Daniel hopwood interior designer biography
•
In conversation with Daniel Hopwood
Over the last few weeks, the Great Interior Design Challenge has been beamed into our homes and sharing with us the story of amateur designers who are trying to break into a new industry and follow their dream and passion to become an interior designer.
While the show has caused some controversy in the interior design industry, I think that overall it has caused the interior design industry to have a think about how it is perceived by the general public. I wanted to find out more about how the show has affected the design industry and the greater public so I interviewed Daniel Hopwood, Interior Designer, President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) and co Judge from The Great Interior Design Challenge.
Why is the GIDC important for the Interior Design industry?
Coming from the gilded luxury interior design sector where every single detail is carefully considered, planned, negotiated and executed. Dan was cautious about being on
•
WELCOME TO TURNBULL AND ASSER
When it comes to creativity, not many gents can boast a career as diverse as Daniel Hopwood's.
Having started as an assistant to a furniture buyer, Daniel also learnt the crafts of stone and wood carving, gilding and restoration before deciding to embark on an architecture degree in his 20s. Swapping architecture for interior design once more, he founded his own company, Studio Hopwood, at the age of 30. Since then, he has balanced personal commissions with a more educational role as President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), alongside TV work as a judge on Channel 4’s Britain’s Best Homes and most recently as presenter of BBC Two’s The Great Interior Design Challenge. Idle hands? No chance of that – in between the aforementioned, Dan is also a guest tutor at KLC School of Design, lectures at trade shows such as 100% Design and acts as a trends consultant for brands like Dulux. Despite his hectic schedule and colourful CV, Dan
•
Q&A with Daniel Hopwood, Studio Hopwood
Daniel heads one of London’s leading interior design companies, Studio Hopwood, working mainly on high end residential properties plus the occasional hotel or restaurant. His knowledge and experience of 25 years has been recognised by the industry, having been elected as the President of the British Institute of Interior Design.
So Dan, what are your views on the commercial hospitality scene? Does it inspire the residential or residential inspire the commercial?
Hotels and restaurants have inspired people to do great things in their own home, but now I think the general public have become a little complacent to public design, especially as so much is achievable at home as there is so much available and at affordable costs. Today everyone believes they are a designer, this means that public spaces have to really push the boundary and show what professional design is really about.
With hotels, I have stayed in a broad