The Story Behind Studio Benaki: Crafting Deeply Personal, Expressive and Highly Functional Homes

Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most?

There are many aspects of interior design that I find rewarding. But if I had to choose, it would be the spatial planning phase. The stage where functionality is at its most critical and where my civil engineering instincts truly come alive. I find myself imagining people moving through the spaces, living in them, using them at different times of day. How does a family flow through a kitchen in the morning? How does a room need to work differently in the evening? Getting that spatial logic right is the foundation on which every timeless, functional interior is built, and it is one of the things my engineering background equips me particularly well for. There is something deeply satisfying about solving a complex spatial challenge beautifully and seeing it transform how a client lives in their home every day.

What has been your most memorable career highlight from the past year?

Without question, it has been founding Studio Benaki and delivering my first projects under the studio name. Building a London interior design practice from the ground up — developing the philosophy, the process and the identity — has been both challenging and deeply fulfilling. Seeing the studio take shape, working with wonderful clients and receiving such a warm response from the design community has been incredibly encouraging.

This first year has reinforced my belief that great interior design always comes back to the same principles: listening carefully, designing with purpose and delivering spaces that genuinely improve how people feel every day. It has been the most rewarding chapter of my career so far — and very much just the beginning.

What are your favourite types of projects to work on and why?

I am drawn to challenging briefs. Homes that are dated, spatially inefficient or underperforming, where careful spatial planning can genuinely transform how a space flows and functions. There is something deeply satisfying about taking a residential interior that is not working and reimagining it entirely, creating something timeless and functional from what was once frustrating or overlooked.

It is also wonderful when clients ask me to incorporate sentimental pieces, heirlooms and art into their interiors. You know instantly that the spaces will be deeply personal and expressive — rooted in real lives and real stories. That connection between design and personal narrative is at the heart of the Studio Benaki approach, and it is what elevates a beautiful interior into a truly meaningful home.

I also have a deep love for historical buildings. There is something unique about discovering the history of an old building, understanding the lives that once occupied the space and reimagining it for the present and the years to come. That dialogue between past and present — honouring what came before while creating something that feels entirely alive today — is one of the most rewarding aspects of residential interior design.

What are the most challenging aspects of working in interior design?

One of the most consistent challenges is balancing creative ambition with real-world constraints — budget, timeline, structural limitations and the practical realities of a live building. Clients often arrive with inspiring references and a clear vision, and part of my role at Studio Benaki is to honour that vision while navigating what is genuinely achievable. That combination of creative problem-solving and technical precision is where my engineering background proves invaluable.

Managing expectations with honesty and clarity is something I take very seriously. A good interior designer does not simply say yes to everything — they find the best possible solution within the constraints and communicate that process transparently, ensuring the result is always timeless, functional and deeply personal to the client. Building that trust, from the very first consultation through to the final touches of a completed home, is the foundation on which every successful interior design project is built.

What do you wish you knew before working in the field?

The first thing that comes to mind is that building a successful interior design practice takes time, patience and trust — and that is something worth embracing rather than rushing. A studio built on genuine relationships, careful work and clients who love their homes will always outlast one built on volume and speed. That is the foundation Studio Benaki is built on.

I also wish I had understood earlier how much of interior design is about project management, communication and relationships — not just creative vision. The ability to coordinate trades, manage timelines, handle procurement and keep a client calm and confident throughout a complex process is equally critical to delivering timeless, functional interiors. My civil engineering background helped me enormously here, but I think many designers entering the profession underestimate the operational side of the work. Great interior design is as much about the process as it is about the result.

If you could give one tip to aspiring designers, what would it be?

Learn to listen before you design. The most beautifully executed residential interior will fall flat if it does not truly reflect the person living in it. Before reaching for the moodboard, invest real time in understanding your client — how they move through their home, what they find stressful, what brings them joy, and what home means to them emotionally.

Design rooted in that depth of understanding will always feel more personal, more considered and more lasting than design led by trends or aesthetics alone. That human connection is what transforms a beautiful space into a truly meaningful one — and it is the quality I would encourage every aspiring interior designer to cultivate from the very beginning.

What does being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer mean to you?

It means a great deal, particularly at this stage of building Studio Benaki as a London interior design studio. SBID accreditation represents a commitment to professional standards, ethical practice and continuous development — values that are absolutely central to how I work across every residential and commercial interior design project.

For clients making a significant investment in their home, it offers genuine reassurance that they are working with a qualified interior designer who is accountable, professional and part of a respected industry community. For me personally, it is also a mark of belonging to a profession I care deeply about. Interior design has the power to profoundly change how people feel in their everyday lives and being part of an organisation that champions and upholds those standards is something I am genuinely proud of.

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