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COTSWOLD

HOMES & INTERIORS • PEOPLE & PLACES • FASHION & BEAUTY • FOOD & DRINK • EVENTS • COMPLIMENTARY

MARCH 2019

Cirencester’s newestkitchen showroom

RAISINGTHE BARR

THE £1.7M COUNTRYPALACE NEAR BIBURY

IDEALHOME

SPRINGINSPIRATIONCamilla Bellord’s Cotswold interiors,plus 48 pages of home ideas

MONTPELLIER IVY’SFIRST ANNIVERSARY

VINTAGEYEAR

GUCCISENSATIONIconic décor by Stroud artist

18 | Living | March 2019

Camilla Bellord was blessed with a passion for interior design which, combinedwith an eye for detail, has turned her into a miracle worker for homes

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March 2019 | Living | 19

HOMES INTERIORS

Timeless, elegant interiorsare at the heart of interiordesigner Camilla Bellord’sphilosophy. Nikki Owenmet the woman behindshowstopping designs in

Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Dubai, New York,France and Switzerland.

Sometimes we are blessed. Blessed with apassion, with a vision of what we want to dowith our lives.

And this passion, this direction that weoften discover at a young age is a gift. And soto interior designer, Camilla Bellord.

With over 17 years experience in thedesign industry, Camilla launched her studioback in 2016 with a philosophy of timelessinteriors, infused with an eclectic elegance.

Projects have included show apartmentsat Kings Chelsea, a townhouse in CadoganSquare, Knightsbridge, the Grand Park Hoteland ski chalets in Gstaad, with reviews,features and awards bestowed from acrossthe globe.

My goodness, it’s incredible. So, oninterviewing Camilla – who’s based in theglorious Cotswold village of Great Rissington– my first question had to be why is she sopassionate about interiors and was there,perhaps, a moment in her life that sparked adesire to design?

“Ever since I can remember,” Camillasays, a crisp white shirt topping simple denimjeans, her glossy, long dark hair glidingdown her back, with a smile both warmand reassuring.

“I have loved to create and spent mostof my youth with a pen and sketch pad in

‘I have loved to createand spent most of

my youth with a penand sketch pad in

tow. I was so lucky tohave an amazing artdepartment at schoolwhich encouraged usto experiment, express

and explore our visions’

was something magical, growing up by thesea, fostering the perfect environment forcreativity.

So I’m intrigued, how did she trainto become such a highly successfulinterior designer?

“After I trained in interior design at theKLC School of Design in Chelsea, I workedwith some of London’s leading designstudios. Tom was then recruited by theEuropean football governing body, UEFA, toSwitzerland,” Camilla says.

The “Tom” Camilla is referring to is herbeloved husband and now business partner.Following a successful 20-year career in

tow. I was so lucky to have an amazing artdepartment at school which encouraged us toexperiment, express and explore our visions.”

I love that thought of Camilla as a childwith her sketch pad – it says, to me, thatfor Camilla, design is part of who she is –and always has been. Brought up on theidyllic Sussex coast, childhood for Camilla

20 | Living | March 2019

commercial marketing and property (plusthe couple now have three children), Tomhas joined Camilla in her interiors business,and the couple are going from strengthto strength.

“Following our Swiss wedding, the patterof tiny feet came thick and fast,” Camillatells me. “In 2013, with three boys aged twoand under, a return to the UK beckoned andthis became the catalyst to creating our ownstudio. We had always dreamt of setting upour own family run business.

"With my background in design and Tom’sin business, we had the perfect mix to takethe plunge and Camilla Bellord Interiorswas created.”

F rom the shores of Lake Genevato projects across Dubai, NewYork, France and Switzerland, it’sthis experience of both life andthe world that Camilla brings

beautifully to her work.Each project is totally unique, a

collaboration between Camilla and the client,the entire company striving to blend theirdesign ethos with a client’s personality, aswell as their needs.

To Camilla, it’s all intuitive.“We like to meet our clients face to

face, and if possible, in their environment,”says Camilla, who cites her design idols asFederica Palacios (who she used to workwith in Geneva), Christian Liaigre andAnouska Hempel.

“This allows us to get a glimpse into theirlifestyle, the books on their shelves, familyphotos, muddy shoes at the door, theirinterests, their dreams, what makes them tick,what they love. All of these factors help us topiece together a proposal which will enhancetheir life.”

Again, this talk of life, of what makespeople tick – it sums up Camilla’s approachentire, because, of course, with the increasingdemands of modern day living, what we allwould really love is a beautiful space to live. Ahideaway. A sanctuary.

Camilla totally understands this. “Theinterior design process can be stressfulfor many people and we pride ourselvesin making the interior design process apleasurable journey.”

But, I ask her, what drives her to keepdoing what she does?

“It is such a privilege to work in thedynamic and exciting world of interiors,where no two days are ever the same.”

For Camilla, she finds she is constantlyinspired by the design world, particularlyThe Design Centre in Chelsea and Maison& Objet in Paris. “However,” Camilla tellsme, “often the most intriguing inspiration isfound in unexpected moments in life, a trip tothe Science Museum or the Cotswold SweetCompany in Stow with our boys, an autumnalwalk in the Windrush Valley and the lightshow at Blenheim Palace, to name but a few.”

What a beautiful thought – that inspiration

‘The interior designprocess can be stressful

for many people andwe pride ourselves inmaking the interior

design process apleasurable journey’

March 2019 | Living | 21

0786 739 3488camillabellordinteriors.com

HOMES INTERIORS

can be taken from the smallest things, fromplaces and family and memories, for what arewe creating with the decoration of our homesif it is not memories?

This insight makes Camilla stand out.She is an interior designer who finds clientsatisfaction the most rewarding aspect ofwhat she does – or, as Camilla endearinglyputs it: “It’s about a smile on a client’s facewhen you present a proposal that blowsthem away, a twinkle in their eye when youshow them the finished space, a wonderfulclient review.”

With such a rich tapestry of life withinher reach, I wondered, considering theirtravels and their previous life in Switzerland,how does living in the Cotswolds influenceCamilla’s approach to design?

“Our design principals and businessethos haven’t changed since moving to theCotswolds,” Camilla tells me.

“But it is so exciting to live and workin an area of such outstanding beauty andarchitecture.

"We particularly love to mix old and new,and local architecture certainly provides uswith this opportunity.”

Old and new still require Camilla to keepan eye on trends, yet, wisely, she is not a slaveto them.

“Although we keep abreast of designtrends and new products,” she says, “we don’tseek out on-trend solutions. Our focus is tocreate timeless interiors.”

That said, naturally, like any gooddesigner, Camilla keeps her finger onthe creative pulse and, at the moment isabsolutely loving Crittall windows, fortheir versatile and beautifully executeddesign details.

On top of Camilla’s very personal andbespoke interior design service, there isalso now the Camilla Bellord Boutique, ashop option available online for exquisiteproducts – something Camilla is veryenthusiastic about.

“We have pulled together a smallcollection of some of our favourite art,accessories and furniture from suppliers fromall over the world,” she tells me.

“We particularly love products thathave a story, like the Bamileke stools andthe Indonesian tribal shell necklaces area particular favourite. The collection isconstantly evolving and we’re currentlydeveloping some exciting new products whichwe will be launching later in the year.”

Camilla cites her family as inspiring herand of course, her own gorgeous 17th centuryhome is a true style hub.

When not working, the Cotswolds providesCamilla (who loves Ashtanga yoga), Tom andtheir boys with a wonderful backdrop to theirlives, and Tom and Camilla love a Sunday roastat the King’s Head in Bledington and walksalong the River Windrush.

So, with all this rapid yet calm success,what’s next?

“It’s been an incredible start to ourexciting journey together, with projects inLondon, the home counties, the Cotswoldsand even the mountains of Switzerland. Wereally look forward to sharing more of ourwonderful projects in the coming months.”

And so it is there we end our interview. Istand and find myself instinctively lighting acandle, adjusting the throw on my armchair,and then smile at how, already, Camilla hasinfluenced me.

Yes, it’s true, some people do have a gift.Thank you for yours, Camilla Bellord.

‘We particularlylove products that

have a story, like theBamileke stools andthe Indonesian tribalshell necklaces are aparticular favourite’

“Our home brings all the natural charm ofwood burning stoves, original beams and theall-essential Aga together,” Camilla tells me.

“We have chosen to accentuate thesefeatures with a neutral backdrop, butpunctuated the space with an eclectic mix offamily antiques, statement sculpture, as wellas our much-loved book collection from YvesKlein to Banksy.”

Attention to detail, says Camilla, is the keyto creating that “homey feel”.

“A scented candle with elegant matchstriker in easy distance,” she enthuses. “Awell-positioned music system, a basket filledto the brim with logs ready for the fire, acocktail table next to an armchair to pop yourdrink on.”

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