Elfreda Pownall
Based in south London, Elfreda writes about houses 'full of ideas and beautiful objects' and does styling for food features. She knew she wanted to be a journalist when she was 13: 'I covered my entire bedroom, wall to wall, with pictures cut from my mother's glossy magazines.' 'I started as a dogsbody at The World of Interiors, unable even to send a fax, and learned on the job.'
John McCall creates a dramatic, bold house from a former civic building in London
When West End producer Eilene Davidson cast a Victorian civic building in London as her family home, she called in her longtime collaborator, interior designer John McCall, to set the scene for a beautifully bold transformation
Nicola Harding brings the vital spark back to a 17th-century country house
This Jacobean beauty seemed to have it all, but its new owners felt like it was lacking its vital spark. Brought in to restore a sense of character, Nicola Harding embarked on a whirlwind revamp, transforming rooms with an artful palette and creating beguiling contrasts of dark and light
A glorious country house in the South of France by our new Interior Designer of the Year, Lucy Hammond Giles
A gradual yet holistic transformation of the interior of this large, handsome property in the South of France at the hands of designer Lucy Hammond Giles proved so appealing that it evolved from being a holiday house into a much loved home, when its London-based owner decided to spend a year here with her family
An Arts & Crafts house brought back to life by Brandon Schubert
Giving up a career as a lawyer for interior design was an instinctive choice for Brandon Schubert, whose sense of conviction is evident in all he does – as seen in his assured use of colour and craftsmanship in this London terrace.
An interior designer's Welsh cottage, inventively furnished with second-hand finds
When interior designer Lucinda Griffith fell for a cottage that took her back to her Welsh heritage but was almost beyond her means, she cleverly employed all the tricks of her trade to furnish it in a thrifty, inventive and charmingly inviting fashion
Houses by our top 100
Samantha Todhunter brings out the fun in traditional design at her Queen Anne country house
Interior designer Samantha Todhunter and her husband David were always destined to make this 18th-century house in Oxfordshire their home, after chance encounters three decades apart.
Quiet Interiors
A dark, claustrophobic house transformed in to a calm, light-filled space
Kerry Franses has opened up the dark and claustrophobic layout of her mother’s London house to create a calm and light-filled setting for eye-catching collections of fine art and antiques
Ptolemy Dean and David Mlinaric conjure an enchanting house out of the English countryside
Architect Ptolemy Dean drew on the distinct appearance of local farmhouses when it came to designing this newbuild with elegant interiors by David Mlinaric, creating a country house that feels well established in its setting and makes the most of the views from its hilltop position in this charmingly rural part of southern England
Georgian
Henriette von Stockhausen brings elegance and harmony to a Georgian country house
With a large family and frequent guests, the owner of this house in Hampshire tasked Henriette von Stockhausen with creating elegant and versatile interiors that help to tie together the original Georgian rooms and a recent extension
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In memory of Robert Kime, by his friends and colleagues
Elfreda Pownall pays tribute to the late antique dealer and decorator Robert Kime, followed by memories from his friends and colleagues
A restful waterside house by Turner Pocock with a garden full of surprises
Drawn to this Georgian home in Berkshire by its tranquil waterside location, the owners tasked Turner Pocock’s designers with creating interiors that would reflect the surrounding natural beauty and provide a welcoming space for visiting family and friends
Nicola Harding's sleek and colourful design for a glorious riverside house
Set on the banks of the Thames, this 18th-century house has always been blessed with a glorious outlook. But, after an artful redesign by Nicola Harding, its interior now has a sense of flow and an easy elegance perfectly suited to a weekend family home
Houses by our Top 100 Interior Designers & Architects
A tranquil, elegant 17th-century house designed by Rose Uniacke
In a leafy enclave on the edge of London, interior designer Rose Uniacke has brought together the disparate elements of a historic house into a serene, harmonious whole that combines luxury and comfort
The warm, inviting family home of a designer known for cool interiors
She is known for her interiors for members’ clubs and hotels, but it is Susie Atkinson’s own family house in Hampshire that reveals so much about what is important to her – rooms that are elegant but also personal and inviting
Quiet Interiors
The home of cult lighting brand Ochre's director balances minimalism with Georgian elegance
Georgian elegance meets modern minimalism in this London family house owned by two creatives, who have employed a mix of reclaimed materials and contemporary pieces to eye-catching effect
Designers' houses
Robert Kime's intricately-layered flat, the distillation of 50 years of expertise
Saddened by the recent death of the great antique dealer and decorator Robert Kime, we look back at his London flat, a journey of discovery through decades of collecting art, textiles and curiosities
Houses by the sea
A bamboo beach house designed by Veere Grenney
On the Caribbean island of Mustique, interior designer Veere Grenney has redesigned a bamboo house that is a study in neutrals and natural materials, set off by the green of the palms outside and the glorious blue of the ocean
Joanna Plant imbues a glamorous Victorian house with an easy elegance
With Victorian period features reintroduced and interiors inspired by the subtle glamour of the 1940s, Joanna Plant has given this west London terraced house dating from the 1840s an easy elegance that suits the owners’ busy lifestyle
Houses
Virginia Howard transforms an airy London flat with shades of pink
It was only after dispelling a ghostly presence that the interior designer Virginia Howard was able to start reorganising the space in this London flat, introducing neutral schemes with hints of pink
City
An elegant and airy London apartment by Hugh Henry
Interior designer Hugh Henry worked closely with the owner of this London apartment to bring harmony to her diverse collection of art, ceramics and furniture