Beneath the attractively
dishevelled layers of
eclectic clutter there lies a
rigid order much of which
is based on Sebastianâs
own designs
âThe drawing room had been divided
and a quasi-Victorian extension had
been addedâ says Gertrude explaining
how they heightened and widened the
back of the house removed the beam
between the rooms and put in extra-
wide oak floorboards. The result is a
dramatic space awash with light and
filled with an eclectic mix of furniture
and art spanning three centuries and
embracing many aesthetics.
The attractively dishevelled layers
of eclectic clutter suggest an informal
family atmosphere. But beneath it there
lies a rigid order much of which is based
on Sebastianâs own designs from the
bath taps to the bread bin in the kitchen
and much else in between. Though
clearly a fusion of ideas from both
Sebastian and Gertrudeâs backgrounds
itâs not surprising that Sebastianâs
influence on the decor is the more
conspicuous â he is after all scion of
the Conran dynasty. Sebastianâs father
is Sir Terence the designer restaurateur
and founder of The Conran Shop;
his three siblings Jasper Sophie and
Tom are all successful in the worlds of
fashion design and food.
At the back of the drawing room
a wall of punk memorabilia reveals
Sebastianâs rebellious youth. While
at Central Saint Martins studying
Industrial Design Engineering Sebastian
gave the Sex Pistols their first booking
and became friends with bassist Glen
Matlock. Later he shared a house with
Joe Strummer and designed clothes
record covers and posters for The Clash.
âI saw the early days of punk as an
art/style/design movement â a display of
raw creativity with a slightly disruptive
quality which was much needed in
bleak mid Seventies Londonâ he says. A
lot of their attitude has stuck with him
and influenced his approach to design.ABOVE Sebastian and
Gertrude are keen collectors of
sculpture art and interesting
cultural ephemera ABOVE
RIGHT A charcoal drawing by
Sebastianâs stepmother hangs
in the kitchen above the work
surface. The paint colour was
custom-mixed to the Conransâ
specications to give the
kitchen its light and airy feel.
On the kitchen island is one of
Sebastianâs signature designs
his teardrop-shaped porcelain
colander that doubles as a
bowl FAR RIGHT A unique and
decorative side table has been
created by putting a glass top
on an old drumâPunkâs attitude was that anyone can do
it and anything goesâ he says. âIt was
out to provoke the older generation into
noticing us. My proudest moment was in
1976 when I was thrown out of Marks
& Spencer for wearing a Vivienne
Westwood T-shirt. It was so exciting.
I was being noticed â the new bull
elephant. I loved it so it could be
said that while I studied Industrial
Design Engineering I graduated in
Rock ânâ Roll!â
Today The Clash posters hang
alongside the coupleâs extensive art
collection which includes paintings by64 H&A SUMMER 2017