The Story Behind Studio Asterix: Creating Refined and Contemporary Interiors

Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most?

The creativity, working with clients to understand what their requirements are and building a design which exceeds their expectations. I have a passion for presenting ideas and so once the design is developed and the pieces all come together it’s a really exciting time within the design process.

What has been your most memorable career highlight from the past year?

Launching Studio Asterix and seeing the first projects through to fruition, I’ve also been really lucky to have clients and developers that I’ve worked with previously make introductions, from a personal perspective its reassuring that it was the right decision at the right time.

What are your favourite types of projects to work on and why?

New build residential developments are a personal favourite, seeing spaces transform from a blank canvas to a completely tailored space is an exciting journey for clients as its usually a new purchase and so we are able to extend their experience of a new home. I’ve always had a great passion for sourcing furniture and have specialised in turn-key interiors, I’ve always specialised more in FF&E.

What are the most challenging aspects of working in interior design?

For the industry as a whole, one of the main challenges has been the supply chain issue and the knock on effect when working with clients and unless the client is in our line of work they often have little understanding on some of the limitations when working on projects. From Studio Asterix’s inception, I committed to open communication and managing the expectations of our clients. When starting a new project, there are key drivers the clients and I discuss the aesthetic, the budgetary requirements, and the project lead time. To ensure clients have the best experience possible, I work on their priority areas so they feel comfortable with the deliverability of the project and work to their expectations.

What do you wish you knew before working in the field?

An understanding of UK based trade suppliers, I think in starting in an FF&E role as an intern it would have enabled me to source more efficiently and to support more senior team members. I think a lot of studios would probably recommend understanding the technical side, but this can be taught and developed. Having a good eye, knowing which supplier makes the fabric or where a piece can be sourced from is more impressive when starting out.

If you could give one tip to aspiring designers, what would it be?

I would recommend designers to research and understand their aesthetic and contact similar practices for experience, if the designer wants to explore their options it could be best to work within a business without a ‘house-style’ so they are able to experiment and develop their personal style and have more opportunity to build a portfolio of diverse projects. I also advise to exploring different roles within the industry as its key to understanding how a business runs day to day, most larger scale studios have different departments for procurement, operations and logistics whereas within smaller studios designers usually take care of the full design process.

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

It’s a word that is used a lot within our industry but I do feel that sustainability really does have a place in the future of design. Clients desire spaces that feel personal and in more recent years it has come with warmer, approachable and more textured spaces. We are leaning towards sourcing unique pieces, finding niche suppliers and considering the longevity of our designs, it is possible to recreate a lot of spaces from Pinterest and Instagram but ensuring they are designed to last is fundamental. The technology in recent years for fabrics alone has enabled clients to have the colour palettes they want with the peace of mind that the durability is there for every day life and if this is constantly evolving then I think it will increase the lifespan of our designs and to a lot of already great craftsman and artisans within our industry.

What does being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer mean to you?

In running a boutique business its extremely valuable to be apart of a recognised association, it gives Studio Asterix an opportunity to stand out. The accreditation also acts as a pledge to my business where I can commit the time to continue learning from other industry professionals and pass on valuable knowledge to clients, in doing so offering the most up to date and professional service possible.

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