Meet Our Next in Design Winners: Adura Design

‘I like interiors to make you feel something as soon as you walk in' – for designer Anu Akinyemi, good design is focused on rich colors, layers of patterns, and luxurious textures

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On the left, a profile portrait of interior designer Anu Akinyemi with a sleek bob, wearing a black padded vest over a tailored black pinstripe jumpsuit. On the right is a photo of the same modern living room
(Image credit: Vigo Jansons)

‘I’m drawn to brass and rust colors,’ says our Next in Design 2025 winner, Anu Akinyemi, founder of Adura Design. ‘I like interiors to make you feel something as soon as you walk in.’ Hers is a rich approach to décor – one that has seen Anu transform a plain five-bedroom house in St John’s Wood, London, into a showcase of deep colors, luxurious textures and vividly patterned textiles. ‘I was given four weeks to complete that project, but instead of worrying about how, I just got on with it,’ Anu says. ‘It felt like my big break.’

An elegant mid-century modern living room with deep green walls and terracotta-patterned rugs. Two beige armchairs and a copper-hued coffee table are positioned in the foreground. A white fireplace with open gold shelving is at the back.

The living room of Anu’s project in St John’s Wood, London

(Image credit: Vigo Jansons)

A career in design wasn’t always the obvious path for Anu. Growing up in Nigeria, creative careers were often seen as hobbies – something that wouldn’t make you any money. ‘But I loved looking at floor plans even at a young age, figuring out how rooms could be improved.’

She moved to Bournemouth to study architecture and interior design, and has since found ways to blend her Nigerian and Cameroonian heritage with what she learned in the UK.

‘Africa is all about color and how it can be layered in a rich, expressive way, while British design introduced me to materials like ceramics and how to curate them to create personality.’ With two more London-based projects nearing completion, Anu’s goal is to bring African craftsmanship to the global stage. ‘I want to show people how beautiful it can be,’ she says.

3 Key Design Rules with Adura Design

1. Always Design in Layers
Without layers, a space can feel too flat and one-dimensional. Layering is what gives it depth and richness, and for me, that comes through materiality, lighting, art, accessories, and how light interacts with the space. When a space is layered properly, it feels more immersive and considered, giving it depth and richness.

2. Create Warmth Through Materiality
I’m very intentional about the types of materials I use because warmth doesn’t just come from color – it comes from texture, softness, and how light interacts within a space. Even in a neutral room, the right combination of materials can make a space feel calm, inviting, and comfortable.

3. Experience Over Aesthetics
I design for how a space is experienced, not just how it looks. I think about how people move through a space, where they gather, and how to create areas that feel more intimate or more open. It’s about creating moments within a space and what makes it feel intentional and complete.

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Pip Rich
Pip Rich

Pip Rich is an interiors journalist and editor with 20 years' experience, having written for all of the UK's biggest titles. Most recently, he was the Global Editor in Chief of our sister brand, Livingetc, where he now continues in a consulting role as Executive Editor. Before that, he was acting editor of Homes & Gardens, and has held staff positions at Sunday Times Style, ELLE Decoration, Red and Grazia. He has written three books – his most recent, A New Leaf, looked at the homes of architects who had decorated with house plants. Over his career, he has interviewed pretty much every interior designer working today, soaking up their knowledge and wisdom so as to become an expert himself.