mydeco in conversation with June Summerill and Bernadette Bishop from Summerill &Bishop

Can you tell us a bit about how Summerill & Bishop began and what prompted you to start a shop together?
We are old friends… Our children were at school together. We both enjoy cooking in our own kitchens at home, and paid special attention to them being beautiful as well as practical. Over lunch one day in 1993 we decided that it would be fun to fill what we thought was a hole in the market, and to open a kitchen shop which would reflect our own style, and hopefully be inspirational to others.

Where do you go to source your ranges and how do you decide what to include?
We look at items from many different countries… France, England, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, America etc., we visit trade fairs and antique markets – and we only decide to buy (if we are both in agreement) items which we feel have integrity, beauty, and practicality.

Who is your favourite designer and why?
June: Jaqueline Moribito, who lives in the next village to us in France. She "does white" better than anyone. Simple, natural, in tune with nature, and totally relaxed is her style. On the other hand, Tricia Guild "does colour" better than anyone...Vibrant modernity, comfortable and chic ....mixed patterns ...uplifting and joyful. Bernadette: I'd have to say my favourite designer of the moment is ceramic artist Iva Polachova. We recently held an exhibition showing her collection, and I think her work is just beautiful- very organic and pure. I love it!

Who’s home would you most like to look inside?
June: Ian McEwan the writer, as I feel sure that his home is filled with books and music, and he also buys paintings by my daughter, so I would love to see them in situ. He wrote a really good recipe in his book "Saturday" so I would love to see his kitchen, as he must also like to cook. Bernadette: Nicole Kidman's as she buys a lot from us and I would love to see how she has it all arranged!