Brit List 2017: Designer profiles

Brit List 2017
1000 585 Daniel Fountain
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In the coming weeks, Hotel Designs will be profiling the 50 finalists in the HD Brit List 2017 – this week, we continue profiling our winning designers…

DENNIS IRVINE – DENNIS IRVINE STUDIO
Dennis’ background in interior design is a rich one having grown up drawing and making, his passion for all things creative led him to studying interior architecture, to working with Mary Fox Linton to eventually setting up his eponymous design studio. It’s from this standpoint that Dennis was tasked with breathing new life into the Estate House, Jumby Bay in Antigua.

Combining the colonial impressions of the main resort with a contemporaneous perspective on the locale, the Estate House’s redesign represented a challenge of capturing the spirit of the island, something wholly embraced by Dennis.

EMMA KING – INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL GROUP
Emma leads InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Interior Design team in Europe and is responsible for the design, development and product quality of all new openings andEmma King refurbishments. Since joining IHG in January 2013, Emma has become an integral part of the Design & Engineering team. She is leading the design of IHG’s big capital investments including InterContinental London Park Lane, InterContinental Paris Le Grand and InterContinental Berlin.

Emma and her team have been instrumental in positioning the Hotel Indigo brand with a “neighbourhood story” led design for each site. No brand has been left untouched, with IHG’s long stay offering, Staybridge Suites, also being redesigned with investment potential in mind.

JOHN LEWIS – RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL
John LewisRichmond have designed some of the world’s most prestigious hotels, in locations from London to Barbados, since its establishment in 1966. John Lewis, as an associate, forms part of the team of directors and designers who have worked on Richmond’s projects in recent years which include London West Hollywood, The Beaumont Hotel and Hilton Opera Paris.

Perhaps the most striking project in the last two years has been Richmond’s work at The Langham London on its Regent Wing, as part of the hotel’s 150-year anniversary celebrations, with suites designed to incorporate Regency-style design with ‘modernised, discrete technology’.

ANDREW LINWOOD – AREEN DESIGN
As head of Areen Hospitality, Andrew is involved in a host of aspects surrounding a project from inception to installation. He has designed interiors for many of the world’s leading hotel groups from Hilton to Marriott, Radisson to Starwood.

An Interior Design degree-holder, having worked in the UK, across Europe, and in both Hong Kong and Singapore; Andrew has been monumental in making Areen Hospitality the force in the interior design world it currently is. Areen Hospitality has projects under way in Europe, the MENA region, India, Central Asia and China.

DAVID MELLOR – DAVID RICHARD MELLOR DESIGN
David’s key aim with his commercial interior design service is to create ‘inspiring environments’ that welcome and relax. His bespoke approach to each project and contemporary design solutions are used to transform and optimise the hotel spaces around the country; whether it is a hotel requiring a complete refurbishment or a specific rooms in need of a refresh.

His work can be found in The Royal Oak Hotel in Welshpool, The Churchill in York, The Crown Hotel, Harrogate; Corus Hotels as well as several Best Western properties.

Daniel Fountain / 08.09.2017

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.