Name: Stephanie Hill
 Company: Trombe Ltd
 Position within company: Design Director – Northern Office
 Website: www.trombe.co.uk

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)

I studied Design and Italian at University and spent a year in Rome studying product design, while my UK degree was interior and spatial design with Italian language. After graduation I exhibited at New designers and started working for Trombe shortly after. I’ve been with Trombe 7 years now, and in the last year we have expanded and I am now running the northern office, but still spend a lot of time in London and all over.

How would you describe your personal interior design style?

Still waiting to find or build my dream home to release my personal style onto, currently hemmed in to rented home + furniture! But when the time comes I hope it to be a combination of simple lines, neutral tones, interesting materials with quality finishes with pops of colour throughout, from artwork and interesting pieces furniture. The key space being the Kitchen.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

All over – art, galleries, magazines, nature, people, travelling, blogs, pinterest.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

I think there is no particular trend. People have been more cautious lately and there is a big trend towards up cycling and re-designing old furniture, pieces with a story, but good, quality design always costs. There are also lots of interesting materials and products constantly evolving which is exciting, yet old traditional craftsmanship will always be popular as it has proven the test if time.
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2013 and beyond.

Simplicity -Practicality and function coupled with beauty.
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?

Know want you want. Give it time.
How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?

The IDAA has grown in credibility and we have supported it since inception and it has given credibility to our work. It is a great opportunity to see what everyone else is doing in the industry.

What projects are you currently working on?

Several townhouses in London, beach properties in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, Extension in Glasgow, and a listed Folly in Yorkshire.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

To consolidate our growth and grow our presence in the north, release our new minimal glass screens to market, work more intelligently & relax more.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself

Your most treasured possession? My Engagement Ring, family, family to be and friends.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Italy, Roma in particular or Puglia, France & South East Asia. (the list could go on…)
Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar?
Sukothai
Your favourite book / film / song?
Life is beautiful, cinema paradiso…..
Your favourite food and drink ?
Italian/Thai/French Raclette and Proesseco
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? (in no more than 25 words)
Long lunch with friends and Family, followed by a walk when home,
or up a snowy mountain with a snowboard!

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?

Any other career path I’ve considered has been linked to design in some form, jewellery, landscape, theatre…so if I couldn’t be a designer it would have to be food related! I’d love to own a good restaurant/bar/with accommodation, lost in the countryside somewhere that people would travel far and wide to come to.