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In Profile:
HBA Residential

In Profile:

HBA Residential

Shortlisted: Luxury Residence - London Award

The International Design & Architecture Awards 2025

IDA 2025
HBA Residential

Name: Katie Earl
Company Name: HBA Residential
Position Within Company: Creative Director
Website: https://www.HBA.com/

Tell us a little about your background in design:
Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by how the physical space can influence mood, behaviour, and connection. I found myself instinctively drawn to reimagining the spaces around me – experimenting with layout, atmosphere, and how subtle shifts could completely change the way a room felt. That early curiosity evolved into a deep appreciation for the way design can blend form and feeling.

How would you describe your personal design style?
An elegant, contemporary aesthetic that embodies the epitome of ultimate luxury.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
When I start planning a design, I always begin with a deep dive into the client’s vision and the purpose. It is crucial to create an environment that feels inspiring as well as comfortable. I draw inspiration directly from the client and their needs, the environment, the building and context, blending functionality with aesthetic appeal. My approach involves a lot of research, brainstorming, and sketching, ensuring each element serves a meaningful purpose.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Design that transcends trends is the real priority for me, but it’s easy to see why nature-inspired, organic design is popular, as people increasingly desire the tranquillity and connection to nature that outdoor spaces provide. I’ve always loved is the blending of vintage and contemporary styles, bringing together nostalgic charm and modern form to create enduring, personalised spaces.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future.
01. Adaptability is becoming a prerequisite in high-end design. Our clients look to create spaces that easily transform to meet shifting needs, such as the evolution of a family, hybrid work-life environments, modular furniture, and multifunctional rooms to future-proof and add value.

02. Design will continue to blend diverse cultural aesthetics, materials, and traditions, creating spaces that feel globally connected yet personally meaningful. Clients increasingly expect spaces tailored to their unique lifestyles, stories, and identities, requiring highly customised layouts, materials, and details.

03. Less is more. By layering textures, meaningful objects, and nuanced palettes we can create clean spaces that still feel rich and emotionally resonant.

04. Personal expression is becoming central to progressive interior design. Clients are no longer satisfied with safe or formulaic solutions – they want spaces that reflect their personality, values, and point of view. This might mean bold colour choices, unexpected material pairings, or statement pieces that act as conversation starters. The goal is to create interiors that feel deeply personal and unmistakably theirs, celebrating creative risks and the beauty of difference.

05. While trends come and go, there’s a growing desire for spaces that endure both aesthetically and functionally. Timeless design isn’t about being neutral or safe, it’s about making intentional choices that outlast fads. It often means investing in quality craftsmanship, classic forms, and palettes that evolve gracefully over time. The future of design lies in longevity and authenticity

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?
Design for how people feel in a space, not just how it looks. Beauty inevitably fades if a room doesn’t support comfort or connection.

HBA Residential
HBA Residential
HBA Residential
HBA Residential

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
At HBA Residential, we believe that The International Design & Architecture Awards play a pivotal role in recognising excellence, innovation, and craftsmanship in our industry. These awards celebrate not only beautiful design but also the thoughtful integration of functionality
and artistry in spaces that enhance the lives of their residents. For a project as ambitious and personal as our Avenue Road residence, entering these awards allow us to share a vision that goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about creating a luxurious yet welcoming environment that supports family life while embodying refined craftsmanship and timeless design principles. The recognition from such a prestigious platform would honour the skilled artisans, designers, and architects who meticulously crafted every element of this home, from the hand-painted silk to the custom eglomisé mirrors.

The International Design & Architecture Awards serve as a benchmark, inspiring designers worldwide to push boundaries and elevate industry standards. It is an award that we would be honoured to showcase our studio’s ambition to go beyond any specific style or trend, reflecting a commitment to timeless design that evolves with the needs and vision of our clients. We embrace a collaborative, egoless approach, working in true partnership to bring each project to life in its most authentic form.

What projects are you currently working on?
Amongst other confidential projects, I’m leading the design of a ground-breaking new-build mansion on a coveted corner plot of St. John’s Wood’s Avenue Road, a $70 million penthouse at 111 West 57th Street in New York and the studio’s first ever superyacht commission.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
A confidential one, where the bedroom was my favourite room to design. For me, it is always a personal sanctuary where one can retreat and unwind, so creating a serene and comfortable atmosphere is key. I enjoy selecting calming de saturated colour palettes and thoughtful lighting to enhance relaxation. The bedroom provides a unique opportunity to mimic on the client’s personality and create an intimate space that reflects the private personality of the client and transcends everyday life.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
One of my most challenging projects is the design of HBA Residential’s first superyacht. Unlike private residential design, where you have the luxury of space and relative stability, yacht design demands absolute precision, efficiency, and technical understanding. Every piece of furniture must be custom-built to withstand movement at sea, materials must handle moisture and salt exposure, and layouts must balance luxury with strict spatial and safety regulations. It pushed me to think differently, not just about aesthetics and comfort, but also about engineering, weight distribution, and multi-functional design.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?:
Lighting is absolutely essential, it truly shapes the mood and functionality of every space. I rely on companies like Apparatus and Niamh Barry for their elegant, totally unique, sculptural lighting that combine precision with absolute beauty. And provides my clients with the opportunity to invest in their own future design classics of these modern day artisans.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
I’ll be working closely with some of my most valued private clients, expanding their portfolios across the globe, from the Mediterranean to Miami Beach. Elsewhere, I’m excited to take branded residences to a new level by deeply integrating one particularly special brand ethos into the design, creating spaces that reflect their identity in ways never fully explored before.

Your most treasured possession?
For interiors, it has to be my vast collection of vintage Italian glassware and my Limoges dinner set from ‘Willer Gallery.’ I love to host and entertain; these pieces bring me such joy when I’m setting the table ready for my guests to arrive.

Your favourite holiday destination?
For me, it’s the vibrant energy of Miami, the beautiful beaches, and year-round sunshine. I love the modern architecture with Art Deco influences too. I love the Hispanic cultural influence and vibrant art world, it feels familial to the diversity I have been immersed in in London for the last 20 years.

Your favourite restaurant?:
Restaurant: Zephyr Notting Hill, has a very special place in my heart and if I’m more central Maison François for it’s a warm, inviting environment with a touch of glamour.

Your favourite book?
Book: Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles – I’m a true romantic and this book had me within seconds.

Your favourite food and drink?
Champagne and cake. Always and forever.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
I would hold out for the annual PAD exhibition in Mayfair’s Berkeley Square exhibition and browse all the absolute pinnacle of antiques and future classics in design. The best day of the my professional year.

If you weren’t in this sector, what would you alternative profession be?
I’d likely be a fashion designer. Both fields are deeply connected by an appreciation for aesthetics, colour, and texture, and I’ve always been fascinated by how fashion can tell a story and evoke emotion in the same way interior design does.

HBA Residential
HBA Residential

Interior Designer: HBA Residential

Architect: HBA Residential

Construction: Knowles Construction

Photography: Will Pryce

HBA Residential has been shortlisted for Luxury Residence – London Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2025.

HBA Residential
HBA Residential

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