Studio Squire is a London-based interior design company, led by husband and wife team Richard and Angelica Squire, whose work spans both residential and commercial spaces.
Richard and Angelica were destined for each other and the design world, both coming from creative families with direct links to the industry. Having built Studio Squire together, the duo’s work centres around crafting characterful spaces that not only reflect their clients aspirations but incorporate thoughtful designs and distinct creative pairings.
Here, they discuss their early design memories, how private residential spaces have evolved in recent years, and the beauty of bringing their clients ideas to life.
What is your earliest memory of design having an impact on you?
ANGELICA: My mother was an interior decorator and so I grew up in a house that had been beautifully designed, albeit in quite an 80s fashion – swags and tails curtains, drag effect walls, and chintz upholstered sofas. From a young age, being surrounded by pattern and colour and beauty throughout the home certainly instilled something in me that has stayed.
RICHARD: I come from a family of architects – my grandfather, father and older brother – and so design was always something that was relevant growing up. My father used to take me and my siblings on weekends away in Europe to look at buildings; I fondly look back on a trip to Barcelona when I was young and the impression Gaudi’s buildings had on me and a sense that design could really alter your mood within a space.
Where did you study design and what did you specialise in?
ANGELICA: I studied interior decoration at the Inchbald School of Design.
RICHARD: After leaving school I set up a contracting business, renovating apartments and houses in London, so very much learnt on the job.
What kind of designers did you aspire to be and who are your inspirations?
ANGELICA: I think we are constantly being inspired by designers and decorators, be it the legendary names of old such as David Hicks or Veere Grenney to newer names on the scene. There’s such an amazing array of people to take inspiration from in so many sectors and it can often be something such as a garden designer or craftsman that we take great inspiration from. Renzo Piano, Le Corbusier, Axel Vervoordt, David Netto and Rose Unaicke are all people we’ve drawn inspiration from over the years.
What was your first professional design commission?
RICHARD: We were tasked with doing up a small cottage in Kensal Rise for a busy musician who was on tour most of the time. It wasn’t huge and we had to be careful about use of space across the rooms but he had some fantastic art and antiques we could incorporate into the schemes.
What has been your biggest design commission to date?
ANGELICA: We are currently working on a large family home in Barnes, which will be a 6,000 square foot new build complete with a swimming pool, pool house, nightclub in the basement and top to bottom laundry chute!
How would you describe Studio Squire as a studio and a community of designers?
RICHARD: We very much believe we are here to service our clients and to make their dreams and aspirations a reality. We take great joy in bringing their ideas to life, or where they have few ideas, inspiring them with our own. Our projects certainly vary from one other depending on our clients and the brief but I think you’ll always notice character, layering and thought throughout each and every one.
What are the key characteristics you look for when bringing new talent into your studio?
ANGELICA: As a small studio, its important to us that team members brings friendly, can-do attitude to their role as well as being a strong team player. Whilst a sense of style and design is important, we really value someone who will go the extra mile and think outside the box.
How has private residential design evolved over the years?
RICHARD: Each of our projects is different and clients can have very different needs from one to the next but we’ve certainly seen an increase in demand for study spaces at home as a hangover from the pandemic. Home gyms, saunas and fitness zones are increasingly popular too. Whilst clients and ourselves definitely like to be conscious of the planet and opting for environmentally friendly choices, more and more of our clients want to install AC, at least in bedrooms, to cope with increasingly warmer weather.
What do you think should be a key focus for designers moving forward in 2025 and beyond?
ANGELICA: Integrity in design, avoidance of fad and trend pieces, the use of antiques and second hand pieces both to support the circular economy and because they are so much nicer than mass produced items.
If you hadn’t become an interior designer, what would you be doing?
ANGELICA: I’d like to have worked for MI5!
RICHARD: A hotelier.
www.studiosquire.co.uk | IG: @studio_squire