The Ledbury, London
Rose Murray of These White Walls on Global Projects & Creative Evolution
From her unconventional career start to becoming a visionary in luxury interiors, Rose Murray of These White Walls opens up about her design journey, creative evolution, and balancing life as a founder and mother.
Q: In 2017 you created your incredible design studio These White Walls. What led you to starting your own practice?
My background is originally in social sciences, I studied Anthropology at UCL, so in terms of the usual avenue to get here I took a rogue path! My interests were in material cultures, landscape, and the anthropology of architecture, and I initially intended to move into magazine editorials.
I took a few weeks work experience at Vogue which led to a role as stylist for Nigella Lawson. I worked with her for several years styling her cookery books and television shows, whilst also working on huge live events doing the scenography for various venues. I didn’t know at the time that building up such a broad multi-disciplinary skill set would lead me into a career in Interior Design, and onto founding my own studio, These White Walls.
Photo by Nacho Rivera
Nordelaia Resort, Cremolino, Italy
Q: Your journey into the interior design industry is very inspiring. You have shown how valuable it is to implement transferable skills from past experiences. What advice would you give to readers who are thinking of entering the industry and may have a similar start to yours?
Follow your passion and throw yourself into work that stretches you creatively and builds confidence from the start. I built my early portfolio through designing pop-ups for short-to-longer term interiors, which introduced me to a network of chefs and architects, who would often ask me to support them with conceptual designs, meet the clients and create proposals for them. It is important to up-skill yourself with the latest software, and remain curious about where the journey will take you. Always keep a strong creative vision at the fore.
HIDE, London
Q: You and your team have worked on so many exciting projects with high profile clients such as Hedonism Wines, who approached you to design their HIDE restaurant in Mayfair. Do these clients have their own sense of interior style or was this a journey you went on together?
That’s a great question, we are always led by the uniqueness of each of our clients: their desires and wants mean everything to us, and we never take a cookie-cutter approach to our design concepts. Our clients choose us because they love our design approach, our narrative-led environments, and the attention we give to sourcing and making the highest level of craftsmanship in projects. Our clients are usually international, well-travelled, and have an appreciation for the design process. They hire us because they want to engage with a designer who will take their project to the next level. It’s most certainly a journey we go on together. At TWW, we are a team of visionaries here to surprise and delight our clients, we love connecting and creating for others.
Q: Over the last seven years These White Walls has worked on projects globally, including the Middle East. Can you tell us more about your experience in this region?
Yes! It was always my intention to be a global design studio, and create a diverse portfolio working across diverse cultural and environmental contexts. I love that working in the Middle East as well as Europe as we are continually inspired by the locality and customs of that region. Working, for example, on a ground-up villa complex in the desert at the same time as a period conversion on a rural property in the UK, means that myself and the team are continually invigorated and energised by the variety of design. We are currently working on some longer-term projects, often taking two to three years, and we look forward to sharing these with OLISE Magazine when they are finished!
Q: Rose, you are a super Mummy to a little one, and run an ever expanding busy design studio. How do you juggle it all and remain energised throughout the day?
Starting my day, the right way is everything. As much as possible I will wake early whilst it is quiet and squeeze in some meditation and movement in the morning, as self-care is so important for mothers in particular. If I’m not at the studio in London then an early dog walk, or a swim can be equally meditative. Movement is an essential part of helping me to remain productive during my day, whatever the weather and wherever I am located, particularly when travel is involved.
Your energy is everything when it comes to living a busy life, leading a team and nurturing a family. My daughter has really helped to clarify a bigger vision for my work and has expanded my desire to build legacy spaces. I aim to inspire her to do what she loves, but honestly, she also inspires me so much every day.
Photo by Nacho Rivera
Q: TWW is a multi award-winning studio that creates boldly elegant interiors, with an approach focused on Art Curation. What would you like OLISE Magazine readers to know about your design approach and process?
Art Curation has become fundamental in our approach, we connect artists with the architecture of our spaces so that there is a holistic approach to the whole space and design. Our process begins with a detailed consultation where we listen to the wants and needs of our client and how they would like art to play a part in their interior. We then review the space through a site visit or architectural drawings before generating the brief.
We then move onto the conceptual phase, to create something unique and inspiring for our clients. Once the design direction is approved, we develop the schematic design which includes a curated selection of materials, textures, and finishes. We often prepare 3D visuals to help clients fully experience the proposed design before final approval.
We work closely with all contractors on the project, to ensure coordination and execution of the final design is as precise as possible and snagging is done along the way. Upon completion we get to have fun styling and accessorising the property so that all of the details are in place, ready to handover to the client.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger self starting their career, what would it be?
I’d say, "Only follow the map that unfolds from within you."
ie. You know intuitively the path that is right for you, so stick to it; don’t be swayed by the shoulds, or the opinions of those who don’t truly resonate with you, and savour the support of those who truly see you. Know that ultimately you will get where you need to go— good advice will make the ride smoother along the way!
