Twelve homes from around the world have been short-listed for the world’s most stylish – and five of them are in London, plus two Surrey retreats.
The homes, which have all been picked as finalists in the 2015 SBID International Design Excellence Awards in the category of residential projects over £1million, are a true feast for the eyes.
The list includes a period property and ‘House of Books’ in Hampstead, a two-bed maisonette in Chelsea and a country mansion in Surrey Hills as well as a 10,000sqft mansion on the Lakes of Ontario and a luxury condo in Canada.
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The homes were whittled down from thousands of entries received from 41 countries including South Korea, Egypt, Qatar, Scandinavia, Canada, Taiwan, Russia and New Zealand.
Among entries that didn’t make the cut was the Station House in Washington, developed by the Rockwell Group, who were the winners in the category in 2013.
The judges included Sir Michael Dixon, director at the National History Museum, London; Ben McOwen Wilson, director of content partnerships at YouTube; and Mathew Dalby, creative director at The Studio at Harrods.
Of the 12 properties selected, five can be found in London.
Fairlanes by Stephen Clasper Interiors features glass walls, an art-deco pool, a gym, a games room, an Asian-inspired grey marble bathroom, and a garage to store (and display) the owner’s vast collection of classic cars.
A home in Hampstead is known as the House of Books due to its owners being serious bibliophiles. The house therefore features a stunning bookcase structure that runs alongside an eye-catching orange staircase through all five floors of the property.
SHH associate director Stuart McLauchlan led the project and said: ‘The bookcase and the new stair that wraps around it were absolutely central to the new house design. They formed a top-to-bottom spine, off which all other spaces were then arranged.’
Down the road another luxurious property underwent a £3.2million makeover, almost doubling in size from 8,500sqft to 15,500 sqft.
Design practice Honky were employed to create the interiors: ‘A muted, light colour palette was used with fine ebony wood, antique silver finishes and luxurious tactile fabrics to enhance both the heritage and modernity of the building,’ they said.
A more classic property in Knightsbridge, known as Milner Lodge, features a 90,000-piece waterfall chandelier that cascades down the central staircase.
The Grade II listed Queen-Anne-style mansion house was ‘meticulous restored’ and blended with ‘the ultimate in modern design and luxury’ by interiors company Mdesign.
The relaxation areas – from the bathrooms to the bedroom to the spa – enjoy an Asian influence with clean lines, dark marbles, mosaics and a scattering of orchids.
On the other end of the scale, the list of finalists also includes a relatively tiny pad in London’s Chelsea.
The developers, Prestige Exclusive Lifestyle, had a brief to transform the two-bedroom one-bathroom maisonette into a property with character – and a couple of extra powder rooms.
The developers explained: ‘After a complicated structural jigsaw and intense detail design process of joinery and finishes the result was a great success.
‘Every piece of joinery in the project has been designed as bespoke element, and continuity in design and material such as the swade and colour finish has allowed a dialogue between all the rooms in the flat.’
In the Surrey Hills there lies a 1901 country mansion, complete with added orangery.
The interiors of the large Edwardian property were inspired by furniture collected during the owner’s travels.
Designer Maurizio Pellizzoni said: ‘These pieces were distributed amongst the rooms, and used as the inspiration behind each room’s individual colour scheme and feel. This created an eclectic yet personal overall design aesthetic.’
Also in Surrey there is a family retreat where the designers were challenged to flow the indoors and outdoors seamlessly.
‘Due in part to a modern extension, the property originally suffered from a lack of flow and natural daylight with awkward living spaces,’ said designers Nice Brew Studio.
As the only UK base for their clients, the company ensured they created a sociable space and an interior inspired by the landscaped Japanese gardens.
Chosen properties from elsewhere in the world include a house in Berlin which features a sweeping wood-carved staircase in a hall of marble and glass and a sleek swimming pool in the basement.
Another home to make the final cut is a 10,00sqft mansion on the edge of the lake in Burlington, Ontario.
The developer, Regina Sturrock Design Inc., described it as being ‘ infused with a fresh and vibrant energy’, adding that ‘artful jewels from the sea, lighting, and saturated hues of gold and coral play within a soft envelope of creamy white panelled walls.’
Another entry with luxury appeal is a 4,000 sqft condominium in the museum district of Toronto. With a nod to the 1920s Art Deco period, the style is sophisticated and refined.
The Vanka Emerald riverside flat in China offers stunning skyline views and an interior of plush purples and sumptuous silks, while a gorgeous Mediterranean property channels classic whites and blues.
The designer of the property, which sits on the Italian island of Capri, said: ‘The mood of the villa takes its inspiration from an iconic period, re-interpreting the codes of the Dolce Vita, with a poetic and contemporary twist.’
The winners will be announced and awarded with the crystal SBID International Design Awards 2015 trophy at the official ceremony, held at The Dorchester hotel London at the end of November.
