Pizza East Portobello mixes voguish industrial fittings – pendant lights, old-school chairs, a metal-topped bar – with the blue and white porcelain and checked napkins of a French country cottage. We talked to its designer Martin Brudnizki about sourcing, surfaces and how to get the look.
‘The interior at Pizza East looks relaxed and unpolished, but it’s far from artless. This sort of design is rooted in the process of carefully stripping back an interior in order to expose the raw materials and structures of the building. It was previously a pub, and the space retains some of the residential feel of a public house, with warm timbers and old fireplaces.
‘The use of lots of natural materials means that the colour palette is dominated by the warm textures and tones of the woods, marbles and metals. I think it’s important when you replicate this at home to be bold and bring in bits of colour that provide contrast. Lighting should recall industrial design – go for a mixture of metal pendant lights.
‘In this type of space the materials of the building are exposed, so it’s natural to do the same with food storage and cooking facilities. At Pizza East Portobello, the pizza oven stands in the main space, and cheeses, breads and fruits sit on open shelving. This translates well to residential environments: open kitchens and storage shelves are great ways to enhance the atmosphere of a room.
‘The most important thing about an interior like Pizza East is the quality of the materials used in the design. When you’re stripping back layers, you want solid timbers for floors and tables, and real marble for your surfaces. Furniture made from the best materials is well worth the investment: you can find fantastic pieces at reclamation yards or antique shops. I love Lillie Road in Fulham – the street is lined with independent antique shops. Retrouvius is another great place to go for beautiful bits of architectural salvage. And Brunswick House is home to both Lassco reclamation and a great restaurant. The ceilings are packed with a mix of chandeliers and industrial lighting, there’s taxidermy on the walls, and beautiful chairs, tables and ornaments throughout. You’ll always come across something you didn’t realise you were looking for.’
Martin’s Source Book
- Retrouvius, 1016 Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London NW10 5NS (020 8960 6060; www.retrouvius.com)
- Lassco Ropewalk, Millstream Road, London SE1 3PA (020 7394 8061) and Lassco Brunswick House, 30 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LG (020 7394 2100; www.lassco.co.uk)
- Lillie Road, London SW6 7LL (www.lillieroad.co.uk)