C&TH Reveals Its 2025 Designer Award Winners

Each year, C&TH releases a list of the best designers working in the UK & Ireland, showcasing the most incredible new residential and commercial projects, as part of its annual Interiors Book. These are the designers with excellent aesthetic judgement, who are imaginative in how they nail their client briefs, and uphold standards of craft. To sum, they produce the work our readers love to pore over. This year, we recognised the our favourite entrants on our 50 Finest and Titans of Design lists through the launch of our new designer awards. 

 C&TH Reveals Its 2025 Designer Award Winners

The Judges’ Favourite: Best Overall Project

The judges – Sarah Laming (@ahometomakeyousmile), actor Richard E Grant, Rixo co-founded Henrietta Rix and C&TH Interiors Editor Carole Annett – were brought to the panel for their exceptional taste and work in the creative industry. They picked a number of favourite projects. 

The shortlist: 

• Albion Nord
• Joanna Wood 
• Salvesen Graham
• Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler
• Thorp

The winner was picked for its aesthetic prowess, commitment to detail, and superlative level of finish. Congratulations to: Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler.

(c) Gavin Kingcome

‘Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler are interior design royalty,’ says Carole Annett, interiors editor. ‘Our judging panel fell in love Emma Burns’ transformation of this Wimbledon flat creating a deeply comfortable, inviting home that effortlessly mixes old and new.’

Honourable mention goes to: Albion Nord for its work on the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train.  

Best Debut

For an exceptional designer or studio who has never appeared on the list before. 

Winner: Portia Fox.

‘I loved what Portia has created for this London townhouse,’ says Annett. ‘The reapportioning of ceiling heights and floor levels are just one element of what makes this project so unique. I particularly liked the choice of lighting – in the basement where art deco wall lights and a brass configuration hanging from the ceiling feel like art – and feel it’s a perfect balance of form and function. Delighted to have her in our 50 Finest list for the first time.’

Honourable mention: Sarah Barclay Interiors for its work on the Berkshire Estate.

People & Planet

An award given by C&TH for the designer whose work in a project or by a designer/firm contributes to its local community or environment. 

Winner: Clare Gaskin.

‘The judges were impressed by Clare’s collaboration with Furnishing Futures,’ says Annett, ‘a charity that creates fully furnished homes that give hope and dignity to women placed in empty social housing after domestic abuse. They use good quality products that would otherwise go to landfill. Congratulations Clare – you were an easy choice for the People and Planet award.’

Honourable mention: Fantoush for its sustainability work with Penicuik House.

C&TH’s Country & Town Interiors Issue is out now – read our full 50 Finest to see more work by top British interior designers.