On calm and collected
For some time I have wanted a place to step back from my project work and look more closely at the principles that shape it, to gather the things that make me feel alive, to share the references that inform my design work and the wider creative influences that continue to shape my eye.
This is my place to reflect on the influences that help bring balance to my life and work, and to appreciate the things I love and find interesting. I hope you will find something here that resonates.
I am dyslexic, and over time I have come to understand that one of my greatest strengths lies in spatial awareness, which forms the backbone of my work, along with an instinctive connection to the visual details that bring me joy.
As I write this, I feel a quiet charge of excitement, a sense of anticipation that I am ready to create, and I am so thrilled to welcome you to my new Calm and Collected space.
Calm is often mistaken for minimalism, but it has very little to do with how much or how little is in a space and everything to do with how carefully it has been considered.
Calm begins with proportion, scale and alignment, with natural light informing a space during the day and careful lighting placement that brings a space alive at night. It comes from materials that sit comfortably beside one another and from decisions made early enough so nothing feels forced later on. In this ever frenetic world, it is about reusing, refining and pairing back, a considered process of editing rather than excessive adding.
In my work, calm is deliberate. It is created by removing distraction and resolving architectural detail for my clients rather than adding layers of complicated decoration. It is so much about creating flow and choosing finishes that will age quietly rather than demand attention. Lighting is essential and too often neglected. When a space feels effortless, it is usually because the process of connecting every element of the design has allowed a careful, mindful evolution.
Collected is often misunderstood too. It does not mean crowded, nor is it about assembling objects for effect. It is about living with things that are loved, that carry meaning, history or craft, and allowing them to sit within a space without noise. A well collected interior balances restraint with character. Old and new coexist, call it contrast if you will, but it is also about depth and authenticity.
In my world of calm and collected, design is not a trend. It requires patience, space, clarity and a willingness to leave things out. These are the principles I return to, in my work and in life.
