The sad death of David Collins, restaurant interior designer ‘par excellence’, has attracted much attention in the press. Here, clearly, was a man who not only created stunning, enduring interiors for hospitality, but also attracted and retained clients who enjoyed working with him and who became friends.
His list of ‘credits’ is a long one: from The Wolseley, Nobu, J Sheehey, the Blue Bar at The Berkeley (much cited), the Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason, The Delaunay, Cafe Rouge, Colbert (pictured above), and many more.
And, of course, the chefs and restaurateurs with whom he worked is equally long, ranging from Chris Corbin and Jeremy King to Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing.
It is to be hoped that there will soon be a comprehensive book covering his design achievements – design being central to the success of hospitality venues. Meanwhile, to capture a sense of the man and his personality, and to celebrate his designs, take a look at the Evening Standard’s coverage last week here