Combining sustainable design with a relaxing space away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Looking Glass Lodge is a beautiful eco-lodge located in the woodland of East Sussex. Here we talk to the creative couple behind its development - Rik and Lindsey Goodman.
Combining sustainable design with a relaxing space away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Looking Glass Lodge is a beautiful eco-lodge located in the woodland of East Sussex. Here we talk to the creative couple behind its development - Rik and Lindsey Goodman.
The striking design of the Looking Glass Lodge takes inspiration from the untouched beauty of its surroundings, and reflects the biophilic principles upheld by the Goodman family. Set in the tranquil woodland of the Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre, natural materials are used throughout - including cedar wood for its exterior - to create a sense of harmony between its architecture and environment.
The minimalist interior design brings together wood, linen and stone with a muted colour palette, finished with Lusso fixtures and fittings such as our gunmetal floorstanding tap, matte black brassware, and the Pod Freestanding Stone Bath. Its curvaceous silhouette adds understated indulgence to the space, and is positioned by floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to take in the spectacular view of the reserve.
Can you give us some background on the Looking Glass Lodge and your inspirations for its interior design?
We are lucky enough to live in a peaceful spot on the edge of Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre & Nature Reserve, near Hastings, which Rik’s parents established for the RSPCA in the 1960s. In 2018 we started to think how wonderful it would be if we could share this beautiful location by building a unique lodge for guests to completely relax and immerse themselves within the woodland.
Biophilic principles were of utmost importance to us when designing the lodge. Through this, our intention has been to create a closer connection to nature through the way the lodge has been built, using natural resources to create a sense of harmony between the architecture and the natural world. We took our colour palette from the surrounding woodland and brought it into the space. We really wanted everything within the lodge to be textured as you would find in nature. We have worked hard to match luxury with sustainable, green credentials, and new technology. The lodge has been sensitively built by local craftsmen, and inside it has a warm and welcoming feel with all the home comforts you could need.
The Pod Freestanding Bath, perfectly complemented by gunmetal brassware
Adding striking detail to the beautifully finished interior, the Lodge features a thermostatic shower and wall mounted basin taps from our signature matte black brassware collection, as well as the Ethos Wall Hung Stone Basin
When designing the bathroom, what was your main objective?
Our main aim for the bathroom design was for it to sit comfortably against the backdrop of the many trees that surround the lodge. We needed something that was elegant and striking without clashing with the natural environment that is on display from all angles. Inspiration, as it has been for the whole lodge, was drawn from our beautiful part of the UK with its dramatic cliff lines, stoney beaches and lush woodland.
Why did you choose Lusso?
When we started looking into the bathroom design it very quickly became obvious that Lusso stood out from the crowd. Initially, it was the design that drew us to Lusso but after unpacking we realised how tactile everything was with a really solid feeling of quality.
The Looking Glass Lodge features multiple Lusso pieces - which is your favourite?
The bath was a really important part of the design and had to have the right feel to sit alongside the dramatic backdrop of the coast redwood and larch trees that surround the lodge. The Pod bath really stood out as having a natural, pebble like quality, tying in with our coastal location. It has a fantastic texture and is impossible to walk past without reaching out to touch it!
To elevate your bathroom space and enjoy the timeless beauty of natural materials, explore our collection of stone freestanding baths.
