Decorator index Echlin’s design duo share their secrets for injecting light, space and nature
This London duo are experts when it comes to adding light, space and natural beauty to interiors
Who are they? Sam McNally and Mark O’Callaghan co-founded Echlin in 2011 and between them have a wealth of experience in design, fashion and property development. McNally, who heads up the design team in their Notting Hill studio, previously worked for high-end developers supplying bespoke furniture and finishes; his passion for design goes back to his childhood. ‘As a family we moved house frequently, so creating new homes was something I grew up with,’ he explains. O’Callaghan, meanwhile, is a retail and interior design expert who’s had senior positions at Burberry, Mulberry and Alexander McQueen, as well as being an independent property developer. A dedicated traveller, he’s on the lookout for great style wherever he goes. ‘I’m always comparing different cities and the effect that good design has on the wellbeing of their inhabitants.’ What’s their style? Echlin interiors feel serene and expansive, thanks to the duo’s love of broken-plan layouts that create light, airy spaces (see point 3 in ‘Expert Advice’). They’re influenced by classic 20th-century design and Britain’s industrial past – the latter comes through in their love of patinated metals, which they say have longevity and an imperfect beauty. ‘We like to use natural, organic materials,’ says McNally. ‘You’ll often see pale timbers and stones in our schemes, which give a sense of calmness. When combined with an abundance of natural light, they convey that all-important sense of space.’ Wellness and sustainability are core to their philosophy. ‘We rely heavily on inspiration from the location itself, but always with an eye on wellbeing,’ says O’Callaghan. ‘Connections to nature are important; we’re looking to create a calm, contemporary feel.’ What are their recent projects? Their newest design is a mews house in Knightsbridge. The decoration combines crafted natural textures with bolder colours, drawing on its owners’ Middle Eastern heritage, while the architecture was remodelled to improve light levels. ‘London mews properties often started life as stables or outbuildings, so are usually quite dark,’ explains McNally. ‘We heightened the ceilings, installed a six-metre-high living wall and added eight rooflights to transform how the property feels.’ They’ve also recently finished a penthouse interior for Great Portland Estates, part of its Rathbone Square master plan. Inspired by the Bloomsbury Group artists who once lived in the area, it features a palette of blues and greens and puts a modern twist on historical interiors. Updating heritage influences in an experimental way is something Echlin finds richly rewarding: in 2019 they transformed the Jermyn Street store of 300-year-old perfumer Floris with an ‘imagined living space’ inspired by its fragrances. What are they currently working on? A penthouse for Canary Wharf Group on the 41st floor of a landmark new tower building and a collection of apartments on top of an existing building in Camden. Revamps of a grand Mayfair townhouse and a Belgravia villa are also underway. Meanwhile, the pair dream of designing bigger, mixeduse developments, where they can put their stamp on the capital’s landscape in even more dramatic fashion. echlinlondon.com
‘WE RELY HEAVILY
ON INSPIRATION
FROM THE LOCATION ITSELF’