How we work & FAQs
The answers, before you have to ask.
Reimagining a home is a considered decision, and most people have the same questions before they begin. Here's how a Studio Ember project runs from first conversation to finished home — and honest answers to what clients ask most.
Step by step
From first home visit to finished room.
01
A conversation about how you live
Everything begins with listening. Francesca wants to understand how you actually use your rooms — the rituals, the frustrations, the way the light moves through the day — before a single colour or fabric is chosen. Clients describe it as design therapy: a voice that helps you stand back and see what's important, and what to tackle first.
02
A considered, cohesive scheme
From there we shape a scheme rooted in colour psychology, natural materials and eclectic, collected finds — layered for comfort, not for show. We understand the brief and your aesthetic, then gently push you toward things you couldn't have thought of yourself, so the result feels both unmistakably yours and quietly surprising.
03
Brought to life, at your pace
Whether we lead the full transformation or support you as you go, every decision is sense-checked against the overall design intent. Phased renovation or all at once, the studio keeps everything aligned — so the home evolves beautifully over time and there's no second-guessing along the way.
Common questions
Frequently asked.
What kind of interior design does Studio Ember do?
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Soulful, collected homes — not showrooms. We work on whole-home design strategies, single-room transformations and everything in between, always rooted in how you actually live rather than a passing trend. Whether you want a focused steer on one room or the studio to lead a full transformation from concept to a finished, layered scheme, there's a way in. The four ways to work with us are set out on the services page.
I only need help with one room — is that too small?
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Not at all. That's exactly what Design Direction is for: a focused, two-hour session for one or two rooms or a design dilemma, so you leave with confident decisions on layout, colour and what to tackle first. It's expert direction without committing to a full package — and plenty of clients start there before deciding whether to take a project further.
We're renovating in phases — can you still help?
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Yes, and it's one of the things the studio does best. The North Star Home Plan is built for exactly this: a cohesive guide to your home's look, feel, colours and materials that keeps every current and future upgrade aligned. It means you can renovate room by room, over months or years, without the scheme drifting — each decision points back to the same North Star.
How involved will Francesca be in my project?
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Personally involved throughout. Studio Ember is founder-led: Francesca leads the design and the client relationship on every project. Reviews describe her innate empathy for a space and the way she manages each stage to take the stress out of it — that's not delegated away. You're working with the designer clients name, not a rotating team.
Will my home end up looking like everyone else's?
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No — the opposite is the point. We don't do trends for trends' sake or precious rooms you're afraid to touch. We layer eclectic finds, colour psychology, natural materials and a touch of the unexpected around your life, so the result feels unmistakably yours. Clients tell us their space still feels like theirs — just better — right down to making a treasured old armchair finally feel at home.
How does pricing work?
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We're transparent about it. Design Direction is £350 for a two-hour session; the North Star Home Plan starts from £2,000; and Home Alchemy, our full high-touch service, starts from £5,000. The Implementation Retainer is a flexible monthly block of studio time, priced around what your project needs. The right route depends on the scope, and we'll talk it through honestly before you commit to anything.
Where is Studio Ember based, and how far do you travel?
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We're based in Henley-on-Thames and cover far and wide. Local projects sit across the Thames Valley — Marlow, Wallingford, Reading, Wargrave, Sonning, Twyford and beyond — and past work has taken the studio into Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and London. If you're wondering whether you're in reach, just ask.
How do we get started?
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With a conversation. Call or email Francesca and tell her a little about your home, the rooms on your mind and how you'd love them to feel. From there we'll suggest the right way in — a single Design Direction session, a whole-home plan, or the full service — and take it at a pace that suits you.
Question not answered here?
Just ask Francesca — there's no such thing as a daft question, and he'd rather talk it through properly, on a no-obligation home visit if it helps, before anyone commits to anything.