THE FINEST 50 INTERIOR DESIGNERS PETER MIKIC Since former fashion designer Peter Mikic switched to interiors in 2006, the Australian has shown a natural flair for playful yet luxurious spaces filled with intriguing pieces. ‘The transition was smooth because both require the same level of dedication,’ says Peter, whose first solo commission was a yacht called Elisabeth F that went on to win awards at the Monaco Yacht Show. ‘I like to start afresh with every client and aim for the almighty: no copy, no paste, no guide book.’ He has a flair for making period houses feel positively fresh (he has just completed a townhouse in Notting Hill, where he combined the client’s Victorian and Georgian pieces with colour blocking and mid-century furniture). As well as sourcing antiques from all eras, he designs his own range of bespoke furniture and collaborates with forgers and glass-blowers to produce beautifully-crafted pieces. Quality and harmony are especially important: ‘a room should be comfortable and opulent, whether minimal or maximal,’ he concludes. petermikic.com
29 Beirut-born architect, designer and chartered RIBA member, Rabih Hage is a passionate believer in ‘quiet architecture’ – the philosophy of creatively repurposing existing structures where possible rather than bulldozing and rebuilding. This thoughtful and considered approach, which looks at architecture, interiors and furniture design as a holistic entity, can be seen in his book of the same name, published at the end of last year, which features 16 case studies split into country and town houses, pied-à-terres and hotels. ‘There is no need to wipe out an existing building to start anew just for the sake of it. Respecting the past is modernity,’ says Rabih in the introduction. What all his interiors share is a feeling of ‘wit and warmth, integrating a contemporary design edge with functional and sculptural objects’. A hotel in Finland is in the pipeline and he has built a self-initiated prototype for a social housing development that can be constructed across the world. rabih-hage.com
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