My Favourite Interior Designers!

As an interior designer in Bristol, I’m always asked where I find inspiration - and while travel, nature and the beautiful homes I have the privilege of working in play a huge part, I also draw so much creativity from the work of other designers around the world.

There’s something wonderful about seeing how different people interpret space, materials and storytelling through interiors, especially when it feels authentic and timeless. Today, I thought I’d share a few of the designers whose work I return to time and again.

Arent & Pyke (Australia)

Based in Sydney, Arent & Pyke are masters of creating interiors that feel joyful, layered and full of character. Their spaces often blend relaxed Australian elegance with a playful use of colour and texture, while still feeling grown-up and refined.

I first discovered them while living in Sydney for a year and became a little obsessed with their work. What I love is how they manage to mix contemporary pieces with antiques and art in a way that feels entirely effortless. It’s a brilliant reminder that good design should never be too serious - it should make you smile.

https://arentpyke.com/

Kelly Wearstler (USA)

It’s impossible to talk about influential designers without mentioning Kelly Wearstler. Known for her bold, glamorous, and often unexpected interiors, Kelly’s work is fearless. Her ability to mix scale, pattern, and sculptural furniture creates spaces that feel like modern works of art.

While her style is much braver and more dramatic than my own pared-back, timeless aesthetic here at Khaya Studio, I find her confidence and eye for detail incredibly inspiring. It’s a wonderful example of how interiors can push boundaries and still feel utterly beautiful.

https://www.kellywearstler.com/

Beata Heuman (Sweden/UK)

Originally from Sweden and now based in London, Beata Heuman creates interiors that are whimsical, characterful and deeply personal. Her designs are full of clever details, custom furniture, and unexpected pops of colour and pattern.

I admire how her work always feels individual to the client and home, never formulaic. There’s a joyful, slightly nostalgic quality to her interiors that I find so appealing - proof that great design is about personality and storytelling as much as aesthetics.

https://beataheuman.com/

Why Looking to Other Designers Matters

Even as a Bristol interiors expert, it’s so important to keep looking beyond your own projects for inspiration. By exploring how designers in different parts of the world approach space, heritage and materials, I’m constantly refining my own style and bringing fresh ideas to my clients’ homes.

At Khaya Studio, my goal is always to create interiors that feel elegant, considered and timeless - layered with personal details and thoughtful choices that reflect the people who live there. While trends will come and go, beautifully designed, soulful homes are forever.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a local interior designer in Bristol who’s inspired by some of the best names in international design - but always tailors interiors to suit you, your home, and your lifestyle - I’d love to hear from you.

Whether you’re planning a room refresh or a full-scale renovation, let’s create something beautifully personal, with just the right touch of timeless elegance.