5 minutes With... Lee Broom

Words by
Andy Morris

5th May 2022

Beyoncé's favourite British lighting designer discusses his bold new collaboration with Rémy Martin, the best fish'n'chips in Shoreditch and the allure of skiing in Japan.

Lee Broom Remy Martin Collaboration at Selfridges

What was the most difficult aspect of creating the XO Decanter?
The most challenging thing for me was making sure that I could reinvent the decanter yet still keep it authentic and classic. The Rémy Martin XO decanter is such an iconic bottle, I didn't want to reinvent the wheel so to speak, I simply wanted to enhance and elevate something that was already perfect.

Favourite Rémy Martin cocktail?
I love a Sidecar; I enjoy classic cocktails. However, I do love to drink Rémy Martin XO on ice, it really brings out the aromas and the flavour in the cognac.

What has been the most surprising reaction to the Lee Broom Penthouse, your huge showroom in New York?
People seem to really love the size of the penthouse and the scale of the pieces within it. It's great to be able to create designs in an environment where you have the scope to do enlarged pieces. The penthouse has lots of layers and evolves as you walk around it, so people don't expect it to be quite as big as it is; there are rooms after rooms and each one has a very unique style.

Best recent fashion purchase?
I bought myself a double-breasted suit from Gucci which I've had my eye on for quite a while. Gucci do the best tailoring for menswear.

What effect did Beyoncé swinging in your Hanging Hoop Chair have on you?
Like most people I'm a huge Beyoncé fan, I have great admiration for her music and her artistry. I think she's a true visionary, and so to be included within the ‘Black is King’ film was such a massive honour.

What is your favourite coffee table book of the moment?
The new Tom Ford book by Rizzoli, 002. I loved the first one when it came out; Tom Ford has always been one of my favourite fashion designers, but I love the fact he's been able to diversify into other mediums such as film so successfully.

Which LP do you love playing on your record player?
An American in Paris by Gershwin.

What's the next big trend in interiors?
I have no idea to be honest, I have never really focused on trends or thought about it much. I kind of feel that as a creative, as soon as you start focusing on things that are deemed fashionable you lose your own authenticity as a designer, so I try to block out the noise, and do my own thing as much as I can.

What is your favourite restaurant and why?
Our showroom and offices are in Shoreditch in East London, so I tend to eat out locally. There are always so many incredible restaurants opening in this area - every other week it feels like! One of my new favourites however is ’Goddard and Gibbs’ at the new 100 Shoreditch Hotel. It serves amazing seafood and has a great vibe. Ambience is equally as important as the food for me. 

Which artist should we check out and why?
There have been two incredible Noguchi exhibitions in London recently, one at the Barbican and one at the White Cube. You will find most designers are fans of Noguchi given that he crossed the boundaries between art and design so brilliantly.

What is your favourite hotel and why?
Ett Hem in Stockholm which is Swedish for A Home: the clue is in the title! You don't even feel like you're in a hotel.

What holiday destination would you recommend and why?
Probably one of the best holidays I ever had was to Japan many years ago. I travel so much for work, and particularly to bustling cities, so it was amazing to be able to go to Japan and visit a few of its larger cities and also explore the country a little. It's incredible. The first time I ever skied was in Japan.

What does luxury mean to you?
Uniqueness.

Rémy Martin x Lee Broom will be available exclusively at Selfridges.com at the end of May.

Remy Martin Lee Broom Collaboration at Selfridges