ONE DAY WITH | MASTERS & MUSES | CABANA MAGAZINE

Our new series, One Day with, offers an insider's glimpse into the daily lives of creatives and tastemakers. This week, Emma Becque sits down with interior designer Martin Brudnizki, founder of And Objects and MBDS. From a secret tonic and tented room, to a sunset lunch, Martin shares the routines, rituals, and inspirations that shape his daily life.

INTERVIEW BY EMMA BECQUE | MASTERS & MUSES | 27 SEPTEMBER 2024

The drawing room is a hybrid space for work, entertaining and a gallery for antique pooch portraits, including James Hayes' painting of their dog, Zenon © Kensington Leverne for SALON 

I wake up any time between five and six. It's just how my body works; I have no choice! I am so lucky to live between West Sussex and London. Our English countryside house is in a small hamlet called Binderton.

I awake to the glorious setting of my bedroom and the natural Sussex scents. We sleep in a fabric-upholstered bed draped in Jean Monro Lustmore fabric adorned with foxgloves. I love this pattern so much that I have covered almost everything in this fabric: the curtains, the bedspread, and the pillows—you name it, it's covered. The rest of our bedroom (including my ceiling) is coloured in a calming Rose pink by Edward Bulmer.

As soon as I wake up, I have (a few) long espressos. If I am in the countryside and not London, it is my ritual to walk in the Drawing Room, open the French doors, and enjoy the garden. I breathe the air and relish the sun for a few seconds to awaken my body. 

I must complete my stretching routine each day. Then (depending on which day it is), I jump back into bed or go to the gym, which is a necessity if I want to fit into my clothes and avoid the dread of buying a whole new wardrobe!

My breakfast is straightforward. My top ingredients are yoghurt with All-Bran and some blueberries, which I fetch from The Cowdray Farm Shop on their Estate. The place is full of wonderful people and fantastic produce.

When in Sussex, I enjoy working from the Drawing Room. We have a large table overlooking the garden, and small breaks consist of walks with my whippet, Zenon. When in London, I share an office with my Creative Associate which feels like a residential setting. There is a fuchsia pink sofa, yellow seagrass wallpaper, and a large plasterwork by Peter Hone on the mantel.    

While driving to London, I listen to The Rest Is Politics with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart and The News Agents and The Rest Is History podcasts by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.

Focus for me comes relatively quickly. My business is 24 years old, so it feels like a second skin. I advise young entrepreneurs to listen to their intuition and second sense - this will keep you focused. Also, learn to troubleshoot and find solutions to problems quickly (this will save a lot of time).

Countryside-bound work days consist of breaks walking Zenon through the Binderton House Estate, which was built in 1677 © Kensington Leverne for SALON

 

At the office, I have lunch around 11 or 12 o'clock. We have a vast pantry-style kitchen in the London studio, so I make my lunch and enjoy it at my desk. I'm like Anna Wintour; I have the same thing every day: breaded chicken with a Greek salad. The only carb is the bread on the chicken, and no cheese, please!

My favourite lunch guest is my partner, Jonathan (always). We will grill fresh salmon with an accompaniment of broccoli. The beauty of living near the coast is the fantastic local fishmongers. Here, in West Sussex, the raw ingredients are excellent.

Our nine-to-five is idyllic in the countryside. Work breaks consist of taking our dog for a walk and tending to the garden. I'm a perfectionist, so I leisurely tidy up our ten kilometres of borders with sprouting tulips and daffodils. While cutting these back, I have a glass of wine and watch the sunset. Of course, I am always available through email, but after 6 p.m., I am strictly offline.

When in London, my days go by quickly. I am in and out of meetings. I do one client meeting daily, not more, so I bring my all. I usually have product and strategy meetings for And Objects, which is exciting. We have just opened a shop on Pimlico Road.

The couple are natural hosts. Dishes are a concoction of herbs picked from the garden and locally sourced ingredients © Kensington Leverne for SALON

I switch off when reading historical fiction. A favorite book is Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris. I also love to host lunch parties that roll into the extended weekend (it's our signature). Being surrounded by friends in nature is when I unwind most.  

Our favorite weekend activity is hosting our al fresco soirées. We only entertain  during lunchtime, this way everyone has exited before supper. A highlight is our platters of food and all-you-can-eat nibbles symphonised by One Note Samba. At our house, guests can have whatever they like.

On the menu is champagne, Negronis or my classic Martini. It is crucial to have everything available for guests so they feel relaxed. A secret ingredient that has elevated our cocktails is the Jack Rudy Classic Tonic Syrup, available only from America; our friends bring it over for us.

During the weekends, I love a slow day at home. I wake up in our wonderful bedroom with a cup of coffee and The Times. Jonathan and I plot our plans for the day, such as walking Zenon in the woods or on the beach. We will squeeze in a pub lunch at our local pub, The Horseguards in Tillington.

Seeing friends brings us joy. Just the other weekend, we had Beata Heuman and her husband over, and last week we had a wonderful dinner at Petworth House. Spontaneous weekends are the best.

Martin's interior design projects include the legendary Mayfair members club, Annabel's © James McDonald

There are two rooms I can't stop thinking about. The first is my Indigo tented guest bedroom and the second is Nancy Lancaster's Yellow Room at 39 Brook Street, which is Brown's Fashion's shop today.

I take inspiration from observing people and situations. When designing for people, I observe how they respond in settings. I don't believe in a design ego trip. It's not about me; it's about my client.

My design tips include using every color palette, except purple and beige. I always encourage clients to purchase only the best-quality pieces so they can become heirlooms. But it’s essential to build up your collection over time. The antique market in Petworth is the perfect place to forage such finds. But, honestly, purchasing some brilliant tat also doesn’t hurt.

If I hadn’t ventured down the path of interior design, I believe I'd have been a gardener. Pottering around our garden is my biggest distraction, as is my whippet.

Martins interior design studio MBDS recently decorated Broadwick Street Hotel with a  “Studio 54 meets your grandmother townhouse” style © Oskar Proctor