As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the past 12 months – a time to look back on the milestones, challenges, and triumphs that shaped our journey. For the team at Nicholas Anthony, this year has been one of both literal and metaphorical exploration. From global travels to seek inspiration at events like Salone del Mobile.Milano, to refining our practices in the name of sustainability and excellence, our path has been marked by innovation and transformation. Here, we share some of the defining moments that made this year remarkable.
Once, twice, three times a winner
Awards are not on our mind when we set out on a project, but it’s extremely humbling to be recognised for our work, especially by people we admire. This year we have been particularly honoured to have seen our relentless pursuit of perfection celebrated on the global stage. We were delighted to receive two prestigious accolades at the International Property Awards, recognised not only for our outstanding kitchen designs but also for our exceptional bathrooms. This was in addition to receiving the Kitchen Design Over £50,000 Award at the prestigious International Architecture & Design Awards, not to mention Kitchen Designer of the Year (over £50k) at the KBSA Design Awards. We see these accolades as symbols of our commitment to pushing the boundaries of design – a challenge we most ardently continue to accept.
Magic in Milan
Each year the spring brings new life and new inspiration, and in design terms that’s embodied in the magic of the Salone del Mobile in Milan. April saw us not only attend the esteemed event at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre, but also host a series of dinners with attending designers and industry leaders from around the world, in partnership with Occhio. Creating an opportunity to discuss, debate, and ignite ideas, passions, and innovations, we gathered on two evenings, starting in the aperitivo tradition at Occhio’s showroom on the street of light – Corso Monforte. We then continued the festivities over dinner at Il Baretto in one of the most coveted locations in Milan, Via della Spiga. These conversations about who and what impressed, excited, and inspired us most over the course of Salone del Mobile Milano is what we thrive on as designers, creating a unique opportunity to generate thoughts, opinions, and ideas that we can imbue into our work at home.
Savouring the world with SieMatic
We have a longstanding relationship with the expert engineers at Siematic, and continue to admire and champion their skill and ingenuity, especially when it comes to forward-thinking technologies and innovation. Therefore, we were delighted to attend the world premiere of the SieMatic SG6, which also marked the celebration of their 95th anniversary. Presenting a journey into the art of the kitchen, under the banner ‘Savouring the world’, they showcased how the SG6 concept infuses four SieMatic style collections, PURE, URBAN, CLASSIC and MONDIAL, with a new design freedom, while each embodies its own style world. The result is an enhanced opportunity for clients to have their own unique, bespoke kitchen that exemplifies the brand’s creative spirit and uncompromising passion for craftsmanship.
Putting on a show
Art is a passion of ours at Nicholas Anthony, and alongside the reverence we have for great design, we believe that art has a powerful and important place in the home, offering living reflections of who we are and who we want to be. It is therefore fast becoming one of our favourite traditions to transform our Mayfair studio into a canvas, hosting exhibitions of new and established artists that we admire. This October, in honour of Frieze 2024, we hosted the V-ZUG X Nicholas Anthony Art Exhibition, Remembrance of Things Future, celebrating the intersection between art and design in profound ways. Bringing together the creative brilliance of V-ZUG, the renowned Swiss brand, acclaimed gallerist Sarah Kravitz, and New York-based interior design studio Olivia Stutz, the event was a triumph, featuring captivating works by a range of artists including painters and ceramicists. Combined with the elegant backdrop of Wigmore Street, the evening was an immersive feast for the senses, accompanied by champagne, canapés, and a curated experience of art and design.
Setting sustainability standards
Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges of the modern age, and while we have always been mindful of best practice and ethical waste management at Nicholas Anthony, it’s essential that all businesses continually assess their processes in the pursuit of excellence. With that in mind, this year we have completely overhauled the way we manage packaging in the kitchens and bathrooms that we install. Our installations naturally come with a lot of packaging to protect them in transit, and historically the handling of that packaging was managed by the fitters, arranged by the suppliers. However, taking the responsibility into our own hands for transparency and consistency, we have now appointed a dedicated organisation to handle waste removal, meaning we can guarantee that 99.5% of all packaging will be diverted from landfill to one of 700 licensed treatment sites in the UK. At these locations waste is separated into different materials, which can then be recycled, reused, or used for energy for the National Grid. Implementing this change has meant a complete rethink of our procedures. Furthermore by applying geolocation technology waste collection and using the closest management site to each project, our waste handlers have reduced their carbon footprint by 65%. It’s an area we are deeply passionate about, and we are delighted to be in a position where we can confidently say waste is professionally managed, monitored, and checked by the appropriate authorities.
Ending the year on a high note
For our final event of the year before we all settle into the seasonal festivities, we welcomed top-tier businesses and industry leaders for canapes, conversation and conviviality at our Mayfair studio, in collaboration with SieMatic and Exclusively Connect. An opportunity to explore business opportunities and establish synergies with like minded professionals, it was a sparkling note to finish on.
Looking forward to 2025
We see design as a continuous balance between reverence for classic style and continuous evolution and ingenuity, always underpinned by excellent craftsmanship and engineering. We believe that timelessness is the hallmark of unequivocal style, and that it’s our role as leaders in our field to never stand still. Each year we update our studio to present a showcase of what’s possible, providing inspiration and escapism that fuels innovation in the home of every one of our clients. It also means that you can take advantage of our display sale which will begin in January. In 2025 we look forward to delivering more art exhibitions, more ideas, and to keep pushing boundaries as the earth embarks on another trip around the sun.
For now, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a New Year filled with inspiration.