HUX London have been shortlisted for Kitchen Design Over £50,000 Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021. Read more about Managing Director, Felix Milns, below:

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Name: Felix Milns

Company: HUX London

Position within company: Managing Director

Website: https://hux-london.co.uk

Tell us a little about your background in design
I have over 25 years experience at the cutting edge of design. I began my career as a as a travel journalist reviewing some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. This gave me a hunger to start designing exceptional spaces that resonate for clients. My design career started when I founded Zulufish, an architectural design and build company and interior design consultancy. Ten yesars ago we started making our ouw bespoke joinery which led us to start a sperate company, HUX London, where we design beautiful bespoke kitchens and joinery to fulfil our trade and private clients’ aspirations.

How would you describe your personal design style?
Drawing strongly on the architectural elements from a house and weaving in the interior colour palette, we at HUX create personal, sophisticated and textured kitchen & joinery schemes that breathe life, colour and soul into a home. Reflecting a love of simplicity & a sense of order, the originality and authenticity of our design schemes are always carefully considered yet effortlessly inspirational. We live and breathe the importance of good design, practicality and fully understand how it brings out the best in people by promoting calm & functionality in a space.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
The colour palette on this project was key; from the beautiful ultramarine through to inky blue colours. This juxtaposed with the handpicked marbles, fluted glass and antiques brass handles brought together a harmonious & glamorous scheme for both cooking and entertaining.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Less minimal, more maximal, but with a considered approach not cluttered. There is also more of an emphasis on craftmanship and the provenance of when products come from.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
Explore innovative materials
Mixing interesting surfaces
Challenge form versus functionality
Hone craftmanship
Treat ironmongery like jewellery

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Take time on the concept development as this is where to heart of the project starts and the storytelling unfolds.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
A great benchmark and accolade for showcasing fantastic projects

What projects are you currently working on?
A new build Architect designed house in Cambridgeshire – full kitchen and joinery package

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
We have recently worked with one of our interior design partners on a project for Ollie Murs, including an amazing freestanding bar unit that opens out to reveal a full bar in glorious pink.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
Quick turnaround projects are always the most challenging, as trades are in on top of each other and the spaces are not ready for surveying until the moment before the joinery is required. We have learnt that it is best to manage these very carefully as if not you end up compromising your service, your product and the overall project suffers as a result.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
We use Sketch up to develop our design pre-manufacture, which works really well as it’s much better for our clients to be able to visualise their designs in 3d. Then when we have signed off all the details we use a software called Cabinet Vision which communicates directly with our CNC. Both of these are critical to our design and manufacturing process.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
To redesign our HUX website to create a web platform second to none where clients can navigate and see what the full breath of joinery that we can design. To continue to improve our design processes so we can offer an unparalleled customer experience to match the finished product of our joinery .

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession?
Our dining table, made from a slab of Amazonite stone and placed on a beautiful wenge wood base, all manufactured and designed by HUX.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Aspen, Colorado. After skiing hard all day the town has some world-class galleries, restaurants and live music venues.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
North Island, Seychelles

Your favourite book?
Book: Love in the time of cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Your favourite food and drink?
Japanese food and fine Italian wine

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Skiing in the mountains

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
A travel journalist

HUX London have been shortlisted for Kitchen Design Over £50,000 Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021.

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