As we approach the coronation of Their Majesties, King Charles, and Queen Camilla, there is no better time to celebrate the enduring elegance of British design and how The King has been a passionate advocate for many years.
At Oliver Burns Studio, we believe interiors should go beyond beauty and aesthetics to reflect deeper meaning and values. We take inspiration for our work from many sources and have enjoyed looking back at The King’s love of interiors and architecture and the impact he has had on building a more sustainable future.
You only need to look at the work he has conducted at Highgrove, his personal residence in Gloucestershire, to see that actions speak louder than words. A home that The King has owned since the early 80’s, where his work consistently combines his dedication to protecting the natural world with a love of design and detail. The introduction of solar panels in the 80’s, organic farming in the early 90’s and an interior re-design in the 00’s all demonstrates this passion and show how ahead of the curve he has been for so many years.
His private residences boast interiors, richly layered with pieces from different eras and cultures that create spaces with integrity and longevity. The King clearly looks to his team to create interiors that make it “hard to drag yourself away.” In doing so, he has surrounded himself with those he trusts to work with the collections he has, changing colour schemes maybe but re-grouping furniture, re-hanging paintings to breathe new life into his homes.
The King’s impact on architecture has been somewhat more polarising and while he has always denied being the catalyst to the classic v’s modern style war, he is clearly enthusiastic about traditional approaches to architecture and urbanism. That said, The King has always argued for visual beauty and the rehabilitation of existing buildings, two themes which are close to our hearts!
The restoration of Dumfries house in Scotland is yet another example of The King’s passion for British Architecture and Design. Having stepped in at the last minute to save the house and its remarkable collection of furniture from the auctioneer’s hammer, it is well known that he took great interest in the restoration of the interiors. Looking at every detail, as every good client should! In this case, his express wish was to restore the house, so it felt like a family home and the visitors felt like guests. No hint of museum chic here!
As The King embarks on his reign, we watch with interest to see what changes he makes to the royal palaces he now call’s home. No doubt he will continue to champion British architecture and design for many more years to come.
We are often asked as a design studio, where do we source our creative inspiration from. The answer is not a short one! We like to live by the philosophy that design is everywhere around you, you just have to know where to look. From the buildings that tower above you to the organic shapes in nature, we look far and wide for the influences that shape our luxury homes. Below we share just some of the many places we source inspiration.
We are often asked as a design studio, where do we source our creative inspiration from. The answer is not a short one! We like to live by the philosophy that design is everywhere around you, you just have to know where to look. From the buildings that tower above you to the organic shapes in nature, we look far and wide for the influences that shape our luxury homes. Below we share just some of the many places we source inspiration.
We worked with a number of British Designers on bespoke pieces for the House of Walpole project, a collaboration between ourselves, Northacre and Walpole. All designers worked within the brief of ‘a love letter to the Palace Gardens’, their work takes inspiration from nature which is woven throughout the apartment. Read our article below where we talk in more detail about these key pieces and how we worked with the iconic designers behind them.
We worked with a number of British Designers on bespoke pieces for the House of Walpole project, a collaboration between ourselves, Northacre and Walpole. All designers worked within the brief of ‘a love letter to the Palace Gardens’, their work takes inspiration from nature which is woven throughout the apartment. Read our article below where we talk in more detail about these key pieces and how we worked with the iconic designers behind them.
Craftsmanship in design has a rich and long legacy, which has seen time-honoured skills and expertise passed down from generation to generation, but adapted to meet modern tastes and requirements.
Craftsmanship in design has a rich and long legacy, which has seen time-honoured skills and expertise passed down from generation to generation, but adapted to meet modern tastes and requirements.