Ionides, Basil Luke 1884 - 1950

Basil Luke Ionides [commonly known as Basil Ionides] was born in London, England on 20 June 1884 and was articled to Alexander Nisbett Paterson (1862-1947) in Glasgow, Scotland, from 1900 to 1904 or 1905, during which time he also attended Glasgow School of Art from 1900 to 1903.  After completion of his articles he worked as an assistant in the offices of Harold Ainsworth Peto (1854-1933) and Leonard Aloysius Scott Stokes (1858-1925) in London.

Ionides commenced independent practice in Hadlow Down, East Sussex in 1908.  He designed a number of houses and worked on the restoration of Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon in Essex, and Yakes Court in Sittingbourne, Kent.

During World War One he served in the Navy and was injured in 1917.  Following the war he worked primarily as an interior designer, associated with the Art Deco style. In 1929 he redesigned the interiors of the Savoy Theatre and Claridge's Hotel in London.

Ionides was the author of two successful books on interior design: 'Colour and Interior Decoration' (1926) and 'Colour in Everyday Rooms' (1934).  He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1931, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1938.

His address was given as Howbridge Hall, Witham, Essex and 7A George Street, Hanover Square, London in 1924; and 28 Cork Street, London, and 49 Berkeley Square, London in 1931 and 1939. He died at 7 Wilbury Road, Hove, Sussex on 23 September 1950. His address at the time of his death was Buxted Park, Buxted, Uckfield, Sussex,