Sophie Paterson on What Luxury Really Means in Interior Design

In your own words, how would you describe Sophie Paterson Interiors?
Sophie Paterson Interiors is a luxury interior design studio specialising in timeless residential interiors. Our focus has always been on creating homes that feel elegant, comfortable and deeply personal to the people who live in them.

We work across everything from interior architecture and spatial planning through to the final styling, which means we’re able to create homes that feel really cohesive and considered. For me, great design isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about creating spaces that feel beautiful, calm and relevant for many years to come.

Why do your clients choose to work with you?
From the very beginning when I started my company, I always wanted to build really strong client relationships. At the end of the day what I’m doing is deeply personal, I’m creating a home for families. Often it’s the biggest investment people make, so I never take that responsibility lightly.

I always try to think about how we can make the process as enjoyable as possible. Of course large projects can sometimes feel stressful, but when you have a great relationship with your clients and a really collaborative approach, it can also be incredibly exciting.

Clients often tell us they appreciate how involved and supportive we are throughout the entire process, we guide them through every decision, big or small.

How do you approach your interior design projects?
Every project begins with understanding our clients, how they live day-to-day, what inspires them, and how they want their home to feel.

From there we start with the spatial planning and interior architecture before layering in materials, finishes, furniture and lighting. I often think of interiors as building layers starting with the foundations and gradually adding depth and personality.

We also collaborate very closely with architects, craftsmen and suppliers. The details are what make a project really special.

Are there any projects that you’ve enjoyed working on the most?
It’s honestly impossible to pick a favourite, every project is special in its own way. That said, I absolutely loved working with my Middle Eastern clients. By the end of the project I genuinely felt like I was part of their family because we got to know each other so well throughout the process.

I also loved learning more about their culture and understanding how that influenced the design. The entire experience was incredibly enriching for me and will always hold a really special place in my heart.

Do you have any dream projects you’d love to work on?
I’ve always thought designing a beautiful Mediterranean villa or wellness retreat would be amazing. Apart from that, I would absolutely love to design a boat one day, that would be a dream. Designing for life on the water would be such an interesting creative challenge.

What does an average day look like for you?
My days are very varied, which is one of the things I love about running the studio.

Some days I’m reviewing design schemes with the team, visiting suppliers or attending site meetings. But running a business also means wearing lots of different hats interviewing people, reviewing accounts, marketing meetings, and overseeing product design for our collaborations.

Alongside the studio I’m also running the Sophie Paterson Academy, which involves filming content, reviewing lessons and developing new material. So my role is definitely very multifaceted: creative, strategic and occasionally requires me to multi-task.

What are your top tips for a client working with an interior designer for the first time?
Firstly, think about how you actually live in your home, not how you think you should live. That’s a really important starting point. Secondly, trust the process. Good design takes time, and the most successful projects are the ones where there’s a strong collaboration between client and designer. And finally, invest in the foundations, layout, lighting and materials because those are the elements that truly shape a space.

You work on a lot of luxury homes. What does “luxury” mean to you?
Luxury isn’t necessarily about expensive materials or grand gestures. More and more I’m seeing our high net worth clients prefer the way a room feels compared to how luxurious it can look which is such an exciting position to be moving towards from a design point of view.

For me, luxury is about thoughtfulness and how a home functions for the people living in it. It might be something as simple as having somewhere to rest your drink wherever you’re sitting in the living room, or creating low-level lighting so if your partner wakes up early they can move around without waking everyone else.

In essence, luxury is about creating a home that is completely tailored to how a family actually lives day-to-day, not how they think they should live, but how they truly live.

We collaborated on our Grove bamboo collection a few years ago. It remains a best-seller for the brand and is a long-standing favourite at Armac Martin. What drew you to creating this collection?
I’ve always loved the soft, organic silhouette of bamboo. It has a wonderful way of adding elegance while also softening joinery, whether it’s used in a kitchen, wardrobe or dressing room. Bamboo is also incredibly timeless, it’s something you see referenced in both fashion and interiors, and it has a lovely sense of heritage to it. When we began developing the Grove collection, the aim was to reinterpret that classic motif in a refined, contemporary way that would work beautifully across many different styles of interiors.

What are your favourite Armac Martin finishes and why?
I’ve always loved aged brass and brushed brass finishes because they add warmth and depth to a space. However recently I’ve been completely obsessing over nickel finishes. I’ll definitely be using nickel in my new home… along with a Nelson collection piece as well of course.

What do you like most about working in interior design?
The creativity, without question. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing a project evolve from an initial concept into a finished home that people can live in and enjoy. I also love the collaborative nature of the industry, working with architects, artisans, joiners, upholsterers and so many talented specialists. It’s a wonderful mix of creativity and problem solving.