When it comes to sourcing antique treasures with character and craftsmanship, Litten Tree Antiques never fails to inspire. This curated emporium champions decorative antiques, textiles, and art from across the UK and Europe. Their pieces balance history with modern sensibility, making them perfect for interior design projects that celebrate story, quality, and soul.

This theme keeps coming up in my work: designing for colour blindness, otherwise known as colour vision deficiency. It’s become an increasingly important focus, not just in terms of what looks aesthetically pleasing, but also in how it feels when someone’s perception of colour is fundamentally different from mine. In my work as an interior designer, I often champion the beauty of bold palettes, harmonious colour combinations, and subtle gradations. But designing for colour blindness forces me to bring compassion and clarity to the front of the creative process. It’s a deeply human challenge, and one that’s richer for its nuance.

Designing homes in Pyrford is a delight for any Surrey-based interior designer. The village has a quietly sophisticated charm: period homes, leafy streets, and a strong sense of community make it a setting full of inspiration.

As I reflect on my work as an interior designer, one of the most meaningful and quietly transformative areas is designing for children on the autism spectrum. Too often, the built environment is taken for granted, but for neurodivergent children, the way a space is arranged, lit and layered with texture can make a profound difference in how they feel, engage and thrive.

Ripley is one of Surrey’s most beautiful historic villages, featuring period homes and characterful cottages, many with classic Georgian proportions, mellow brickwork and time-worn detailing. These homes invite a considered approach to design, one that respects their craftsmanship while introducing light, comfort and a more fluid sense of living. The most successful interiors here feel effortless, calm, balanced and quietly refined.

West Byfleet sits between countryside and city, with quick trains to London and the Basingstoke Canal on the doorstep. The homes are mainly Victorian and Edwardian, many with generous gardens, high ceilings, and original features that need careful handling.

Before making any decisions, I step back and really look at the space. Its light, its scale, how it’s used, where it feels off-balance. Pausing first means every choice after is informed, intentional, and fits the home—not just my initial instincts.

Horsell sits just north of Woking, wrapped around one of Surrey's finest commons. The homes are predominantly Victorian and Edwardian, many with generous plots backing onto woodland. Original sash windows, picture rails, and working fireplaces give these houses character that's worth preserving.

Vinterior is a treasure trove when it comes to lighting; its breadth and variety are exceptional, with countless styles, eras, and finishes to discover. That abundance can feel a little overwhelming, especially when searching for just the right piece to transform a space.

September always feels like a reset. The air is a little crisper, the leaves begin to gather on the pavements, and the freedom of summer gives way to routine again. In our home in Surrey, it means my three-year-old daughter settles back into her days split between nursery and her childminder, while my six-year-old heads off each morning to the village church school.

It’s been rather quiet here and on social media for the last six weeks. The summer holidays bring their own particular demands when you’re both an interior designer and a parent to two young children. Days become a careful balance of site visits and sourcing trips, with the calls of builders and suppliers set against the parallel soundtrack of ice creams, outings and arts and crafts activities.

When you think of a design hotel, it's easy to imagine pristine interiors, perfectly styled corners, and a distinct lack of anything sticky, loud, or Lego-shaped. Yet there's a growing number of places that manage to blend beautifully curated interiors with a warm, open-armed approach to children. Spaces where you don't feel as though you've compromised on style, nor that your family is merely tolerated.

A well-designed home doesn’t simply meet the needs of a family at a single point in time; it evolves with them. Life moves quickly. Children grow, working patterns shift, and new routines settle in. The spaces we inhabit should respond to these changes with ease, supporting the ebb and flow of family life without requiring a full redesign each time.

As a Surrey-based interior designer and mum to two young children, I’m always looking for ways to nurture creativity, especially during half term, when little ones are brimming with energy and looking for inspiration.

London Craft Week offers a unique opportunity to witness these makers demonstrating their skills and sharing insights into their creative processes. Though each works in different materials and traditions, all share a commitment to excellence and authenticity that defines true craftsmanship.

There is something extraordinary about a house tour. In person, you have the opportunity to truly sense the interior architecture: proportion, scale, and detail. You can fully appreciate how it feels to inhabit the space, the atmosphere, the illumination. I have marked the Open House Festival in London happening in September in my diary for precisely this reason. It will be my first time attending this noteworthy event. I've heard such positive accounts from friends and family that I am particularly looking forward to experiencing it firsthand.

I've had several clients approach me recently expressing uncertainty about what to do with their large 'modern' open-plan spaces (kitchen-diner-living) - often inherited from the previous owner who developed the property in line with market demand. The consistent feedback is that the space feels too vast (yes, a luxurious problem to have) and lacks comfort and character. This is a subject that is cropping up more and more.

Now and then, you come across a supplier doing something new and exciting—brands that bring a fresh perspective to craftsmanship and storytelling in design. Some of these discoveries have popped up on my Instagram, while others are trusted suppliers I came across while working for award-winning studios before setting up on my own. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for exceptional design and the ever-evolving creativity within the industry.

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington. It’s always an exciting experience to immerse myself in a space charged with talent, passion, and energy. I visited on the last day of the event as collectors made their final choices. The excitement was visible, and it was a wonderful opportunity to explore a wide range of works from well-established and emerging artists, all represented by top-tier galleries. I will certainly be heading back next year.