The work of Flora Slater, one of the new design stars of the future selected by the judges of our Next In Design initiative – and founder of Studio Flora – is recognizably aligned with the aesthetic. There is an artful layering of pattern, a confident use of color and enough panache to make sure that this rich mix of ingredients never clashes.

‘I really do appreciate minimalism, but I just can’t do it,’ Flora says. ‘I can’t stop being obsessed with burgundy and deep green; they’re shades that make me smile. I just want all the spaces I create to be cozy and uplifting, and that’s such an easy thing to do with pattern.’ Well, it is in her hands, anyway.

Having worked as a concierge for high-end clients, finding them whatever service their hearts desired, Flora learned the art of people management and procurement, but it didn’t feel creative enough. She took those skills to KLC, where she learned the essential principles of design, and then got stuck into junior positions at Nina Campbell, ‘who my style aligns with as we both love a mix of old and new,’ Flora says, and then at Spinocchia Freund. The latter was particularly career-enhancing – she was given the studio’s WOW!house room to deliver, ‘and it taught me the art of just getting things done,’ she says.

‘Her breadth of experience is so prevalent in her work, and that’s what makes her stand out. She displays so much flair – it’s not easy to decorate how she does it – yet she makes it seem like a breeze,’ says editor Jo Bailey, part of this year’s board who selected the winners.

Now completing her own residential projects, Flora’s trademark is character, charm and a really good stripe. ‘A home should make you feel safe, comfortable, relaxed and happy,’ Flora says. ‘I want to make people their own personal cocoon, where it’s all pure calm and bliss.’

Was interiors always going to be your career?

I’ve always been super creative, and in fact, at school I was way more creative than academic, which I put down to being dyslexic. I was at my happiest in the art room, and after school I went to Parsons School of Design in New York to study fashion design. But it was lonely over there, so after just one year I came back, did a PR and marketing course, and then, after a bit of freelancing, began working for a high-end concierge company. I’d be sourcing stuff for people’s high-end homes, and I just thought, ‘This is it, this is what I want to do.’

And how did you move into interiors?

I applied for the interior design course at KLC, which was a great starting point and taught me how to use CAD and SketchUp. After that, I got a placement at Nina Campbell, where I learned so much. She is always around, she likes to put samples together physically, not relying so much on digital. It was wonderful to see client meetings happen in the office, where I learned what clients expect. In some ways, my style aligns with Nina’s – we both love old meets new. I love an old-school house with an old fireplace, but then the decor has a modern twist.

What’s your approach to a project when you get one?

I always build a scheme around what the client already has. Chances are there will be a piece of art they already own that they love and want to feature in the refresh, so I’ll look at the colors in it and build around that. If they really are starting from scratch, I will go deep into their inspirations and go from there.

What is it you love so much about pattern and layering?

I really appreciate minimalism and the Rose Uniackes of this world – and trust me, I do agree that less is more, but I just can’t help myself! I am drawn to deep colors and patterns; I can’t stop being obsessed with burgundy and deep green. They make me smile.

How do you mix patterns so they don’t clash?

Because there is always so much pattern and color going on in my schemes, I have to ensure there are also elements of calm. So I tend to choose some minimal, plain furniture alongside the printed bits. Even I know that there can be too much pattern!

In that case, how do you know when a room is done?

That’s a good question! When it’s my own house, it’s never done – my style is constantly evolving. I find sourcing stuff to be so fun. But with a client, I think when there are layers but there is also still air and calm between each pattern… that’s when it’s done.

Go-to brand?

I love Beata Heuman – I love all her fabrics and wallpapers, particularly her Marbleized wallpaper, which I like to use in downstairs loos. And I love a bit of Colefax and Fowler. I have a bold sofa in my living room in a Colefax fabric that I am obsessed with.

What words would you use to describe your interiors style?

Thoughtful, thrifty and design-led. A lot of my clients are not super high-net-worth; they’re doing their first home and putting their hard-earned money into something they care about. So I really want everything to be perfect for them and as personal as possible. I get to know them, their passions, what they like to do, where they go and what influences them positively, and build that into their homes.

What are you currently obsessed with?

I love high gloss. I’m trying to push for it in a few clients’ homes at the moment. It’s so cool when you walk into a powder room and it’s burgundy lacquer. I am also lacquering a vintage bar cabinet I found in a wonderful Chinese red. It’s going to look amazing.

Last thing you bought for your own home?

I bought a footstool from Petit Tresor – they source the cutest antiques and are so reasonably priced. It’s going to go in my bedroom.

How should a home make you feel?

Home is where the heart is. A home should make you feel safe, comfortable, relaxed and happy.

From discovering her passion through sourcing beautiful objects to creating richly layered interiors that are particularly personal to each client, Flora Slater’s approach is guided by creativity, curiosity and individuality.

Inspired by color, pattern and the stories her clients bring to a project, she believes the best homes balance bold prints with moments of calm. It’s why her homes end up feeling like cocoons, and why her style spoke so strongly to our judges.

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Next in Design is Homes & Gardens’ platform spotlighting emerging studios shaping the future of decoration. Winning designers are championed across editorial, events and industry networks, celebrating fresh perspectives and distinctive voices. The initiative is guided by an industry board.