This year's WOW!house, held at the Chelsea Design Centre, was filled with standout spaces, from immersive installations to bold celebrations of color, culture, and craftsmanship.

But while every designer brought something unique to the showhouse, we were curious to know which rooms resonated most with the industry's rising stars. So, fresh off the back of their private tour, we asked our Next in Design 2026 winners to choose the one space they found most inspiring.

With more than 21 rooms and outdoor spaces, choosing a favorite is no easy task. Yet when we asked our cohort of winners which room stayed with them long after they left, a clear theme began to emerge...

The Turnell & Gigon Group Drawing Room by Albion Nord

'There were a few spaces that were wonderful, but my favorite was the Albion Nord Drawing Room, created in collaboration with Turnell & Gigon,' says Ailsa MacConnell of Studio Mac. 'The room was full of curiosities, ranging from beautiful artwork to its striking octagonal shape. While it took inspiration from the Georgian and Victorian eras, the fresh and unexpected elements that had been introduced really made the space sing.'

'I particularly loved the handmade patchwork rug, which paired beautifully with the eclectic antique furniture. Softening the room were the incredible plush sofas, layered with beautiful textiles. An unexpected twist came in the form of the fringe trim on the cornice, complemented by the fabric-covered walls.'

'All in all, the room was full of inspiring details and delightful little quirks.'

'My favorite room was the drawing room by Albion Nord,' Filippo Calvagno of Studio Calvagno agrees. 'The domed ceiling and octagonal shape of the room were really impressive, and I loved how they made each area of the space work so well. There was an immediate feeling of warmth and relaxation when I walked in.'

'I loved the color palette chosen throughout the room, particularly across the fabrics, and how everything blended together so nicely. The wall covering worked beautifully with the architecture of the space, enhancing the shape of the room while introducing subtle colour and texture,' Filippo continues. 'The vintage elements were also integrated really well and added a real sense of character.'

'I’ve been a fan of Albion Nord’s work for a while, so it was great to be standing in one of their designed spaces and experience it in person. Overall, the room felt grand and elegant without being overwhelming, which I thought was a great achievement.'

The Garden Folly Room by Studio Enass

'I’d say my favorite was Studio Enass Garden Foley room,' says Ayisha Onuorah. 'I really liked the conceptual details of the space, for example, how she used the color red to represent the traditional clothing from her Sudanese heritage. It was bold, detailed, and well considered.'

The Misia for Casamance Group Bedroom Suite by Henri Fitzwilliam

'My favorite space within this year’s WOW!house was Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay’s bedroom suite,' says Abbie Downey of Feather & Fossil. 'The room had a wonderful sense of culture, travel, and eclecticism, creating a space that felt both deeply personal and effortlessly sophisticated. Richly layered and full of discoveries, it encouraged exploration at every turn, with pieces from different eras and influences coming together in a way that felt collected rather than curated.'

'I was particularly drawn to the hand-carved furniture, the beautifully detailed wood-block moldings, and the patina of the substantial statement doors,' Abbie continues.

'While these elements were undeniably bold, they also brought a sense of warmth and grounding to the scheme. The space perfectly demonstrated how craftsmanship, history, and personality can coexist to create an interior that feels timeless, characterful, and genuinely lived in.'

'I found it to be an accomplished, original, and globally inspired take on what a relaxing and luxurious bedroom could be,' agrees Chizitera Pennington of Chizitera Interiors.

'It was inspiring because it felt relaxed and comfortable whilst drawing on modernism and the geometry and hard textural elements of Art Deco (such as the wooden headboard),' Chizitera continues. 'The lines, shapes, and textures from these design eras can be quite harsh and are not natural bedfellows in bedroom design.'

'However, the designer successfully brought them into the space through a generous and impactful use of fabric (such as behind the headboard and on the window treatments) alongside a restrained color palette,' Chizitera adds. 'Ultimately, my key takeaway is that sleek lines, hard finishes, and geometry have a place in the bedroom.'

The Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio

'A room that I found particularly intriguing was the Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio,' says Irfana Ahmed. 'I found this room so fascinating because it perfectly demonstrates the intricacies of interior design and how thoughtful design will resonate with all five senses as well as emotion.'

'The play between soft and grounded, provided by the wash of layered curtains and circular daybed, and palpable and crisp sound and visuals, provided by Nucleus’ technology, forces you to become completely immersed in the room,' Irfana continues.

'"The Momantarium" is so inspiring because it is a reminder that even with ever-progressing state-of-the-art technology, spaces will always feel human through the magic of human memory and emotion. I love that while I was sitting on the daybed, I felt as though I could be absolutely anywhere – a giant daydream.'

The Parlour by Martin Kemp Design

'The Parlour was the room I couldn't leave,' says Zoe Willis of Zoe Willis Design.

'Martin Kemp let the darkness do the work, enveloping tone, soft suspended fabric, a 1970s glamour reworked with real restraint, and the effect was a cocoon rather than a showpiece,' Zoe continues. 'What I loved was the layering: a floral armchair, a sculptural pendant, handblown glass, vintage finds, each one a piece you want to inspect closely, yet none of them competing.'

'It wasn't decorated, it was directed. My takeaway is that luxury is felt, not announced. The room rejected spectacle and rewarded attention, and that is exactly why I was still thinking about it long after I'd left.'

The Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh

'I found the energy of Young Huh and Benjamin Moore's Minhwa Salon magnetic,' says Jasmine Fisher. 'Its contemporary interpretation of Korean folk art felt alive; a playful reminder that tradition can be a powerful source of innovation.'

The Shepel' Library by Roisin Lafferty

'Our favorite space at WOW!house was the Shepel' Library by Rosin Lafferty,' says Frankie Pritchard and Indie Robinson of Thirty Stories. 'It felt completely different from the moment you stepped inside – rather than feeling like part of a showroom, it transported you to a beautiful, intimate space of its own.'

'What inspired us most was the layering of materials and the attention to detail,' they continue. 'The contrast between the metal framework, textured glass, warm burr wood and sumptuous mohair velvet was incredibly effective, with each element bringing a different quality and texture to the room.'

'It was a great reminder of how much depth and character can be created through thoughtful combinations of finishes and materials.'

'My other favorite would be the library by Roisin Lafferty, which felt like a space reimagined,' adds Ayisha. 'The use of materials and shape that form the space felt fresh, new, inventive, and inspired a real master class.'

While each designer was drawn to a different room, together, these spaces reveal that the rooms designers remember most aren't always the ones making the biggest statement.

More often, they're the spaces that linger – rooms with a strong point of view, a sense of authenticity, or an ability to evoke emotion. From intimate libraries to richly layered bedroom suites, the standout spaces at WOW!house 2026 demonstrate that the most successful interiors balance creativity with connection.

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Now in its second year, Next in Design is Homes & Gardens’ initiative designed to help emerging studios and interior designers take the next step in their careers. It provides industry access and editorial support, giving designers the opportunity to build connections, confidence, and a strong sense of community.

This year’s winners come from across the UK and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives. Some are already well established, while others are just starting out. What unites them is their creativity, passion, and ambition – essential qualities for any designer.

We’re delighted to introduce the Next in Design 2026 cohort.

The Next in Design Process

Next in Design is overseen by a board of industry experts, united by a shared commitment to championing emerging talent and helping shape a more inclusive design industry. Winners are selected through a highly competitive Open Call process that attracts hundreds of entries from across the UK. We also encourage interior designers to sign up to In The Loop, Homes & Gardens’ weekly industry newsletter, where we share design insights, new launches, emerging talent we love, and career opportunities.

Our Board
Alex Dauley – Interior designer and founder, Alex Dauley Design
Charu Gandhi – Interior designer, architect and founder, Elicyon
Claire German – CEO, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour
David Nicholls – Director of editorial development, Homes & Gardens
Jo Bailey – Editor, Homes & Gardens
Kit Kemp MBE – Interior designer at Kit Kemp Design Studio and founder and creative director, Firmdale Hotels
Sarah Spiteri – Global brand director and group editor in chief, Homes & Gardens
Tolu Adeko – Founder and creative director, Adèkó & Co

Introducing the 2026 Next in Design Cohort

28 a.m.

'In my work, I want to move the conversation beyond ‘decoration’ and toward emotional longevity. As our world becomes increasingly digital, I believe homes will need to serve as a tactile, analog counterbalance. My work combines the precision of my training with the restorative needs of modern Londoners.'

Winnie Tam, founder of 28 a.m.

Ayisha Onuorah

'As a career changer, I’ve become fully immersed in the design world in a way that has genuinely changed my life. I live and breathe it. With roots in England, Africa, and the Caribbean, my work reflects a rich mix of cultural influences. Clients come to me for interiors that feel layered and expressive.'

Ayisha Onuorah

Chizitera Interiors

'I have a design style that blends bold, intentional use of color and pattern, along with contrasting yet balanced juxtapositions of different shapes and styles. I also use clean lines well, allowing designs to have space to breathe. I bring this to clients with a deeply personal approach.'

Chizitera Pennington, founder of Chizitera Interiors

Feather & Fossil Interior Design

‘My work celebrates bold pattern, maximalism, curiosity and culture, bridging my background in scientific research and my life as an interior designer. This combination ensures every project is creatively ambitious, yet grounded in research, history and context. I create spaces that tell stories, reflect individuality and invite people to engage with their surroundings.’

Abbie Downey, founder of Feather & Fossil Interior Design

House of Hamiltons

‘I am a designer shaped by a lifelong passion for making. My background in construction, years in tech and ongoing hands-on work in my own projects have given me both a practical understanding of how spaces are built and a deep respect for the process behind them. Design, for me, is grounded in time spent making – not just specifying.’

Andy Hamilton, founder of House of Hamiltons

Irfana Ahmed Creative

‘I am a self-taught interior designer, constantly absorbing information and learning as much as I can from the people I work with. I’m proud to design homes that are inviting and feel like the warmth of tropical sun on your skin at sunset, that feel intentional but still leave room for owners to add their experiences in.’

Irfana Ahmed, founder of Irfana Ahmed Creative

Jasmine Fisher

‘I design spaces layered with meaning, shaped by my upbringing as the child of a Polynesian-Chinese mother and an English father, and by having been raised across different countries. I approach each project as a story: curating artworks, working with makers, and selecting materials that reflect the lives and identities of the people who inhabit them.’

Jasmine Fisher

JGraham Design

‘I’ve known I wanted to pursue interior design since age 12, and before entering university I worked across nearly every corner of the industry – from fabric showrooms to hospitality firms, kitchen companies and home staging. Those early experiences gave me a grounded understanding of how design comes together at every level.’

Jessica Graham, found of JGraham Design

Kaye Design Studios

‘Running a one-woman studio means managing every aspect of the process – from concept and sourcing to site management and client relationships. It has been the most demanding and rewarding education I could have had as a designer, forcing me to learn quickly, trust my instincts and constantly raise my standards.’

Ella Jones, founder of Kaye Design Studios

Matthew Taylor Design

‘My approach is holistic and always begins by identifying the building’s history, its materiality and its story. I like to listen to the building and go on a journey together with it. I am very material and surface driven, and strive to retain original texture or reveal and inject it wherever possible and appropriate.’

Matthew Taylor, founder of Matthew Taylor Design

Studio Calvagno

‘I have a Sicilian background, was born in Germany, and have lived in the United States and now the UK, all of which have strongly shaped how I approach design. My background in dance also influences my work, particularly in how I think about movement, rhythm and how people experience space.’

Filippo Calvagno, founder of Studio Calvagno

Studio Flora London

‘Good design is about creativity and consideration, not just cost. I’m passionate about helping clients with smaller budgets create beautiful, considered homes without compromising on style. I guide my clients through every stage of the process, making design approachable, transparent and tailored to individual needs.’

Flora Slater, founder of Studio Flora London

Studio Mac

‘I am a designer with an instinctive eye for visual storytelling and spatial flow. Growing up surrounded by antiques and historic homes shaped my understanding of how history, character and architecture influence the way a space feels. I believe each room should hold its own personality, while contributing to a cohesive narrative throughout the home.’

Ailsa MacConnell, founder of Studio Mac

Thirty Stories

‘Our work is anchored in architectural clarity, considered proportion and an instinctive sense of comfort. We believe interiors should feel layered and timeless; spaces that reflect the character of the building and the personality of its inhabitants. This philosophy guides every project, creating individual designs each time.’

Frankie Pritchard & Indie Robinson, co-founders of Thirty Stories

Zoe Willis Design

‘My projects are known for bold use of color, sculptural composition and a cinematic sense of atmosphere. They are not trend-led but narrative-driven. As someone who did not follow a traditional interior-design route, I am continually proving that instinct, lived experience and commercial intelligence can translate into serious, disciplined design.’

Zoe Willis, founder of Zoe Willis Design

'I live on the west side of an old property dating back to the 1600s, split down the middle,' says our Next in Design winner, Hannah Ellis, explaining the provenance of her studio's name, Half a Hall. 'It's a fascinating place, partly former servants' quarters and partly the gentry rooms, and I've been giving it back its soul.'

Restored cornicing, updated alcoves in eye-catching stripes, a butter-yellow kitchen, and a mix of antique and modern furniture are a perfect calling card for the projects Hannah likes to take on. 'It's my mission in life to save old properties,' she says. 'When I see an old house, I just want to wrap my arms around it and give it the love it needs.'

For clients, this means delving into the deeds, pulling out stories of the people who lived there years – if not centuries – before, and creating color palettes based on the histories of a home. 'People find it easy to connect to this way of storytelling, then to create their own story in the space through design,' Hannah says.

Based between Wrexham and Chester, but working throughout the UK, Half a Hall is only half of Hannah's working life – there is also The Art Shop, where she uses her knack for sourcing to spotlight emerging artists, selling originals and museum-quality prints. 'There is so much I want to do with Half a Hall,' Hannah says. 'And being part of Next in Design gives me the confidence to do it.'

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Working as an account manager at Colefax and Fowler gave our Next in Design Winner, Claire Welsh, a true understanding of the decorative end of the design industry. ‘Because of my time there, I have a very layered approach and know the importance of antiques to really anchor a space,’ Claire says of the work she has done under her eponymous studio, which she founded in 2022.

Based in Edinburgh, her biggest client has been the Highlands hotel Skibo Castle, where she has designed two lodges and a treehouse, each one laced with pattern and fascinating details.

‘I commissioned JamJar Edit to press ferns from the estate for the treehouse and got a local specialist framer, Pandora Harrison, to sew vintage Hermès scarves into museum-quality frames to use as backgrounds for them,’ Claire says. ‘It’s been really magical to work on.’

Commissioning local artisans is a passion for Claire, and part of the ethos of her studio. ‘Scotland has a rich history of craft and I’m excited to champion it,’ she says, of the way local makers are used in all her projects. A current favorite is The Marchmont Workshop, ‘as they do wonderful rush seating,’ and artist Sarah Cemmick, who Claire asked to make traditional linocuts for a living room wall.

It is this quest to seek out lesser-known collaborators that gives her work such character.

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Energy is a huge focus for our Next in Design Winner Judith Achumba-Wöllenstein and the way her studio, Atelier Akuko, approaches work.

‘Good design should give you main character energy,’ she says. ‘And it can do this in two ways. It can function exactly as you need it to, allowing you to pour all your energy into your creative pursuits. And it can pull out the parts of your personality that you may otherwise keep hidden – the fun elements and adventurous sides that respond to big patterns and clever use of color. Great decor should make you feel like a star.’

It’s easy to see how a background in psychology has informed Judith’s work, giving her an understanding of how important your surroundings can be to how you think and feel. Her pivot to design began with decorating a home for refugees, where she saw first-hand the effect decor can have. ‘They were so touched, and it helped to make them feel like they belonged,’ she says.

The word Akuko means ‘stories’ in her husband’s native language of Igbo, and it’s these narratives about her clients she is intent on pulling out and explaining through design. Currently based in Brighton, having relocated from London, Judith’s work tends to center around large-scale prints used judiciously against plain elements, so they uplift rather than overwhelm. ‘I actually think of myself as somewhat of a minimalist,’ she says.

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‘I’ve had a very good formative training, able to absorb all sorts of influences,’ says our Next in Design 2025 winner, Jessica Adams, founder of her eponymous studio. ‘From my time at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler I’ve learned how to use muddy colors and grown a love of Arts and Crafts furniture, while from a stint at Cindy Leveson I was shown how to be commercially minded.’

Branching out on her own, Jessica’s decorative style has evolved, confidently spanning eras, crossing color palettes, and finishing every detail with a perfect layering of piping, trim, or other flourish. ‘Those extra elements make such a huge difference,’ Jessica says.

Her key passion is making design accessible to more people, and she believes that even intricately layered interiors don’t have to be super expensive. ‘I know how to find something really beautiful from more affordable retailers like Heal’s and Zara Home and place them in such a way that they look a lot more expensive.’

Vintage Ikea pieces also often catch her eye, and she sells a beguiling curation of them and more traditional antiques through her website. ‘I’ve started buying a lot of upholstery, redoing the fabrics, and selling them on,’ she says of her multi-hyphenate approach to being a designer. ‘If I like it, I can be pretty sure someone else will, too.’

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For our Next in Design 2025 winner, Sarah Southwell, design is about mood. She began her career in fashion, running her own handbag brand in Florence, before returning to London with a store on King’s Road. ‘My favorite part was designing the store,’ she says. ‘Creating a vibe – I realized that was my thing.’

Her approach to interiors focuses on how color and space can affect well-being. ‘My goal is to create spaces that accommodate diverse needs and support people who experience differences,’ Sarah says. This philosophy was evident in her widely discussed project for writer Bryony Gordon, where she developed the idea of ‘dopamine decor’. ‘Bryony wanted a home full of joy, color, and light, and we spent months working on how interiors can truly lift your mood.’

Since then, Sarah has applied these principles to a range of designs, exploring the grounding power of green or how smart storage can reduce visual clutter and bring a sense of calm.

But it’s not just about bold statements. Sarah also has a knack for mixing old and new – what she calls ‘generational layering’. From sentimental keepsakes to flea market finds, she incorporates pieces that tell a client’s story. In every project, her philosophy remains clear: interiors should be uplifting.

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‘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.’

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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Tess MacGeachy didn’t take the most obvious route into interior design – instead, her first job was in construction, followed by a role at a design and build firm. But both experiences have put her in very good stead to run Amber Yard, the studio she founded in 2021.

‘I did everything,’ she says of those early roles. ‘I learned a lot about architectural elements, spatial planning, lighting design, and joinery, and it has all worked in my favor as it means I can take control of every aspect of my projects now, from the floor plans and flow right through to the finishing touches.’

Growing up in Scotland, Tess now lives in London and has worked on projects up and down the UK. ‘London homes tend to be quite narrow, but outside of the capital it’s fun to work on more interestingly shaped spaces, to open them up and bring the views in,’ she says.

Her style is characterized by blending warm tones with what Tess calls ‘flamboyant antique pieces,’ and her innovative approach finds her sourcing materials such as the radiator grill-like metal that now flanks the terracotta-colored kitchen cabinets in a recent project (pictured above). ‘I wanted to create a space where guests would want to spend time. Those grills brought the extra bit of warmth we needed.’

3 Key Design Rules with Tess MacGeachy

1. Functionality
The first thing to think about when designing your home is how you're going to live in the space. Do you need that hidden storage for coats and boots? Do you need lots of prep space in the kitchen for large gatherings and families? Where do you see yourself relaxing after a long day of hard work? Once you've gone through these key questions, you can start to look at your furniture layouts, lighting fixtures, and joinery placement. Really understanding what is required and where it is required within each space is essential.

2. Scale
When it comes to interiors, a lot of people fear putting larger items into their home, believing that it will make the space feel too cramped or too full. But the reality is that it can actually be the complete opposite. Placing a large lamp with an oversized shade, an area rug that extends underneath your sofas, or even a tall headboard that rises up your wall can really ground the space, making it feel balanced and complete. Don’t be scared to go bigger.

3. Layers
The key to good design is layering. No one wants their home to feel one-dimensional or like a show home. Collect items that bring you joy – like a reupholstered armchair or an antique mirror – as well as layering different fabrics, from texture to print to pattern. Combining these with your hard materials – natural stone, wood, and metal – can really make the space sing, create a story, and add depth and dimension.

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A highlight for our Next in Design 2025 winner, Amy Stoddart, since founding her studio five years ago was securing her largest commission to date – an 18,000-square-foot home in the Hertfordshire countryside, a place where she could really flex her creative muscles. ‘I like to balance heritage influences with a modern way of living, and I’m drawn to rich textures and modern materials,’ she says. ‘The aim is always to create spaces that feel grounded and lived-in – designs that are quietly elevated but never overly polished.’

That sensibility is on display in a recent project called Bow House. ‘We used a limewash across several rooms, applied by a brilliant artisan whose work brought so much texture and depth to the walls,’ Amy says. ‘It created a soft, atmospheric quality – it’s those subtle, imperfect finishes that really bring a room to life.’

With a background in furniture design, Amy’s understanding of how to pull rooms together, combined with her knowledge of bespoke millwork and spatial planning, forms a highly covetable skill set, and clients get to work closely with her. ‘It’s currently just me at the helm,’ Amy says. ‘I deliberately keep the practice small so I can stay close to the details and ensure a thoughtful, hands-on design process from start to finish. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating spaces that feel lasting and meaningful.’

3 Key Design Rules with Amy Stoddart Studio

1. Always Start with a Strong Concept
For me, it’s crucial to start with a strong concept so you have a clear brief and outline from the outset. This is something I constantly refer back to throughout the design process – it becomes a clear anchor. From there, I always start with the hard finishes. Essentially, if you were to tip a house upside down, everything that stays in place – tiles, bathrooms, kitchens, joinery – comes first. Once those foundations are in place, you can start layering in richer elements like window treatments, soft furnishings, cushions, and rugs. For me, working in these stages is so important, and I think it really helps create a cohesive, richly layered interior.

2. Embrace Natural Materials
Natural materials bring warmth, depth, and authenticity to a space. If you know me well, you’ll know I absolutely love marble. My partner recently joked that if we were to renovate again, the entire house would be filled with marble – which is absolutely true. Whether it’s stone, timber, lime plaster, or wool, these materials add texture and character while also being a more sustainable choice. They ground a space and give it that lived-in, homey feeling we all crave.

3. Don’t Design for Trends
Be mindful not to simply follow what’s ‘in’ right now – trends move quickly, and interiors are a long-term investment. Instead, focus on what you’re genuinely drawn to – colors, materials, and spaces that resonate with you. When you layer pieces you truly love, the result feels more timeless, personal, and considered. There’s a quote by William Morris that I absolutely love – ‘Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’ It sums it up perfectly. The feeling I want my clients to have when they walk into a space is one of pure joy and happiness – that sense of truly coming home. I also want them to feel the space reflects who they are and feels authentic to them. That’s when I feel we’ve really done our job.

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‘When you’re in a forest, you feel calm, and part of that is because you’re surrounded by wood in its most untreated form. That sense of safety is what I want my projects to evoke,’ says our Next in Design 2025 Winner, Anna Møller, founder of Anna Møller.Design. For this reason, she likes to use materials in their rawest possible forms – wood, jute, weaving. ‘Anything that comes from a new interpretation of a long-forgotten or ancient craft, with a tactility like what you find in a forest.’

After some early career roles at studios like David Collins, Anna started working for herself in 2020. She’s still a one-woman operation but says collaboration is the key to her success. ‘People come to me for friendship and trust, and because they want to enjoy the process,’ Anna says. ‘I know that interior design is a luxury, but it doesn’t always feel that way when you’re dealing with issues on-site. I make sure my clients find the process fun by involving them in all the enjoyable parts, like choosing colors and materials, and shielding them from the rest.’

Her project in Earl’s Court is a more polished version of her own, more raw aesthetic. ‘The clients had twin sons, and I understood they needed help to make everything look as clean as possible,’ she says. Anna currently divides her time between London and Surrey.

4 Design Rules with Anna Møller. Design

1. Prioritize Cozy Lighting
It’s always a good idea to choose dimmable lights that are warm white, but I would also recommend adding table lamps and wall lights – low-level lighting that works beautifully for entertaining or a romantic evening. Don’t be afraid to place table lamps in unexpected spots, like on a shelf or in the middle of a room on a coffee table. And remember, there are plenty of rechargeable options available now.

2. Choose Craftsmanship Over AI
It’s become very easy for people to create cohesive interior design schemes at home using AI, but many of them have started to feel quite generic. I think the best way to stay unique is to source pieces from craftspeople, whether locally or from farther afield. These items come with a story and a personal connection. It might be a dining table, a chair, or a cabinet front. Crafted pieces bring meaning and character into a space – something AI can’t replace.

3. Add Character, Not Clutter
To achieve a ‘traditional meets modern’ style, focus on adding thoughtful detail. Consider wall paneling, beading, or even a beautifully detailed cornice. My top tip is to keep the color consistent, or at least tonal. This helps the space feel calm rather than overly busy or fussy.

4. Hire an Interior Designer
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by decisions or simply don’t have the time, hiring an interior designer can make a big difference. I strongly believe in recognizing what a luxury this service is, and how important it is to build a genuine relationship. It should feel like a real treat. My role is to make the entire process enjoyable from start to finish. While it’s my job, I understand that hiring a designer is something people often save up for. You should feel confident that I’ll do everything I can to take the pressure off you and handle the details.

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Our Next in Design 2025 winner, Ananth Ramaswamy, hadn’t planned to become an interior designer, but after moving to the U.K. from Bangalore, the profession found him. ‘I thought I wanted to be an architect and went through the full grind of seven years of study, but it was interiors that I discovered I had a passion for,’ Ananth says.

His first job was at the architecture firm Michaelis Boyd, working on the design of apartments at Battersea Power Station, as well as décor projects for Doyle Collection hotels. That led to him founding Arall in 2022, where he took on private residential properties.

‘I have a rigor from my architecture training that puts me in good stead for interiors,’ Ananth says, and it’s this attention to detail that helped him manage a recent project where the clients insisted on 100% natural, no-VOC materials. ‘Even down to checking the glue used on wallpapers!’ he says.

He has just completed a project in Wanstead and now wants to help make the design industry more inclusive. ‘Coming to a new country, I didn’t have a network to help me get my first job, and it was hard,’ he says. ‘So often I’ve been the only brown person at the table, but I’ve now got the confidence to fight for my place and to shine a light on the beauty of Indian craftsmanship.’

3 Key Design Lessons with Arall

1. Mixing Old and New
This is something I really enjoy doing in my projects – mixing found pieces with newer ones that the client might like or that I might find. That balance of old and new brings character. It creates a lived-in feel that I strive for in every project I do.

2. The Art of Proportion
I think proportion is a subtle art. There are lots of ways to achieve balance in a room. I usually start with the bones of the room – the baseboards, the size of the cornice, the thickness of the shelves, the scale of the architrave, and finally the scale of the pieces that furnish the room. These are all areas where, if you pay attention to proportion, you can create a strong sense of balance, permanence, weight, and integrity – qualities that are really important and often forgotten.

3. Don’t Think Too Much
Life keeps changing – you keep changing, and your choices keep changing. So I think your home has to evolve and have enough flexibility to accommodate your changing lifestyle. If you don’t overthink things, you’ll probably make decisions that are more organic and intuitive. Working with that intuition is really important. I think everyone has it – you just need to find it and tap into it.

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Scientific studies are rarely cited as key inspirations by interior designers, but for our Next in Design winner, Bee Janaye, founder of JANAYE, research into neuroaesthetics has been the driving force behind her work.

‘Originally, scientists were looking at sculptures and artwork and how their look and feel could influence people and shape their minds – and I can see how decor can do that as well,’ Bee says. ‘What our homes feel like, how we engage with them, and how interactive they are can truly make a difference in how we feel about ourselves.’

This interest grew out of Bee’s work with neurodivergent clients, but it’s now a theory she applies to every project, creating homes tailored to the brains of the people who live in them.

Her projects have taken place all over London, and a recent completion was one she named Deja Vu House. ‘I wanted something that felt really familiar yet also brand new – an accumulation of memories and references that spoke to the client’s experiences of travel and life.’

The result was a palette of dusty pinks and a hazy quality created by the chalkiness of encaustic tiles. ‘I take a special interest in each client’s journey and build my narrative around theirs,’ Bee says. ‘I want to shape spaces so that they feel like a person’s next memory.’

5 Key Design Rules with Janaye

1. No Boring Bathrooms
I always find that the bathroom is a perfect opportunity to disrupt a space. I feel like we generally don’t use enough tile in our interiors, so the bathroom is a great way to introduce this feature. We have options in different shapes and sizes – we can use natural stone and so many different textures – that the bathroom is a missed opportunity if it isn’t interesting enough.

2. Be Ambitious
Your home is a perfect opportunity to make a statement about who you are and what matters to you.

3. Be Brave
I’m constantly telling my clients that if everybody likes everything in your home, then you haven’t been brave enough – we need to go back to the drawing board. This could be a piece of artwork, or it could be a reference that has deep cultural meaning for you and gives you the opportunity to tell a story or share some knowledge.

I think including a controversial piece or two in your home is something everybody should consider doing. It really makes sure that your home is specifically built for you and for nobody else. We want to make sure you feel comfortable and that you feel at home.

4. Design for Memories
A lot of the time, while we are designing for ourselves in our homes, we forget that we’re also creating a space for moments and memories with the people we love most. To do that, we want them to feel comfortable, loved, and cared for. Our home is the perfect opportunity to do that, so make sure you are incorporating a lot of personal references, photographs, imagery, and things that make you feel comfortable and at home.

5. Use Pinterest Effectively
I’m going to teach you how to use Pinterest. We don’t want to use Pinterest to copy spaces that other people have designed – we want to use it to train our own design eye. The only way you can do that is to learn how to put language to the things you love. Learn how to articulate what you love about a space, and then you’ll be able to organically weave some of those concepts into your own home without copy and paste.

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Having met while working for the iconic designer Ilse Crawford at Studioilse, our Next in Design winners, Sheila Cortale and Inés Moyes Li-Wearing, went on to start Atelier Como, bringing with them everything they learned under Ilse.

'Her approach focused on how the need to feel comfortable, grounded, and emotionally connected in a space is just as important as the aesthetics – and that’s what we now bring to every project,' Inés says. 'We’re always thinking about the finer details that help create the overall atmosphere,' Sheila agrees.

In a recent project in North London, this meant a soothing palette of sophisticated neutrals layered with texture and what Inés calls 'gentle pattern,' introduced through delicate silk rugs and occasional bursts of color in the artwork. 'The result was a design that wasn’t just calming, but uplifting too,' Sheila says.

Atelier Como understands how good design can bring people together. In renovating a historic public library in High Wycombe, they created a community space designed to function as a hub, with brightly colored chairs drawing people into an otherwise white-and-oak hall. 'Aesthetically, it couldn’t be more different from the London townhouse,' Inés says. 'But like all our projects, it follows the same approach – creating spaces that make you feel good.'

3 Key Design Rules with Atelier Como

1. Trust the Process
Take your time and really dig in to understand your priorities and practical needs from the outset. For example, what’s your routine during the week? Does it differ on the weekend? Consider how your spaces relate to the best light and views, and whether you can open up the floor plan to create long sightlines between rooms. Do your research early on to create a framework that will help guide you through all the micro decisions that come later.

2. Think Beyond Aesthetics
How do you create moments of magic in your space? Rooms that are not just furnished, but imbued with a special, vital quality that soothes and uplifts the senses. We often use our clients’ art collections as a starting point. We love paintings and objects that are both personal and full of personality. They build an emotional connection within the space.

3. Consider Your Materials
Think long term and choose materials and furnishings that will last. Quality always ages well and evolves beautifully over time. A varied palette of materials is much more than the sum of its parts. Contrasting textures heighten our sensory connection to our environment. Consider a dinner plate – it’s the salty and sweet, the umami and the acidity that come together to create something truly special.

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Montecito, California, might seem a bit off the beaten track for a UK-based interior designer, but a homeowner there sought out our Next in Design Winner, Jessica Summer, founder of her eponymous studio, because she ‘loved English antiques and the pared-back British look’, Jessica says.

In fact, that sums up Jessica’s approach – after working for six years at Rose Uniacke’s studio, she has a strong understanding of historical furniture and how to balance color and pattern with texture.

The rest of Jessica’s projects are in the UK, often in period homes, which she uses as the starting point for her upscale contemporary schemes. ‘We do a lot of research on the paneling that would work for a house of that era, or the millwork that would have been used, and find ways to incorporate those details respectfully into the design.’

Her favorite part of the job is working with highly skilled craftspeople, and she’s assembled a team of experts to elevate her work: James Bowyer for furniture, who makes ‘bespoke masterpieces’, Butcher for plasterwork (‘the molding is second to none’), and James Price for metalwork.

‘It’s wonderful to have people with such invaluable knowledge that you can turn to for advice,' says Jessica – encapsulating why clients so readily seek her out for their homes.

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There was no formal design training in our Next in Design winner, Amanda Kavand-Eriksson’s, career path. Instead, she realized that her job in finance wasn’t tapping into her creativity. After getting the chance to renovate her own home – and then taking on projects for friends who were impressed – she gained the confidence to officially launch Kavand Interiors in 2023.

‘I rely on my intuition,’ she says, describing how she seems to get rooms ‘right’. She gravitates toward luxe materials with a perfectly muted sheen, giving them space to be appreciated and setting them against palettes that help them stand out. ‘I’ll study the architecture and find something in a building’s history – maybe a tile color that would have been used in its period – and go from there,’ she explains. That approach is why her modern style still feels at home in older houses.

Having lived in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Thailand, and now the UK, Amanda has developed a richly international perspective. ‘I’ve always been drawn to East Asian art and craftsmanship, which is so detailed and thoughtful. At the same time, I have a very Finnish preference for natural materials like stone, linen, and jute.’ The result is a mix of unexpected pairings – like a large golden Gervasoni ceiling light hanging above a hand-carved wooden stool – and layered, richly textured interiors.

4 Key Design Rules with Kavand Interiors

1. Don’t Fight the Architecture
In a fairytale world, we would all live in a Parisian mansion with high ceilings, large windows, and marble fireplaces, but sometimes our home is in a 1970s building with lower ceilings and compact layouts. So instead of bringing in architectural elements such as decorative molding, high baseboards, or wall trim that don’t belong, consider proportion. In my opinion, you can have complete freedom with materials – you can absolutely have that marble fireplace, just not the French 19th-century one.

2. Prioritize Lighting
Having several sources of light layered at different heights is absolutely crucial for creating a cozy ambiance. For an average-sized living room, aim for six to seven light sources in addition to your ceiling light. Go for a mix of different lamps – you can include wall sconces, strategically placed to highlight features or objects worth noticing.

3. Listen to Your Heart, Not Trends
I advise everyone to learn about their own tastes and preferences. Think about the spaces you’ve visited where you felt good. What was it about those elements that stayed with you? Is there anything from your childhood home that still makes you feel warm and cozy? That’s a good starting point for figuring out what you actually like.

4. Always Favor Natural Materials
There are so many benefits to using natural materials. Natural stone, such as marble or limestone, offers a look and feel that’s hard to replicate – I’ve yet to find a man-made material that truly convinces me. When it comes to fabrics, I always choose options free from synthetic fibers. Linen, wool, silk, or other natural fibers not only feel better to the touch but also age more gracefully. They’re also better for our health and the environment.

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When our Next in Design 2025 winner, Lucy Goldbart, launched her eponymous studio in 2022, she was already equipped with a wealth of experience from two of London’s most respected firms. She began her career at Fiona Barratt Interiors, where she learned the value of pushing design boundaries and encouraging clients to be more adventurous.

Later, as a senior designer at Elicyon, she refined her skills in project management and process. ‘It’s such a well-oiled machine,’ she says of founder Charu Gandhi’s practice. ‘I learned so much about organization and how to manage large-scale projects.’

That preparation served her well when her first solo commission came through: a private island property in Antigua, its ongoing design inspired by the volcanic rock and limestone landscape. Since then, every project has come by word of mouth, from a dream apartment in Little Venice to a relaxed yet elevated family home in Miami.

Her aesthetic is what she calls ‘effortless California cool’ – a balance of warm, earthy minimalism and bold, sculptural statements. Natural materials are always at the heart of her designs, and she gravitates toward sunset hues – ochres, caramels, olive greens – to create homes that feel warm, welcoming, and just a little like being on vacation.

5 Key Design Rules from Lucy Goldbart Interior Design

1. Refine Your Color Palette
Layering natural, organic textures onto a warm, earthy base palette adds so much more depth and richness to a space. I love a home that makes me want to walk in and run my hands over every surface – and once it’s finished, feel comfortable kicking your shoes off and relaxing. It’s your home, not a museum, and patina adds character.

2. Lean In with Shapes and Forms
Oversized pieces add such a sense of cool, effortless drama to a space. Don’t be afraid to have fun.

3. Prioritize Wooden Accents
Prioritize wooden accents over metals where you can. We love to use carved wooden handles in our projects. Walnut feels like the cooler, younger sister of bronze. It adds so much warmth, but it’s a less formal accent than bronze. It’s refined yet relaxed.

4. Scrap Spotlights
Scrap spotlights in lieu of beautiful mood lighting. Gently illuminate your spaces with flush-mounted or directional lighting fixtures to add warmth and a sense of intentional moodiness to every corner of your home. This works very well with textured limewash or plastered walls because it accentuates their natural, cloudy, welcoming effect.

5. Collect Cherished Items
Curate and collect on your travels, and only buy pieces you truly love. If you love a piece, buy it – you won’t regret it, and you’ll find a way to integrate it into your space. I love collecting pieces on my travels – accessories and vintage furniture. Adding those into your home gives a much more authentic, natural personality and character to a space. Essentially, if you love it, it’s never out of place.

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When our Next in Design 2025 winner, Adam Knight, launched Nefarious Design in 2020, he chose a name that deliberately went against expectation. ‘It came from the idea of turning negatives into positives,’ he explains. ‘So often clients feel disconnected from their homes, or frustrated by the way they function, and our role is to reframe that – to make them fall in love with their spaces again.’

Adam’s own path into interiors wasn’t linear. After initially studying food technology, he renovated his parents’ listed apartment for fun, sparking a passion that led him to the KLC School of Design. He then gained over a decade of experience in the hospitality sector, first working on global restaurant projects for Jamie Oliver before joining Corbin & King to design celebrated destinations such as The Wolseley, The Delaunay – and The Beaumont.

With Nefarious, Adam has established an ethos he calls ‘dopamine design’ – creating interiors that spark joy and feel completely personal to each client. His projects combine mid-century finds and Victorian antiques with bespoke pieces and clever high-street solutions, always tailored to budget but never compromising on soul. Collaboration is key: ‘Clients become part of Nefarious,’ he says. ‘Together, we build homes that reflect their stories and bring them joy.’

3 Key Design Rules with Nefarious Design

1. The Client Inspires the Design
One of the most important design rules for all of our projects is that the client is the main inspiration. That could be yourself, or it could be a brand, but essentially the most unique thing within a home is you. Each of us has different personalities, grows up with different life experiences, and likes and dislikes different things, and that should be really brought into the interiors. I believe that dopamine design is really important. What brings you joy specifically? That could be using colors that give you flashbacks to certain memories, like your dad’s favorite tie color – use that on the joinery. Or you could use a piece of art that has been handed down as color inspiration for different rooms, or even the whole house.

2. Personality and Planning
With the original plans for a room, the more interesting the plan, the easier it is to create an interesting space. If you are just given a square box and you add furniture into it, it’s not going to be that interesting. Whereas if you add things into the plan such as hidden doors, secret niches, and elements that add interest, such as curvature, it will make a room much more unique, and you’ll have a much more interesting backdrop to everyday life events.

3. Design with Juxtaposition
This is not only about juxtaposition in materials – using soft, plush velvets against hard burl woods – but also juxtaposition in time periods to create something more eclectic, using antiques mixed with bespoke pieces. There is also juxtaposition in how you think from the concept stage onwards. That could be a concept based on springtime, but with a darker, more moody interpretation of spring, rather than the usual pastels.

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After honing her craft at some of London’s most renowned design firms, our Next in Design 2025 Winner, Rachael Gowdridge, launched her eponymous studio in 2021 with the goal of creating interiors that are layered, timeless, and expressive.

Her first role at David Collins Studio instilled in her an appreciation for detail. At Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, she learned that ‘every single trim and lampshade was thoughtfully considered,’ while also developing expertise in bespoke furniture. ‘You learn everything about dimensions, filling, and the fundamentals of what makes furniture functional. There’s nothing worse than a table being the wrong height.’

Later, at Ennismore, Rachael worked on hotels including The Hoxton and Gleneagles, further broadening her understanding of how design balances beauty with practicality.

Now leading her own practice, she focuses on blending eras to create spaces that feel both natural and enduring. ‘I don’t like things to feel too modern or too traditional,’ she explains. ‘By combining a 1950s sideboard with a 1900s chair, it feels timeless rather than contrived – like it has come together naturally and can evolve over the years.’ Vintage pieces are central to her approach, valued both for their individuality and for the rare materials often used in earlier craftsmanship.

3 Key Design Rules With Rachael Gowdridge

1. Let the Architecture Lead
Before adding anything new, take cues from what already exists – proportions, molding, patina, and light. Respond to those details rather than competing with them. Once the foundations are honored, you can begin layering in contemporary pieces that feel like a natural extension rather than an interruption.

2. Mix Eras Through Materiality
Heritage design is not about creating a museum piece; it’s about creating contrast in a thoughtful way. I love balancing old and new through materiality, pairing warm woods or brass with clean, contemporary finishes. When the textures speak to each other, the whole space feels cohesive.

3. Curate Stories
A heritage-inspired home should feel collected over time. Mix inherited pieces, antiques, and modern design – but always with a point of view. Each element should add meaning, not clutter. Look for ways to weave in narrative – a contemporary light over an antique table or a modern textile on a vintage chair. This will make the space feel lived-in, personal, and quietly elevated.

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After years of working with international brands such as W Hotels, Virgin, and Lufthansa, our Next in Design 2025 winner, Sandra Flashman, launched her own studio in 2020, bringing a wealth of experience in shaping how people interact with spaces. Her background in the hospitality sector taught her how interiors can influence behavior.

‘The work I did was about shaping experiences, encouraging people to socialize and relax,’ she explains. ‘That understanding of how experiences are formed is something I find really important – I get to know a client, their habits, what they like, who they are, whether they entertain, bake, or host family, and I make their space unique to them.’

Her studio philosophy is rooted in calmness, with what she calls tactile moments – those small but powerful details that turn practicality into joy. ‘Think about how a material feels against your skin, or the smoothness of the curve of wood when you’re reading a book in a chair,’ she says.

Current projects range from a Primrose Hill apartment with a roof terrace inspired by Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf’s planting schemes to a bold conversion of an old candle factory in Battersea. Whatever the brief, Sandra’s work carries her signature blend of serenity and soul.

5 Key Design Rules with Sandra Flashman Studio

1. Layer Textures and Warm Materials
Adding natural materials to a space can really warm up a minimalist environment. This could be high-quality wood flooring paired with a wool rug, or a beautiful kitchen cabinet with glass details. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different timbers and textures to bring a space to life.

2. Work with the Architecture
You can make a space feel calmer and more open with some simple changes. This might mean framing a doorway with timber or installing full-height cabinetry to make the space feel taller. You can even treat timber doors with an oil to match the timber flooring, which ties the whole space together.

3. Add Something That Makes You Smile
Always include something that brings you joy. It could be a pop of color in a canary-yellow chair, a print you brought back from Kent, or even a massive tiger you’ve inherited. Always add a little something that makes you smile as you go about your day.

4. Play with Different Bathroom Materials
Consider using two or three different bathroom materials and experiment with varying sizes and datum lines. This creates a more defined space and makes the bathroom feel more spacious.

5. Plan in Art and Plants
Art and plants are key to adding individuality and breathing life into a space. Coordinate your color palette around your art and plan where your plants will live. One of my favorite features is a trio of hanging plants – it’s an easy addition and a great way to liven up a space.

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Our Next in Design 2025 winner, Sophie Garland, only launched her studio in 2023 after training at KLC, but interiors have been part of her world for much longer. ‘I grew up surrounded by color,’ she says. ‘I love using it, but I’ve learned that if I paint every wall red, it’s harder to introduce pattern – which I also adore – so I tend to keep the backdrop neutral in order to layer in prints, texture, and fun.’

That balance between joy and practicality defines her work. Most of Sophie’s clients are families, so her spaces not only look beautiful but also stand up to everyday life. ‘If a dog is going to climb all over the sofa or kids are going to spill juice, then I’ll choose scrubbable outdoor fabrics for indoor upholstery – they’re amazingly good these days,’ she says. Storage solutions are also key, ensuring rooms are functional as well as playful.

Her love of textiles is clear – Clarence House’s woven, vividly colored fabrics and Svenskt Tenn’s pictorial patterns are current favorites; purple is also starting to appear more often, adding richness to her schemes. Projects range from London homes to family houses in Ayrshire and Argyll, with briefs that can be a detailed full renovation or a four-day blitz to rework layouts and refresh color palettes.

What ties them all together is Sophie’s belief that homes should be made to be lived in, loved, and enjoyed.

3 Key Design Rules with Sophie Garland

1. Mix and Match Old and New
My first rule is to mix and match vintage and antique pieces with new pieces. This creates a feeling that a space has been added to over time.

2. Use a Variety of Materials
My second rule is to use a variety of materials, from wood, stone, and metals to linens, cottons, velvets, and woven fabrics. This will create the feeling of a layered space with lots of depth and variation.

3. Confirm the Layout and Function First
The third rule is to always decide on the function and layout of a room first. This will keep you focused and on track when designing a scheme for a space and sourcing items. It's so important to make sure that it doesn’t just look beautiful, it definitely functions as well.

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London is home for interior designer and winner of our Next in Design 2025 award, Enass Mahmoud, but her projects reach far and wide – from a one-bedroom apartment in Victoria to a three-story townhouse in LA to a large-scale project she’s managing in the Middle East.

It’s an impressive trajectory for someone who founded her studio almost by accident. ‘I’d studied product design and always wanted to move into interiors,’ Enass says. ‘Then a client I met through social media asked me to design their suite at the O2. That same client then bought a five-bedroom house, and it just snowballed.’

What distinguishes Enass’s work is the sense of soul she brings to each space. ‘I want a space to feel like it has personality, a reflection of the client’s culture and background.’ That ethos is deeply rooted in her Sudanese upbringing. ‘Sudanese women wear beautiful, heavily patterned fabrics, and I grew up surrounded by them. That richness has been absorbed into my style.’

It’s why her projects confidently layer heritage prints and intricate wallpapers from brands such as Zoffany, Harlequin, and Liberty, combining dark tones with detailed patterns. ‘People worry about clashing, but when you layer patterns on a grounding element like the perfect neutral on the wall, it adds beauty and warmth,’ says Enass – a design philosophy that ensures her work resonates across cultures and continents.

3 Key Design Rules with Studio Enass

1. Create an Invisible Thread
My first rule when designing your home is to create an invisible thread. This allows the home to feel cohesive. That could be a color, a material, a pattern, a fabric – something that you can repeat in every single room so the home has a story, rather than feeling mismatched.

2. Have a Point of Reference
My second rule is to have a point of reference. Now I know it can be quite overwhelming when you are designing a space, but you need something to stick to. This could be something that you have seen in a magazine, a book, a piece of fabric, or an art piece that you love. This is going to be your inspiration when designing your home, and it stops you from going off track and buying the most random things that just don’t make sense together.

3. Make it yours
For my third rule, it’s really important to know that your home doesn’t have to be picture-perfect. It needs to feel lived in. It needs to have soul and character and personality – your personality. It just needs to be filled with things that make you happy, whether it’s items from family members or random things that you found in a market on holiday. Remember, don’t over-clutter and only put out things that you really, really love. That’s the most important rule.

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Hackney might seem a long way from New Zealand, but it’s where interior designers Jess Murphy and Josie de Guzman, founders of our Next in Design 2025 winners, Studio Jey, first connected – despite both having grown up in Wellington. ‘We were aware of each other as kids, but we were in very different circles,’ Josie says.

In London, however, they found themselves working in complementary areas of interiors – Jess in set design, and Josie trained in architecture. By 2022, with a growing list of projects and a shared design perspective, they decided to formally establish their studio.

Their style is contemporary, with a sense of warmth in every room they create. ‘I love getting into the sensory experience of how a space is used,’ Josie says. Studio Jey’s spaces are refined yet comfortable.

‘We like to pull things back,’ Jess explains. Architectural context guides every decision, whether it’s a Victorian townhouse in London or a rustic Tudor home currently underway for two photographers with an exceptional art collection.

Their commercial work is concept-driven – a recent fashion retail store in London Fields draws on pagan myth and ritual – while the studio also dreams of designing a spa one day. Whatever the brief, their ethos remains the same: to create spaces that feel elemental, contextual, and shaped by the life that will unfold within them.

3 Key Design Lessons with Studio Jey

1. Consider the Context of Your Space
Begin with a close reading of the property’s context, its era, its architectural style, and its surroundings. Lean into its inherent character to provide a natural framework for design decisions.

2 Use Earthy, Elemental Colors and Materials
Using earthy, natural colors and materials gives interiors a calming, lived-in quality. We often recommend painting walls, ceilings, and woodwork in the same tone, using a chalky, ultra-matte finish. This gives interiors a sense of calm, cohesion, and quiet.

3. Combine Pieces from Different Periods
Blending elements from different periods – from lighting to furniture to collected objects – creates a more lived-in, personal feel. What we do is so contextually based that every project demands something different. It’s about a feeling – what you experience when walking into a space.

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When our Next in Design 2025 winner, Minako Bryson, founded Studio Kaimi in 2019, it was the natural next step in a career that had already bridged two design cultures.

After studying interior design in the U.K., she worked for a Japanese designer before striking out on her own when her mentor returned to Japan. ‘A friend of a friend asked me to help with their renovation, and that’s how it began,’ she says. A hotel project soon followed, where she was able to experiment with a blend of influences from her home country and her adopted one.

Minako’s work sits at a thoughtful intersection of Japanese calm and Western warmth. ‘Japanese clients come to me for something more Western, and Western clients want a touch of Japanese style,’ she says. Her interiors tend to feature bold colors while still maintaining a subtly minimalist feel.

Raised in a traditional Japanese home, she was struck by the eclecticism she found after moving to London – the way a variety of objects can carry personal stories. That sense of narrative informs her work today.

‘People here work so hard,’ she says, ‘so I want them to come home and feel relaxed.’ Currently completing two residential projects, Minako defines interior design as both storytelling and editing. ‘I listen closely,’ she says. ‘The story belongs to the client. I just help bring it to life.’

3 Key Design Rules with Studio Kaimi

1. Start with the Shade You Love
When decorating with bold color, start with the one shade you really love and then blend it with a neutral color. This way, the space feels vibrant yet calm and beautifully layered.

2. Bring the Outside In
In traditional Japanese homes, the window frames the garden, making nature part of the interior. You can do the same. Echo the colors you see outside in fabrics and paint, and use natural materials like wood or stone. It’s an easy way to blur the line between indoors and out.

3. Choose What You Want to Display
Balance what you show and what you hide. Display your favorite pieces on an open shelf or on the wall – it adds warmth and personality. Don’t forget to leave space between items so it feels airy and intentional. Then hide everyday items in drawers or cabinets, so your space instantly feels stylish and inviting.

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For our Next in Design 2025 winners, Laura Graham and Hianta Cassam Chenai, it was a meeting of minds – two interior designers living in the same Devon village, both on maternity leave, both passionate about the local design scene. ‘We just clicked – I knew I wanted her to be my partner,’ Hianta says.

That was only in 2024, but they’ve already worked on both residential and commercial spaces across Devon, with local brands like Naturalmat and Feldspar. Their aesthetic leans slightly Scandinavian, but with a joyful use of upholstery – pale woods and colorful prints.

‘Comfort is key to what we do – we don’t like stuffiness,’ Laura says. She previously worked for Martin Brudnizki and Nicola Harding and attributes much of her approach to them. ‘From Martin, I gained a deep understanding of detail, while from Nicola I learned how to build truly nurturing relationships with clients.’

Hianta says their clients often become friends. ‘Because we get to know them, we understand how they live and genuinely want the best for them,’ she says.

While they’re happy to take on projects anywhere, most of their work is in Devon, and they’ve become skilled at breathing new life into the area’s historic homes. Current projects range from period renovations in Salcombe to a wellness center in Totnes.

4 Key Design Rules with Studio Yarner

1. Layered Lighting is Essential
Lighting isn’t just practical, it creates a mood for the whole room. So we always recommend layering your lighting between ambient, task, and accent. This will add depth and personality to your schemes.

2. Don’t Forget About the Ceiling
Ceilings are quite often missed opportunities. By using the ceiling as a design feature, or fifth wall, you can instantly add character, depth, and structure into the space without affecting the overall footprint.

3. Honor Your Home’s Architecture
Let the style and era of your house guide your design decisions. Using existing architectural features such as moldings, arches, or your doors, and existing cabinetry will ground your spaces and give a sense of harmony.

4. Pay Attention to Touch Points
These are the small details that will make a big impact. Focus on the items that you interact with on a daily basis. These include things such as door handles, switches, taps, and ironmongery. By investing in great-quality brassware, such as a beautiful kitchen tap, it will stand the test of time and continue to get better with age.

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Next in Design 2025 winner, Susan Chesney has always designed with people, not objects, in mind. Long before she founded her interiors studio in 2022, she was the child who instinctively reshaped her surroundings. Later came psychology and sociology at university – subjects she chose because she was fascinated by how people behave and connect. Looking back now, she can see the dots connect: she designs homes by reading between the lines of how people really want to live.

Her early career was in fashion, where she developed a love of texture, materiality, and the tactile side of luxury. But interiors became the natural meeting point of all her interests: human behavior, beauty, craft, and everyday practicality. ‘My brand of luxury is things working well,’ she says. ‘Homes should have flow, ease – spaces that breathe. They should be interesting enough for your eyes to wander, but never overwhelming.’

Much of her work revolves around families, and she designs with an eye on the next decade, imagining how lives will evolve. She is currently translating the coziness of a Swiss ski chalet she once designed into a brutalist UK home, with earthy textures, grounded tones, and modernity warmed by nature. ‘If old and new can live together comfortably,’ she says, ‘that’s when you know the design works.’

4 Design Rules From Susan Chesney Interiors

1. Have a Clear Intention
Get clarity on what you want your space to do, how it's going to function for you, and how you want it to feel. This is going to be your foundation for all your decisions going forward.

2. Factor in Free Space
As you plan your space, make sure you leave enough room to move about freely, and think about storage furniture to keep clutter at bay.

3. Choose Quality Materials
Make sure you choose your materials for the long run. They might be a bit more of an investment up front, but they will last longer.

4. Incorporate Your Character
When it comes to styling, this is really an opportunity to show your character. Take a slow, layered approach to ensure the result is authentic to you, and use lots of textures to add tactility and depth.

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Next in Design 2025 winner. Architectural interior designer Tola Ojuolape is entering a defining moment in her career, with a trio of headline projects that capture the quiet confidence, cultural fluency, and refined materiality she has become known for. Soon to open is Uncommon, a coffee shop in Knightsbridge conceived as a study in cool precision: brushed stainless steel, onyx surfaces, and an edited palette that reflects Tola’s belief in clarity, focus, and the power of restraint.

It follows the success of the Collect VIP Lounge at Somerset House, a makers’ library designed to encourage conversation and togetherness. Here, Tola crafted a cocoon of recycled wood, wool, felt, voile, and simple painted planes – an intentionally humble set of materials elevated through careful composition.

Her largest upcoming undertaking, the remodel of the Eko Hotel in Lagos, sees Tola weaving threads of cultural tradition into a contemporary hospitality environment. Decorating with pattern plays a vital role, drawing subtly from heritage African references while remaining entirely modern.

But that’s not to say she’s leaving residential projects behind – her work in the Nine Elms development, pictured, shows how her love of color and curation translates warmly into a home. As always, she creates spaces that carry both luxury and soul – and that feel, above all, deeply considered.

3 Design Rules from Tola Ojuolape Studio

1. Be Inspired by Your Everyday Surroundings
Always be inspired by the earth. I think there’s a tactility and an earthiness that comes with it that I always look to for many of my projects. I’m constantly finding inspiration in nature, in places I’ve visited, or even just around London. You can do the same in your home by collecting images and staying curious as you move through your day-to-day life. Whether that means looking up, looking around, visiting specific places, or going to galleries, it’s about being aware. London is a great place to gather inspiration from because it’s so beautiful, diverse, and cultured.

2. Work With Local Artisans
Where possible, work with local artisans and makers within the environment where your project is based. For example, if you’re designing a bedroom, you might source a local fabric upholsterer or a woodworker – something unique from the surrounding community to add an extra layer to your space. I think it makes for a much more interesting end result. We worked on a project in Battersea, London, where a colleague had a book called My Colorful Home. One of the featured artists lived in a beautiful home nearby and ended up contributing an art piece to the project. It’s a great example of how you can involve the local community.

3. Always Bring in Artwork
Try to infuse art into your space. You can work with a range of budgets and, again, support local makers and artists. Decorating with art is subjective, but ultimately it’s about the narrative of the space and honoring that. I also think art can evoke strong emotion. In a home, you might start with something subtle and gradually build intensity as you move into more private spaces like bedrooms. Art has a beautiful way of adding depth and character to an environment.

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