Interiors Little Black Book: Pandora Taylor
Antiques
Antiques form a large part of my interior designs, so I spend a lot of time trawling for good pieces. Each era brings with it its own quirks and details, and once combined with more contemporary pieces, antiques prevent a room from falling flat. For dramatic, detailed pieces, I love Rag & Bone in Bristol. For more sophisticated clean lines, head to 17-21 who always have something unique. Brownrigg are another favourite for good quality furniture pieces and, of course, who doesn’t love a morning spent devouring what’s on offer at Sunbury Antiques Market?
Glassware
There’s something so enjoyable about drinking out of coloured glasses and seeing a table awash with different tones and shades never fails to make me smile. Vintage glassware is ideal for this, but for more contemporary pieces, head to Cutter Brooks and Milagros for everyday use. For something really special, it has to be Campbell Rey's Murano glass – it’s almost too beautiful to use.
Ceramics
For everyday ceramics I love the simplicity of Feldspar Studio; they go with absolutely everything and have that subtle, handmade feel. Maud & Mabel was one of my favourite accidental discoveries – I was actually looking for Molly & Maud’s Antiques at the time. They have a wonderful collection of artists creating one-off pieces which are perfect for adding elegance to any home – look out for the round teapots by Yoko Ozawa. For something altogether more contemporary, I love the work of Ariane Prin – she’s a French artist who works with metal particles originating from key cutting and other metalworking workshops across London. It’s great to see craftspeople re-using leftover materials.
Craft
Supporting different kinds of craftspeople is such an important part of our work as designers, and I love seeing both old and new techniques used in innovative ways. Muto London have long been a favourite for their adzed timber – I once used it on a reception desk to add interest to an otherwise functional piece, but I’ve also seen it used in a kitchen to great effect. For all things wicker, Atelier Vime offer really elegant designs – I love their Medici Pedastal and Vase. Lora Avedian is a great account to follow on Instagram – her embroidery work is so original, I’m always looking for an excuse to use it.
Decorative
JamJarEdit is a wonderful florist to have on your radar, but they also produce beautiful pressed flowers, which are great for gifts. They actually inspired me to start pressing my own, although I’m discovering there is a real skill to it… Tat London has such wonderful decorative pieces, too, but you have to move quickly as they get snapped up. The Attic London has lots of fun vintage tableware and for colourful pieces I go to Pentreath & Hall. For all things stationary related, it has to be Choosing Keeping – it’s essential for any at-home office.
Furniture
Because there’s so much available to us these days, I always try and look for something that’s a little bit different. Robin Myerscough makes beautifully hand-crafted pieces and his new collaboration with Lascombe Hill is everything I love: specifically, bobbin and colour. Knowles & Christou sell wonderful chests of drawers in fresh white gesso, which they imprint with their fabric designs. Stride & Co is a new favourite; I love seeing the collection grow, and each piece is as elegant as the last. The Recherche Occasional Bench is top of my list right now. Finally, Giovanna Ticciati – who I found on my first visit to Petworth (a small town in West Sussex full of antique dealers) – does the most elegant sofas. You can see Ticciati’s Italian roots in every detail, and her Bronze Cocktail Table has to be the standout.
Shops Abroad
There is nothing more exciting than shopping while travelling – especially if you’ve previously discovered them online and now have the chance to visit in person. Studio Oliver Gustav in Copenhagen is a must see. More a gallery than a shop, it’s actually housed in an old museum building and is a riot of colour and texture. I’ve also just discovered Worn Store who sell striking furniture pieces, as well as sustainable fashion – I might have to go to Australia just to visit them. Fair-Design in New York showcases the very best in US contemporary design – there’s so much talent across the pond right now. But as long as travelling isn’t really on the cards, I’ll rely on Selency to connect me with antiques dealers across France.
Mirrors
Tom Faulkner is one of my favourite contemporary furniture designers; I’ve used his Lily cocktail table in numerous projects now – it’s just the perfect addition to any room. He also makes stunning mirrors with very simple metal frames, but in unexpected shapes. For something fun, Bethan Grey’s leather-wrapped mirrors have real wow factor, as does the Peggy Mirror by Knowles & Christou.
Textiles
To add a bit of oomph to your outdoor dining this summer Lisa Corti's tablecloths are the way to go. For cushions, Kirsten Hecktermann does wonderful velvet pieces, which look great stacked with other patterns. The way the velvet is hand-dyed means it has an almost antique look, and I love anything that looks like it hasn’t just been unwrapped. For that same antique vibe, Zardi & Zardi specialises in tapestry-style fabrics and wallpapers. I have some of their tapestry wallpaper in my house and people always want to touch it. For something really different, Nest Design do the most amazing textiles – they’re pieces of art. I’ve just ordered some curtains for a new warehouse apartment project with Crittall windows.
Lighting
I love using Instagram to find new suppliers and makers, and one of my favourite recent discoveries is Alice Palmer & Co. Their lampshades are so traditional – just looking at them makes me want to move to the country and take up gardening! Viola Lanari was also someone I found on Instagram; I’ve since used her petal wall lights in three of my projects as they give off the most fantastic glow. For antique lights, you can always find something at LCT Antiques and I often return to Wo + We for classic, industrial pieces.
Art
An old colleague introduced me to Ocki at Blue Shop Cottage. She has such a great eye for emerging talent and the gallery is so worth a visit if you are anywhere near south London. Recently, I’ve purchased two of Venetia Syms’ works for different clients. She paints vases of flowers on top of patterned backgrounds, most recently taking inspiration from a Rapture & Wright fabric – very cool! Birdie Fortescue is another great source for smaller artworks, but when I want something big and bold I go to JGM Gallery to check out their wonderful stock of Aboriginal art.
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