Natural Elegance by These White Walls

​​These White Walls was founded in 2017 and was born with a concept-driven and extremely multidisciplinary approach to the project. These themes are, actually, key elements in the backstory of its founder Rose Murray: starting from her academic background in Anthropology, she also worked as a scenographer and stylist.

The studio’s approach is based on offering clients something unique, designing projects in which the artistic and artisanal components are dropped in a contemporary context. The final result is a highly refined environment, in which natural elements are combined with bespoke finishes, studied in detail to interpret the client’s needs.

Read our interview with Rose and discover her extraordinarily innovative vision.

​How did you first become involved in the world of design? Tell us your story.

My background involved studying Anthropology rather than design, so my compulsion to create has always been driven by an interest in how our lived experience can be redefined by the spaces we inhabit. I spent a decade working across creative industries - as a scenographer, stylist and designer - before setting up my own studio in 2017. That multidisciplinary background definitely informed my particular practice. In 2018 we launched our first project, HIDE in London’s Mayfair which attracted our current clientele of private residential and commercial hospitality clients from across the globe.

​How would you describe your personal style and what’s the personal signature that makes your projects unique?

I would describe my style as boldly elegant, with an unconventional beauty to it. I take a tripartite approach to my work, exploring the elements of Narrative, Materials and Artistry within every scheme, harmonising them into a cohesive whole.

Are there any specific trends that you’re currently blending in your practice?

The pillars of my practice are timeless, so I am less swayed by stylistic trends and more interested in how they can inform each new aesthetic in a manner that best reflects our changing needs and desires. Right now, the trend toward connecting technology with wellbeing is particularly important, so in one of our projects we are looking at how the lighting can both illuminate and help sync with our circadian rhythm.

​Where do you draw inspiration for your projects?

From life offline, and the vast texture of experience within it!

What’s the decorative piece you enjoy the most selecting or styling for your clients and why?

A chair is often vital within a scheme; it needs to make the right stylistic statement when standing alone, and equally needs to serve the user’s experience in an intimate way - to literally hold its subject in a manner that appropriately settles them into the experience. We work closely with chairmakers on a number of our schemes to ensure that the furniture is tailored correctly. At HIDE for example, I introduced rocking chairs to a few of the dining spaces, because I wanted to bring a sense of informality to the fine dining experience. They had to be carefully tailored to suit the commercial environment - it was an atypical move, and has proved particularly popular.

​What would be your dream project to work on?

I’d love to work on a castle, or a heritage building that needed a new narrative twist. The tension between the classical and the contemporary is something I would be keen to explore further.

Do you have an interior design master that you look up to?

I am inspired by Eileen Gray, who’s designs - be it in products or spaces - always communicated a quiet contemplation and an original expression.

What epoque inspires you the most in terms of aesthetic?

The future - it has so much potential!