Oliver Burns Studio | Our Founder & Creative Director, Sharon Lillywhite

With a demanding role as our Founder & Creative Director, how do you wind down outside of the studio?

In the evenings, I like catching up with friends after a long day in the city, meeting at 1 Hotel Mayfair or Maison Estelle for dinner and drinks. That said, I also love this time of year when I can light the fire, snuggle up, and read a good book. In the morning, it’s essential to get into the right headspace before a busy day of meetings, so I work out with my personal trainer to begin the day on the right note.

What is your advice to anyone trying to balance family life and business?

As a business owner, you are ultimately always available for clients. However, I do my best to achieve a good balance. I find it helpful to limit my time on my laptop and phone in the evenings and weekends so that I can be present. Most weekends, you’ll find me watching my son from the sidelines at rugby matches. During half-term or the summer break, we’ll go away together. That quality time is so precious.

It is clear that you love what you do but what elements of your job do you enjoy most of all?

There are so many elements of the design process that I love, from our initial meeting with a client to sourcing pieces, collaborating with the design team, and watching the project come together. However, the most magical moment is when we hand our client their keys and watch them walk into their property. Most of the time, our clients move out for several months, sometimes years, and some haven’t seen the space near completion. Their reaction is always so wonderful to watch, as you can see that we’ve delivered the home they’ve been dreaming of.‍

You get your inspiration from around the world, what is your current go to destination and why?

There are so many amazing places and whilst I have some of my favourite hotspots, I also like travelling to new places and finding hidden gems. If I’m only allowed to choose one location though, it would have to be Italy. You really can’t beat it, I just love everything Italian - the scenery, architecture, food and their sense of style. I couldn’t choose between Palazzo Avino in Ravello on the Amalfi Coast or Hotel Splendido in Portofino; both are equally fabulous. La dolce vita!

What is the one luxury item that you can’t live without?

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This is an exciting time for ultra-prime design, as clients are seeking far more than just aesthetic appeal. They are looking for spaces that are synonymous with their lifestyle, sustainably crafted, and technologically innovative.

Our studio is at the forefront of innovation and creativity. How do you ensure the team continue to be thought leaders in ultra-prime design?

We are a very tight-knit team and love to bounce ideas off one another and share inspiration. Our membership with Walpole, The Circle, Positive Luxury and the Luxury Property Forum are also invaluable when it comes to staying connected within the wider industry. Attending their events, listening to the latest webinars and meeting new contacts helps us stay informed on everything from the property market, legislation changes, British craftsmanship and advances in sustainability. Being well connected and up to date on these matters makes us a go to for our clients and suppliers.

What makes Oliver Burns Studio stand out from other super-prime studios?

Our ‘Thoughtful luxury’ ethos is at the core of everything we do, from the way we work to the pieces and artisans we choose to collaborate with, resulting in designs that are felt, rather than formulaic. It’s about the feeling you experience as you step into our spaces, with each element narrating the story of our design vision. For example, our House of Walpole apartment opposite Buckingham Palace was created as a ‘love letter to the Palace Gardens’. Every last detail embodied the narrative, from a bespoke Rachel Vosper fragrance which changed with the seasons, to hand painted Cole & Son wallpaper bringing the flora and fauna of the gardens to life, even the bed linen was adorned with handwritten excerpts from Prince Alberts love letters which had been lovingly stitched in fine silk.  

You have been on a sustainability journey for a long time and Oliver Burns Studio was awarded the Butterfly Mark last year, what did this accreditation mean to you?

It was such a pivotal, proud moment for me and the rest of the studio as it reflects the hard work to improve processes, work with suppliers and challenge our individual impact on the environment. Working with Positive Luxury provides us with guidance and support to continuously better ourselves, and that Sustainability remains firmly on our agenda. You’ll find in the studio that the whole team is very mindful when it comes to sustainability, ensuring that our designs and the suppliers that we engage with stand up to the high standards we expect.

Wellness is a key area, what new technologies are you excited about in this space?

As our homes increasingly become extensions of our lifestyles, the focus on wellness has become more important than ever. Whether we are designing residential properties with spa and fitness facilities, bespoke residences with dedicated serviced wellness areas, or working on hospitality projects, we are committed to advising on and specifying the latest wellness technologies. In my personal wellness journey, I enjoy testing the latest products and believe we will see arise in residences designed with biohacking in mind. Features like cryotherapy chambers and spaces for hypoxic therapy will allow us to make incremental improvements to our bodies, all from the comfort of our homes. If you look at the latest members clubs and fitness studios, you'll see that these technologies are becoming increasingly popular, and I predict we'll see them in our homes very soon.

This year marked the first year under the studio’s new brand identity. It’s been a pivotal moment in our journey, and we’re all excited to see what the future holds for us next year.

Looking back on the last year, what has been your highlight of 2024?

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Which markets are you most excited about working with in 2025 and beyond?

This year I’ve spent some time working in Monaco and Dubai, two places that I find really inspiring and where I’ve made some fantastic connections. Our way of working at Oliver Burns Studio complements these markets and I have no doubt that we’ll be doing more great work here in the not-so-distant future, watch this space!  

What are your predictions for luxury interiors next year?

In the luxury market, there is an increasing demand for experiences and authentic connections with luxury brands, a trend that is equally reflected in our work within interiors. Clients turn to us because they want their homes to tell their unique stories. Spaces that not only reflect their lifestyles but also showcase their values. Whether designing homes around their investments of passion, creating wellness retreats with basement spas and non-toxic materials, or crafting apartments that tell a specific narrative, we are seeing a shift toward clients meticulously tailoring every inch of their homes to seamlessly align with their lives.