Restaurant designers aren’t makeover artists

In response to Sally Mackereth of Wells Mackereth’s reference to Conran restaurants (Interiors feature, DW 30 September), having rejoined Conran & Partners I’m struck by my colleagues’ intellectual rigour and commitment to projects. And they have a deft lightness of touch that still contains the charm and humanity that Peter Kent of HMKM refers to. But more important is the fact that the majority of restaurant designers are architects, not decorators or stylists.

This raises the level of our internal debates on ‘interiors’ and ‘out-teriors’ to fever pitch. There is a strong argument to balance the two disciplines in an equilibrium of ‘ideas’-based output. Then we can avoid discussing ladies with noisy hair and focus on adding value to the often shaky world of retail.

David Chaloner

Director

Conran & Partners

London SE1