Mark Taylor Design have been shortlisted for 1 category is the International Design and Architecture Awards 2022.

Name: Mark Taylor
Company: Mark Taylor Design
Position within company: Managing Director
Website: www.marktaylordesign.co.uk

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
My degree was in furniture production and management, but from the beginning of my career I was also a keen designer. I had completed an MBA and wanted to apply all these skills to build a business, doing something I loved.

How would you describe your personal design style?
I like to take a home or room that I’m designing a piece of furniture or some joinery for and then adapt my style to be sympathetic to the visual aesthetic and context of the space.  If left to design a piece, I would always prefer simple lines, bold shapes, textural interest, (I like to mix metal, wood, stone, where it’s appropriate.) If I was designing a bar, or a leisure space I might create something more extraordinary, it all depends on the vibe I’m designing for. When designing a kitchen or bathroom for somebody else, I will always concentrate on proportions and balance, but my job there is to design something that will suit them – both in the way it looks and in the way it works

Where does your design inspiration come from?
All kinds of places! From doorways in ancient European cities to catwalk trends in fashion houses. I look at how nature works and bring it into people’s homes. I study engineering innovations to ensure everything works effectively – and see where others have missed something and why. My entire team reads books, follows opinion formers and early adopters of trends. We are also very experimental with our use of material, shape, form, colour and texture.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Colour is back and there is an appetite for bright, retro colours emerging – aquamarine, lemon, tangerine… curves are coming back too.  It’s probably a reflection of the times – people craving surroundings that provide softness and positivity as an antidote to the current world situation.  It’s also different, and people crave difference after a few years of boxy shapes and structured design.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2022 and beyond.
There will continue to be energy around upcycling, especially as money is tighter for some people currently and we are conscious of not wasting or trashing furniture. The environmental concerns around man-made materials means we seek out recycled products – we offer recycled ocean plastic materials form work surfaces, bathroom walls, doors etc. On a similar theme, we are using safer materials in people’s homes as demand increases for a less toxic environment.  For instance, we use Graphenstone paints that are eco-friendly and are fume-free, great for children’s bedrooms. Though not environmentally friendly, we are seeing some demand for air conditioning, for cleaner air in urban environments such as Central London apartments, and to make bedrooms more comfortable as temperatures rise. The continued desire to bring nature into the home means more large picture windows, living walls in gardens, internal planting. Lighting is becoming more sophisticated and lighting schemes are part of almost every project we handle now.  People have recognised the power of lighting to transform a space and are giving it more attention and investment than ever

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
There is often a desire to be different and this can lead to over-filling a space or trying to combine too many opposing features.  My advice is always to have one central shape, colour, style, piece – and let everything else emanate from that. In this way people will walk into the room and look where they are intended to – at the heart of the space, and it should all feel consistent and natural

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
They recognise excellence within our industry and give opportunity to all types of businesses to demonstrate their skills to a wide audience.

What projects are you currently working on?
We are currently working on a large period property on the Thames, where we are designing the interior throughout – joinery, bathrooms, bedrooms and ultimately the kitchen.  We are going to design the lighting scheme too.  This will be a 3 year project and we really enjoy something like this where the design and implementation evolves to create a holistic beautiful home.  Our client is so involved and interested in design, and we work together on every aspect of the project. 

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
We worked on a famous TV star’s home, and it was absolutely fantastic to be able to work with almost no budget.  It meant being able to choose extraordinary items and have free rein on creating spaces that were truly breathtaking.  I equally enjoyed a project I worked on recently which must have been one of the smallest kitchens I have ever designed and fitted.  This brought extraordinary challenges on shape and size, but also tested the team on how to access the space effectively without it feeling cramped or difficult.  We did it and used lighting to grow the space and give it a sense of proportion

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
The smallest kitchen mentioned above: It must have been one of the smallest kitchens I have ever designed and fitted.  This brought extraordinary challenges on shape and size, but also tested the team on how to access the space effectively without it feeling cramped or difficult.  We did it and used lighting to grow the space and give it a sense of proportion

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
Lighting experts to work with, colour matched paints, really good fitters – they can make or break a piece of fitted furniture, kitchen or bathroom

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
We want to continue to win interesting and challenging projects.
We have never set ourselves ambitious growth goals or transformation aims.
We like being small, offering a personal service and aiming to enhance homes so that people really enjoy the space and feel truly comfortable living in them

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Your most treasured possession? My grandfather’s furniture making tools.  Many are very old and not useable, but they set me off on my life-long journey of working with wood
Your favourite holiday destination?  Ile De Re, an island off La Rochelle, which is so French and has the sea everywhere you look – it’s so uplifting
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? The Rosewood in London is a great hotel – beautifully designed, and I was lucky enough to be asked to provide some furniture for their tea room.  Otherwise, we have a restaurant near us in Bledlow Ridge called The Sir Charles Napier.  It’s probably my favourite place for Sunday lunch!
Your favourite book, film & song? Catch 22, Pulp Fiction, Brown Sugar
Your favourite food and drink? Any fish, any decent wine
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? Watching sport in the sunshine with my friends and family
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? A sportsman, probably. Maybe a tennis player