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Floor Plans
The Before
Headteachers Office, Chancery Lane
I worked on this project with fellow interior designer Phoebe Lewis. The constraints were typical of a commercial setting: no holes in the walls, a tight budget, and a room that had previously looked, frankly, municipal. We painted the walls a warm plaster tone, installed bespoke Tylko modular storage that kept the practical demands of the room invisible, and added open shelving for books and objects.
The red floor was the key move. Bold in theory but grounded by plaster coloured walls, it gave the room personality without tipping into distraction. The room had a lot of doors so we closed off a redundant one to the reception, which freed up wall space for a built-in plywood bench along the back wall, adding seating and covering the radiator in one move.
The result was a sanctuary – functional, full of character and entirely suited to the person using it every day.
As a commercial project this is a small one – a single office for a headteacher at a private school in London. But small doesn’t mean simple, and Rachel’s office had to work harder than most.
The challenge was fitting three distinct functions into one room: a desk for focused work, a round table for meetings with children and staff, and soft seating for the more serious conversations a headteacher has every day. Getting that zoning right – so the space could shift between intimate and formal, one person and many – was the real brief.
"Working with Leo was an absolute joy. She listened carefully to the many requirements of the room and took on board my personal preferences to create a space that works in ways unexpected and delightful.
Communication with Leo was always clear and professional, whilst also warm and human, and made what could have been a fraught process easy. Thank you!"
Rachel Thompson, City Junior School
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