'It is in its pared-down luxury, however, that the house has its edge. All the panelling, architraves, doors, windows and skirtings were custom-made for the building; new floors were laid in rich brown or bleached oak boards, with limestone used for the hallway and bathrooms; at the flick of a Lutron switch, mood lighting changes the atmosphere of each room; and furniture and mirrors are scaled up to look just right in the large spaces, such as the oversized ottoman and sofa in the living room. Although the house is sparsely furnished, the pieces are of an enviably high quality.' The Times on John Minshaw's award-winning Wimpole Street home. As an Architectural & Interior Design Practice, John Minshaw Designs has been designing and building private residences for over 30 years. At the Design & Decoration Awards in 2005/6, he won both 'Designer of the Year' and 'Classical Residential Interior'. Minshaw says he came to interiors by default. But it is clear that his early training in fine art influences much of his work. "My style is to buy good antiques and design bespoke cabinetry, then put them into pared-down interiors," he says -- a design ethic that is a neat contrast to the cliched froufrou swags and tails often associated with interior design. This book covers ten projects, spanning twenty years, offering a summary of Minshaw's work.