Meet the Designer

While our show homes are all about aspirational living spaces, hotel interiors call for something different. They’re spaces that tell a story and reflect a brand all while ensuring the best guest experience.

With over 15 years at Clayton & Company, Ciara brings a unique blend of creativity, historical sensitivity, and technical know-how to every project. Her passion for period buildings, love of pattern, and eye for detail shape much of our hospitality work today.

In this blog, Ciara shares her journey into hotel design, her approach to balancing form and function, and what inspires her along the way…

Tell us about your background in design. What led to your role at Clayton & Company?

I have a degree in Modern History from Bristol University and have a particular passion for historic buildings and architecture. I put this down to my parents who liked to move and renovate properties every few years when I was growing up!

After university I enrolled in a one-year Interior Design diploma at KLC School of Design in Chelsea Harbour. It was an incredible creative environment and the perfect place to immerse myself in the industry. KLC also introduced me to many of the major brands and gave me access to the names shaping the design world, and from there, my career took off.

Straight out of KLC, I landed a role with Nina Campbell, one of the most respected names in British interior design. Working under her was a masterclass in high-end residential and hospitality design. I had the chance to work on prestigious projects both in the UK and abroad, from helping renovate Nina’s own home, ‘The Hut’, to a six-week installation in China.

During my time with Nina, I contributed to a wide range of exciting projects, including:

Rooms at the Groucho Club, Soho

Photo credit: Christian Banfield – Groucho Club

Private Dining Room at Berry Bros & Rudd, Piccadilly

Photo credit: Pinterest

Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cotswolds

Photo credit: Ellenborough Park

The New Sheridan Hotel, Telluride, Colorado

Photo credit: The New Sheridan Hotel

The Campbell Apartment, Grand Central Station, New York

Photo credit: Town & Country Magazine

After several years with Nina Campbell, I joined Clayton & Company – and 15 years later I’m still here!

How do you approach hotel design? How does it differ from designing other types of properties?

In terms of the design approach, I enjoy interiors that feel relaxed and well considered. With that in mind, the aesthetic design process is very similar whether it’s a home or a hotel – I just want to create a space people feel good in.

That said, the end user and client expectations can be very different. With residential projects you may have one or two clients to think about when designing. They’re often more emotionally invested, and it can be a deeply personal experience as you’re designing to personal tastes and needs. There’s often lots of back and forth but once you understand your client and have earned their trust, the process is smooth sailing from there.

Designing for hotels or commercial properties on the other hand can be entirely different. There are more stakeholders to keep in mind – the owner, a management company, a general manager, the hotel staff, marketing, of course, the guests. It’s a lot of people to please! Taking a clear brief and understanding the hotel’s USP early on is essential to ensuring you have a cohesive direction.

Commercial work also comes with practical demands: fire regs, tech integration, budget constraints, and layout considerations like bar capacity or how easily furniture can be moved in multi-use spaces. Plus, you’re often coordinating with architects, QS teams, and contractors.

How do you balance the functionality and aesthetics of hotel design?

As well as strong aesthetic appeal, functionality must be at the forefront of hotel design. Clients expect a 7-10 year lifespan so quality and durability are non-negotiable. In the nearly 20 years I’ve been designing for hotels, innovations in technology have significantly broadened the product ranges available. When I started, fire-retardant fabrics were usually quite unattractive, but now, there’s so much more choice that doesn’t compromise on aesthetics.

We’re always looking closely at things like rub tests, fabric composition and general suitability to ensure the product we specify will last well in a hotel environment. It’s also important to understand the clients’ expectations. Some clients like materials that wear over time, and others want finishes which will stay near-enough perfect.

Are there any common mistakes hotels make with their interiors?

Being too trend driven is a mistake. Hoteliers need high performance and long-lasting interiors, so anything too faddy or ‘on trend’ will date quickly. I’ve recently been reading about ‘slow decorating’. It’s about designers embracing a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to interiors that uses high quality materials that are built to last. This is especially important when designing for hotels.

Lighting is another area that often gets overlooked. Bad lighting can have such an impact on your design and not having the right mix of task and ambient lighting can really undermine an otherwise strong interior and how you experience it.

Uncomfortable furniture or cramped and overcrowded layouts is another mistake we see a lot – particularly in restaurants where tables can be too small or positioned too closely to other diners.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I love visiting historic homes and buildings such as National Trust and English Heritage properties and gleaning inspiration from historic furnishings and detailing.  A recent trip to Bletchley Park left me wanting to scheme with a lovely Verdigris green they had on all the woodwork.

Photo credit: Time Out Magazine

We also regularly see fabric reps with new collections and enjoy the annual design shows in London. WOW!house 2025 recently was superb, and all the team loved the courtyard room by Emma Sims Hilditch.

‘The Modern Boot Room’ by Emma Sims-Hilditch at WOW!house 2025

What’s your favourite Clayton & Company hotel project?

The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath. We were involved in the full renovation of the hotel around 10 years ago – this included 45 Bedrooms, 17 Suites and the public areas. We were invited back to revisit the Suites in the most recent refurbishment. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to look again and reimagine the same spaces with a new ‘client’ and brief in mind.

How would you describe your personal style?

Classic. I appreciate interiors which are warm, comfortable and playful. I love pattern and colour – vibrant mixtures of tones and layering of texture.  Schemes which can be added to over time to achieve a ‘collected’ aesthetic. Interesting details, great artwork and styling always help to elevate a scheme.

Photo credit: @studiopercale, @alicecrawleyinteriors, @seansymington, @alfrednewall & @deroseesa

What’s your favourite thing about being an interior designer?

I particularly enjoy the relationship you build with clients during a project. Transforming a tired and unloved interior into a living and joyful environment brings a lot of satisfaction, as does helping a client realise their vision. It’s great to be part of a moving creative process, particularly when you can collaborate with exciting and innovative suppliers.

Going forward, we can’t wait to share more of the exciting hotel projects Ciara and the team are working on. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes insights and design inspiration and don’t forget to follow us on @claytonandcompany_ or visit our website http://www.clayton.co.uk

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