Art and Design Inspiration
Who is Andy Saunders and Why Are His Cars So Special?
Discover the world of Andy Saunders and his unique collection of cars. Learn about his passion for automotive history and the stories behind each vehicle.
Andy Saunders Cars goes beyond a typical dealership, celebrating and showcasing automotive art. Andy Saunders, the founder and bespoke car designer, has spent over 30 years in the automotive industry.
He has collaborated with top industry names, and major automotive publications have featured his work. Andy sees cars as art. In this article, we explore how Andy Saunders Cars is more than a place to buy a car, but also a fresh take on contemporary craft.
A Visionary in Automotive Design: Andy Saunders
Saunders’ passion for cars goes beyond typical appreciation for well-designed luxury. Some call him a car alchemist, transforming cars into something truly extraordinary. In the early 1990s, after working at Ford, he founded his own design consultancy, working with major manufacturers. One of Saunders’ earliest designs was the Lotus Carlton, a high-performance version of the Vauxhall Carlton, and a speed icon.
Where Art Meets Function: The Saunders Approach
Saunders takes a detailed, precise approach to building cars. He researches each car’s history and specifications to understand its design. He restores or builds every component to the highest standard, maintaining detailed records like photographs, diagrams, and notes for accuracy.
Beyond aesthetics, Saunders believes design should align with a car’s intended purpose. He seeks new materials and technologies to enhance speed, efficiency, safety, and reliability.
Andy Saunders Cars beautifully bridge the gap between art and functionality. Andy and his team restore and maintain each car with care, ensuring both beauty and usability.
Automotive Art and Interior Design: Bridging Two Worlds
Functional design, like Andy’s cars, can provide an avenue for creative expression and innovation. By utilizing the talents and skills of artists and artisans, product design can be beautiful and unique but also prioritizes the needs and behaviours of the user, resulting in end products and also spaces that are intuitive, efficient, and effective. By designing for functionality, we can create products and spaces that are not only easier to use and more durable, but also more sustainable for the future.
Andy Saunders Cars is not just a place to buy a car; it’s a place to immerse yourself in the world of automotive art. Their showroom is more like an art gallery than a car dealership, with each car carefully placed to showcase its beauty and design. TThe designers carefully position the lighting to highlight each luxury bespoke vehicle’s curves and angles. The serene, quiet environment allows visitors to fully appreciate every car’s beauty. Valuing the history and design of each vehicle, Andy’s team often host events and exhibits that showcase the beauty and artistry of their designer cars.
Art Meets Function: Sonya Winner’s Vibrant Rug Collection
Art forms can take many shapes, like Andy’s incredible car inventions and our Vibrant Contemporary Rug collection. Sonya designs using bold colours, geometric shapes, and abstract patterns inspired by nature, architecture, and art, reflecting her playful approach to rugs as an art form.
Sonya’s designs also stand out for their versatility and adaptability. Each design changes depending on the angle, offering various placement options. Our luxury rugs work perfectly in different spaces, from modern urban apartments to traditional country homes.
This versatility is a hallmark of our contemporary design, which often seeks to blend traditional and modern elements to create a fresh and innovative aesthetic.
Similar to Andy, we know that using high quality materials is a key element for the functionality of the product. We use 100% New Zealand Wool best quality, Silk or Art Silk to our own unique specification. This ensures our rugs are durable, practical (they can be cleaned!) and have longevity. They are also wonderful statement piece of floor art that will transform your home with their stunning colours, beautiful design and in many cases unique shapes.
