In Profile:
Victoria Weston Interior Design

Name: Victoria Weston

Company: Victoria Weston Interior Design

Position within company: Creative Director and Founder

Website: www.victoriawestoninteriors.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:
University of Greenwich, First Class Honours in Business Studies.  14 years leading global Human Resource teams for a FTSE100 company whilst carving out my design business in the background.  One big leap of faith and we now have a busy design studio and retail shop spanning 10 years working in the luxury residential market.  We started in a showhouse set up before moving to dedicated retail space within our first two years.  Having outgrown multiple locations during this time, we have a great setup with a design studio and separate retail offering across the road from each other.  We thrive on timeless interiors with a classic and contemporary edge offering turnkey design solutions.  We have dedicated furniture artisans in the UK to cater for our bespoke designs.

How would you describe your personal design style?
Classic and contemporary.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Travel plays a large influence in our design led interiors.  We are keen to incorporate our client’s personal journeys and blend them into timeless interiors.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Whilst we work within the luxury residential market creating homes that are perfectly tailored, we are seeing a change whereby interiors are being more pared back and simplified whilst still incorporating custom and bespoke finishes.  We are also as a studio very aware of ensuring a sustainable balance to our designs and mindful of using more robust and sustainable products and finishes.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2024 and beyond.
1). Sustainability in both design outcomes and finishes. 2). Indoor/outdoor conversion of interiors. 3). Inclusion of more green by way of plants.  They had both great depth and serenity to a space. 4). Natural light as we are all keen to reduce our carbon footprint together with a more harmonious and natural environment. 5). Inclusion of more natural finishes including stones and wood.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Always ensure the design is practical for the end user and ensure all colour palettes have been checked on site as lights vary between our studio/suppliers studios and showrooms. Its critical to ensure the palette still works in the location that it is intended.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
They are extremely important to enable industry recognition and celebration across all sectors and company sizes.  They have enabled collaboration and networking that might otherwise not have evolved owing to preconceived ideas/opinions. They have created a community and continue to do so.  They allow individuals and teams to demonstrate their creative flare and design to embrace not only change but enable distinctive styles to be applied without negative judgment.  They have ensured that we embrace our fellow designers and trades across the industry to support and guide each other.  We are working in a tricky industry and the celebration of others work and efforts should be celebrated.  This is the perfect platform for respect and recognition.

What projects are you currently working on?
We have a number or full house renovations ranging from 5,000-10,000 square foot, multiple extension projects and a new 14,000 square foot new build commencing at the end of the year.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
This is a difficult one as a lot of the project itself comes down to the great relationships we are able to create with our clients.  Projects take time, multiple months and years and we grow together.  A large home renovation project that enabled significant plans for multigenerational living was deeply touching and incredibly rewarding to see the future proofing that was created.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
Difficulty comes with change and unknowns.  We were faced with dealing with a clients own chosen builder, unknown to us.  They had a different style and method and unfortunately were not very well versed in luxury turnkey projects.  Delays came owing to them subcontracting key works for plumbing and electrics which had a knock on effect to the timetables previously agreed with the client for installation.  The client was very understanding of the situation as they knew this was out of our hands but it was exhausting trying to keep a tight rein on logistics when communication was poor from the builder.  It highlighted that cheaper trades aren’t necessarily better in the long run when the time escapes the agreed timeframes.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
A laser tape measure! A life saver on the large scale projects we are working on.  For sure the use of CAD to provide our clients with a goof representation of the end vision and results.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
To win a design award with design et al! We are looking to grow our team and further develop the number of illustrators amongst us.  We currently have a design studio and retail shop across the road from each other, we are keen to expand the size of both and preferably under one roof for an all-encompassing client and customer experience.

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

Your most treasured possession?
Health.  Without it we are no good to anyone.

Your favourite holiday destination?
With children – cultural destinations with a pool.  Without children – Santorini

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
Cape Horn, Courchevel
The Fullerton, Singapore

Your favourite book, film & song?
Diary of a CEO Netflix
Dream Home Makeover
Rihanna, Cheers

Your favourite food and drink?
Sushi / Champagne

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
In the gym

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

Anything else interesting?
I love high adrenalin activities and have done a parachute jump, worlds highest bungee jump and plane wing walking