Harrogate interior designers share their top spring trendsEntries open for Ripon Civic Society design awards

Entries are now open for Ripon Civic Society’s biennial design awards, which recognise the best architecture in the Ripon area.

The awards are usually held every two years but covid forced their cancellation in 2020. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on April 7.

Applications are being sought in six categories, from private individuals, developers, builders and related trades for suitable projects, completed within the past four years.

A copy of the application form for the 2022 awards, which should be completed and submitted by January 31, can be downloaded from the civic society website. 

The last awards in 2018 marked the society’s golden jubilee year.

Winners included the Himalayan Garden in Grewelthorpe, which won the Younge Rosebowl for Best Environmental Improvement.

The Spa at Swinton Park and High Trees, a new house on the former college site in Ripon, were named joint winners of the Hazzard Cup for the Best New Building.

The Spa at Swinton

The Spa at Swinton

High Trees also took the Sustainability Award.

High Trees

High Trees

The Folly! art installations in the water garden at Studley Royal were named as winner of the John Whitehead Award, with which the civic society recognised an outstanding contribution to the area.

Folly! art at Studley Royal

The Folly! art installation.

Society chairman Christopher Hughes, said:

“Due to the onset of the covid pandemic in 2020 our design awards ceremony due to be held that year was unfortunately but unavoidably cancelled.

“We are delighted to announce however that the delayed awards ceremony will now be held on Thursday 7 April and further details regarding the venue will be announced shortly.”

The full list of categories for which applications can be made are:

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Successful interior design duo launches new Harrogate studio

This article is sponsored by Lapicida

From working on each other’s kitchen tables, to launching a stylish new Harrogate design studio, Rachael Webber and Justine Kirkham have come a long way in just three years.

Their business, Stylesmith Interiors, has gone from strength-to-strength, with a surge in demand caused by the pandemic seeing them move to bigger premises on Cold Bath Road.

Modern space

The building, which formerly housed Fit Harrogate and the Joy organic food store, has been transformed into a modern space, which will allow the interior designers to meet clients and network with architects and builders, along with others involved in their projects.

As a retail space, it has been tricky to run a profitable business due to the lack of footfall. Joy closed its doors in August, less than a year after opening its doors.

There’s hope the design studio will be a much better fit, as there isn’t the reliance on passing trade.

The new design studio shows off the duo’s style

Justine said:

“In the middle of lockdown we were accumulating more and more things, as obviously construction carried on. So whereas we thought everything was going to slow down, as it turned out, we were busier than ever. It was great, but also it meant that it was absolute chaos with all the boxes of samples etc.”

The duo soon realised they needed more room, so found a unit at Hornbeam Park.

When they were told the building was going to be demolished and redeveloped after 18 months at the site, it was the push they needed to move to bigger premises.

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After looking at lots of similar office buildings that were tucked away, they realised when everything reopened after lockdown, their clients wanted to visit them in person.

Rachael said:

“This building just happened to come up and we thought it was a bonus that we are visible, but we are not retail so we don’t need the footfall like a retail shop. We are very happy and we love it. “

Experience

Both Justine and Rachael have previously worked for large interior design companies and have 30 years of experience between them. Rachael also has a background in fashion.

The kitchen area downstairs

Justine said:

“What we have realised is you get very much dragged into this corporate set-up where it’s all about sales figures and data and systems and it takes away all the creativity in what you are doing. So when we started talking originally, that was the bit that bugged us.

“We thought it needs to be more client-focused, where it’s all about their experience. So we decided to set-up ourselves.”

To complement the skills of their interior design team, Justine and Rachael also partner with experts and suppliers across the homebuilding and renovation industry. These include builders, architects, kitchen and bathroom suppliers and curtain manufacturers.

The new space, painted in Little Greene’s Harley Green, features elements of design that act as a showcase for the duo’s style. A studio downstairs houses samples, including material, paint and tiles.

Rachael said:
“The space shows what we can do. We have kept it very clean and haven’t gone glitzy. It’s much more how most people actually choose for their houses to be. A bit more colour, to push people outside their comfort zones slightly, but without being blingy.”

The kitchen area in the new studio

Understated

The pair said they didn’t have a specific style when it came to their design ideas, however, personally they had an “understated” take on design.
There are plethora of talented interior designers in Harrogate and a lot of new housing developments and renovation projects going on at the moment.
Some of these also have their own showrooms in the town. To stand out from the crowd, each have their own distinct style, allowing them to become successful in their own right.
Justine and Rachael’s understated modern design already clearly speaks to a lot of people.
Recently I’ve found myself being a fan of maximalism. This is a style that embraces the all-out: beautiful colour palettes, luxurious textiles, patterns and embellishment, Just last month I did an interior design masterclass with Joanie Mac, where I discovered I was very much drawn to that particular style.
But the simple elements of design Justine and Rachael have a lot of appeal.
For example embellishments, like the black taps in their downstairs bathroom and eye-catching blue patterned tiles, made the small space look luxurious.
It is interior design that is accessible.
Justine said:
“We are not trying to be this super duper London-style – very uber cool. Because that doesn’t work up here. But equally we don’t want to be at the blingy, over-the-top end..
“Some people want this very Scandinavian style. We have got loads of people wanting the slightly industrial style. We are doing a barn conversion at the moment where it is very grand, so we are putting a bit of oomph into that. It all depends on the client.”

Compliment

Justine added that they also complimented each other as designers, describing herself as ‘a starter’, who loved gritty building sites and tearing walls down, while Rachael enjoyed adding the finishing touches.
And despite interior designers traditionally been associated with the rich and famous, the pair were keen to stress that anyone could hire their services – even me for my humble 80s semi.
Justine said:
“For example if you wanted to put in a new kitchen or bathroom, or you are looking at flooring or you wanted to knock a wall down, then we are your gals.
“Everybody is doing extensions and creating open-plan living spaces. When you extend and you suddenly have all these masses of space, that’s when you need someone to help you make that work. This is because more often than not, you end up with a very echoey, cold space.

A studio downstairs houses samples, including material, paint and tiles

Stylish

She added that many developers would request neutral schemes, but this could still have a hint of colour, such as a blue or green. This would often lead to properties selling more quickly and for extra money, as they would look more stylish.
I completely agree with this, as, like them, I believe colour can still be neutral. I am definitely not about the magnolia life.
Justine said:
“The whole point for us is we want to be this much more approachable interior design set-up. So it’s not about feeling worried about walking through the door.
“If people come in we will give them a warm welcome and chat about their project and potentials and what they are thinking of doing. That is key really, it feels really intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. It doesn’t have to be really expensive.
Yorkshire designer wins Harrogate Spring Water bottle competition

A local designer has won Harrogate Spring Water’s international competition to design a new label for its water bottle.

The brief was to create a design celebrating the diverse culture of the Royal Albert Hall as it reaches its 150th birthday.

The winner of the competition was Jane Katherine Houghton, 30, from York. She studied graphic design at Northumbria University before relocating to London for work, but has recently moved back north to Harrogate.

Ms Houghton used bright colours and organic kaleidoscopic patterns to transform the traditionally monochrome label. She also incorporated elements of the Harrogate Spring emblem and features of the Royal Albert Hall.

bottle label design

Ms Houghton said she’s “over the moon” that her design won. She plans to use the £4,000 prize money to support her small stationery and greetings card business.

She said:

“I first saw the competition advertised on Instagram. I didn’t expect to win, it was only something to add to my portfolio.

“Being originally from Yorkshire and having lived in London for several years, it was truly an honour to be able to create a design that fused together the love I have for my two homes.”

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The managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, James Cain OBE, said he was “overwhelmed” by the quality and number of designs submitted to the competition.

“(Ms Houghton’s) design had the perfect balance of our two brand identities, fused together with a beautifully clever kaleidoscope pattern, which felt suitably celebratory.

“The design was both a nod to our Victorian heritage, but with a contemporary edge that looks ahead to the future. Simply put – we loved it.”

The bottle will be available for the next two years from the Royal Albert Hall and selected retailers.

Creatives called for Harrogate’s role in Royal Albert Hall anniversary

Harrogate will have its name linked to the 150th anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall in London – and aspiring artists are also being invited to get involved.

To mark the venue’s milestone, Harrogate Spring Water is planning to create limited-edition anniversary labels for its bottles, to be sold at the Royal Albert Hall and selected other outlets.

To come up with the perfect design to showcase the diverse culture of the venue, Harrogate Spring Water (HSW) is calling for creatives to help. An expert panel, including representatives from HSW and the Royal Albert Hall, will nominate a shortlist and choose the winning design, with a prize of a £4,000 creative bursary. Two finalists will receive a £1,000 bursary.

James Cain OBE, CEO of Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“We are so pleased to be able to offer talented creatives across the UK the opportunity to feature on our bottle; we understand just how important it is to support the Arts and Creative industry during this time.”

“The 150th anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall is such a special milestone and its fantastic to be able to celebrate our valued partnership with such an iconic and historic institution. We cannot wait to see the designs!”

During 2021 and 2022, the Royal Albert Hall celebrates its 150th birthday, with a special programme of events including major commissions from British artists, headline performances from musical legends, and a series of showcases promoting the next generation of talent.

In its long history, the Royal Albert Hall has hosted great works of art and design including an 800-feet-long mosaic frieze encircling the building, a Picasso-designed programme cover in 1937 and a 2014 mural by Sir Peter Blake celebrating the venue’s diverse history.

In 2021 and 2022, as it marks its 150th birthday, its programme of events will include major commissions from British artists, headline performances from musical legends and a series of showcases promoting the next generation of talent.

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Harrogate Spring Water is an official partner of the celebrations and its 500ml still and sparkling bottles will feature the commemorative labels this year and next. Artists are encouraged to use colour to reflect the diversity of culture at the Royal Albert Hall.

Craig Hassall, chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said:

“We’re delighted to launch this one-of-a-kind design competition as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations.

“The Hall has been a meeting place – and an inspiration – for artists of all kinds since we opened in 1871, and we can’t wait to see how contemporary creatives interpret our diverse history. We’d like to thank our friends at Harrogate Spring Water for helping us mark this milestone in such an inventive and unusual way.”

For more information about the competition, click here.