Sixteen new names made the cut for the 2026 HG101 list. Between them, these designers have reimagined historic hotels, imbued heritage properties with new energy and, even, designed luxury trains. Together, they represent a dynamic and inclusive future of the UK's design scene.
Albion Nord
To be invited to design a luxury train is a testament to exceptional taste and inventiveness, qualities that Albion Nord has in spades. Enlisted by Belmond to develop the Britannic Explorer, the team created ‘a celebration of Britishness – art, botanical prints and craft – for a quintessentially British experience’. On terra firma, the atelier is working on a range of top-tier homes that are located all around the world, from London to Dubai. @albionnord
Atelier LK
With an eye for the most unusual aspects of 20th-century design, Lisa Jones and Ruby Kean have been making waves in London and New York since founding their studio in 2020. Working across interiors and furniture design, as well as art curation and styling, the pair has cultivated an uber smart look that manages to be at once highly contemporary and pleasingly timeless. Current projects include houses in Toronto, Portland and London. @atelier_lk_
Ben Thompson
There is a refreshing lightness of touch to the work of Ben Thompson, who made a name for himself with hotel Heckfield Place in 2018. Since then, the designer has found many fans, drawn to his people-focused, place-making approach, with projects ranging from an estate in North Wales to a house in Tuscany. Along with his wife Florence, he has also set up Post, a Gloucestershire seasonal restaurant, much of the produce for which comes from his nearby smallholding. @benthompsonstudio
Brian Woulfe
It looks like 2026 will be a defining year for Brian, known for introducing a modern edge to historic properties. Not only is he set to complete a herculean reimagining of a mansion in Copenhagen, but he is also extending the studio’s design language. On the cards is House of Woulfe, a line of furniture and objects developed with Bert Frank, and a second office in Dublin. @designedbywoulfe_
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Côte de Folk
‘There’s no cookie-cutter approach to what I do. Everything has a playfulness to it and nothing is taken too seriously,’ says Côte de Folk’s founder Sophie Rowell. In the 10 years since she opened her studio, Sophie has quietly become one of the most sought-after creatives in the industry. The designer’s clever use of colour, texture, scale and pattern results in spaces that feel at once comfortable and elegant. Her Red House project in east London demonstrates exactly that. @cotedefolk
Emma Ainscough
After cutting her teeth at Studio Ashby as its second employee, Emma set up her own studio in 2020. Since then, her style has become synonymous with an unpretentious freshness, and is remarkably accomplished for a relatively new studio. Now working in a team of two, Emma’s recently completed projects include a charming house in Chelsea and the west London home of actor Michelle Dockery. @emma__ainscough
Emma Grant
Celebrated for her thoughtful approach to interiors informed by a lifelong love of antiques, Emma spent five years in the fashion industry before launching her studio. She crafts spaces imbued with character, often shaped around a unique piece and elevated by bespoke detailing – as illustrated by her own Cotswold cottage. Emma’s studio also produces charming fabrics and wallpapers inspired by archival designs. @emmaigrant
Geraldine Dohogne
After years working in hotel design, Geraldine (whose first major residential project is our new cover story) launched her studio in 2020. Her refined interiors strike a balance between, in her words, ‘artistry and utility’, shaped by bespoke details and materials. Alongside working on projects in Mexico, London and Belgium, the studio is launching a range of one-off, material-led objects this year, kicking off with a marble vase and bronze wall lamp. @geraldinedohogne
Jessica Summer
‘Atmospheric but calm’ is the mission statement of this designer, who fine-tuned her aesthetic working for HG101 honourees P Joseph and Rose Uniacke before setting up on her own in 2022. While her interiors nod to tradition, they have a contemporary restraint that appeals to clients who want a space that delivers on both form and function. Palettes are tonal and refined, while textures are key for Jessica, who is currently working on a house in Barnes, a newbuild in Oxfordshire and a farmhouse in Somerset. @jessicasummer1
Leonora Hamill Studio
‘Always mix it up’ is the mantra of US-born and London-based Leonora Hamill. Clients are drawn to her ability to conjure pattern-rich spaces that feel unexpected and are infused with an old world charm. An art historian and artist by training, she has a keen eye for detail, which she is channelling into projects in Paris, Rome, Brooklyn and Notting Hill, where she is working on her first hotel. @leonorahamillstudio
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Fresh from their latest US projects – interiors for The Greenwich tower in Manhattan and a boutique-hotel-style tech HQ in Los Angeles – March and White Design founders Elliot March and James White are focusing on exclusive residential projects in the UK, bringing their take on understated luxury to private homes as well as a landmark new development in Belgravia. Also on the cards are commissions in the Caribbean and the Middle East. @marchandwhitedesign
P Joseph Studio
Twin brothers Philip and Peter Joseph have built their practice on the belief that architecture, interiors and furniture should be envisioned as a unified whole. Their serene and uncluttered style has won them clients such as the fashion designer Erdem, for whom they recently finished a second flagship store on Sloane Street, SW1, characterised by his signature blue-grey tones and featuring hand-painted canvas wall panels. @pjosephstudio
Rachel Aisling Walker
Effortlessly balancing contemporary and traditional elements, interiors by Rachel Aisling Walker are supremely comfortable yet continually surprising. Airy neutrals co-exist with intricate prints, and colour-drenched walls are lifted by unexpected pieces of art. Her showroom in Islington is opening this year, with a collection that encompasses upholstered furniture and lighting, as well as ceramics. @rachel.aisling.walker
Stella Weatherall
With an innate understanding of colour, and a flair for pairing patterns, Stella creates rooms that are both polished and welcoming. She recently worked on an art-filled house in Notting Hill, which graced the cover of House & Garden’s February 2026 issue. A creative force, Stella runs her studio alone, working closely with clients from concept to completion. @stella_weatherall
Studio Supple
Almost five years as the lead designer at Soho House helped Scarlett Supple to hone her eye before she co-founded a studio in 2020. Now working solo under a new name, she has an aesthetic that treads the line between rustic and elegant, resulting in warm spaces that feel effortless – from dwellings on a Scottish island to a Georgian townhouse in London. She has also expanded her fabric collection, printed in the UK and inspired by her travels. @studio_supple
Thea Speke
Since launching her studio in 2019, Wiltshire-based Thea has become known for her tranquil interiors. Warm, restful palettes underpin her projects, as does her knack for creating hard working spaces that have a certain elegance. A one-woman band, Thea often attracts creative clients who enjoy a collaborative approach. She is currently working on a flat in Mayfair and a Georgian house in Salisbury. While the final result always feels refined, she is clever when it comes to budget, deploying inexpensive materials in an impactful way. @theaspeke
