Tales from the Drawing Room: Sam Villiers

You are a former TV producer turned successful interior designer and have received a House & Garden award. Tell us a bit about what made you want to pursue a career in interior design and how you got started.

It was a bit of a perfect storm of reasons. This is actually my third career! I performed in West End musicals before I moved into producing television. TV is enormous fun. Fast paced... exciting... incredible people and experiences - but it's exhausting. I also noted that, at 40 years old, I was crazily becoming the oldest person in the room. It struck me that there are no "older" people in the television industry, principally because they all burn out. When the pandemic hit, the television industry ground to a halt and like many others, I was forced to hit pause for a moment. I was granted the opportunity to reflect on my life. On what was making me happy, what wasn't... and was I really fulfilled? The answer was no. I had to think about what I could imagine myself doing for the last 25 years of my working life, and if I was to make that change, then it should be for something I was passionate about. I'd always been deeply passionate about interiors, and after many discussions with friends over many glasses of wine - questioning if this was something I could actually do - I did it. I embarked on a full-time course at KLC, which was one of the hardest but most rewarding things I've ever done. I was honoured to receive my House & Garden award upon graduating, and now I get to create beautiful spaces for a small number of lovely clients, and I feel incredibly lucky to be trusted with their homes. 

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Gosh - that's difficult to articulate. I definitely try to bring at least a little element of surprise into a space, be it an unexpected choice of furniture or using materials in an unconventional way - I like people to walk in and think "I'd never have thought of that." Whether that feeds in from my theatrical background, I'm not sure, but I always hope my designs will entertain and bring a smile.

What gets you inspired, and where do you look for inspiration when it comes to decorating? 

First inspiration is always the architecture. I'm always led by the architecture. I'd feel equally as rewarded designing a flat in the Barbican as I would a Georgian country house - but obviously, they would each require their own approach. Every space is always imbued with a unique personality that comes from dimension, light and materiality. The second inspiration is always nature. I unfailingly prefer natural materials - in all textiles, furniture or surfaces - I find overly synthetic spaces deeply unsettling and a little panic-inducing. Does that make me sound bonkers?

What is your favourite room to design and why?

They all have their pros and cons - but I think I love guest bedrooms the most. You can be a bit more adventurous with rooms that people don't have to inhabit every day. Like hotel rooms, you can be a little mad with a guest bedroom. It's a temporary space. You can be bolder and invoke a stronger reaction - I find I'm more liberated to make choices that might become fatiguing in a primary space.

Your top 3 tips for someone renovating their home.

Haha. I think it depends on how you see yourself living. My first piece of advice is, don't look at trends. By the time you've actioned it, it'll be over, and you'll regret it. Correction - DO look at trends and run the other way! I have a friend who put scalloped edges on every surface of their home three years ago and is living to regret it. Secondly, if you love a "curated" or "finished" look, you have to be very organised and plan, plan and plan again. Be methodical and organised. However, my own home is very much not like that - it's constantly evolving. It's full of things I've picked up through the years - things that don't necessarily sit together... and while you can "create" that look, I think for it to be truly authentic, it takes time. When I hand over a home to a client, I'd be mortified to imagine it never evolving. It's the living that makes a place magical. So I'd say enjoy the process and surround yourself with lovely things that are special to you. Let the magic happen over time. 

Your three favourite Sharland England items

I am OBSESSED with the Piolo chair. The fabulous fishbone design just oozes exoticism - harks straight back to golden days gone by. Pair that with the Emerson outdoor side table (which I defy anyone to find a better drinks table). My third would be the splatter coquillage dish, which I use a key tray at home. It's the first and last thing I see as I come and go each day - and it never fails to make me smile. 

As for reading…I’m researching and reading a ton of world history right now.

Sam's Favourite Products

Piolo Chair	Coquillage Dish	Emerson Side Table

Tell us something about you that people don’t know about.

When I was a child, I cut down an ancient Wisteria in our garden because I wanted to use its twisted branches to decorate my bedroom. It wasn't a popular decision with my mother, but I suppose it's evidence that I was always meant to do this for a job? 

What are you currently reading - listening - watching? 

I am currently reading The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne, and honestly, it's one of the best books I've read in years. It's an utterly captivating, important voyage of self-discovery and acceptance. Of love, loss, grief, friendship and joy - it's totally magical. And I'm only halfway through! 

Listening is a tough one because music is absolutely omnipresent in my life. It's situational, emotional and essential. My top 3 listens on Spotify are Mahler's 5th, Victory Lap by Skepta, followed by Lavender Haze by Taylor Swift. So it's an eclectic mix!

Watching - Slow Horses gets devoured quicker than chocolate in my house.