Tom Dixon's designs for Sea Containers

I was lucky enough to take some clients to the new Sea Containers restaurant in the Mondrian hotel on Southbank before Christmas. The food was delicious but I was mainly there to get a look at the decor from Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio. You can see some stock photos below as I wasn't uncouth/brave enough to start snapping myself. The colours and the lighting and the humorous touches, like the Yellow Submarine, really made an impression.











Tom Dixon is a favourite designer of mine (as I have written before) because he is so inventive and down to earth. His lighting is still priced at levels that are within mortal reach and he is very up front and grateful about the fact that his famous copper disco ball lights paid for the growth of the rest of the company. I like a designer who can make their business pay and not just blaze into integrity-filled administration. I saved up for one of his lights last year and can't wait to get the electrician over to hang it.

I have Tom Dixon's 'Dixonary' book which is far more interesting than most designer-authored books. My favourite, quote, about TD's cast iron shoe doorstop, is:

"In the board game Cluedo, domestic objects become murder weapons. I like the idea of objects becoming figurative and not completely reflecting their functionality. Sometimes I get bored of being too serious. The idea of using a show as a doorstop seemed natural, becuase that is what you do with your foot. And you always need a non-specific heavy object at home - to attack a burglar, bang in a nail, crack a nut, or just keep a door open."