At Home by Design

Home
At Home by Design

Boutique interior design studio in Surrey Hills✨heritage specialist✨culture inspired✨colour mastery✨ A Godalming-based tailored interior design service.

I don't believe that good design is a matter of budget. If you're looking for inspiration and advice, a guiding hand to help you make the first step, you've come to the right place. If you're looking for fully-fledged project management I can help you with that too. I believe in a personal approach. At Home by Design is not a huge design house. It's a small, tailored service for people looking for interior design support and guidance. Just drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you

22/05/2026

I just wanted to say thank you to all the great craftsmen I've worked with. You often get a tricky brief to fulfill!

The client may see my sketches and drawings, but they often don't see all the hard work behind the scenes. So, thank you for your support. I couldn't do my job, without you being good at your's.

20/05/2026

Designing a small bathroom is a bit like solving a puzzle.

Every decision matters. Not just how it looks, but how it functions day-to-day for a busy family.

This project called for a luxurious, full-tile look with plenty of storage, all within a compact footprint.

What many people don’t realise is that bathroom layouts are often dictated by practical constraints behind the scenes: pipe locations, floor depths, drainage falls and wall thicknesses all influence what’s possible. And don’t get me started on joist positions!

Even something as simple as adding a recessed niche depends on a stud wall with enough depth.

The challenge is balancing these technical considerations with a space that still feels calm, and ticks the practical boxes.

In family bathrooms especially, material choices matter. Hard-wearing surfaces and practical storage will always outperform trend-led decisions that don’t stand up to everyday life.

Good bathroom design isn’t just about fitting everything in. It’s about making a small space feel effortless to use and enjoyable to live with.

18/05/2026

Interior design is not decoration. Many people think it's about choosing colours, fabrics and furniture. But good design solves problems, and should support how you live.

Each interior designer is different, so you have to find the right one for you.

Here's some insight into how I work: I start early in the planning stage to establish the context by working out how the property currently works, by investigating its history, the people who have lived in it, and its setting.

Working alongside the architect, we plan how the space will work inside and out, asking how light moves through it, how spaces connect and how the architecture, history and modern living can coexist successfully.

Particularly in period properties, thoughtful design is not simply decorative, it’s strategic.

A well-designed home should feel coherent, calm and effortless to live in. That rarely happens by accident.

In my latest blog post, I explore the real value of professional interior design and why it’s about far more than aesthetics alone.

If you’re renovating, extending or struggling to make your home feel “right”, this article may help you see your space differently.

Read: “Beyond Decoration: The Value of Professional Interior Design” via the link in bio.

13/05/2026

Soft furnishings are often treated as the final layer of a room.

But curtains, blinds, cushions and upholstery influence light, warmth, acoustics and atmosphere.

Choosing them well can completely transform a room.

To help homeowners navigate these decisions, I’ve created a comprehensive guide to choosing soft furnishings in partnership with Closs & Hamblin.

The guide includes practical advice on fabrics, window treatments and layering pattern and texture.

If you’d like a copy, send me a DM or sign up to the Design Digest newsletter via the link in bio.

11/05/2026

In case you’re new here, welcome. Here’s who we are and what we do:

At Home by Design is a Surrey Hills-based interior design studio specialising in period properties.

We create bespoke, narrative-led interiors shaped by each home’s history, architecture & setting.

Through careful research & a considered design process, we connect past & present to deliver characterful spaces that support modern living while respecting a property’s original integrity.

This approach starts at the planning stage, working closely with the client, architects & other stakeholders.

✨ We believe in:
- Architecture-led interior design rooted in clarity, flow & proportion;
- Research to understand context of architecture, setting & people;
- Respect of original character while adapting homes for modern living;
- A holistic approach combining interior design & interior architecture;
- Strategic use of colour to enhance space, mood & connection;
- Thoughtful, practical design created to last for renovations & extensions.

✨ We offer:
- Full-service interior design, from concept through to completion
- Support across residential, period and selected commercial projects

If you’d like to discuss a project, we’d love to hear from you.

06/05/2026

What’s a research day?

It’s what I do when I take a day to look around me, look at the colours, look at the shapes and learn something new.

On this day, I went to the William Morris Society, in Hammersmith, and then to the Dorich House Museum, in Kingston Vale,

If you’d like Victorian and early 20th century design, and want to find out more about what I’ve learnt, just sign up to the newsletter using the link in the bio.

04/05/2026

At first glance, as you drive past on the road, you see buttressed, gabled buildings covered in lumpy icing. It’s intriguing.

Then you find out it’s a school. A girl’s school that pushed the boundaries during the Edwardian era.

Prior’s Field School, in Godalming, started life as a house called Prior’s Garth for a Charterhouse master.

An Arts and Crafts vision shaped by architect C. F. A. Voysey. A place reimagined by Julia Huxley (Aldous Huxley’s mother) into something quietly radical for its time.

And ever since, it has continued to evolve.

Buildings extended. Spaces adapted. Layers added. Each one reflecting the needs, values and ambitions of a different moment in time.

This is what makes Prior’s Field School so compelling.

It’s not just architecture. It’s a living narrative.

In this latest journal post, I explore how history, architecture and purpose intertwine, and what this can teach us about designing homes that feel authentic and meaningful.

If you’re working with a period property, or simply want your home to feel more connected to its setting, this one’s worth a read.

Read the full story via the link in bio.

01/05/2026

Start of a new month!
Let's a quick look at how April went.

1. A visit to Killerton House: interiors shaped over time.
2. Why you shouldn't use plastic paints.
3. Colour - and how not to choose the wrong one.
4. We talked about paint - which type should you use?
5. Need soft furnishings? We launched a new free guide. Just DM us for details.
6. How to deal with tricky windows.
7. If you like before and after interior design pics, take a look at this lovely little sitting room in Haslemere.
8. Our new partnership with soft furnishing experts .

So, if you missed anything, scroll back or drop us a line.

I wonder where May will take us?!

30/04/2026

Ever wondered how interior designers get their ideas?

Or how they stay up to date with industry requirements and qualifications.

Every now and then I take a day away from the office. Here’s a little behind the scenes at my research day.

And if you want to see the results, you’ll have to sign up to our exciting design newsletter!

🔗 just head to the bio

29/04/2026

We're delighted to have been chosen as the Leading Narrative-led Heritage Interior Design Practice 2026 in the SME UK Enterprise Awards.

It's always special to be given a pat on the back and recognition for all the hard work that goes into our projects.

The SME UK Enterprise Awards celebrate businesses across the UK that demonstrate innovation, resilience and real impact, with winners selected through a merit-based process focused on performance and contribution rather than popularity.

And in case you're wondering what narrative interior design might be, it's all about storytelling.

A narrative interior is guided by a clear thread, and that's a story that informs every decision, from spatial planning to the smallest detail. It might be rooted in the history of a house, the character of its architecture, or the lives and aspirations of the people who live there.

Rather than asking “what looks good?”, we ask: "What does this home need to say?"

This approach allows us to respect a building’s original integrity while shaping it for modern living, connecting story, setting and people.

Thank you to SME News for the recognition.

And to our clients, collaborators and craftspeople - this is always a shared process.

Address

Telephone

+447971719357

Website

http://www.athomebydesign.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when At Home by Design posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to At Home by Design:

Want your business to be the top-listed Interior Service?

Country:

City: