The philosophy of design

The Philosophy of Design

At Sims Hilditch, we very much subscribe to a philosophical approach to design. When we take on a new project, we will always first address the 'why' before moving on to the 'how' and the 'what'.

Understanding the 'Why'

A home is a living, breathing place and full of emotion, so thinking about how you want a home to feel is central to figuring out the 'why' behind any design project.

We can use the example of entering a home; ask yourself the following questions to understand the 'why'.

• How do you want to feel as you approach the door, and what can you include to facilitate this?
• Can you make the approach to the home more comfortable with signposting, planting and lighting?
• What do you want to see when you first enter the home, and what emotion do you want to induce?

The Italian Art of 'La Bella Figura'

A concept I was introduced to on our travels around Italy, 'la bella figura' is the art of living beautifully. For me, this could be as simple as laying the table for breakfast or lighting a candle while relaxing with a book.

Beauty can have a huge impact on your mood, and so taking that bit of extra time to make part of your home or routine beautiful is vital in setting you up for a good day.

We find scent to be an incredibly important element of living beautifully and always factor this into our designs.

Biophilic Design

Wellness in the home is a big part of my design philosophy, and the concept of biophilic design really resonates with me. It's all about incorporating natural elements into your home to appeal to the senses. This could be plants for their visual appeal or the calming sounds of water. It's also about making the most of surrounding views and the natural light available.

Buy Once, Buy Well

An important lesson I learnt early on in my career was that it is really worthwhile to buy once and buy well, meaning it's always worth spending a little bit more on something that will last a lifetime.

I would encourage you to invest in the elements of your home that you're going to use every day, such as taps and door handles, and you will reap the rewards for years to come.

A Royal Philosophy

Many years ago, I was invited to visit the gardens at Highgrove. By means of a gesture of gratitude, my husband and I sent a hammock as a gift to show our appreciation. I received a personal thank you letter from King Charles himself, and within that letter, he said his aim when designing the garden at Highgrove was to 'Delight the eye, warm the heart and feed the soul.' This has been a philosophy that has stuck with me to this day and that I continue to apply within my own work.

Sourcebook

• Dr Vranjes
• Highgrove Garden tour