A Delft Corner kitchen with Caisley

This month we sat down for a chat with English interior designer Lauren Caisley about her thoughtful approach to design, the story behind her studio, and the inspiration behind a recent guest cottage project featuring our hand painted Delft Corner motif tiles. 

Hi Lauren! First things first, tell us a little about how Caisley came to be. 

Caisley is my maiden name, so the business name is a nod to my roots. The studio was born out of a lifelong love of interiors and the English cottages I grew up in. When I was little and struggling to fall asleep, my mum would tell me to close my eyes and imagine redecorating my bedroom. I’d drift off while mentally rearranging furniture, thinking about how space and colour made me feel.

As a teenager, I used to rope in my siblings as clients, sending them out for the day so I could redecorate their bedrooms and surprise them with a “grand reveal.” Looking back, interior design has always been in me, it’s something I feel I was meant to do. Our studio is now based in the idyllic Hertfordshire countryside, where I find myself a stone’s throw from where I played as a child. It’s full circle for me.

Did you go straight into interiors professionally? 

Not quite. I studied Interior Spatial Design and Architecture at Chelsea College of Art, but when I graduated, it was the height of the 2008 recession. So I continued working in marketing and events. It wasn’t until I met my now-husband, who asked me what I really wanted to do, that I took the leap. I said, “Well, I’m an events manager, but I want to be an interior designer.” And he simply said, “So why aren’t you?”

That small question gave me the push I needed. I left my job and started with my first property renovation in a home near Tower Bridge in London and set up my own business. That first studio, Lauren Caisley Interiors, eventually evolved into Caisley as it is today, ten years later. 

Wonderful! How would you describe your ethos as a studio? 

Our work is grounded in the belief that a home should be truly lived in, never a showroom. We don’t chase trends. Instead, we focus on creating spaces that are timeless, textured, and tailored to how our clients actually live. Every project begins with understanding the people who will live there: how they spend their time, what stage of life they’re in, and how the space can support them not just now, but for years to come.

It’s about designing a backdrop for their lives, layered with meaning, depth and elegance. 

Let’s talk about the beautiful guest cottage project. What was the vision for that space? 

It was such a special project. The cottage sits within the grounds of a Georgian estate, nestled beside the Cheddar Gorge. It’s tiny, but it needed to feel characterful and entirely self-contained, somewhere guests could feel truly at home.

We chose a deep red for the cabinetry - which added warmth and richness to the small kitchen space - and softened it with delicate embroidered café curtains from Chelsea Textiles. Just beside the range cooker, we designed a curved walnut cabinet to introduce depth and contrast. It’s a piece of master cabinetry that feels like a real indulgence in such a compact space. Handmade by a local joiner in Somerset, it adds another layer of old English charm, like an antique apothecary cabinet reimagined for modern life.

Just beyond the kitchen, the space opens out into a living and dining area with the original vaulted barn ceiling, a dramatic contrast to the intimate kitchen. The dining area features statement lighting from Vaughan, which adds to the sense of scale and balance across the cottage as a whole.

The palette and textures were layered intentionally to give that sense of age and charm - like the cottage had always looked this way.

And that’s where our Delft Corner tiles came in... 

Yes, they were absolutely perfect. I’m drawn to anything hand painted or floral, it’s a recurring theme in my work, and the Delft Corner tiles had this beautifully nostalgic quality. The delicate detail, the softness of the pigment… they feel luxurious, but also familiar and timeless. I love pieces that feel as though they could have always been there, and the tiles brought exactly that feeling to the space. 

The tile panel behind the range cooker incorporates our Frame Border and is such a standout feature. How did that idea come about? 

The kitchen is quite narrow and didn’t have space for artwork, so we treated the tiled splashback almost like a painting. The raised frame gives it a sense of importance - a focal point that’s still practical. It took a little extra effort from our lovely tiler, but thankfully we have an amazing relationship with our builders, a small family-run team based in Somerset, who brought it all to life beautifully. 

You mentioned layering textures earlier. How do tiles typically feature in your design schemes? 

Tiles are such a wonderful way to add depth and material interest. We tend to use them in a fairly traditional way, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, allowing their function to guide the design. But we always try to elevate them.

In a guest WC, for instance, we might go bold with colour and pattern to make a statement in a small space. Whereas in a master ensuite, we’d likely take a softer approach, using calming tones and subtle texture for a more restful feel and everyday use.

Do you have any advice for homeowners considering decorative tiles in their own homes? 

Absolutely. Think about balance. If you're using a patterned or hand painted tile, give it space to shine, pair it with a simple backdrop so it doesn’t feel overwhelmed. I love mixing a beautifully detailed tile with a solid wall colour or natural timber to let the artistry of the tile speak for itself.

We’re not afraid of colour, but we use it thoughtfully. A muted palette, carefully layered, often has more impact than a room full of competing patterns. 

And finally, what’s next for Caisley? 

We’re celebrating ten years this year, which feels like a huge milestone. We’ve got some really exciting projects on the go, both here in the UK and in the US, including some larger residences that I still can’t quite believe we get to work on.

We’re also thrilled to be featured in an upcoming interiors book by Kerryn Harper-Cuss, and in 2026 we’ll be appearing in a new BBC Arts programme that explores how art can be incorporated into interiors across different budgets. So, lots to come!

A big thank you to Lauren for taking the time to chat with us about the project and her business. You can find out more about Caisley at https://caisley.uk/ and follow them on Instagram at @caisley_interiors.

Explore our Delft Corner tile collection today and find your perfect decorative corner, available in 3 tile sizes, 2 shades of blue and 5 unique motif designs - see more in our Delft Corner collection.