Italian brings ‘London look’

Press, 11 May 1979, Page 15

Italian brings ‘London look’

A man so particular that he wears detachable shirt collars which he sends to London to be laundered, has arrived in Christchurch to plug the simple look.

George Chimirri, an Italian born interior design consultant, has opened an interior design studio in the recently established Shades Arcade. -His aim is to combat the “atrocious workmanship” of New Zealand tradesmen and guide his customers through the “frustration” of trying to get quality workmanship in a small isolated country. He trained for four years at the Royal Intistute of Technology in Melbourne and emerged with a Bachelor of Arts in design.

In 1974, while working at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden as a costume designer, he met and befriended Juan Carlos Moreno, the Crown Prince of Argentina. Subsequently he designed the interior of the prince’s apartment at Hyde Park, I ondon.

Later, while working for Liberty of London, he met his New Zealand-born wife, Denise. New Zealand was one place that he had not visited, having designed and travelled throughout Europe and Israel, and he decided to work here for a while. He chose to live in Christchurch because of its English charm.

“Auckland is too busy and reminds me of Sydney, its style is Australia and America whereas Christchurch is con-

servative with a very London style.”

It is the London, "almost Laura Ashley,” look that he will endorse with his designs. His emphasis is on plainness, which gives the client more scope to fill a room with ornaments, paintings or furniture of an individual nature.

By

AMANDA SAMUEL

He designed the interior of the model Keith Hayhome in Hornby with his own specially printed plain wallpaper and complementary drapes. In Christchurch he has pioneered raw silk, chintz, and cane as the thing to have in your living room. “The thing to do is tackle one room at a time,” says Mr Chimirri. “I’ve seen some terrible jobs where someone has seen something in a book and said ‘l’ll have that.’ Each room is different and just looks like the cherry on top of a pavlova which is already crammed with different fruits. “You get the odd housewife who did the bathroom out rather well and then thinks she’s a design consultant. I’ve had four years’ training and many years’ experience and I am here to carry the responsibilities on my shoulders. I can help the person who is frustrated. I like solving people’s problems.” Mr Chimirri intends to buy an old house with “stamina” and do it up.

He says he would dread building a house in New Zealand because he thinks the majority of builders are just out to “make a buck.” The first six months of the nine months he has had in Christchurch were spent repairing work for unhappy customers. He says clients have come to him weeping because they cannot get their builder to listen to their wishes about the way they want their houses designed.

“New Zealanders are well travelled and they get frustrated because they cannot get things here that they see overseas,” he says. “That is my job, to run around and find the little tradesmen to materialise their wishes.” Mr Chimirri is on call 24 hours a day and regards himself as a professional, “like a doctor.”

“A person will ring me at 8.30 p.m. in the evening,” he says. “They’ve had their second scotch and they’re looking at their brand new bright red ceiling and they think, my God, what have I done. I go round and I talk to them and reassure them, and they feel happy about the whole thing again. I put a lot of love and a lot of effort into my work.”

Personal attention to detail is obviously George Chimirri’s style. ” At the opening of his studio, he wore a black and white striped Saville Row suit, with a red rose in the button hole. He topped it off with a natty black silk bow tie — and, of course, the detachable collar.