Fine ideas

Furniture designer Timothy Oulton draws inspiration from an eclectic range of sources.

It’s hard to single out just one, but British sculptor Anish Kapoor [1] and designer Thomas Heatherwick [2] continually impress. CONTEMPORARY ART THAT YOU MOST ADMIRE? The stained-glass window by David Hockney [5] that’s just been unveiled at Westminster Abbey. I love how it blends the centuries-old heritage with something very fresh and contemporary. DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? I’ve always collected antiques. I rst began collecting trunks [4] – Louis Vuitton and Goyard – and it’s grown from there. One of my favourite collections is my Dunhill ‘Aquarium’ lighters [3] – I’ve got about 200 of them. FASHION MUST HAVES? I’m a very casual person, so for me it’s a good pair of jeans [11] and a polo shirt [10] – they’re my staples. FAVOURITE WATCH? I love vintage. I don’t think you can go wrong with a beautiful vintage Rolex. FRAGRANCE O F CHOICE? Something classic like Dior [9]. BOOKS WHAT ARE YOU READING? Setting the Table by Danny Meyer who started the Union Square Cafe in New York and went on to become one of the world’s most respected and successful restaurateurs. MUSIC WHAT’S ON ROTATION AT OFFICE AND HOME? Anything by The Rolling Stones [8] – actually anything that’s British rock’n’roll. FAVOURITE FLOWERS? Fresh red roses. We always have them in our stores – they never fail to give that sense of occasion. BEST DOWNTIME IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY PURSUIT? I lead a very busy life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t really separate work and leisure – it’s all just life! DO YOU PREFER COFFEE OR TEA? You can’t beat a good cuppa. I think it’s ingrained in the English psyche! YOUR R ESTAURANT O F CHOICE? I’ve wanted to open a restaurant for a very long time, and we nally achieved that with the opening of Gough’s on Gough in Hong Kong last year, so that’s de nitely my restaurant of choice at the moment. PREFERRED TIPPLE? A good red wine [7]. FILMS THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU? I loved Supermensch – about Shep Gordon, who started off managing Alice Cooper. Just a lovely guy – it makes you think about how to treat people. SHOPS YOU FREQUENT? I love ea markets. One of my favourites is the Marché Aux Puces de Saint-ouen in Paris. DOES YOUR LOVE O F FASHION AND DESIGN EXTEND TO CARS? I’ve always loved Aston Martins [13] – as a kid I had a Corgi die-cast model of the DB5, which I played with all the time. TRAVEL FAVOURITE REGULAR HAUNT, AND WHERE IS ON YOUR MUST SEE LIST? I always feel inspired in New York. To me, it’s not even a city – it’s a country in its own right. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? Our new 2019 collection, which launches in stores early in the year. We’re also designing a restaurant on King’s Road in London, a boutique hotel and restaurant in the Middle East and a private residence in the Lake District, UK. Plus we’re looking at some new store openings for 2019, so lots to do. timothyoulton.com; cocorepublic.com.au