Episode Information Trade Secrets Bristol

Date Published:

17/06/2008

On this week's Trade Secrets, Naomi Cleaver takes a look beyond Martin & Catherine’s sugar cube build in Bristol...

How do you get your minimalist look right? The design of Martin and Catherine's house is inspired by a mix of commercial office design and contemporary art galleries, ultimately a restrained world of minimalism. But I have to wonder what kind of personality can live without the joy of soft furnishings?

The minimalist mantra is 'less is more' and that's the philosophy that runs through the architecture. The idea of a highly reduced elemental design is both compelling and frightening. Minimalism questions the way we consume and challenges our need to hoard and clutter.

Minimalism is a philosophy that people live by. To truly achieve it you must embrace restraint. This apartment in Monte Carlo is a perfect example. It was designed by one of the leading lights of the minimalist movement, Claudio Silvestrin.

The trick to pulling off this look is to use a limited number of natural materials. Here, Cedar wood, bronze, Italian Marmarino plaster and French limestone create a simple, beautiful look without being harsh and clinical.

Minimalism doesn't mean you have to do without, you just have to be clever about hiding the everyday stuff of life. Here, the bar and television are tucked behind doors and even the speakers are hidden within stone walls. Everything works and everything is there and yet it is not apparent.

Like minimalism, this house in the Suffolk countryside draws influence from modernism and has a dramatic air of intimidation, through the use of a powerful boxy shape and huge sheets of glass. Looking at this, you'd expect a tough and austere interior, but that's where this house holds a surprise.

Inside, there's loads of personality, colour and belongings - but at the same time it's elegant, uncluttered and open. This is very clearly a contemporary home but it's got a lot of warmth and joy to it.

If clinical white is your thing, one good trick is to mix and match - like in this south London apartment, home to Singapore born architect Voon Wong. This is a great example of clean white architecture. It's made up of smooth, sleek lines and even the suspended kitchen can be made invisible. The hard edges are softened by the eccentric art and furniture.

There's no doubt minimalism can give you a striking and calm house but it won't work if you don't live by its rules. So unless you're disciplined enough to ditch the past and hide the present it probably isn't for you.