Interiors Little Black Book: Seb Bishop
ROSE UNIACKE
If I could only buy homeware from one place, it would be… Rose Uniacke or Hermés. Both brands are utterly timeless, and their pieces feel like a little bit of design history – heirlooms which you could easily pass down to your children. It’s an ethos that very much mirrors my own. I believe everything we own, we’re only looking after, until it’s time to pass them on.
The most interesting interiors shop is… actually a brocante in Cogolin, near St Tropez called Le Jas de Robert. I’ve visited every summer since I was child; back then I would watch my mother scour every stall for the most interesting, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture and homewares, from vintage lace linens to ceramics and French cookware. Everything is completely unique, and I always walk away with something.
The coolest independent interiors brands is… Summerill & Bishop, of course. Our mission is very much about bringing family and friends around the table to foster connections. That’s why everything we design starts with a place, a memory, a friendship, or a reference from the natural world.
The best destination for independent designers and makers is… The Beach Boutique at Club 55. Sitting on Pampelonne Beach, the shop has an eclectic, bazaar-like feel and exudes everything the pretty peninsula has come to represent – beauty, light, a sense of fun and hedonism, paradise. I always find new brands there without fail.
The coolest interiors shop I’ve found on my travels… was nestled at the very top of the hill in the village of Ramatuelle. Alm was originally spread across three separate spaces, each one wonderfully curated by Marjolaine Leray, who would spend months every year travelling the world and finding the most unusual art and design pieces. Nothing ever felt contrived. The space in Ramatuelle is now closed, however Marjolaine has since opened a studio in Australia, near Sydney.
The coolest under-the-radar brand is… Heidi Bishop Ceramics. My wife is an incredible ceramicist, her pieces are delicate, functional and fluid. The ceramics are beautiful, heirloom pieces that are practical and robust, too. You can use them as decorative objects or you can eat off some of the larger pieces. Everything she creates draws inspiration from nature – flowers, petals, botanicals, and the natural intricacies of each influence much of her work. Often, our family meals are enjoyed using plates, bowls and serveware that she’s made, so our table always feels like a reflection of our family.
My perfect shopping day would include… going with my children. It’s always interesting to see the brands they gravitate towards – I’ve discovered so many emerging designers and brands that I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for them.
The best vintage stores in the world are… Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris, which I believe is the largest antiques and second-hand market in the world, so make sure you set enough time aside to browse properly.
LE JAS DE ROBERT BROCANTE
HEIDI BISHOP CERAMICS
My favourite vintage piece is… my grandmother’s antique gold mirror, which hangs in our dining room at home.
For something really special I go to… Studio Arricale. It creates bespoke designs that are so imaginative in their use of scale and volume. Much of its work draws inspiration from Japanese traditional joinery methods.
The best interiors gift I’ve ever received is… a treasured collection of vintage sugar pourers (saupoudreuse) – the first of which was a birthday gift from my mother and probably my favourite gift ever. The pourers were crafted at the turn of the century and are made of crystal, with intricately etched silver covers which create a cascade of sugar.
SUMMERILL & BISHOP X CLARIDGE'S
The most recent item I bought for my home is… a new dining table from an independent store called TallBoy Interiors by Matt Dixon, based in Yorkshire. I found it on Instagram.
The most expensive investment I have made in my home is… a marble checkerboard floor in the entrance hall. But it was so worthwhile – it instantly commands attention and always makes me think of our Summerill & Bishop x Claridge’s collaboration.
For tableware, I buy… from one of my favourite brands – Astier de Villatte. Everything we stock at S&B is chosen with a specific question in mind: will it keep us at the table for longer? Is it a conversation piece? Astier de Villatte certainly ticks both of these boxes.
For bedlinen… I sleep in the same linen our S&B tablecloths are made from, which we have since had made into a proper bedlinen range. I used to be obsessed with thread count, but now I find that nothing is quite as soft or versatile as our own, and it’s perfect for both winter and summer.
For glassware… I love the magnificence of Astier de Villatte’s wine glasses mixed with S&B’s handblown artisanal, colourful tumblers. Ultimately, good design is all about connection and authenticity, and so everything in my house has meaning and evokes a memory.
For art I always look at... Andipa Gallery. You can usually count on it for those once-in-a-lifetime, pinch-me moments.
The newest furniture I have is… some dining chairs from Soho Home. There’s also a shop in Clarendon Cross that sells beautiful, one-off pieces called Hone. I very recently bought a beautiful 1950s Carl Malmsten ‘Samsas’ sofa upholstered in a soft, white bouclé.
The item I regret not buying is… ‘Nude with Blue Hair’ by Roy Lichtenstein. The one that got away!
If my house was burning down, I’d save… all my family photographs. Priceless and irreplaceable.
Next on my shopping list is… some new outdoor furniture.
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SUMMERILL & BISHOP
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