Name: Elliot James Barratt
Company: Elliot James
Position within company: Founder / CEO
Website: www.elliotjames.com

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
Originally trained in Furniture design and then Interior Architecture. I have been designing since I was a boy. Growing up in a house with an engineer for a father who built our family home and a mother who has always been an interior design enthusiast my brother and I grew up running cables and helping with the plumbing whilst also appreciating paint charts and being surrounded by fabric samples. It was inevitable I was going to go into the creative industries.

How would you describe your personal design style?
I would call it eclectic contemporary. I love clean, timeless interiors with period features and an eclectic mix of pieces and furniture that all tell a story. 

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Like so many, it comes from travel and my surroundings. I like to take influences from diverse and sometimes obscure sectors that give inspiration or offer a change of perspective that one can then apply to a design.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
I have felt for some time that the lines between architecture, interiors, furniture and art are becoming more and more blurred. I love that the term luxury which could be seen by some as materialistic and indulgent is becoming reinvented for personal interpretation; one persons luxury could be simplicity, space, isolation whilst someone else’s could be inclusion, family andentertainment… I believe people are focusing on personalisation and wellbeing.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
Wellbeing, personalisation, connectivity, integration, refinement 

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Fashion is for the now. Style is forever. Ask yourself will it still look good in 5-10 years?

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
I think the fact that IDAs are judged by the industry signify their quality and authenticity, and are an endorsement for all that is good about our industry. We are proud to be shortlisted and judged by our friends and peers.

What projects are you currently working on?
We have a number of projects we are working on right now from London City apartments, to detached 7 bedroom homes in the home counties, luxury family-offices in Singapore and beach side homes in Asia. We are very lucky to have such diverse clientele.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
It is hard to pick one. The best projects we work on are those where the trust and ambition of an open-minded client allows for more creativity and the use of truly unique materials … When the client believes in your vision, your creativity has more freedom to explore possibilities.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
The project that has been shortlisted had its challenges mainly because a month into breaking ground we hit a global pandemic that meant we had to completely change the way we worked.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
We work with some amazing products but for me lighting and sound is what brings a space to life. Poor lighting can ruin the very best of designs and well-placed integrated speakers can set a mood throughout a home that creates a truly magical experience.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Our goals are for continued growth and collaboration. We have recently opened our London studio and have a growing number of clients in Europe alongside those in Asia. Covid has actually been a huge help as video conferencing and working remotely has become much more acceptable opening new doors to the studio.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Your most treasured possession? Corny but my wife and children? (Am i allowed to say they’re my possessions?!)
Your favourite holiday destination? I love Finland for the cold, Bali for the sun, Florence for the food and wine, Scotland for the wilderness and landscape
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Raffles Singapore would have to be up there. Favourite bar would have to be Spargos and Restaurant would have to be The Cut by Wolfgang Puck
Your favourite book, film & song? Book: Sapiens – Amazing to understand why we are where we are. Film: Most films by Christopher Nolan Song: Take Five – Dave Brubeck

Your favourite food and drink?
Food: Italian Drink: Red wine

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
With family, or immersed in nature whilst doing my best to make the hard game of golf even harder!

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Still an entrepreneur. I love creating, building and learning something new every day.