The Hill august 2012 - Sophie Paterson Interiors

homes+gardens
This month...
Take inspiration from interior designer
Sophie Paterson’s chic Kensington
home (pictured) and embrace summer
with Jacky Parker’s pick of fabulous
interiors adorned with birds and
butterflies. Plus our garden expert David
Lewis selects gold, silver and bronze
flowers and foliage ready for autumn.
August 2012 | The Hill 25

homes+gardens
Design
destination
Sophie Paterson’s route into interior
design wasn’t a typical one but her
creative flair was there from an early
age, discovers Jacky Parker
Left: Sophie
Paterson
Above: Sophie
created this
stylish study for
her husband
When an eight year old child requests designer
towels for her birthday, there’s a clue to which
path she might later take career-wise, but it wasn’t
so straightforward for interior designer Sophie
Paterson. “My family are quite academic, so they
weren’t that encouraging about me going into a
creative industry,” explains Sophie. “One of my
sisters studied law and the other science, so I chose
business and Spanish at Bath University.”
Hailed as a ‘rising star’ by interior design bible
IDFX and ‘one to watch’ by Kelly Hoppen, the
talented 28 year old has already turned her hand to
sophisticated townhouses, plush beach apartments
and luxury offices. She’s even written a book, Style &
Glamour, filled with her top tips.
As a child Sophie’s family often upped sticks,
due to her mother’s spontaneous spirit and she
remembers: “I loved arranging my new bedroom
each time we moved and drove my mum mad
wanting to choose paint colours.” The designer
cites her Aunt Christina as the main influence on
26 The Hill | August 2012

her passion for interiors though, adding: “She was
always so glamorous. Her home smelt lovely and
there was always something delicious cooking. I’m
not even sure how stylish it was looking back, I just
remember the feeling.” Yet despite the early signs
and subsequent acclaim, Sophie’s path to the design
world took an unorthodox route.
After a post-graduation stint working in logistics
at a Spanish newspaper in Madrid and with her
design dreams largely forgotten, Sophie returned
to London and landed a job at an up-market Surrey
restaurant group. “I was managing the private events,
but there was a lot of organisation and superficial
decorating involved which I really got a taste for,”
explains Sophie. Then the group opened another
restaurant, and without a designer on board , Sophie
took charge. “I absolutely loved having a creative
input and it was a great opportunity to see if it was
something I could pursue,” she says.
When the project came in, not only looking
beautiful, but on time and within budget, Sophie
knew her childhood ambition was in sight.
A chance encounter then led events to take off,
when Sophie’s husband had a builder round to
quote for some work. Whilst there, the ‘builder’
admired the chic décor in their home. It transpired
he was actually a property developer and recognised
Sophie’s husband from university days. “He was
renovating a house nearby and he asked me if I’d
work with him on the design,” says Sophie. The
project was a 4000 square foot townhouse in South
Kensington with no brief and no budget – a dream
scenario for any designer.
Sophie brushed up on technical skills with courses
at KLC, and learnt ‘on the job’. “I learnt from the
best,” she says. “It was just before the housing crash
and there were no constraints. That project launched
my career.” So in 2008, aged just 24, Sophie Paterson
Interiors was born.
Keen to show their handiwork, the developer
invited his peers to see the property and Sophie
discovered it had sold for more than any other ›››
Above: Sophie’s
garden has hard
wearing furniture
by Gloster and
cushions from
H&M; The guest
bedroom has
a masculine,
classic interior;
Sophie created
her perfect
kitchen
August 2012 | The Hill 27

I’ve got a dog, people drink red
wine and accidents happen. It’s
more about creating a home you
can enjoy being in, rather than
somewhere that’s too pristine
Above:
The lounge
is Sophie’s
favourite room
in the house.
She redesigned
the lighting,
added new grey
oak floorboards
and completely
redecorated and
rewired the room
for surround
sound movie
nights
house on the road. “There was no skimping,
everything was the best quality and it looked like
a home rather than a development,” she says of its
success. Work from other developers and private
clients soon rolled in.
Craftsmanship and attention to detail are areas
Sophie prides herself on and she works with a highly
skilled team. “We do a lot of bespoke joinery and I’m
always analysing the detail and looking at how we
can exceed expectations,” she says.
Her style is classic-contemporary with a hint of
glamour; everything feels super-chic and exudes a
calm, understated luxe. She seeks out unique pieces
from Paris and New York, as well as sumptuous
fabrics and fittings from premium brands in nearby
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre and around the UK.
“Textures are important to me,” says Sophie. “I love
velvets, silks, linens and suede. Layering them brings
out their properties.” Yet she’s not precious about
these luxurious pieces. “I’ve got a dog, people drink
red wine and accidents happen. It’s more about
creating a home you can enjoy being in, rather than
somewhere that’s too pristine.”
Although in her element creating an interior
from scratch, Sophie likes to include her client’s
belongings: a piece of art or favourite chair. “People
are often prepared to throw out their existing
furniture but I always try to combine some chosen
pieces so there is a connection and history to them,”
she explains.
This is evident in Sophie’s own South Kensington
home. Having acquired furniture from her husband’s
bachelor pad, she selected key pieces to work
around. “Everything was quite masculine, mostly
dark or black” she explains. “I chose a black Minotti
pony-skin armchair to set the scene in the sitting
room and lightened the walls, floors and curtains,
but made sure cushions and other accessories had a
black trim or pattern to tie it together.”
She did this throughout the space and the end
result is a perfect balance between masculine and
feminine. “I like to create an interior that reflects
the people who live there,” she says. “It’s such an
honour when someone puts their faith in you to
create their home, you want to make sure they’ll
love it.” }
Style & Glamour is on sale now, £39.99
All proceeds from the book are being donated
to the Mayhew Animal Home.
sophiepatersoninteriors.com
28 The Hill | August 2012