For over 40 years David Mlinaric brought an understated formality to the homes of an elite clientele, including Lord Rothschild, Paul Getty and Sir Mick Jagger. Now that Mlinaric has retired, Hugh Henry and Tino Zervudachi are carrying on the tradition with an eye toward the future. “Design has become much less rigid,” says Henry (right). “The good of every period is appreciated for its worth. A 20th-century piece can easily work with one from the 17th century. We are attuned to that. Design in the future will depend on the invention of new materials, ones as exciting as plastic was in its day.”

The designers’ classic, uncluttered spaces are characterized by a subtle use of color. “Being Scottish, I love monochromatic rooms and hues of gray,” says Henry. “At the same time, many designers eliminate color variances altogether. That’s a mistake. There is nothing worse than using no color.” Mlinaric, Henry and Zervudachi, based in London and Paris, is completing projects as far afield as Athens and Tokyo. “The ease of travel has made it possible to be influenced by cultures in every corner of the world,” Henry explains. “A project should be dictated by the client’s desires but also by the culture of the region, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all aesthetic.” Zervudachi agrees: “Our goal is to provide as beautiful and comfortable a home as we can manage while respecting the structure itself.”

Mlinaric, Henry and Zervudachi

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