There is a question that arrives, in some form, in almost every brief Studio Akiva receives for a period property: how much of what's already here do we keep?

The way British homeowners work with interior designers has shifted significantly in recent years. Where professional design once meant a series of in-home visits, lengthy lead times, and fees that placed it firmly in luxury territory, the online model has changed the calculation entirely. Today, a homeowner anywhere in the UK can work with a studio of genuine calibre, receive photo real 3D concepts of their home, and procure beautifully specified furniture, all without a designer ever needing to set foot through the front door.

There is a particular kind of London flat that torments its owners. It has the bones, the ceiling height, the industrial windows, the sense that something extraordinary is lurking inside, and yet, every morning, it greets them with magnolia walls and laminate flooring. Potential, cruelly withheld.

A characterful Victorian terrace in NW3 held every material promise, high ceilings, bay windows, a generous garden, yet fell short of a singular vision. Studio Akiva redesigned the floor plan entirely, relocated the kitchen, rebuilt the bathroom from studwork, and saved the client £1,900 through trade procurement.

In a world that often prioritises perfection, symmetry, and polished finishes, a quieter, more soulful design movement is taking centre stage—Wabi-Sabi interior design.

As we move from February into March, many UK homeowners start to feel it, that urge to open the windows, let the light in, and shake off winter’s heaviness. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a full renovation to transform your home for spring.

Surface Design Show is one of the best places to see new surface materials up close think flooring, cladding, natural stone, and innovative interior/exterior finishes, all in one place. The 2026 edition runs 3–5 February at London’s Business Design Centre.