Create a Beautiful Home with Tips from Jenny Allan

For her discerning client base, Jenny Allan and her team create beautiful designs in some of the most luxurious properties in the UK and overseas. With a strong emphasis on building client relationships and creating dream spaces, Jenny's design studio is highly sought-after. In 2019 Jenny Allan Design won at the International Design and Architecture awards and has also been named in "The World's Leading Design Names 2020" by Design et Al. ​We have the pleasure of interviewing Jenny Allan and remember, members receive a complimentary consultation.

1. For my members who might be unaware, please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

I am the Founder of high end interior design studio, Jenny Allan Design. We are based in London and Hampshire and we work on projects throughout the UK and abroad for our UHNW client base. Last year we won at the International Design Awards and were named in the Top 25 of the World’s Leading Design Names. Our services range from full interior design of a large new build or refurbishment, incl. kitchens, bathrooms, bespoke joinery, to a furnishing/ dressing service where a client just requires furniture, curtains and or minor redecoration - ideal for moving in to a new property. We offer a very personalised service where I am always the main point of contact for my clients and attend all client meetings, while my team work on the logistics, orders and drawings etc. We have our own in-house CGI services which have proven invaluable. A lot of our projects are in a classic contemporary style however we can adapt to client’s specific tastes and requirements.

2. How did you decide to become an interior designer?

I’ve always been fascinated by houses since I was a child. I love design and symmetry, making spaces look appealing and attractive. I started by designing friends and families homes and then progressed to client’s properties. I believe design abilities are innate and you either have them or you don’t and fortunately it comes very naturally to me.

3. How did you win the International Design Awards and what has it meant to you?

To win at the international design awards was a huge honour, especially aged 29 as the youngest ever winner. When I first started out in the design industry that was the awards I always dreamt of winning as it is the most recognised accolade in our Industry. Firstly, we were shortlisted by the panel of industry judges which was exciting and then for the finals all the shortlisted designers’ projects were put up for public vote. There were 87000 public votes for the projects! The awards were held at the Grosvenor House Hotel Park Lane and 700 designers flew in from all over the world. It was incredibly exciting to hear our name called out as the winner!

4. Have you found that knowing multiple languages has served as inspiration for your designs?

I spent a lot of time in Barcelona growing up as we had a property there so I love the modern Mediterranean look, with chic white sofas and natural materials. This is something that I enjoy incorporating in our designs when it suits the property. However It really depends on the clients preferences, the architecture and location of the property as to whether this is the right look.

5. What motivates you and what is your biggest achievement?

Design is my passion and not just my job. I love creating beautiful homes and seeing my delighted clients at the end of a project. It is nice that you can see what you have done and worked on. I think my biggest achievement was winning at the design awards and also being named in the worlds leading design names for 2020. Also designing private jets is now another string to my bow and something that is very exciting!

6. Can you talk us through current trends and what is in fashion right now?

I don’t tend to follow trends as such as I like our designs to be timeless, however currently brass and rose gold colour palettes are very en vogue. It really depends on the clients tastes rather than the current fashion as the investments in the project are so significant it is not something that you would keep replacing when the trends change.

7. Can you share any tips on how to create more space and a luxurious feel at home?

To create more space always include as much fitted storage as possible. Bespoke joinery really makes the most of the space that you have and keeps the home clutter free. Also, using mirrors to reflect the light is always a plus and using curved furniture in smaller spaces makes moving around the space easier and improves the flow of the rooms.

8. Are there any rules to follow in terms of colours when designing a house?

Colour palettes can be quite tricky. For example not all greys work together, it’s important to be able to tell the difference between a cool blue grey and a warmer grey as the chances are they match well. This is where using an interior designer can be so invaluable as making these colour selections is something we do all the time.

9. What is the price range for designing a house? It’s hard to give a price range as it varies so much depending on the size of the property and what is required. We would quote on a project by project basis.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

What sets us apart from other companies is the level of personalised service that we offer our clients. I often see clients at weekends or evenings to fit round their schedules and we also offer assistance with after care for projects once a project is finished. We continue to look after our clients and have built wonderful long term relationships with them where they ask us to design multiple properties around the world.