darc’s Junior Journalist, Ellie Walton, recently sat down with Simon Mayhew, interior designer and founder of Manchester-based studio Txtured to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his creative venture. Early this summer, Txtured marked the milestone by officially opening its physical studio space in Manchester.  In this interview, Mayhew shares his personal journey into the world of interior design, the challenges of launching his own studio, and the pivotal role that lighting plays in Txtured’s design philosophy.

Originally hailing from the quaint town of Felixstowe in East Suffolk, Mayhew had a love for the arts and a sense of creativity for his whole life. In his late teens he moved to London where he pursued a successful career as a dancer, gracing the stages of the West End, the Royal Opera House, and touring globally with renowned groups like the Osmonds and the 12 Tenors. During his time as a dancer in London, his passion for interior design grew to become a constant interest that was quietly nurtured alongside his other pursuits.

“I’ve always loved interiors.” says Mayhew, “Between the ages of 18 and 21, while I was in dance college I had a retail job in the perfume department at Harrods that I would do in between auditioning for roles. What I loved about Harrod’s was the interiors, – the marble, the lighting, the Egyptian escalators, everything was very inspiring.”

After his career as a dancer Mayhew shifted gears, venturing into the business side by establishing a successful theatre agency, which continues to thrive today. It was during this time Mayhew became a Soho House member, whose inimitable aesthetic and uses of textures became the final catalyst for Mayhew’s design dreams. After 13 years of running the agency, Mayhew decided to take the plunge into the design world.

“When I became a Soho House member, my obsession for interiors eventually overtook my love for what I was doing at the time. I exhausted everything I could do within the theatre industry and my love for interior just became increasingly overcoming.”

Mayhew describes himself as “a bit of an anomaly,” in the sense that he never took the stereotypical route in his career paths. At 18, he opted for stage school over university, diving into show business as an agent without formal training — relying solely on his drive and passion for the industry. His approach to entering interior design followed a similar pattern. Rather than pursuing a traditional university degree, Mayhew took online courses and immersed himself in personal research and talking to other seasoned designers.

Jumping from the performing arts realm to interior design may seem like a radical career change to some people; however, Mayhew found that his previous career provided him with the skills and knowledge that set the company up for success. In addition to the business skills he gathered, Mayhew also referenced how his performing experience prepared him for the presentation side of being an interior designer. “You’ve got to have confidence,” he explains. “Being a performer, although it has its downfalls such as a lot of self-criticisms, also provided me with the confidence to really put myself out there.”

When starting Txtured, Mayhew’s vision was to create an interiors studio that captured all five senses, integrating a blend of materials, colours, and scents. The inspiration for the studio’s name harks back to his time in London’s Soho House; Mayhew was particularly drawn to Soho House’s masterful use of fabrics, admiring how the layering and variation of materials create depth, warmth, and evoke emotion in a space. However, when it comes to style, Mayhew has a real sense of direction on how his studio focuses on  residential, commercial or hospitality with timeless designs to create one off spaces that feed the imagination. “I want to be versatile,” says Mayhew. “I don’t want to get put into box of being just a high-end, Mid-Century, Modern, and so on.”

His foray into interior design was not the only change in his life. After the COVID-19 pandemic Mayhew and his partner decided to start a new life in the North’s unofficial capital, Manchester. The decision was made after seeing promising residential projects, so they purchased their first property in the Castle Wharf Apartments. Despite leaving the hustle and bustle of London, Mayhew’s design ambitions remained undeterred, proving that opportunities extend beyond the capital. Embracing life in the North with open arms, Mayhew is determined to invigorate the region’s design scene with his unique vision and creativity.

“I believe that I bring something different to Manchester’s design scene. I would like to see Manchester be a bit braver and step out of its comfort zone because there is a lot of repetition and looking back on the past instead of setting an example for the future,” says Mayhew.  “A great example of that is Fenix [a Mediterranean restaurant in Spinningfields, Manchester] it is so unique to other places in the city, and I hope to see it make an impact on projects up here, whether it be residential or commercial. I also want to try and make something that really stands out and is unique. However, the thought behind the Fenix design is to last a long time in a timeless sort of way, which is also what I am hoping to achieve.”

The first year of Txtured has faced both challenges and triumphs, which is typical for any new business. Despite the hurdles, it has been a remarkable year for the studio, with projects spanning the country. A notable project included a conversion of a three-story townhouse in Islington, London. The client specifically sought out Txtured for its distinct design philosophy and aesthetic sensibilities. Reflecting on the project, Mayhew shares: “My favourite part of the project was in the living room, which has a glass mezzanine where you can peer into the lounge. We are creating an office space on the mezzanine and then installing this gorgeous lighting fixture, which will run from the mezzanine into the living room with these gorgeous double height ceiling fabric curtains. This is my first full renovation, so a big milestone for the studio. however, I have some exciting project potentially on the horizon.”

Mayhew’s sense of style and taste is immediately apparent; his presentation and energy alone inspire confidence in his ability to craft chic interiors. As an interior designer whose philosophies centre around sensory experience, lighting is therefore taken into careful consideration. He sees decorative lighting as more than accessories and believes it can conduct a room’s personality and the people within it.

“Lighting significantly impacts how you feel,” tells Mayhew. “An example of how I look at it in a project is from my own living room. I had a gorgeous light that was freestanding, it looked aesthetically gorgeous and was dimmable. However, it didn’t dim low enough. I had it for about a year and every time I sat on the sofa, I felt disturbed and agitated and therefore I couldn’t feel relaxed. The reality was the light was far too bright. So, I changed it to another lamp but instead focused on the type of lighting it would bring. This transformed the whole feeling of the space in the evening.”

Mayhew appreciates even the subtle nuances of light and design, noting the significant impact that something as simple as a dimmer switch can have on a space. He acknowledges how slight changes in lighting can dramatically alter a room’s atmosphere. Among his favorite brands to work with are North-West-based Tyson Lighting and J. Adam & Co., whose blend of classic and modern styles serves as a major inspiration for Txtured.

Mayhew adds: “I’m always think about lighting, and how it differs for every project. If you are in a grand entrance hall and there’s loads of natural light and loads of natural space, then you need to embrace what you have already got. If you are in an office environment or a boardroom, for example, or a living space, you want to bring a light that will channel a calmer atmosphere. Sometimes, I see lighting that is too bright and therefore I will add a dimmer or shadows. Alternatively, in some places, like Dubai for example, they will make lighting a statement piece. It totally depends on the space.”

Sustainability is also a key consideration in the studio’s lighting choices, reflecting a growing trend among designers to prioritise responsible design. During a recent trip to Clerkenwell Design Week, Mayhew was particularly inspired by the range of upcycled products, highlighting Spark & Bell’s wall and pendant lights made from recycled CD cases. He hopes to incorporate similar sustainable ideas into larger hospitality projects in the future.

Before this interview Mayhew had just returned from a trip to Dubai with his partner as a celebration for the studio’s 1-year anniversary and Mayhew’s birthday. Mayhew says that travelling is one of the ways he seeks out new inspiration for his design. During the interview Mayhew pulls out a beautiful, large stone lamp with both Arabic inspired styles on the base and a Grecian-style lamp shade.

“This is inspired by Dubai and by Mykonos. I like the idea of taking design elements from various places because lighting in Dubai, in Mykonos, or in Marrakesh, are all going to be quite different and can be incorporated in a cool way. So, travel is a huge inspiration for me.

“Magazines are also a huge source of inspiration. I like social media, but I would much rather sit down with a coffee and a magazine, because it is less overstimulating” he explains.

Despite Mayhew’s preference to detox from social media for work time inspiration, he first started as an influencer account for amateur interior design called My Home in the City. Mayhew explained the Instagram account started purely as a fun way of documenting their new home’s transformation while experimenting with social media. However, this creative side project grew more demanding in time and content as the page grew in popularity. Today, the account is now the social media home of Txtured and Mayhew admits he has taken a backseat from influencing life while he completes projects and runs the company.

“I just haven’t had time. Although, I’m currently working on a marketing strategy for the next 12 months. I want to try and do more content now I have my studio space where I will have a little content corner. I had an idea to do product focuses such as on lighting products or different paints. I have to say social media is a big commitment and is not an easy task; the algorithm can really ware people down because it is challenging to overcome.”

It’s fair to say Txtured has come a long way for a first-year studio; from humble beginnings as an influencer account to a full-time interior designer with his own studio and successful projects all across the country. Mayhew is one to pick the road less travelled, from successful theatre agent to interior designer, he has proven that taking a U-turn in life is worth the risk if it is something you are willing to work hard at. After the official opening of his own studio space in Manchester, he has ambitions to expand the team and the brand’s horizons – it will be exciting to see where Txtured will be in another year’s time. When reflecting on his journey so far Mayhew finished with one piece of advice, he would have given himself at the start of his journey. He says: “Things are not going to happen quickly, so just be patient, which is a quality I lack. My advice to anyone would be you just have to do it and take the plunge. It takes time, but don’t give up. Keep building those connections, learn from your mistakes, and keep going because, despite what social media tells you, things don’t happen overnight.”

 www.txtured.studio