HOW TO TAKE INTERIOR INSPIRATION FROM THE NED HOTEL (PART 1)

With its sea of desirable, luxury hotels and stylish venues, London is a great place to draw interior inspiration from and often my first port of call when contemplating a new scheme.

In this post, I will be looking closely at the newest, freshest city hot-spot – The Ned. It’s cool. It’s corporate. It’s very city-slick. (If you prefer a soft, muted look and feel, my Palm Court at the Langham post may also be of interest).

The Ned, recently launched in The City, started life as a bank – The Midland Bank – awash with cashiers and tellers. A hive of financial activity. A grade 1 listed building, beautiful original features such as the glossy, green verdite marble pillars remain and are the foundation of The Ned’s classic look and feel. This is a space that does not appear ‘over styled’, over-engineered or ‘too new’; it breathes history and encapsulates timeless elegance. It respects tradition and it’s the perfect place to draw interior inspiration from.

I, of course, found some time for a spot of tea whilst taking in the beautiful architecture and sheer presence of the space

RICH IN INTERIOR INSPIRATION AND CHILLED TIPPLES: THE NICKEL BAR

The Nickel Bar was a great source of interior inspiration. Love the gentleman’s study bar-stools. More on studding in a previous post

The Nickel Bar is just one ‘zone’ within this largely open-plan space. It’s set to the back-left of the monochrome central walkway – or rather, runway, depending on the time of day and arrival of the beautiful people.

The standalone bar, clad in walnut wood with decorative panelling and flanked by dollar-green Corinthian-topped pillars, is reminiscent of Edwardian British elegance. In fact, the space gave me vivid recollections of Jane and Michael’s bank visits in Mary Poppins. (The original bank vaults-turned lounges, on the other hand, feel distinctly more Bond).

The exclusive, members-only bank vaults have a cool, Bond-villain vibe

The overall scheme combines monochrome with brass/gold tones, accented with emerald greens, ruby and russet red. It’s very 2017 considering it’s largely styled on century-old design. The monochrome tiles and parquet flooring particularly appeal to me, as they encapsulate what ‘timeless elegance’ really means. In fact, trusted black and white – the incredibly hardworking duo – will never tire or go out of style. The brass is absolutely contemporary; gold tones have had a total resurrection and appeal to a modern audience across fashion and interiors. The panelling also looks incredibly fresh and current, whilst maintaining a historic feel.

TRANSLATING THE NED STYLE FOR YOUR HOME

Although we may not all be blessed with sky-high vaulted ceilings, vast floor-plans or perfectly restored period features in our own homes, there are ways that this dramatic look can be incorporated into any space. Firstly, we must break down the key elements that contribute to the overall scheme and then we should consider how best to implement them into an alternative interior (your home). I always find that accessories or select pieces work a treat – a little ‘nod to Ned’ – but this is a look that you can fully invest in too.

MARBLE

Green marble columns are a huge source of interior inspiration and very 2017

Marble, be it white Carrara (off-white stone with grey veining) or the newly revived emerald or terracotta varieties, is at the very centre of The Ned’s design. And, whilst most of us may not have space for an enormous marble-slab home bar (jealous, much?!), this elegant natural stone is very accessible in different guises, at a number of price points. It can quickly inject a classic contemporary flavour into your scheme, whether you choose a statement side table or some accessory accent-pieces.

MARBLE: SHOP THE LOOK

Tom Dixon – Stone Pestle And Mortar

Sienna Rectangular Chip & Dip Marble Platter

Tom Dixon – Stone Serving Board

HAY – Lens Storage Box in Green

Bloomingville – Marble Bathroom Collection

Vera Wang for Wedgwood – Vera Venato Marble Effect Teacup

Wrong London – Marble Pendant Light

AYTM – Stilla Marble Clock in Green

Black Globe with Marble Base

Tom Dixon – Stone Pillar Scented Candle Gift Set

Marble & Mango Wood Cheeseboard

Native Union – Marble iPhone Dock

HERS Marble Coaster

HIS Marble Coaster

Agra Round Marble Coffee Table

Just Slate – Marble Cheese Board And Knife Set

MONOCHROME

The stone floor is totally entrancing and beautiful

Monochrome anything always enthuses me – there is just something so appealing about the dynamic interplay of these stark opposites.

A slice of black and white can work its way into most schemes with somewhat ease. Or, just using black alone is a great way to ground your design. Choose black-framed artwork to contrast with a lighter wall colour and reference elsewhere with punchy, accent pieces. A black and white chevron rug or patterned floor tile is always a great way of injecting some cool and is ever-stylish. Whimsical illustrative pieces in black on white are having a moment too – think original Alice in Wonderland inspired illustrations by Sir John Tenniel.  Have some fun with accessories and lighting too. Throw some gold in to give your scheme an edge – it works beautifully with both black and white (more of this in the next post).

MONOCHROME: SHOP THE LOOK

MENU – Marble Wall Clock in Black

French Connection – Large Framed Eclipse Print

Eichholtz – Abstract Chevron Cushions Set Of 2

Aphrodite Vase – Black & White

The Academy – Audrey Hepburn Framed Print

Kate Spade – Raise a Glass Tidbit Plate Set

Kartell – Masters Chair in Black

Eichholtz – Carpet Thistle Black

Diptyque – Baies Scented Mini Candle

Eichholtz – EC226 Prints Black & White Collection Set Of 4

Tom Ford Coffee Table Book

Rnd Time – Wall Clock in Black

Eichholtz – Bittersweets Set Of 3 Trunks

Nauria Terracotta Vase

Ralph Lauren – Spalding Stripe Wallpaper in Black & White

Eichholtz – Elson Chair

Kate Spade – All in Good Taste His and Hers 2 Piece Set

The Academy – Carey Grant Framed Print

Cole & Son – Nuvolette Wallpaper Set in Black & White

Robert Welch – Signature Black Knife Block

The Little Book of Chanel

Fornasetti – Architettura Scented Candle

‘Check please’

THE NEXT INSTALLMENT: INTERIOR INSPIRATION FROM THE NED

In this post, I have covered two key areas of inspiration from The Ned – marble and monochrome detailing – with more to follow in Part 2. Keep your finger on the pulse by subscribing to the GIRL ABOUT HOUSE mailing list (at the bottom of all posts) and never miss an update.

Despite The Ned’s traditional feel and historic references, the design promotes active trends and feels surprisingly fresh. It is both reflective on the past and engaged with modernity. With that in mind, I will leave you with a peek at The Ned’s express nail bar, Cheeky Nails, and it’s quirky neon pop!

If you ever want to add some ‘crazy’, throw in a neon sign

What’s your interior inspiration? A swanky hotel, industrial restaurant, luxury spa – or perhaps something else entirely?

Girl signing off,

Sarah x

https://www.thened.com/