This week Phillips auction house in London will host a special exhibition marking 30 years of the David Collins Studio. Curated by Nick Vinson of Wallpaper * magazine, the show will take a generous sweep across the drawing boards of the legendary London decorator, the man behind some of the city’s most iconic luxury establishments, including the Wolseley, Claridge’s Bar, and J. Sheekey. Every interior masterminded by the Irishman was known for a clever and often brilliant use of color (the baby-pink accents at London restaurant Bob Bob Ricard is the perfect example), glamorous materials, flattering lighting, and usually more than a few surprises. As the title suggests, “Past Present Future” will also look at the works completed by the studio since its founder’s death in 2013. Here are some highlights from the last three decades.
“David Collins Studio: Past Present Future,” October 22–23, Phillips, 30 Berkeley Square, London
Claridge’s Bar, Claridge’s Hotel, London, 1998
A relatively early project in the studio’s portfolio, but the Collins DNA is there in the flashes of Art Deco, symmetry, and inconspicuous light fixtures.
The Blue Bar, the Berkeley Hotel, London, 2000
Blue by name, not at all blue by nature. In the hands of Collins, this wall-to-wall dusky cornflower makes the room sing and shows that more is not necessarily less. Legend has it, Madonna loved it so much, she asked for something similar in one of her homes.
The London NYC, New York, 2007
One of many U.S. commissions, the 561-suite London hotel in midtown—and particularly its travertine lobby—shows how adept the studio has always been at designing instant icons.
Bob Bob Ricard, London, 2008
Who else would you hire to design a ritzy Russian-themed restaurant but David Collins Studio? The result is appropriately swanky and gave the world what must be one of Instagram’s most popular uploads: that iconic “Press for Champagne” button next to every table. Collins was known for his sense of humor, too.
The Apartment at the Connaught, London, 2009
A pitched-roof, sumptuous 3,000-square-foot masterpiece at the Mayfair hotel features a private balcony, a dining room, and two bedrooms. The design is stunning yet simultaneously cozy.
Alexander McQueen, Madison Avenue, New York, 2013
David Collins Studio’s work for McQueen (flagships in Tokyo, New York, and Paris) showed that it can do (relatively) pared-back luxury, too: monochrome, gothic pared-back luxury, that is.
Vogue Lounge, Bangkok, 2014
Part of the new MahaNakhon development in the Thai capital, the Vogue Lounge restaurant and bar was created in collaboration with Condé Nast. Timeless black-and-white glamour, inspired by the Vogue photography archive, makes this the perfect place to strike a pose.
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