Our lives are all the richer for imperious interior design; those rarefied spaces that you can’t imagine being any more perfect or pleasing. Usually, first and foremost, we think of interior design as something that is applied in the home. But thoughtful, sympathetic, striking, and user-friendly interior design makes a tangible difference to the indoor environments that we occupy: public, commercial, and cultural spaces, offices, hospitality, hotels, and even transport. In reality, certainly at the upper echelons of the industry, the very best interior designers are in great demand for a hugely eclectic range of projects. Those who are prolific and successful in creating sumptuous, super-comfortable living spaces don’t tend to limit their scope – most will gladly turn their hand, and creativity, to stimulating non-domestic projects, especially where there is an ambitious scale and impressive budget to work with.
Universities, boutiques, shopping malls, restaurants, bars, co-working spaces, creative studios, libraries, hospitals, art galleries, airports, museums, conference halls, yachts. The list goes on, but the main aim is the same: to create a cohesive, impactful space that has a bit of a ‘wow’ factor and also just works. This needs to connect on two levels – for the client, initially, and then for the people who use it (unlike a private home, where only a handful or a dozen people benefit, public spaces might have hundreds of thousands passing through every year). Here is our guide to the world’s best interior designers – those with flair, vision, and versatility.
Anouska Hempel
British designer Hempel is seriously hot property. Her calling card is a highly distinctive, luxurious, eclectic approach, which she delivered in style at the Monsieur George in Paris, an elegant boutique hotel near the Champs-Élysées. Her influence here is plain to see: with her meticulous attention to detail, she has uncorked an undeniably Parisian atmosphere, but also drawn on global inspiration for a ‘global’ city. Inspired by her Lebanese and Arabic connections, dark-green detailing and lush velvet furnishings bring to mind a sumptuous ‘desert oasis’, and a riot of plants across the hotel makes some areas feel almost garden-like. Each room in the Monsieur George is individually styled – each one a real hideaway of understated luxury – and the small touches are a joy, with mirrored surfaces, bespoke door handles, and expert craftsmanship giving every nook and cranny an air of real exclusivity.
Andrew Winch
Winch is a real master when it comes to making a superyacht justify its hallowed status. His company, Winch Design, has won multiple awards, including the World Superyacht Awards, for its consistent excellence in maritime design, delivering flawlessly on projects for a wide variety of yachts, some of which have even been over 300 feet long. One notably iconic project was the (US$300 million) Al Mirqab yacht, built for Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (former Qatar prime minister): every inch of interior detailing was opulent to the core. Collaborating with leading shipyards like Lürssen, Feadship, and Amels, Winch always puts the client first – he likes to call them ‘patrons’ – so their wishes are his command, with some expert guidance. Invariably this means decking them out with ultra-luxurious features that are perfectly tailored to the owner’s preferences, with the emphasis on comfort and a sense of the lavish. Attention to detail, custom furnishings, bespoke artwork, and high-end materials almost come as standard – other elements might include wellness areas, indoor swimming pools and spas, indoor paddle tennis courts, staterooms, and office suites, while state-of-the-art technology is always integrated into the design and functionality of Winch’s superyachts.
Sig Bergamin
Much cherished across South and North America, and gaining ever more traction in Europe, Bergamin is something of a Brazilian genius. He is a magician when it comes to making interiors feel alive and exuberant, whatever the brief, whatever the project. Often focusing on beach houses and penthouses – places of escapism – he is passionate about delivering his signature style: tropical flair, Old World influences, and Brazilian modernism; all skillfully meshed together. As both a ‘decorator’ and art collector, Bergamin has a real eye for big colours and loud, quirky furnishings. Design critics call it ‘maximalism with balance’: Bergamin's designs are vibrant, but they are comfortable, cohesive, and livable. For the man himself, he believes interiors should be irresistible and illuminate the joy of living.
Kelly Hoppen
Such is the overwhelming success of Kelly Hoppen, she transcends the interior design world. Starring roles on TV shows, authoring books galore, and a product design range incorporating everything you can think of to make the home glisten: she is a veritable tour de force, and rightly so. Having executed countless design projects with her richly distinctive style, she is an inspiration, both to other designers and those who need a touch of guidance at home. Her style is sometimes referred to as ‘East meets West’, but ultimately it’s all about neutral colour palettes, clean lines, total functionality, and timeless elegance. These trademarks – always more than the sum of their parts – have seen her take on a vast range of hugely ambitious residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. Celebrity residences even include fellow natives of England, David and Victoria Beckham. Hoppen has even branched out into luxury travel – sprinkling her signature touches all over the pioneering Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship, a groundbreaking project that has seriously uplifted the standard of cruise liners and interiors, with Hoppen’s ‘understated elegance’ in glorious evidence throughout.
Vincenzo De Cotiis
Design evolves; pushing boundaries is important. This is the ethos of Italian architect and designer Vincenzo De Cotiis, who is deeply celebrated (and booked) for his avant-garde and so-called ‘sculptural’ approach to interior design and furniture. His driving force is a vivid combination of modernism with industrial and vintage influences, and while De Cotiis is truly defiant about disrupting the norm, this has undoubtedly worked in his favour – he is a trusted visionary for projects including boutique hotels and luxury retail spaces. Unleashing a sense of artistic abandon, he bestows the bold and often unconventional. H is lauded across Europe and the USA for visually stunning cohesion. Reclaimed/repurposed materials are common, as is a colour palette that merges metallic accents with earthy tones. When De Cotiis designs retail spaces for luxury brands, his mission is to create an upscale look and a sense of wonder. Clients keep on coming back for more. The ultimate compliment.
With high expectations from high-net-worth clients, elite interior designers are under real pressure to deliver. Incredible spaces can seem deceptive; sometimes they look simple. But they're not – that’s just the gift of rare design talent. They can make what is stunning look easy.
