Sturman & Co

We used Sturman & Co to provide us with an interior masterplan for our home which included a new side and rear extension. We were particularly struggling with the ground floor as we couldn't figure out a layout that worked for us. Bess and her team spent time finding out what we wanted from our home and provided us with a detailed design which incorporated all of the things we were looking for. This included moving some internal walls to open up spaces which will make a big difference to how we use our home. We are really happy with the end results. Everyone at Sturman & Co was very easy to work with - Bess and her team are very well organised and thorough and communicated well throughout the whole process. We would recommend them!

We have been working with Bess and her team on the concept design of the renovation of our large Victorian property. We were drawn to Sturman & Co by the very pragmatic approach to design and the quality of their portfolio. The way the process is set out in phases made it very easy to understand what we were committing to at each stage. We have had a number of meetings, necessarily through Zoom these days, both with Bess and members of her team. These have allowed us to explore what we are looking for from a designer, what Sturman & Co are able to offer and latterly, what we want from our home and therefore would like to see in the concept design. For the past 90 years the house has been lived in as two separate flats and since moving in three years ago we have continued to live that way despite our desire to return the property to a single dwelling. Bess has helped us to see the potential of this property and her designs have re-captured the grandeur of the space and turned it back into a family home. She was able to help us see through our pre-conceived notions and challenge some of our less well thought through ideas in a non-confrontational way. Each room now has a purpose which will allow them to be lived in mindfully and usefully. We have been particularly pleased with the way Bess has created a parents’ zone and kids’ zone within the home. As we move from a family with children to one with young adults this will help us live alongside each other harmoniously. We look forward to continuing to work with Sturman & Co into the detailed design phase of our project.

We were looking for an interior design service, which matched our requirements for elegance and understated design, which could help us with our 6,000 square foot (approximate budget £650,000) new house build and renovation of our connecting Victorian home. The project posed its own unique challenges, as there was a need to blend a large glass contemporary structure with a connecting traditional style home. After spending many hours searching, we loved what Bess and her team did and they certainly did not fall short - but exceeded in every way. The whole team instantly fully understood our requirements and were wonderfully easy to communicate with, very efficient in their working practices and extremely professional. The team were consistently thorough in every way and designs and ideas were communicated to us, which could be understood easily by us and in detailed versions, which can easily be shared with specialist trades. A detailed full electrical plan was devised for the whole house and Bess and her team totally blew us away with the intricate level of detail and thought that was put into the plans. To say it exceeded our expectations and delivered us more than what we were expecting, has been a game changer for our project. Using Bess’s team has given us great confidence and the future vision of our brand-new home, which we could have never thought of before and will greatly improve the way we use our home going forward. A great way to add value to our project!

I chose Bess for a full redesign of our country farmhouse because of her intelligence, sense of style and clear capability in managing large and complex projects. Having worked through concept phase I am excited to move into detailed planning with Bess and her team. So far I’ve been really impressed by her ability to listen, advise and think creatively about spaces that do not lend themselves to easy solutions. We’re really impressed.

Bess was recommended to me by a friend when my husband and I were looking to renovate our house. Very quickly, Bess and her team's professionalism, ideas and obvious capability won us over. The fact that we had the option for Bess to project manage the work was an easy choice to make. We know nothing about this and have no desire to attempt it! Our novice status has not been an issue at all. Throughout, Bess has broken the project down into manageable chunks for us, whether that's working with the architect on the tender pack, looking at the flow of the house, or highlighting the smartest way to use the budget. Everything is clearly explained with regular communication. I can see all her designs, individual items, fully costed in our online suite so keeping track of it all is easy. She listens closely to our needs as a family so as the style of our house comes together, it really feels like our home, with our choices and Bess's skill pulling it all together into a beautiful finish.

For somebody who feels baffled by the possibilities and options in a house project, Bess and her team are a breath of fresh air. They are lovely to deal with and have refined the advice process to a set of clearly defined stages. Bess provided a number of options to fit the brief with beautifully drawn out plans making choices easy to make. I felt a confident in the advice given which was creative and practical at the same time. I would strongly recommend Sturman and Co.

A friend recommended Sturman & Co. to help us with some initial ideas for our kitchen/ diner layout as my husband and I couldn't agree on the best way to extend or plan the space. Bess visited us and was able to provide real clarity from the outset. At this stage, we didn't intend for Bess to come in and complete the whole project for us, but seeing how easily she was able to help us make decisions when we are both so busy, it felt like the obvious thing to do. The whole process from start to finish was slick. Sturman & co. liaised with contractors, managed the orders and deliveries and I know that the project would have taken so much longer and would have been so much more invasive had we been managing it ourselves. All the contractors on site were polite, respectful and trustworthy and got on with their work efficiently and with minimum disruption to our lives. I was kept up to date with the programme of activity throughout the project and made aware of any changes or updates to the programme. It was reassuring to know that everything was being project managed from start to finish. Bess was able to create a timeless look, in keeping with the Edwardian features of our home, that feels very 'us' and we are absolutely delighted with our new kitchen/ diner. We use the space so much more effectively now. I can chat to family and friends whilst preparing meals and my daughter plays happily alongside me in her own dedicated part of the kitchen. My daughter is delighted with her new bedroom and ensuite. The mornings run much more smoothly now that she has her own dedicated space in which to get ready. I would definitely use Sturman & Co. again for a larger project that requires a lot of project management and decision making. Their input was invaluable.

Huge thanks and kudos to Sturman and Co for our beautiful home!! We are all so thrilled by the transformation, especially the kitchen - I still squeal with delight every time I walk into the room! Your design is such a perfect reflection of our family, and we really appreciate the care and attention to detail which makes it feel so special and elegant, but at the same time homely and warm. As when you transformed our dining and living room last year, we find that we are living in the space in such a different way. The children spend more time playing in their bedrooms. W is delighted by his themed bedroom, proudly displaying his most treasured Lego pieces. A has previously preferred to play in the kitchen but clearly now feels a greater ownership over her own space and now has elaborate dolly parties in her room. In turn, we have been able to reclaim the kitchen area, the breakfast bar has been a big hit with everyone especially as a space for relaxing while someone cooks... Having the bifold doors open has been a real pleasure this summer. The kids have roamed in and out of the garden, and we have relaxed in our glamorous new surroundings. We've been motivated to entertain a bit more often, and various friends and family have visited (and admired the new kitchen!!) As for the sewing room, what a lovely and peaceful haven that has become! A lovely fresh, calm space for me and the kids to enjoy a bit of craft or music, retreat away and chill out. The icing on the cake has got to be the professionalism, speed and dedication put in by the whole team to achieve such a transformation in such a short space of time. We really can’t thank you all enough!

The team at Sturman & Co. worked closely with us throughout the design process to ensure that the final look and feel of our living room and conservatory would be everything we were hoping for. We are delighted with the way that our rooms now look and our friends and family are really impressed by the transformation. The space works so much better for us and we are enjoying spending much more time in these rooms. The finishing touches of bowls, flowers and other decorative items were unexpected and really complete the look. The deliveries were well handled by Sturman & Co. We had a huge number of items arriving on one day and the team were on hand to check everything was as it should be. Any issues were dealt with quickly and efficiently. I would definitely recommend Sturman & Co. to friends and family who are looking to transform their homes

I have always admired Bess's work and was delighted that she agreed to work with us to transform our ground floor into an open plan kitchen dining room with snug and utility off. Bess helped us to get started, recommended trusted work contacts, held our hands, gave us the confidence to make difficult decisions, and best of all made it a fun, pleasurable and quick process! We easily saved the money that we paid in making the right decisions and in giving our build the high-end look we desired. Bess's advice on colour schemes, room layout, lighting and lighting plans made all the difference. We really love the room and it has transformed the way we use our house. We need to save up now to make the rest of the house look as fab! Thanks so much to Bess and her team!

We asked Bess to help when we realised how big a project we had taken on with our new build home and were feeling overwhelmed. It was a good decision! She worked with us on space planning and lighting schemes, gave thoughtful, insightful advice on the practical and aesthetic aspects of creating our home and opened up her amazing contact book to put us in touch with other professionals, all of whom are of an equally exceptional standard. I loved working with her, she has deep knowledge and real flair. She made the experience an enjoyable one; she inspires confidence, always met deadlines, communicated costs in advance and we stayed within budget. Thanks Bess!

It was fabulous to work with Sturman & Co on the redesign of our downstairs space, including living room and family room/kitchen. Our aim was to make a kitchen and separate dining room into a brighter and more useable space, and to give the adjoining lounge a different, cosier feel. Bess took time to get to know us, our style and what we wanted to achieve from the space. She fully understood the need to balance beautiful design with the functions required of a busy family home, suggesting changes in the internal layout of the house to ensure the building works didn't just create a big open space, but created a well designed, individual and functional family home. By using Bess, we avoided the need for architects, and although we managed the build ourselves, we were able to follow her detailed design and seek guidance on any element of the design, including kitchen design, cabinetry and furnishings, as well as benefiting from her excellent contacts in those areas. She responded quickly to all queries, always providing really helpful advice and often suggesting items we may never have thought of, but were completely 'us'. Bess' experience and eye for design and detail were evident throughout. She gave us the confidence to make the right choices and we felt that we were in very safe hands. We now have a downstairs space that the whole family can enjoy and we absolutely love. Most importantly though, Bess' collaberative approach has meant that the finished design feels totally 'us' and reflective of our personalities and tastes, which I imagine is the mark of a great interior designer.