When it comes to sustainable design, Retrouvius sets the pace with its judicious and creative use of reclaimed materials. Led by the charming Maria Speake, the design studio intelligently reconditions and reuses objects, and is ecologically mindful without being sanctimonious. The House & Garden team was unanimous in choosing Maria for Interior Designer of the Year for her intelligent rooms and refined craftsmanship.

This eighteenth-century house in West Sussex has undergone a seven-year restoration at the hands of an impressive team of creatives overseen by Edward Bulmer, and won a Georgian Group Architectural Award for Restoration of a Country House. Edward’s work on the interiors, carried out alongside architects Christopher Smallwood and Giles Quarme, garden designer Simon Johnson, art dealer Simon Dickinson and plaster specialist Stevensons of Norwich, celebrates the sensitively restored period details and makes space for modern life.

Rachel Chudley is a rising star with a unique, exuberant style that most people would be hard pressed to imitate. She is a confident interior designer whose schemes cleverly combine high drama and comfort. Rachel’s work is fresh, cool and in no way derivative – and she is a joy to be around. Her London studio is made up of artists as well as designers, resulting in truly unique spaces.

Dan is one of the country’s foremost garden designers and has a strong international profile. Ongoing public projects include the revitalisation of Dartington Hall gardens in Devon and the Delos area at Sissinghurst. He has been working on Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido since 2000 and is collaborating with Thomas Doxiadis on an Aegean island. He also designs for private clients and is passionate about bringing nature into urban spaces.

source: garden