The Tastemakers: A LuxDeco Podcast

London-based Shalini Misra is an architect, interior designer and founder of her eponymous international design studio. Winner of countless design industry awards, Shalini features in the top 100 designer lists of Architectural Digest, House & Garden and LuxDeco. She serves as a highly respected authority on design for various boards and committees within the industry, including the South Asian Acquisition Committee at Tate and the Advisory Board of KLC School of Design. Style-wise, each of her projects is notably individual, adorned with incredible art and supreme craftsmanship, and formed by the diverse lifestyles of her international clientele.

It is her passion for wellness in design, however, that I am most curious about and, in this episode, I caught up with the resolutely conscientious designer about just that. Listen in as we discuss why wellness should always be an intrinsic design principle and how interiors can serve as positive forces—both physically and emotionally—for their inhabitants.

Don't Miss

• What designing for well—being is at 08:22
• How she designs for emotional wellness at 14:41
• What she thinks about sustainability at 29:49
• And the search for increased wellness in her recent home renovation at 36:45

Links & Articles

Explore Shalini's Squat London project

LuxDeco 100

Shalini's website

Shalini's Instagram

Is Martin Brudnizki the man who killed minimalism? It’s quite a claim, but one that becomes increasingly credible the further you delve into his portfolio and the success–not to mention legion of imitators–that his projects have garnered. The AD100, House & Garden 100 and LuxDeco 100 designer is currently one of the design world’s most prolific and admired figures thanks to his fantastical design schemes for celebrated venues such as Annabel’s, The Ivy, Harry’s Bar and The Surf Club, and for luxury hospitality brands such as Soho House and the Four Seasons.

Constantly surprising, richly decorated and completely immersive, Martin Brudnizki creates worlds—worlds that are wildly transportative, combining mythical creatures with paradise gardens and a bold reimagining of tradition.

LuxDeco Chief Creative Officer Jon Sharpe talks to the designer about his instantly iconic designs, what he thinks of minimalism and whether he believes too much is actually never enough.

A prominent figure in the new wave of generation-defining British interior design talent, Fran Hickman is a name you either know or you should know. A House & Garden 100 and LuxDeco 100 honouree and the Elle Decoration British Interior Designer of the Year for 2019, Fran began her design career at Soho House. There she turned her hand to hotspots such as Babington House and Shoreditch House before stints at prestigious—and very different—studios Colefax and Fowler and Waldo Works. Since setting up her own studio in 2014, she’s been responsible for London’s Moda Operandi flagship store, a pop up for Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand Goop as well as numerous other award winning residential, hospitality and retail projects.

Such a stellar portfolio is the result of Fran's unique approach to design. The creative advocates design storytelling: the power of design choices in telling one’s story—be that for a person or a brand—the beauty of creating the right feeling within that space and, ultimately, design’s ability to influence our personal narratives by changing how we act.

Listen in as LuxDeco Chief Creative Officer Jon Sharpe discusses emotional design, the power of storytelling and why feeling is just as important as form and function.

The projects of London-based interior designer and architect Natalia Miyar cut a somewhat unique figure against the restrained aesthetic of the British interior design scene—they're full of pattern and unafraid of colour. The American designer's celebrated style blends textured finishes with smart upholstery, pairs vivid artwork with custom-designed statement furniture, and contrasts casual luxury with subtle glamour.

This penchant for the colourful and irreverent is perhaps most attributable to Natalia's rich, multicultural background. The designer boasts roots to three culturally unique locations—a vibrant birth place, a spirited hometown and a storied adopted home. Untethered to any one particular style as a result, Natalia mixes the memories and experiences of each to wild abandon in her work, establishing her as one of London's most adventurous talents.

In this episode, LuxDeco CCO Jon Sharpe caught up with the House & Garden 100 and LuxDeco 100 designer to discuss her cultural heritage, contextual design and how culture will play into interiors more authentically in the future.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard is an interior designer who needs very little introduction. He is renowned around the world as the “designer to the stars” and it’s a worthy epithet. Martyn is part of a small contingent of designers who have amassed an extensive celebrity following. A quick scan of his portfolio and you’ll discover the homes of the world's top tier celebrities, including Elton John, Tommy Hilfiger, Kylie Jenner and Cher.

In addition to being a designer, Martyn is also a TV personality and the author of two books. He is regularly named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 and he’s a LuxDeco 100 honouree. In this episode of The Tastemakers, we explore the celebrity aesthetic, his glamorous life in LA and what he has to say about some of his most famous clients.

Francis Sultana is not just a world-famous interior designer and furniture designer and AD100, House & Garden Top 100 Interior Designers and LuxDeco 100 honoree; he's also the Artistic Director of London's prestigious David Gill Gallery, co-founder of the Design Fund for the V&A and council member for the Design Museum and the Serpentine Galleries. Additionally, he is co-president of PAD London, jury member of PAD Paris and Ambassador of Culture for Malta. To sum up, Francis Sultana is busy. Very busy. And he is also the very definition of a Tastemaker so catching up with Francis was a real joy.

With a reputation for designing furniture pieces which are known to double in value at auction and creating interiors which, in and of themselves, can be viewed as liveable galleries, LuxDeco Chief Creative Officer Jon Sharpe was particularly interested to tap into the designer's inherent understanding of interior and furniture design as art forms. Listen in as they talk art, furniture and interiors.

When it comes to signature design style, award-winning interior designer Greg Natale is not renowned for his subtlety. In fact, he's celebrated for the exact opposite. The Sydney-based designer's interiors are colourful, patterned and always unexpected. Whether it's a combination of a cobalt blue tartan rug and Chinoiserie furniture in a seaside home, a floor lamp in the form of a life-size horse standing guard in an entry hall or a pink moire mosaic bathroom, this maverick man fears nothing.

As well as being a fearless creative, Greg has been awarded International Luxury Designer of the Year, has an ever-growing product collection and is the author of two books.

In today's episode, Fortune Favours The Brave, LuxDeco Chief Creative Offer Jon Sharpe spoke to the designer about his unique style, where his design confidence comes from and his advice for being brave enough to own one's personal style, however bold that might be.

Interior designer, winner of countless prestigious accolades (including ‘British Interior Designer of the Decade’ and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’), the philanthropist and LuxDeco 100 honoree, Katharine Pooley is a design powerhouse.

She's also an intrepid traveller who has visited more than 150 countries throughout her lifetime. From summiting some of the world's highest mountains to driving a team of dogs on a sled to the North Pole, there are few bucket list experiences Katharine hasn't ticked off.

Not only that, but she credits this lifelong love of travel as one of her main creative inspirations. Travel intimately influences Katharine's design approach, as well as her studio's aesthetic.

In this episode, LuxDeco's Chief Creative Office Jon Sharpe chats with the designer about design, travel and the Antarctic.