Home and Away: Buchanan Studio

My dream hotel would be on the beach with beautiful simple whitewashed rooms, floor to ceiling windows and an amazing fresh fish restaurant.

Angus Buchanan

Angus Buchanan is the creative director of Buchanan Studio. He began his career working for photographer Mario Testino before becoming art director for production designer Michael Howells. He has worked with global brands including Dior, Dolce & Gabanna, Versace and Burberry.

Together with his wife Charlotte he set up Buchanan Studio and has designed sets, restaurants, retail spaces and private homes all over the world. For the first in our Home and Away series, he ponders life’s house and hotel pleasures.

Talk us through your home...

Our home is currently a building site. Charlotte (pictured below) and I have been renovating a London Victorian townhouse for the past year. It has incredible period features which we’ve restored. We’ve also added an extension to reach into the garden with floor to ceiling sash windows which when opened up will have a seamless connection between the inside/outside. I can’t wait to move in this Summer.

What is your most coveted item?

To own a boat is a long-held dream of mine. Any boat would do, however a vintage Riva or teak-decked sailing boat would be ideal.

What is the most precious item in your wardrobe?

A long black Acne trench coat which was given to me a few years ago by my wife Charlotte. It’s my absolute winter staple and I’d be lost without it.

Do you have a go to supper dish?

I am obsessed with cooking over fire and if I could I would dig a firepit in my garden and do everything on it. But given I live in a city, this may irritate the neighbours and so I make do with a barbecue once in a while. My go to supper dish would be a marinated and BBQ-d leg of lamb with a smokey baba ganoush and pomegranate seeds.

Who would be the ultimate neighbour?

Given this is a fantasy question, I’m going to pretend we live in a parallel universe where anything is possible and say Anthony Bourdain. He was a hero of mine. Can you imagine living next to him and having endless opportunities to hear his stories and soak up his experiences. I would become one of those annoying neighbours that invites you over for drinks a little too often.

Which place is worth getting out of bed for?

I spent a lot of my childhood in deepest, darkest South Cornwall and I have returned there every year since. Decade after decade it never seems to change a bit and it brings me great joy to take my own children to all my favourite spots and hidden beaches.

Where is next on your travel list?

I recently spent two months in India working on a project in Jodhpur. I didn’t get to see much of the country because we were so busy but I saw enough to know I need to go back one day soon.

Tell us about the hotel of dreams...

My dream hotel would be on the beach with beautiful simple whitewashed rooms, floor to ceiling windows and an amazing fresh fish restaurant. Luxurious but shorts and sandy bare feet encouraged. An outdoor bathroom would be good too.

Finish this sentence: The world's most glorious restaurant is…

….either Italian, a stone’s throw from the sea and serving fresh lobster pasta, or Swiss - several thousand feet up the side of a mountain and involving copious amounts of melted cheese.