It is often said that Interior Design is 5% creativity and 95% uphill slog. Most of what we do involves translating a creative vision into a set of instructions for someone else to build and then battling through to make sure the vision is realised. So, while the process is important, without that precious initial spark there is no interior to build. All designers suffer at times from designer’s block – there are times when the ideas simply will not flow, and times when the designer can find themselves drowning in the 95% of project admin. So how can designers keep their heads above water and keep the creative spark alive? Where should they look for the design hooks that will make their projects sing? And how can they hold onto their vision while weathering the din of project noise that can sometimes threaten to overwhelm them? To find out the answers to these and other burning questions, we’re joined in this show by two very special guests – Venetia Rudebeck and Romanos Brihi – the creative drivers behind London based practice ‘Studio Vero’ – recently named one of House and Gardens Top 100 finest interior designers. Recorded at Studio Vero. Thanks to our series partners, Naturalmat, for their support.   

We are joined by Mark Tremlett, founder and managing director of Naturalmat, Fiona Watkins founder and creative director of Fiona Watkins Studio and Melanie Zarins, Project Director at international design powerhouse, tp bennett to explore the topic of wellness and interior design. Interior design has evolved way beyond mere aesthetics to embrace wellness as a core principle. Whether designing homes, workplaces, or public spaces, integrating wellness into design decisions is no longer optional - it’s essential. But whereas in the past wellness referred only to physical comfort and health, today’s definition has expanded to include mental health, the long-term health of our planet and of society as a whole. Never before in the history of the built environment have interior designers had so much to worry about or been under such pressure to do the right thing! But what exactly is the right thing? What and how should we be specifying to ‘Do No Harm’, and how can we fight against the tide of greenwash that threatens to engulf and overwhelm us? This episode was recorded in the beautiful and very comfortable Naturalmat showroom in Knutsford, Cheshire. Thanks to our series partner Naturalmat for their support. Idb is a Wildwood Plus production.   Books mentioned by Fiona Watkins: BIID Interior Design Project Book by Susie Rumbold The Little Book Of Colour by Karen Heller

Interior designers undertake complex, highly skilled, technical work, within a framework of building safety regulations and consumer protection legislation yet are still largely credited only for good taste and an ability to shop. But are designers their our own worst enemies? And if that is the case, how should they sharpen up their act, disabuse the public of this perception, and command the respect they deserve? In this episode, recorded at the London offices of LXA Projects, Susie and Jeff are joined by Sammy Bikoulis, Associate Director at LXA and Liz Bell, Director at Absolute Project Management and President Elect of the British Institute of Interior Design to answer these questions and explore the roles and responsibilities of interior designers. idb is a Wildwood Plus production.

It’s a problem most interior designers are familiar with. You have been given a brief for a lovely project, and you quote a fee based on that brief. But then the actual job turns out to be much more complex and difficult than you had expected and nothing like what you had quoted for. What can designers do to protect themselves from goalposts that move and projects that creep?  And what steps do they need to take at the start of a project to ensure smooth running further down the track? We’re joined by two renowned interior designers, Anna Burles founder of Run For The Hills, and Andrea Benedettini, founder and principal designer of Andrea Benedettini Interiors to explore the issues and potential solutions. This episode was recorded at the London office of Run For The Hills. idb is a Wildwood Plus production. 

Intimately connected with the interior of our homes, we use our outdoor spaces to relax, eat, socialise and connect with nature, and we appreciate the contribution they make to our wellbeing and mental health. But who should be trusted with the design of these significant spaces? Is it the role of the interior designer or the garden designer? And should these relate to the interior or the exterior of the host building? In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience of designers at the Design Central South West event in Bristol, Jeff and Susie explore these and other questions in the company of Cathryn Bishop from Cornish Interiors and Caroline Palk from Ashton House Design.     

We live in interesting, if not very challenging, times. But how do global conflicts, trade wars and economic uncertainties impact on the cosy world of interior design? Is this turmoil having a detrimental effect on our international clients both at home and abroad? And if so, can interior designers do anything to protect themselves from the chill winds of change? Jeff and Susie are joined by international design duo Nicole Salvesen and Mary Graham, founders and co-directors of Salveson Graham, to find out more and learn how they are continuing to thrive against all the odds.

A Passivhaus is any building, new or retrofitted, that achieves the highest certifiable standard of energy efficiency while using negligible fuel for heating and cooling. As the planet warms, this is clearly where we should all be heading, but passive houses are not without their detractors, who claim that these buildings are boxy, stuffy and chilly. And is it enough for a building to be Passivhaus or does this still leave us a million miles away from achieving a truly sustainable built environment? What is the truth behind the hype? And is it possible to take a conventionally built 1990s house and turn it into a paragon of stylish sustainability? For this episode, we are joined by Jenny Hamilton and Ian Chapman, founders and co-directors of BIID award-winning architecture and design practice, The Vawdrey House, to explore these issues through the lens of a recent project.

The British have always been famously crazy about their animals, cossetting them with as much tender treatment as they do their children. Today there are 13.5 million dogs, 12.5 million cats, 1.5 million birds and 1.0 million pet rabbits in the UK, plus nearly a million each of tortoises, horses, Guinea pigs, hamsters and snakes. Unsurprisingly, interior designers are now being asked to design spas and bespoke bedrooms especially for pampered pets of all shapes and sizes, treating them as significant stakeholders in their projects. Jeff and Susie are joined by Lyne Arbid of Studio Indigo, Jo Sampson of Absolute Project Management and Katrina Burroughs, Interiors Editor of The Times and Sunday Times to explore this design trend in more detail and find out where it might be heading next.     This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers as part of the Design Talks series at Decorex. The Interior Design Business is a Wildwood Plus production.   

Everyone has had the experience of packing up a home, removing the pictures and personal objects and realising with a shock that suddenly the space is no longer theirs. Functional interior spaces that meet our practical needs are essential, but it seems it is the art and objects we use to personalise those spaces that give them their heart and soul. We instinctively know that art in all its glorious forms provides emotional context that can make a person feel comfortable, or not comfortable, within a space. But, in recognising the power of art to transform and complete an interior, how should designers go about preparing their buildings, and their clients, to best showcase these important elements. We're joined by renowned interior designer, Sophie Paterson, and acclaimed artist and international curator, Stephanie Nebbia, in front of a live audience of designers to explore the fine art of display.  This discussion was part of the Design Talks programme at Decorex 2024.

Interior designers are forever being asked for their opinions on the latest trends in paint colours, kitchen, tiles, furniture styles and so on. And the supposed answers fill the pages of countless glossy style mags and newspapers, encouraging consumers to update their homes. But how should we respond to these questions? As we move away from the throw-away attitude of recent times and journey towards a more sustainable future, do trends have any part to play in the work we do and the stories we tell? And how should we be advising our clients in this regard? In responding to these questions and more, Susie and Jeff are joined by two Northern Design Award winners, Helen Knox from Lewis Knox and Jen Williams from Mon Interiors. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers at Design Central North-West.  

Designers rely heavily on contractors to faithfully execute and deliver on their visions for our clients. This reliance can mean that it is often difficult to fully control the finished quality of our projects, a situation that can vary from being merely frustrating to utterly tragic. But is there anything we can do to prevent this? How can designers ensure they have the best-fit contractor for their projects and for their clients, and the right people capable of faithfully executing their designs? Jeff and Susie are joined by Rina Patel from Vastu Design and Brian Woulfe from Designed by Woulfe to find out.  The Interior Design Business is a Wildwood Plus production. 

In a world far, far, away from your average night club, cult rapper Stormzy, with a little help from design dynamo Sally Anne McCoy and her friends at the Cream Group, has just opened, House Party, the ultimate party place in a 7-storey building in London’s Soho. But what is the back story to the project? What inspired the team to come up with their wildly original theme and why is it so perfect for right now? Find out in this fascinating conversation with Sally which took place on location in the House Party kitchen.  The Interior Design Business is a Wildwood Plus production. 

In this episode, we look ahead to Decorex 2024, Europe’s leading event for interior design professionals, taking place at Olympia London between Sunday 6th October and Wednesday 9th October. Event Director, Sam Fisher and Marketing Manager, Carly Barclay set the scene for this year's show. We also hear from Tim Butcher at Fromental, Shayne Brady at Brady Williams, Jules Haines from The Haines Collection, Mirry Christie from B Able, John Stubbs from YesColours and decorative artist, Ellen Merchant, about their involvement in Decorex 2024.  The Interior Design Business is a media partner of Decorex 2024. More information on the show can be found at www.decorex.com.  

There are few UK designers as admired and emulated as Laura Hammett, both for her signature style and for the glamorous international projects in her portfolio. But what is her back story? Has her eponymous company always been so successful? How does she continue to stay one step ahead of the competition? And where is she planning to take her business next? In this episode, Laura joins Jeff and Susie in conversation to share her fascinating story.   

In this episode, we explore the changing face of workplace design with help from James White, Co-Founder of global interior design powerhouse, MAWD, and May Fawzy, Founder and Creative Director of MF Design Studio and President of the British Institute of Interior Design. What does the post-pandemic, hybrid-working office look like? Can co-working spaces provide a second option to working from home? And, how does this new reality impact the design of office and co-working spaces?    The Interior Design Business is a Wildwood Plus production.  

25 years ago, there were only a handful of UK universities where undergraduate students could study interior design. Today there are 53 offering a total of 117 courses, and this does not include the growing number of private schools who also offer interior design degrees.  But are these courses producing well-rounded students, fully equipped and ready to take their place in industry? Is the current degree model a bar to inclusivity? And would apprenticeships be a better way to train new talent in what is essentially a practical discipline? To help us untangle these complex issues we are joined by Professor Graeme Brooker, Head of Programme, Interior Design at the Royal College of Art, Leanne Wookey, Director at international commercial design juggernaut, T P Bennett, and Courteney Kieley, Founder and Creative Director of Scene Interiors and instigator of the Interior Design Apprenticeship Scheme.

How should designers approach the subject of neurodiversity with their clients? How can they accurately assess their client’s needs and, most importantly of all, how should they translate these requirements into their designs? In this episode, Susie and Jeff are joined by specialist inclusive design consultant, Judi Watkinson and dementia specialist, writer and presenter of the definitive Third Age Design podcast, Lori Pinkerton Rolet, to find out.     

Health and wellness continue to be top priorities in residential design. Interior design that addresses both the mind and the body challenges designers to learn new skills and adapt their design approaches. As part of this evolution, we find out the role that home technology plays in delivering a comfortable, healthier and mood-enhancing lifestyle at home with help from BIID award-winning designer, Susie Pfeiffer of Pfeiffer Design, Ben Channon of specialist well-being design consultancy, EKKIST and Damien Smith of leading home technology firm, New Wave AV. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers at Decorex 2023. 

Art in all its glorious forms plays a key role within the interior, providing emotional context that can make a person feel comfortable, or not comfortable, within the space. But, in recognising the power of art to transform and complete an interior, how should designers go about preparing their buildings, and their clients, to best showcase these important elements? We’re joined by Julia Bell from Parapluie and Jennie Trethewy from Studio Far West to explore the important steps to take when designing spaces for art. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers at Design Central South West.   

Many interior designers want their projects and expertise to be featured within magazines and the interior sections of newspapers but are unsure or unaware of how to present themselves, their projects and their stories to do that. We're joined by Hatta Byng, Editor of House & Garden and Katrina Burroughs, Interiors Editor of The Times and Sunday Times as they share their insights on how the media works, the content that journalists are looking for and the best approaches that designers can take to engage effectively with writers and the media. Recorded in front of a live audience at Decorex 2023.