True To Form

Swedish interior design superstar Martin Brudnizki discusses the merits of romanticism versus maximalism, the inspirational aesthetics of Sir John Soane, and the secret to creating spaces that encourage people to be the best version of themselves.

- Renyi Lim

TO STEP INTO a room or property shaped and enlivened by Martin Brudnizki’s creative eye – be it Fortnum & Mason in Hong Kong or two of the Grand Hôtel Stockholm’s suites in the interior designer’s Swedish homeland – is to enter a world of opulence. It is, however, a world where balance and subtlety carry as much weight as extravagance and richly textured details, levelling generous sprinklings of glitz and glamour with refinement and functionality.

Regularly sought after by luxury hotels, restaurants, private clubs and high-flying homeowners, Brudnizki – whose interior architecture and design studio, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, operates in London and New York – favours the term ‘romanticism’ over ‘maximalism’ when describing his design approach. “I like to create spaces that transport people. Interiors that harness a feeling of escapism,” he explains. “It isn’t just about combining patterns and the whole ‘more is more’ mantra, but something more emotional.

“It is ensuring the individual connects to the interior, allowing them to follow their own story within the design, creating spaces people can express themselves and feel comfortable to be their best self.” More often than not, Brudnizki’s interiors have proven themselves to be quite irresistible: private members’ club Annabel’s ended up having to reinforce a strict no-photos policy after its pink-hued ladies’ powder room became one of London’s most Instagrammed bathroom selfie spots. And in today’s social media-centric environment, surely there’s no more compelling compliment than that.