In Conversation with Claudia Urvois Interior Design

Claudia Urvois is an Interior Designer with over fifteen years of experience. She strongly believes in genuinely listening to and understanding her client’s needs and in turn, developing the most appropriate and exciting solutions within time frame & budget.

After working on both commercial and residential projects in Paris and Shanghai within well established high-end design agencies, Claudia Urvois has now established her own practice in London

Current projects consist of a mix of commercial and residential projects some needing a light refurbishment to complete makeovers. The studio handles the whole process from Planning Applications, Party Wall agreements, finding the suitable contractors, and delivering the completed project. 


What inspired you to be an interior designer?

I went from studying History of Architecture in Chicago, which was a fascinating city to be studying that subject, to Product Design at Central Saint Martin's in London. 

My older sister was already a fully trained architect by then, and we started working together on our personal projects, while both working full time within large design studios. 

At first, I worked on doing bespoke furniture and joinery drawings for her, and little by little I started doing more of the interior spatial layout as well. This shift also started happening in my main job, and I just naturally transitioned into Interior Design. 

If they were to make a toy action figure of you, what would your accessory be?

A magic wand. 

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life within the design world has taken?

It was a sort of coherent transition. While studying for my Art History degree I really struggled with my writing and carried on with a degree in Product Design at Central Saint Martin's.

I worked freelance for a year on kettles, tableware, fashion accessories, etc... Then I started working for an Interior design agency who had its own furniture range. I was hired to work on their product design and was then moved on to Interiors Design projects.

It was such a relief! I found product design so intense and detailed, whereas Interior Design was not as contrived, it was more about movement within space, 
the way light enters into a building, the way materials and colours affect the feeling in the environment. I knew then, that Interiors was what I really wanted to do, 
with the benefit of being able to design furniture, lights, and bespoke items when it was suitable for projects.

 

What would be your dream interior project?

There would be so many! The beauty of this profession is partly thanks to the fact that each project is different due to its location, brief, budget, etc... 

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

I try and make sure the project is the best fit for my client, not for myself. I am not the one who is either going to live or work in that space, they will be. 

If you could go back in time and speak to your adolescent self, what advice would you give them about the design world?

Go out and explore the world as much as you can - inspiration is everywhere! 



Claudia Urvois Interior Design

www.claudia-urvois.com

@Claudia.urvois.interior.design

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All photos were taken by Taran Wilkhu, photo courtesy of Claudia Urvois