The 50 Finest Interior Designers In The UK 2026/27
Appraising the work of Britain’s finest interior design studios is an honour and a pleasure. It is also personal: what captivates one person may not resonate with another; which is why C&TH’s 50 Finest Interior Designers is selected by a panel of esteemed guest judges. Every entry impressed us with creativity, skill or originality, and often all three, but only 50 could make the cut. Here they are.
Carole has spent over 30 years immersed in the world of design and decoration – the last nine of them as interiors director at Country & Town House. She also hosts the House Guest podcast and is a respected and much-loved industry authority.
As former editor of House & Garden, Hatta deftly steered the magazine for over ten years. Now a creative consultant alongside her work as a writer, editor and moderator, she has also worked with a team of specialists to restore her own home, the Georgian Grade II-listed Brockfield Hall in North Yorkshire.
Co-founder of London’s most legendary restaurants including Le Caprice, J. Sheekey and The Wolseley, Jeremy marked a new chapter on the capital’s dining scene two years ago with the launch of Arlington. He is also behind modern grand café The Park in Bayswater and the recent reimagining of Simpson’s in the Strand.
Sparked by a three-month search for a yellow Paul Volther chair, Sandrine quit a career in finance, learnt to code and set up Vinterior, hitting £1 million-worth of sales in a year. Now she is CEO of the UK’s largest online marketplace for second-hand furniture.
Running her own events company was the precursor to Tatiana becoming creative director of The Birley Clubs – which include Mark’s Club, George and Harry’s Bar – in 2018. She is responsible for creating around 200 events and immersive theatrical experiences each year, from world-class art collaborations to the famed Christmas façade at Annabel’s.
Storytelling is at the heart of British-Nigerian Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́’s residential projects, which have an atmosphere of subtle grandeur that’s explored through materiality, light and proportion. Thorough research underpins everything from the final choice of metals to artisanal collaborations, and his belief that the most compelling interiors unfold over time
Period houses are a favourite of Anna Haines, whose schemes are grounded in a classical sensibility. She has a knack for bringing together colour, textiles and antiques in a way that feels unpretentious and lived-in. Clients praise her clarity and ability to turn a sometimes-daunting process into a positive experience.
‘Anna Haines has an instinct for what makes a house truly liveable, layering design and colour with real conviction.’ – Jeremy King
With a focus on composing interiors that not only look beautiful but work practically too, Surrey-based Hannah Barclay and Kat Briggs (who met working at Martin Brudnizki Design Studio) are experts at turning a client’s inkling of an idea into considered designs. Contrasting tones and cross-era influences are usually in play.
How people live rather than what they like is an important distinction for French-born, Swiss-trained architect Christophe Carpente, who considers every aspect – bespoke furniture, joinery, soft furnishings, lighting – holistically, as part of the building’s fabric. Artwork and collectible design are curated in dialogue too, so the effect is cohesive and balanced.
Homely, authentic spaces are a trademark of mother-daughter team Georgina and Anouska Cave, whose design process is truly collaborative. Envisage cosy interiors, rich in colour, and a seamless blend of old and new. Their shop in Primrose Hill sells antiques, vintage and one-off homewares, and they also offer art consultancy.
‘In every scheme I try to include at least one element that scares the client; something unexpected to challenge their comfort zone,’ says Côte de Folk founder Sophie Rowell. Bold ideas are delivered with thoughtful restraint, and play is offset with purpose, in considered homes that support daily life.
‘I love this gingham bedroom by Côte de Folk for a house in Hackney. It is full of personality.’ – Sandrine Zhang Ferron
An interplay of antique and contemporary pieces is at the crux of a recently completed Chelsea townhouse, which epitomises the approach of co-founders Maria Lindgren and Adele Lonergan. The studio leans into warm neutrals, maker collaborations and mixing materials to create serene, enduring interiors.
Whether using clean lines, natural finishes and neutral tones in an urban setting or integrating the surrounding landscape into his own rural Cotswolds vicarage, Irish-born Brian Woulfe understands the importance of aligning a space with its context and how someone spends their time.
‘Brian – who began his career as a concert pianist and is also an avid polo player – has a razor-sharp eye for detail, and his designs always have an element of playfulness.’ – Carole Annett (Judge’s Pick)
Sophie Eadie and Fi Crole are known for their signature classic-contemporary interiors, and marrying form with function (for them, the softness of a cushion is key but so is maximising storage). One client lauded their guidance on colour and layout, and discerning eye for detail, as being truly transformational.
Architect and interior designer Charu Gandhi founded this exceptional studio 12 years ago. Since then, it has gained a reputation for opulent, high-spec residences, full of depth and narrative. Craftsmanship plays a central role, combined with restored, vintage and sentimental pieces – showcased perfectly in a recent Mayfair pied-à-terre.
An abundance of honest materials, pared-back neutrals and tactile textures form the foundation of Fiona Wiseman’s elegant, inviting interiors. Forget any flashiness or high shine: ‘To me, that is not true luxury,’ she says. Instead, harmonious pops of colour are threaded through a home to create interest.
Warm, clever and characterful are all words that describe Ellen Cumber and Alice Bettington’s interiors, seen at their best in a recent Hackney house combining restored original features, vintage pieces and an infusion of colour. Trusted relationships with likeminded collaborators and craftspeople – as well as clients – are paramount.
‘A Georgian house can hold a contemporary artwork; a Victorian lodge can carry a leopard print ottoman,’ says Harriet Sale, summing up her joyful use of colour, pattern and texture. Comfort and beauty are interlaced in equal measure, and spaces feel collected over time.
Going above and beyond a brief with unexpected details – a tangerine lacquered ceiling in a Bond-inspired living room, say, or a Perspex baby grand piano in a Club Tropicana-inspired music room – is the norm for Henry Prideaux. He excels at meaningful interiors, appropriate to the architecture.
‘I kept coming back to this Henry Prideaux entry – the tangerine ceiling, blue velvet walls, mustard sofas. Every room has a POV. None of it feels safe.’ – Sandrine Zhang Ferron
Led by Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves for over 25 years, their design ethos revolves around rigorous spatial planning and proportion (clients also extol their problem-solving skills). The duo reinterprets classical architectural language through a contemporary lens, meaning homes feel steeped in tradition but of their time too.
Taken over by creative director Jo Aynsley and managing director Georgina Fraser five years ago, this long-established Edinburgh studio embraces bold colour, pattern and playful moments. ‘A rule we regularly break is the idea that interiors must be timid to be timeless,’ say the pair of their spirited schemes.
Architectural interior designer Jessica Brook works principally on period properties, using the building and its setting to inform a scheme as much as the brief. Her expertise on historic houses, fine art and antiques shines through in the classic-contemporary aesthetic, which comes with a reassuring informality.
For a Notting Hill home, Katie Glaister and her team designed over 150 pieces, from straw marquetry cabinets to hand-painted vellum panels. For another, she forwent practicality to upholster silk dog beds. ‘Aspect directs my palette. After that, everything goes. If the client loves it, weave it in,’ she says.
‘K&H takes a meticulous approach to everything, including the way a project is run – with beautiful end results.’ – Hatta Byng
Kit Kemp might be globally renowned as creative director of Firmdale Hotels, but her eponymous studio is prolific in residential projects too. Daughters Minnie and Willow are both design directors; as you’d expect, their beloved whimsical patterns – on fabrics, rugs and wallpapers – and uplifting colours are core components.
Instead of overwhelming colour and too much visual noise, Laura and Aaron Hammett (she is the creative director; he oversees the interior architecture side) prefer gentle palettes, refined materials and variations in texture to create understated, sophisticated homes for clients. Craftsmanship, proportion and light are all a top priority.
Since Cindy Leveson set up this studio 35 years ago, she has made a name for herself with an intrinsically English style. Her watercolour illustrations, sketched for clients to help them envisage a room, are beautiful. She likes to break so-called design rules, putting carpets in bathrooms and wallpaper in kitchens.
Helmed by husband-and-wife duo David Liddicoat and Sophie Goldhill, the interiors arm of Liddicoat & Goldhill, Hector Interiors, is known for spaces that feel, as they put it, ‘timeless rather than time-stamped’. These are anchored in reclaimed, crafted and salvaged pieces – the sourcing of which is a vital part of their process.
‘With every quirk and listed crevice considered, the result is a joy to live in.’ – Liddicoat & Goldhill client
‘Transportive interiors rooted in history; spaces designed to invite wonder and discovery’ is how the former design director of Soho House defines her ongoing rollcall of cinematic residences and commercial projects around the world. She is brilliant at conjuring an enigmatic mood, so that each immersive environment resonates.
‘Linda thinks about how a house performs across a day: the flow between rooms, the way light shifts, the moments where you pause. Her interiors have a narrative.’ – Jeremy King (Judge’s Pick)
The layering of texture with original features in an 18th-century townhouse sums up Max Rollitt’s calling card, where the studio’s handcrafted pieces, antiques and masterful use of colour form the backbone of a scheme. Projects draw on his extensive knowledge of historical architecture – and have a dash of wit.
‘I don’t go for the “matchy-match” design. Just like a painting, a room can easily become bland if there is too much of one specific thread running through it.’ – Max Rollitt
Creating homes that support wellbeing through choosing natural, low-toxin materials is essential to Megan Griffin’s design philosophy. She recently completed an Arts and Crafts house that involved commissioning UK artisans to make furniture and ceramics – an example of the importance she places on craftsmanship over mass production.
Architect-trained Natalia Miyar uses colour as her framework, often allowing saturated tones to shape the mood of the studio’s relaxed spaces (in a recent Kensington home, green is a unifying thread throughout), alongside tactile finishes and thoughtful detailing. ‘Her ability to layer is unrivalled,’ enthuses one client.
Adam Knight founded his studio six years ago and, as the name suggests, he isn’t afraid to throw out the rulebook. The only principle he does adhere to is ‘dopamine design: creating spaces that spark joy’. To do this, he blends eras and influences with high-low sourcing and out-of-the-box ideas.
Whatever the project size or scope, Nicola Harding has an innate perception of how people live. Her instinctive use of colour is paired with a passion for craftsmanship and found pieces, which come together in soulful, user-friendly spaces. NiX by Nicola Harding is her collection of furniture, upholstery, lighting and fabrics.
‘Nicola has a remarkable talent for creating bold, richly colourful interiors that sit well in a period building and include plenty of patina, yet feel modern and exciting’ – Hatta Byng (Judge’s Pick)
Steered by founder and creative director Jack Simpson, this multidisciplinary firm is characterised by timeless homes with a contemporary edge – like a recent apartment in Cheyne Gardens. The portfolio spans listed properties, Balearic villas, prime new builds and grand country estates.
Glamour and comfort, together with a hint of the off-beat, combine in Olivia Outred’s expressive schemes, which are rooted in building upon a client’s ideas and bringing them to life. Existing furniture and treasured fabrics are often merged with antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces, while traditional architecture might be contrasted with contemporary art.
From gently pushing client boundaries on colour and texture to delivering on impossibly tight timelines – as with a recent Mayfair townhouse, which came together in just six weeks – Pandora Taylor likes to exceed expectations. The throughline with all projects is that they have function and durability at their centre.
‘Pandora has threaded the pinks with the greens, creating a coherence that feels cinematic. A little Wes Anderson, but in a way you’d want to live with.’ – Sandrine Zhang Ferron
What began as a studio with very English roots is now known for its idiosyncratic, worldly aesthetic and elegant-with-a-twist schemes. It’s headed by Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, who prioritise interior architecture over decoration and believe a mix of pattern, furniture and texture is what instils a space with personality.
Róisín Lafferty’s output is defined by an architectural-first strategy, which speaks to the value she puts on materiality and spatial clarity. She also thinks beyond prescribed palettes and proportions. Craftsmanship is fundamental, and last year the Dublin studio added a gallery showcasing its own lighting and furniture alongside other collectible design.
Fun, functional and full of joy: that’s how Samantha Todhunter labels her studio’s keystones. In other words, schemes which intertwine colour, texture and pattern with flashes of wit and glamour. Current commissions include a sprawling Connecticut barn, the restoration of listed stables in Oxfordshire, and a cutting-edge London clinic.
‘Successful interiors, in my opinion, are layered and nuanced,’ says Sara Cosgrove of her uncluttered schemes that stand the test of time. Texture, tactility and composition are pivotal. She has offices in Dublin and London and a sister company, Grove & Co., which specialises in large-scale residences and hospitality projects.
With a love of classical architecture and antiques, Sean Symington says he is a traditionalist at heart ‘but never precious about it’. Together with his young, dynamic, Cotswolds-based team, he takes colour seriously, ensuring rooms feel vibrant, fresh and energised. Pattern on pattern, antiques beside contemporary art – anything goes.
‘We are traditionalists at our core, but we’re also a young, dynamic team who take colour seriously.’ – Sean Symington
This studio specialises in a classic-contemporary style. That translates to subtle colour palettes, adding antiques and bespoke, crafted detailing – for instance, murals, embroidered suede panelling, or a 16-coat japanning process to create mirror-like lacquered walls, all of which featured in a recently completed Belgravia residence.
Being a huge advocate for the arts and original craft drives Brigitta Spinocchia Freund’s elevated schemes, which frequently pair collectible objects by iconic design masters with specially commissioned works from emerging makers, and pieces across different eras. Her process is highly collaborative and creative, focusing on the fixed architectural elements first.
‘Brigitta nurtures young artists and makers, and her engagement with the arts informs every project.’ – Carole Annett
Take one look at Alexandra Childs’ hideaways in the private Cornish hamlet of Cottage Orné – with their bold wallpaper, antiques and bespoke upholstery – and her signature is immediately clear. Playful, striking spaces infused with colour and warmth are the byword for this imaginative, decade-old studio in east London.
‘Pure joy. The florals, stripes, checks and vintage finds at Cottage Orné could be chaos, but instead they are completely magnetic – cosy, playful, generous.’ – Sandrine Zhang Ferron (Judge’s Pick)
Balancing mood, materiality and storytelling is integral to Tiffany Duggan’s expressive yet liveable spaces. Guided by instinct, she confidently brings together elements from various eras while emphasising colour and pattern. Specially designed pieces for projects often prove so successful that they become part of her Trove by Studio Duggan homeware collection.
‘I ignore the idea that there are fixed rules. Each project is guided by instinct, experience and context.’ – Tiffany Duggan
Started in 2020 by Fiona MacLeod Cameron, this Inverness studio takes an all-encompassing approach to design, looking at architecture, art, furniture and lighting within the perspective of location. Recent projects include an Edinburgh townhouse in which old-world luxury is juxtaposed with contemporary art and lighting.
A long-established name on the hospitality scene, Shayne Brady was one half of BradyWilliams before launching his own practice last year. He has already completed a revival of Simpson’s in the Strand and the ground-floor venues at The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
There’s no better demonstration of Venetia Rudebeck and Romanos Brihi’s sense of flair than the latter’s own art-filled apartment, which features cherry-picked pieces and fabulous entertaining spaces. Materially, schemes tread the line between richness and restraint, and there’s an instinctiveness to their colour palettes and composition.
Founders Gail Taylor and Sheila El-Hadery are renowned for refined yet relaxed interiors that consider flow, connection and daily use. Maximising space and light, plus texture and tone, are a focus. One of their most ambitious projects completed this year is the refurbishment of a 10,000 sq/ft, Grade II-listed home near Richmond.
‘Our goal is to help clients live better in their homes,’ say co-founders Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock, who formed their design partnership nearly 20 years ago. One particular challenge they relish is working with the existing fabric of a building, preserving its character while adapting it for modern-day life.
Having worked together since 2019, Sarah Vanrenen and Laura Hanbury officially joined forces under a new studio name at the end of last year. Their style references English country house interiors in its richness of pattern, colour and texture, while merging more modern elements and a penchant for natural materials.
With a background in textiles and an in-house workshop that makes soft furnishings and traditional upholstery, it’s no wonder Nicky Mudie’s skillset includes softening environments so they feel cocooning and calm. She is also excellent at advising where to spend and where to simplify, so that every investment works harder.
‘This Gloucestershire barn conversion captured me because it is rooted in the building’s character, coupled with a sense of warmth and lived-in comfort.’ – Tatiana Kharchylava (Judge’s pick)
Honouring the architectural integrity of a property and sensitively weaving its history into daily life is second nature to Henriette von Stockhausen, who specialises in listed buildings. Although each project is unique, what unites them is antiques and vintage textiles, alongside art, inherited pieces, bespoke craftsmanship and natural materials.
Mother-daughter duo Sarah and Rosie Ward take an ‘adaptable chameleon approach’ to interior design, working intuitively with both context and their clients to create spaces that are enduring and connected to their setting – whether that’s reinterpreting a classical country house in the UK or adding depth to a coastal Caribbean villa.
Influenced by founder Verity Woolf’s background in film and television, projects are typically conceived with a strong, cinematic narrative – like one that drew on the client’s love of Coco Chanel and African travel. The studio has particular expertise in Grade I and Grade II-listed buildings.
‘Verity treats projects like a curator and has a fun-loving and collaborative approach to the design journey.’ – Carole Annett
