What’s the idea behind Imaginarium? I gather
experiences, memories, colours, scents and ideas,
just as I collect objects. They all become part of
my life library, which I draw on for inspiration – part
history, part imagination, and a whole lot of make-
believe. The book is a visual journey through 25 years
of styling, travelling, ‘colour hunting’ and collecting.
How do you create a sense of place in your
interiors? My idea always begins with a story, piece
of history, process or material that I’m inspired by.
Rather than simply choosing a particular aesthetic
or working from a sketch, it’s a process of storytelling
and uncovering a history and letting an experience,
sense of nostalgia or understanding of craftsmanship
inform and direct design decisions.
What role do trends play in your creative
process? I don ’t pay particular attention to trends.
I tend to take more of a trailblazing approach,
weaving a story that becomes the foundation
of the project using elements of imagination,
souveniring and history.
Is your inspiration purely visual, or does it rely
on other senses, too? I don’t limit myself to visuals.
I incorporate a greater spectrum of research through
scent-seeking and soundscapes when delving into
inside the Imaginarium
a project. You can create layers that satisfy diferent
senses and give depth to interiors. Sometimes the
things you can’t necessarily see but can hear, smell
and feel are what make a space special and personal.
What are your favourite travel experiences? I refer
to my travel style as gallivanting – a combination of
work and holiday. I take lots and lots of photos to
build up my image library, some of which you will
find in Imaginarium. I collect bits of ephemera and
objets trouvés [found objects]; souvenirs that evoke
the memory of a place, which can be referred to
for future projects. To capture the palette, I ‘colour
hunt’ while on the road. I pack my trusty travelling
watercolours and paint a palette using botanicals,
landscapes, textiles or even a storm to colour match.
I take notes of the scents I encounter in diferent
countries in diferent seasons, bearing in mind that
a trip to the same place in another season may
smell entirely diferent altogether.
What’s most important to you about your own
home? Home should be an oasis; I like to come
home and not want to leave. It’s somewhere to be
with family and friends, surrounded by the art and
objects I have collected from my travels, reminding
me of past and present adventures and memories.Sibella Court’s new book is the ultimate visual guide to her
distinctive style and its mix of local and global inspiration
DESIGN PROFILE
EDITED BY VICTORIA BAKER. PHOTOGRAPHY: (PRODUCT VIGNETTES) ANDY LEWIS, (BAR & RESTAURANT INTERIORS) CHRIS COURT, (RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS & BLUE INTERIOR) ANSON SMART, (TILED SPLASHBACK) SIBELLA COURT, (PORTRAIT) THE SOCIETY INC