I studied Interior Design at Chelsea Art College and went on to work for London architecture practices Panter Hudspith and Caruso St John while developing my portfolio on small private commissions of my own.

In 2007 I went to work for Jill Scholes Interior Design where I became associate director. I worked on many interesting projects usually involving listed buildings in west London as well as the refurbishment of a listed manor house in Great Milton, Oxfordshire.

In 2011 I relocated with my husband from London to Somerset (where I grew up) to build a Passivhaus on a south facing site surrounded by grazing sheep and apple orchards. In 2012 I set up my own business - Emily Bizley Interior Design - now called Studio Bizley to reflect our growing team. I am passionate about Somerset and the beauty and creativity that seem to spring from this unique place. Discovering inspiring local craftspeople and makers to work on my interior design projects is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work here.

My interest lies in creating interiors that are practical, comfortable and intensely atmospheric. I love natural materials, hand-crafted objects and textiles, and antique or re-purposed objects and furniture. I believe these things have the greatest character and innate longevity.

In working with clients my first aim is to help them develop a vision for what they are trying to achieve both aesthetically and practically. Establishing this early on gives a direction which is then referred to throughout the life of the project and keeps decisions focused on the agreed aims.

In working up the design for each area I use hand-sketches to visualise schemes as well as mood images and sample boards. I then produce CAD drawings for bathrooms and joinery etc and select and specify hard materials, sanitaryware and light fittings.

Furniture, soft furnishings and curtains, although often last on the list of priorities on a big project, are always most successfully integrated when thought about early on. I design and specify window coverings as well as put together schemes for furniture and furnishing fabrics.