What aspect of running Studio Hollond brings you the most satisfaction? Are there particular projects or client interactions that stand out as highlights in your career?
The most satisfying part of running an interior design studio is the completion of a project. We take on large private residential houses and sometimes projects can last up to 2 years, so it is always the most rewarding feeling when we have moved our client into their new home and they have seen everything come to life and are happy with the work we have done. From the moment the client appoints us, we get to know them and how they live in order for us to bespoke design their homes to work perfectly for them and the lives they lead.
How has technology influenced your design process and the way you run your business? Are there any particular tools or software that have become indispensable in your workflow?
Yes, technology has been an incredible help. We do all our drawing work on the computer, so we can easily draw up furniture layouts, lighting and electrical plans and if there are any changes, it is a matter of amending the file on the computer rather than redrawing the whole thing. Another aspect where technology has been incredibly helpful is our budgeting software, EstiMac. We are normally dealing with very large sums of money and we have to order on average about 300 different items on a project, so using a software that is akin to excel and does not allow for human error. It is brilliant, and I couldn’t live without it.
What marketing strategies have proven successful in showcasing Studio Hollond’s work and attracting high-end clients? How do you leverage media, events, and online platforms to enhance your studio’s visibility?
In my industry the key to success is for magazines such as House and Garden to recognise you and feature your projects. Luckily for me, this happened this year where H&G featured a Grade II listed house I had designed in Sussex and I have got a huge amount of business from it. Here is the article if you are interested in seeing it.
For aspiring designers looking to start their own boutique studios, what key pieces of advice would you offer? What are the most important factors to consider when launching a high-end design business?
There are many critical things you need in place to set up a high end interior design company, firstly, you need some great clients, who trust you to do a great job. Secondly, you need brilliant suppliers that you can count on, for example we work with very talented curtain makers, upholsterers and so on, meaning I can trust them not to let me or my clients down.
With Studio Hollond’s product collection just launched, could you share what inspired this latest collection? How do these new pieces align with the studio’s design philosophy?
This collection, which features The Folly Chair, The Mercury Pendant, The Serpentine Table and The Duchessina, is all about scale. They are playful twists on traditional pieces, unique in design, and will breathe life into spaces that need it. I wanted to create characterful items, which perfectly align with our design philosophy. It is always rooted in classicism but there is always a mix of styles, for me this is what makes a space feel alive, a fine balance of layering.
