Behind the Design: A Q&A with Helen

Get to know Helen and her journey at Lewis Knox

From co-founding Lewis Knox to shaping its creative direction, Helen shares her personal journey, the challenges she’s faced, and the lessons learned along the way in building a design studio with a strong, talented team.

Helen’s journey at Lewis Knox has been one of growth and creativity. From starting the studio to expanding the team and refining their design approach, she shares what drives her and what makes Lewis Knox unique. Get a glimpse into her world and what’s next for the studio.

 1. Introduce yourself – Who are you, and where are you from?

Hi, I’m Helen Knox, Co-Founder of Lewis Knox. I’m from Farndon, Cheshire, which is also where we live and run the studio.

2. What does your role at Lewis Knox involve?

Since starting the company, my role has evolved quite a bit. In the beginning, I was an interior designer and general dogsbody—covering everything, as we had no one else!

Now, I’d describe my role as more of a Creative Director. I focus on the bigger picture—marketing, workflow, and bringing in projects for our talented team of designers. That said, I can’t resist getting involved in certain projects, I just love designing!

3. When and why did you start Lewis Knox?

We launched in January 2017. After eight years at my previous firm, working my way up from graduate to senior designer, they decided to relocate the office. I saw it as the perfect opportunity to go solo, stay in Cheshire, and create a design studio that truly reflected my style and approach to working with clients.

4. How has Lewis Knox grown since it began?

In the early years, we kept things small—just Simon, me, and Julie, our Finance Director, who was instrumental in setting financial goals and helping us grow steadily.

As projects increased through word of mouth, we expanded the team. Fiona joined to focus on soft furnishings and orders, allowing Simon and myself to concentrate on interior drawings and designs. Then came Jill, who managed our administrative needs as the business grew.

The pandemic was a turning point. We moved from our home-based office into a renovated barn, which we designed and project-managed into a purpose-built studio and showroom. This expansion saw us grow from a team of five to seven. In the most recent years, we’ve grown again to a team of nine, with specialists in interior architecture, soft furnishings, and interior design—allowing us to take on larger projects and increase our capacity.

5. What do you think has contributed to your success?

Hard graft!

Simon and I are both detail-driven and genuinely love what we do. We sweat the small stuff, which, at times, might cause a few headaches in the studio, but I truly believe it’s our work ethic and meticulous approach to design that sets us apart and drives our success.

6. What makes Lewis Knox different from other design studios?

Great question! I think it’s our team-first approach. We’re personable, transparent, and build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and trades alike.

Honesty and clarity are key to how we work, from our straightforward fee structure to project delivery. Open and honest communication is something we pride ourselves on.

7. What are some of your biggest achievements or proudest moments at Lewis Knox?

We’re terrible at stopping to recognise achievements, but I’d say having a strong, happy team who genuinely enjoy working together is something to be proud of.

Each successful project feels like a major achievement because we know how much effort goes on behind the scenes to make it happen.

8. What are the most challenging and most enjoyable aspects of running an interior design business?

The juggling act is both the hardest and the most enjoyable part! The variety of work is exciting, and no two days are the same.

It’s definitely not a 9–5 job, long hours are part and parcel of running a business, but that also fuels our future ambitions. I like to set five-year goals, both personally and professionally, but I also believe in fate. Ultimately, hard work takes you places, and I’m excited to see where Lewis Knox goes next!