Design Penguin Ltd

15 Reviews

Interior Designers

7 Hires on Houzz

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About Us

4x Best of Houzz winner

References available

Female owned

Award Winning Interior Designers Helping People Create Beautiful Homes

I help people create beautiful and practical living spaces that reflect their individual style and personality. Clients can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the options and complexity of transforming their homes. It all feels too difficult. My stress busting interior design packages give clients the confidence to dream big and make bold choices. We work together to create homes that are beautiful to look at and practical to live in, on time and to budget. When the work is done my clients love their new spaces and feel proud to call them home. Whole home design, sourcing and project management service: For those clients looking to fully refurbish their home, this stress-busting service takes care of everything from practical advice and creative ideas to making it happen. The full interior design package includes the look and feel for your entire home. Each design is fully costed and items sourced at trade pricing to maximise budget. Clients benefit from established partnerships with architects, trusted tradespeople and specialist upholsterers and furniture makers. We all work together to make your home beautiful and practical for the way you live. Design and sourcing service: For those clients managing their own construction or decorating works, this design and sourcing service includes practical advice and all the creative aspects needed for a beautiful result. Each design is fully costed and once designs are approved a written handover is prepared for your builder or decorator. Items are sourced at trade pricing to maximise your budget, and once the work is done made to measure items such as blinds and curtains are installed. Consultancy services: A range of by the hour consultancy services are available to help you with small projects, prepare for a refurbishment that you’ll do yourself, or provide some finishing touches. Please get in touch with us about your next project, I'd love to hear from you.

Services Provided

Bathroom Design, Bedroom Design, Complete Kitchen Renovation, Design Consultation, Dining Room Design, Floor Plans, Furniture Selection, House Plans, Interior Design, Interior Styling, Kids' Room Design, Kitchen Design, Lighting Design, Living Room Design, Made to Measure Blinds, Nursery Design, Playroom Design, Project Management, Shower Room Design, Space Planning, Utility Room Design, Wardrobe Design, Home Office Design, Kitchen Renovation, Storage & Wardrobe Design, Whole home refurbishment

Areas Served

London, Richmond, Wimbledon, Chiswick, Southfields, Putney, Fulham, Kensington, Ealing, Wandsworth, Clapham, Surrey, Berkshire

12 Projects

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in London.

Wimbledon Whole Home Refurbishment

London, Greater London

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Surrey.

Whole home refurbishment

Ottershaw, Surrey

Medium sized contemporary enclosed living room in London with white walls, medium hardwood flooring, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Elegant Sitting Room

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary home in London.

Business Details

Business Name

Design Penguin Ltd

Phone Number

07479 273060

Website

www.design-penguin.co.uk

Address

47 West Kensington Mansions
London, Greater London W14 9PF
United Kingdom

Typical Job Cost

£15,000 - £1 million

Fees for design packages are scoped to each project, starting from £7,000 plus VAT for a whole home refurbishment, and £11,000 + VAT for whole home refurbishment with project management.

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77 Followers

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Credentials

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Featured Review

Amanda

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15 Reviews for Design Penguin Ltd

Newest first

5.0|15 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

5.0

Amanda

Nicola is amazing! We were going through a large renovation, loft conversion/extension as well as a kitchen extension on a house which hadn't been touched for 30+yrs so every room needed redecorating. This was overwhelming so we decided to use an interior designer to help take the stress away. We initially used another, well know, local company and the service was terrible and they just presented us back our Pinterest board so we quickly parted company with them. I was then recommended Nicola and the difference was amazing. She really took the time to understand who we are as people and what kind of look we wanted. We really enjoyed the design process, looking at colours, fabrics, etc and then Nicola went away and came back with a professional presentation of what she was suggested and it was amazing. She was super flexible and always came up with other options if we wanted tweaks here and there and there were items beyond our budget, which was getting tighter as we went through the build process. We are super happy with every room and it's all thanks to Nicola. If you want to the stress of this part taken away from you, then I can't recommend Nicola enough. She is super friendly, engaging and professional and really knows what she is talking about. She also gets great discounts from large retail brands, as well as small, e.g. John Lewis, Heals, Rocket St George, paining companies and lighting companies and the discounts more than cover the cost of using her services. I'm more than happy to talk to anyone who is thinking of using Nicola's services. Amanda & Nick

6 September, 2022

Comment from Design Penguin Ltd:

Thank you so much for your lovely review and for giving me the opportunity to design your home with you. Walking into your building site was a great challenge, you and Nick were brilliant to work with - open, communicative, collaborative and brave. It's been a joy.

Sarah Palit

We worked with Nicola to redesign our downstairs space including kitchen, dining room, pantry and loo/utility. After talking to several designers - we chose to work with Nicola as she really took the time to understand us as people and what we were looking for. And in particular, she explained a clear and detailed design and execution process that made us feel both reassured and excited to start. We wanted to redesign our space with great aesthetics but also some very specific requests including incorporating a dining space a sofa and central hob in a relatively confined space! We weren’t sure how it could work and Nicola provided us with several suitable designs, one of which we loved - and have found works perfectly for us in practice. We particularly enjoyed the design process where Nicola talked through what we’d like and then spent time showing us samples and colours for us to pick from- it was really exciting! Nicola’s mood boards, designs, and clear budgeting process also helped us to make decisions on what we’d like- and she was always forthcoming for alternatives if there were options we felt weren’t quite right for us. Nicola has been friendly and approachable to work with, always available to speak with when any (inevitable) issues appeared. Nicola also introduced us to a fantastic building company, who have been very reliable, friendly and carried out excellent quality work. We are absolutely delighted with the results- Nicola brought our dream kitchen to life, with design ideas we’d never have thought of. Comments from our friends have included “I’m very jealous of your house”, and “this looks great - no offence but it’s very obvious you guys didn’t come up with this yourselves”. We’d highly recommend Nicola to friends and family looking to redesign their properties and hope have the opportunity to work with Nicola again ourselves. Sarah and Steve

9 January, 2022

Comment from Design Penguin Ltd:

Thank you Sarah and Steve for such a wonderful review, it was an absolute pleasure to work with you both. You took some true leaps of faith and I'm so glad that you love your home. Wishing you many years of happiness there.

LAEONA MCGRATH

It was a pleasure to work with Nicola. She made the process so easy and fitted visits to us in around our work (& life) schedules. We now have a room that we love - and one which is both comfortable for family use and smart enough for entertaining!

8 October, 2021

David Oudot

I cannot recommend Design Penguin and Nicola highly enough. I moved into my new place at the beginning of 2021 and Nicola and me had an email chat to get started before her then coming over to survey and measure my place, and have an in-depth discussion with me about who I am, what I like, my budget, my furniture likes and wants, before going away and thinking everything through. She then sent me a gorgeous presentation of the furniture she had chosen for each of the rooms and told me the reasoning behind it, and it was love at first sight. Every choice was great, fit snugly into the budget, and then she backed that up with details of where they were coming from, the special prices she had got for them, and estimated time of deliveries. Further down the line we chatted about one piece I was unsure about and a light that didn't physically fit into my second bedroom, and she acknowledged and understood what I needed and found a perfect replacement for both straight away. My particular favourite was that she felt it necessary to have custom-made shelving built into my wall in the main living area, and arranged for a local carpenter's firm to do so. They too were great people and the end result of the shelving (along with them repainting my wine rack to match the shelves, and a two-part cubby to be installed into the wall for my Sky Q box) was the pièce de résistance. This massive refurb was all done within three months, matched the budget, and it will last with me forever. If you're looking for a re-design of your home then you really should speak to Design Penguin... then thank me later.

23 April, 2021

Comment from Design Penguin Ltd:

Thank you so much David, for your wonderful feedback, and most importantly for being a great client. Thoughtful engagement, a clear brief and collaborative approach - I couldn't ask for more in a client. So happy you are happy, all the best, Nicola

Sixth Sense Renovations

We have worked together with Nicola on refurbishments and complete renovations in London and Greater London. She has always been very professional and always prepped with an abundance of knowledge and solutions and her taste is absolutely fantastic! Nicola has an understanding and friendly approach to the projects and we really can’t recommend her expertise enough.

13 June, 2020

Kathryn Bayers

Nicola is fantastic to work with. She takes the time to understand you personal taste and your needs for your space. I've worked with her a few times on projects of various sizes and every time she's saved me money, even after accounting for her fees. I've saved time, money and had a better result because I hired her. Couldn't recommend enough.

28 January, 2020

Comment from Design Penguin Ltd:

Thanks Kathryn, its always a pleasure to work with you. Onwards to the next house!

Elham Peyfoon

I approached Nicola Taylor from Design Penguin for a redecoration for my son’s room who is 6. Nicola asked detailed questions about Ryan’s hobbies and interests , his favourite colours and his character. She personally visited Ryan’s room and took all required measurements. She then came back to me with drawings and new design idea on the paper and the detailed list of the new furnitre for Ryan’s new room. She also included all the costs and managed to keep the costs within our budget. We are very happy with the services we receievd from Nicola and will surly use her design services in future. I highly recommend Nicola from Design Penguin. Elham Peyfoon

9 July, 2019

Comment from Design Penguin Ltd:

Thank you Elham, it was a pleasure to work with you and Ryan, and see his excitement. He is definitely a football fan!

lucy baird

I asked Nicola for help in refreshing my flat. Last time it was painted it was mainly white with a touch of colour in the bedrooms. Nicola devised the colour palette for all rooms, making sure they complimented each other beautifully. She introduced me to new suppliers and possibilities, I couldn't be happier with the result. She also sourced all the materials and helped manage the process. Delighted with my very pretty tones and keep catching myself staring at the results! She is very efficient and there is no interior design waffle! Straight talking and excellent to work with.

9 July, 2019

Comment from Design Penguin Ltd:

Hi Lucy, great working with you and so glad you are happy with the new colours. Thank you for all your input and your bravery in trying something new and bold

Hen Ox

I had been meaning to renovate my bathroom for years, but had no idea where to begin. I met Nicola, and I really liked her honest and straightforward approach. She immediately got a good understanding of the layout i wanted, and importantly the style. She got back to me when she said she would - and her designs were 100% what i wanted (I did not make a single change). She sourced all the furniture and fittings, and made the whole experience a joy. The project is now finished, and i could not be happier. i cannot recommend NIcola and Design Penguin more highly.

20 December, 2016

Woven

Design Penguin were a pleasure to do business with. Nicola, who heads up Design Penguin, was understanding and articulate when explaining her clients rug needs. She has a friendly, outgoing personality which will always encourage me to go the extra mile for her whenever we do business. Her creative sense is second to none and I highly recommend her.

9 November, 2016

Amanda Lewis

We were moving in to a new build and wanted some help to make it feel like our own rather than just the bland feeling a new build typically has. We had also been renting before so didn't own much in the way of furniture. Nicola really got to know us and our tastes, which meant that when she presented her ideas to us we absolutely loved them. She ordered everything and was on site for deliveries, managed the suppliers etc. This took so much stress out of moving especially when my husband and I work full time and also have a little boy to manage! Nicola is passionate about what she does and manages everything closely to a timetable and budget. She really made things happen quickly and took full control which was exactly what we needed. We have been living in our new place for a month now and we absolutely love it. It feels like home. Nicola has done such an amazing job and we are immensely happy with the outcome. Thank you Nicola!

3 October, 2016

franguyfranguy

Nicola aka Design Penguin listened to our vague ideas about what we wanted for our nursery crystallised them and came back with beautiful drawings and a wonderful colour pallette, perfect for a nursery, but non specific enough to take the room through to another use when and if the baby moves to a bigger room. We ran out of time and budget for some of the built in cupboard work, including a built in changing station, but that was our call and no reflection on Nicola - they were great ideas, with detailed designs and samples provided.

31 August, 2016

deborah_lewis6

Wonderful service, effective design and solutions, attention to detail and lots of fun along the way. I would recommend Design Penguin for any home development project large or small.

28 August, 2016

Flumps Flumpton

I used Design Penguin to transform my living room space as I was looking to set up an office space in my living room that didn’t interfere with still using it for relaxing and eating. Nicola was brilliant she listened to my needs and took time to understand what I was trying to achieve. I was delighted with the inspiration she provided and it has completely transformed my living space, finding room I didn’t know I had and picked themes and furniture that completely matches the way I want the room to make me feel. Additionally Nicola provided me with multiple cost versions to help me achieve what I needed on a budget. Nicola was also extremely knowledgeable about the structural constrains of my project and the results were beautiful. I would highly recommend Design Penguin to anyone looking to transform a space in their home. Danielle Morgan St Margarets

11 April, 2016

Michael White

Nicola of Design Penguin worked with us to fulfill the vision of having a snug come cinema room. The property is a cottage and we didn't want to loose the feeling of this whilst still achieving a modern fit for purpose space to immerse ourselves in a movie experience. She listened to our desires for dark walls and a bright mustard sofa, sourced all the items and provided drawings to really help visualise the final scheme. What was brilliant was how she repurposed existing objects into the scheme, the WOW which we literally saved as it was being ripped from the side of the local woolworths building works brilliantly on the over sized shelving and dimmable strip lighting. Working well too with the gold wall lights which make the space both snug and opulent the items Nicola sourced were all spot on. She presented the scheme really clearly and was open to change, but we didn't make any changes! The total project was a complete rip out and start again (so the project costs represent this) and Nicola understood this and was patient and flexible to listen to slight alterations once the scheme was at the final stages, for example Roman blinds felt better suited to the space at the last hurdle, and Nicola worked with us to find just the right pattern and material. We are discussing a complete new kitchen next... Looking forward to engaging Design Penguin again!

2 April, 2016

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21 Comments

Commented: Hallway and Landing Decor DilemmaFor a cleaner and more contemporary look, you could paint the architraves and skirting the same colour as the wall, or perhaps a vairant in a slightly darker tone.

28 February, 2019 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Sourcing UPVC Sash windowsGlad to hear you are also considering timber. I am probably going to start a riot now from the UPVC advocates, but I am talking from personal experience here. If you are going to install UPVC, please ...

15 April, 2016 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Refurbish or skip?The chairs and table are lovely - with different fabric you would be onto a winner. Building on the Orla K idea above how about recovering them with some of her fabric? Couple of metres and a staple...

14 April, 2016 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Which subway tile size for kitchen splashback?Happy to help. Your kitchen planner or interior designer will work from industry standard measurements for the height of the counter and where the cupboards should be positioned for the reach of an av...

5 April, 2016 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Help!!! Off-white hex floor tiles clash with white wall tiles/plumbingThose options could work very well. My point is you need to see it yourself before committing. And only you can see it in situ against the bright white of the sanitaryware and in the lighting conditio...

5 April, 2016 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Looking for a light dusky grey blue paint in UKHello Claire - Blackened by Farrow and Ball is very light, with a hint of blue grey. It has beautiful tones. You mention that the light isn't great - is it north facing by any chance? If so, you ma...

5 April, 2016 in Design Dilemma

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