Thinking Green for an Urban Retreat
Holly Gannon is Design Manager at Milc Interiors. In this article, she talks about the wellness-focused property called "The Makers," which Milc developed with McQueens Flowers.
In collaboration with London-based McQueens Flowers, Milc created the perfect urban retreat with wellness at its core within Shoreditch-based development The Makers.
The large-scale development has a striking silhouette with an interconnected podium and tower, reaching 28 storeys. A generous provision of private communal facilities includes a screening room, two landscaped garden terraces, a gym, a treatment room and three lounges, perfect for ad-hoc meetings.
The sensitive, modern design conceived by Avanti Architects ensures the building responds to its environment by referencing the surrounding warehouse typology, but reinventing it for contemporary residents.
The brief from the client was to create a design that maximised the natural light, yet reflected the roots of the building and local area. Initial inspiration for the design led Milc to look at the iconic skyline from the apartment with the contrast of brutalist architecture around Barbican through to the glass facade city.
The view from the 12th floor created a sense of escapism and the chance to admire the city, and so the idea behind the name for the Urban Retreat was developed. The scheme evokes the feeling of calm and luxury; stylish finishes reflect the artisan nature of the surrounding Shoreditch area while transporting you to a place that feels removed from any stress of city living.
The design itself uses colours found across the natural landscape paired with industrial influences to bring a variety of textures to the design. Almost all areas of the space reflect natural elements and draw back to organic silhouettes and materials, whether it be the marble dining table or the light wood panelling found in the guest bedroom.
Mental health and individual wellness are watchwords within all areas of life and interior design. In this design Milc were able to create the kind of space to promote wellness. Considering such aspects allowed a touch of life, enabling users to fully rest and recharge. The winter garden features a hanging chair surrounded by greenery for the ultimate place to enjoy the view and unwind.
The design leads you from the hallway through to an open plan reception space with a mix of green and blue colour tones. The bespoke upholstered ottoman coffee table is a design favourite; it allows for flexibility but also softness within the design. The use of a subtle green wallpaper in the dining area accentuates the openness, but also provides an elegant and fun styling story, inspired by the creativity that can be found in the Shoreditch neighbourhood and designed with entertaining in mind.
The inspiration behind the design for the bedrooms was to create a warm and cool-toned space to reflect a variety of natural elements and areas that different personalities could resonate with. The idea of different climates fuelled the retreat aspect of the design as people each have their own way of interpreting wellness.
The joyful principal bedroom with terracotta chalk wash ceiling and feature paint mimics warmer, dry Mediterranean interiors, whilst the cooler-toned guest space mimics more tropical environments with a deep jade-coloured headboard contrasted with light oak panelling.
In pairing natural elements with an earthy, rich colour palette, the design has a natural ebb and flow, showcasing the very best of contemporary, handcrafted design. Personal objets are filled within the design to give a sense of uniqueness and individuality, from the gallery wall in the entrance area through to the workspace in the winter garden.
Milc work with clients to develop designs that exceed their expectations and deliver a seamless service. If you have an upcoming project that you are seeking design advice for, please visit info@milcstyle.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 20 7700 1523.