10th September 2021 | IN RESIDENTIAL DESIGN | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn Design Havens for Heroes is a charity initiative launched by interior designer Francesca Rowan Plowden (pictured) in the spring of this year, designed to bring together an inspiring community of talent from the interior design field. The aim is to create room makeover “havens” for accredited NHS key workers who have been working on the front line during the Covid-19 crisis, and who will undoubtedly need the benefit of rest and calm in their own homes, after the fall out of dealing with the emotional and physical demands of tackling the pandemic. Image credits: Topps Tiles Image credits: Edward Bulmer Design Havens for Heroes is a collective formed from a broad range of leading interior designers, high profile suppliers, as well as skilled makers and tradesmen such as curtain makers and decorators who are happy to donate their time, skills, experience and products to the cause. From these offers of help, Francesca is working to build teams to work together to create these ‘Havens’ for the frontline NHS heroes. Currently followers to the Instagram account are being encouraged to nominate or tag a deserving NHS worker as the charity team prepare for these collaborative project partnerships with interior designers and supporting brands. Image credits: Designers Guild Image credits: Neptune Leading fabric, wallpaper, paint and furniture brands such as Colefax & Fowler, William Yeoward, Designer’s Guild, Matthew Williamson, Tom Dixon, Lewis & Wood, Blithfield, De Gournay, Fromental, The Design Archives, Farrow & Ball, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, The Little Greene Paint Company, Neptune, Sofa.com, Ventura Design, Pooky Lighting and Matthew Williamson are all on board, as well as smaller niche businesses such as Otto Tiles, Zoe Glencross and Henley Kille Joinery. They will work alongside a growing pool of interior design talent which includes names such as Ben Pentreath, Sophie Patterson, Kate Guinness, Salvesen Graham, Fiona Duke and Julia Alexander, as well as Ambassadors for the charity which include designers Nina Campbell and Gabriella Blackman, interior journalists Kerryn Harper-Cuss and Michelle Ogundehin, style writer Kate Watson-Smyth and a raft of high profile influencers such as Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage, Sophie Stanbury and Amy Davies Pereira of Little House in London. Using her theatrical contacts, Francesca has also appointed actors Dominic Cooper and Tamzin Outhwaite to help her design a room makeover, with Dame Twiggy Lawson appointed patron of the charity. Image credits: Snug Sofa The aim is to develop the charity over the next few months so that it can be a source of inspiration for NHS workers for when the crisis is over and bring the interior design community together in a shared cause. “I felt as the crisis unfolded there was something I really wanted to do to help in a creative way and with my background it felt the most helpful thing I could do “explains Francesca. “I have been overwhelmed by the response from suppliers, big and small as well as the interior designers that have come forward to offer their services.” The aim is to develop and consolidate the charity over the next few months so that it can be a source of inspiration for NHS workers going forward. More Information To nominate a NHS staff member or keyworker that would benefit from a room makeover after lockdown, you just need to visit the Design Haven for Heroes Instagram page, tag the nominee in the comments of any post, or email [email protected]. To make one off donations toward supporting the charity a Donation page has also been set up, and for daily updates visit www.designhavensforheroes.org.uk If you’d like to feature your news or stories with SBID, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.