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Welcome to the first Ceraudo Salon!

Our first salon guest is British costume designer, Cobbie Yates. While his work in film, music and TV sees him travel the world – he’s temporarily living in Barcelona – home is South East London. Cobbie lives with his partner in the flat that he grew up in, overlooking his high school and filled with childhood memories. Having renovated the space together, they’ve created a calm interior, a canvas for Cobbie’s creativity.

He opened his stained glass door and welcomed us in to chat all things creativity, inspiration and how it impacts his interiors…

How far do your personal life and professional life coincide with one another? How do you ‘live your art’?

Life has the potential to excite and inspire my work; there is definitely a play between the two for me. As a creative, I can sometimes find it hard to fully switch off so it really helps to fill my home life with items that spark a conversation in a calming and relaxing way.

This interview has allowed me to reflect on how life is happening around me, constantly reshaping my taste and my environment as I move forward in my career. Work allows me to take in new cities and to experience architecture around the world, through the lens of a local. This is constantly evolving the way I choose to live and affords me the privilege of reflecting this journey in my home.

‘Cobbie pictured here with our Felix chair in Orpha, Coconut.’

Are there objects and designs in your everyday life that inspire you? This could be anything from particular buildings to tiles on the Tube, the shape of your kettle, the typography on a sign, etc.

Given that my space is the environment I grew up in, I learnt that leaning into ideas that already exist and adapting them or paying homage to them in some way can create something really evocative and almost nostalgic in a thrilling, new way. An example of this is the stained glass window in my front door. It was damaged by my builders when I renovated my place but I recently had it re-glazed with new colours and textures of hand blown glass. The multi-colour light that flows through in the morning really brightens my point of view and inspires me to push myself creatively.

Sonia Delaunay said: ‘Colour is the skin of the world?’
What colours are you drawn to and what do they express in your world?

There are no boundaries as long as it sparks an emotional reaction. I don’t feel restricted, threatened or limited by colour however I have gravitated towards naturalistic, raw tones as a foundation in my home. I’ve then chosen bolder pieces that provide the highs and lows and punctuate that calming base palette.

I feel very comfortable with contrasting colours and textures - I’m inspired by travel - and my home expresses that story. The soft pinks and warm tones are a nod to the streets of Ghana as well as trips to North Africa and the Mediterranean.

At the time of this shoot I had just visited the Man and Beast exhibition by Francis Bacon at the Royal Academy; the colour palette throughout his body of work inspired me so much.

Can you recall any childhood influences that have shaped your aesthetic sensibility?

Having grown up in London, I find the contrast of Brutalist architecture with natural, organic shapes and colour tones really interesting and grounding. The soft pinks and mild tones in my home are a nod to the clay pinkish streets of Ghana. My bathroom definitely makes me feel more connected to my history and culture.

Sonia’s husband Robert Delaunay once called her a ‘sculpture of living forms’ because she wore clothes that expressed her art. How far do fashion and art or design overlap for you?

I believe that art and fashion are inextricably intertwined. The use of colour, form, repetition and artisan technique are shared in a way that excites and inspires the viewer and wearer of a garment in equal measure. Fashion has the ability to take art a step further with its tactile nature and more enduring presence in our lives.

Everyday pieces of design permit us to step into the past and enjoy memories and experiences that have the potential to bond us to our families and shared history. This is also true of home textiles and furniture, which are often breathtaking pieces of art in themselves and examples of inspiring craftsmanship and skill. For me, there is little more precious than a coveted family heirloom passed from parent to child.

‘Cobbie’s favourite drink – THE ‘Picante de la Casa’, sitting perched on the Piero footstool in Turmeric velvet’

How can art and design be more inclusive?

I believe that art and design is for everyone. There is a history of exclusion of working-class and ethnic minority people from ‘the arts’, but I do believe this is slowly changing. We have to encourage young and old people of every background to believe that they do have something to say and a space of their own to create. They should have the time and opportunity to express themselves in a creative sphere and have the chance to reflect on where they come from and how that background can offer a new voice to art and design. Of course, this takes funding, organisation and the will of our schools, universities and ultimately governments but I do believe that this too can start at home with the family.

I know many very creative people who never had the opportunity to explore that part of themselves, which I find really sad. But, the Covid lockdowns gave many the time and opportunity to really open up their creativity for the first time since primary school, which has now carried on into everyday life and given them a new outlet for emotions & creativity, which is brilliant.

‘Cobbie seen here with our Elio armchair in Orpha, Tangerine’

What does ‘home’ mean to you?

Home means family, food and expression first and foremost. I think I have taken the best memories I have as a child and made them a priority in my home. Being able to have a space to host family and dear friends is important to me as it fills the space with memories and a story.
It gives soul to my space.

Do you have any muses or figures who inspire you?

The Nubuke Foundation in Ghana really inspires me. It’s an arts foundation in Accra that works to make the appreciation of art, culture, heritage and history accessible to all. For me, their work energises and works as a reminder of my values; namely that you can create something beautiful out of nothing.

The foundation is a place that is historical and informative, progressive. To me, in itself it feels like a political statement - the societal construct that you are a part of does not limit the power of my potential, creativity or my ability to be as refined as the developing worlds.

Shop Cobbie’s Picks

We’ve loved speaking to Cobbie and hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about him as much as we have.
These images feature the Felix Slipper Chair in Coconut, the  Elio Armchair in Tangerine and the Piero side table / footstool in Plain Velvet, Turmeric.
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