Style File: Adam Bray
Adam Bray, a longstanding member of House & Garden's Top 100 interior designers list, is a master of impactful yet grounded interiors. ‘My style is unfussy and creative,' he says of his work. 'I rely on carefully chosen furniture, interesting fabrics and a distinctive palette to create inviting rooms that feel like home.’ His background as an antiques dealer is central to the rooms he creates, which are always full of an unexpected and interesting mix of pieces from different eras, arranged ways that feel fresh and contemporary. We've have gathered some of our favourite of Adam's projects, from a glossy London flat, to a William Morris-adorned home.
Adam Bray: @adambraydesigns
Adam Bray is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Find his profile here.
Chris Tubbs1/16Adam Bray.
Chris Tubbs2/16Walls and woodwork in 'Murrey Red' from Papers & Paints, has been used by designer and antiques dealer Adam Bray in this room in an east London house he worked on. A light gloss finish bounces the light around, while the nineteenth-century alabaster light was chosen to impart a grown up mood.
Chris Tubbs3/16Above the sofa in the sitting room is a painting by contemporary British artist Danny Fox, which fitted in the space perfectly. The sofa is covered in a discontinued French weave inspired by the work of the painter Joan Miró and the walls are painted in '4-049' from Papers and Paints.
Chris Tubbs4/16The existing Plain English kitchen units were repainted in 'Camo 19' from Papers and Paints, and updated with brass pull handles from a local hardware shop. A new splashback and worktop in arabescato marble makes the kitchen feel crisp and timeless.
Chris Tubbs5/16The bathroom was designed to be comfortable and relaxing. The Twenties triptych mirror is gilt metal by Brot, Paris. Moroccan tiles from Habibi Interiors are deliberately mismatched for a patchwork effect.
Simon Upton6/16In this Notting Hill flat, which featured in the April 2018 issue of World of Interiors, Adam worked with 202 design on an 'easy and practical' kitchen.
Simon Upton7/16In the pattern-adorned sitting room, Adam used an early 20th-century Chinese cabinet to cleverly hide the television from sight.
Simon Upton8/16Spanish wine jars make charming bedside lamps, topped with lampshades from Nushka. The walls are covered in William Morris's 'Willow Bough' wallpaper, while the curtains are a rose-coloured Claremont silk.
Simon Upton9/16The William Morris wallpaper extends into the en suite, this time with exotic birds perched on its branches.
Jake Curtis10/16A silk wallpaper by de Gournay in teal makes a foil for the raspberry Le Manach 'Toile de Tours' upholstery of the sofa and ottoman in this London flat by Adam. Placed around the tiny dining table nearby, a pair of Twenties French ebonised and gilded chairs, in their original orange silk velvet upholstery, also sing out against this background.
Jake Curtis11/16The plain oak floor and the rough texture of the Beni Ourain Moroccan rug provide contrasts in texture to the silk and gilding. 'Keep the background basics simple,' says Adam. The armchairs are covered in a woollen fabric.
Jake Curtis12/16A deep banquette sofa in the tiny mirrored television room is upholstered in Adam's own purple 'Greville' mohair velvet.
Jake Curtis13/16Blue-green gloss reappears in the main bedroom, though this time in a muddier version. Here, the striped silk curtains and headboard look matt in contrast, as does thick jute carpet in a gutsy herringbone. A pop of vivid green from a lacquer bedside table and an elegant plaster lamp with vellum shade are all reflected in a Maison Jansen-style mirror.
Jake Curtis14/16The main corridor leads from the sitting room to the dressing room, where the two facing walls of fitted cupboards continue the blue-green theme, this time in a gloss finish. 'I love gloss walls - they really do bounce the light about,' says Adam. 'But it is rare to get a client who will agree to them.' The carpet in here, designed to look like antelope hide, is from Capitol Carpets of Chelsea. The Italian walnut chest of drawers, tortoiseshell clock and mirror are all from the owner's collection.
Jake Curtis15/16Tortoiseshell also makes an appearance in the sumptuous guest shower and cloakroom at the end of the corridor. A 'scarlet' tortoiseshell triptych mirror hangs on sultry aubergine-lacquered walls.
Jake Curtis16/16Gloss paint also features in the kitchen, where a baby La Cornue cooker, with a copper and steel trim, means business.
