We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Debauchery never looked so elegant: how to decorate your home like the iconic Blue Bar
Inspired by David Collins Studio’s design for the celeb-haunt at the Berkeley, this is a palette with cocktail-hour appeal
If walls could talk, the Blue Bar at The Berkeley hotel in London would have some glamorous anecdotes. Designed by David Collins Studio back in 2000, it played host to many style icons over the years, including Madonna, Naomi Campbell, John Galliano and Isabella Blow, all of whom were enchanted by the atmosphere that the late great Collins created – a work of precision that involved mixing 50 different tones of blue paint to form the iconic ‘Lutyens Blue’.
The colour coats the walls but is also found in furniture, furnishings and even the drinks menu (the signature cocktails all contain the word blue in their name). Paired with restrained pops of red, the combination is one that feels simultaneously sophisticated and saucy. We could think of no better way to signal the end of dry January than with a decorating palette that honours the bar’s debauched spirit.
‘Floating’ screen, Maison Lily Blue
Made of walnut or oak, with linen panels and brass hinges, this room divider is beautiful in its simplicity – for Blue Bar-style elegance, choose the ‘Blue Sky’ colourway. £5,500, maisonlilyblue.com
‘Ondine Crescent’ fabric, Vanderhurd
Combining the two colours that make David Collins studio’s Blue Bar design so iconic, this hand-embroidered fabric, with its delicate French knot motif, channels the same air of sophistication. £156 per m, vanderhurd.com
‘Martini’ side table, The Lacquer Company
The perfect perch for a cocktail, this design by Rita Konig has a top with a reassuring lip that lends it the look and practicality of a bar tray. With high-gloss lacquer being one of the biggest trends in 2024, this is a stylish buy. £995, thelacquercompany.co.uk
‘Squash’ armchair, Poltrona Frau
Who says luxury can’t be fun? Certainly not Faye Toogood, the British designer behind the ‘Squash’. The viral armchair is all soft lines and plush padding, which gives it a playful and cartoonish character, while Poltrona Frau’s leather craftsmanship offers supreme comfort. £5,940, chaplins.co.uk
‘Darwin’ fabric, Jane Churchill
Animal print is a big trend for home’s at the moment (see our edit in full) and this fabric nods to the playfulness of that design movement, while being abstract enough, with its small velvet dots, to be used anywhere in the home. £92 per m, janechurchill.com
‘Garden Maze’ rug, Nordic Knots
It’s the 100th anniversary of the birth of art deco, which means now’s the time to incorporate the movement into your home. Campbell-Rey’s hand knotted ‘Garden Maze’ rug is a graphic, contemporary option. From £695, nordicknots.com
‘Linje’ table lamp, Heal’s
Small but mighty, we can picture this lamp illuminating plenty of tables at The Blue Bar. It features a base and wide tapered shade in matching blue fabric, while a striking red metal stripe runs across its middle. £129, heals.com
‘Pi’ chair, Bonaldo
The softness of Collins’ ‘Lutyens Blue’ is heightened when used for this plush upholstery material. Inspired by the mathematical symbol Pi, this chair by Alain Gilles may look simple and minimalist but it is supremely comfortable. Price on application, chaplins.co.uk
‘L Elegante’ wallpaper border, Casadeco
Wallpaper borders have broken free of their old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy reputation and are now being used by designers in innovative ways (see our full guide to how to use modern borders). The bands of colour in this example are refined, like a well-fitted pinstripe suit for your room. £81 per roll, casadeco.com
‘Mezzola Luxe’ fabric, Designers Guild
Love the feel of suede, but want a fabric with vegan credentials? This faux suede by Designers Guild has a soft pebbled grain that makes it a textured choice for upholstery. Plus, the pale ‘Sky’ colourway is an ideal counterpoint to some of the deeper petrol blues and navy hues in this palette. £55 per m, designersguild.com
‘Jet’ drinks trolley, Porada
All you need is a few choice bottles, housed on a beautiful piece like this solid canaletta walnut trolley by Carlo Ballabio, to transform a room into a home bar. All you need to work on then is a guest list to rival the Blue Bar. £2,258, chaplins.co.uk
‘Stainless Steel #2’ ice bucket, Stefano Robiglio
Ice buckets, much like personalised ice cubes, immediately add an air of luxury to any table setting. We like blacksmith turned designer Stefano Robiglio’s expertly handcrafted stainless steel offering for its dynamic shape and unique creased front. £835, artemest.com
‘CC’s Rep’ fabric, CC Moulton
Not only is this upholstery fabric the deepest, most sexy lipstick-hued red ideal for louche settings, it is also dual purpose: on one side it has a ribbed texture, while on the other it’s a basket weave. Make your selection. £190 per m, eastlondoncloth.co.uk
‘Grand’ cushion cover, Ferm Living
Though these linen and cotton blend cushion covers come in a confectionary of combinations, the faded blue and burgundy has a certain je ne sais quoi, which makes it fit for sophisticated interiors. £55, fermliving.co.uk
‘Nin’ side table, Monologue
The ‘Nin’ side table by Christophe Delcourt looks as though it’s made for cosy nooks and intimate corners. Top with a glass of your favourite martini for bonus points. £10,770, monologuelondon.com
‘Manoir’ wallcovering, Arte
Inspired by the decorative mouldings in stately manor houses, this textured three-dimensional wallcovering by Arte (read about why the brand is on the rise) will lend any home a note of gravitas, while its soft suede finish gives it a contemporary feel. £779 per roll, arte-international.com
‘Blend’ cabinet, Baxter
Showcase your most prized bottles of spirits in ‘Blend’ by Federico Peri, a functional cabinet that comes in purple and, our favourite, the colour-of-the-moment, burgundy. £22,560, baxter.it
Studio Doherty’s tips for being colour adventurous
David Collins Studio’s seven style rules revealed
How to have the best front door on the street
Rachel Chudley’s rules for decorating a hallway
