A childhood spent in rural Lithuania inspired Ula Maria‘s deep connection with nature, and led to an award-winning career in garden and landscape design. Prior to this, Maria attended the School of Fine Arts in Lithuania before moving permanently to the UK in 2008. While studying for both a BA and MA in Landscape Architecture at Birmingham City University, Maria won the Landscape Institute’s John Knight award for both her undergraduate and postgraduate submissions.

She then went on to scoop the RHS Young Designer of the Year in 2017. After that, Maria gained experience working for a number of landscape practices, including Tom Stuart-Smith, and then established her own firm – with an aim to create emotive spaces that foster a deeper connection with nature through sensory experience. Maria has since returned to Birmingham City University where she is a visiting tutor, and in 2020 published a book, Green, celebrating the merits of the smaller urban garden.

David Nossiter is known for his authentic yet spatially complex contemporary architecture, working from an approach that incorporates the needs of the client, the topography of the landscape and the orientation of the site as equal and foremost considerations. David’s work ranges from rural barn conversions to urban new builds – all designed in his London studio.

David Nossiter Architects’ portfolio includes the award-winning Church Hill Barn – a listed, dilapidated barn complex that was transformed into a strikingly unique home, making dramatic use of the building’s original features and proving that “cathedral like spaces can be made liveable” (The Sunday Times).

All images by Steve Lancefield for David Nossiter Architects.

Founded by architect Alex Nikjoo, London-based architecture practice and interior consultancy Nikjoo prides itself on creating adaptable design solutions that flex with the demands of everyday living. With a roster of both private and commercial clients that includes a school, private homes and a world-famous department store, the firm is as adept at conjuring up a temporary installation as it is in transforming an ex-mission-house-turned-home-studio.

User experience is paramount, as is the idea of future-proofing a space, and Nikjoo always has the long game in mind. ‘We do this by creating buildings and spaces that can adapt over their lifetime to the changing needs of their current and future occupiers. Feeding into our commitment to improving the environmental and social fabric, through a circular economy approach for each project we undertake.’

Aucoot Property Sales.
Lode, Stoke Newington N16

Hackney based landscape and garden designer Miria Harris is making strides with her informal, contemporary and naturalistic approach to design. Prior to setting up her own practice in 2011, Harris worked as a design assistant at a leading British landscape design practice. Before that, she worked for 10 years as a contemporary art curator and producer – something that continues to inform her work to this day.

Her portfolio boasts a clutch of interesting residential and commercial projects under her belt, and collaborations with architects and interior designers including Studioilse, P-Joseph, Sergison Bates, Julian Harrap and Surman Weston. She has also been commissioned for bespoke floristry design and installations in venues that include Bethnal Green’s Town Hall Hotel and the award-winning pub The Marksman. Harris has also collaborated with artist photographer Ali Mobasser on a series of photographic artworks entitled Flowers.

Up Architects are a London-based architecture and design practice who specialise in striking and contemporary residential projects. They rigorously consider all aspects of a project in order to achieve a successful end result for their clients. Without compromising on detail at any stage of the design or build process, their methodical approach ensures elegant, clever spatial solutions and technically advanced construction techniques. The practice’s designs can be built effectively and easily without compromising on their original vision.

With a minimalist aesthetic and an authentic and sensitive approach to materials, Up Architects produce beautifully crafted buildings and interiors on varying scales. Each of their projects to date showcases exceptional attention to detail and thoughtful solutions that make a home more pleasurable to live in.

Abigail Ahern’s inimitable dark and dramatic signature style has cemented her place as one of the industry’s most celebrated interior designers. After launching her eponymous brand in 2003, Ahern’s first product line followed in 2008 with an offbeat collection of ceramic dog lamps. Big name high street collaborations soon followed, as well as spots in both Selfridges and Heal’s and her own Islington flagship store, Atelier Abigail Ahern.

Her seasonal offerings encompass furniture, lighting, sculpture, accessories, textiles and exquisite faux flowers and plants which frequently feature on her hugely popular Instagram feed, where she posts styling tips and tricks from her East London home. Ahern also regularly runs a series of style masterclasses from the same house, where attendees can learn about the transformative power of earthy, tonal colours and sumptuous clashing textures.

Côte de Folk interior design consultancy was founded in 2016 by former fashion stylist and art director, Sophie Rowell. Based in Kent but working throughout the UK, Côte de Folk offers a range of services from one-off consultations on topics such as colour schemes, furniture sourcing and home staging to full-scale refurbishments and interior design on large residential projects.

The consultancy embraces the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi; finding beauty in the imperfect. They work with clients to celebrate the unique character of a space and their ‘perfectly imperfect’ approach allows room for design to evolve and change over time. With a focus on reducing waste, Côte de Folk repurpose and reuse salvaged items, vintage textiles and antique furniture throughout their projects.

Established in 1999 by director Paul Archer, London-based architectural practice Paul Archer Design have gained industry-wide recognition for designing and executing high-quality and inspiring residential projects. The pursuit of design innovation has driven the practice’s work for more than 20 years, leading to multiple awards along the way.

Projects completed by the architects include new-builds, extensions, remodelling, and the renovation of historic listed buildings. Paul Archer Design have worked throughout London and nationally on some outstanding residential homes and they’re highly successful at achieving planning permission. Known for their contemporary and crisp aesthetic, the practice tries to – wherever possible – utilise green solutions in their projects. They work closely with their clients as the design process evolves and the end result aims to be a beautiful, practical and enjoyable home.

Photography by: Kilian O’Sullivan and Andy Stagg

Aucoot Property Sales.
St Mary's Gardens, Lambeth, London SE11

The husband and wife duo behind Chan and Eayrs – Zoe and Merlin – began working together after meeting as architecture students. The award-winning team’s much-celebrated interiors are distinctive both aesthetically and conceptually. Instead of designing around a client brief, Chan and Eayrs create each home from scratch with a holistic and unique approach. They live on-site throughout the project to get a feel for the space, architecture and light before they begin crafting and designing.

With total creative freedom, the pair take on the role of investor, developer, architect and interior designer, thoughtfully creating a home they love over a period of at least two years. To fully dedicate themselves to each project, they consciously work on only one project at a time. After the completion and sale of a home, the lengthy explorative design process begins again in a new setting.

Of the exceptional homes that Chan and Eayrs have already completed, The Beldi – a factory conversion in Shoreditch – might be the best-known and most publicised, with its striking green interiors and Moroccan influence.

Launched in 2011 by Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud, Maddux Creative is a sought-after interior design firm based in London. The designers’ outstanding work has featured in numerous respected print and online publications such as Elle Decoration, Architectural Digest and World of Interiors, they’re also featured as one of House and Garden magazine’s ‘Top 100’ recommended interiors practices.

The visionaries collaborate with clients, designers and artisans to create spaces that are “a celebration of colour and an intricate tapestry of form and texture”. Inspired by their passion for art, travel, craft, history and architecture, Maddux Creative have a distinct and confident aesthetic that celebrates unique design and expert craftsmanship. They guide and work closely with their clients in the UK and around the world to create imaginative, conceptual homes that meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

Archmongers is an award-winning architectural studio based in East London and founded by Margaret Bursa and Johan Hybschmann. The team have worked on several notable residential projects, these include creative updates within Brutalist icons the Barbican Estate and Trellick Tower, plus a modern and unexpected transformation of a Victorian townhouse. 

Known for their confident use of colour and interesting materials to achieve bold results, Archmongers offer a fully integrated interior design service that complements the overarching architectural concept​. They collaborate closely with clients and oversee every stage from design to on-site construction to completion. 

The practice’s designs are joyous to look at yet practical and built to last. They utilise hardwearing materials to create uplifting and playful spaces. Archmongers have been nominated for many prestigious awards including Don’t Move, Improve, Dezeen and AJ Small Projects.

With an impressive client list including names such as Anish Kapoor and Arup, Gianni Botsford Architects is a small and agile firm who are based in London but undertake the design and supervision of residential and commercial projects across the globe.

The practice works closely with clients to ensure their designs meet the client’s individual needs. They say “if an art gallery, the contents must be visible; if a house, the rooms must be liveable; if a whole village, it should be where people would want to live.”

Gianni Botsford Architects are skilled and experienced in using creative solutions to make the most of any site and maximise light and space whilst executing original and beautiful buildings. You might recognise some of their striking former projects such as the multi-award-winning ‘House in a Garden’ in Notting Hill with its sculptural timber roof.