As she cuts the ribbon on her new studio and showroom - where clients can see everything from product samples to inspirational room sets in the flesh - founder Leigh Hall explains why Strive for Design is a truly a one-of-a-kind interiors service

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Walk into the new Strive for Design studio and showroom in Newmarket and you can’t fail to be wowed. Laid out like a series of interlinking rooms, it takes you from bespoke, Italian-made kitchens, glittering with statement lighting and marble countertops, through to bath and wetrooms fit for a five-star hotel, fitted with sculptural tubs and basins, tactile tiles and luxe brassware. Every space is not only stunning, but singularly inviting too; if you could move in, you would.

Since it launched in 2016, Strive for Design has become known for producing interiors as luxurious as they are liveable. It’s grown from a small bricks-and-mortar and e-shop, selling furniture, accessories, lighting and mirrors, to a one-stop interiors service, offering everything from product sales and sourcing to design and project management.

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The new showroom, which opens officially on January 10 with visits by appointment, is the culmination of a long-held vision for founder Leigh Hall. “I started the business when all the children had gone to secondary school or left home and I thought ‘It’s time to do something for me’,” she explains.

“I always had the vision for what I wanted the business to be, providing everything from individual pieces right up to a complete design and delivery service. But it’s only in the last couple of weeks, seeing this new studio come together, that I’ve realised it’s actually happened. I feel very proud of that.”

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Allowing clients to get a feel for the brands Leigh works with - there are more than 350 in total, spanning bathroom giants Gerberit, Crosswater and Vitra through to Ralph Lauren, Designers Guild, Romo, Cole & Son, James Hare, Harlequin - the showroom also includes an integral studio space.

Starting with their likes, dislikes and requirements for their rooms - do they have a preferred colour scheme? existing furniture to incorporate? - this is where a client can talk to Leigh and her team about their project and also see it come to life via sampling trays, shopping lists and 2D or 3D visuals on a large TV screen, depending on their chosen package.

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“There is a perception that interior designers cost a fortune and that’s just not the case with us,” says Leigh. “Whether it’s one room or a whole house, if we design a scheme for you, you get a reduced price on all the products you buy, so in fact it’s a cost-neutral service. And we have brands at every price-point, from entry level up to high-end, which means we can cater for any scale or budget of project, from Airbnb apartments and student accommodation right up to the highest end.”

Now with a team of four fellow designers, one of whom is a kitchen specialist, Leigh’s portfolio includes some incredible makeovers, including the transformation of a tired Cambridge townhouse with an outdated stained-oak entrance hall and a blank-canvas city apartment with a brief of ‘luxury London hotel’.

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“With that one, we even sourced the property: that’s another service we can offer,” says Leigh, who also works directly with joiners to create bespoke fixtures, fittings and furniture when required. “Quite honestly, there’s nothing we can’t do,” she adds.

Since the pandemic, Leigh has seen a surge of interest not only in home offices but also entertainment spaces, from bars and cinema rooms to outdoor kitchens, and in warm palettes and tactile textures: “I think we’ve all seen the potential of our home spaces to be somewhere we can truly work, rest and play,” she says.

“I’m happy every day; I love what I do,” concludes Leigh, “but the real reward comes from seeing a client’s face when they see a scheme come together and knowing they’re super-happy too. What could be better than that?”

To find out more about Strive for Design and the services available, or to book a consultation or showroom visit, go to strivefordesign.co.uk, email info@strivefordesign.co.uk or call 01223 622688.