In Bloom
Photography by Tony Potter
Styling by Greg Sukendro
Looking for an alternative to unimaginative interiors and neutral colour schemes? Then take a leaf out of Fiona Lyda’s book – and go with what makes you feel good. After a long and successful career importing designer products with her firm, Spence & Lyda, Fiona’s aim was to create a space for a young cinematographer.
One strategy Fiona employs is to look to the decorative pieces for cues. “If you have a piece of art that you just love, pulling colours out and applying them in the room can be very easy and effective,” she explains. In this case the starting point was the Missoni Maracaibo rug, and the job was made even easier by the many fabrics in the same colourway in the Missoni range.
The variety and richness of the fabrics also help soften the space. A self-confessed ‘textile head’, Fiona relates how she paid her way through university by dyeing lengths of silk and selling them. And she speaks with obvious love about things like the Japanese obi hanging next to the kitchen. “They’re just the most extraordinary pieces of art,” she says. “They’re so exquisite in their pattern and colour choices and the quality of the embroidery is wonderful.”
One challenge in this apartment was the lack of space to work with, but clever furniture choices ensured it doesn’t look cramped. The wall-hung storage units in the living area make a lovely linear statement without taking up too much room and Fiona believes the sofa makes a difference too.
The clever floor plan also helped, and the versatile loggia – the indoor deck – was employed to bring the outside in. The two-storey void allowed her to think big, and green too, and include something few apartments would – a tree. Overall, it’s a space obviously created with love and designed to provide pleasure. “I think an interior can do that – it can make you feel good and set you up for the day positively. Pleasure is a very important element in life.”
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