Behind the Scenes of a Top Interior Design Practice

Behind the Scenes of a Top Boutique Hotel Interior Design Practice

People assume interior designers have perfectly curated homes. Like most people, our homes evolve over time, shaped by family life, travel and the discoveries we make throughout our lives

At WOOLF Interior Architecture & Design, we spend our days creating homes and boutique hotel interiors that feel individual and deeply connected to the people who use them. Every project is different, but the thinking behind it often begins with the same question: how should this space make people feel?

A Space to Unwind

My favourite room in my house is the living room — where I retreat at the end of the day, surrounded by soft, tactile fabrics and an elevated first-floor view that creates a wonderful sense of calm.

Before founding WOOLF, I worked in film and television design, so I'm constantly inspired by cinema and drama. Our interior design projects often have a cinematic quality because I'm fascinated by atmosphere that is created through light, composition, texture and storytelling. The best interiors don't simply look beautiful; they evoke an emotional response — a philosophy underpinning every project we design, whether a private residence, a listed country house or a boutique hotel.

The Kitchen Is Where Life Happens

Although I treasure the quiet of my living room, the kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of our home — a generous open-plan space with a large dining table where family and friends naturally gather.

Designing spaces that encourage people to come together is something we think about constantly at WOOLF, whether creating a high-end residential home or a hospitality environment. Some of my happiest moments are simply of my children doing homework around the table, or friends lingering after dinner. Good interior architecture should quietly support those everyday moments.

Atmosphere Is Created in Layers

Atmosphere comes from decoration and carefully considered layers. Our kitchen lighting changes throughout the day, from bright task lighting while cooking to softer wall lights for dining, letting a room evolve with the rhythm of everyday life.

Even seemingly small details make a difference — a sound system chosen with care, a tap that pours without spluttering. Thoughtful functionality is something I value enormously in luxury interior design.

The Objects That Tell Our Story

The pieces I value most aren't necessarily the most expensive. One of my earliest purchases was a Lalique horse lamp found at Portobello Market as a student — I've always loved horses, and it still reminds me of that chapter of my life.

I'm continually searching for artwork, historic and contemporary, and have recently become fascinated by garden sculpture. Personal collections like these give interiors authenticity, creating homes and hotel interiors that couldn't belong anywhere else.

Balancing Heritage and Contemporary Living

If one characteristic defines both my own home and WOOLF's work, it's the balance between historic architecture and contemporary comfort. Original details carry the memory of a building and deserve to be understood before they're altered — but contemporary interior design brings the flexibility historic buildings need to evolve.

Whether restoring a Georgian townhouse or reimagining a heritage hospitality destination, our aim is never to recreate the past, but to let historic character and contemporary living sit comfortably alongside each other.

A Home That Continues to Evolve

People sometimes ask whether my own house is ever finished. The honest answer is no. Visiting makers, artists and showrooms almost every week for our clients inevitably influences how our own homes evolve too, and the best interiors grow richer and more personal with every passing year.

Creating Sanctuary

Home doesn't need to be extravagant to feel luxurious. luxury comes from creating a space that restores you, encourages conversation and reflects the people who live there — the freedom at the heart of both residential and hospitality design today. No longer bound by rigid rules, we can blend historic and contemporary influences and create interiors that tell their own story.

At WOOLF, every project we undertake — private home, heritage renovation or boutique hotel — shares the same ambition: spaces with warmth, personality and lasting emotional connection, places that people never want to leave.

Discover more at woolfinterior.com