YNOTT Interiors have been shortlisted for Residential Property Value Over £5 Million Award & Interior Design Scheme – UK Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021. Read more about Director, Lisa Nott, below:

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Name: Lisa Nott
Company: YNOTT Interiors
Position within company: Director
Website: www.ynottinteriors.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:
My first design role was actually at the age of 8. My aunt ran a high end Antique business and she acquired a beautiful turn of the century traditional dolls house which she felt would be best “dressed” in the window. She allowed me to shop with her for all the furnishings and my mother, who was a tailor by trade, made all the little curtains for the windows. I loved it and my interest in furnishing property probably started that far back.

In adult life, I started my working career in corporate software sales and marketing but moved home regularly, each time garnering praise from my friends and family who would visit and say “You really need to give up sales and do interiors, you are a natural”. When I had my children in my late 30’s I decided to give up the big career and big money, to follow my heart so re-trained in Interior Design when my children were babies some 18 years ago. I am now running my own business out of Sunningdale with an amazing team, have never looked back and love it.

How would you describe your personal design style?
I would say my style is “comfortable class” i.e. it looks high end, classy and impressionable but mixed with comfort too. Nobody wants a house that looks like a Show Home with everything in its right place and stunning by impression, but you can’t actually kick off your shoes, put your feet up and relax. Designs must also consider your lifestyle and provide a sanctuary.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
My design inspiration often comes from a single item that a client holds dear for example a painting or an armchair etc. When I bought first ever home, I had fallen in love with a lamp in a shop window in Brighton. I bought it and it became the centre of my style, colour and theme for my living room. I try to do the same with clients. Work out from what they already love, what gives them inspiration or holds a fond memory or moment in time for them.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general
sense?
I think design is moving increasingly towards “naturals”. Being colours, fabrics, textures. Wallpapers that reflect linens, fabrics that are natural i.e. 100% cotton. As we become more educated about our diet, lifestyles etc and make change for going “organic, wholesome, natural” so we are seeing a shift towards clients asking for Natural products, up-cycling old furniture, non toxic paints etc.

Name some key themes to consider when approaching design in 2021 and
beyond.

1. Nature and bringing the outside in. This is especially important in smaller residential and commercial spaces with little / no outdoor space.
2. The increase in multifunctional homes. Homes now have to serve as work spaces, schools, gyms etc, and designing with these additional functions in mind is critical.
3. The environmental impact of the products we are putting into a home. This can even go as far as the quality of the paint we are putting on the walls.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes,
what would it be?
Be brave! Step outside your comfort zone. Do something you have never considered before. Move away from the safe Magnolias, what you think your friends will like, things you have always known and loved. Make change. This is where the expertise of an Interior Designer can truly help.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
As a nation, we are all naturally influenced “visually” more than verbally. Everyday we make choices based on what we “see” before what we hear. Interior Design is a very visual service and our clients like to feel that our designs are recognised as high quality and recognised as such by industry experts. This award helps to support all Interior Designers, particularly the smaller ones, to “visually” demonstrate that they have been recognised as being outstanding in what they do. This recognition would help us to promote ourselves and grow further.

What projects are you currently working on?
We are currently working on some exciting projects in across Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey. Locally we are currently designing the interiors of a Village Estate Agent who want to be seen as “different” in their style of marketing and selling property. We will be reflecting that by installing interiors that are so different from any other estate agent. A mix of “Boutique Hotel meets Crazy Bear restaurant”. We are also working with an American client in Hampshire, creating an outdoor office/den for him to work from and escape too for solitude from a busy household. Mural painted walls, exposed bricks, concrete kitchen work tops, leather, real oak and mosaic tiles are being mixed within the kitchen, office and bathroom to create a strong theme, with bold colours but in keeping with his cultural background. Currently we are working on 11 projects across the home counties.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
One of my favourite projects was a large house in Taplow that had to be designed for an overseas buyer based in Dubai. Other than embracing their cultural and religious preferences, we pretty much had a free reign. We never ever met the client either before, during or after the project but dealt entirely with their male PA who flew back and forth to meet with us throughout. The budget was high, the brief to accommodate a family of 4 with 15 staff, complex and logistics not always easy. However it was a huge success and they were thoroughly overwhelmed with the results.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
We have had a few challenging projects over the years. Usually those with
developers who have left almost zero budget or time to complete the interior design of a project. We had a developer ask us to help them prepare a show apartment for which they had zero budget allocated and only 3 weeks from the first phone call to launch day. We managed it and the results were staggering….4 out of 6 apartments sold in first week, at full asking prices giving them a net return of £2.5m sales.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
Google is a great source for discovering a new supplier. We have hundreds of product partners we work with of course, but when you want something unusual or unique, then Google is a great starting point to discover something or someone new to work with. Recently we have searched for Resin River table manufacturers and Tucan wall-lights.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
During the last twelve months we have exceeded our goals. At the start of the pandemic, my business goal was to “survive”. The contrary we have positively “thrived”. We have expanded in ways we couldn’t of possibly imagined. We have taken on more staff, new offices, doubled our revenue and increased our followers. We aim to continue with this during the next twelve months too. However I would have to say to be specific it would have to include a) giving an apprentice the opportunity to work with us b) win another commercial project ie coffee shop or bar c) win an award such as The International Design & Architecture award. It would really help our profile.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession?
My mum died very recently, so currently my most treasured possession is my mums PJ’s which are under my pillow and I find great comfort from. Daft I know….but its true. Long term its been my grandmothers wedding ring. We were very close.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Caribbean. But in particular I loved the Cayman Islands.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
My favourite hotel has got to be Sandy Lane in Barbados or any small quirky boutique hotels which are not the “norm” i.e. The Pig on the Beach. Restaurants – I love Asian/Fusion so somewhere like Sushi Samba is one I don’t visit often, but love. Bar anyone that does fabulous cocktails. I love the drama and theatre of an Alchemist bar.

Your favourite book, film & song?
Book would be both a business related one like Impossible to Inevitable or for pleasure any thriller. Film has got to be Love Actually. Cant beat a classic chick flick that I can watch over and over but never tire of it. Song, anything by George Michael who I loved, particularly Jesus to a Child.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
With my kids and dog on a beach.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I would love to be a singer, but have a terrible voice so that’s a definite no. I’m passionate about food and entertaining so I guess it would be as a restauranteur. I used to own a small catering company but the hours were very unsociable when I had small children, however sitting at the high end and owning restaurants, designing the interiors and the menus for diners to enjoy would be fabulous.

Anything else interesting?
I guess people find it nice to hear how our business name of YNOTT came about. A client suggested it. He said I was so accommodating I was forever saying “Why not” in answer to their query be it designing their house or catering for their private functions. Of course as a “play on my name” it worked well and indeed his PA (who I liaised with some 18 years ago) on one of my first Interior Design projects, is now our office manager AND we sit in the very same office as she once resided with her boss, ie my first ever client.

YNOTT Interiors have been shortlisted in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021.