Please can you give us a brief description of your professional career?

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I went on to spend more than a decade as part of the creative team at Ralph Lauren Home where I directed the presentation of collections in London, Milan and Brussels. In 2007, I founded my own practice with a studio based in the Chelsea design quarter. Since then, I have worked on projects all over the UK and abroad. In the last few years I have completed my first project in the USA and I am currently completing my first debut commercial space for Colbourns. I have also been excited to work on a number of collaborations, including my recent speaker cover design for B&O Play’s iconic Beoplay A9 music system, exclusively for Harrods.

What has been your biggest accomplishment?

I’ve been very lucky and had different accomplishments, each one is now the core of my business and the drive for the company. Part of my philosophy is to personally try and design something unique and different each time. This doesn’t come without its challenges and can make my work life harder, but I always believe that only when we challenge ourselves, we are able to achieve our best results.

What inspired you to become a designer?

After being in London for more then six months, I grew to love the city and all of its energy manifesting from everywhere. I also started to enjoy living in a multicultural city, it was very different from the beautiful, but very resistant, Lake Como. It was only after a few years when I started to work in respectable stores that I started to experience the luxury of distinguished brands’ work.

Ralph Lauren was probably one of the main reasons why I decided to go to university and study architecture. Working for them in their Bond Street store taught me the meaning of ‘luxury lifestyle living’. I always had a passion for architecture and design, so it was natural for me to decide to go back to university and graduate in what I had real passion for. All in all, it was probably a combination of life experience from living in London and working for Ralph Lauren that inspired my career and helped me to finally choose my life path.

Where do you look to for inspiration for your designs?

I have created interiors for listed, period properties, new buildings, spacious country mansions and bijou townhouses in the UK and abroad. My aesthetic is inspired by the glamour of Lake Como, cosmopolitan New York and daily life in London.

Fashion-based industries, such as ours, change frequently making it imperative for us designers to keep ahead of the game in terms of new trends. For me, the best way to evolve and keep up with new trends is by taking inspiration from fashion, movies and whatever is happening around us. London is an ever-changing and cosmopolitan environment and feeds my creativity naturally. Travelling to a different city is always a good way to explore a new culture and see something new that can be used for a next design; my luggage is always packed with memorabilia from the places I visit and my mind registers the different trends that I consolidate into my work.

What has been your biggest project to date?

Surrey Hills Country Mansion; a large Edwardian property rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement which I completed a few years ago. It was fully refurbished by extending the original building to add a new double-height formal room, an orangery, three extra bathrooms and a walk-in wardrobe for the master bedroom, adding an extra 10,000ft² to the property.

Would you say that you have a design style?

Like my own home’s interior, I prefer a style that embodies comfort with eclectic luxury, achieved by accenting with interesting pieces, materials and striking designs. It’s important for me to combine everyday pieces with luxury items to create a welcoming, yet polished, home.

My signature style isn’t apparent within every project I undertake in the sense that I like to interpret my clients’ tastes rather than imposing my own to ensure a unique and characterful end result.

What was the brief that you received for your Ascot Lodge project?

This Grade II Listed building had a fascinating history; it was built in the 15th century and was used by King James I, son of Mary Queen of Scotts, as a hunting lodge in the Berkshire countryside. It was remodeled in the 18th century then further extended and altered in 1912 by renowned Architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, who created the south-east wing incorporating the famous ‘Lutyens Ballroom’. The extension had its own style identity with signature domes that were replicated in other areas of the house.

Modern-day alterations to the interior and exterior were limited due to the fact it is a listed building and all the original fabric had to be maintained. This included fireplaces, floors, windows, doors, ceilings, cornicing, coving and all other architectural detailing. Listed buildings consent was obtained and the project was subject to a rigorous checking process.

We worked on the refurbishment of the interior of some of the key rooms in the house; the Georgian room, ballroom, master bedroom and two guest bedrooms. The brief was to draw on elements of Ralph Lauren styling, but also incorporate antiques, artworks and personal heirlooms belonging to the family. This unique property required sensitive, thoughtful treatment bringing it up-to-date whilst retaining character and charm.

Each room has a signature style inspired by a piece of artwork or connected to the history of the room itself – as in the case of the Georgian room, which was transformed into a private gallery with the use of a power rail attached above the original panelling which was carefully restored. All of the artwork was framed by Master Framer, John Jones, and was a lengthy and meticulously-planned element of the project.

What was the brief that you received for Epicurean Pied-a-Terre?

This deluxe, two-bedroom pied-a-terre, with three bathrooms, is situated in the exclusive Ebury Square development. It was originally bought off-plan in Singapore by the client – a business professional, from property developer Berkeley’s group.

To distinguish the interior from a typical showhome appearance that had been implemented, the brief was to strip away the ostentatious scheme and create a more sophisticated, but masculine, look for an overall look that encapsulates subtle luxury.

It’s now a very modern apartment that features architectural pieces. I also used an abundance of elegant, luxurious materials throughout, from linen and fine leather fabrics from Ralph Lauren to Italian marble and stainless steel finishes. I wanted to create an interior scheme that had a slick appeal without it becoming overtly opulent, so I chose grey and black matt marble surfaces and removed the Herringbone flooring, replacing it with large, long floorboards to create a more contemporary feel. The flooring transcends throughout the open-plan living areas and the two bedrooms, using the same marble finish as the rest of the apartment for a beautifully streamlined look, complemented by natural, organic fabrics.

Most of the pendant lighting was removed too, leaving only a feature/sculptural pendant light from the Italian company Terzani above the dining table, as well as the wall panelling and wallpaper. The result was a very organic, neutral colour scheme, combined with a touch of red for continuity throughout, successfully integrated with beautiful signature artwork and gold finishes. This was to achieve a natural continuity of space from room to room.

We chose all of the final dressings to create a luxurious, clutter-free apartment. The heavy curtains and sheers from the original scheme were removed and instead we chose to use shutters to dress the windows to create a fresh, open look that made the best use of the light. The main feature in the living area is the striking original piece of art that I found on a trip to New York by Farin Urlaud (Torii – Fushimi Inari 2009) that creates a real ‘wow factor’ as soon as you enter the room. The upholstery and soft furnishings complemented this palette with beautiful layers of linen and cotton. All rugs have been custom-made in grey, brown or green tones.

What was the brief you received for the Chelsea Townhouse project?

This townhouse in Chelsea was designed for a celebrity couple who wanted a calm and understated home. The client’s brief was to recreate the Ralph Lauren lifestyle as seen in the Mayfair collection. The couple were moving out of a contemporary flat, which was too cold and impersonal for their tastes and wanted a more mature look in their first marital home. The brief was to create something classic and stylish modelled on the Ralph Lauren look that was also glamorous and feminine. The client requested a fast turn-around and minimum disruption.

I opted for dark wood furniture, a soft colour scheme and luxury finishes such as cashmeres and silks. I also created many bespoke pieces of furniture for the house, including the headboard in the master bedroom and the desk in the bay window that complements the iconic Ralph Lauren Duke Bar. One-off pieces were paired with antiques, among them the 1960s chandelier in the living room. With accessorising kept to a minimum in the garden, hallway and bathrooms, the overall effect is one of uncluttered luxury.

What can we expect to see from Maurizio Pellizzoni Interior Architecture & Design in 2017?

We are currently working on several projects in London; each one of them is exciting, unique and different from each other. I am also working on an exciting project in my hometown in Italy at the moment. For 2017, I am planning to start some more projects in the USA – New York is one of my goals! I will also be expanding more into the commercial sector, adding more pieces to my online boutique and will be launching my own limited edition candle, amongst some other exciting collaborations.