BIID designers take part in Design Havens for Heroes

Delivering room makeovers for NHS key workers who have been on the frontline during the Covid-19 emergency is the mission of initiative Design Havens for Heroes. The goal is to bring them rest and calm in their own home havens after dealing with the emotional and physical demands of tackling the pandemic.

Launched by interior designer Francesca Rowan-Plowden in April, Design Havens for Heroes is a collective of interior designers, stylists, product suppliers, interiors and homeware brands, and skilled makers and tradespeople, donating their time, skills, experience or products to deliver the havens, and both BIID registered designers and BIID industry partners such as Sofa.com are taking part.

Francesca explains, ‘I felt as the crisis unfolded there was something I really wanted to do to help in a creative way and, with my background, it felt the most helpful thing I could do.’

BIID designer volunteers

One of the BIID registered designers who has joined the collective is Henry Prideaux of Henry Prideaux Interior Design. He explains that Design Havens for Heroes quickly brought the design community together. ‘It made many of us realise there can be a way our profession can help those key NHS workers who are going through so much with something to look forward to after a long and troubled shift at work,’ he says. 

‘Using our skills to help create a place in which they can feel more comfortable than before is an extremely worthwhile thing to do for the nurses, doctors, paramedics and other hospital workers who are risking their lives when looking after others.

‘A professional interior designer can help NHS key workers by coming up with solutions in a space that the untrained eye might not see. This could be with existing pieces re-upholstered or painted, a change in layout to improve the flow in a room, providing access to brands and suppliers not available to the general public and giving a client the confidence and support to implement design ideas that will maximise a room’s potential.’

BIID registered designer Sarah Latham of Etons of Bath has also volunteered her time and professional skills. She says, ‘Working long shifts in tiring and dangerous surroundings only enhances the need for a great home to return to. If we can help to create peaceful havens for key workers and their families in the West Country through creative and practical design approaches that can be simply executed, then we can do our bit. 

‘As interior designers, we can't help with healthcare but we can help make people’s homes more inspiring, restful and enjoyable places to be. So, this campaign enables us to give something back to those who have so selflessly helped the nation during these troublesome times by using the skills we have for their benefit.’

Cheshire-based BIID registered interior designer Fiona Watkins of Fiona Watkins Design was also delighted to become part of the initiative. She explains, ‘During the early days of the pandemic, watching our selfless NHS workers being pulled in every direction and asked to work longer and harder than ever before gave me a real sense of helplessness. What could we do as interior designers? We donated fabrics for masks and scrubs, but this didn’t seem enough, so when we heard about Design Havens for Heroes we wanted to be part of it. 

‘There is a huge amount of research and evidence that proves how well-designed environments can have a massive positive effect on our health, happiness and well-being and I know how much I’ve valued having my own haven during this time, so we are really looking forward to being able to create a haven for someone so deserving.’

Havens at home

As we publish this feature, over 500 NHS key workers have already been nominated. The first project under way is for Dr Claire Fraser Taylor who’s a transplant surgeon and urologist working on the Covid-19 frontline at St George’s Hospital, London. 

Want to take part?

Interior designers who wish to volunteer for Design Havens for Heroes, can get in touch at designers@designhavensforheroes.org.uk; brands should use brand@designhavensforheroes.org.uk; and trades/fabrics fabric@designhavensforheroes.org.uk.

To nominate an NHS worker for a haven, email nominations@designhavensforheroes.org.uk, or tag them on a post on Instagram @designhavensforheroes.