Join us this March for an inspiring conversation on the essential elements that bring meaning and beauty to exceptional interiors. Acclaimed interior designer Peter Mikic will be joined by David Gibson of Brownrigg, Joan Barzilay Freund, author of Defining Style: The Book of Interior Design, and author and presenter Alexandra Tolstoy. The discussion will be moderated by Tony Freund, Editorial Director of 1stDibs.
Together, this exceptional panel will share expert insights and practical advice, inspiring and energising guests to embrace their homes with confidence and celebrate a truly individual sense of style.
Following the talk, there will be time for an audience Q&A and a book signing.
10-10.30am - Guest Arrival and Refreshments
10.30-11.30am - Talk
11.30am - Audience Q&A and Book Signing
12pm - 1.30pm - Lunch in the Ox Barn or The Swan
*Talk and lunch tickets include access to the talk, welcome refreshments and lunch in the Ox Barn or The Swan - a £30 allocation towards your bill. Guests may be seated on a communal table - if you have a seating preference, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you on the day.
Peter Micik
Peter Mikic is the founder of Peter Mikic Studio, an international interior design practice based in London, with a recently opened office in New York. Originally trained in fashion in Australia, he established his studio in 2006, and its portfolio now spans private residences, hotels, yachts and commercial spaces across Europe and the United States. His work has been widely recognised by leading industry publications including AD Collector’s Top 100, House & Garden’s Top 100 and Elle Decoration’s Top Interior Designers.
Peter is known for a playful yet sophisticated aesthetic that blends historical and contemporary influences, layering bespoke pieces with antiques sourced from different periods and geographies. At the core of his approach is a belief that the most successful interiors feel personal, lived-in and timeless, creating spaces that are distinctive and as functional as they are beautiful
Joan Barzilay Freund
Joan Barzilay Freund is a respected author and commentator on furniture and interior design whose writing has appeared in major publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Elle Decor, and 1stDibs’s Introspective magazine.
Her latest book, Defining Style: The Book of Interior Design, surveys 25 defining interior design styles through over 150 global residential interiors, offering both inspiration and education for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Joan’s work as an author and curator bridges historical context with contemporary trends, helping readers and designers alike understand how spaces reflect personal and cultural values.
Tony Freund
Tony Freund is Editorial Director and Director of Fine Art at 1stDibs, the premier global marketplace for luxury design, antiques, and fine art. In this role, he leads the company’s editorial vision - overseeing Introspective magazine, The Study blog, and the annual 1stDibs 50 celebration of the world’s most compelling design talent - and shapes the narrative around collecting, craftsmanship, and aesthetic culture.
A seasoned editor and storyteller, Tony has spent decades chronicling design, art, and culture, having held senior editorial positions at Art+Auction, Town & Country, and Esquire before joining 1stDibs in 2010. His work explores how objects and spaces reflect personal identity, creative expression, and cultural history.
David Gibson
David Gibson is a British antiques dealer and co-founder of Brownrigg Antiques, the respected antiques and interiors destination based in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Founded with his partner Jorge Perez-Martin, Brownrigg is known for its thoughtfully curated selection of furniture and decorative objects that blend historical integrity with contemporary appeal.
Originally trained as a solicitor, David left the legal profession to pursue his passion for antiques, bringing a sharp eye and strong business acumen to the gallery. Today, Brownrigg serves an international clientele of interior designers and collectors seeking distinctive, character-rich pieces of enduring quality.
Alexandra Tolstoy
Alexandra Tolstoy is the founder of Alexandra Tolstoy Travel and Tolstoy Dacha, a design venture inspired by the Russian country house and the craftsmanship of Central Asia. While widely recognised for her adventurous life on horseback across the Eurasian steppe, she is equally known for her deeply personal approach to interiors — layered, storied spaces shaped by travel, heritage and craftsmanship.
Her homes have been featured in leading design publications, reflecting a distinctive aesthetic that blends English classicism with Russian and Central Asian folk tradition. Across travel and design alike, her work is rooted in land, memory and objects made to endure.
Defining Style
Twenty-five iconic interior design styles through 150 inspiring homes by top designers worldwide - from Coastal to Contemporary, Maximalist to Mediterranean.
This visual guide helps readers identify and understand each style with clear introductions, expert examples by designers like Studio Shamshiri and Laura Gonzalez, and a global range of interiors - from Manhattan to Bali.
“This book offers an antidote to that more passive way of looking and offers an opportunity for context. Under the direction of a gifted designer, a room’s decor speaks its intention clearly.” - Asad Skyrett, former Editor-in-Chief of Elle Decor.
