At Hill House Interiors, a garden is never treated as an afterthought. It is considered part of the home’s story: a space with its own rhythm, atmosphere and purpose, yet one that should feel naturally connected to the interiors around it.
For Jenny Weiss, Co-Founder and Director of Hill House Interiors, the story of her Surrey garden began with a blank canvas and a clear intention: to create an outdoor room that felt calm, escapist and deeply personal. Having moved from a larger property, Jenny knew that every inch of the garden would need to work beautifully. Rather than seeing its more compact proportions as a limitation, she saw an opportunity to design with precision, creating a space that felt as layered and liveable as any interior.
The garden was imagined as a sanctuary, blending Mediterranean charm with touches of English heritage. It was not designed simply to be looked at, but to be lived in: somewhere to dine, unwind, listen, gather and retreat throughout the seasons. As with any Hill House Interiors project, the starting point was not only how the space should look, but how it should make people feel.
Because the house was a new build, Jenny was able to shape the garden from the ground up. The developer agreed to leave the outdoor area untouched, giving her the freedom to create something entirely personal. The layout had a natural sense of potential, but it required careful planning to ensure each element felt purposeful, balanced and inviting.
The relationship between inside and out became central to the design. The garden is the first thing visible on entering the house, drawing the eye through the interior and immediately creating a sense of calm. Bifold doors open completely from the main living area, allowing the outdoors to become part of the daily rhythm of the home rather than a separate space beyond it.
This sense of flow informed every decision. The dining area was positioned closest to the house for easy access to the kitchen, reinforcing the feeling of the garden as a true extension of the living space. Practicality was also carefully considered but never allowed to interrupt the atmosphere. Heaters and an awning were incorporated so that the garden could be enjoyed beyond the height of summer, despite the unpredictability of the English weather.
Planting was used to bring structure, softness and a sense of escape. Evergreen planting forms the foundation of the scheme, ensuring the garden retains depth and character throughout the year. Italian cypress trees and mature olive trees introduce a Mediterranean quality, while bay trees, pleached Photinias and Annabelle hydrangeas bring texture, rhythm and romance. The hydrangeas, which bloom from July through to October, add a generous seasonal note during the summer months.
Materials were selected with the same care as an interior palette. Paved Indian sandstone and Millboard decking define the different areas while allowing the space to feel cohesive. Gloucester sofa seating brings the comfort of an interior sitting room outdoors, while a Stark outdoor rug anchors the seating area and adds softness underfoot. Each element contributes to the sense of the garden as a room in its own right.
For Jenny, nature is both restorative and inspiring, and the garden was designed to engage more than the eye. Texture, sound, light and atmosphere all play a role in how the space is experienced. Concealed speakers were integrated throughout, allowing music to become part of the mood without disrupting the visual calm. Architectural lighting adds depth and warmth after dark, while the surrounding forest was also lit, turning it into a feature in its own right and extending the feeling of space beyond the garden’s physical boundaries.
As evening falls, the garden takes on a different character. Geometric lanterns by Contardi add a decorative layer, bringing intimacy and a gentle sense of theatre. The result is a space that feels quietly transportive: personal, purposeful and deeply connected to the home.
Jenny’s garden reflects a wider belief at Hill House Interiors: that outdoor spaces should be designed with the same imagination, sensitivity and attention to detail as interiors. Whether working with a generous landscape, a city terrace or a more compact garden, the most successful outdoor spaces are those that feel effortless, atmospheric and genuinely lived in.
Here, every detail has a role to play. The sightline from the entrance, the position of the dining area, the layered planting, the lighting, the sound and the surrounding landscape all work together to create a sense of ease and belonging. The garden does not sit apart from the home; it completes it.
Design from the inside out: Jenny planned the garden around how it would be seen and used from within the home: the first view from the front door, the bifold doors from the main living space, and the dining area placed closest to the kitchen. This helps the garden feel connected to daily life rather than simply decorative.
Design for the senses: A successful garden is sensory, not just visual. Planting, sound, lighting, texture and scent all contribute to the experience. Jenny integrated concealed speakers throughout the space so music could become part of the atmosphere without disturbing the visual calm.
Use lighting to extend the space: Rather than lighting only the garden itself, Jenny also lit the surrounding forest, turning it into part of the composition. This gives the garden depth after dark and creates a greater sense of escape.
Give the garden year-round architecture: Evergreen planting, Italian cypress, mature olive trees, bay trees and pleached Photinias give the garden structure and permanence, while Annabelle hydrangeas bring softness and seasonal romance.
About Hill House Interiors
Hill House Interiors is the fruit of a 25-year friendship between its founding partners, Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves. Their creative collaboration is built on a shared belief that beautiful surroundings can transform people’s lives. Their client-centred approach has garnered a multitude of awards while their business has grown over the years into one of Britain’s leading interior design practices, with a 30-strong team of designers and architects. Hill House Interiors operates out of a creative studio and lifestyle showroom in the UK, and a luxurious newly opened office near the DIFC in Dubai. With a global reach, Hill House Interiors works on high-end residential projects in locations as diverse as London, Dubai, New York, Lake Como, Antibes, the Bahamas, Ibiza and L.A. Projects can range from exclusive penthouse apartments to palatial homes, lakeside villa retreats or beautifully engineered yachts.
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Cansel Seymen, Founder & Creative Director at CS Design Studio, has given her insights into the industry.
My journey into design began with a sensory obsession. As a young girl, I fell in love with a vintage Ikat fabric at a Turkish market, which became the first cushion in my bedroom and my first lesson in the power of textiles. This early passion for layers and natural materials eventually led me to the world of high-end luxury, where I spent years honing my craft at Harrods Interior Design, David Collins Studio, and Finchatton.
These prestigious houses trained me to settle for nothing less than exceptional quality. At CS Design Studio, I carry that standard forward, working exclusively with high-end materials and artisanal finishes. My signature style is 'Contemporary Classic'—I believe in creating rooms with an easy, timeless flow rather than spaces that feel overwhelming or trend-driven.
Living in London, I’ve learned that the city’s grey light needs warmth, but I prefer a 'less is more' approach to colour. Instead of saturating a whole room, I introduce color as a thoughtful splash—perhaps through bespoke trimmings, vibrant cushions, or a stunning piece of artwork.
For me, design is about bridging the gap between a building's historic soul and innovative luxury. I am constantly sourcing new products and building relationships with my clients to ensure their homes are not just beautiful, but are dignified, high-quality 'envelopes' for the memories they will create there.
For as long as I can remember, I have seen the world through a different lens—I don’t just see a room; I see its potential to shape the people within it. Even as a child, I was constantly experimenting with layouts and reimagining upholstery, fuelled by the belief that our surroundings are deeply intertwined with our character. I chose this profession because design is my life’s calling; it is where my love for textures, layers, and natural materials meets the discipline of architectural integrity. There is a unique joy in the instinctive process of sourcing the perfect elements to give a space its soul and ensuring every detail meets a high standard of quality. Ultimately, I wanted to build long-lasting relationships with my clients, turning their homes into 'living canvases' that offer a timeless, contemporary-classic flow.
What I enjoy the most is the tactile journey of sourcing and the artistry of putting a scheme together. There is a profound magic in layering textures, colours, and high-quality materials to see a vision come to life. However, the most rewarding part of the process is the collaboration with my clients. I truly value their involvement and feedback, as it ensures the design is deeply personal to them. When a client’s insight meets my professional eye, everything sits beautifully in the room. This synergy allows me to create spaces that aren't just aesthetically pleasing, but are a perfect, contemporary-classic reflection of the people who call them home.
The most memorable highlight of the past year has been the rapid success of CS Design Studio and the incredible trust our clients have placed in us. While the first year for any new company can be a challenge, we were thrilled to complete two luxury apartments in Mayfair that both sold before they even reached the market. For me, this was a defining moment; it was the ultimate validation that our aesthetic and commitment to quality truly resonate with the high-end London market. Seeing our vision translate into such immediate commercial success has been incredibly rewarding. It confirms that we deeply understand what our clients are looking for: a perfect balance of historic soul and modern, effortless luxury.
My favourite projects are those that bridge the gap between a building's historic soul and the demands of modern living. Whether restoring a listed London townhouse or designing a sophisticated new development, I find it incredibly rewarding to honour architectural integrity while introducing a fresh, intuitive flow. Having led high-profile projects in both the city and the English countryside, I also love marrying rural heritage with a more current, refined sensibility.
However, the best results stem from a client relationship built on complete trust. When a bond is established through transparency—where a client eventually says, "you decide"—it unlocks our highest creativity, allowing us to deliver a home that truly surpasses expectations.
The most challenging aspect of interior design is the delicate dance between vision and reality. It begins with translating a design intent into technical drawings, which then face the practical scrutiny of contractors, site limitations, and strictly allocated budgets. Bridging the gap between a high-end concept and a tangible result within financial constraints is a significant hurdle that requires constant problem-solving.
Despite these pressures, we pride ourselves on protecting the integrity of our original vision. We view site constraints not as roadblocks, but as opportunities to refine the design. By working closely with contractors and maintaining a clear focus on the "Contemporary Classic" aesthetic, we ensure that any necessary adjustments are minimal. Our goal is always to deliver the best possible outcome where the final space looks exactly as intended, proving that luxury and high quality can be achieved even within the complexities of a challenging budget or build.
If I could go back, I wish I had spent more time formally studying fine art. While my technical training and experience in renowned studios have been invaluable, I’ve come to realize that art is the ultimate soul of an interior. Understanding the true power of a piece—how its scale, colour, and texture can completely shift the energy of a room—is a field of study that never ends.
In my work today, I see art not just as a finishing touch, but as a vital layer that defines a home’s character. I am constantly learning and exploring the art world now but having that deeper academic foundation early on would have been a beautiful advantage. It has certainly influenced why I now prioritise building such 'artful' and textured layers into every contemporary-classic scheme I create.
My one tip for aspiring designers would be to stay bold and relentlessly curious. This industry moves quickly, so you must keep sourcing, keep meeting new people, and never stop learning. Growth only happens through action. Most importantly, build a thick skin; resilience is just as important as creativity.
Never let criticism of your work discourages you. Instead, view every project as a stepping stone. In this field, you grow with every space you complete, and your next project will always be better than your last because of the lessons you learned. Treat every challenge as an opportunity to refine your 'eye' and your process. If you remain persistent and keep pushing your own boundaries, you’ll find that your unique style eventually speaks for itself. Don't be afraid to make mistakes—they are often the best teachers on the path to becoming a master of your craft.
The industry is entering a transformative era of "conscious luxury." While the current economic climate presents challenges, it is also driving a shift toward a more thoughtful, sustainable future. We are seeing a powerful focus on ethical materials and reuse—a "green" approach where a project’s value is defined by its environmental footprint as much as its aesthetic.
At CS Design Studio, we’re excited by how AI can support this shift. It helps clients explore materials and visualise layouts quickly and accurately, while also streamlining administration, ordering, and project coordination. By improving precision, these tools can also help reduce waste.
I believe the year ahead will be defined by this balance of innovation and responsibility—using technology to create timeless spaces that respect both our clients’ time and the wider environment.
Being accredited by the SBID is a true honour and a significant milestone for CS Design Studio. To be recognized by such a prestigious society—one known for its exceptionally high professional standards—provides a sense of validation that is deeply rewarding. It signifies that our commitment to quality, integrity, and aesthetic meets the rigorous benchmarks of the global design community.
Beyond the prestige, I am most excited about the sense of belonging to a network of like-minded professionals. I am looking forward to engaging with the SBID through their events and CPD programs to continue my growth as a designer. Being part of this recognized society ensures that we stay at the forefront of industry innovation and excellence. It is more than just a title; it is an inspiration to keep pushing the boundaries of luxury design while upholding the professional values the SBID represents.
About CS Design Studio
At CS Design Studio, a home is more than a refined address; it is a living canvas where modern life thrives. Founded by Cansel, whose distinguished background includes David Collins Studio, Finchatton, and Harrods, the studio brings an instinctive eye for detail to every bespoke residence. Our signature style captures the unique spirit of London living, elegantly blending historic soul with contemporary comfort. Informed by European artisanal excellence and a global perspective, we bridge the gap between tradition and tomorrow. We honor architectural integrity while embracing modern innovation, creating timeless, dignified spaces that redefine the boundaries of luxury for today’s lifestyle.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern family home design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalists, Yudi Design.
“Nest Within” is a thoughtfully designed residential project that redefines family living by prioritizing shared spaces over private ones. Emphasizing natural materials and transparency, the design fosters emotional connection and practical flexibility for a modern family. Innovative use of glass partitions maintains openness while ensuring supervision and interaction, creating a warm, sustainable home that balances function with heartfelt togetherness.
Category: Residential Apartment Under £1M
Design Practice: Yudi Design
Project Title: Nest Within
Project Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan
Design Practice Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan
The client, a young family, wanted a home that emphasized daily togetherness and shared living, rather than conventional, separated rooms. Their brief called for maximized communal areas, visual connectivity, child-friendly features, emotional closeness, and the use of natural, sustainable materials. They also wanted the space to support work-from-home needs while remaining aesthetically calm and flexible.
The project was inspired by the idea of redefining domestic life for modern families, focusing on emotional well-being and togetherness. The design reversed traditional layouts by minimizing private areas and expanding shared zones. Inspiration also came from natural materials like Shirasu-kabe plaster and reclaimed driftwood, promoting a sustainable and sensory-rich environment.
The greatest challenge was achieving intimacy and calm within an open-plan layout without visual clutter or overstimulation. Balancing spatial openness with emotional zoning required careful use of materials, textures, and acoustic control. Additionally, designing for both adult functionality and children's evolving needs added emotional complexity to the process.
The highlight was creating a future-oriented, flexible home that fosters behavioral change—encouraging more face-to-face interaction and shared rituals. By involving both adults and children in the design process, the result is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant space that evolves with the family.
We entered the SBID Awards to share our human-centered and sustainable design approach with a wider audience. It was an opportunity to showcase how design can shape behavior, support emotional well-being, and respond to environmental responsibility—especially in the context of evolving family life.
Being an SBID Award Finalist has validated our design philosophy and brought greater exposure to our work. It has strengthened client trust, elevated our brand, and inspired our team to continue pushing the boundaries of emotionally and environmentally conscious design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an innovative hotel design, click here to read it.
You can spend thousands on a bedroom renovation and still end up with a room that never feels quite right. It is a paradox many homeowners quietly struggle with: the presence of too much furniture, insufficient storage, dominating wardrobes, and harsh lighting. You may have beautiful finishes, yet absolutely no sense of calm.
In modern London homes, bedrooms are expected to do more than ever before. They are no longer just places to sleep; they are multi-functional spaces for switching off, dressing, reading, working, and storing everyday life. So, how do you design a bedroom that feels calm without sacrificing practicality?
That was the exact challenge presented to Oraanj Interior Design during the turnkey renovation of a prestigious Kensington & Chelsea residence. The brief was deceptively simple: create a master bedroom that felt elegant, calm, and luxurious, while incorporating significant storage and maintaining a strong sense of spatial openness. The result is a room that feels beautifully effortless, but behind that simplicity lies a series of highly considered, deeply technical design decisions.
According to Rachana Gupta, Founder of Oraanj Interior Design, one of the biggest mistakes made during high-end renovations is the assumption that luxury comes from adding more, more finishes, more statement pieces, more furniture, and more decorative details.
“In reality,” Gupta explains, “luxury often comes from editing. The calmest spaces are usually the ones where every detail has been considered and unnecessary visual noise has been removed.”
In the Kensington project, the primary challenge was balancing extensive storage requirements without making the room feel physically heavy. The clients needed highly practical wardrobe space for daily living, but they also required the bedroom to act as a restorative retreat to decompress after a busy day. This is where meticulous spatial planning took precedence over mere decoration.
Most bedrooms suffer from the same fundamental flaw: storage is treated as an afterthought. A wardrobe is placed here, a chest of drawers there, and perhaps extra shelving is added once things begin overflowing. Over time, even the most beautifully decorated bedrooms begin to feel visually crowded.
For this project, Oraanj approached storage holistically. Rather than treating wardrobes as separate, bulky pieces of furniture, the team designed bespoke joinery that became an integrated part of the room’s architecture. Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes were carefully woven into the layout, maximising vertical storage without interrupting the flow of the room. Smoked glass sections with soft internal lighting were utilised to break up the solid mass, softening the visual weight of the cabinetry while maintaining a sophisticated, understated aesthetic.
The goal was simple: when you enter the room, your first impression should be calmness, not storage.
Can a bedroom actually feel restful while still functioning as a practical dressing and storage space? The answer lies in the design choices that people rarely notice consciously.
In the Kensington suite, furniture placement was intentionally restrained. Generous circulation space around the bed was preserved, and visual clutter was strictly reduced. By keeping the palette soft and cohesive, nothing in the room feels oversized or unnecessarily dominant.
“There is something powerful about walking into a room that immediately allows your mind to slow down,” says Gupta. “Bedrooms should fundamentally support wellbeing. If the room feels visually busy, people often feel unsettled without fully understanding why.”
Many homeowners underestimate the role lighting plays in spatial perception, often treating it as the final decorative touch. In reality, lighting is an architectural tool that completely alters the atmosphere. Poor lighting can make even the most expensive interior design feel flat or clinical.
For this master suite, Oraanj implemented a layered lighting scheme to create flexibility throughout the day. Warm ambient lighting softens the room in the evening, while integrated wardrobe lighting improves functional practicality without flooding the room with harsh brightness. Decorative bedside lights introduce intimacy, and discreet ceiling lighting supports practical daily use. The effect is subtle but powerful, transitioning the room from an energising morning space to a restorative evening sanctuary.
While luxury interiors are often associated with high-gloss materials or dramatic statements, the most sophisticated homes are increasingly embracing the quiet power of texture. In this bedroom, richness is achieved through layering tactile materials rather than overwhelming the eye with loud patterns.
Soft, oversized upholstery behind the bed introduces immediate comfort. Timber finishes bring organic warmth, while subtle metallic details add necessary depth. Muted tones of taupe, stone, and warm beige create a seamless continuity across the room. This careful layering provides warmth without clutter—an approach that feels especially timeless in London’s historic properties.
Like many high-end London properties, this home came with architectural complexities. Sloped ceilings and unusual geometry can easily make bedrooms feel awkward or difficult to furnish. Rather than fighting the architecture, Oraanj designed around it. Custom joinery was used to maximise difficult alcoves, furniture placement preserved the room's natural openness, and lighting was used to soften harder architectural lines. These conscious decisions ensure the room feels deeply intentional rather than compromised.
Ultimately, what makes a bedroom feel luxurious is rarely one dramatic element. True luxury lives in the combination of things working quietly together: effortless storage, warm lighting, balanced proportions, and tactile materials.
For Oraanj Interior Design, successful design is not simply about beautiful aesthetics—it is about how a room actively supports daily life. The best luxury interiors are not the loudest; they are the ones that make life feel beautifully easy.
About Oraanj Interior Design
Luxury Interior Design in London for Residential and Commercial Projects delivered through a structured, technical, and design-led approach. As an award-winning Interior Design Company, Oraanj Interior Design creates refined, high-performance interiors for homes, offices and hospitality spaces across London and international locations. Our approach combines creative vision with technical expertise, ensuring every project is both visually compelling and practically deliverable. From concept to completion, we focus on space planning, interior architecture, lighting design, and bespoke detailing to achieve clarity, balance, and long-term usability. With expertise in technical drawings, procurement and turnkey high end interior design projects, we deliver fully coordinated, build-ready solutions, ensuring seamless execution and a refined, high-end result.
When a brief calls for a property to be ‘gutted’ and re-designed from scratch, it’s rare for that to actually be the case. For this mews house in Belgravia, it really was in need of re-wiring and re-plumbing, with the space needing to be fully re-configured to allow for a downstairs cloakroom and new kitchen.
The two-bedroom house sits on one of London’s quietest mews, despite being in the middle of Belgravia and therefore very well-placed. The clients would be using the house on brief trips to London but the property was also to be let for several months at a time. The design brief for Celine Jumaili focused on a modernised version of traditional English style, in order to appeal to European tastes as well to renters further afield.
The entrance level sitting room is the beating heart of the house, with plenty of seating and a small dining banquette. One of the main selling points of this house is the original fireplace that was retained and re-finished as a bioethanol fire installed in a vintage fire basket.
The room is made up of soft neutrals and warming green accents. The fabrics are a real mix of textures so that the room can wear its many hats; Guy Goodfellow weave on the chairs and Colefax & Fowler velvet on the sofa. The dining banquette is like a mini room of its own and is perfectly in keeping with the multi-functionality of the house. The banquette itself is upholstered in a fabulous flamestitch design by Colefax & Fowler whilst the chairs are a bright Fermoie fabric.
Lighting in a house that will be used by a mix of people is essential to get right, so the lighting in the sitting room is a mix of Hector Finch, Besselink & Jones and Richard Taylor covering the functional, the modern and the decorative.
A large lockable storage unit allows for the client’s possessions to be stored away whilst also adding some colour to the room, perfectly tied in with the green sofa, cushions and decorative accessories.
Despite this sitting room needing to appeal to all sorts of guests; there are two lovely touches from the designer. One is the antique chiffonier from an independent dealer in Norfolk which could not have been a more perfect fit for the space. The other is the artwork, which was painstakingly sourced from a couple of London galleries and specialist dealers. Even a rented house needs to feel like a home. The clients are big racing fans and so the art and downstairs cloakroom wallpaper is a nod to this part of their lives without being too obvious.
The install logistics of this project had to be considered from the very beginning and incorporated into everything. The stairs are narrow (as is the case in many a mews house) so fitted furniture had to either be made on site and anything else needed to come through the windows. Custom split-bed bases solved any mattress problems but every piece of the puzzle had to be meticulously scheduled for the project to be completed on time and on budget.
The property is located off one of London’s prettiest streets with no end to the restaurant offerings but the house still needed to incorporate a fully fitted kitchen. It’s compact and suitable for city living rather than for six-course dinners but has a built-in dishwasher and all the mod-cons the clients or a tenant could require. Every single inch had to be carefully thought through and the result is a sleek design with space for preparation amongst modern amenities.
The whole house over, jib doors are a brilliant space saver allowing doors to blend seamlessly into walls which gives the house a feel of seamless living.
Upstairs, the Master Bedroom is finished in soft pale blues and luxurious fabrics from Penny Morrison, Lewis & Wood and Colefax & Fowler. One wall was turned into floor-to-ceiling custom joinery with inset grass cloth panels…again making storage work within the room and adding touches of modern design that still works with the traditional English aesthetic. The Georgian chest of drawers and pictures were all sourced at auction.
Every second home, city apartment or rented house needs an excellent bathroom. The house has a very contemporary walk-in shower made of Crema Marfil stone, a Spanish marble known for its soft colour. There is a double basin unit with ample storage as well as mirrored cabinets and fluted wall lights either side of the sink. Every single centimetre had to be accounted for in this bathroom and the aim was to create something that felt luxurious, almost hotel-like as well as being homely.
The second bedroom has zip and link beds so it can happily work as two singles for children (including the client’s grandchildren) or as a double with a single bedside table when required.
It would be very easy for this bedroom to look cramped or cold but this was avoided with a clever use of colour and space. The headboards and decorative pillows are Seaweed Lattice by Soane with a green grasspaper by Stereo Interiors mixed with a textured paper from Colefax & Fowler on the remaining wall. The bed valance and braiding is by Claremont alongside Samuel & Sons. The rug is Penny Morrison and the bedside drawer (which has an amazing amount of storage for something so small) is by Chelsea textiles. The whole room is a cosy and colourful space, however it is arranged.
It's not always easy to have such a prescriptive space but every single square inch of this house has been considered. The result is a perfectly compact do-it-all house that is modern and well-organised whilst also being homely and comfortable. Whether for the clients or for temporary renters, it’s a lovely little escape in the heart of busy London.
About Celine Jumaili
Renowned for timeless, client focused spaces Celine Jumaili balances refinement with comfort and functionality. With over 20 years of experience across leading international studios, the firm brings extensive expertise in historic restoration and modern eclectic design. The studio combines architectural sensitivity with intuitive space planning, curating materials, art, and antiques to create interiors that feel natural and enduring. Committed to delivering a joyful design journey from concept to completion, the practice is recognized for rigorous project management and a philosophy of timelessness over trend.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a characterful hallway design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalists, Amy Hunt Interior Design.
Amy Hunt Interiors designed this Edwardian hallway and cloakroom to restore character, warmth, and personality to two previously overlooked spaces. Wide-plank oak flooring, bespoke panelling, and layered lighting reintroduced architectural depth, while a wallpapered ceiling and bold stair runner added drama and visual interest. The adjoining WC was transformed with rich magenta panelling, a marbled wallpaper ceiling, and vintage-inspired details, including brass taps, a wall-mounted basin, and checkerboard tiles. These thoughtful, playful elements celebrate the home’s heritage while creating a cohesive narrative. The result is a striking, characterful transformation that turns transitional areas into standout design moments.
Category: Residential Budget Up To £50,000
Design Practice: Amy Hunt Interior Design
Project Title: Edwardian Hallway & WC Refurb
Project Location: Reigate, United Kingdom
Design Practice Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
The clients wanted the design to be sensitive to the era of the home and to bring its history back to life. Sadly, over the years, many of the original features had been stripped away or removed. One unique aspect of this project is that my client is colour blind, so it was important to choose colours that stood out clearly rather than blended subtly into the space. The result is a design that’s both visually impactful and respectful of the home’s past.
The stained-glass windows on the front door have beautiful colours and a delicate floral theme that were lost in the space. We used this as inspiration to carry those tones and motifs into the rest of the space. When I came across the House of Hackney wallpaper, it felt like fate!
The WC was cold and dark, and we knew we wanted to bring in depth and warmth to the space, having already decided on a wallpaper for the hallway it felt right to opt for something even more bold for this small space!
Deciding on the lower half paint colour, we ended up pairing back to allow the ceiling to have its moment.
Stepping back to admire the completed space, the difference is incredible. After eight years of living without colour, the transformation feels uplifting and full of life. Opening the front door is so joyful.
As a small company, we work incredibly hard, and at times it can feel like a lonely journey, as you sit in your office squirrelling away on your designs for days if not weeks. Submitting a project for an award offers us valuable feedback and recognition from others that we might not otherwise receive.
Seeing your clients’ reaction to the finished scheme is incredibly rewarding. Taking that project to the wider market and receiving recognition for your design is really special. It not only validates what you are doing but also inspires you to keep pushing yourself.
Questions answered by Amy Hunt, Founder of Amy Hunt Interior Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a glamorous hotel design, click here to read it.
Jan Metcalfe-Barnett, Founder & Interior Designer at Fusion Interior Design, has given her insights into the industry.
Jan’s path into interior design was shaped by a passion for creativity and well-crafted spaces rather than a conventional route. After early roles in childcare and banking, a move to Ireland saw her working in a furniture and antiques showroom, where she developed a strong appreciation for craftsmanship and curated interiors.
Returning to London in the early 1990s, Jan gained hands-on experience within a leading interior design practice while completing formal training, building a solid foundation in high-end residential design.
She went on to join Roomservice Furnishing as a design manager, creating showhomes for major UK housebuilders and refining her ability to design aspirational yet practical interiors.
In 1999, Jan founded Fusion Interior Design. With over 25 years’ experience, she has since transformed hundreds of homes, creating spaces that are thoughtful, functional, and tailored to how her clients live.
For me, it was never just about how a space looks — it was about how it feels to live in. Early on, I realised that thoughtful design has the power to completely change how someone experiences their home day to day. I was drawn to the idea that good design isn’t just aesthetic, it’s practical, emotional, and deeply personal. That’s what has kept me in the profession for over 25 years.
Without question, it’s the problem-solving. Most clients come to us not because they want something “pretty,” but because something in their home isn’t working. I enjoy unpicking that — understanding how they live, where the frustrations are, and then creating a layout and design that resolves it. Seeing that moment where a client says, “That’s exactly what we needed” — that’s the most rewarding part.
Being selected as a finalist in the Epsom & Ewell Business Awards was a real highlight. We’ve always positioned ourselves as a grounded, client-focused studio rather than chasing recognition, so to be acknowledged in that way felt meaningful.
We particularly enjoy working on renovations and extensions at the planning stage — before anything is built. That’s where we can add the most value. Often, architectural drawings don’t fully consider how a space will function day-to-day, so we step in to refine layouts, improve flow, and help clients properly visualise their space through 2D plans and 3D visuals.
That early stage is where costly mistakes can be avoided, and where the biggest transformation really begins.
One of the biggest challenges is helping clients navigate the sheer number of decisions involved in a project. It can feel overwhelming for them, particularly during renovations. Our role often becomes as much about providing clarity and confidence as it is about design.
Managing expectations around time, budget, and the realities of building work is also key — good communication is everything.
How much of the role is about people, not just design. You’re guiding clients through significant investments in their homes, often during stressful periods. Emotional intelligence, communication, and the ability to simplify complex decisions are just as important as creativity.
Learn how to design for real life, not just for visuals. A beautiful space that doesn’t function properly will never truly succeed. Focus on space planning, flow, and how people actually live — that’s where good design starts.
I think we’ll continue to see a shift away from purely aesthetic-led design towards more practical, lifestyle-driven interiors. Clients are becoming more informed and want spaces that genuinely work for them — not just something that looks good in a photograph.
There’s also a growing appreciation for planning properly before building, particularly with rising costs. That early design stage is becoming more valued, which is something we strongly advocate.
Alongside this, sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration. Clients are more conscious of being planet-friendly — looking to reuse what they already have where possible, recycle responsibly, and invest in environmentally considered products rather than replacing everything unnecessarily. It’s less about fast design and more about thoughtful, long-term decisions that are better for both the home and the environment.
Accreditation with the Society of British and International Interior Design represents credibility and professionalism within an industry that isn’t always regulated. It reassures clients that they are working with a qualified, experienced designer who works to recognised standards.
For us, it aligns with how we’ve always approached our work — considered, professional, and focused on delivering real value to our clients.
About Fusion Interior Design
Fusion Interior Design is a Surrey-based studio specialising in thoughtfully planned homes that balance practicality with refined design. With over 25 years’ experience, we support homeowners through every stage of the design process — from single-room schemes and layout planning to full-scale renovations. Our expertise lies in intelligent space planning, resolving layout challenges before work begins. Through clear 2D plans and realistic 3D visuals, we give clients the confidence to move forward without uncertainty. Whether you need focused guidance for one space or a complete design service, we create interiors that feel cohesive, functional and enduring — designed for real life, not just appearance.
It’s entirely possible to design a beautiful home by focusing on the interiors first and thinking about the garden later. In many cases, that’s exactly how projects evolve. At Decorbuddi, more than 90% of our work is rooted in interior design, and it’s where most clients naturally begin: rethinking layouts, improving flow, and creating spaces that better reflect how they live.
However, what we’ve observed over time is that when the garden is at least considered early on, even at a very light-touch level, the overall result often feels more cohesive and better resolved. This isn’t about doing everything at once, or shifting focus away from the interiors, but about allowing the outside space to quietly inform key decisions inside.
Often, it starts with spatial flow. As we reconfigure interiors, we’re not just thinking about how rooms connect to one another, but how the home connects to the garden. The positioning of doors, the alignment of thresholds, and the natural routes in and out of the house all play a role. When these elements are considered together, movement flows and the transition between inside and out a seamless aspect of the design enhancing each element.
This naturally extends into how a home is used. Kitchens, dining areas and family spaces often have a direct relationship with the garden, particularly in homes designed for entertaining or family life. By understanding how the outdoor space might function - whether that’s dining, relaxing, or simply providing a visual backdrop- we can make more informed decisions about interior layouts. Even without a fully developed garden scheme, this awareness helps ensure the home works as a whole.
There is also a quieter, but equally important, impact on light and outlook. A garden is not just something you step into; it’s something you see and experience from within. Thinking about planting, levels or focal points early on allows us to position glazing and interior features more deliberately, maximising natural light and shaping views that enhance the atmosphere of a space. In this way, the garden becomes part of the interior experience, even when you’re indoors.
From a design perspective, early consideration opens up opportunities for a more unified aesthetic. Materials, tones and textures can be subtly echoed - flooring that extends towards a terrace, finishes that relate to external elements, or a palette that flows naturally between the two. It’s not about matching everything exactly, but about creating a sense of continuity that makes the home feel calm and considered.
Alongside these design benefits, there are practical advantages that are easy to overlook. In many properties we work on in London, access is constrained, and garden materials often need to pass through the house. If structural landscaping - such as levelling a patio or forming terraces - is left until after the interiors are complete, it can introduce unnecessary risk and disruption. Addressing these elements earlier in the process can help protect finished spaces and simplify the build.
Similarly, coordinating internal floor levels with external ground levels is far easier when both are part of the same conversation. When left too late, this can result in awkward steps, compromised thresholds or drainage challenges. When considered early, it allows for those seamless transitions that clients increasingly value, where indoor and outdoor spaces feel naturally connected.
Another layer to this is the integration of services. Lighting, drainage, and even power for outdoor features can be aligned with the interior scheme from the outset, rather than retrofitted later. This not only leads to a more refined end result but can also avoid unnecessary cost and disruption as the project progresses.
Of course, not every client wants to complete their garden at the same time as their interiors, and that’s completely understandable. What we often suggest at Decorbuddi is simply developing an awareness of the garden early on - sometimes as a high-level plan that can be implemented in phases. This approach helps to future-proof the project, ensuring that when the garden is eventually realised, it feels like a natural extension of the home rather than something separate.
Our role, first and foremost, is to create interior spaces that look beautiful, functional well and are deeply personal to the people who live in them. When the relationship between inside and out is considered - even in a subtle way - the impact on the interior can be significant. Interiors feel fresher and more spacious, views are more impactful, and the home as a whole becomes more connected.
At Decorbuddi, we don’t see this as a rule, but as an opportunity. An opportunity to enhance the interior by considering the wider context in which those interiors sit. And when that happens, the results tend to speak for themselves.
About Decorbuddi
Decorbuddi creates thoughtful, original design that transforms the quality of everyday life. Blending expertise with a warm, flexible approach, we tailor each project to our clients’ individual needs - from focused design consultations to complete interior and garden renovations. With a London based central studio, regionally based designer team and a trusted network of skilled trades, we deliver carefully managed turnkey projects across the UK and internationally, ensuring every element works together seamlessly.
Maria Benaki, Founder & Interior Designer at Studio Benaki, has given her insights into the industry.
Born and raised in Greece, I moved to the UK to further my studies before building a career in civil engineering. My professional journey began in the energy industry, where I spent over a decade working as a civil engineer on offshore development projects — a career that sharpened my analytical thinking, technical rigour and project management skills.
Driven by a lifelong passion for design, architecture and the arts, I went on to retrain at the prestigious KLC School of Design, a turning point that united my creative sensibility with my engineering background in a way that felt entirely natural.
Shortly after completing my diploma, I founded Studio Benaki — a London based interior design studio with a vision to create deeply personal, expressive and highly functional spaces for residential and commercial clients across London and in Greece.
The decision to change careers and work in the interior design industry grew naturally within me. Very early in my civil engineering career, I felt a strong urge to combine my creativity with my technical background, analytical thinking and site expertise. I have also always admired people who felt fulfilled through their work, and that simple observation sparked my own career change journey. Having lived away from my home country for many years, I also came to understand just how important it is for spaces to truly feel like home — and how powerful good design can be in creating that sense of belonging, wherever you are in the world.
What eventually drew me to make the transition was the understanding that residential interior design has the power to genuinely change how people feel in their everyday lives — bringing a little of their heart, their history and their personality into spaces that are both functional and timeless. That conviction led me to retrain at London's KLC School of Design and ultimately found Studio Benaki in 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Clients are becoming increasingly discerning — not just about aesthetics, but about the full experience of working with an interior designer. They want clarity, transparency and a process that feels calm and collaborative. Studios that invest in genuine relationships, structured processes and honest communication will be the ones that thrive.
Technology and artificial intelligence are also reshaping how designers work, and I think it is important to embrace the tools that genuinely enhance the design process — from spatial planning software to visualisation tools that help clients see their future home more clearly. That said, I firmly believe the most meaningful aspect of residential interior design will always remain deeply human. No algorithm can replicate the understanding that comes from sitting with a client, learning their story and translating that into a bespoke interior that feels truly personal.
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.
About Studio Benaki
Studio Benaki is a London-based interior design studio specialising in residential projects in London and Greece. With a focus on contemporary design, the studio crafts deeply personal, expressive and highly functional homes. From full renovations to thoughtful one-room transformations, each project is approached with warmth, care and a deep respect for both the architecture and the people who inhabit it. What makes Studio Benaki distinct is the way it bridges heritage, craftsmanship and clarity of execution. Drawing on Maria’s background in civil engineering and a rich cultural perspective shaped by life in both Greece and the UK, founder Maria Benaki brings a rare combination of creative intuition and practical expertise into her projects.
A very tired and drab kitchen was given a huge makeover, by NB Interiors, which totally transformed how this family used the space.
A once very tired and dull space is now a very warm and welcoming kitchen that has both aesthetic and functionality at it's heart.
By adding a small extension to create a compact utility room meant the layout of the kitchen could be adapted to make space for a dining area, complete with banquette seating with some all important storage.
The addition of the seating area meant this room went from feeling cramped to spacious and a social hub of the home.
The pink colour on the walls actually made the space feel much bigger and brighter, plus opening up the chimney allowed the cooker to be relocated to this space and made the seating area possible. This has been a huge transformation and once that has totally transformed the family home.
About NB Interiors UK
I have a passion for colour and texture, I enjoy helping clients be brave and take the leap into injecting personality into their homes. Whilst keeping spaces cosy, welcoming and feeling like their home. I aim to create spaces that can be truly lived in, comfortable and that will stand the test of time.
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