Style File: Nicky Haslam
Nicky Haslam does not need much introduction. Even those who operate beyond the sphere of interiors are likely to know his name. Since 1972, he has been creating sophisticated rooms with an innate sense of drama, scale and, of course, a dash of wit. His theatrical, opulent style is rooted in traditional English decorating, and he has inspired numerous designers who have worked under him to launch inventive careers of their own, including Beata Heuman and Henry Prideaux. Nicky now runs his projects through Studio QD, set up in 2015 by acolytes Jena Quinn and Lucy Derbyshire. Many of his projects have featured in House & Garden over the years, from his own former country house, the Hunting Lodge in Hampshire, to a sumptuously decorated New Orleans house we featured in 2000.
MAY WE SUGGEST: Nicky Haslam's London flat and his signature mix of the fake and the fabulous
Simon Upton1/14Nicky Haslam stands in his new country house in the Cotswolds, where he moved from his famous Hunting Lodge in Hampshire (see below). The blinds are in ‘Shutter Stripe’ linen/cotton in pomegranate red, from his Random Harvest collection for Turnell & Gigon, with fringing by Smith & Brighty. Scraps of French floral linen were used for the cushions on the sofa and William IV chair.
Simon Upton2/14Watercolours by Nicky of previous decorating schemes and a small painting by David Dawson, are set off by a wallcovering inspired by a piece of tissue paper, which Nicky had copied by Better Wallpaper. The ceiling picks up on the rich conker colour to atmospheric effect, created – as is the centre light – by Oleksandr Panchuk. Curtains of mauve linen hang in front of crimson wool festoon blinds made by L&M Upholstery. The sofa is covered in various offcuts Nicky had lying about, with glazed chintz cushions in ‘Contessa’ by Jab Anstoetz and velvet bolsters in ‘Grotto’ from Nicky’s Random Harvest collection for Turnell & Gigon. The shag-rug-covered bench can be pushed up against it to make a bed. A chair in a Colefax and Fowler print stands on the circular carpet from Silk Avenue.
Simon Upton3/14Lilac ribbons unfurl down the walls from faux curtain poles, painted by Lizzi Porter against a background of Sanderson’s ‘Winter White’. Antique cut-metal candle sconces hang on either side of a watercolour of a tulip petal by Rory McEwen, above a green rococo-style lamp bought in the Highlands. Simple country chairs flank a chest of drawers from Ikea; Lizzi painted its front with a faux agate effect in colours that echo the ribbons on the walls.
4/14In one of Nicky Haslam's latest projects, the London house of Flora Fraser, walls, curtains and chairs in Rose Tarlow’s ‘Bloomsbury’ chintz provide a floral backdrop for antique pieces including family portraits, a Chinese lacquered table, an Indian carpet and an Italian neoclassical 18th-century mirror. ‘I had always wanted to do pillars in chintz,’ says Nicky. The same floral glazed cotton was used to cover chairs too.
Andrew Wood7/14In the vieux carré of New Orleans, formerly occupied by artisans, a house has been decorated to reflect the multi cultural origins of that exuberant delta city. Here Nicky has lined the entrance hall with English trelliswork.
Simon Upton10/14Haslam's own west-London apartment is an elegantly playful showcase for his masterful use of scale and dramatic details, and his signature mix of the fake and the fabulous. The banquettes that flank the fire were designed by Nicky 30 years ago, and still have their original covers. Above one hangs a Tracey Emin drawing, with a Cecil Beaton sketch of Coco Chanel propped against the wall beside it.
Simon Upton13/14The Hunting Lodge in Hampshire has passed into interior design history as Haslam's home for the past forty years, and is now leased by Francis Sultana. Before that the legendary designer John Fowler lived here. The hunting lodge's facade was added in 1620.
The low Victorian bench, upholstered in petit point, takes the place of a coffee table. 'An informal sitting room should be a place where guests feel like they can put their feet on the furniture, with everything at hand," says Nicky. "Next to sofas should be a place to rest things at arm's length. This may seem like a silly detail, but it is an important one in practice.'
