‘We mainly take on country houses: refurbishments of historic properties, often with a contemporary extension,’ Emma says. One such recent project was The Grange in Hampshire, which involved the addition of a glass box at the back, which is now the kitchen. ‘It’s first and foremost a family home so the interiors were formed with this in mind. We restored the original features of the main house in a very classic way, bringing the property back to its former glory. The main daytime living areas were kept neutral and child-friendly, and these flowed into darker, more atmospheric reception rooms for winter evenings. The challenge is to merge old and new in a sensitive, natural way.’

In contrast, Studio Hooton also often works on new build houses, teaming up with an architect right at the start of a project. ‘At the moment, we’re doing a particularly interesting LA farmhouse-style new build in Berkshire. It has lots of dark wood cladding and Crittall windows; we’re adding in elements of the country aesthetic but with an original twist,’ Emma continues. Art is always integral – the studio typically includes a full art plan as part of the scheme – as is choosing gorgeous fabrics from its extensive library (which includes rare, hand printed designs from America and Europe) and, where possible, using furniture from British designers such as George Smith and Benchmark.