INTERIOR DESIGNER
Louisa White-Thomson
My name is Louisa White-Thomson, and I am the Interior Designer at The Lost Corner. I am self-trained and draw on three decades of experience in a variety of different fields. I was lucky enough to have been bought up in a creative household and attended schools that were very supportive of the arts and creativity. The house I grew up up in is now regularly used for photo shoots for the likes of Vogue. Interestingly, very little has changed in the house over the years and helps to confirm one of my key principles, that classic style can be timeless. I attended University in Malibu where I spent almost all of my time in the Theatre, constructing and painting theatrical scenery and making props and costumes. This helped me understand the importance of being able to combine practicality and creativity. Not only did the sets have to look beautiful and inspiring, but they also had to be practical and work! I have a team that I enjoy working with, ranging from – bespoke lampshade makers, blacksmiths, upholsterers, curtain and cushion makers and they all help me deliver on my clients’ plans in an efficient and creative way.
Interior design can be a wonderfully creative process and above all, the experience should be fun, exciting and rewarding. It is my job as an interior designer to guide and support my clients in creating their own unique interior design and to facilitate their own creativity and ideas. I like to begin with what is in place already, as more often than not, the client’s own unique keepsakes and choices contain all the elements required to make a beautiful design. Sometimes ‘less is more’ and my work can be as much about small changes and re-organisation as elaborate creative commissions.
I am often asked what my Interior Design style is. This is a surprisingly difficult question to summarise in one or two sentences, as there are so many events and experiences that have influenced my creative side. I was brought up in England and the English countryside, so I love florals and references to nature, such as flowers, feathers, insects and bringing the outside, indoors. However, I also spent a good deal of my childhood travelling to Spain, Portugal and France and developed a love for all of their interior design traditions and particularly their unusual colour combinations, which are bolder than the more traditional muted colours used in English design. I grew up watching movies such as ‘To Catch a Thief’ and ‘High Society’ and love beautiful scenery and clothing designs. California has some beautifully designed houses and a Hollywood tradition of stunning interior design. I am drawn to the theatricality of such designs and my time in California has influenced my approach. I am also a believer that the best interior design is beautiful, authentic and stands the test of time.
Whichever approach I take, I want the result to be the same – that it was an enjoyable and rewarding experience, and that I helped my clients’ achieve their design vision in a creative and thoughtful way, including as much clarity on costing as possible.