Studio – Design Storey

Studio

Design Storey is an architecture and interiors studio based in Oxford, working across the UK. We begin by understanding a place: its history, landscape, buildings and the lives lived within it. That understanding shapes the design, from the arrangement of rooms to the materials we choose.

Our work brings contemporary design together with craftsmanship, material warmth and sensitivity to place. We are equally at home inserting a glass room into a listed cottage as we are wrapping a new home in handmade clay tiles.

Every commission is led personally by the studio founders, with architecture, interiors and delivery considered together from the outset.

“Utterly outstanding. Their dedication, creativity, and professionalism have been exceptional throughout... We wouldn't consider working with anyone else.”

Private Client

Philosophy

We believe good architecture should belong in its setting — not imposed, but arrived at through careful attention to light, proportion, movement and material.

Our best work tends to emerge from constraint: a listed structure that cannot be altered, a site with a planning refusal already on it, a brief that seems impossible until it isn’t.

We design for permanence rather than fashion, selecting materials that weather gracefully and spaces that improve with time. The smallest details matter as much as the larger gestures: the framing of a view, the texture of a handrail, the rhythm of movement through a building.

Every project is collaborative, shaped through close dialogue with clients, consultants and craftspeople.

“We particularly appreciated the strong breadth of design concepts they initially offered, and the excellent energy they brought which really kept the process moving forward at a good pace.”

Private Client, Warwickshire Farmhouse

Our name

Names matter. They become shorthand for what a studio notices and values.

Every place has a story. Long before we arrive, a building has already been shaped by the people who lived or worked there, the landscape that surrounds it and the passage of time. Whether we are working with a listed farmhouse, an Oxford college or a new building, our first task is to understand that story.

Our name carries a second meaning too. A storey is a layer within a building. Every project we take on adds another layer to the life of a place — not replacing what came before, but contributing something considered that allows it to keep evolving.

In that sense, every project is both a story and a storey. One more chapter in the life of a place.

“Lydia has detailed knowledge of the planning system which ensured the design was not only of high architectural merit, but the proposed dwelling was also maximised within the constraints of both the site and local planning policy. Excellent attention to detail.”

Private Client

Sustainability

Our approach to sustainability begins with retention, repair and reuse.

We believe existing buildings hold both cultural and environmental value, and we are passionate about extending their life through careful adaptation.

Retaining existing structures can reduce the demand for new materials and the embodied carbon associated with replacement. We assess opportunities for reuse alongside the building’s condition, performance and future use.

Where new elements are introduced, we prioritise natural, durable and responsibly sourced materials designed to age gracefully alongside the existing building fabric.

“I was inspired by Design Storey's work in The Cotswolds so when an opportunity arose to develop a barn in a countryside location, I felt sure they were the right fit for me. Lydia and her team are a delight to work with and quickly grasped a clear understanding of my goals.”

Private Client

Our team

Founded in 2013 by Lydia Robinson and Lawrence Grigg, partners in both life and practice, Design Storey brings together over 40 years of combined experience across architecture, interiors and project delivery.

Working from their Oxford studio, Lydia and Lawrence are supported by a team of talented architects and interior designers from diverse professional backgrounds.