Designing for the Senses
WHEN WE THINK BACK TO OUR FAVOURITE PLACES, STEPPING INTO A HOTEL LOBBY, RETREATING TO A QUIET READING ROOM, OR UNWINDING AT A WELLNESS RETREAT, IT IS OFTEN THE TACTILE DETAILS WE REMEMBER: THE SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE, THE CRISP BED LINEN, THE MOODY, ATMOSPHERIC LIGHTING. THESE SUBTLE ELEMENTS SHAPE NOT ONLY OUR EXPERIENCE OF A SPACE BUT ALSO HOW IT MAKES US FEEL.
At Oliver Burns Studio, it is these sensory experiences that we craft through our Thoughtful Luxury approach, carefully considering how every detail can awaken the senses through touch, scent, and sight. This month’s theme, Designing for the Senses, explores this multi-sensory approach and how we create spaces that are felt.
CREATING A SIGNATURE SCENT
Scent is one of the most powerful senses, so much so that it is said to evoke connections more vividly than sight or sound. A familiar fragrance can remind us of someone close, while the scent of a space can transport us back to a moment in time.
We collaborate with the finest perfumers, often commissioning entirely bespoke fragrances for our clients. In our House of Walpole apartment, for example, we worked with Rachel Vosper to craft a scent inspired by the Palace Gardens, designed to change with the seasons. This bespoke fragrance transformed the space, mirroring the subtle shifts in nature, from blossoming spring flowers to the falling autumn leaves. The scent united the visual and sensory experience, immersing guests into our thoughtful design narrative.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LIGHT
Lighting is fundamental in design, shaping atmosphere, mood, and emotion. Our approach to lighting design is always specific to the room itself and how it will be used. Bedrooms, for example, must harness early morning daylight to help start the day, yet transition seamlessly into a softer, more tranquil mood to encourage rest in the evening. We achieve this by carefully layering natural and artificial light. Each element thoughtfully considered to create moments of focus or repose. When designing this way, light becomes more than visual; it helps to set the scene for the moment.
DELICATE SENSE OF TOUCH
Interior design is intrinsically linked to materials, from fabrics and stones to metals and woods, each bringing its own unique texture and character. The feel of these materials beneath the hand or underfoot can transform how a space is experienced. Walking on a hand-knotted silk rug or draping yourself in a soft Coarsehair cashmere throw can instantly bring a sense of comfort and calm, deepening the sensory experience.
We curate a refined palette of tactile finishes, from poured liquid metals to sea cotton bed linen, carefully selecting every surface, fabric, and detail not only for its beauty but for how it engages the senses. This attention to touch creates depth, ensuring each space feels quietly luxurious.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOUR
Colour has the power to shape mood and evoke emotion, influencing how we experience a space. Psychology shows that different hues trigger different emotional responses: blues and greens often inspire calm and relaxation, while warmer tones such as reds and oranges can energise and stimulate. At Oliver Burns Studio, we approach colour as both an art and a science, carefully considering natural light, materials, and the emotional resonance each shade will create. The psychological impact of colour, combined with the practical function of a space, guides our palette choices to ensure every space feels considered.
DESIGNING WITH SOUND
Sound is often the most overlooked sense in design, yet it shapes how a space feels. From the gentle hum of conversation in a lobby to the muffled quiet of a library, acoustics influence our experience of place.
Sound is considered at every stage, from the scale of large rooms and high ceilings to the intimacy of dinner settings that encourage conversation. Thoughtful material selection and layout ensure acoustics enhance rather than disrupt the atmosphere. Natural elements such as wood help soften echoes while plush textiles absorb noise to create a cocooning sense of calm.
For some of our clients projects, bespoke soundtracks are curated to accompany the rhythm of the day, enriching the sensory narrative and deepening the emotional connection to the space.
At Oliver Burns Studio, designing for the senses is an essential part of how we tell a design story and shape sensory experiences. Every detail, from the subtle scent in a room to the way light falls across a surface, is considered with intention. These elements work together to shape how a space is experienced, creating designs that go beyond the aesthetic.
In a world where the definition of luxury continues to evolve, the role of the interior designer has never been more nuanced. At the super and ultra prime end of the market, design is no longer just about aesthetics, but about craft, culture, wellbeing and a complete understanding of the way our clients live now. This month, we sit down with our Founder and Creative Director to discuss her personal influences behind the studio, the shifting expectations of a global clientele, and how thoughtful design can shape both private spaces and the future of the industry.
In a world where the definition of luxury continues to evolve, the role of the interior designer has never been more nuanced. At the super and ultra prime end of the market, design is no longer just about aesthetics, but about craft, culture, wellbeing and a complete understanding of the way our clients live now. This month, we sit down with our Founder and Creative Director to discuss her personal influences behind the studio, the shifting expectations of a global clientele, and how thoughtful design can shape both private spaces and the future of the industry.
We are delighted to be talking to Nicholas Priest of the travel brand, The Luminaire to find out how a new generation of travellers are looking for more than just a luxurious experience. The Luminaire is a brand that strives to create journeys of depth and enlightenment, while promoting a deeper connection to the world around us.
We are delighted to be talking to Nicholas Priest of the travel brand, The Luminaire to find out how a new generation of travellers are looking for more than just a luxurious experience. The Luminaire is a brand that strives to create journeys of depth and enlightenment, while promoting a deeper connection to the world around us.
It is well documented that flowers have a special kind of power. Whether sent in celebration of a significant moment or as a beautifully curated and luxurious floral experience for your home, alluring blooms with their scent, colour and symmetry bring genuine joy, beauty and meaning on a profound level. As designers we look to take a multi-sensory approach to our super-prime brief, creating designs that go beyond the aesthetic to reflect deeper meaning and ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ in practice. Selecting the right flower, arrangement style and scent is critical, and no one does it better or crafts living works of floral art, quite like Neill Strain. Here we talk to Neill about how it all begun, and why he believes working in the industry is a real privilege.
It is well documented that flowers have a special kind of power. Whether sent in celebration of a significant moment or as a beautifully curated and luxurious floral experience for your home, alluring blooms with their scent, colour and symmetry bring genuine joy, beauty and meaning on a profound level. As designers we look to take a multi-sensory approach to our super-prime brief, creating designs that go beyond the aesthetic to reflect deeper meaning and ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ in practice. Selecting the right flower, arrangement style and scent is critical, and no one does it better or crafts living works of floral art, quite like Neill Strain. Here we talk to Neill about how it all begun, and why he believes working in the industry is a real privilege.