We recently caught up with the newly-launched interior design firm Studio Cameron, and chatted to founders Toddy Fleming and Georgie Collingwood-Cameron, the dynamic duo behind the Studio Cameron’s stunning interiors.
Based in Northumberland, Studio Cameron is a newly launched interior design firm that’s quickly gaining acclaim for its high-end, sophisticated projects. Founded by Toddy Fleming and Georgie Collingwood-Cameron, and with studios in Northumberland and Southern Spain, the duo work on both residential and commercial projects across the UK and abroad. They transform homes, boutique hotels, bars and restaurants into charming, deeply comfortable and characterful spaces.
How did you meet?
“We met in Northumberland 15 years ago through our husbands,” says Georgie. “Their fathers grew up together in Scotland so there was already a strong family bond. I first saw Toddy leaning against the Aga with a glass of rosé in hand and I thought I had spotted a kindred spirit.”
“I was clinging onto the idea that it was warm enough in Northumberland to drink rosé in May,” Toddy adds with a smile.
“At the time Toddy was a physio for the Royal Automobile Club in London and I was running my PR company,” Georgie explains. “Our friendship grew rather organically through our husbands’ love of sport and inevitable sporting weekends. We quickly discovered a shared passion for interior design and architecture, and that we had a similar design aesthetic.”
How did you come to start Studio Cameron?
“Toddy had retrained as an interior designer in 2015 and I was still running my PR firm where I was managing large-scale projects for global brands, while starting to think that I would like to change career and hand the business over to the management team to run,” Georgie says. “Fast forward to 2023 and I was retraining at KLC School of Design with a dream of starting an interior design firm.”
“By this point I’d built a successful interior design studio, Fiona Fleming Interiors,” Toddy says. “But with a young family, I was turning down projects and was desperate to professionalise the business. With our complementary skills and shared values, it was an obvious decision to join forces.”
What is Studio Cameron’s style?
“Our style is a modern take on traditional design with comfort at its heart,” says Toddy. “We give a lot of thought to how our clients live and the practicality of what is required to be comfortable in each room. For example, in a drawing room, chairs and sofas are always accompanied by a lamp for reading and a table for a drink. We also love bar and drinks nooks and trolleys.
“We tend to avoid trends and instead focus on what works best in a space. If a client is particularly keen on a current trend – scallops, for example – we will try and steer them towards something that can be easily changed, like a lampshade.”
“Colour is deeply personal,” Georgie adds, “so getting to know our clients is a priority in producing a home that will be loved for years to come. We adore mixing colour and textures and layering rooms.”
What’s the best bit about working together?
“It doesn’t feel like work! We laugh a lot and share a similar attention to detail bordering on the obsessive,” says Toddy. “Having Georgie in on the design process with me makes the whole process more efficient. Signing off a scheme is always cause for celebration and now I have someone to share that sense of achievement.”
Do you ever disagree?
“Occasionally yes. But not on anything that really matters,” says Georgie, adding: “Toddy likes plain cushions and I don’t!”
What advice would you give to someone embarking on a refurbishment?
“Right at the start, when you are about to be bogged down with plans, endless decisions and finding hidden problems, buy something that you really love for the house,” Toddy says. “If you wait until the end, you won’t be able to justify the expense!”
Georgie adds: “Try not to be led by trends. Instagram is great for inspiration but what looks good on a little square might not adapt to real life so well.”
How do you work?
“We offer three packages: a full interior design service, room by room design, and colour consultancy,” says Georgie.
“We believe every project is different and requires a flexible, tailored approach,” adds Toddy. “So these packages can be bespoke to suit the project. We work closely with architects and contractors from the very start of a project, and believe this is crucial to avoiding increased costs if rectifying any issues further into the project.
“Early consideration of kitchen and bathroom layouts, lighting and electrical arrangements, furnishings, artwork and window treatments is our gold standard in achieving the final look and feel of a project, and ultimately offering the comfort required.”
Can you tell us about your current projects?
“With studios in Northumberland and Spain, we are currently working on a guest house in Vistahermosa in South West Spain, a stately home of historic importance in Scotland, a full extension and renovation of a holiday home in Northumberland, a sensitive redecoration of a baronial house in East Lothian, and a kitchen renovation in a country house hotel,” Georgie says.
What’s next for Studio Cameron?
“When sourcing for clients we’ve often struggled to find what we want, so we have decided to make our own,” says Georgie. “We have a very exciting 12 months ahead of us with a brand new furniture and bedding range in design and manufacture. And with our lovely colleague Helen supporting us in the studio, it allows us to take on more projects.”
For more information about Studio Cameron www.studiocameron.com
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