LEIVARS have been Shortlisted for Residential Market Value £5 Million Plus Award, Luxury Residence – UK Award, Interior Design Scheme – UK Award & Residential £1-2.5 Million (Project Value) Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2022. Read more about Founder, Rebecca Leivars, below:

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Name: Rebecca Leivars

Company: LEIVARS Interiors Studio

Position within company: Founder

Website: https://leivars.com/

Tell us a little about your background in design:

I was born in the North East of England but moved to the Midlands when I was very young on the border between Derby and Nottingham.  I am very proud of my Midland roots, though I did spend a lot of my younger years and early teens living in various European countries for parts of the year due to the seasonal nature of my father’s work.

I have several years’ experience within Human Resource management and during that time I renovated many properties for fun, it was during that period my love affair for all things build and design began and in 2006 I enrolled at the prestigious KLC School of Design on an intensive one-year course.  Winning Student of the Year amongst other awards set me up well in the industry.  Upon graduating I cut my teeth in an Interiors company in London and gained a wealth of experience there which enabled me to start my own company one year later in 2007.  With over 100 projects under my belt, you learn every single day so my learning continues.

How would you describe your personal design style?

In truth, I really don’t have one. That’s the beauty of our industry you get to design such a diverse range of styles, every client is different and therefore every design we do is different as it represents them and as a direct consequence your own style changes, like the wind! One day I’m all about European contemporary, then clean lines and concrete and then something catapults me back and I’m in love with English classic and antiques, I utterly love my job for this reason as I get to enjoy every single genre of design through someone else’s eyes.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

I find inspiration in the everyday I really do, it could be on a country walk with my beloved dog Harry and seeing the texture on the bark of a tree or walking the back streets in Europe and seeing the forgotten in run down old glorious buildings crying out to be re-loved.  I notice every detail everywhere always.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

The future of design is changing, design will always be exciting as it evolves daily, as we understand how personal wellbeing affects us daily and how in turn that is factored into how and what we design.  In addition, tapping into offering clients a virtual experience will truly make design global no matter where you are in the world without having to meet face to face, changes are definitely coming and we’re embracing it!

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2022 and beyond.

Wow, just 5, okay here goes:

1. Enjoying the yesteryear but reinventing it for the here and now, such as pantry / larder design but introducing a thrawl, a typical cold meat slab of stone found in Derbyshire and Yorkshire homes decades ago, bring the yesteryear and nostalgia into the today.
2. Staying local, if the pandemic and global supply chain issues have taught us anything it’s foraging local or within the British isles to find the stunning artisan crafts and suppliers that can deliver on time and with minimum carbon footprint and if we’re working in Europe staying within that country for the same reasons, we have been utterly bowled over by being open minded during these difficult times and have stumbled upon some incredible small independent businesses who we’re now proud to support.
3. Playing with nature, we’re mixing our woods and metals and bringing nature in, taking the biophilic approach now we’re working from home more, for new builds we’re designing green spaces internally e.g. a central courtyard with a 360 aspect, our clients want balance and that’s what we’re giving them.
4. We have raised the bar with colour and clients are loving it.  We’ve seen such a resurgence in decadence and a celebration of pattern and colour combined, really bring clients individualities out.
5. Less is more. Simple design, simple and natural textures and less of the consumerism so what we are designing is being designed to last.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

There are no short cuts to anything worth designing.  Listen, take your time and do it right.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?

Hugely so, to have the nod from the industry to say you’re doing it right and your peers applaud you globally makes all the long drives, late nights and 4am alarm calls worth it, when you hear your name called out, its incredibly humbling.

What projects are you currently working on?

We are very blessed to be working on 11 projects ranging from beautiful Grade II listed Georgian Townhouses, London Victorian Villas, an Old Vicarage and a stunning Barn in Norfolk soon to start to name but a few, we really have a diverse clientele who invest in properties and as their property portfolio grows they take us with them.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?

The project we are most proud of to date… that’s a hard question, we have a few for different reasons, working on coastal homes always proves a challenge considering different materials and how they react to the moisture and various elements and how fabrics react with the extreme heat etc but if I had to select one project it would be  4 storey large Grade II listed Georgian Townhouse which we fully restored and renovated, we had minimal contact with the international clients and experienced lots of challenges with the local authority but in particular the conservation team.  Thankfully working with a great contractor and playing the long game we got across the finishing line with very happy clients who we have gone on to work for 3 further times.  Finding new and reliable trades when working overseas can be a challenge but with enough research and verifying work, nothing is insurmountable.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?

To be honest it’s hard to pin point one project, we don’t shy away from challenges and often work on Grade II listed buildings which always come with individual headaches and quirks, you take a methodical and calm approach with them and surround yourself with the right team from architects and surveyors and you work through it together leaving egos at the door, so not one sticks out that makes it any different from the rest, there is never an easy project.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?

Anything mass made, that’s been shipped for months and that is a fad of the moment I have no interest in so we always work with quality materials and quality craftsmanship and we keep our supply chain relatively small and over the years those suppliers have become industry friends and my work family, so most definitely my work family and team, with loyalty and respect anything is possible.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

To deliver on time and manage our client’s expectations, to navigate my team through the heavy workloads and deliver exceptional design for our trusting clients.  We aim to laugh and smile a lot (essential) and ultimately to get to the end of the year being more mindful of technical changes afoot globally and working more towards virtual design which helps with the carbon footprint of our business.

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

Your most treasured possession?

My beloved dog Harry, he’s with me every step and the smile that someone puts on my face.

Your favourite holiday destination?

Europe anywhere.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

I actually don’t have a favourite hotel or restaurant as I love to try new and different places and a simple fish lunch and crisp cold glass of white wine on a beach, take me anywhere and with the right company, that’s heaven!  Bar, either Claridge’s for its decadence or randomly any sticky old British pub!

Your favourite book, film & song?

This sounds dreadful, I don’t actually read, I’m a visual girl so anything with pictures in (I can’t believe I’ve just admitted to that), film and song, ask me in one year as it will take me that long, anything that someone serenades me with when they’re drunk!

Your favourite food and drink?

The hottest curry and wine depending on the season red or white and champagne any hour of the day.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?

With Harry and the man of my dreams, doing anything, you learn in life it’s the company and who you fill your hours with that matters and it’s that which you can’t get back or replicate.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?

Frustrated. I have to be connected to design, buildings or architecture in some way, I tried doing other roles and this has always called me and I have always been involved in homes, it was this or nothing, change excites me and the endless opportunities to make a difference.

Anything else interesting?

I probably shouldn’t confess!

LEIVARS

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