We are delighted to announce our new partnership with the renowned British Architect, TV presenter, author and influencer, Laura Jane Clark. Best known for presenting the BBC 2 and Netflix series, Your Home Made Perfect and working with Channel 4's Ugly House to Lovely House, we are beyond excited to be working with such a household name.
TSL shares Laura's sustainability ambitions and her love of making the most out of the spaces we have. We look forward to working together, providing bathroom inspiration for homeowners and showing the importance of investments in sustainable interior design.

We sat down with Laura to ask her a few questions at the launch of this exciting new partnership.

Why did the collaboration between you and TSL make sense? 

I am really excited to be working with The Shower Lab. I absolutely love their designs and attention to detail. Having beautiful and unique and well-priced shower screens and enclosures that are stand-out pieces within bathroom design is incredible.   

How do you interpret sustainability and how does this play into the designs you create for clients? 

For me, sustainability isn’t always about big, hi-tec ideas and solutions. Reuse is a big part of what I do along with a focus on natural materials, such as lime, cork and timber. I love to reimagine existing elements and work them into new designs rather than starting from scratch and buying in new. This goes from full house projects to individual room designs.       

You undertake a lot of DIY and hands-on projects. Where did this love of working with your hands and being creative with ideas come from? 

I have always loved building and making things, so when I started studying architecture, I really wanted to get some hands-on, site experience.  There was nothing offered on my university course, so I decided that I would apply to become a labourer on a building site close to home in my summer holidays.  It was one of the best things I have done!  I learnt so much from the trades on site, and it really fueled my love for working on the tools and physically making my own design ideas.   

What is the most important thing, in your opinion, to consider when styling your home?

Once the design and layout have been worked out, the styling of your space is the really fun part.  As a practising architect, I don’t have a background in interior design. Because I have worked on my own renovation projects, it has given me the freedom to really explore design and styling. Bathrooms especially are a real passion of mine. They have always been the rooms where I have gone a little bit “out there” over the years. From high gloss red to gold leaf, it is one of my favourite rooms to design. Getting the light right is key. It doesn’t have to be natural light, but ensuring you have a mix of task lighting at face level and relaxing lighting for creating an ambience is so important. 

You have a book coming out this month (The Handbook of Home Design) - Tell us more about it.

I am over the moon about the publication of my book. It is something that I have been thinking about for many years, and it has taken nearly two years to write. The Handbook of Home Design is a step-by-step accessible design guide of architectural insight, ideas and inspiration, covering everything from how to read a plan and establish a project brief, to identifying problem areas in the home and maximizing existing spaces. I wanted to democratize the whole concept of residential architectural design and empower the reader to redesign their spaces by giving readers the language and ability to confidently communicate their vision, get the most out of their design and ultimately love their finished home.

Do you have a favourite project out of all the ones you’ve worked on for Your Home Made Perfect?

They are all my favourites! I love to get really involved and when a design comes to life and I work really closely with the homeowner, it's these projects that really stand out to me. Series 4, which is coming out soon, has some great projects and designs, so I can’t wait for that to be aired.

Tell us about the favourite part of your home and why? 

In all honesty, it’s the bathroom. I have always loved to have a bath and love the idea of a tranquil space to have to yourself. You can make it whatever you like. As you don’t spend masses of time in a bathroom or loo, it can be a place where you can go a little bit crazy with colour and design without the worry of it impacting the rest of your home style. I love visiting restaurants and bar bathrooms when they have done something a little different and wild.  

If you had to choose, what period of architecture is your favourite and why? 

I would say the late 1960s or early 1970s. It was a time when architecture, especially residential architecture, moved away from the Classical and symmetrical constraints and the concept of open plan and “modern” living started to come alive and the effect it had on our homes was profound. I think we, as a society, weren’t quite ready for it and the 1980s and 1990s builds tended to fall back to mock Victorian and Neo-Georgian home styles, but the incredible ideas of Mid Century design are back in vogue and we are still learning a lot of those original, trailblazing architects and designers.    

We are excited to be working with Laura Jane Clark over the next few months. Keep an eye out on our Instagram and LinkedIn pages where you’ll see bathroom designs, inspiration and tips from the inspirational Architect too!