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David Collins Studio

David Collins Studio

In Profile: Lewis Taylor, David Collins Studio

David Collins Studio have been shortlisted for Hotel Design – Europe Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2023. Read more about Design Director, Lewis Taylor, below:


David Collins Studio

Name: Lewis Taylor
Company: David Collins Studio
Position within company: Design Director
Website: www.davidcollins.studio

Tell us a little about your background in design:
I have a BA in Product and Furniture Design from DeMontfort University, and an MA in Product Design from Royal College of Art. I have worked at David Collins Studio for over 15 years.

How would you describe your personal interior design style?
Practical, layered, calm and comfortable.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
All around and from many sources, including art, fashion, food and architecture. I would say mostly from travel (which has been a little difficult over the past 12 months!), but even travel around the UK is very inspiring. At David Collins Studio we are lucky to design spaces all around the globe so travelling to see these projects is a real source of inspiration for me.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
With the pandemic and the blurring of home and office life, I think that residential design will see more flexible and adaptable spaces within the home that can allow for working environments that don’t overtake your living space and can be closed off to maintain some division between home and work. In hospitality I also think we will see a lot more consideration for outdoor dining spaces and how these can comfortably operate throughout the year.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2023 and beyond.
I think it’s difficult to pick any particular themes in terms of trends as that is something as a studio we will always avoid, but with all of our projects there is careful consideration in terms of the customer experience-from the very first touch point to the end of the journey. Contextualisation of the project-in terms of the building, the location and its surrounding. Operational efficiency – how the space operators from both a guest perspective and the staff perspective. I think all these together help to ensure the longevity of a project and in hand the sustainability of a project too.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
Always put yourself in the shoes of the user, whether for residential design, hospitality design or retail. Whatever the type of space you are designing, always consider how the space will be used. Take yourself through how you move around and use the space throughout the duration of your stay. From first touch point and the experience of revealing the interior, all the way through to leaving the space.

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
To be recognised on such an international platform would be amazing and we are very proud to be entering the awards with a project for a new client and in a new region. Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel is our first project for Anantara and our first in Nice.

What projects are you currently working on?
David Collins Studio is working on several large hotel projects in the UK and internationally, and we continue to work with prestigious Luxury British brands such as Harrods and Cunard. We have such a broad mix of project types with retail, hospitality, maritime, private residential and commercial residential projects all being worked on simultaneously in the studio. It is this mix of projects which keeps the Studio so energised and an exciting place to be a part of.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
The recently completed Harrods food halls are one of my many favourites. Four food halls all with different architecture and product offers but that still sit together so well and really complement each other. The Dining hall with its 7 food outlets is one of the most heavily decorated and protected historic rooms in London, so it was a real privilege to work in such a space.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
Retail projects are always slightly more challenging to work on due to the fast-paced nature of the industry and the strict requirements on design and budget. These challenging restraints mean that you must think about design and details from a more strategic and innovative point of view – something that is also very rewarding too.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
We are lucky to have an amazing library of auction catalogues in the studio which offer so much inspiration. There are so many one-off pieces and one unique imagery spreading over art, furniture, ceramic and textiles that you won’t find on the internet.  

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
We are completing some exceptional projects over the next twelve months, so alongside the concept generation of several new projects, we will get to finally see some incredible new openings. The new ship for Cunard, Queen Anne, will be launching early in 2024 so we will be inspecting and finalising several areas of our spaces on board. The new Café de Paris restaurant in Monaco, signature restaurants in Chicago, several areas in Harrods covering F&B and retail, Hotels in North America, lots of exciting projects resulting from many years of work and effort from myself and the design team. So one of my aims will be to ensure that we deliver these final stages successfully and also to ensure we celebrate their completion too.

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

Your most treasured possession?

A walnut and leather Sergio Rodriguez lounge chair.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Sri Lanka. We went a few years ago with our two boys and travelled around the island, which was full of incredible scenery, food and the friendliest people.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

Hotel – The Upper House, Hong Kong. The location and views over the harbour and into the rainforest.

Restaurant – Brasserie Zedel. Always feels glamorous and great atmosphere.

Bar – Velvet at Corinthia London. Another David Collins Studio design, with unique cocktails by Salvatore Calebrese and live music.

Your favourite book, film & song?

Book – Just Kids by Patti Smith

Film – Jurassic Park

Song – Fortune by Laura Marling

Your favourite food and drink?
My first drink is nearly always a Negroni, and my favourite food is pizza.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Walking along the South bank of the Thames from London Bridge to Westminster Bridge.

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

I’d be a joiner or carpenter. I used to make furniture after finishing my masters so would do this if I wasn’t a designer!

David Collins Studio


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