10 Design Secrets That Help Shape My Work

People often ask me where my design ideas come from, so recently I’ve been reflecting on the influences that have shaped my approach to interior design over the years. From the designers who inspire me to the places where I recharge creatively, these elements inform every project I undertake. As a new year of exciting interior design projects gets underway, I thought I’d give you a peek behind the curtain of my creative process.

1. My design heroes

I’ve always been drawn to designers who combine technical excellence with genuine emotional resonance. Mary Fox Linton stands out for her commitment to neutral palettes and classic designs, all woven by some of the finest mills in the UK and Europe. Her daughter Nicola now runs Studio Fox Linton, bringing the same passion, craft and meticulous attention to detail to every project, whether it’s a London apartment or a five-star Caribbean hotel.

Equally inspirational is London designer Ilse Crawford, who isn’t formally trained as an interior designer but possesses an extraordinary talent for addressing true human needs rather than manufactured ones. Her work with Studio Ilse demonstrates that the best design serves how we actually live, not how we think we should live.

Image Credit : Ilse Crawford interior at Dinder House, Somerset

2. An art piece I love

Above my mantlepiece hangs a Victor Pasmore print called ‘Black Tiger’. Pasmore was actually my mother’s tutor at the Central School of Art in the 1950s when she was studying interior design, and I think this is where I inherited my love of colour, shape and pattern. The abstract blotches have a real energy to them, beautifully balanced by two calm, floating egg shapes. It’s a daily reminder that contrast creates harmony.

3. My summertime retreat

The sanctuary of my family’s summer home in France – specifically in the Périgord Vert region I’ve written about before – provides me with an unbeatable sense of both belonging and escape from routine. From the landscapes and skyscapes to the taste and smell of local produce like truffles, cheese and foie gras that define the region, these sensory experiences feed my creativity in ways that nothing else can. I find that sometimes the best design inspiration comes from simply being present in a beautiful place.

4. A core decorating rule

My design style is rather instinctive and emotional. As the wonderful Ben Pentreath says, ‘Follow your heart not your head.’ The secret is: there are no rules. Just colour, proportion, balance and beauty. Over my career, I’ve learned to trust that my initial ideas are usually the best ones. I don’t always know immediately why certain combinations and contrasts work – as in the two carefully curated bedroom designs below – but I’ve learned to trust that intuition.

5. The fabrics I can’t resist

I absolutely love Timorous Beasties, particularly their Bloomsbury Garden and Birds and Bees fabrics. Their bold, nature-inspired prints bring such life and personality to a space. Another favourite is ‘Day’ by Makoto Kagoshima from Christopher Farr Cloth, especially in pink and orange. I recently used it on a vintage Halabala chair for a project and the combination of mid-century form with contemporary pattern was simply perfect.

6. My most treasured furniture piece

The Rob Parry chair I bought for one of my husband’s milestone birthdays holds pride of place in our home. It represents everything I love about good design: fabulous British design sensibility combined with exceptional Dutch manufacturing quality. And crucially, it’s not just beautiful to look at but it’s wonderfully comfortable to sit in. The perfect example of form and function working in perfect harmony.

7. My favourite suppliers

SCP remains my go-to destination for beautifully-designed furniture pieces. Sheridan Coakley has always been a design hero of mine and his curation is impeccable. For fabrics, I regularly turn to Rapture and Wright, Christopher Farr Cloth and, of course, Timorous Beasties, each bringing something distinctive to the table. For vintage finds, I often rely on Ode Interiors, run by my friend Beatrice Ancilon who has the most exceptional eye. There’s something irreplaceable about incorporating pieces with history into contemporary schemes.

8. What I’m reading right now

‘Victorian Modern’ by my friend Jo Leevers, photographed by Rachael Smith, has become my bible for working with Victorian homes – and we have so many of them here in the UK. It perfectly demonstrates how to honour period architecture whilst creating spaces that feel fresh and relevant.

I’m also absorbed by ‘A Frame for Life’ from Studio Ilse, which explores design philosophy that prioritises positive mental and environmental impact. It’s about understanding the bigger systems that underpin everything we create. 

9. The career I almost had

I expected to study Art History at university and imagined myself running an art gallery, perhaps after learning the trade at somewhere like Sotheby’s. Instead, I studied Interior Design and became a practical 3D designer working across theatre, television drama, bespoke joinery and eventually interior design for private clients. But there’s still a part of me that dreams of becoming a potter or quilt maker, working with my hands to create beautiful, functional objects one at a time.

10. A garden that always inspires me

Sissinghurst Castle Garden has always been my favourite, especially when my children were young. It’s so beautifully curated for colour and interest throughout the year, surrounded by woodland with amazing bluebells in spring. The way Vita Sackville-West created distinct garden rooms, each with its own character and palette, directly influences how I approach interior spaces.

Image : The ‘White Garden’ at Sissinghurst

Recently, Great Dixter House & Gardens has become a close rival – it’s just up the road from me now and has the most amazing nursery. You can come away with armfuls of inspiration, knowledge and fabulous quality plants. Christopher Lloyd’s fearless use of colour and texture in planting schemes reminds me that boldness, when executed with skill, creates magic.

Image : Great Dixter, Rye, East Sussex

Where inspiration leads

These influences – from designers and artists to places and objects – all feed into the work I do for clients. They remind me that great design comes from a combination of technical knowledge, emotional intelligence and the courage to follow your instincts.  

If you’re embarking on an interior design project this year, I’d love to bring this philosophy to your home. Drop me a line today and let’s create spaces that reflect not just current trends, but your personal story and the way you truly want to live.

Nicky