Emma Sims Hilditch

Emma Sims Hilditch came to interior design from a career in film production, and in 2009 founded Sims Hilditch — now one of the UK's most recognised studios for elegant British country and city living. The practice has been singled out as a top design firm by House & Garden, Country Life and Spear's.

British interior designer and founder of the acclaimed interior-design studio Sims Hilditch.

Course

How to Be A Successful Interior Designer

Filmed across a series of stunning locations – from Emma’s own Cotswold home and the Sims Hilditch design studio, to a beautiful 17th century manor house, as well as Sims Hilditch’s acclaimed WOW!house room-set design at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour – the course offers a rare insight into the creative and professional world of one of Britain’s most respected interior designers. Emma offers candid advice for aspiring designers on education, finding first clients and building a distinctive studio brand. She also shares practical guidance on project workflows, client relationships, scaling a business and insights shaped by more than 30 years at the helm of a successful practice.

Lesson plan — 44 lessons
01 Introduction
  1. Welcome to the course
    01 Welcome to the course
  2. Meet Emma
    02 Meet Emma
  3. The philosophy of design
    03 The philosophy of design
  4. Inspired by travel
    04 Inspired by travel
02 The School House
  1. Introducing The School House
    05 Introducing The School House
  2. The hall
    06 The hall
  3. The barn
    07 The barn
  4. The kitchen
    08 The kitchen
  5. Connecting the outside spaces
    09 Connecting the outside spaces
  6. Top tips
    10 Top tips
03 The WOW!house
  1. The brief
    11 The brief
  2. Layout and finishes
    12 Layout and finishes
  3. Light, colour and details
    13 Light, colour and details
04 The design process
  1. Stage 1 - Appraisal and brief
    14 Stage 1 - Appraisal and brief
  2. Stage 2 - Concept design
    15 Stage 2 - Concept design
  3. Stage 3 - Developed design
    16 Stage 3 - Developed design
  4. Stage 4 - Technical design
    17 Stage 4 - Technical design
  5. Stage 5 - Construction support
    18 Stage 5 - Construction support
  6. Stage 6 - Procurement and installation
    19 Stage 6 - Procurement and installation
05 Design principles
  1. Design principle 1 - Space planning
    20 Design principle 1 - Space planning
  2. Design principle 2 - Scale and proportion
    21 Design principle 2 - Scale and proportion
  3. Design principle 3 - Authentic, natural materials and character
    22 Design principle 3 - Authentic, natural materials and character
  4. Design principle 4 - Function and form
    23 Design principle 4 - Function and form
  5. Design principle 5 - Natural light
    24 Design principle 5 - Natural light
  6. Design principle 6 - Sense of wellbeing
    25 Design principle 6 - Sense of wellbeing
  7. Design principle 7 - Small luxuries
    26 Design principle 7 - Small luxuries
  8. Design principle 8 - Nature
    27 Design principle 8 - Nature
  9. Design principle 9 - Lighting
    28 Design principle 9 - Lighting
06 The four pillars of business
  1. Introduction to the Sims Hilditch studio
    29 Introduction to the Sims Hilditch studio
  2. Pillar 1 - The design team
    30 Pillar 1 - The design team
  3. Pillar 2 - The project management and procurement team
    31 Pillar 2 - The project management and procurement team
  4. Pillar 3 - Marketing
    32 Pillar 3 - Marketing
  5. Pillar 4 - Finance
    33 Pillar 4 - Finance
  6. Entering the industry
    34 Entering the industry
07 A Cotswold home
  1. Introduction to the Cotswold project
    35 Introduction to the Cotswold project
  2.  Masterplan and layout
    36 Masterplan and layout
  3. The kitchen - Part 1
    37 The kitchen - Part 1
  4. The kitchen - Part 2
    38 The kitchen - Part 2
  5. The kitchen - Part 3
    39 The kitchen - Part 3
  6. The kitchen - Part 4
    40 The kitchen - Part 4
  7. The pantry
    41 The pantry
  8. The flower room
    42 The flower room
  9. The barn
    43 The barn
  10. Thank you and farewell
    44 Thank you and farewell

“I have subscribed to access all the courses so have watched one on interior design and this one with Butter Wakefield who specialises in small garden design. She has a lovely personality and comes across as being a ve...”

Louise Brown Apr 10, 2026

“I love CreateAcademy. I came in for the gardening and floristry courses, but am also watching an interior design one at present. And the photography course is an absolute must, best I've ever done.”

Wellesley Apr 1, 2026

“What a great investment, I have learned such a lot from the first three courses. My evenings have gone from not being able to find anything that captured my imagination on TV to learning and expanding my knowledge on ...”

sojojo Mar 30, 2026

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