In Conversation with Interior Designer Clare Morton
A forward-thinking design studio that's driven by a creative, innovative and thoughtful approach. Offering its clients a friendly professional service from concept to completion, bespoke kitchen and product design.
What inspired you to be an interior designer?
Since I can remember I've had an affinity towards design and aesthetics. My dad, although retired now, is an architect, so I was certainly influenced at a young age through visits to his studio. His drawings were all completed by hand back then, an attribute that I've also adopted as I love the tactile quality it evokes.
If they were to make a toy action figure of you, what would your accessory be?
Well if Batman has his bat-mobile, I have my Volvo estate! She's getting on a bit now, but an integral clog when working on a project. There's usually a tape measure roaming about the bottom of my bag too.
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life within the design world has taken?
My ambition has always been to have my own studio, this has manifested itself through a series of preludes. After graduating from art school, I saved up and bought my first flat, which I then converted myself. This gave me the means to develop this further with several more properties. Having gained the experience and confidence, I set up my design studio over two years ago now, with the intent of applying the skills I had learnt to a client based market. I've been incredibly fortunate to have worked on a series of creative and rewarding projects from the get-go and have recently started developing my own product line with a talented furniture maker.
What would be your dream interior project?
A lakeside cabin/resort somewhere outside Stockholm has always been a dream, giving me the opportunity to indulge in my love of minimal timber designs.
What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
Having a background in art has certainly equipped me with skills that can be applied, such as being able to visualise and contextualise a space, experimenting with colour palettes and compositions. Having a lateral sensibility and being able to think outside the box helps when unexpected problems arise.
If you could go back in time and speak to your adolescent self, what advice would you give them about the design world?
You create your own opportunities, you have to put the hours in even if this means working throughout the night to meet deadlines. Don't get too comfortable, always keep pushing yourself and your boundaries. Finally, just to stay curious, be aware of what's going on in your social environment, whether it be cultural, political, music, art, fashion, there's an inspiration all around.
Clare Morton interior design studio
Website: www.claremorton.com
Instagram: @claremorton_designstudio
-Photo courtesy of Clare Morton