Design Details

We recently completed an project in which we were asked to design an interior for a small rental flat in Central London. The property was a one bedroom in the heart of the city that needed to be neutral, multi-functional and elegant.

The small layout had to be fresh and spacey whilst at the same time incorporating all the components that a full-time home requires. The architecture we had to work with wasn’t that well thought out, with many unnecessary doors opening into small areas and a kitchen that had little-to-no storage space. The living area was long and narrow but with lots of windows so luckily it had great natural light.

Since the property was going to be rented out for a few years before the client moved in the palette had to remain mostly neutral. There wasn’t much space to include a static dining area so we worked closely with the client and a furniture-maker to design a bespoke dining table which folded up and doubled as a console that fit nicely behind the sofa. Some upholstered poufs were added which could easily be used as extra seating which needed. A Meridiani side table completed the living area and two bar stools transformed the kitchen into a much more social area.

When embarking on an interior design project I like to visit showrooms and fabric houses to gather inspiration. I often pop by the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre in London to check out the latest trends, pick up fabric swatches and gather ideas. I also find it helpful to create sketches and drawings of ideas – this is great for translating ideas to clients and it’s also fun for me. 

Interior design is a really tough business. I’ve met many people over the years that have confessed to thinking that ID is all about choosing pretty things. But so much more goes on behind the scenes. Working with specialist trades, builders and architects, making sure goods arrive in one piece and on time, coordinating logistics (locally and overseas), countless hours spent obtaining prices and product information and dealing with extremely difficult situations. Choosing pretty things is the tip of the iceberg. At the end of the day though, you get the opportunity to meet extremely talented people, build incredible business relationships (and sometimes even friendships) and be privileged enough to be trusted to take your clients’ needs and desires and make them a reality.

Watching a project go from mood boards and sketches to a real-life home after months of hard work  is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world.

Watching the smiles of happy clients when handing them their newly transformed home, giving an old heirloom chair a new lease on life with new fabrics or a paint job, acquiring that perfect little antique piece that completes a scheme or styling a room and making it look beautiful makes all the blood, sweat and tears totally worth it!