The Matthew Williamson Garden at Blakes

Posted in Projects on 27 September, 2016

Iconic boutique hotel Blakes has commissioned British designer Matthew Williamson to re-design their courtyard garden. It will be a permanent fixture at Blakes Hotel open from September.

Matthew has transformed the courtyard into a lush oasis. Like all his interior designs, he began with the flooring – incorporating modern stone floor tiling. The tile pattern informs his graphic mural design, painted in pale hues of grey, blue and meline yellow. Matthew considered foliage both for aesthetics and fragrance: forgotten corners have come to life with oversized ferns and tropical plants. A tumbling flower wall, which will add seasonal scent to the courtyard while a wooden fretwork screen with foliage and a circular cut-out pattern offers a focal point. It also affords views into the restaurant, which offers a contemporary and Mediterranean-influenced menu.

Matthew explains his aim for the garden: “I had in mind a chic, uplifting, inspiring space full of colour, pattern and texture. I envisioned a secret, peaceful oasis in the city that brings a smile to your face. Somewhere you would want to return to time and time again.”

Matthew commissioned Harris Murray-Wicks Studio to design the planting for the garden. They drew inspiration from Matthew’s vision of creating an unexpected oasis of colour, hidden from sight, right in the centre of London. “We love the textures, colours and joyful energy that Matthew brings to all of his projects, and so we wanted to decorate his secret courtyard with lush, leafy, plants. Tall tree ferns that are at the same time handsome and bold in their stature yet filigree and delicate in their foliage lean into the space.”

Eclectically styled furniture painted in mint green pulls together the other elements of the garden to convey a Mediterranean alfresco lifestyle for sunny afternoon coffee and late night courtyard cocktails. Furnishing fabrics from Matthew Williamson’s latest Osborne & Little collection, ‘Durbar’, add his signature aesthetic of print and kaleidoscopic colour to the space.

The lavish domed birdcage has been refreshed with an antique gold exterior and deep magenta flooring by BOLON. It has a decadently sumptuous feel for an escape from the elements or a magical night under the stars.

The Matthew Williamson Garden at Blakes will transport you into Matthew Williamson’s personal world of a refined yet spirited sense of bohemian glamour, which is inspired by travel.