Posted on May 26, 2023
Crittall + Hill is a Cotswolds-based interior design studio founded in 2020 by friends and designers Alice Crittall and Rebecca Hill who came together through a shared passion for design, craftsmanship and creating beautiful, well-considered spaces.
Alice Crittall spent 10 years honing her skills under the guidance of some of London’s top design studios, gaining industry experience working across a broad range of different projects and aesthetic trainings in order to bring a truly unique set of expertise to the interiors scene in the area.
Rebecca’s 10 years in East London working in graphic design, brand identity and shop design has allowed for a seamless move into interiors, bringing completion to a collection of her own personal renovation projects.
C+H work closely with specialised craftsmen and workshops to deliver a full design service from concept to completion, with focus on enhancing the usability of a space without compromising on comfort. Currently they're working on a variety of projects in The Cotswolds, South Wales and London and we caught up with Alice and Rebecca on their design process, what inspires them and what trends or styles of interiors they're loving right now.
Talk us through your design process
Understanding a client’s dreams and aspirations and collaborating with them to create interiors that are individual and bespoke, is at the heart of our design philosophy. Before we start any of the design process we like to have a meeting with the client in their home where we discuss how they live, what they love, what they don’t love and their ultimate goals for the project. You can gain a lot of insight into being in someone’s space, by looking at what colours they surround themselves with, what little objects, art or life tools they have around them, and whether they have lots of layers in their decorating, or a more minimal approach to things. This all informs out picture of their preferences which we absolutely incorporate into our design process.
One of our starting points when it comes to designing a space is to look at the function of the spaces and whether there is a good sense of flow and consistency throughout the home. We may suggest some structural changes or adapting the layout of the rooms if this is a sticking point, after which we can look at the rooms individually.
We always consider the architectural qualities of each space and work with these to enhance the rooms. For example if there is a room that gets no natural light and always feels dark and cold, we would suggest using deep rich warm colour on the walls, layering soft lighting and adding tactile textures to make it a really cosy inviting space whilst honouring the built environment.
What would be your biggest tip when choosing an interior designer to work with?
We would always recommend a face to face meeting with any potential designer you are looking at, if possible. The service we offer as interior designers is so personal to each client as we are creating the homes they live in, and therefore compatibility from both an aesthetic and personality perspective is a key factor to consider.
It is really important that the client can fully trust in the process and in order to do so they need to feel safe and confident with their chosen designer. It’s also helpful to be aligned with the design style, so make sure you look at previous projects and don’t be afraid to ask questions. We always work closely with our clients to incorporate as much of their personality and style into each project, but it’s always better to love the examples of their work in order to be inspired and be able to trust that they can deliver a beautiful end result.
Which pieces in a home are worth investing in?
We often find that bespoke storage is one area for consideration that is often overlooked. By incorporating clever solutions it’s possible to totally change the look and feel of a space whilst also offering necessary practical solutions. Another frequent investment we suggest is making small architectural changes to improve the home. Recently we reconfigured an entrance hall to open up a passageway to link the key living spaces on the ground floor level. By doing this we improved both function and flow throughout the home, as well as creating a visually interesting space that doubles up as a vase room.
Tell us about a recent project
To date our favourite projects have been the renovation of two local pubs, a Georgian townhouse, and a child’s bedroom where we used joinery and hidden storage to create a little bed nook that can offer practical solutions as well as a really lovely space for someone to spend time in.
We are currently in the end stages of designing a lovely 5 bedroom Victorian ‘cottage’ in Monmouthshire that has involved extensive internal renovation and reconfiguration. We have opened up the main entrance hall to have a double height void as the ceiling heights in the original part of the house were very low. This creates a great impactful space as you come into the building. We have also incorporated some more contemporary details such as a large pocket sliding door opening onto the main entrance hall from the open plan kitchen/dining areas, in order to allow these rooms to feel more integrated, and yet it can also be closed off to create a more private setting when needed.
We are also about to photograph a recently completed family home in the Cotswolds where the client wanted lots of playful elements throughout the home which we achieved by throwing out the rule book on colour and pattern. This project is a good example of how we work closely with our clients to deliver a brief that is totally theirs, as we don’t have an ‘in house’ set formula for our designs. Watch this space for those pictures!
What interior trends can you foresee for 2023/2024?
Wall paper trims and little decorative accents are getting ever more popular as they are a brilliant way to bring in some colour and pattern without the full commitment and spend of a full room of wallpaper.
With a new legal responsibility to not ‘greenwash’ with the use of terms such as ‘sustainable’, ‘eco’, ‘green’, there will be a shift within these areas of design, through more emphasis being put back onto biophilic design and solutions that promote health and wellbeing.
We are also seeing more warm neutrals being used across the board, stepping away from the fifty shades of grey we saw in recent times.
What do you think makes a house a home?
This is such a key aspect of what we do. It’s not until we layer the spaces we design with all the decorative pieces and everyday items, that our interiors take on a human element which is the most important factor for creating the sense of ‘home’, avoiding the sense of the house being a showroom.
Whether it’s photographs, artwork, an old coffee table handed down from one generation to the next, or some heirloom crockery, it all adds up to make the house a home.
Can you share a few favourite independent interiors brands?
For paint colours we love Atelier Ellis, who have the most beautifully rich tones and depth of colour, and it’s all hand mixed in their workshop in Bath. For antiques and decorative items we love the independent antique and homewares shops in Tetbury which are a real treasure trove of finds. Griffin Mill in Stroud is also a great little vintage and antiques spot for snooping around and finding some real gems. Medium Room is an invaluable spot for affordable artwork.
What are your interior pet peeves or style no-nos?
We tend to shy away from feature walls, as these tend to break up a room rather than creating an integrated space.
Favourite colour?
We are loving Atelier Ellis ‘Khadi’ for a warm neutral, and Josephine Munsey ‘Ham Pink’ for a lovely plaster colour that sits in the mid-tone range.
Where do you get your design inspiration from?
Inspiration is all around us, whether it’s a beautiful old door handle, something in nature or the way light spills into a room, we can find creativity in most moments. And nothing beats going to a National Trust property for endless inspiration.
Working with a lot of older Cotswolds houses, what are you tips for successfully blending old and new?
We love how layering both antique and contemporary pieces of furniture creates a really dynamic and authentic interior which feels like it’s always been a part of the fabric of the home. It’s also key to consider architectural detail - the appropriate size skirting board and cornice for the era of the property, along with the internal door style and window details are all really important when considering the overall interior scheme. These can all inform our approach on the pieces we choose and how we blend them together.
Which interiors do you admire?
Our go-to designers for inspiration at the moment are Kelly Wearstler for big impactful interiors that push the boundaries, Pierre Yovanovitch for beautifully considered spaces, and Soho Home for great pieces of contemporary furniture that draw inspiration from a wealth of different ears and disciplines.
What should people consider when revamping a room?
First and foremost we would always recommend looking at the layout and functionality of the spaces, to make sure the home is working in the best way it can. Once this has been considered, it is key to work with the natural element of the space; light, volume, and window and doorway positions are all key aspects to bear in mind.
