The Journal
Built by Women, Designed with Purpose
To celebrate International Women's day we asked our team to name a female interior designer who inspires them and to talk about the impact they had on their design work.
International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise the women who shape industries, challengeexpectations and quietly change how the world looks and feels. In interior design, influencetravels across generations. Designers study the work of those who came before them, absorbtheir ideas and translate them into new spaces and new possibilities.
At Ward & Co, this lineage of inspiration is visible in the work of the studio’s designers. Eachmember of the team draws influence from a woman whose creative voice reshaped architecture,interiors, textiles or social design. The result is a studio defined by collaboration, curiosity and ashared belief that elegant interiors should also be practical, thoughtful and deeply human.
The following sections pair each Ward & Co designer with the woman whose work inspires them.Together they reflect a creative dialogue across time, where ideas continue to evolve through thespaces Ward & Co designs today.
Sarah Ward and Bernie de Le Cuona
At the centre of Ward & Co is founder Sarah Ward, whose inspiration comes from Bernie de LeCuona. The two have known each other for many years, and Sarah has long admired Bernie’s instinct for exploration. She often travelled with little more than a backpack to discover new sources of natural fibres, artisanal craft and remarkable textures that would later define her collections.
Bernie’s work centres on interior fabrics, yet her approach sits within a wider creative ecosystem that often overlaps with fashion. Her exploration of texture, natural materials and craftsmanship creates textiles that feel timeless while maintaining an unmistakable sense of style and quality. That philosophy resonates strongly with Sarah’s own approach to interiors, where materials and fabrics are never simply decorative elements but the foundation of a room’s character and atmosphere.
Both women share an entrepreneurial spirit grounded in curiosity and craftsmanship. It is a connection built over years of mutual respect, and conversations are now beginning around a potential collaboration between the two creative worlds.
Rosie Ward and Kit Kemp
Alongside Sarah stands her daughter and the studio’s Creative Director, Rosie Ward, whoseinspiration comes from Kit Kemp.
Kit Kemp is known for fearless pattern, joyful colour and layered storytelling. Her worktransformed British hospitality interiors, proving that spaces could be expressive, personal andimaginative while still remaining comfortable and welcoming. Kemp showed that hotels andshared environments could feel like living narratives rather than anonymous spaces.
That influence can be seen in Rosie’s approach at Ward & Co. She brings a modern perspective to the studio, introducing colour, texture and narrative into interiors while maintaining the calm elegance that defines the company’s identity. Her work ensures that contemporary lifestyles and evolving ways of living are reflected in the studio’s designs.
The creative partnership between Rosie and Sarah also reflects something important about female entrepreneurship. Leadership can be collaborative and intergenerational. Experience meets instinct, heritage meets modernity, and together they shape the direction of the studio.
Catharine Lau and Patricia Urquiola
Ward & Co designer Catharine Lau draws inspiration from Patricia Urquiola, a designer whose work crosses architecture, furniture and product design with remarkable confidence.
Urquiola is celebrated for transforming everyday objects and interiors through innovative use of colour, material and form. Her work demonstrates how creativity and technical expertise can merge to produce spaces that feel both expressive and carefully resolved.
For Catharine, that spirit of innovation informs the way she approaches interiors at Ward & Co. Texture, palette and composition are carefully balanced to bring subtle personality into a room while ensuring that the overall space remains harmonious and refined.
Zoe Avit and Charlotte Perriand
Ward & Co designer Zoe Avit finds inspiration in Charlotte Perriand.
Charlotte Perriand was a French architect and designer best known for her influential role in modernist furniture and interior design alongside Le Corbusier. She challenged traditional ideas by combining functionality, simplicity and social purpose, believing that good design should improve everyday life.
At a time when architecture and design were largely dominated by men, Perriand asserted her creative voice and reshaped modern living spaces through innovative use of materials and human-centred design. For Zoe, Perriand’s legacy represents courage and clarity, a reminder that thoughtful design can challenge conventions while remaining practical and purposeful.
Millie Johnson and Eileen Gray
Ward & Co designer Millie Johnson looks to Eileen Gray as her inspiration.
Gray began her creative career as a furniture designer, producing iconic pieces such as the Bibendum chair before later teaching herself architecture. Her contribution to modern design was only widely recognised when she was in her nineties, long after many of her groundbreaking ideas had influenced others.
Her story is one of persistence and quiet determination. For Millie, Gray represents the importance of patience and craftsmanship in design. Trends may shift quickly, but enduring interiors rely on thoughtful planning, strong materials and attention to detail.
Aimee Mezzone and Emily Wheeler
Ward & Co designer Aimee Mezzone draws inspiration from Emily Wheeler, founder of FurnishingFutures.
-
Wheeler’s work focuses on creating fully furnished, trauma informed homes for women and children moving into empty social housing after escaping domestic abuse. Through FurnishingFutures, she demonstrates how design can restore dignity, stability and hope.
For Aimee, this influence reinforces the idea that interiors should never be purely aesthetic exercises. The spaces designers create have the power to support people emotionally as well as visually, bringing comfort, safety and a sense of belonging.
Closing reflection
Together, these designers illustrate a powerful chain of inspiration. Each Ward & Co designer stands beside a woman whose work helped shape the world of design before her. Their ideas continue to travel forward through new interiors, new projects and new interpretations.
On International Women’s Day, Ward & Co celebrates that ongoing dialogue between women who inspire and women who create. Through collaboration, creativity and shared purpose, they continue to shape spaces that feel elegant, thoughtful and enduring.
.svg)
ward & co. Interiors
2nd Floor, 8 Queen Anne Street, London, W1G 9LD
The Journal
Built by Women, Designed with Purpose
To celebrate International Women's day we asked our team to name a female interior designer who inspires them and to talk about the impact they had on their design work.
International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise the women who shape industries, challengeexpectations and quietly change how the world looks and feels. In interior design, influencetravels across generations. Designers study the work of those who came before them, absorbtheir ideas and translate them into new spaces and new possibilities.
At Ward & Co, this lineage of inspiration is visible in the work of the studio’s designers. Eachmember of the team draws influence from a woman whose creative voice reshaped architecture,interiors, textiles or social design. The result is a studio defined by collaboration, curiosity and ashared belief that elegant interiors should also be practical, thoughtful and deeply human.
The following sections pair each Ward & Co designer with the woman whose work inspires them.Together they reflect a creative dialogue across time, where ideas continue to evolve through thespaces Ward & Co designs today.
Sarah Ward and Bernie de Le Cuona
At the centre of Ward & Co is founder Sarah Ward, whose inspiration comes from Bernie de LeCuona. The two have known each other for many years, and Sarah has long admired Bernie’s instinct for exploration. She often travelled with little more than a backpack to discover new sources of natural fibres, artisanal craft and remarkable textures that would later define her collections.
Bernie’s work centres on interior fabrics, yet her approach sits within a wider creative ecosystem that often overlaps with fashion. Her exploration of texture, natural materials and craftsmanship creates textiles that feel timeless while maintaining an unmistakable sense of style and quality. That philosophy resonates strongly with Sarah’s own approach to interiors, where materials and fabrics are never simply decorative elements but the foundation of a room’s character and atmosphere.
Both women share an entrepreneurial spirit grounded in curiosity and craftsmanship. It is a connection built over years of mutual respect, and conversations are now beginning around a potential collaboration between the two creative worlds.
Rosie Ward and Kit Kemp
Alongside Sarah stands her daughter and the studio’s Creative Director, Rosie Ward, whoseinspiration comes from Kit Kemp.
Kit Kemp is known for fearless pattern, joyful colour and layered storytelling. Her worktransformed British hospitality interiors, proving that spaces could be expressive, personal andimaginative while still remaining comfortable and welcoming. Kemp showed that hotels andshared environments could feel like living narratives rather than anonymous spaces.
That influence can be seen in Rosie’s approach at Ward & Co. She brings a modern perspective to the studio, introducing colour, texture and narrative into interiors while maintaining the calm elegance that defines the company’s identity. Her work ensures that contemporary lifestyles and evolving ways of living are reflected in the studio’s designs.
The creative partnership between Rosie and Sarah also reflects something important about female entrepreneurship. Leadership can be collaborative and intergenerational. Experience meets instinct, heritage meets modernity, and together they shape the direction of the studio.
Catharine Lau and Patricia Urquiola
Ward & Co designer Catharine Lau draws inspiration from Patricia Urquiola, a designer whose work crosses architecture, furniture and product design with remarkable confidence.
Urquiola is celebrated for transforming everyday objects and interiors through innovative use of colour, material and form. Her work demonstrates how creativity and technical expertise can merge to produce spaces that feel both expressive and carefully resolved.
For Catharine, that spirit of innovation informs the way she approaches interiors at Ward & Co. Texture, palette and composition are carefully balanced to bring subtle personality into a room while ensuring that the overall space remains harmonious and refined.
Zoe Avit and Charlotte Perriand
Ward & Co designer Zoe Avit finds inspiration in Charlotte Perriand.
Charlotte Perriand was a French architect and designer best known for her influential role in modernist furniture and interior design alongside Le Corbusier. She challenged traditional ideas by combining functionality, simplicity and social purpose, believing that good design should improve everyday life.
At a time when architecture and design were largely dominated by men, Perriand asserted her creative voice and reshaped modern living spaces through innovative use of materials and human-centred design. For Zoe, Perriand’s legacy represents courage and clarity, a reminder that thoughtful design can challenge conventions while remaining practical and purposeful.
Millie Johnson and Eileen Gray
Ward & Co designer Millie Johnson looks to Eileen Gray as her inspiration.
Gray began her creative career as a furniture designer, producing iconic pieces such as the Bibendum chair before later teaching herself architecture. Her contribution to modern design was only widely recognised when she was in her nineties, long after many of her groundbreaking ideas had influenced others.
Her story is one of persistence and quiet determination. For Millie, Gray represents the importance of patience and craftsmanship in design. Trends may shift quickly, but enduring interiors rely on thoughtful planning, strong materials and attention to detail.
Aimee Mezzone and Emily Wheeler
Ward & Co designer Aimee Mezzone draws inspiration from Emily Wheeler, founder of FurnishingFutures.
-
Wheeler’s work focuses on creating fully furnished, trauma informed homes for women and children moving into empty social housing after escaping domestic abuse. Through FurnishingFutures, she demonstrates how design can restore dignity, stability and hope.
For Aimee, this influence reinforces the idea that interiors should never be purely aesthetic exercises. The spaces designers create have the power to support people emotionally as well as visually, bringing comfort, safety and a sense of belonging.
Closing reflection
Together, these designers illustrate a powerful chain of inspiration. Each Ward & Co designer stands beside a woman whose work helped shape the world of design before her. Their ideas continue to travel forward through new interiors, new projects and new interpretations.
On International Women’s Day, Ward & Co celebrates that ongoing dialogue between women who inspire and women who create. Through collaboration, creativity and shared purpose, they continue to shape spaces that feel elegant, thoughtful and enduring.