23rd October 2026 | IN KBB DESIGN | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Dream Design’s expanded Design Centre in Christchurch, Dorset, offers an insight into the studio’s approach to kitchen design, bathroom design and complete residential interiors, bringing leading design houses, specialist craftsmanship and a materials library together within considered lifestyle settings. A room setting can begin a conversation that a drawing or an individual sample cannot. A client might respond to the atmosphere before recognising what creates it: the proportions of the furniture, the relationship between materials, the placement of lighting or the detail of the cabinetry. Exploring that response can reveal as much about their aspirations as a written brief. Dream Design At Dream Design’s 5,000-square-foot Design Centre, these conversations form an important connection between inspiration and the development of a home. The recently expanded space in Christchurch brings kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas together, offering a flavour of the studio’s design thinking and the possibilities available through its network of manufacturers and specialist craftspeople. Visitors can experience unfamiliar materials, appreciate the construction of a piece of furniture and recognise qualities they would like to bring into their own surroundings. With the studio’s guidance, those observations become the basis for a more personal design discussion. Dream Design An environment that opens up possibilities Presenting design within lifestyle settings gives individual elements context. A sofa can be understood through its relationship with an armchair, a rug and the space around it. Decorative lighting contributes to the balance of a composition, while architectural details and fitted joinery establish the character of the room. For clients, this makes the experience both inspiring and useful. Comfort, scale and finish can be assessed directly, alongside the less easily measured qualities that make an interior feel welcoming or restful. Dream Design For the design team, it creates opportunities to understand the thinking behind a preference. Someone drawn to a kitchen may be responding to its material palette, its openness or the way it accommodates entertaining. Identifying that distinction helps the studio develop a response suited to the client’s property and way of living. The Design Centre therefore offers a shared reference point, helping clients and designers establish a clearer brief. Dream Design Interior design grounded in craftsmanship Dream Design was founded in 1984 by Andrew Rizza, whose career began in carpentry before developing into bespoke joinery and cabinetry. From a Hampshire workshop producing fitted furniture, the business grew as clients invited Andrew to become involved in more areas of their homes. Today, Dream Design is an award-winning interior architecture and interior design studio undertaking private residential projects throughout the UK and internationally. Andrew continues to lead its creative direction, bringing more than four decades of experience and a craftsman’s understanding of materials, proportion and construction. Dream Design That grounding informs an integrated approach to residential interior design. Spatial planning, lighting, furniture and finishes are developed in relation to one another, with bespoke joinery connecting practical requirements to the architecture. Within the Design Centre, visitors can see how this thinking carries through from the composition of a room to its smallest details. Dream Design Kitchen and bathroom design within the whole home Kitchens demonstrate this relationship particularly clearly. Cabinetry, worktops, appliances and lighting must work together within a layout that supports preparation, cooking, storage and social use. Connections with adjoining dining and living spaces are equally important, influencing circulation, sightlines and material choices. Dream Design’s partnership with German kitchen manufacturer SieMatic spans more than 30 years. Alongside appliances from leading brands such as Gaggenau and Miele, the kitchen settings provide opportunities to explore integrated appliances, storage solutions and work surfaces in context. For traditional interiors, the studio’s bespoke kitchens offer Shaker-style cabinetry and specialist joinery tailored to the property. Dream Design Bathroom design requires a similarly coordinated response. Layout, sanitaryware, brassware, bathroom furniture and surfaces establish how comfortably the room functions, while lighting and material combinations shape its atmosphere. The bathroom settings help clients consider these relationships together, from the proportions of a bath or basin to the balance between practical illumination and softer ambient light. Across both disciplines, the studio considers how each room contributes to the wider home, developing spaces around the people who use them. Dream Design Bringing design houses and specialist making together The living, bedroom and dressing settings extend this approach through furniture, textiles, storage and lighting. Pieces from leading design houses including Flexform, Poltrona Frau and Giorgetti sit alongside bespoke cabinetry, demonstrating how established collections and individually commissioned work can form a coherent interior. Experiencing these pieces in person allows clients to assess seating comfort, construction and finish, while understanding their scale within a furnished room. The breadth of the centre gives visitors an insight into what is possible. The studio’s judgement helps determine which pieces, materials and commissioned elements are appropriate for the individual project. Dream Design Giving material decisions greater depth Alongside the lifestyle settings, the materials library offers a focused environment for developing an interior palette. Colours, textures and finishes can be brought together, compared and considered against the client’s brief. This helps translate an initial impression into a considered specification. A surface takes on a different character beside timber, upholstery or metal; tone, grain, sheen and texture all influence the balance. Dream Design Practical considerations are part of that discussion. Kitchen worktops, bathroom surfaces and frequently used furniture each place different demands on a material. Appearance, tactile quality, durability and maintenance need to be understood together. With guidance on selection, specification and customisation, clients can make informed decisions while preserving the character of the overall scheme. Dream Design Connecting inspiration to completion Dream Design’s services encompass interior architecture, kitchen and bathroom design, lighting design and furnishing, through to procurement, installation and final styling. The Design Centre supports that process as a place to discover, discuss and refine. It brings creative possibilities into focus and gives clients greater confidence in the decisions that follow. For the studio, it expresses a belief that a successful home emerges from understanding the whole: the architecture, the people, the materials and the details that shape daily life. Explore Dream Design’s Design Centre in Christchurch, Dorset. Visits are available by appointment. About Dream Design Dream Design is a luxury kitchen, bathroom and interior design centre in Dorset, creating one-of-a-kind private residences across Dorset, Hampshire, Poole, the UK and internationally. Supported by its award-winning interior architecture and interior design studio, Dream Design specialises in bespoke kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living spaces and complete home design. The 5,000 sq ft Design Centre brings together leading brands and specialist ateliers across kitchen design, bathroomware, appliances, surfaces, lighting, furniture and interior architectural details, creating a distinctive design destination for private clients, architects and developers seeking a considered, highly tailored approach to residential design, specification and project delivery. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.