Designer insights with Lucy Burt

Lucy Burt is an interior designer, collaborating with friend and business partner Ceri Murray as Nest Interior Design. Lucy has had a varied career in other industries but took the plunge into interior design when she trained in Interior Design & Decoration at Chelsea College of Arts. Now running her own business with Ceri, she is completing varied design projects and working with different client and contractors on a daily basis. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Lucy Burt.

Designer Insights with Lucy Burt

- Transcript -

1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?

Here at nest there is no set formula and we don’t follow trends, we work with each client individually to simply ensure their home is somewhere they love spending time. A sanctuary in a busy world at the end of a hectic day.

2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process? 

We work very hard at the start of each project to really get to know our clients and understand what they are looking for from the space in question. Using a variety of tools, we look at likes and dislikes, colour & style, existing items, how they live & family dynamics to drill down to the picture they have in their head which can be difficult to vocalise.

3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?

I have never worked with Abigail Ahern but would absolutely love to attend one of her courses or workshops. I love the way that she tears up the ‘rule book’ in terms of colour, space & proportion. People are terrified by the thought of painting a small space in a dark colour but her work shows just how incredibly well this can work. Her rooms of inky backdrops teamed with vibrant blooms are captivating. Her books and articles are always inspiring and full of great practical tips, I especially love how she plays around with the scale of furniture and lighting.

4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?

I hoard magazines and cuttings for inspiration and have a huge over-sized pinboard above my desk which has scraps of anything and everything pinned to it, from the obvious fabrics & colour palettes through to images of jewellery, clothing, wood burners and tiles. Anything I see which catches my eye is pinned for a later date. On-line, I love Pinterest and read countless interiors blogs like Apartment Therapy.

5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps? 

I started out studying International Studies & Languages at Uni then worked in the Internet/Telecoms industry after graduating. Having always had a passion for Interiors, I decided to embark on a part-time course at Chelsea College of Arts to see if I could make a career out of it. Turns out I could and, 10 years later, nest interior design is now a partnership of myself and my great friend, Ceri, who originally studied Fine Art then also took a winding route into the world of interiors like myself. Our skills from previous roles of managing suppliers, budgets, contractors, teams and projects have been invaluable. My advice would therefore be to remember that there is a lot more to interior design than choosing fabrics and paint and to try and get as much first-hand experience as you can.

- Top Choices Explained - 

There is a recurring theme for Spring, colour & pattern! I always feel optimistic at this time of year and am convinced we will have a gorgeous sunny few months, sitting out in the garden with friends. As a result, I covet items which are vibrant and fun with a nod towards the palette of Mediterranean climes.

1) Bluebell Gray Calum Rug

2) Korla Grand Zig Zag Fabric in Pro Pink/Ayres Rock

3) Sian Elin Peacocks Cushion

4) Indoor-Outdoor Rug, to liven up your decking

5) Bethan Gray Stud table: For the pure beauty of it and because we will inevitably have to go indoors at some point and need somewhere to rest our drink