Let’s take a rewind and look back at one of my favourite designers home and his influences on the world of fashion and now interior design…
Award-winning fashion and home decor designer Matthew Williamson allowed the spotlight into his mid 1800’s London apartment and it lived up to every bit of his flamboyant design style. He refers to his interior style as “organised bohemia”, where you have an eclectic mix of bright and bold colours, decorative wallpapers, collections of old and new alongside and very global and biophilic influences. “My background was from making ends meet” Williamson says, so there is no surprise that he loves a good antique bargain and his home has some of his own handicraft using his fabrics to enhance the space… butterflies, birds of paradise and palm fronds aplenty. All of the elements around the home have it’s place and story!
Matthew Williamson is an award-winning British designer renowned for his use of kaleidoscopic colour, intricate patterns and designs inspired by nature and travel. In recent years, Matthew’s design DNA has translated seamlessly into interiors. Around 2013 he took the decision to re-focus on lifestyle product and interiors, ending his 20 year fashion focus and his retail stores moving to a more online interiors business and collaboration model. “Stopping fashion and moving into interiors felt like a genuine progression,” he said. “I’m simply continuing what I’ve established as a fashion designer and expressing it in a new form.” The Matthew Williamson brand, he told British Vogue, is now solely focused on creating more of a personalised service, through private appointments and lavishly decorating and creating intimate spaces for venues, frequent customer and press events.
The Matthew Williamson brand along with its flagship interior design service, now has a number of licenses in house. Back in 2015 he claimed his changing business model was working… “The jigsaw pieces are finally coming together because I believe the woman that wants that dress also wants a velvet marbled butterfly armchair”. Some of those collaborations include:
- wallpapers and fabrics with Osborne & Little
- sunglasses with Linda Farrow
- rugs with the Rug Company
- candles with Fragrance Group London
- tableware with Les-ottomans
- furniture with Duresta
- stationery and gift cards with Papier.
In the past he has also collaborated with luxury brand Smythson in 2007 creating a bespoke Matthew Williamson stationery collection and created a sportswear collection with USA Pro using Williamson’s signature butterfly pattern.
NZ retailers Allium Interiors and Seneca are stocking Matthew Williamson wallpapers and fabrics including the signature Matthew Williamson Wallpaper Arini as seen on his living room feature wall.
The world of interiors…
The Matthew Williamson brand has recently collaborated with vintage and antique website Vinteriors curating a monthly favourites from their online market place. His interior design commissions span the globe to include locations such as the courtyard garden at Blakes Hotel in London, the bridal suite at Aynhoe Park- Oxfordshire and Suite 67 at Belmond La Residencia in Mallorca.
Lets take a closer look at his interiors work at Belmond La Residencia… From his move to Deià, Mallorca about 4 years ago and renovation of his new home just outside the village, he helped interior design Nama a local vegan restaurant. From there his local interior design collaborations moved on to help decorate and restyle interiors of suite 67 at the luxury Belmond La Residencia, one of his favourite hotels, with the “view to develop the concept of a luxury, designer home-from-home within the hotel” -says Williamson. The one-bed suite features a private outdoor area, pool and garden, luxury living space, bedroom and bathroom and his signature bold bohemian interior style throughout.
His personal life and love of his new home in Mallorca…
In 2016 Matthew Williamson quietly transitioned his personal life to Deià, a picturesque village on the western flank of Mallorca whilst also keeping his London apartment and design operations. I discovered Deià by chance, ‘I’d travelled far and wide but I’d never even been to Mallorca. A friend of mine invited me to stay in her house near Palma. One day I took a taxi up to Deià and fell in love with the area straight away. The scenery struck me immediately – the picture postcard views of Valdemossa followed by the rugged coastline as you head towards Deià.’ – says Williamson. He continues to live just outside the village, in what he describes as ‘a lovely five-bedroom house with a gorgeous garden.
Sources: www.matthewwilliamson.com, Living etc interview, Elle Decoration interview . Images Copyright to Photographers Simon Upton, Damien Russel and Paul Raeside.