Simon Mayhew, founder and creative director of TXTURED, on the details, materials and decisions that bring a considered interior to life.
The past year has brought an exciting new chapter for TXTURED, with House on the Hill, its north London period-home project, receiving a Highly Commended distinction in Livingetc’s House of the Year award.
“It meant the complete world to me,” Simon says. “We were recognised alongside designers I have looked up to since the very beginning of TXTURED.” For the studio, the recognition has affirmed the direction of its work, while a recent rebrand marks another step forward as the business continues to grow.
Alongside a new visual identity and logo, the rebrand marks a new chapter for a studio that continues to develop while staying true to the principles at the heart of its work: warmth, character, texture and interiors that feel personal. At TXTURED, design should do more than look considered. It should capture something of the people who live there — and ultimately, make a house feel like a home.
Designing for the Individual
For Simon, personalisation begins with paying attention.
During the early stages of a project, the TXTURED team observes how clients respond to different ideas, noting the images and details that make them react most strongly. Those small observations become reference points throughout the design process.
“We’re always looking for the gasp,” Simon says. It might be an immediate “Oh, I really like that,” a big smile or a noticeable change in their voice. Even a long pause can tell the team something; sometimes a client is simply processing an idea, while at other times it can signal that they are less certain.
Those immediate reactions become signposts for the next stage of the design, helping Simon and his team understand what a client naturally gravitates towards. “What the client loves might be different from what the designer loves,” he explains, “but we really try and tune in to what the client loves.”
Art is another way of introducing personality into a space. Highly personal and subjective, it can become one of the strongest focal points within a room, particularly when working with a larger piece. For Simon, the right artwork needs to feel personal to the client while also working with the style, scale, colours and composition of the wider space. When it all comes together, it can connect the different elements of a room and add another layer of personality.
Old, New and Everything in Between
There is a similar sense of balance in Simon’s approach to materials and furniture. His love of mixing antique, vintage and contemporary pieces is about bringing the past into the present, adding charm, character and a warmth that can be difficult to create in a strictly modern home.
TXTURED is drawn to British design, history and heritage, but that does not mean filling a room with old pieces. Instead, older pieces, materials with history and architectural references are balanced with contemporary elements, allowing everything to sit comfortably together.
“The aim is for everything to feel considered and curated,” Simon says. Older elements bring depth, while contemporary details keep the overall space feeling relevant and refined.
The first decisions that shape that feeling are often practical ones. Flooring is usually one of the earliest major considerations, covering such a large area and creating the foundation for everything else. From there come key pieces of furniture, bespoke elements and anything with a long lead time. These initial choices begin to establish the materials, colours and fabrics that influence the wider scheme.
The Finishing Touches
Styling is another important part of completing a home, but for Simon it is also an opportunity to introduce character through the smallest details.
He enjoys visiting antique fairs, vintage markets and flea markets in search of one-off pieces, from old copper pots and black plates to candlestick holders and cast-iron objects. Their muted tones allow them to sit comfortably within a range of interiors, while their individuality adds character and a sense of history.
But restraint matters too. “We never want a home to feel over-styled,” Simon says. Leaving space for clients’ own belongings, books, photographs and objects ensures that the finished interior still feels like them.
It is this balance between considered styling and personal possessions that prevents a finished scheme from feeling too polished or prescribed. The details are there to add to a home, rather than overwhelm it.
From Drawing to Reality
Behind every finished TXTURED project is a highly organised studio managing multiple commissions, suppliers and decisions simultaneously.
“Clients are surprised by how organised we are as a studio,” Simon says, something that has been pointed out to the team several times. With multiple projects running at once, there are countless quotes and practical details to coordinate. The systems TXTURED has developed are designed to make that process as seamless as possible for clients.
Yet some of the most rewarding moments happen when all that planning begins to take physical shape.
“For me, it’s often when the architectural details we’ve drawn in CAD or modelled in SketchUp start appearing physically on site,” Simon explains.
The studio is currently working on a full renovation of a house in Altrincham, where TXTURED designed a large archway with walnut detailing and a Crittall-style screen to one side, allowing views through into the next space.
For a long time, the design existed only within the studio’s drawings and models. Then, during a site visit, Simon saw that the arch had been formed and the opening for the screen was ready to be templated.
“Those are the moments where you suddenly see the drawings become architecture, and you start to understand exactly how the finished space is going to feel.”
The Feeling of Coming Home
When a project is finally complete, Simon’s hope for his clients is not about any one material, piece of furniture or architectural detail.
“Relief.”
Long projects and extensive builds can be mentally demanding, particularly for families who may have spent months living in rented accommodation or an Airbnb while their home is transformed.
“We want them to feel a sense of relief and pride that everyone made it through together.”
It is an appropriately grounded way to think about the finished home. Beyond the materials, craftsmanship and carefully considered details, the ultimate measure of a successful project is how it feels to finally be home.
