Wine and Dine: David Collins

Artesian Bar at The Langham in London

David Collins, the celebrated London-based designer is well know for attention to detail in his bespoke spaces. A true designer's designer, Collins often takes it upon himself to have everything from the lighting to the furnishings custom made for a project. When Collins and his business partner, Iain Watson first began their collaboration, "a design studio was envisaged where interior architecture, furniture, lighting and graphic design could all interact and seamlessly produce a single strong vision for individual projects which would have a heart, a soul and a personality, as well as commercial viability."

While David Collins Studio has completed many residential and commercial projects, I find that my favorite spaces by Collins are the bars and restaurants he has designed. According to Collins,"there is a deliberate and strategic vision to combine art and commerce and produce design of the highest order." I believe that this philosophy is what makes Collins commercial spaces so successful. There is a necessary functionality to them, but they are places you definitely want to see and be seen.

Collins used a feminine color palette and Asian influences in the Artesian.

Blue Bar at The Berkley in London

The ornate details are reminiscent of a grand salon in Paris.

The Callas Bar and Café in Budapest, Hungary features fin-de-siècle and art deco details.

The Bar at Callas

I love the Ikat wallcovering used in Bob Bob Richard Restaurant in London's Soho.

The Micehlin-starred Marcus Wareing restaurant at The Berkley in London features rich, jewel tones.

The Dining Area at Marcus Wareing

The Wolseley in London's Piccadily neighborhood has become a hot destination. I love the grand ceilings, custom light fixtures, the incredible pattern in the floor, and the overall vintage vibe.

For Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood, Collins used a lighter color pattern, a white beamed ceiling, and Hollywood Regency style chandeliers to evoke a very L.A. look.

Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood

If you like David Collins' design for Ramsay's restaurant at The London in West Hollywood, make sure to watch the short video below as Interior Design TV's Cindy Allen gets an exclusive tour of the swank hotel designed by Collins.

Images via David Collins Studio