INSIDE PAUL WEST´S LONDON TOWNHOUSE
Architect and Brand Innovator Paul West found his oasis inside this beautiful townhouse in East London. After months of renovations the place brightens with the perfect balance between timeless design pieces and classic silhouettes, giving to this Georgian building a sense of charm and charisma.
A fan of MISMO himself, we had the opportunity to talk about how we can try to stay unique in a world of "hyper-information", the process of creating a wood lamp, favorite spots in London, and some memorable bags in between.
I’m inspired by people who see the world through their own lens. They could be philosophers, founders of purposeful businesses, architects, writers, artists, designers, thinkers.
I’m forever inspired by my soulmate, Michelle. We bounce ideas off each other every day.
Also, inspiring places trigger new ideas. We love exploring cities, villages, markets, exhibitions, and
historical places.
Simple, everyday activities inspire thoughts and new ideas, too. Cycling through London with its cross-section of life in just a few miles – from parks to landmarks. Being in the garden, anything really... such as looking after our home. Simply focusing and rewiring the brain for a few moments helps recalibrate the mind, and spark new thoughts and ideas.
I’ve had an interest in spaces, cities, and experiences from a young age. I was obsessed with drawing spaces and places as a child, and continued to find interest in design and architecture as a student - particularly with how the places we inhabit shape our daily lives. Further to my degree in Interior Architecture and Design, I have worked at some great design consultancies and architects, gaining experience across a wide range of projects – from private homes to airports.
I have been working in the creative industries for around 20 years now, and my passion for architecture and design has evolved into creative direction, strategy and brand consulting.
For me, joy is found in creative thinking and it can be applied everywhere – from shaping businesses, building brands, experiences and design across many disciplines.
There are so many! We tend to spend a lot of time in East London, and East-Central, but enjoy exploring more widely across the city.
There are intimate and indulgent settings like Monmouth Coffee, St John Bread & Wine, or Jolene.
Taking a stride from where we live, there’s Victoria Park, historic Spitalfields, and a short cycle through the charming streets of Clerkenwell and elsewhere around Islington always brings a smile. The redevelopment of Kings Cross has been, and continues to be, exemplary, and heading more central, we love being in Marylebone, too. But, most importantly, home is the place that brings the most joy, every day.
My Dad has a lifetime of experience in carpentry, joinery, and building. He’s now retired, and has been keen to spend some more time on working with wood – mostly on his lathe - turning things like bowls and decorative crafts.
Dad has kindly made a few pieces before – mostly because I couldn’t find what I was looking for – so I
put pen to paper and we worked up some solutions together. We have made a few things for the home. One very special item was a daybed.
I also wanted to make a new type of lamp – reimagining the traditional table lamp design but crafted from wood. The one shown here was cut from a cubic foot of solid oak, which was incredibly hard to work with – not only because it’s very heavy, especially when it’s spinning around on a lathe, but also because it needs to dry out slowly so it doesn’t crack so badly that it falls apart.
It wasn’t an easy project, but I remember arriving home to visit dad, and it was all finished, presented in the shed with a tablecloth backdrop and ready to be illuminated. It was a memorable moment.