Tell us a bit about yourself, and your work.

I have worked in prime areas of the London property market since 1997, and joined Strutt & Parker in 2003.

Specialising in prime central London residential property, I work closely with many international high-net worth individuals, and deal with some of the most high-profile properties on the market. I also work with a number of London’s top developers, buying and selling some the very best and most valuable properties.

I’m based in Strutt & Parker’s flagship Sloane Street office, working alongside my five partners, and a team of 90.

We have collaborated on a number of projects. Can you talk us through the process of working together, from your perspective?

Importantly, each project we have worked on together has been bespoke. Every client has different requirements, meaning our involvement varies with each property.

When working on projects for developers, it’s important to be involved in project meetings from the very beginning. This includes providing feedback and agreeing on the layout, as well as advising on potential improvements, design and what the market desires.

Working together as a team is very effective in ensuring everyone has a joined-up view of the design and target market. I feel we have worked very successfully together, educating clients and ensuring the right product is created. 

What are your thoughts on the result of each project and, in hindsight, is there anything you would do differently?

The projects we have worked on have been very successful and the only changes I would make, in hindsight, would be to encourage the client to invest more financially, in order to create the perfect design.

Occasionally, projects can look slightly under-furnished when restricted by budget – when you are selling a turnkey product this will only detract from the price.

Of the projects we have worked on together, which was your favourite? And why?

My favourite project to work on was a large apartment on the first and second floor of a well-known Knightsbridge garden square. It was a ground-breaking apartment in terms of scale – the design, layout and finish were exceptional and a record price was achieved.

What would your ideal project look like?

A first floor lateral apartment on a garden square is still a rarity and difficult to find in prime central London, but would be my ideal project. The market has definitely changed and evolved and purchasers no longer want the ‘hotel room’ look. A mixture of classic and modern design are the key to a successful project, and quality and tasteful interiors are also crucial.

Fashions change and London has a very varied mixture of architecture and property style so one size does not fit all.

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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?

The post My top 5 finds: New York and London appeared first on April Russell.

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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