Established in 2010, Coulby Interiors specialises in all aspects of interior design, from kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, extensions and whole house renovations. Rebecca proudly shares how she came to create the firm and how far it has come over the past eight years.

"When I first started Coulby Interiors I had a clear vision. I strongly believed there was a real demand in the market for a company that was able to truly offer one complete interiors service. A service encompassing professional interior design, through to the supply of all products and materials with a full and comprehensive project management service overseeing in-house build and installation teams. My aim was this this same level of service would be offered irrespective of the size of project, from a small bathroom through to a complete house renovation or extension.

"Since inception we have been working towards this aim, and the company is now a family business with three teams of highly skilled dedicated builders and tradespeople, many of whom have been with us since out establishment. Over the years we have designed for clients in Norfolk, Suffolk, London and internationally and we pride ourselves on offering a personal level of service with careful consideration of our individual client requirements and budgets."

Having worked on a variety of projects for a vast array of clients, Rebecca has come to define her approach to interior design and pass this onto her team. She talks through her approach in detail and highlights how she constantly works to ensure harmony between what her clients want and the space they have.

"Personally, my design philosophy is simple; to create the best possible design for my client's interior for their budget. My ultimate aim is to improve the quality of life for whoever will be enjoying the space I have designed. I believe every interior space should be considered and designed holistically to ensure the best possible use of the space. I feel very strongly that the interior space should dictate the exterior and not the other way round as is so often the case. At the very least, the interior should be designed in conjunction with the exterior of the building. All too often I am having to work backwards or make alterations to floor plans to accommodate my client's requirements for the interior space. This belief may be something I have inherited from my father, an architect and interior designer

"in the same way that the interior should be designed in conjunction with the exterior, the individual rooms of a home should all be considered, even if it is only one room I am designing. There needs to be a sense of flow and the new space must work with all other existing rooms in order to achieve the best possible functionality. Equally, I always pay equal attention to negative spaces such as walkways and voids within walls, as well as positive space. Functionality is of course, key and this is achieved through attention to detail and exploiting every possible design opportunity.

"All these factors can only be achieved by spending a considerable amount of time getting to know and understand each and every client, their individual needs, wants and constraints. Taking time initially to learn this is key to my design work that follows. As such, our service begins with a telephone conversation and then a non-obligation design consultation. Once we have agreement on budget and initial design proposals, the surveys and design work can begin. I produce a detailed and comprehensive design presentation including all elevations, plans with notes and measurements, together with a detailed material and product selection, colour palettes and HD quality graphics in which I am able to incorporate my client's views from their windows, light direction, and even their paintings and artwork. The presentation is invaluable for clients to truly visualise how their new interior will look."

"Once any small amendments are then made, my teams can get to work to make these designs a reality. The project management aspect to our service it vital to achieving the best possible end result, with good communication at the heart."

Looking ahead, Rebecca is keen to build on the success that Coulby Interiors has already achieved by continuing to offer the high-quality service offering that she cultivated since she first started the firm, as she proudly concludes.

"Ultimately, the best part of my work is to see my designs realised, and my clients happy, many of whom we keep in touch with. Testament to this is in the large percentage of our work gained through recommendation and repeat business. Over the years to come, my entire team at Coulby Interiors will be working hard to ensure we continue to offer our clients the exceptional service we have come to pride ourselves on so that they will continue to work with us."

2018 Architecture Awards BUILD