A Conversation with Bekki Stovell from Steele & Stovell
Here is an interesting design studio based in Surrey, Kent we really liked. Steele & Stovell build brands with soul for businesses with soul, incorporating print, digital and interior design. Their projects are beautiful, and share a similar ethos to Hayche, working on projects they feel passionate about. We really liked the fact they work on the whole branding of a company, and even offer interior design services.
We had a brief conversation with Bekki Stovell, Creative Director of the brand.
Hayche: What inspired you to be an interior designer?
Bekki: I have always loved spending time in beautiful hotels, sitting in pretty coffee shops and eating in stylish restaurants. There's something so special about being in an environment where every aspect has been considered specifically for your enjoyment - whether that's to transport you to another country, to help you feel relaxed, or to create the right atmosphere for a big social gathering. Designing these spaces is such a privilege - something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember.
Hayche: If they were to make a toy action figure of you, what would your accessory be?
Bekki: A paintbrush. I'm never without one! I trained as an illustrator so I always have a few paintbrushes and a little watercolour palette in my bag. We're also renovating our house and studio at the moment, so I feel like I'm always painting something!
Hayche: To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life within the design world has taken?
Bekki: I feel like I've always known I would be working in design one day, but was never quite sure how I'd get there or what my role would be. I just kept doing the things I was good at, with the hope that one day I'd be able to make a living from them. I think it's really exciting that design roles can be so fluid now and can take on whatever form you'd like them to - the fact that I've been able to bring together my two loves (branding and interior design) means I have a job that I adore and can't wait to get into the studio every morning.
Hayche: What would be your dream interior project?
Bekki: We would love to design a new concept for Costa Coffee. The current brown and burgundy combo feels a little tired and it's definitely time for a refresh (Costa, if you're reading this, give us a shout - we have lots of ideas!).
Hayche: What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
Bekki: There's also something so appealing about the fact that you never know what your next project will be. One day we can be working on a brand for a Michelin Star restaurant, and the next it's for a farmer in the Herefordshire countryside. Our design ethos is about uncovering the soul of a business and reflecting that in the aesthetic choices we make for them. We pull in heaps of texture, quality craftsmanship and character. By bringing together strategy, interior design and branding all under one roof, we create huge impact and a completely cohesive brand offering for businesses.
Hayche: If you could go back in time and speak to your adolescent self, what advice would you give them about the design world?
Bekki: Have faith in your gut feeling. Whether that's a gut reaction to a space, an instinct about a project, or a feeling that something will work when others are telling you it won't - stick at it, you're probably right!