Press
Creating a place with meaning
House Beautiful, Oct 2026 (cover story)
‘Good design always speaks to the people, the property and the place,’ says interior designer Chizitera Pennington. It’s a philosophy that has shaped every inch of the 1930s Lewisham home she shares with her husband James and their two young daughters. Rather than following trends, Chizitera saw the renovation as a way of telling the story of their lives together. ‘I wanted our home to reflect our backgrounds, journeys and experiences,’ she explains. ‘That meant honouring my upbringing in Nigeria, our shared English heritage, time spent living in Switzerland and the holidays we’ve enjoyed along the way.’
Chizitera found designing her own home no different to working with a client. ‘In fact, I was my own client,’ she says, laughing. ‘I paid close attention to how we physically move through the house. That’s what helped the design to come to life.’ Rather than beginning with furniture plans or moodboards, she started with the narrative.
How Designer Chizitera Pennington Turns Personal Stories Into Beautiful Interiors
Homes and Gardens, August 2026
After spending a decade working in international affairs, Next in Design winner Chizitera Pennington was craving a more creative career. ‘I really believe that the most important thing in life is having a happy home, one in which you feel you can be yourself. I felt this was an area I could make a difference,’ she says. ‘As soon as I began designing, I just thought “this is it, this is where I belong.”’ And so, her studio Chizitera Interiors was born.
Sarah Spiteri, on the board in charge of selecting Chizitera, explained why her entry stood out from the pile: ‘There is a real bravery to how Chizitera designs – using strong colors so boldly isn't easy, and in the wrong hands can go awry. But she knows just how to balance them so they seem inviting, gentle and enveloping, never shouty or overwhelming.’
By weaving together culture, memory and everyday rituals, she creates interiors that are not only beautiful but deeply personal. As her star continues to rise, it's this combination of fearless creativity and genuine empathy that sets her apart – and explains why she's one of design's most exciting emerging talents.
The Bathroom Renovation Checklist
House Beautiful, Sept 2026
‘A bathroom needs a balanced layout’ Make practicality your starting point, advises designer Chizitera Pennington
Bathrooms are functional spaces, but this doesn’t mean they can’t feel joyful. The structural bones play an important role in shaping the layout, so work with the architecture rather than against it. In a loft, for example, put a bathtub where the ceiling height is lowest.
Ideally, a vanity unit should be the first thing you see, rather than a toilet. If you have a window, aim to position the vanity close by so natural light is on your face as you get ready. Similarly, if you have enough space, avoid having the loo right next to the bathtub.
This Interior Designer Designed Her Art Deco Loft Conversion Bedroom With a Clever Open-Concept Bathroom and a Coffee Station Hidden in the Walls
Livingetc, May 2026
With concealed joinery, warm Art Deco detailing, and a design that doesn't mean going all the way downstairs for a morning coffee, this Brockley loft proves true luxury is all in thoughtful design
When interior designer Chizitera Pennington converted the loft of her family's 1930s home in Brockley, she knew she didn't want the project to feel like an architectural afterthought.
"With a growing family, we needed an additional bedroom and bathroom, and we also needed a space that felt elevated and special in the midst of the chaos of family life," Chizitera, founder of Chizitera Interiors, explains. "The attic, which spanned the length and breadth of the house, presented an opportunity to create such a space."
Instead, the retreat was shaped by the designer's own daily rituals, family life, and personal narrative, and designed with abundant ideas that just make a lot of sense for a loft conversion, specifically, from its tailored details to clever spatial planning.
Meet Our Next in Design 2026 Winners – 15 Design Studios To Watch This Year and Beyond
Homes and Gardens, May 2026
We are proud to announce our Next in Design 2026 winners, 15 emerging studios who, with our support, are set to change the design industry
This year’s winners come from across the UK and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives. Some are already well established, while others are just starting out. What unites them is their creativity, passion, and ambition – essential qualities for any designer.
We’re delighted to introduce the Next in Design 2026 cohort.
Chizitera Interiors 'I have a design style that blends bold, intentional use of colour and pattern, along with contrasting yet balanced juxtapositions of different shapes and styles. I also use clean lines well, allowing designs to have space to breathe. I bring this to clients with a deeply personal approach.'
7 Colours Designers Say Instantly Make a Home Look Cheap – And What To Definitely Use Instead
Homes and Gardens, June 2026
From stark whites to icy grays, some of the most popular paint colours can leave a room feeling flat.
Colour has the power to completely shape how a space feels – and crucially, how expensive your home looks. The difference often comes down to nuance: undertones, saturation, and how a shade interacts with natural light.
Instead, designers consistently favour complex, slightly muted shades to make a house look expensive – colours with earthy undertones or softness that evolve throughout the day. Below, colour experts share the tones they tend to avoid and the elevated alternatives they turn to instead.
Softened versions of bold colours – think ochres, clay tones, or sun-washed yellows – create a much more refined foundation. Chizitera points to shades like India Yellow and Marmelo by Farrow & Ball as perfect examples – earthier interpretations of brighter hues that feel confident rather than overwhelming. ‘Any colour in a muted, earthy tone provides a solid foundation for a room,’ she says, allowing art, furniture, and personal details to shine.
Where Designers Find Inspiration: Our Next in Design Winners Share The WOW!house Spaces They Couldn't Stop Thinking About
Homes and Gardens, June 2026
This year's WOW!house, held at the Chelsea Design Centre, was filled with standout spaces, from immersive installations to bold celebrations of colour, culture, and craftsmanship.
But while every designer brought something unique to the showhouse, we were curious to know which rooms resonated most with the industry's rising stars. So, fresh off the back of their private tour, we asked our Next in Design 2026 winners to choose the one space they found most inspiring.
'I found it to be an accomplished, original, and globally inspired take on what a relaxing and luxurious bedroom could be,' agrees Chizitera Pennington of Chizitera Interiors.
'It was inspiring because it felt relaxed and comfortable whilst drawing on modernism and the geometry and hard textural elements of Art Deco (such as the wooden headboard),' Chizitera continues. 'The lines, shapes, and textures from these design eras can be quite harsh and are not natural bedfellows in bedroom design.'