There is little doubt that interior design is one of the first things that lends insight into a homeowner’s tastes, preferences, personalities and lifestyle. For those in Kensington – a neighbourhood long celebrated for its garden squares, museum quarter, and timeless architectural pedigree – there are interior designers who transform homes into bespoke sanctuaries.
From leafy townhouses to penthouses with panoramic vistas, these studios curate interiors that reflect both heritage and modernity. Our selection below explores some of Kensington’s most distinguished interior designers whose work exemplifies craftsmanship, attention to detail and a profound understanding of luxury living in London’s most coveted postcodes.
Elicyon Interiors
Priding themselves on delivering the highest standards of interiors with considered and imaginative concepts, Elicyon Interiors is a passionate team of award-winning designers. Driven by the ethos to bring alive spaces with a masterful blend of period charm and elegance, their approach is to inject a local mindset into their global practice. Based in Kensington, this luxury interior design studio specialises in high-end residential projects targeting Kensington, Chelsea and Mayfair, among other prime postcodes. With a full-service strategy, they handle everything from concept and spatial planning to bespoke furniture, lighting and accessories to deliver turnkey luxury homes with a combination of innovation and craftsmanship.
Famed for their painstaking attention to detail that emphasises materials and tasteful subtlety, Elicyon Interiors focus on seamless project delivery. Their style can be characterised as timelessly elegant, with layered interiors balancing comfort and opulence. Their expert work combines bespoke furniture, curated artwork, custom joinery and considered detailing and finishes. With their projects including private townhouses and penthouses for HNW clientele, their refined perspective is highly preferred by those looking for understated luxury over flamboyant statement interiors.
Hoban Design
Based in Wimbledon Village in Southwest London, Hoban Design is a boutique collective of esteemed architects that offer comprehensive architectural and interior design solutions for high-end properties in Wimbledon, London, Surrey and the rest of the UK. Having worked extensively in reimagining Kensington properties, their end-to-end services include bespoke interiors, space planning and project management expertise wherein they take on the onus of homes from concept to handover. Their portfolio includes work on new-build homes – both traditional and contemporary – refurbishment of period properties, alterations of all scales, extensions, basements and especially sensitive restoration of heritage buildings that underscores their clients’ trust with storied residences.
With a clear emphasis on clean lines, modern elegance and a mindful balance of function and finishes, they’ve serviced many private HNWIs in Kensington, among other enclaves. While their signature style can be summarised as being minimalist-modern luxury with neutral palettes and high-quality materials, Hoban Design rejects a signature look in favour of homes that feel uniquely attuned to their owners. Hoban Design’s exceptional portfolio has earned them numerous awards, with the most recent being The International Design & Architecture Award 2023 for the Wilderness, Wimbledon project.
Designed by Woulfe
This company is driven not just by design and exceptional output, but by a strong environmental and social responsibility courtesy of its Managing and Creative Director, Brian Woulfe. Having worked on interior design and development projects for homeowners, property developers and commercial clients across Europe, the US and Asia-Pacific regions, Woulfe’s experience is as rich as it is ethical. The designer, defined by a responsive, optimistic and sincere attitude, enjoys employing varied styles and genres and delivering opulent homes that blend functionality with hints of playfulness. With multiple awards and affiliations like SBID International Design Awards, European Property Awards, British Institute of Interior Design and AD Italia, the studio has proven to be a worthwhile partner on many projects.
Giving back to the community, Woulfe often collaborates with under-represented and global talent, including local designers and suppliers. Registered with BIID (British Institute of Interior Design) and accredited by SBID, he brings his expertise to prime properties in Kensington, Chelsea, Mayfair, Marylebone, Belgravia, Notting Hill, Knightsbridge and Holland Park. His inclination toward financial aspects of real estate also enables more well-rounded evaluations and servicing. A hallmark of Designed by Woulfe, its focus on sustainability is consciously integrated into projects and clients’ mindsets, making this ideology “business as usual.”
Black & Milk
Led by the couple Olga and Toly Alexeeva, Black & Milk is based in the heart of Hampstead. Their client pool spans London’s most prime and sought-after postcodes with a proven footprint in Kensington. Providing complete interior architecture and interior design expertise, their style is uniquely drawn from the property’s location, lifestyle, traditional architecture and the client’s tastes and personalities, resulting in true residential marvels. The award-winning collective displays versatile talent, curating schemes for new builds and fully turnkey reimaginations of storied properties.
Black & Milk makes the design process a collaborative experience, giving clients complete control over every facet of their homes, while treating each project personally, as if it were their own home. Having delivered plans for private apartments and townhouses in Kensington, Chelsea and Mayfair, their use of modern eclectic elements, bold materials, statement lighting and custom furniture stands out.
Closing Thoughts
Whether guided by the understated elegance of Elicyon Interiors, the craftsmanship of Hoban Design, or the incredible creativity of Black & Milk, Kensington’s luxury interior designers have one thread connecting them – they consistently deliver homes that are as individual as their owners. Each studio brings a unique approach to design, blending bespoke furniture, curated art, architectural sensitivity, and practical functionality, while ensuring that these residences are personalised expressions of lifestyle and taste.
Reflecting the same commitment to excellence, United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty curates Kensington’s finest homes for those who value design as deeply as they value destination.
