Tag: fiona stone

In September, two of our KLD designers, Amira Al Shater and Fiona Stone jetted off to Paris for Paris Design Week.  What better city could they have possibly visited for fashion, art, design and food? Here is a little insight into their 48 hours in Paris.

With less than 48 hours to spend in Paris, we had to be vigilant with our time, squeezing in as much as possible while getting a respectable amount of sleep. We were so organised that while on the flight, we were setting out a pins on the map to ensure nothing was missed on our adventure through the streets of Paris.

After settling into our boutique hotel in the heart of the design district we struck out and began exploring,  wandering through the streets of Paris in search of inspiration, which came in the form of  beautifully designed interiors, architecture, chic cafés, independent furniture shops and bookshops. Of course we also did some shopping and foraging through many of Paris’s fabulous vintage stores.

We were also lucky to talk our way into the sold-out Klimt exhibition-Atelier des Lumieres; a visual representation of his artwork. Truly mesmerizing with projected images running across the floors, walls and ceilings with mystical harmonious sounds evoking a feeling of dreaminess.

The evening was spent dining in an exquisitely designed restaurant DaRoco with industrial exposed brick, steel wall panels and mirrored ceilings contrasting against the delicate richly toned blue banquette seating and soft rattan chairs; a great design with great pizza too! We then hit some bars, chosen carefully for their design promise and cocktail menu. It was a lovely end to a busy Parisian day.

With such a brief time in Paris, we weren’t letting  sleep keep us from experiencing as many of the delights of Paris we could. Fuelled by coffee and cake from the Hoxton hotel’s garden terrace, we set off for day two of our Parisian adventure.

As it was Amira’s first time in Paris, we had to squeeze in the essential touristy sights such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. One couldn’t see Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower in all its glory.  We’re not ashamed to say we were squealing with excitement at the sight of the stunning landmark and iconic representation of Paris. It was thrilling to be at the Eiffel Tower in the city of lights, the city of love dreaming up our own Utopian landscapes. Paris really does cast a spell.

Maison et Objet

We then set out at the Maison et Objet. Maison et Objet is a major French trade fair for interior design. Held twice a year, it is one of the most important European events for interior design.

As we entered we were met with a panoply of design, interiors, furniture and lighting stands.  Asian product designers caught our eyes with unusual quirky product designs, while French jewellery designers stole our hearts with their beautiful hand made pieces.

In Maison, the Future exhibition combined new and conceptual materials in the forms of concrete panels, cladding, tiles, and fabrics to inspire us.

One of the highlights of our visit to Maison et Objet was experiencing some of our favourite designer pieces in an amazing setup such as Imperfetto Lab & Dooq.

It was great too to see Irish companies such as Mullan lighting representing at Objet. We always feel a sense of pride when Irish artistry and craftsmanship are represented on the world stage along with the best of the best from other countries as well

Furniture Design

Often, working locally, we spec pieces but don’t get to see them in real life, so it was a real treat to see and touch all the beautiful pieces that were on display. We had a great time meeting and interacting with furniture suppliers, new and old and really experiencing their wares up close. In particular Munna Design, the furniture design brand renowned for creating handmade upholstery with unmatched craftsmanship.

Fun elements brought us to this furniture designer with dreamy velvet fabrics in a muted pastels tones accompanied with brass/ timber elegant legs and finishes. Neon lighting signs created a beautiful subdued atmosphere against the rough plastered walls with an abundance of delicate greenery to enrich the stunning exhibition space, creating the impression one was in a fantasy home. An oversize fringe chair made quite the dramatic feature, inviting people to perch themselves and curl up. Supplying us with prosecco filled ice pops it was no wonder we did not want to leave this space!

Our time in Paris flew and we doubt we could have squeezed more in. 48 hours was just the right amount of time for a short, snappy, busy visit to one of the global centres of fashion and art. Design is all around us, but when in a city like Paris, you really do feel a little closer and connected to the magic. Thank you KLD for a wonderful trip!

Today is the day we ‘hand back the keys’ so to speak on one of our most special projects of 2018. A beautiful renovation on a charming house in Dublin 4. This has been a huge project which started on site in April this year after months of planning and designing.

This is my first complete project since joining KLD last November, and what a journey and joy it has been to help oversee the renovation and rejuvenation of this stunning three-storey house.

At KLD we like to create something totally unique and personal for our clients. We collaborate with all our clients throughout the design process, particularly on residential, to create that extra personal touch.

Our client for this project is well travelled and carried a passion for bold colours and prints inspired by the vast amount of countries visited. This is reflected throughout the house. It is always exciting to work with such a spirited client who trusts us to push boundaries and create something beautifully unique, which is what I believe design to be all about.

The design is exquisitely curated with many customised pieces including carefully designed joinery, floors, furniture and a richly toned colour palette. My favourite must be the dreamy, luxurious master ensuite with pigmented plaster walls accompanied by a customised concrete vanity, hand painted tiles and of course a giant chandelier floating above the free-standing bath, encapsulating the beauty of a Moroccan haven. The attention to detail is second to none. Nothing is as exciting as seeing the entire project coming together especially when different pieces of carefully sourced furniture arrive or a custom marble floor is pieced together.

Bathroom of Dreams

This particular afternoon it was all hands-on deck for final styling, hanging, sweeping, mopping, and polishing, preparing the house for the owner to move in. We all chip in on the glamourous and not so glamorous jobs. One of the last things we do as designers on a project is walk around the space, pen and paper in hand, and look at everything with the most critical eye. This is one of the most important aspects of the job. The dreaded (for some) but essential snag list.

It is a hallmark of KLD that when we hand over any project to the client it has been through the most stringent quality control. Sometimes this can be a painful process, but it is vitally important that the product is delivered as promised and at KLD we do not compromise on anything.

With just 24 hours to go this hyperlapse video gives you an idea of what was going on in the last push to get everything ready.

Like many jobs a great deal of design and subsequent project management is problem solving. There will always be issues, and it is about how to deal with them, how to solve them and how to keep something moving forward. If something can go wrong, it usually will. Also, things you never thought about will crop up. It is so important to deal with problems quickly and effectively. It’s important to not let stress ever get in the way. Most problems can be solved with a bit of thought, ingenuity, creativity and imagination. So today is particularly sweet considering the amount of time,  effort, hours and creative thinking that have gone into the project.

Having just completed the interior we are now creating an exterior on par with the interior. Full of character it will be an extension of the interior. A secret, wild garden with as many surprising, hidden gems in each corner as one will find in the interior.

What is most important is for the client to have trust in the designer. Sometimes we as designers can see the visual, but it may be hard for a client to visualise. Luckily, with this project we had the privilege of working with a client who is as bold and open minded as we are at KLD. There is nothing more satisfying than the client loving the project as much as you do. It is incredibly rewarding helping people to create their dream home! Your home is the most important place in the world.

Fiona Stone joined KLD last November having spent the last 7 years on the road with Lord of the Dance. Bursting with creativity and energy, we are so delighted Fiona has decided to return to design with us as at KLD. And we are also delighted Fiona still dances from time to time.