MANUELA HAMILFORD
ICON OF TOMORROW
Manuela Hamilford began her career renovating friends’ houses, gradually building her skills and vision into what is now Hamilford Design. With Italian roots, early professional experience in New York, and now a London base, she has shaped a practice recognised for relaxed luxury and a natural, effortless sophistication.
Her portfolio stretches from London townhouses, country estates to luxury restaurants, but its most ambitious project to date is a major renovation contract for one of the capital’s most prestigious luxury hotels. This move into hospitality marks an exciting new chapter for the studio, expanding its reputation beyond private homes and placing Manuela firmly on the international design stage.
Her rise from self-taught beginnings to large-scale commissions highlights a talent with both authenticity and momentum, an emerging voice reshaping the landscape of contemporary luxury.
Q: Manuela, congratulations on being named one of OLISE’s Icons of Tomorrow. How does it feel to be recognised in this way?
It’s a real honour. I’ve always been motivated by the work itself - the clients, the craft, the problem solving - so to be acknowledged by a publication that champions design talent is so special. It also feels like a moment to pause and reflect, which is something I don’t often do, as my life is so fast paced.
Q: Your journey into design wasn’t the traditional route. Looking back now, what do you think shaped your eye the most?
I’ve always paid attention to how spaces make me feel, even long before I worked in design. Travelling, living in different cities, being exposed to different ways of living and those experiences shaped my instincts. I’ve always loved materials, layouts, atmospheres. You build your eye over years, just by living, without realising that’s what you’re doing.
Q: Is there a design risk or bold decision you took early in your career that changed things for you?
Saying yes to projects that challenged me a little. Fifteen years ago, there were a few early residential projects where the scope was more ambitious than anything I’d done before, but leaning into them pushed my confidence and expanded what the studio could take on.
And more recently, stepping into hospitality design has been a big turning point. It’s a different scale and presents a new set of challenges, but is incredibly rewarding. It’s a great feeling to entertain friends at a restaurant that I have designed myself.
Q: With such a diverse portfolio, how do you ensure each project feels distinct?
We start with people and how they live, rather than having a strict studio style. We look at how someone lives, what they need from their home and that shapes everything. We also design around the area the property sits in, for example our Woodland Estate project uses locally sourced materials and we drew heavily from the natural surroundings, when putting together the palette and textures.
When you take your inspiration from the client and the space, no two projects end up looking the same.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about the way you design?
How physical our process is. We map layouts at full scale with tape on the floor. We put together schemes where clients can touch and hold the fabrics and pieces. We test sightlines and light paths on site. Of course we use CGIs and digital tools but we rely heavily on the physical space and how it feels.
Q: What excites you most about the next chapter for Hamilford Design?
The range of projects we’re working on - we’re stepping beyond residential and becoming more involved in commercial projects and luxury hotel restaurants. Also, the residential projects are also becoming more complexed, which is exciting. We’re installing wellness centres and wine rooms, elaborate car garages and different kinds of spaces. I’m excited to keep pushing, but also keeping the ethos of our studio.
We’re at a point where we can take on projects that align closely with our values, and that’s a wonderful place to be.
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