30 up-and-coming interior designers you need to know about
Our yearly edition of the Top 100 Interior Designers and Architects working in the UK is always a much-anticipated round-up of the very best of the UK industry. But there are many, many brilliant designers, perhaps not quite so establish, whose projects we also admire greatly. To honour the work they are doing, we take a look at the up-and-coming designers you should know about too with a fresh update for this year. Some of those who we listed on here last year have gone onto this year's Top 100 list, so they're definitely names to have on your radar.
Patrick Williamson1/30Albion Nord
Founded in 2017 by designers Camilla Clarke, Ottalie Stride, Anthony Kooperman and Ben Johnson, this Fitzrovia-based design studio creates refined, tailored interiors that sensitively blend the old and new. Between the four of them, they have excellent pedigree, having worked for the likes of Veere Grenney, Studio Ashby and Thomas Heatherwick, and their sophisticated aesthetic is no doubt inspired by these experiences. There is no shortage of bespoke elements in their work – whether that be an upholstered headboard or a table – which they create in collaboration with a roster of craftspeople and pair with an impeccably sourced array of antiques. Current projects include a house in Little Venice, a manor house in Oxfordshire and a Grade II-Listed Estate in Berkshire.
albion-nord.com| See Albion Nord's profile on The List
2/30Alexandria Dauley
KLC alumni and co-founder of United in Design – an initiative that aims to tackle the design industry's diversity issues – Alexandria Dauley launched her own studio in 2016. She has a contemporary approach to her projects, which currently include the new Soho House in Brixton, as well as homes across London. Alex's speciality is creating elegant, supremely comfortable and usable interiors for her clients, filling them with an expertly chosen mix of personal and new items.
dauleydesign.com
Genevieve Lutkin3/30Angus Reid
Angus Reid creates spaces that are calm, pared back and beautifully precise. Having started out in real estate, the designer quickly realised it wasn’t the career for him. He brushed up on his InDesign and CAD skills, soon scoring a job with architectural and interior design firm Minale + Mann, where he stayed for almost three years. He launched his own company in 2018 and projects include a house in Notting Hill, a Tudor house in Windsor and a former mill in Gloucestershire, which he is working on in collaboration with Richard Parr Associates.
angusreidprojects.com
Jonathan Bond4/30Barlow & Barlow
Founded in 2013 by Lucy Barlow and her lighting designer brother Max, this studio majors in sleek, modern interiors that are full of colour and joy. Lucy’s architect and landscape designer husband, Joshua Sear, joined the team recently, expanding the studio’s remit further. They are particularly good at injecting a young, fresh energy into spaces, and giving traditional elements – whether that be trimmings and tassels or upholstered pieces – a modern twist. Recently, Lucy has joined forces with passementerie specialist Jessica Light on a playful collection of braids and trims. Like with the interiors the studio creates, there is a good sprinkling of leopard print and plenty to smile at.
barlowandbarlow.com| See Barlow and Barlow's profile on The List
5/30Child Studio
Founded in 2017 by Che Huang and Alexy Kos, this London-based design studio creates beautifully crafted, inviting spaces. Che and Alexy’s love and deep knowledge of 20th century design underpins their aesthetic, which they channel into art direction, product design and photography, as well as interior design. Their interiors, which range from Cubitts stores in London and Cambridge to an impressive apartment in Hampstead and a restaurant in St John’s Wood, combine contemporary and vintage pieces and the pair gravitate to natural materials like wood. ‘Each project evolves around human stories and their relationship to their location,’ they say. Recently, they designed six Bauhaus inspired rugs for The Floor Story. Current projects include a house in Belgravia and a boutique hotel in New York.
childstudio.co
6/30Christian Bense
On moving to the UK from South Africa, where he had completed a degree in design, Christian joined Turner Pocock, before setting up his own studio in early 2020. His schemes are a nod to his South African roots, incorporating the old and the new seamlessly. Christian’s strength is his ability to remain sensitive to traditional British architecture whilst introducing colour and textures confidently. ‘I believe that balance and composition are paramount in a design, so rather than there being one design aesthetic, the homes I create are rational, well rounded and full of depth’, says Christian, whose recent projects include an apartment in Holland Park, a ‘back to brick’ renovation in Dulwich and a family home in Fulham.
christianbense.com| See Christian Bense's profile on The List
Alicia Waite7/30Emma Ainscough
Emma Ainscough joined Studio Ashby – as the second ever employee – as soon as she had completed a course at KLC, soaking up as much knowledge about both design and running a business as she could under Sophie Ashby’s tutelage. In 2020, she took all she had learnt and went solo, applying her contemporary, colourful style to her own projects. ‘It’s so important for a project to last,’ she says of her approach, which is grounded in a respect for tradition and historic buildings. ‘The colours and patterns I like to use are not necessarily new. I’m not that swayed by trends,’ says Emma, who is currently working on a family home in East Sussex, as well as two London houses.
emmaainscough.com
Paul Massey8/30Emma Grant
Emma Grant’s own home – an enviably elegant apartment on Primrose Hill – created waves of excitement when it featured in the July/August 2020 issue of House & Garden and we’re still swooning over that bespoke marble sink. Since then, Emma – who swapped a career in fashion for interior design in 2019 after retraining at KLC – has been quietly working away on projects in Chelsea and Queen’s Park and is about to start work on a 17th century Cotswold cottage. Clients gravitate to her for her fantastic eye and her knack at pulling together interiors that feel genuinely original. ‘I like to put together comfortable rooms that have character and are heavily armed with lively combinations of antiques, salvaged materials, bespoke pieces, rare textiles and fine detailing,’ says Emma.
emma-grant.com
Genevieve Lutkin9/30Hollie Bowden Interiors
The projects Hollie Bowden takes on are nothing if not diverse. At the moment, she is remodelling a Victorian terrace into an office space, working on a five-bedroom family house in London, a 14-bedroom house in Ibiza and a chalet in Gstaad. She garnered the skills for these projects during her time at KLC and set up on her own in 2013. She sums up her style as ‘minimal-maximalism’, using sophisticated palettes paired with diverse textures, finishes and details to create a look that is subtle and refined.
holliebowden.com
10/30Howark Design
James Arkoulis and Saskia Howard, who launched their studio in 2017, met while they were both working as designers at Studio Reed. From their west London headquarters, the duo conjure beautifully detailed interiors, describing their approach as ‘characterful and considered’, the end product being inviting, colourful and harmonious, designed with keen attention to detail and each project's architectural roots. ‘Central to everything we do is our close working relationship with our clients,’ say James and Saskia, whose redesign of one clients’ London home has resulted in them being commissioned to entirely refurbish their country house on the South Coast. One of their latest projects will soon feature in the pages of the magazine.
howark-design.co.uk | See Howark Design's profile on The List
11/30Isabella Worsley
Isabella Worsley set up her own studio nearly three years ago, following time spent training under Guy Goodfellow and Kit Kemp. The latter stood her in good stead for the hotel and restaurant interiors she has been doing alongside residential projects, most recently the lovely Callow Hall hotel in the Peak District and its treehouses. Isabella describes her work as having ‘a classical backbone, with unexpected elements that give a contemporary feel,’ and this shows itself best in her use of colour across bespoke joinery and woodwork. Currently, Isabella is turning her talents to the refurbishment of a longhouse and barn conversion in the Brecon Beacons and a mews house in Brighton.
isabellaworsley.com
12/30Isabelle Lomas
With experience working for Martin Brudnizki, Sarah Delaney and Soho House, Isabelle Lomas was well-equipped with the tools to set up her own studio earlier this year. She studied textiles and fashion at Central Saint Martins before landing an internship at Vogue, which she credits for expanding her outlook on design and inspiring her to undertake a diploma at The Interior Design School. She has an eye for rich colour palettes and creates sophisticated interiors that are full of personality, mixing pieces from different eras to create spaces that feel as though they have evolved over time. Isabelle has recently completed a beautiful 6-bedroom house in Cornwall, which is pictured here.
isabellelomas.com
James McDonald13/30J.James Mackie Ltd
A Sotheby’s specialist turned interior decorator, James Mackie launched his studio in 2020, creating thoughtfully detailed, art-filled spaces. ‘Context, context, context’ is how he describes his approach to design – a philosophy that is more than evident in his own Cotswold cottage, which features in the current issue of House & Garden. ‘I rely on my eye for scale and proportion to drive everything I do,’ says James, who describes his decorating style as ‘instinctive’. That it may be, but he’s honed his exacting eye over the 20 years he spent working in auction houses and it’s not surprising that many of his current projects are for former art clients. He’s working on a 17th century Cotswold manor house for a contemporary art collector, a house in Wiltshire for a photography collector and an apartment in a converted Arts & Crafts house in Oxfordshire.
jjamesmackie.com
14/30Jessica Summer
Having cut her teeth working for the likes of Mlinaric, Henry and Zervudachi, Rose Uniacke and P. Joseph, Jessica Summer creates thoughtful spaces that are full of soul. Woven and natural materials feature in almost every project, paired with a well chosen selection of original vintage pieces that are set against soft palettes. Recent projects include a house in Dulwich, which will feature in an upcoming issue of House & Garden. As it makes quite clear, she has impeccable taste and is certainly one to keep a close eye on.
@jessicasummer1
Anna Stathaki15/30Katharine Paravicini
House & Garden alumni Katharine Paravicini started her career as PA to former editor Sue Crewe before moving on to work at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. After four years on one of the decorating teams at the illustrious firm, she set up by herself in 2014 and believes that her classic training ‘has given me a keen eye for detail and for good craftsmanship.’ Colour and pattern are used in an uplifting way throughout her projects, which currently include three country houses and a London home. The mix of contemporary pieces with antiques brings an unexpected touch to a traditional approach. ‘I really believe that when designing a house, the personality of the building should shine through, as well as that of the people who live there,' she says.
katharineparavicini.co.uk| See Katharine Paravinci's profile on The List
Paul Massey16/30Lonika Chande
Lonika Chande, whose own house we featured in the October 2020 issue of House & Garden, set up her Chelsea-based studio almost five years ago. She has a knack for creating warm and cheerful interiors, which are richly layered with colour and pattern. ‘A good room should feel lived in, heaped in texture and layered with low-level lighting,’ says Lonika, who cut her teeth working for architectural practice PDP and interior designer Juliette Byrne. The designer, who won House & Garden’s List Award for Design Talent in 2020, is currently overhauling a charming house in Notting Hill, which hasn’t been touched for 30 years, as well as working on an apartment in Chelsea and a Victorian villa in Highbury.
lonikachande.com | See Lonika's profile on The List
17/30Miminat Design
British-Nigerian Mimi Shodeinde set up Studio Miminat in 2015, while she was still at university in Edinburgh studying interior architecture. The London studio now also produces furniture – all of which is handmade by local artisans in the UK, America and North Africa – and her ‘Howard Desk’ is currently on show at the Design Museum as part of the Discovered exhibition, which is a collaboration between Wallpaper* and the American Hardwood Export Council. Mimi’s latest interiors projects include a house in Cape Coast, Ghana, and a villa in Portugal. A sense of relaxed elegance is characteristic of her work, as is a diverse mix of influences and a global approach to craftsmanship.
miminat.com
Paul Massey18/30Morrisstudio
Having branched into interiors in 2018 after years of writing about design, Tom Morris is definitely in the ascendant. With a deep knowledge of 20th century and contemporary design, the rooms he creates are cool without being self conscious – think moody toned palettes with primary pops, sculptural lines, vintage pieces and thoughtfully chosen art and craft. ‘I’m resistant to ever getting too period, so love to throw something in from the Seventies,’ Tom explains. One of his first major projects will feature in our January issue – a Victorian house in London Fields that is a brilliant showcase for his imaginative approach to design. Current projects include a Georgian house in Gloucestershire and a family house in south London.
morrisstudio.co.uk
Michael Sinclair19/30Pandora Taylor
Having started her career in auction houses, Pandora Taylor re-trained at KLC and then spent four years working at Kitesgrove before launching her own studio in 2018. Her own house, which is soon to feature on the House & Garden website, is an excellent showcase of her style, which mixes colour, bold elements and striking vintage finds. Current projects include a warehouse in Bermondsey, a holiday home in the Hamptons where Pandora is enjoying experimenting with different styles and suppliers, and a large country house in Dorset. ‘I definitely lean towards more is more,’ says the designer.
pandorataylor.co.uk
Christopher Horwood20/30Philamena
The brains (and eyes) behind popular interiors Instagram account @philamena, Natasha Howard has spent the past four years working for the likes of Turner Pocock and Joanna Plant, who she continues to freelance for. Alongside her day job, she has taken on the odd project on the side – we featured an elegant west London project earlier this year – and from December this year she is going fully solo. ‘A good room should feel lived in and loved,’ says the designer, who is currently working on a house in Brackenbury Village. Her look is elegant, layered and incredibly pretty, making excellent use of colour, pattern and vintage pieces. If the project we featured is anything to go by, she also has a knack at turning the most hum-drum spaces into jewel boxes. We’re still thinking about that pink laundry room and watching keenly to see what’s next.
philamena.co.uk; @philamena
Martin Morrell21/30Remy Renzullo
A rising star in the Anglo-American decorating scene, Remy Renzullo
– whose former cottage featured on the pages of House & Garden – splits his time between a charming former ballroom salon in Manhattan and London. His unfussy interiors – antiques laden with a good dose of chintz – have a certain grandeur to them and he has an obvious soft spot for English country-house style. At present, the young designer is working on a number of projects in both the US and the UK, namely a large landmarked 19th century townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, NY, a turn-of-the-century house in San Francisco facing the Golden Gate Bridge, and is soon to start work on the redecoration of a number of rooms in the historic Castle Howard.
@remy_renzullo
22/30Sascal Studio
Sisters Caroline and Sarah Stemp founded their interior design studio in 2020, having both studied at KLC before topping up their design knowledge – Caroline at London Design Group and Sarah at Studio Clark + Co and Hubert Zandberg Interiors. Currently working on family homes in East Sussex and north London, as well as a number of consultancy projects, their look is relaxed and liveable, with plenty of unexpected elements – be that a green hand-painted fabric-covered headboard, or a bespoke bobbin-legged shelving-cum-desk unit. The pair also run an online homeware shop, selling vintage pieces and a small edit of the items they have designed – their first piece was a playful ladderback chair, which they created in collaboration with The Odd Chair Company.
sascalstudio.com
Jake Curtis23/30Stephanie Barba Mendoza
Stephanie Barba Mendoza’s sense of adventure is evident in her projects, which are bold, unique and unashamedly maximalist in spirit. ‘A home needs soul,’ stresses the designer. After studying interior design in Mexico City, she moved to London to complete the KLC diploma course. She then spent 10 years at Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, working on projects such as Annabel’s nightclub, before launching her studio in 2020. Stephanie’s current work includes a mid-century modern house in Miami and what she describes as ‘a maximalist dream’ in Antwerp.
barbamendoza.com
24/30Stone Hollond
Headed up by Phoebe Hollond and Josh Stone, this studio launched in 2020 and grew out of Caroline Paterson Interiors who remains a non-executive Chair. Josh worked for Caroline for 9 years, while Phoebe Hollond honed her eye as a designer for Beata Heuman, and together the pair are creating fresh interiors that feel just right for today. ‘As a studio, we have lots of designers who have worked for other studios, which leads to a diverse creative culture,’ says Phoebe. She describes their aesthetic as ‘crisp, elegant and tailored’ and current projects include an Arts & Crafts country house, a Grade II-Listed Sussex house and, intriguingly, a vineyard.
stonehollond.com/
Paul Massey25/30Studio Kaya
Deniz Bayern – who set up Studio Kaya in 2019 – has an impressive background behind her; an art foundation course at Central Saint Martins, a BA in Product and Industrial Design and a diploma from KLC, which led to stints working for Fran Hickman, Studio Reed and the design team at Soho House. Her style is pared back; think clean lines, sleek finishes and touches that show a more playful nature. While she works on a house in Queen’s Park, Deniz is also launching a Studio Kaya furniture line this autumn in the same slick style – the first product to launch will be a travertine coffee table.
studiokaya.co.uk
Michael Sinclair26/30Studio Krokalia
Pallas Kalamotusis, who founded her studio in 2014, is fastidious when it comes to sourcing original editions of vintage pieces. With a masters in history of art, she has an eye for detail, and the result is rooms that feel fresh, considered and joyful. ‘Colours come last for me as I think people focus too much on this and get wrapped up in it from the beginning. As long as you stick to tones found in nature, and trust your gut, then everything will work together,’ explains Pallas, who is currently working on a flat in Kennington and a house in Kensal Rise. She founded her studio – named after a traditional Greek pebble mosaic – after what she describes as ‘a lucky break in Athens’ and continues to work on projects here and in Greece.
krokalia.com | See Studio Krokalia's profile on The List
Alexander James27/30Studio Peake
Established in 2019 by Sarah Peake, this small studio majors in impeccably pulled-together schemes, which balance traditional elements with more contemporary flourishes. She credits a four-week stint of work experience at House & Garden in 2011 as the starting point for her career, but has honed her style over the past few years, working for both Alidad and Todhunter Earle. In the last year, the studio has doubled in size, and now boasts five employees and a host of new, exciting projects. She has a keen eye for detail – ‘I love spaces to have an element of surprise and originality’ – and is currently full steam ahead with a townhouse in Chelsea, an arts and crafts house in Surrey and her first ever overseas commission in Stockholm, which, she says, ‘really are a celebration of all I love about colour and contrast.’
studiopeake.com | See Studio Peake's profile on The List
Owen Gale28/30Studio Squire
Angelica Squire set up Studio Squire in 2015, following several years in the publishing world. She trained at Inchbald School of Design, working for several small firms before Studio Squire was born and she began to embark on solo projects. These currently include a house in Richmond, a family home in Hammersmith and also a new pub in Notting Hill. She describes her approach as ‘inherently traditional, but with surprising details along the way’; expect unlikely paint colours, clashing prints and a good quota of antiques in her spaces. Her own elegant yet fun home has been featured on the House & Garden website.
studiosquire.co.uk| See Studio Squire's profile on The List
Rachael Smith29/30Studio Westmaas
With a degree in Interior Architecture from Brighton University and a year with designer Rose Uniacke under her belt, Kay Westmaas founded her interior design and architecture studio in 2015. Drawing on a palette inspired by Kay’s time in Barbados and England, the interiors she creates are understated and elegant, combining soft palettes, antique one-offs and natural materials. Or, as Kay puts it, ‘uncomplicated interiors that outlive fleeting trends’. She is currently working on three houses in Richmond, two flats in Islington and a whole house overhaul in Chiswick. We’ve visited one of her projects, which will be featuring in an upcoming issue of House & Garden in the ‘Designer Profile’ slot.
studiowestmaas.com[/i]
Michael Sinclair30/30Thea Speke
Although Thea Speke isn’t offering a full interior design service, she is one to have on your radar. The former Rose Uniacke designer launched her eponymous studio in 2019, offering a design consultancy service, as well as selling a covetable selection of antique furniture and lighting through Instagram. There is nothing we don’t like about the rooms she creates, which bring together natural textures, soft linens and, as you may expect, an impeccably charming array of antique pieces that she has sourced across the country. Her own home will soon feature in the magazine and we’ll be running a Designer Profile to showcase her approach.
theaspeke.com; @theaspeke
