Designing the Smart Home: Why Broadband Is an Architecture Decision
I spent three weeks specifying a smart home automation system for a client — the lighting scenes, the HVAC schedules, the security cameras,…
How Wallpaper and Textured Wall Finishes Are Reshaping Modern Interiors
A client showed me two photographs of the same room. Same furniture, same rug, same pendant light. In the first photo, the room looked fine —…
Minimalism in Design: What It Actually Is (and What Most People Get Wrong)
The brief said ‘minimalist.’ I delivered a white background, a centred logo, and one line of copy. The client came back the next…
The Hierarchy of Paint Finishes: A Builder’s Guide to Matte, Satin, and Gloss
A client I worked with last year had just moved into a renovated Victorian terrace and called me in to consult on why the kitchen felt wrong.…
City Living: 11 Window Treatments That Survive the NYC Test (And Work Anywhere)
I lived in a fourth-floor Bushwick apartment with south-facing windows and zero window treatments for six weeks. Not by choice — my custom…
Commercial Interior Architecture: The Evolution of Modular Office Systems
A fit-out I was brought in to consult on six years ago cost the client around $320,000. Eighteen months after completion, they restructured…
How to Integrate Solid Wood Wall Panels in Modern Interiors
The first time I tried to use wood panelling in a client’s flat, I got it completely wrong. I specified a mid-tone pine panel for the…
2026 Window Treatment Trends: Modern Blinds, Sustainable Curtains & High-Performance Fabrics
Last year I replaced the cheap roller blinds I’d had for six years with motorized versions. The kind you control from your phone, or…
Biophilic Interior Design Trends 2026: 7 Ideas That Actually Work
My first attempt at biophilic design was a shelf full of half-dead pothos and a single piece of driftwood from a craft store. It looked like a…
Leather vs Fabric Wingback Chairs: Pros, Cons & Care Tips for UK Homes
My neighbour bought a beautiful oxblood leather wingback three years ago. It looked perfect in her sitting room — the kind of chair that makes…
Balancing Modern Style with Timeless Design
A client once showed me two mood boards side by side. The first was all clean lines, concrete surfaces, and matte black fixtures —…