Interview: Hurst & Gillanders

Creating beautiful interiors with HURST + GILLANDERS

Tell us a little about the background to Hurst + Gillanders, how did you get started?

Together, we have interior design experience of more than 40 years. Emma has worked across three continents on retail and residential projects. Tamsin has focussed primarily on residential projects and property development. We met on the school run and quickly realised that we share a passion for good design. We’ve been very busy in South West London ever since. We are convinced that everyone’s home should be individual and bespoke, whatever the budget.

For those who haven’t appointed an interiors specialist in the past can you talk us through your process?

We work on everything from schemes for small rooms through to whole house renovations and project management. All projects are different and, depending on what stage we get involved, our approach will differ. People often have a misconception about what our job entails. It’s about much more than colours and fabrics! We help the client make informed decisions and offer a full service dealing with all aspects of a project, starting with drafting the floor plans through to dealing with builders’ queries and the chasing of deliveries. We always work closely with our clients in order to discover more about them, their budget and time constraints and design style. Each project is client driven but we are not afraid to guide clients to something new.

Almost every space we design ends up becoming a favourite. Last year we finished a house on Richmond Hill. Our clients had previously lived on the top floor of the house and had gradually acquired the lower levels. The house was converted back to its original townhouse design, with the addition of rear and side extensions. In moving the clients’ living areas to the ground and first floors, we had to ensure that they didn’t lose the sense of light and space that they had previously enjoyed, whilst making sure that the whole house worked hard for them. We combined traditional and modern finishes to create a sympathetic and individual interior.

Do you have an in-house style you are known for or is every project unique?

We work hard not to have a signature look and like to feel we meet the needs of each and every client on an individual basis. Some clients have ambitious ideas and are seeking a complete overhaul, whereas others want a more simple project to freshen things up. With so many ideas out there to draw inspiration from, we find our clients are often looking for help to be brave with colour and finish. All of our clients are looking for relaxed living and a space that can adapt to their needs.

What trends have you seen in the Richmond area over the last 5 years?

We have seen a trend away from open plan living spaces towards more intimate spaces, whilst retaining a focus on connecting with the outside. We have also found that recently our clients are braver with colour, finishes and materials. Since March 2020, many clients have spent a lot more time in and around their homes and many have reappraised what they want their houses to be. They have had time to think about the way they want their homes to feel and look. Generally, homes are having to work much harder than they did in the past and we’ve seen a lot of home offices and gyms! It’s important to remember however that one’s home is still a place for rest and relaxation.

Finally, a word of encouragement for anyone hesitating to get in touch?

We offer a free initial consultation for anyone that is unsure about what they are looking for. We can discuss with you how to use our services in a way that works for you and is within your budget. We enjoy new challenges so, if you are struggling with a difficult space, please do drop us a line.

www.hurstgillanders.co.uk Phone: Tamsin 07734 753423 Email: hurstgillanders@gmail.com