Zophia Scarlett Interiors Create an Inviting Space Using Natural Materials and Custom Joinery

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a timeless home design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Zophia Scarlett Interiors.

Following a significant life event, Zophia Scarlett Interiors was commissioned for a complete interior refresh to transform their client’s house into a true reflection of who he is today. The brief called for a timeless design that balances warmth, functionality, and brings heart back in to this home. The design features natural materials, custom joinery, and a refined, masculine palette, with feminine touches to create an inviting space. Reconfigured layouts, layered lighting, and thoughtful details support both everyday living and family connection. The result is a deeply personal space; a home that represents a fresh chapter in their client’s life.

What was the client’s brief?

Our client came to us wanting a fresh start. Following a difficult time in his personal life, he had spent several years in a home that was a constant reminder of a previous life. He was ready to transform it into something reflective of who he is today; a warm, welcoming environment where he and his child could connect, grow, and create new memories together.

The brief centred on creating a home that felt both grounded and elevated. The client wanted a clean, modern-traditional aesthetic with subtle masculine undertones, softened with a female touch.

Key requirements included:
– Reimagining the layout with considered spatial planning to improve the flow.
– Introducing functional and decorative lighting, replacing the oversized, dated fittings.
– Incorporating durable, natural materials such as timber, stone, and linen.
– Designing ample built-in storage specifically to their needs to reduce visual clutter and create a renewed sense of order.

Ultimately, the vision was to deliver a space that felt calm, confident, and deeply personal; a true reflection of the next chapter in our client’s life.

What inspired the design of the project?

As a bachelor, it was important to our client that the design had a masculine feel, but with a feminine influence throughout. Achieving this balance set the tone for the entire design direction: grounded yet elevated, confident yet welcoming.

For me, the starting point was the property itself. It had solid bones and strong potential, but the interiors felt flat and underwhelming with clutter and ill-fitting furniture. My aim was to deliver a timeless design at the core with clean, modern-traditional lines and then layer in texture, colour, and natural materials to add depth, personality, and emotion. Ultimately, it was about transforming a magnolia, lifeless house into a home with presence, and authenticity.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

By far the biggest challenge was our client’s deep distrust of trades, built from past negative experiences. This meant his natural disposition was to question almost every element of the process, which could have slowed progress and created unnecessary tension. I saw it as my role to manage this carefully—positioning myself between the client and the trades, ensuring clear communication, and demonstrating the professionalism and skill of my team.

I strongly believe that great design only becomes reality through the craft and dedication of talented tradespeople. Execution is often where the magic truly happens. By maintaining trust, clarity, and collaboration throughout, we not only delivered the project on time but also changed the client’s perception—he was delighted with both the journey and the results – all whilst I was pregnant, completing when I was 39 weeks and due into hospital the following week.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Although my client was unable to move out during most of the process, I was able to persuade him to leave for three days so that my team and I could complete and style the project for a true grand reveal. That moment was the absolute highlight for us. His reaction said it all; he admitted that if he had known his home would turn out this way, he would have trusted the process from the very beginning. What touched us most was his shift in perspective: before, he referred to it as his house, but now he proudly calls it his home.

To further reinforce this, he even invited a renowned local estate agent to view the finished property. Not only did it exceed his personal expectations, but the valuation also confirmed a significant increase in the property’s worth. This was an outcome that made the transformation even more rewarding.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

I entered the SBID Awards because they represent one of the most respected benchmarks of excellence in the design industry, and I wanted to showcase a project that I believe deserved recognition. This particular project was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my career, delivered under immense time pressure, while also overcoming my client’s deep distrust of the process. To see the transformation not only delight him but also significantly increase the value of his property was something I am deeply proud of.

On a personal level, I am naturally competitive, and I love pushing myself and my work to the highest standard. Entering the SBID Awards felt like the perfect way to celebrate the resilience, creativity, and collaboration that went into this project, while also challenging myself and my team against the very best in the industry.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an SBID International Design Awards Finalist is an incredible honour for me and my studio at this early stage. I am proud to be recognised alongside such talented designers, and this milestone inspires me to keep pushing for excellence for my clients and my creative possibilities.

Questions answered by Zophia Scarlett Cleghorn, Director of Zophia Scarlett Interiors.