Helping the design process run smoothly Q&As

Tips for getting the design you want

It takes time for a designer to get to know you. Sometimes design ideas offer something new and exciting. Sometimes they are just. not what you're looking for.

 The process is evolutionary and communication is key. If you have any concerns, please talk to your designer.


Rear side of house
By Helen McClure • October 2, 2026
Discover Vann, W.D. Caröe’s remarkable Arts & Crafts house near Hambledon, Surrey, where old and new were skilfully woven together to create a historic illusion.
By Helen McClure • September 18, 2026
AI can create beautiful room visuals, but can it replace an interior designer? Discover why human expertise, experience and project management still matter.
By Helen McClure • September 11, 2026
David Cole’s Great Houses of the Arts & Crafts Movement explores 100 remarkable British homes. A personal review of Lutyens, Voysey and the wider movement.
By Helen McClure • September 11, 2026
Discover the architectural layers of Grays Court in York, one of Britain’s oldest continuously occupied houses, from Norman origins to today.
May Morris wallpaper design, birds and flowers
By Helen McClure • August 26, 2026
Discover how William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement offer a timeless alternative to fast, trend-led interiors.
Drawing of an old house
By Helen McClure • August 24, 2026
Discover the hidden history of Old Birtley, a Grade II listed Surrey house shaped by Tudor builders, working families and a Titanic connection.
Early 20th-century map of Moushill, Surrey
By Helen McClure • August 13, 2026
Discover the fascinating history of the White Lion in Moushill, Surrey, a 16th-century coaching inn linked to a notorious murder that inspired Dickens
By Helen McClure • August 13, 2026
Explore the remarkable history of Moushill Lane, from medieval manor and coaching route to a home for artists, engineers and influential figures.
Moushill Lane
By Helen McClure • August 13, 2026
Discover the history of the Moushill Stores in Milford, from a Portsmouth Road stop off to part of Charles Burgess's pioneering grocery empire
By Helen McClure • July 31, 2026
Explore Littlecroft, Edwin Lutyens' overlooked Arts & Crafts house in Guildford, its maritime influences & why research inspires better restoration