When it comes to #interiordesigngoals, it doesn’t get much more back-of-the-net than the Soho House private members clubs. These exclusive clubs, which exist in various cities across the world (including New York, Berlin, Istanbul, LA and London - where the first club in Dean Street was founded in 1995) all share a unique cosy-yet-luxurious style.
The first time I visited a Soho House I was fresh from university, working as a slave for a shiny magazine. A friend was a member, and one long, hot summer she invited us for after-work drinks at the club. In a Soho backstreet she suddenly stopped and pressed a buzzer, and an unremarkable door magically opened. I stepped inside and hot, dusty London vanished, replaced by the most glamorous house party I’d ever been to.
We wandered from room to gorgeous room, eyeing up the butter-soft leather sofas, jewel-coloured velvet armchairs and tables topped with sparkling crystal, before settling at a sexy curved bar. The cocktails (mainly espresso Martinis) served in crystal glasses, the in-on-a-secret vibe and the sumptuous, sink-in sofas added up to a wonderful night of intimate conversation, laughing-till-we-cried, and absolutely no FOMO (fear of missing out). Like Jess Glynn, there was no place I’d rather have been – which is probably why I left at 5am.
Shoreditch House
I have since visited various other Soho Houses, including the uber-urban Shoreditch House and the chilled-out countryside Babington House, and every time I’ve been blown away by the oh-so-cool comfort conjured by their beautiful rooms. Hence my delight on discovering Soho House is launching ‘Soho Home’, its hot-from-the-Houses range of furniture, glassware, textiles and accessories, on sale from this autumn.
‘We started Soho Home because members always ask us where they can buy the things they see in the Houses. So we created a range to bring the House home, from the Chesterfield sofa you sit on at Soho House Chicago to the Barwell crystal you drink your Negroni from at 76 Dean Street,’ says Nick Jones, Soho House & Co founder.
As the Houses open in new locations across the world, so too will the Soho Home range expand: ‘When we open a new House, the design team creates new products inspired by the location,’ explains Soho House & Co’s head of interior design, Vicky Charles. ‘For example, I’m working on a sun lounger for our House in Barcelona at the moment, which will be available to buy on Soho Home in the future.’
Here’s my room-by-room pick of how Soho Home could transform your home - time to install that entry buzzer…
Living Room
For the lived-in luxe look, I love the slouchy grey Belgian linen Loft sofa (£3,295), which Vicky Charles describes as ‘the most comfortable sofa you’ll ever sit on’. Add a genuine 1930s Moroccan flatweave rug (£995) from Soho Home’s vintage collection, a limited edition Dawn Mellor print of Michael Jackson’s transformation (£95) and a Hudson Leather floor lamp (£255, as seen in Soho House Chicago) and your mates will be queuing up for membership of Your House.
Kitchen
Barwell crystal at Soho House NY
Whip off your House Stripe apron (£45 – there’s even a kids’ version for £25) and serve up a classic Sunday Roast (a Soho House special - check the recipe in book Eat Drink Nap) for four on the Country House Dinnerware Set (£130). That full-bodied red will taste all the better for being drunk from a Barwell cut crystal wine glass (£28 - see pic above for other Barwell crystal glasses), with its vintage wallpaper-inspired pattern, as used in all the Houses. Go on – open another bottle and settle in for the evening.
Bedroom
The Sullivan throw at Soho Farmhouse
Snuggle up with a good book in the Franklin carved wood kingsize bed (from £2,545; as seen at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire), illuminated by the Reade wall light in brushed brass (£275). When the nights draw in, add a cosy layer with the soft, weighty Sullivan throw (£155), which warms members in Soho Farmhouse’s Oxfordshire cabins (see pic above).
Bathroom
Cowshed products in Soho Farmhouse
Soho Home has an extensive bathroom range to help you recreate that next-level relaxed feeling you get in their bathrooms. Their heavenly Cowshed products are also available to buy through the Soho Home site.
Whatever your bathroom’s colour scheme (or your favourite House), there’s a striped House Pool towel (£50) for you – how about red from Shoreditch, marine blue from Miami or yellow from Istanbul (my favourite)? Or if you like to keep things neutral with your bathlinen, perhaps you’d prefer the House Hammam towel (£35) with its pale grey-and-white woven stripes.
Shoreditch House pool
Soho House Miami
Outdoors
Babington House, Somerset
Picnic in style with the Country House two-person wicker picnic basket (£90), which comes with everything you need for fancy al fresco dining a deux, including the all-important corkscrew. Wet bottoms won’t add to the romance, so better pack the Country House picnic blanket (£125) with its cream, blue and green check and leather carry handle, and must-have waterproof backing. Yup - Soho Home means you now don't need to be in a Soho House - or indeed any house - to experience members club cool.
For more on the Soho Home range, and to shop online, click here
A version of this article also appeared in the October issue of i-on magazine
