The art of simplicity
How does an internationally renowned interior designer live? And how is her private home furnished? Author Martin Fraas and photographer Evelyn Dragan paid Rachel Richmond and her business partner Xanthe Weir a house call in Edinburgh, discovering how cosy restraint is a characteristic of her style.
Rachel Richmond (right), pictured with her DecorAir partner Xanthe Weir (left), chose the BORA Classic 2.0 system
Rachel Richmond is the founder of DecorAir, an interior design company that also offers project management for the purchase and marketing of residential properties. In 2015, she acquired the 207-year-old house on Edinburgh's Northumberland Street. It has three floors, two reception rooms, five bedrooms and three bathrooms.
"As far as I know, the house was even once a gentlemen's club in the 19th century," Rachel tells us. "The last time a stage designer lived here before us and the whole house was decorated with large murals. There was so much to do, because there hadn't been any renovation for two decades. But from the first moment I liked the high rooms and the many architectural details. I wanted to kiss this sleeping beauty awake. It was important to me to make as much of the original substance visible again as possible."
The Richmonds are a family of five, so the furnishings needed to be practical, comfortable and family-friendly. At the same time, the interior designer wanted to add her own special touch. "I like to mix old with new, and different textures, fabrics and colors," says Rachel. But above all, she appreciates functionality.
"Every single piece must have its justification. I don't like mess, or things that are trendy."
Rachel Richmond
These principles also apply to the kitchen, which is 8m long by 4m wide. What is striking is that the design of the entire space is focused on four free-standing elements. "I didn't want an extractor hood or any part that you could pull out," says Rachel. "The solution should be more subtle. That's why I chose BORA, because the design is both subtle and attractive. And the technology works brilliantly."
Read the full homestory in BORA Magazine, Issue 02/2019.
Clean, tidy, minimalist: The layout of BORA Magazine focuses on the elegance and high quality of BORA's kitchen exhaust solutions. Extensive product overviews, technical details, reports on sponsorship and brand activities, and interviews with key people at BORA offer a comprehensive insight into this premium maker of cooktop extractors.
