CM: As an Interior Designer, what would be your dream project?
PS: When clients say to me “do whatever you want”! (Laughs)
One project that the clients come to me and say “I want your
style, this is my house, just do what you think it will be right”.
CM: I must say that I was expecting you to answer that it is design
Keith Richards’ home.
PS:(Laughs) That would be nice! But there are a lot of people, you
know, people like Lenny Kravitz who has his own design compa-
ny, and the thing is to see that work as a compromise with the
client, in which you chop and change the things a little, because
the client allows that and you will try to direct for what you think
will work and if something doesn’t work, you will tell them. You
could be honest with them, but the dream is to have the budget
and someone says “do what would be your ideal house”.
CM: Still about your inspirations.
Do you have any favorite interior designers?
PS: Lenny Kravitz, because he crosses over music, rock and roll
and design. He has his own design company and his designs of
houses and flats are amazing, moreover, he also collaborates as a
furniture designer and with a lot of design projects.
Peter Marino, the architect is someone who lives his own, and
he really does: “this is who I am; you come to me for this all
package”. I really like Kelly Wearstler, I love the fact that she has
her own signature and all Californian vibes. Those few designers
have their own look and their own lifestyle. Like I’ve said there
are a lot of interior designers in London, for example, but I just
think that some of them are all the same.
You can put all their works in one apartment and, in the end,
you couldn’t tell the difference between them.
CM: What do you think are the major interior design trends for
this year?
PS: I think it’s the within design and the mixing of metals, golds,
and silvers. The goal is to provide spaces in which people can go
back in the seventies, eighties, it was all about gold, and then it
was all about silver, in fact, people used to think that everything
had to be gold or silver. So, if two handles are gold, everything
else has to be gold. And I think people realize now that they can
mix the metals and achieve a great finish and there are no restric-
tions, so you can constantly evolve over time.
So, if you are thinking about changing your home in the next
five or ten years, maybe you should consider to use mixed metal
furnishes, which will give you more flexibility and freedom and
that’s what I think is great. I think people are realizing that this
combination creates a very interesting space by giving it soul.
CM: And, to finish, tell us what you love about your work!
PS: I really love the fact that I have the opportunity to truly
transform the feeling, soul, and character of a space, in a positive
way, and it influences the way people live. What surrounds us
can hugely influence the way we feel and how we interact with
those around us, and I really want to create this perfect atmo-
sphere in which people feel comfortable and welcome.
Harbury CountryHouse by Peter Staunton