Interior Design in Brighton & Hove
Warm, Characterful Living by the Coast
Drawn to the vibrant community and the eclectic mix of architecture – be it the Stucco Terraces of Brunswick Town or the Italianate Villas of Queens Park – Piers Thurston has slowly established a presence across Brighton and Hove as a respected interior design studio, supporting clients with the renovation of their beautiful homes for over five years.
Interior Design From Queens PArk to Seven Dials
Whether the project is in Hove, Kemptown, Brunswick Town, or Seven Dials, we always look to respect the existing architecture of a home. In the instance of heritage properties – which are so prevalent across Brighton & Hove – this means balancing historic features and architectural integrity with the comfort and warmth our clients have come to expect of Piers Thurston, resulting in beautiful, yet functional homes that utilise modern conveniences and facilitate coastal family life.
Rather than compete with the heritage of a property, we allow it to inform the design. In understanding the features that give a seaside home its unique character – be it intricate bungaroosh and lath and plaster walls, ornate ceiling mouldings, exaggerated skirtings, or classic sash windows – our team balances these with contemporary interventions that improve how a home functions, without compromising the architectural integrity of the building.
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DESIGN Services
Every project is different, which is why we offer a range of services tailored to varying needs and stages of the design journey. From complete interior design and project delivery to focused consultations and specialist studio support, our approach remains the same: thoughtful, detail-driven and centred around creating spaces of character.
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Full Interior Design
Our signature service for complete home transformations. From concept to completion, we manage every detail to create thoughtful, characterful interiors that feel beautifully lived in. Learn more
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Design Consultations
Focused design support for those seeking expert guidance on a specific room, project or design challenge. Practical advice, clear direction and tailored solutions. Learn more
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Studio Support
Technical and creative support for independent interior design studios. Professional drawings, visualisations and documentation delivered with precision, discretion and reliability. Learn more
“IT’S BEEN A JOY”
Piers has bought the most considerate, thoughtful and inspiring energy to a very stagnant and quite daunting phase of my long-term house refurbishment. He picked up threads of my original ideas and ran with them, adding huge amounts of creative flair, knowledge of suppliers, and quietly confident instinct, which will create something so much more special than I ever could have dreamed of without his help. It’s been a joy.
— Bryony, H
Interior Design Tailored to Brighton’s Unique Homes
Regency Townhouses
When working on Regency Townhouses of significant scale with high ceilings and beautiful (yet impractical) single-glazed doors, we bring warmth through texture layering – blending linens and cottons with velvets and high-quality bouclés. We can pair these with a warmer colour palette and discreet heating arrangements sympathetic to the architecture, such as ThermaSkirt skirting boards or antique brass column radiators.
Victorian & Edwardian Terraces
There are many Victorian & Edwardian Terraces throughout Brighton, especially across Kemptown & Hanover. Many of these properties are restricted to a narrow profile, resulting in rooms of smaller proportions and reduced daylight, or spaces that are great in length but short in width. Rather than defaulting to an off-the-peg cool-neutral paint palette (like Dimpse by Farrow & Ball or Portland Stone Light by Little Greene), we establish warmth and character by embracing smaller spaces. We maximise light through reflective surfaces (eggshell paint over matt, or even lacquered finishes), layered lighting via standard lamps and wall sconces to illuminate dark corners, and minimal window treatments to maximise natural daylight.
How We Can Work Together in Brighton
Without a client brief, there is no project. On instruction, a detailed brief and comprehensive property survey are undertaken to ensure the design serves both your lifestyle and the building itself. Our process focuses on three key pillars:
The Client: We begin with a two-fold briefing process. First, we explore functional and behavioural needs – whether you require a coastal family home for aquatic enthusiasts with ample kit storage for a day on Brighton Beach, or a comfortable weekend retreat for two nestled in the vibrant, leafy streets of Seven Dials. Second, we establish aesthetic preferences, colour choices, favourite artists, and sentimental existing pieces.
The Property: We conduct a detailed survey on instruction to identify structural advantages or spatial limitations to enhance or rectify through our design proposal.
The Location: We contextualise every design decision within its immediate environment, ensuring the finished home feels totally 'meant-to-be' within its seaside setting.
Respecting Heritage: Listed Buildings & Conservation in Brighton
Working with historical coastal properties is never without complication. We routinely support our clients with navigating conservation rules, Listed Building restrictions, and the technical eccentricities that come hand-in-hand with local period structures – namely bungaroosh or lath and plaster walls.
That said, we don't believe technical limitations or strict heritage guidelines should result in a compromised scheme. Our role is not to be dictated to by the surrounding architecture, nor to produce a design driven solely by a generic template, but to marry our clients' vision with the historical context of the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, we often work with period and heritage properties and can guide our clients through the additional considerations that come with listed buildings. Whilst consent is ultimately granted by the local planning authority, we can cooperate with conservation officers, planning consultants, architects and specialist contractors where required to ensure any design proposal respects the heritage of the property, whilst meeting the needs of modern living. From sensitive material selections to carefully considered layouts and bespoke joinery, we help navigate the process with clarity and confidence.
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Every project is different and ultimately this is often guided by factors outside of our control. That said, as a guide, a full townhouse renovation typically takes between 8 and 12 months, from design concept to completion. This will depend on the scale, the scope of works, planning requirements, structural alterations, contractor availability and lead times for bespoke furniture and materials. To aid the process, we provide a clear project programme for Phase 1 & 2 from the outset, and again from Phase 4, once trades have been appointed, to help keep the project organised and moving forward.
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Absolutely, we believe the most characterful homes and created through a considered mix of bespoke craftsmanship, contemporary pieces and antiques with genuine provenance. We work with a trusted network of British makers, specialist artisans and independent suppliers, whilst also sourcing antiques or vintage pieces from known dealers of antique fairs throughout the South-East – the IACF Ardingly Antiques Fair is our personal favourite!
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Yes, we regularly undertake interior design projects throughout Brighton, Hove and the surrounding villages, including areas such as Lewes, Ditchling, Hassocks, Alfriston, Steyning, Petworth, Arundel, Amberley and the South-Downs. Further afield, we also work across Surrey, Kent and London. Whether you’re renovating a Regency townhouse in Brighton, restoring a country home in Sussex, or updating a contemporary family property in Hanover, we offer a highly personalised design service tailored to each commission, and are more than happy to travel for the right client.
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