Diespeker is a huge supporter of young designers and we love to see our products used innovatively in new work. We recently came across a lovely kitchen larder featuring our terrazzo, made by Amy Buchanan.
Q. When did you first become interested in design?
A. I took A levels in Photography and Art and studied Art & Design Foundation at Loughborough University. I specialised in 3D Design for three months and did really well – I was going to go to Plymouth Uni to take 3D Design but I found myself looking at Nottingham Trent’s course in Furniture and Product Design. I realised there were more commercial and career possibilities with this, so I decided to go to Nottingham.
Q. You did an industry placement year while at university. What can you tell us about this?
A. This was at Burlanes Interiors; they have a showroom and workshop in Kent and a second showroom in Chelmsford, which opened just as I started my placement, in June 2017. I did CAD work including technical drawings for the clients, workshop and installation team. I also created several mood boards for the showroom, social media pages and clients on ideas for colours, and I worked on some projects with Burlanes founder, Lindsey Durrant. I was lucky enough to go to the KBB Show too. The skills I learnt during this time, including working with colours, materials and texture trend analysis, inspired me to design kitchen and dining furniture for my final year major project.
Q. As part of your portfolio, you created a beautiful freestanding kitchen larder featuring a Diespeker terrazzo worktop. Why did you choose terrazzo for the larder?
A. I’m keen on trends and from my work placement I knew about Silestone. It wasn’t quite what I wanted. I knew about terrazzo and how it was on trend for interiors, but I didn’t know it could be used for worktops. When I realised, I googled it and Diespeker popped up. I called and spoke to John and he agreed that I could have the terrazzo for a discount.
Q. That looks like our popular terrazzo TE007!
A. It is. I like that it has multiple flecks of varying toned marble and quartz which brings all the colours together. Everyone at Diespeker was great, they cut the terrazzo perfectly to size for me. It works well with the Farrow and Ball Red Earth paint, reclaimed birch plywood and the matt black hardware I chose. For the project, I was sponsored by Armac Martin who provided me with their new MIX collection handles.
Q. So what’s next?
A. I was pleased to get a high 2:1 for my degree and I’m currently looking at work opportunities – probably interiors design for kitchens, bars, hotels. And I have a spare piece of the TE007 terrazzo, which I’m hoping to use to make a chef’s table to match the larder!
To find out more about Amy’s work, you can see her portfolio here, or visit her on Instagram @amybuchanandesign
Photos by kind permission of Amy Buchanan
