What We've Learned Designing Homes on Three Continents
When we founded Howark in 2017, our ambition was always to design homes with character, warmth and a real sense of place. What we didn't fully anticipate was just how far that ambition would take us. Today, our projects span three continents, from a century-old seafront house on the Greek island of Serifos and a private safari lodge in Kenya, to family homes in the United States and across London and the wider UK.
Each international project has taught us something new. Here are a few of the lessons that have shaped the way we work as an international interior design studio.
Listening to the Location: Every Place Has Its Own Language
One of the most important things we've learned is that good interior design doesn't arrive with a fixed set of ideas. It listens first.
On Serifos, the house had been in the family for over a hundred years and had seen many changes over its lifetime. It required a sensitive approach to ensure it retained its unique charm. We kept original elements like the beautiful floor tiles, redesigned the courtyard garden into an outdoor living space, and worked with local craftspeople throughout. The Mediterranean light alone demanded a completely different palette and sensibility to the projects we work on in London.
In Kenya, the challenge was different again. The lodge needed to feel both luxurious and completely at one with the landscape. We drew on locally sourced materials and collaborated with regional artisans, allowing the setting to guide our choices rather than imposing an aesthetic from elsewhere.
The lesson is clear: the most successful international interior design projects are those where the designer is willing to be led by the location.
The Power of Local Craftspeople and Makers
In every international project, our relationship with local craftspeople has been central to the result. On Serifos, local makers helped us restore heritage features that would have been impossible to replicate from a distance. In Kenya, regional artisans brought a depth of craft and cultural knowledge that elevated the entire scheme.
We have always championed working with makers, whether British craftspeople on our London projects or specialists abroad. It is one of the things we enjoy most about international work. There is an honesty and specificity to locally made pieces that gives a project real soul.
Remote Project Management: Distance is No Longer an Obstacle
A question we are often asked is how we manage projects overseas from our West London studio. The honest answer is that the design process adapts well to remote working.
Concept development, material selection, detailed drawings, and specifications can all be carried out at a distance, provided communication with the wider project team is clear and consistent. We place enormous emphasis on this.
Strategic Site Visits: Site visits are reserved for the moments that truly matter: initial surveys, key design reviews, and final installation.
Seamless Alignment: Between those visits, regular updates and detailed documentation keep everyone aligned.
The result is a process that feels close and connected regardless of geography.
Bold Colour and Character Travel Well
If there is one thread that runs through all our international work, it is our commitment to creating spaces that feel bold, layered, and full of personality.
On Serifos, we deliberately avoided the classic blue and white palette so often seen across the Greek islands, opting instead for unexpected combinations that gave the house a fresh and contemporary energy. In Kenya, the richness of the surrounding landscape informed a warm, textured material palette.
Wherever we work, the principles remain the same. Thoughtful interior design should respond to the people who live in a space and the place it sits within. Get those two things right, and the result will always feel like it belongs.
Start Your International Project
Our international portfolio continues to grow, and with each new project, we are reminded why this work is so rewarding. If you have a property overseas and are considering working with an international interior designer, we would welcome a conversation.