The UK’s 50 Best Interior Designers 2023/24
By Guest Writer
7 months ago
Ready for an interiors revamp? Look no further than our A–Z of the UK's top 50 interior designers
Every corner of the UK is bursting with interior design talent, with unique styles and approaches to creating beautiful and functional living spaces. Whether you have your sights set on a more beautiful home, or your workspace needs a redesign, why not opt for the top-tier UK interior designers known for creating standout spaces? From clean, understated and minimalist to bold colours and look-at-me maximalism, you’ll find your perfect match in our run-down of the 50 best interior designers in the UK right now. Read on to discover which names are lighting up the British design world in 2023/24, as decided by our panel of pioneers from the worlds of eco design and sustainability, fashion, tech and architecture. The 50 Finest Interior Designers 2023/24 were chosen by Jacu Strauss, Hazel Gardiner, and Pearl Lowe. With words by Emma Love.
Best Interior Designers UK 2023/24
Anahita Rigby
Anahita Rigby cut her teeth working for Make Architects in Hong Kong, where she worked on residential tower The Luna. Then, two years ago, she returned to London and started her own interior and architectural design studio, taking on properties of all sizes – from mews houses to large country estates. Single space commissions have been known to escalate into full-scale renovations, as with a recent client who initially wanted a refresh for the living and dining room but was so blown away by Anahita’s ideas that they then commissioned her for the whole house. anahitarigby.com
Anouska Tamony
In 2015, Anouska Tamony swapped the corporate world for interior design. She specialises in private residences, offering interior decoration only or top-to-toe renovations such as the recent transformation of a post-war house in east London into a contemporary art-filled home (the latter was in collaboration with architectural practice Wells Studio). Designing homes with warmth, depth and soul is her signature, and global influences, especially in rugs and textiles, combining modern pieces with antique finds, and planet-first design decisions, are all typical of her schemes. anouskatamony.com
Atelier NM
From designing a maximalist apartment in Kensington to dreaming up the biophilic-inspired scheme for Chelsea Botanica, Knight Frank’s fastest selling development of 2022, it’s been a busy year for Atelier NM’s founder Najwa Mroue. The aim, she says, is for her designs to have a ‘positive impact on wellbeing,’ which means, for instance, using non-toxic paint and recycled fabrics, and encouraging clients to choose pieces that last a lifetime to minimise waste. Every project also has a conversation-starting statement, whether an oversized artwork, theatrical item of furniture or a dramatic light fixture. atelier-nm.com
Barlow & Barlow
Inchbald School of Design graduate Lucy Barlow’s design trademarks are bold pattern and colour (‘leopard print is my go-to,’ she once said), and her studio is known for creating fun, cheerful homes with buckets of charm. Her decade-old Holland Park practice is a family affair: husband Joshua Sear heads up the interior architecture department and landscape design while brother Max, of Maxwell Barlow Lighting, is a close collaborator. Ongoing projects include transforming houses in Sussex and the Bahamas, and a jewellery shop in London’s Chelsea. barlowandbarlow.com
Buchanan Studio
Husband-and-wife duo Charlotte and Angus Buchanan’s remit spans interiors, lifestyle, fashion and events, and they ace everything from the decoration of Belgravia restaurant Wild by Tart to brand design for the Delevingne sisters’ vegan prosecco Della Vita (she runs the business side, he is a former art director for the late Michael Howells and in charge of the creative). Right now, the pair are working on a multi-property private development in Ibiza, a palazzo in Venice and a hotel in London. They also have a small collection of furniture and fabrics. buchanan.studio
Cave Interiors
Led by Georgina Cave and her daughter Anouska, who is head of design (she oversees sourcing and styling), Cave Interiors is a small, in-demand studio in Primrose Hill. As well as colour and pattern, typical schemes incorporate reclamation yard finds and re-use where possible, whether through repurposing existing fixtures or vintage furniture (pieces are sold from their shop at the front of the studio, alongside one-of-a-kind items that are designed in-house). Current projects include an Arts & Crafts house in Hampstead, a Grade II-listed restoration in Islington and a new build in Fife. caveinteriors.com
Clare Gaskin
A complete renovation of her own home led Clare Gaskin to first contemplate a career in interiors (she took an evening course at KLC School of Design while working at Sotheby’s), setting up her studio in 2009. She enjoys encouraging clients to be bold with colour or pattern – whether through fabrics, wallpaper and artworks or in more subtle ways such as using natural marble. Working with materials that might otherwise be discarded is also a consideration: for a recent client, she repurposed a fallen tree trunk into an outdoor bench. claregaskin.com
Elicyon
Founded by trained architect Charu Gandhi in 2014, Elicyon is renowned for its highly detailed, high-spec projects such as the private residences in Clarges Mayfair and, more recently, a show apartment within The OWO in Whitehall. The 35-strong team are working on a roster of global commissions, including a waterfront home in Miami, vast villas in the Middle East, and the redesign of a New York mansion. Whatever the property, producing curated, considered, and characterful spaces that are authentic to the client is always key. elicyon.com
Fantoush
Originally an upholstery studio that ran alongside a property refurbishment company, Edinburgh-based Fantoush has evolved to focus solely on interior design. Founder Emily Smoor’s just-completed commissions include a polo club in Berkshire, and two neighbouring buildings in Cumbria: The Old Rectory holiday let and The Kirkstyle Inn, where she has championed heritage crafts. A self-labelled treasure hunter with an innate love of colour, Emily’s calling card is eclectic, layered spaces. fantoush.com
Fiona Barratt Interiors
Sophisticated neutrals interlaced with interesting and unusual materials are typical of Fiona Barratt-Campbell’s highly textured spaces. ‘A successful interior should enhance, not dictate, the way someone lives through well thought-out spaces that possess true design integrity,’ she has said. As well as the interior studio, she runs FBC London (the collection includes furniture, lighting and kitchens) which has outposts in the UK and New York, and last year, launched a development arm of the business – a natural next step. fionabarrattinteriors.com
HÁM Interiors
Set up by husband-and-wife duo Nick and Pamela Cox, and their children Tom and Kate, this family-run interior design and build practice near Henley-on-Thames will tackle anything from a boot room refresh to a whole house redesign. Big advocates for hand-crafted, long-lasting pieces and layering colour and texture using natural materials, they are in the midst of restoring a Grade II-listed estate on the Salcombe Estuary; developing a trio of cabins in 250 acres of rewilded countryside in the Exe Valley; and contributing to the design of a concept store on the Kings Road. Online store Studio HÁM sells antiques, artwork, lighting and furniture. haminteriors.com
Henry Prideaux
Henry Prideaux established his eponymous practice in 2014, having first done stints at Nicky Haslam’s NH Design and The Studio Harrods (the department store’s in-house design studio). He is expert at making the most of every inch of floor space – whether that involves designing a library around a specific book collection, coming up with clever joinery solutions or reconfiguring a family bathroom – and adding unexpected details into his predominantly UK-based projects. This year he launched an online product collection which includes antique furniture, handmade ceramics, and artwork. henryprideaux.com
Holloway Li
Having first worked together as apprentices at Michaelis Boyd where they were involved in designing Soho Farmhouse, Alex Holloway and Na Li opened their own practices and began collaborating informally in 2015 (Holloway Li became official three years later). The pair describe their style as a ‘merging of high and low-brow aesthetics’ with theatrical elements. For each commission, they set themselves an environmental innovation target to help develop new pro-planet approaches. Their scheme for the Bermonds Locke apartment hotel in Bermondsey was shortlisted for a sustainable interiors award; on their current work roster is a resort in China, a Polish hotel and residences in the UK. hollowayli.com
Howark Design
Bold joyful interiors with plenty of colour and pattern epitomise the schemes of Howark Design co-founders James Arkoulis and Saskia Howard. The pair work a lot on family homes so everything is rooted in practicality and there’s an emphasis on interior architecture and local materials (the studio always designs its own bespoke joinery and furnishings). Having an intentionally small team means both are personally involved in every aspect of a commission. howark-design.co.uk
Janine Stone
Since being established over 30 years ago, this multi-disciplinary practice has become known not just for its high-end residential interiors, but also for its ability to work closely with clients from the early stages of a project – often before they have even purchased the property. The team can take care of everything from development options and planning processes for listed buildings to the final fit-out. It has recently completed a 50,000 sq/ft home with a vast underground spa, pool and wellness space, on a historic estate in Surrey. janinestone.com
Juliette Byrne Design
Founded in 1988 by Juliette Byrne, this eponymous studio is known for its elegant, sophisticated interiors and attention to detail. The international design team offers its clients a full turn-key service, with final schemes often featuring one-off items of furniture made by the in-house joiners and bespoke art (butterfly boxes are the studio’s calling card). Juliette has also developed a new rug range in collaboration with Matthew Wailes Carpets, made from discarded fishing nets. juliettebyrne.com
Katharine Pooley
Effortless comfort and luxury are at the heart of Katharine Pooley’s impeccable interior schemes. The nearly 50-strong team (supported by a dedicated studio librarian who advises the designers on sustainable finishes, fabrics and processes) work on all manner of international projects: superyachts, ski chalets, villas in the Far East. For a current château, she is combining classic French design with English eclecticism throughout spaces which include a ballroom, bowling alley and a poker lounge accessed through a bank vault door. katharinepooley.com
Kitesgrove
Headed up by Clara Ewart for the last four years, boutique interior design studio Kitesgrove, based in South Kensington, creates calm, comfortable, nuanced spaces. Natural materials, local craftsmanship and using ethically sourced products are always a priority but no more so than for one current client in the Cotswolds where every single item has been rigorously vetted for its sustainability credentials. Recent projects include a family home in Fulham and a site for Casa La Siesta hotel in Spain. kitesgrove.com
Linda Boronkay
The Hungarian-born, Clerkenwell-based former design director of Soho House went solo three years ago – and hasn’t looked back. Key for Linda is the belief that form should follow function, and that the emotional impact of a space is as important as the aesthetic. Her team of 12 designers are currently working across 14 high-end residential and hospitality projects including a Parisian restaurant for the Costes brothers, a private club-art-gallery-restaurant in Beirut and a hotel in Prague. lindaboronkay.com
Lonika Chande
Growing up in a creative family – her grandmother was an antique dealer, her mother is an artist, and her aunt, Polly Dickens, was the creative director of Habitat and the Conran Shop – it was perhaps inevitable that Lonika Chande would follow an equally design-led path. ‘Colour and warmth are my raison d’être,’ she says, with patterned textiles usually the starting point for a scheme. Since setting up her studio in 2016, she has focused on private residences; currently these are in Notting Hill, Hackney and Margate. lonikachande.com
Louise Bradley
Louise Bradley has been dreaming up classic, contemporary spaces for more than 30 years. She has a ‘slow interior design’ mentality, evident in timeless, harmonious schemes, neutral colour palettes and her own long-lasting furniture pieces (which are produced to order). The studio’s large array of commissions includes a pied-à-terre in central London, a family home in the New Forest and a Jordanian house. Her collection of furniture, accessories and fabrics is on display in the Knightsbridge showroom. louisebradley.co.uk
Maddux Creative
Not many people can say they met their future business partner clubbing but that was exactly what happened to Tennessee native Scott Maddux and Brit Jo leGleud, who discovered they shared a passion for craft and colour, both of which typify their schemes (he kicked off his career working for interior designer Ann Boyd, she was an embroiderer for fashion designer Koji Tatsuno). Their Peckham-based interior architecture and design studio has been going for over a decade and excels in warm, multi-layered spaces. madduxcreative.com
Maison Arabella
Having honed her skills at Candy & Candy and Katharine Pooley, Arabella Bassadone set up her design practice in 2016. She describes her style as ‘minimalism with expression’ and believes that beautiful spaces don’t need to be loud. The team split their time between commercial and residential – meaning they take on anything from a historic office building in London to a 1920s Milanese townhouse, a Tuscan farmhouse or a spa resort in Saudi Arabia. She also has a small collection of furniture and objects. maisonarabella.com
Martin Kemp Design
This studio specialises in super-prime residences, as well as private jets, superyachts and exclusive work spaces. It’s helmed by Martin Kemp who has a master eye for detail whatever the project: think hand-painted verre églomisé, fine cabinetry and exquisite handwoven silk rugs from the Far East. He is also known for the rigorous confidentiality that surrounds every commission – whether a home on a private estate in Yorkshire or a penthouse in New York. martinkempdesign.com
Matthew Williamson Design
Renowned for his gloriously maximalist vision, Matthew Williamson pivoted seamlessly from fashion to interiors over a decade ago. He splits his time between London and Mallorca, typically taking on two or three interior design projects at once (most recently, he completed decadent late night drinking spot The Cocktail Club in Birmingham). He is in the process of designing a members’ room for the Design Museum and has a new book, Living Bright, out in September, which celebrates his love of colour. matthewwilliamson.com
Michelle Kelly
Redesigning a friend’s apartment seven years ago was the catalyst for Hackney-based fashion stylist Michelle Kelly to make the sidestep into interiors. Since then, she has done creative consultancy for The Rose hotel in Deal, designed The Chequers pub in the village of Lamberhurst and completed all manner of residential commissions, from single rooms to entire houses, transforming them with her signature romantic, rock ‘n’ roll style. This summer she is putting the finishing touches to a 300-year-old finca in Ibiza. michellekellystyle.com
Naomi Astley Clarke
Almost a decade on from opening her studio, most clients (these include world-famous movie stars, producers, music moguls, VIPs, luxury brands and entrepreneurs) come to Naomi Astley Clarke through word-of-mouth referrals, often having visited somewhere she has designed. As well as design signatures such as injecting bright colours into smaller spaces, bespoke joinery and hand-painted finishes on the walls, she is also brilliant at advising where savings can be made, and where it’s worth spending a little more to really transform a home. naomiastleyclarke.com
Natalia Miyar
Trained architect Natalia Miyar’s schemes are richly layered, elegant and well-balanced, and showcase a confident use of colour and texture throughout. ‘Each project is very unique but I find harmony in materiality and proportion,’ she says of her holistic approach to design, underpinned by her deep architectural understanding. Alongside homes in London, she has ongoing international commissions in Kuwait, Mexico, Colorado and Florida. Last year she completed work on her first hotel and members’ club – The Twenty Two in Mayfair. nataliamiyar.com
Neue Interior Design
‘Our goal is to create spaces that will last in eternum. We believe that is a straightforward way of thinking about sustainability,’ says Neue Interior Design’s creative director Esteban Lamm. To do this, the studio, which has offices in London and Berlin, begins each project with extensive research into the classic orders of design and looking at the proportions of Old Master paintings. The resulting spaces are unexpected yet elegant, bringing together pieces that shouldn’t go together, yet somehow do. The biggest project on the books is a renovation of the former Siemens villa in Potsdam, due for completion in 2026. neue.com
Nina Campbell
At any one time, this doyenne of interior design has multiple luxury projects on the go around the world, which, right now, include a private estate in Maine, a residence in Jordan, a boutique hotel in Vienna and a Victorian home in Wales. They will all carry Nina’s signature eye for colour and detail, as well as her sense of timeless elegance. There’s also a new flagship store on Pimlico Road, which houses the studio and the brand’s retail space under one roof. There are also interesting collaborations, such as a collection of tiles with Fired Earth, in the offing. ninacampbell.com
Rigby & Rigby
This architecture and interior design firm has an international reputation for the understated, refined aesthetic it brings to the ultra-prime property market (commissions range from apartments in Atlantis The Royal Residences in Dubai to Kensington townhouses). The in-house team often collaborates with heavyweight external architects, such as Kengo Kuma and Olson Kundig, and has a dedicated full-service special projects division (with a development management team) for complex new builds and heritage restorations. Forward-thinking environmental and social practices throughout the business have earned it the Butterfly Mark by Positive Luxury. rigbyandrigby.com
Robert Kime
The late antique dealer and decorator Robert Kime was revered in the industry for interiors that convey comfort and a sense of place. Now the studio is led by managing director Orlando Atty – who worked with Robert for a decade – and the same sensibility remains. A new Watercolour fabric collection has just launched, based on several hand-painted watercolour drawings, and the team has completed a stone cottage in Norfolk, a house on Palm Beach and a classic Normandy farmhouse. robertkime.com
Rose Uniacke
Serene, calm, contemplative spaces are Rose Uniacke’s specialty. The former antiques dealer and trained furniture restorer – who also designs her own furniture, lighting and fabric, both for clients and her Pimlico Road shop – likes to let the rooms she designs breathe in the pursuit of simplicity and refinement. Her fabric collection was developed with a focus on sustainability, and uses almost entirely natural fibres like hemp and wool. Last year the designer also teamed up with Graphenstone to create a range of chemical-free paints. roseuniacke.com
Sara Cosgrove Studio
After starting out at Helen Green Design and Candy & Candy, County Mayo-native Sara Cosgrove was appointed head of design at Harrods London. She opened her own studio in 2014 and now works across all scales of projects, most recently on an apartment block on the coast in Dublin and a bijou flat in Notting Hill. Her schemes are tailored, with layered tonal textures and often bursts of vibrant colour. Each is characterised by a freshness and vibrancy that sets the studio apart. saracosgrove.com
Sera Of London
There’s no better example of Sera Hersham Loftus’ vintage bohemian style than her own apartment in Little Venice. A former set designer, she started selling lampshades with corset-style metal frames before turning her hand to decorating (her first job was for Patsy Kensit and Liam Gallagher). Recently, she designed a holistic retreat for Charlotte Church in what was Laura Ashley’s old family mansion in Wales, and the Chelsea flat of artist Charlotte Watts, granddaughter of the late Rolling Stone Charlie Watts. seraoflondon.com
Shalini Misra
For trained architect Shalini Misra, wellness and sustainability are a core focus of every design. Art also plays a central role, as does commissioning artisan-made pieces. All these factors perhaps explain why she has so many repeat clients who return years later when their needs change. Her spectrum of projects includes converting New York’s National Academy of Design into a private residence; weaving a client’s contemporary art collection into a traditional Yali house in Istanbul; and a nautical-themed villa in Athens. shalinimisra.com
Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler
Founded in the 1930s, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler is the longest established interior decorating firm in Great Britain. It has always been synonymous with the English country house aesthetic and today this is interpreted by nine decorators, all of whom are supported by an architectural interior designer. Whether envisioning a London townhouse or a holiday home in Provence, a key concern is decorating a space in a way that is appropriate for the architecture and how someone really lives. sibylcolefax.com
Sims Hilditch
Known for her elegant English style, Emma Sims Hilditch has perfected the knack of creating layered spaces that feel properly comfortable and lived in. Recent projects the studio has worked on include a coastal manor in Poole and a modernised country estate in Lancashire. Natural materials and antiques feature in all projects; statement art also appears often (see p106 for Design Director Louise Wicksteed’s expert tips on hanging art at home). Notable recent collaborations include a range of jute rugs with Tim Page and an outdoor collection with George Smith Furniture. simshilditch.com
Studio Aida
Sarajevo-born trained architect Aida Bratović was a director at Timothy Hatton Architects before setting up on her own in 2014. She is passionate about taking a rounded approach to design, and helping clients to be more confident and bolder in their decorating choices. Ongoing projects include a ski chalet in British Columbia, a home in Croatia and an eco-resort in Montenegro where the stone is being quarried on site, the timber is carved using traditional techniques and all the finishes are local. Whatever the setting, each project is characterised by the studio’s clean and contemporary aesthetic. studioaida.co.uk
Studio Alexandra
Having started her career at fine art and antiques advisor Corfield Morris, it’s no wonder that Alexandra Childs – who also spent nine years at Martin Kemp Design – favours reclaimed pieces (in a recent east London home for instance, the kitchen cupboards were made from old Dutch cheese aging boards). She is behind the joyful interiors at Glebe House in Devon (the informality and playfulness were informed by Charleston House) and the new rooms at Coombeshead Farm in Cornwall. She has several small-scale hospitality commissions on the go, including a farm stay experience in Dartmoor and a retreat house in Essex. studioalexandra.co.uk
Studio Ashby
For creative director Sophie Ashby, art is often the starting point for a scheme. She is also known for colour, and mixing vintage with one-of-a-kind crafted pieces. All fabric offcuts are used to create products for the studio’s furniture and homeware brand Sister, which can be viewed in her by-appointment showroom-shop in the Blewcoats School building in Victoria. She is also the co-founder of United in Design, a charity that addresses the lack of diversity in the industry through creating equal opportunity pathways for all aspiring young designers, regardless of background. studioashby.com
Studio Atkinson
Whether designing for one of her many notable luxury hotel and private members’ club projects (Beaverbrook in Surrey, Babington House, and Soho House Berlin to name a few) or a private home, Susie Atkinson is known for her inviting, elegant decorating schemes. She has long been a champion of British craftsmanship and always sources furniture in the UK. Current projects include homes in Notting Hill and Dordrecht, and a hotel in Barbados. Her online shop stocks ready- to-buy furniture and homewares in her signature colourful style, as well as beautifully curated antiques. studio-atkinson.com
Studio Peake
Sarah Peake set up her Parsons Green-based studio at the beginning of 2019 (previously she worked for Alidad and Todhunter Earle), kicking off with the complete refurbishment of a Georgian cottage in Vauxhall. Fast forward four years and the studio is shifting gear, taking on more ambitious projects in Sweden and the US and expanding the team. What unites her spaces though is that they are never overly curated, instead cohesively combining the traditional and contemporary through a real attention to detail. studiopeake.com
Studio Vero
Inseparable friends since they were 13, Venetia Rudebeck and Romanos Brihi have been working together for almost a decade. They both bring subtly different design elements to the table but their schemes are always cohesive, with an emphasis on juxtaposing antiques and art (both are collectors), colour and layers. For one owner of a Chelsea apartment, they took a rug as a starting point, creating an unexpected palette of apple green, terracotta and mustard; for another client’s house in Oxfordshire the look was a clever take on a Hamptons-style feel. studio-vero.com
Taylor Howes
Steered by Karen Howes, this prolific Knightsbridge-based studio is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. The nearly 30-strong team has a roll call of high-end global commissions on the go, from a ski chalet in Verbier to a palatial pad in Dubai. Closer to home, they are near to completing Knightsbridge Gardens – London’s largest build-to-rent prime project. Balance and symmetry, working with local and British suppliers and makers, and a leaning towards environmentally conscious products all anchor schemes. taylorhowes.co.uk
Thorp Interiors
One of Thorp’s clients once commented that, in the 20 years since the completion of their home, the only item that had to be replaced was a rug – high praise for the longevity and quality of the design. Since founding the practice in 1985, Philippa Thorp has taken a holistic approach, managing all aspects of a renovation, from the architectural and interior design to the decoration, art curation and landscaping. The studio has recently completed a lakeside villa in Como and a mountain residence in the Yellowstone Club in the US. thorp.co.uk
Turner Pocock
Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock’s tailored elegant style works just as well in country homes as those in the city. Since starting out in 2007, the studio has grown to a team of ten project managers, interior architects and designers. During lockdown, the duo started TP Caring Spaces charity, which works to transform healthcare environments (hospital staff rooms, refuges) into havens. This year, they also launched a capsule collection of furniture in collaboration with Julian Chichester. turnerpocock.co.uk
Yellow London
While working at design studio Joanna Wood, Cath Beckett and Liv Wallers discovered that they had a shared appreciation for vibrant colour, classic furniture and pattern. The pair established their own studio six years ago and have since made their name with confident, impactful schemes. Contemporary vivid florals, stripes and geometric motifs often appear in some shape or form. The fact that they remain a small team of two means both are very hands-on. yellowlondon.com
Featured image: Shalini Misra
This is from our July/August interiors book 2023/24. Submissions for the Best Interior Designers UK will reopen in Spring 2024.
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