Name: Lucy Clarke & Katie Singleton
Company: Olive Design Studio Ltd
Position within company: Co-Founders
Website: www.theolivedesignstudio.com
. Tell us a little about your background (education, experience, etc)
Lucy is an Art History graduate with a London interior design diploma and more than eight years’ experience working for some of London’s top Interior Design Practices. Prior to setting up Olive Design Studio, Lucy’s experience includes working on the refurbishment and renovation of The Connaught Hotel bedrooms and corridors, Villas in Geneva, a ski chalet in Verbier, apartments in Eaton Square and Cannes, family residences in Knightsbridge, Pimlico and Wandsworth to name but a few.
Katie is a Media Production Graduate with a London interior design diploma and more than eight years’ experience working for some of London’s top Interior Design practices. Prior to setting up Olive Design Studio, Katie’s experience includes working on the refurbishment and renovation of family residences in Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Chelsea, a number of large country estates in Surrey, an apartment in Cannes and a large commercial boutique in Qatar.
. How would you describe your own personal style?
Katie’s love of travelling coupled with her very English and City roots are at the heart of her design style. She creates quirky, individual yet timeless interiors tailored to her clients’ needs.
Lucy is passionate about creating interiors of timeless elegance, mixing the old with the new, introducing an eclectic mix of antiques and artwork whilst using her unique sense of history to ensure that maintaining the period integrity of the property is always at the heart of the process.
. Where does your inspiration come from?
Travelling, pinterest, magazines, nature, bespoke artisans, sculpture, artists and visiting the latest exhibitions whether it be PAD, Freize or Masterpiece.
. In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Being innovative with products creating bespoke interiors
. Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2015 and beyond.
Quality & Reputation
Timeless
Netural
Understated
Points of interest
. If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to development projects, what would it be?
Ensure money is invested on the infrastructure of the build working with a tight and trusted team
. How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
We are a young, dynamic new generation studio so it is vital to enter prestigious awards to gain recongition and respect not only in the Interior Design industry but good PR for future clients to acknowledge
. What projects are you currently working on?
We are working on a 7,000 sq ft development in Wimbledon Village, A family home in Parson’s Green, Apartments in Chelsea and Cadogan Gardens, Grade II Listed Cottage in Surrey and a commerical breakout space in Mayfair
. What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
To grow our team, win lots of awards and continue to create designs that suit our ever evolving client base
. Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself
Your most treasured possession?
Katie: Mobile Phone
Lucy: Mac book pro
Your favourite holiday destination?
Katie: South of France, Hotel La Pinede Plage in Lacroix
Lucy: South of France, St Tropez old town
Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar?
Katie: Puente Romana Hotel, Eight over Eight, Blue Bar Berkley
Lucy: The Connaught Hotel, The Trout, Oxford and Soho House
Your favourite book / film / song?
Katie: Film – Life as a House or Horse whisper. Book – Captain Corelli’s manderin. Song – Sam Cook wonderful world.
Lucy: Book- Classic Pride & Predudice, Song-Fireworks Katie Perry (my first wedding dance… don’t ask). Film- Shawshank Redemption
Your favourite food and drink?
Katie: Seafood and champange
Lucy: Nothing beats a classic roast on a Sunday afternoon with a glass of Merlot.
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? (in no more than 25 words)
Katie: Exploring London
Lucy: Walking my black labrador Welly in the Surrey countryside with my husband including country pub pit stops.
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Katie: TV presenter!
Lucy: Working with animals