One half of the partnership between boutique hotel brand Mr and Mrs Smith, James Lohan's design favourites are suitably refined, discerning, and international.
Your name: James Lohan
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What you do: CEO Mr and Mrs Smith
Your latest project: The Smith Hotel Awards which will be revealed on the 7th November 2013. Not be missed if you want to find out which really are the world’s best boutique hotels.
Who are three people that inspire/excite you:
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1) Sir Terence Conran
2) Nick Jones, Soho House Group
3) Andre Balazs, The Standard Group
What is your favourite…
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Car/bike/plane/boat model: Porsche 911 (993 model), I don’t do bikes as my Mum says they’re dangerous, the A380 as it’s so roomy for long-haul travel and when it comes to boats, I’ll have a Vintage Riva pretty please.
Chair model: Hans Wegner wishbone chair
Residential space: Villa Can Talaya in Ibiza you can rent it in the summer through my friend Seb at www.internationalvillas.net before the owner takes it back.
Commercial space: The Telegraph’s offices in London. They have a “spoke desk” system with every spoke of desks leading back to the central editors’, and above they project live stats and facts on a cinema size screen – it’s inspiring stuff.
Decorative product: The art we’ve collected from our travels.
Functional product: My 1961 Rolex that I wind every morning and still keeps perfect time.
Handmade good: A vase we bought in Morocco
Mass-produced good: The Dyson hot and cold fan
Meal: Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding
Restaurant: Chin Chin, on Flinders Lane in Melbourne.
Drink: Lychee Martini
Bar: Rooftop of The Standard Downtown in LA – you feel like you’re drinking on the set of Blade Runner as its in the heart of the financial district and you’re surrounded by tower blocks that the hotel projects onto.
Item in your studio: Table Tennis Table
Piece of technology: One click purchase by Amazon
Historical figure: Winston Churchill
Fictional character: Ben Hur – that chariot race still gives me goosebumps.
Vice: The occasional cigar
Virtue: Mentoring young entrepreneurs
What does the term ‘Design Hunter’ mean to you? Someone on an aesthetically pleasing mission.
