Craft is at the very heart of British identity, from stained-glass windows in country churches to the Enid Blyton charm of thatched houses; from Harris Tweed (R) (famously poached by Coco Chanel) to the ceremonial livery worn by horses at Buckingham Palace. The burgeoning of digital craftsmanship is also enriching ground-breaking technologies, including microbial weaving and bespoke-made vessels for growing human tissue. Craft Britain brings together watchmakers with saddlers; bell casters with neon benders; shoemakers with silversmiths; potters with orrery-makers; stonemasons with weavers; embroiderers with basket-makers - and a myriad other craft traditions. This book aims to beat the drum for craft, waking people up to the fact that they need to support the country's rich seam of incredible craftspeople and so encourage new generations to master the skills needed to preserve and continue craft traditions. Craft Britain proves that craftsmanship in Britain is neither dying nor dead, but is a continuing and exciting exploration of process, materials and ideas spanning architecture, interiors, fashion, art and design.

Louise Bradley has been designing timeless, elegant interiors for thirty years. Her distinctive style - combining classic influences with a contemporary edge - has secured her position as one of the UK's leading interior designers, and has won her international recognition. Today, Louise's name is synonymous with relaxed luxury, and she has designed significant residential projects across the globe. Richly illustrated throughout, Interior: Louise Bradley is the first in-depth exploration of Louise's work, and provides a fascinating insight into her design process and the thinking behind a variety of her most accomplished projects. The featured homes include historic London townhouses, a lofty apartment, sophisticated pieds-a-terre, an Edwardian country house, opulent villas in Kuwait and an Alpine ski chalet, as well as Louise's own homes - an oasis of calm in the city and a cosy country retreat. Regardless of the type of project, Louise seeks always to be respectful of the architecture and to uphold and enhance the context and natural setting of a building. Her approach is to create tranquil, supremely comfortable and harmonious spaces that effortlessly combine custom-made furniture and accessories, unique finishes and state-of-the-art technology. While each project is individual, Louise generally prefers a muted, neutral colour palette, one that allows the beauty of a room to unfurl through the use of carefully layered materials, beautiful lighting and strategically placed signature pieces, such as an oversized mirror. Louise's renowned eye for detail is explored here in four 'Elements' sections that focus on Texture, Scale, Function and Reflection. Louise has long and proudly collaborated with a range of British and European artisans and craftspeople, and the book concludes with brief overview of her London showroom, which displays an extensive selection of her furniture, soft furnishings and accessories. Devotees of Louise's 'classic contemporary' aesthetic will be enthralled to find in Interior: Louise Bradley the opportunity to discover more about her inimitable design vision and her most captivating projects. AUTHORS: Louise Bradley is a London-based interior designer with an international reputation for her 'classic contemporary' take on luxury. Helen Chislett is a journalist and author who specialises in design-related subjects, particularly interiors, furniture, art and antiques. 300 colour illustrations