In Profile:
Studio Augustine

How would you describe your personal design style?

I would describe my personal design style as considered, layered and characterful built around a passion for arts, crafts and colour.
Our projects are client driven, working on a private residential where we look to fulfill their requirements, realize aspirations, a deeply personal process. On commercial projects there is an yearn to acquire the interest of different cultures, tastes as well as larger scope to fulfill multiple practical needs whilst applying the distinctive style of Studio Augustine.
My experiences living in Asia and Switzerland, heighten my passion for craftsmanship, tactile materials like ceramics whilst my time working with artist and fine art photographers heighten my love of art. Mixing various ceramic vessels with contemporary art work to create a space with a rich personality.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
I have been fortunate to live across many continents from Africa to Asia, meeting and learning from various cultures and people. Whether its bursting colors of Lagos, along the dense evergreen forests in Germany or the expression of individuality in Hong Kong. My design is often inspired by these global experiences often incorporating elements from my time spent with artist, different cultures and countries. Although I am now back in the UK, I am travelling, whether it be to manage various international interiors projects or to explore distant corners of the globe.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Part of my process is not be self conscious, not think about how I have made things.

Design is experiencing a metamorphosis, weaving technology, sustainability and creating spatial experiences that that are centered around individual experience. So increasingly a holistic approach is applied which is designing beyond aesthetics.

Through this change, we see the merging of tradition and innovation. As an interior designer, I see my role as storyteller, telling a narrative through design. Creating immersive spaces that are crafted to reflect the requirements and rituals of clients needs with emotional resonance.

Following from Covid, we see a continuation of blurring the boundaries between indoor-outdoor living so integrating spaces with natural elements allowing for a relationship between architectural structures and more organic systems.

Smart home technologies are being cleverly integrated, enhancing spatial functionality while maintaining aesthetic integrity.

Most importantly, sustainability has evolved to a central design ethos. At the studio, our dedication to sustainability shapes every aspect of each project, from collaborating with highly skilled artisans who honor traditional craftsmanship to sourcing the finest natural materials that age gracefully and leave a lighter footprint on our planet.

Spaces created not just physical containers, but one that nurtures wellbeing, a place ion inspiration and deeply personal.

What projects are you currently working on?
Some of the projects we are currently working on include villas in the South of France, a boutique hotel, family home in London, a country retreat in Surrey and an apartment in Tower Bridge.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
Each project comes with its own set of disciplines and challenges. At the end of each project, I like to review lessons learnt. Our beach front Barbados project was a favorite to work on, it really pushed my limit as a designer to be innovate, deliver exquisite spaces with a distinction and pull on my experiences from working in film dealing with logistics for install, budget and time management as well as creative vision.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
Thankful to have had a rounded experience before launching the studio.
The discipline of each project is diverse. The most challenging project that comes to mind was a Grade 1 listed house which had been not been touched for many decades. As it was a Grade 1 listed building, we had to navigate guidelines to ensure the building’s historical value was maintained which is something we champion. Requiring approval from conservation officers or heritage bodies. The challenge was still trying to make the space functional and suitable for our clients. My experience working in construction as well as experience in design allowed me to produce creative solutions that balanced the need for historical preservation with the client’s requirement for present day living. Despite the structural challenges, we emphasized the quirky architectural details and sensitively restored the property to its former glory whilst balancing smart home system without it been apparent to the eye. The project allowed us to work collaborate with artisans, craftspeople and external consultants to create a home that blends tradition for contemporary living.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
We are fortunate to our collaborators to deliver our incredible projects from antique dealers who carry some exquisite furniture pieces to gallerist. Each project often includes bespoke elements from furniture to lighting. We design in-house lighting schemes, kitchen and bathrooms nonetheless we could not do what we do without our talented joiners, furniture makers, textile manufacture, who help bring concept to live for a truly one of a kind collectible.
They are collaborative partners in the sophisticated of design storytelling, transforming raw potential into immersive, meaningful spaces that reflect our client’s deepest aspirations.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
In the next 12 months, we will complete some incredible projects and begin new ones in Oman, Paris and a country manor. A brilliant opportunity to continuously celebrate heritage craftsmanship with a forward thinking design philosophy.
Working on some of these incredible projects provides the opportunity to continuously expanding our collaborative networks with international artisans, craftspeople. These partnerships will be instrumental in crafting as well as creating spaces that are immersive.
Continued support for creative talents with United in Design, artisans and craftspeople with Queen Elizabeth Trust.
Each year, we look to our various design principles in relation to sustainability. This is not just looking at materials and their life span but also how these materials harmonize with human experience within the wider environment. We look to collaborate with our artisans to explore techniques that minimize environmental impact without compromising on spatial experiences through intentional materiality.
My goal vision is a commitment maintain a delicate balance, an eye to the past, reverence for historical design languages whilst walking forwards contemporary innovations, we create spaces that are simultaneously timeless and profoundly of-the-moment.

Your most treasured possession?
I have grown up living a somewhat nomadic life from Nigeria to Hong Kong, which has allowed me so see and experience so much. At each point, I would see various interpretations of things, an abstract approach.
Always admiring the incredible skills of ceramist, I decided to take an introduction into pottery. It was an incredible few weeks, making a variety of objets but one in particular is the small vessel. It is this vessel in particular with 2 distinct glazes on it.
What makes this piece of pottery particularly meaningful is both technical achievements, although weightier than I wanted but it was the feeling grounded and a sense of home. Each irregularity and subtle variation in the glaze application is truly a of hands learning to work with clay, of decisions made in the moment, and of the unpredictable beauty that emerges from the kiln’s transformative heat.
This piece now serves not only as a functional object for collecting coins from travels, incense, jewelry and other life’s small treasures but as a reminder of the connection between maker and craft, a connection that has threaded through human culture since our earliest experiments with clay and fire.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Cuba really left an indelible impression on me. I love the island’s architectural authenticity that transcends mere design trends. The Spanish colonial grandeur and weathered patina, no modern palette could replicate. The sun-bleached façades of once-opulent mansions. I find most alluring the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces in traditional Cuban architecture. The central courtyards, or ‘patios’, with their soaring colonial columns and intricate ironwork.

The local artisans’ approach to materiality was fascinating, how they celebrated imperfect beauty which really speaks with creating luxury interiors.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
Hotel: Reschio hotel, between Umbria and Tuscany. The ultimate hideaway to restore.
Restaurant: Chishuru, London. Exceptional, party in the mouth of sensation of flavors.
Bar: The Pickering Room at Casa Cipriani New York

Your favourite book, film & song?
Book: Ways of Seeing by John Berger
Film: Lost in Translation by Sofia Coppola
Song: Afro Juju by Shina Peters. Truly about celebration, have very powerful images with this song with many people dancing, like a Malick Sidibé photograph.

Your favourite food and drink?
Food: Sushi, love simplicity of the dish.
Drink: Sanpellegrino with elderflower cordial

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Strolling through a museum somewhere, culinary expedition with a friend or reading a book with Motown music and a candle.

If you weren’t in this sector, what would you alternative profession be?
Perfumer, I very much appreciate the power of scent and how it can transport person. Worked on a show with a well known fashion house, an immersive experience based on a unique scent.

Anything else interesting?
Feel very fortunate to contribute to such a fantastic industry. Interpreting client’s aspiration into places with meaning. Whether commercial or residential project, each with its own set of challenges. Residential projects developing a deep understanding of client’s requirements , I always say I have two big ears and one mouth and use in that order. Long after the project is completed I want clients to feel inspired but in decades to comes, I want the space to be current surpassing all trends. My experiences living across multiple cultures, really does come into play creating commercial spaces which appeals to a wider audience and functionalities.
On any project, I am personally involved at every stage and I believe this is one of many things clients admire about the studio as well as creating design solutions that suits them and budget. Our approach is client centered, guided by the design principle that good design is one that works yet is silent. Whether it is a Grade II listed family home, pied a Terre or boutique hotel, we constant strive for design solutions that is functional yet makes the everyday beautiful.
My current wishlist which is ever growing includes work from Brazilian artist, Lucia Laguna. A pendant light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, a sideboard by George Nakashima and a 1990 Cartier ‘Crash’ watch.