Design seems to be circling at the moment picking up accents of past design classics. Mid century design has reared its slightly less than comfortable head, but already we are seeing elements of comfort blending to introduce a possible longevity to this style. I believe it is these influences which have evolved the modern-classic design combinations we have been enjoying over recent years .I feel this year we will see a timeless combination developed by our more intuitive designers.

Increasingly, influences in interior design derive from developments in fashion and elements seen on the catwalk are transferring neatly to interiors. Fabrics and textures such as tartan, shearling, animal skins and leather finishes grace the catwalks and are making their way into interiors soon to be a key current trend.

In the UK we are expanding our commercial side and are currently working on a Knightsbridge night club, a central London hotel and launching S&M Interiors, a collaboration between Meg Mathews and myself. We have developed a collection of wallpapers, furniture and soft furnishings for Liberty of London. There are a number of jobs in South Africa starting in the next two months as well as 10 further residential projects in and around London.

It has been an extremely busy year and we have grown because of it. First and foremost I have had to learn to delegate. I admit I have control issues and the integrity of my style and vision often steps in front of financial considerations. However, through delegating the right things to the right people I have been able to concentrate on the design aspect, although I continue to check everything before it leaves my office!

My life at the moment revolves around work and the fact that my wife is also involved in design and is extremely supportive helps immeasurably. My day begins at 7.30am on the exercise bike, where I read through my emails, followed by 35-40 minutes of weights or martial arts and then I’m off to office to brief the troops. I like to work in cycles so I don't waste time travelling so I’ll often stop off at project sites on my way. As Bruce Lee said 'time is the most precious thing we have as it's the only thing we have a limitation on'.

A Quooker tap is a must in every new kitchen and mirror TV’s, due to developments in technology, are set to hugely improve the aesthetics of many bespoke interiors. Furniture by Cochrane Design has a number of beautiful frames and mirrors which lend nicely to this. His and hers bathrooms are imperative to keeping a marriage together as are his and her dressing rooms. Lastly, with the desire for hotel inspired living increasingly prevalent we have begun to incorporate mini bars into our master suites.

Wallpaper is certainly on the rise. Meg and I have designed some interesting papers for S&M Interiors; the response has been tremendous and we haven't even finished the first sample book yet.

Like all things you need strong foundations, so start with the basics and make sure you build a strong scheme. It is important to remember that interior design is the pragmatic application of good ideas.

Awards are a great PR opportunity and designers gain respect among their peers; it’s wonderful to have the appraisal of others, especially those who you yourself admire. The exposure opens doors to a greater client base and most importantly instils in the client a great confidence in their designer.

Not my strong point! I train, practice martial arts and spend time with family.

We will continue to evolve what we started in 2011. We are dealing with some overseas projects and hope to expand our representation in other countries further. Alongside this I will be launching Furniture by Cochrane Design and S&M Interiors and trying not to keel over!

Luckily I possess an enormous amount of energy. In addition to work I train 5-6 days a week and practice a number of different martial arts. As I travel quite bit I visit a lot of hotels and restaurants, it’s a real advantage for as it ensures a constant source of inspiration; although I live in London I often stay at hotels and love to eat at the Wolseley and Claridges. There are a lot of hotels I love particular favourites are The Mandarin in Bangkok, The Mount Nelson in Capetown, The Shore Club in Miami and Stoke Park in the English countryside. I have lived in South Africa, Milan, Miami and Sydney and have travelled widely; this has significantly influenced my design and interest in interiors.