A Growing Priority For Interior Design

Andrew Henry, founder of Andrew Henry Interiors and LUXE by Andrew Henry Interiors, gives his top tips for home design projects.

Andrew, can you tell us a bit about Andrew Henry Interiors and what your ethos is when designing for new homes?

I started my business in 2007 from a spare room at home! Today I employ over 30 people and as a team we have worked hard to build a reputation as an innovative and trusted interior design partner. Any scheme we design needs to be realistic of everyday life, aspirational yet practical and importantly within reach of the target audience

What first got you interested in interior design?

From a young age, I was exposed to art and antiques as my father was a fine art specialist, which gave me a taste for the world of interiors. After working my way up through estate agency to sales director level in the new homes industry, I joined a national show home interior design business, as I had really enjoyed this aspect of my previous roles. The rest is history.

How much freedom do new home buyers tend to have when choosing interiors for their home?

Developers generally now offer a good range of options and upgrades that can be incorporated during the build process, but the real fun comes when it comes to furnishing the interiors. The rise of online sharing platforms such as Pinterest and houzz has been invaluable in providing consumers with inspiration and sharing ideas on how a look or style can be created and where the products can be sourced.

Beaufort Gardens (Edenstone Homes)

Are your clients buying a recognisable Andrew Henry ‘look’ or is each brief created according to their own individual needs and aspirations?

Every project we design, whether it be a show home or private client design, is tailored to a specific brief. We really take time to understand and research this in detail, as we strongly believe any creative work is as good as the brief given to the designer in the first instance.

You’ve recently launched your high-end LUXE by AHI service for private clients, can you tell us about it?

LUXE recognises the need for a premium product in our sector. Many developers have recognised how extra investment in their show homes can quickly reap significant rewards, whilst for private clients our skill and expertise in providing a full design service can prove invaluable and avoid costly mistakes.

Have you noticed significant changes in what people want from their home since the pandemic?

Definitely. Homes became a huge focus during the pandemic with many realising their homes no longer suited their needs. Home working spaces including garden studios are here to stay and multi-functional rooms that optimise use by all the family are paramount.

What’s the latest interiors’ trend that you think will become the next big thing?

There is a huge and much-needed drive towards sustainability. Upcycled furniture items and sustainable or recycled fabric yarns that can be used throughout the home are very popular and I can only see the demand increasing with the ever growing need to become more environmentally friendly.

Greenbridge Square (Keepmoat Homes)

What would your top three tips be for anybody taking on an interior design project within their own home?

1. Choose one or two main interior styles to create a cohesive feel throughout the home. Differentiate functionality of rooms with individual artwork and accessories.
2. Select the main colours you like and then try to use elsewhere in the home, mixing intensity to differentiate individual rooms. Too many clashing colours are unlikely to provide a cohesive flow of the spaces.
3. Be creative and if you are on a tighter budget, do some research on ways that you can recreate that look without blowing the budget. YouTube and TikTok are fantastic for showing innovative ways to achieve this.

What’s been the most exciting project you’ve ever worked on?

We were fortunate to work on a large new build project in Kent for an international private client. The project was designed pre-pandemic but the installation became phased due to it. The end results for us and our client were definitely worth the delay and we have recently won a leading industry design award for the design.

And finally, what’s coming up for you over the next 12 months?

We have lots of exciting plans including strengthening our core business and developing our new LUXE brand for high-end show homes and private clients. We are also launching Thread and Dandy, our online business providing bespoke made-to-measure window treatments for new home buyers and anyone updating their existing home. We’re really excited to launch this because there is a gap in the market for design-led fabrics, personalised advice and competitive pricing. Choosing window treatments can feel daunting, but the Thread and Dandy customer experience will make the process simple and hassle-free.