Interior design forms an important part of Ben Pentreath’s multi-disciplinary architecture, masterplanning and design practice that has built an enviable reputation for combining the strong use of colour and classical detail with simple, graphic patterns and an eclectic mix of furniture and lighting.
The brief was to inject character into the apartment while keeping the scheme calm and restful, to create a sanctuary in the midst of the city. With this in mind, the background palette was kept deliberately simple, airy and neutral, using Farrow & Ball’s Hardwick White on the walls and Andes, a plain wool-sateen by Holland & Sherry, for the curtains.
Statement lamp bases and ikat shades inject a fresh, modern sensibility to the rooms and are a signature ingredient for Ben. He designed the lamp in the foreground and the emerald-green resin base in the background is by Marianna Kennedy; both use shades by Melodi Horne and all are sold through his Bloomsbury-based shop Pentreath & Hall.
The choice of furniture reflects Ben’s preference for blending pieces from different styles and periods: the Fornasetti drinks cabinet was sourced through postwar and contemporary design specialists Themes & Variations.
The sofa is covered in Old Flax, a hard-wearing yet soft to the touch fabric by Soane.
Mary Berry: ‘Why I love my Aga’
Julie Harding lifts the hot plate on the heart-warming kitchen feature no country house should be without.
Credit: Alamy
The kitchen dresser, and why it's 'more important than central heating'
What is a country kitchen without a dresser overflowing with crockery, car keys and keepsakes? Flora Watkins explains all.
Credit: Stovax Riva Plus Large
Country Life Top 10: Stoves – The best log burners and gas stoves you can buy
For cosiness and efficiency, log burners and stoves are the ultimate choice.
-
Five magnificent mansions, from a former monastery to an Art Deco wonder in the South Downs, as seen in Country LifeWonderful homes, including a superb beach home in Cornwall, all fresh on the market via Country Life.
-
‘I cannot bring myself to believe that Emily Brontë would be turning over in her grave at the idea of Jacob Elordi tightening breathless Barbie’s corset’: In defence of radical adaptationsA trailer for the upcoming adaptation of 'Wuthering Heights' has left half of Britain clutching their pearls. What's the fuss, questions Laura Kay, who argues in defence of radical adaptation of classic literature.
-
Making space in a Georgian terraced Chelsea cottageGuy Goodfellow removed an internal wall to transform the sitting room of this Georgian terrace
-
Moths and memories of the Russian Revolution: Why it's worth saving that tired old rugDon’t consign that faded and tatty rug you inherited to the skip, warns Catriona Gray. A specialist repairer can work miracles on even the most unloved pieces
-
How one family went about creating a welcoming kitchen in one of England's neo-Palladian houses‘We were nervous about creating a kitchen in such a grand room.'
-
How do you make a 300-year-old Baronial castle fit for modern-day living?A mix of sympathetic colours and elegant furniture has brought new life to this impressive space at Aldourie Castle.
-
Oh, my gourd, it’s Hallowe’en: How best to decorate your home with pumpkins, squashes and moreAs the feast of All Hallow’s Eve approaches, Debora Robertson advises how best to decorate your home with autumn's edible bounty.
-
At the Snowdon Summer School, the future of design lies in the traditions of the past'It was the first time that I had ever been around people who shared my interest in making furniture at such a high level — and who shared my passion for fine furniture.'
-
It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of itIn design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
-
For Rita Konig, interior design isn’t only about coherence and comfort — it should be a celebration of stuffGiles Kime charts the transatlantic career of the eclectic journalist-turned-designer.
