Sophie Ashby, Founder & Creative Director

Led by its Creative Director, Sophie Ashby, Studio Ashby creates spaces with a unique identity. Ashby’s aim is to bring authenticity to each project, not only in the selection of furniture, lighting and art but in its use of a natural palette of materials and textures. Unswayed by the passing dictates of fashion, Ashby draws on her love of antiques, colour, contemporary ‘world art’, modernist furniture, photography and her latest discoveries to deliver an eclectic richness to each interior.

Studio Ashby’s relationships with artisans and craftsmen, extensive resources and continual foraging play an integral role in developing each project. Humour and a love of objects with an explicit narrative result in a carefully balanced body of work that create cohesive spaces with a sense of honesty.

Sophie broadened her design vocabulary through a BA in History of Art (Hons) at Leeds University, going on to study Interior Design at Parsons, The New School in Manhattan, New York. Her strong architectural and design sensibility developed over the following years with sound. mentorship and a personal curiosity for “beautiful things”.

Fiona Blanchot, Director

Fiona begun her career after graduating with a BA Hons in Interior Architecture. Over the past fourteen years she has worked on a vast range of high- profile projects across many industries including the luxury residential, retail and the hospitality sectors.

Since joining Studio Ashby seven years ago, Fiona has worked closely alongside Sophie on the growing the studio towards an established, medium- scale business.

Alongside the wider business strategy, Fiona has acted as Project Lead on a number of schemes, balancing her need for both a creative and technical role. She is hugely passionate about how inhabitants will experience a space, and how the team can support their movement through this with careful space planning, choice of natural materials and the final flourishes, the furniture and art.

The Team

We are a dynamic group of twelve experienced designers, working across residential and commercial interior design and creative direction in the UK, Europe and further afield.

We pride ourselves on our positive, professional and personal approach in all that we do. We work efficiently and collaboratively to bring integrity and soul to interior life.