finished in a specialist painted technique to resemble vintage rattan. Dressed or undressed, doors closed or open, this stunning cocktail cabinet will bring glamour to every occasion from a relaxed evening tipple to a full cocktail soiree.

You can see the full range of my bespoke furniture range here www.aprilrussell.com/bespoke and remember with the Art of Bespoke we can adapt any piece to your your requirement be it functionality, finish or size.

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I was then privileged to be part of Brown’s London Art Weekend #blaw2015 where we held a very successful  master class on the Art of Interiors. It is an amazing weekend in St James’s and Mayfair where over 100 galleries open their doors and you can explore a vast range of exhibitions ranging from Old Masters to Contemporary.

Here are some of my top picks from the galleries in London and New York to inspire you to visit them in order to choose stunning artwork and sculpture for  your homes.

The photograph above is shot by the talented Miles Aldridge and is theatrical, colourful and simply makes me smile every time.  Any one of his works of art could hang any where in your home to provide a real talking point! Grimaldi Gavin, 27 Albermarle Street, W1S 4DW.

I’ll bring you everything (c) Anna Barlow, Courtesy Rebecca Hossack

I recently came across the work of Anna Barlow pictured above. Sticky ice cream … We all scream for ice cream and Anna’s work is so realistic that you could almost smell the sweetness. A collection of these pieces at different heights in a smart clean contemporary kitchen would be very cool. Rebecca Hossack, 28 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NA

New Penwith, 1974, (c) Bowness, Photograph by Ellen Page Wilson, courtesy of Pace Gallery

I simply love Barbara Hepworth’s work and her commitment and passion during her lifetime. The Barbara Hepworth Museum in St Ives is a must see and currently there is an exhibition at the Tate Modern until 25 October 2015. If only I were able to exhibit such a piece in my drawing room! Pace Gallery, 32 East 57th Street, New York NY, 10022.

Complex Yellows, 1966 (C) Patrick Heron, Courtesy of Austin Desmond

The HOUSE designed by April Russell, www.houseevents.com

This is such a dynamic piece of art pictured above. I hung this piece by Patrick Heron over the fireplace with a TM Lighting picture light over it in the House at Olympia which I designed and curated in June . It takes your breath away with the bold design and colour. Austin Desmond, Pied Bull Yard,68/69 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3BN.

Remember to be open minded when visiting galleries, the more you see the more you learn.

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Joinery is a passion and I set to work designing an office area that works as an extension of the Drawing Room.  I was inspired by a piece of furniture I saw at Isle Sur la Sorgue in France and I designed the desk in the above photo which also works as a console table with a seating area adjacent and shelving and storage cabinetry above including an ingenious open and close mechanism at the touch of a finger!

By adding a pair of chairs from Nicholas Haslam, which I recovered in Fermoie  fabric, I created a cosy space to work, watch the news and just enjoy the outdoor views.

Whilst designing the credenza in the dining room pictured above I couldn’t resist the Verdigris Sea urchin handles from Collier Webb. Their gorgeous ironmongery offsets the furniture beautifully.

Most of the vintage furniture was sourced through dealers in the UK.  It was key to give personality to spaces that carried little architectural richness.  One fine example was the cocktail bar featured above which started out as a simple rattan wardrobe.  By adding a base to give height and redesigning the interior this piece became the focal point in the room for a number of reasons!

The piece de resistance was completing the interior design with large vintage society photographs and lithographs to offset the furniture.  I must say working in the US is always a joy and I am ready for my next commission.

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Once I get to know my client it is time to start thinking strategically. We explore essentials such as the architecture, positioning and lighting. I like to design interiors layer by layer, creating an environment which is simply unforgettable.  To achieve this effect I use furnishings and bespoke wall finishes to create a stylish, traditional or modern interior that has artwork as the focus.

In the picture above of the Belgravia Townhouse you can see that it has beautifully proportioned rooms that set the stage for the contemporary art collection. Light, clean walls with a pearlescent bespoke paint finish provide an ideal backdrop for the vibrant artwork.

If you have a large dominant piece of art, don’t shy away from it – embrace it! You can use an elegant colour pallet to allow the artwork to speak from the surrounding walls. I picked out the warm orange tones in the interior design of the living room pictured above to  bring to life the main painting and unite it within the space. Hanging a smaller picture next to the larger piece allows us to mix frames and styles, creating a sophisticated yet contemporary setting for both pieces.

When decorating with art in your home, remember that artwork can also provide a talking point. I hung the above contemporary piece of sculpture in the dining room of one of our Belgravia apartments to provide the guests with a talking point over dinner. Always consider carefully where to position art. The focal piece was hung where all guests could see it, creating a contemporary and striking back drop.

Hallways are as important as any other space in your house. For the modern London property pictured above I commissioned bespoke crackle glazed panels and the client chose the large painting. Positioning the sculpture at the end of the hallway draws in the eye and gives the statue the attention it deserves.

I hope you found the above advice useful and are ready to embrace the truly artistic side of your home! If in doubt, find out more about our art services.

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Over a breakfast of croissants, coffee and health-boosting juices, we presented ideas regarding art in the home – focusing on the importance of good framing, and lighting. In beautiful surroundings, we delivered the information to a room filled with some of London’s most inspiring and engaging women. It was a true honour to be able to discuss my passion with these ladies, in such a distinguished setting.

I love giving talks, and sharing the knowledge I have gained from years of experience with a captive audience. As was the case when I presented at Decorex International, the discussion at Grace Belgravia really came alive thanks to those that were on the panel with me, and thanks to audience participation.

Some of the topics I covered in the talk can be found in my previous blog post: top tips for using art in the home. You can also watch a video of me discussing the use of art in interiors with LuxDeco below…

In 2015, we plan to host many more talks. If you missed out this time, and wish to be included next time, sign up to our newsletter to be sent information on upcoming dates.

Finally, a huge thank you to Grace Belgravia, to my fellow panelists, and to everyone that attended. The day wouldn’t have been as enjoyable without your involvement!

Images courtesy of LuxDeco

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Art is my passion, and my specialty. We put a large emphasis on the importance of artwork within an interior in every project we undertake, and recently hired a team of art experts – with experience at both Sotheby’s and Christies – to further expand our knowledge. One of the topics I have spoken about at length this year is how to house your own art collection. To read more about this, visit the following articles:

How to house an art collection – Amara Living
April Russell’s Tips for artwork within the home – Decorex International

I also created a video on this topic with team at LuxDeco, which I was very excited to be a part of!

We are very proud of the projects we work on, and were pleased to be featured in top publications for our work. To read more about our projects, visit the following articles:

Eclectic artwork in a Chelsea Pied À Terre – Art of Bespoke
A Holland Park family home, perfect for entertaining – Art of Bespoke

As interior designers, we are always happy to share tips and knowledge obtained over the years with those wanting to create their perfect home. To read some of our design tips, visit the following articles:

Kitchen design tips – Amara Living
Guide to luxury rugs – LuxDeco

A main event we were a part of this year was Decorex International, where I hosted a panel talk, in which every seat was occupied! It was a brilliant day, and we took a lot away from the experience. To read about our experience at Decorex, visit the following articles:

April Russell, The Art of Interiors joins Decorex Panel – Inside ID
One to watch at Decorex 2014 – Art of Bespoke
Top five trends to watch from Decorex International – Sothebys Realty
Decorex International 2014 – Amara Living
Top five trends to watch from Decorex International

Alongside Decorex, I hosted a talk at Grace Belgravia, which had a great turn out, and had very positive feedback.

Finally, I have been interviewed about my approach to work by ROCO and Heal’s, and have been profiled as a tastemaker for LuxDeco – a title I am very happy to accept!

Thank you to everyone that has featured our work in 2014, here’s to another fantastic year!

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New York

I love New York. My favourite thing about the city is the culture, and the opportunity to spend time with my loved ones. And, of course, the artful finds…

E. R. Butler
E. R. Butler is a beautiful shop in Soho, with a wonderful selection of period hardware for doors, windows and fine furniture. Each piece has its own character, and would be perfect for adding artistic detailing to an interior. I could spend hours in there!

New York Stoneware
New York Stoneware only opened its doors last year, so still feels like a secret! The ceramics are absolutely beautiful, whilst still remaining practical – very well designed.

Todd Merrill
Todd Merrill Studio is extremely creative, with furniture designs that take my breath away. I especially love the use of unexpected materials as finishes for otherwise ordinary pieces – take this python skin mirror, for example. The work is very inspiring.

Atelier Viollet
Aside from their beautiful designs, I am drawn to Atelier Violet due to their philosophy in the workplace, which is very similar to my own: “We’re either cursed (or blessed), with dissatisfaction. We push ourselves to make each piece better than the last. To do that, we listen hard to every designer, each architect, all clients.” It’s the only way to work!

Roll & Hill
In my experience, all lighting by Roll & Hill is quirky and beautifully designed, adding an unexpected artistic element to even the simplest of rooms. I would simply love to incorporate a piece into a future project.

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London

London is where I spend the majority of my time. I love the greenery, and the mildness of the weather. My top five London art finds, as of late:

Adrian Sassoon
Adrian Sassoon is an all time favourite. I love the ceramics by Hitomi Hosono.  I bought several pieces for a client recently and my passion for her work just increases!  Adrian’s eye for glass and metal work is outstanding.

Rolf Sachs
Rolf Sachs is a conceptual artist and designer, and his work is always fascinating. His work with miniature figurines is especially rousing, as is his eye for photography.

Carpenters Workshop Gallery
I find the Carpenters Workshop Gallery completely captivating. Each exhibition brings something different to the art world, and each is utterly wonderful. I can’t recommend a visit highly enough!

Beware The Moon
What better way to add something different to your interiors than with a beautiful, artistic wallcovering? I adore everything by Beware The Moon, as it is all so unconventional. I would love to use this paper in a future project.

Witch and Watchman
Witch and Watchman is another wallpaper brand that has captured my imagination. With palm trees in each of the two designs, it would be the perfect addition to one of my Florida based projects!

Tell me, have you made any beautiful discoveries recently?

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Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have always been very passionate about art. My formal training began in theatre and film where I could design and execute magical illusions on the stage, or for the camera, and everything just grew from there! A favourite project in the early years was working on a doll house for the Busch family – I spent two years custom-finishing the interior of the home in 1” scale with references to family history, heirlooms and family members. It was such a pleasure to work on.

Throughout the past 28 years I have had the honor of working with many talented and inspiring designers and clients, two notable ones being Shania Twain and Mutt Lang.

We worked together recently on an Upper East Side apartment, can you talk us through the project from your perspective?

Each room was different, making the project an exciting one. For the sitting room a textural effect that resembled a beautiful raw silk was our target finish, for which we created a translucent pearl glaze infused with texture. We then applied the glaze floor to ceiling continuously around the room, manipulating it to create the appearance of a softly woven natural, slubbed silk that glows in the warm sunlight, or under the soft pools of light that wash down the walls at night.

The dining room has a cool pewter plaster finish, with hand-painted cherry branches reaching down from the ceiling, gracefully creating movement and texture. The inspiration was to bring the exterior of the apartment inside – the tree blossoms in the courtyard and the vibrant red window trims.

The colours speak to the red leather chairs, fabric in the window treatments and the glowing églomisé dining table.  The walls are up-lit from the floor to give a dramatic glow day or night. The room really incorporates organic and elegant elements, perfect for casual family gatherings, or chic cocktail parties!

What are your thoughts on the result of the project?

Personally, if I was given the chance, I would love to live there! The apartment has windows facing the street, and a beautiful interior garden. Lots of light and air, too, which is not often found in NYC. As a part of the project, the unit’s original floor plan was opened up a bit and the ceilings raised – the sense of modern and traditional blends well. The bedrooms are luxurious, the library is cozy and comfortable. There were layout challenges that were dealt with well, and the hidden doors really open up the tight spaces. I wouldn’t change a thing, and I hope the clients are loving it.

What would your ideal project look like?

Each year, for the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects in Italy. My love for the country, its architecture, history and people, goes beyond saying. Therefore I think my dream project would be an entire room or castle, somewhere in Europe, transformed with paint and plaster (possibly in buon fresco) into a magical trompe l’oeil illusion, utilizing architectural details and romantic vistas to create a storybook setting that blurs the lines of fantasy and reality.

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