From restoring a dilapidated Georgian mansion to earning a prestigious Civic Award, Oliver Burns Studio showcases unmatched expertise and attention to detail. Since its founding in 2004, the studio has embraced a holistic approach to sustainability, embodying its ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ ethos. In this edition of In Conversation With, Positive Luxury spoke to Sharon Lillywhite, Founding Partner and Creative Director to discover how the studio makes more sustainable choices – from sourcing materials to refining processes – and the challenges they face in pushing for greater transparency across the luxury interiors industry.
…
When was Oliver Burns Studio born and what is its origin story?
Oliver Burns Studio was founded in 2004 with the renovation of Dalton House, a Grade II listed Georgian mansion that had been left completely derelict for years, to the point where the roof was collapsing. In desperate need of repair, we painstakingly restored it brick by brick, meticulously recreating every fine detail to bring it back to its former glory. It was a true labour of love, which was recognised by many and even honoured with a prestigious Civic Award. The transformation was so well-received that people fell in love with our design aesthetic and attention to detail, leading to the creation of Oliver Burns Studio. Since then, we have been fortunate enough to work on some of the world’s finest interiors, from listed heritage buildings to VIP hospitality suites and lakeside villas.
Can you tell us a bit more about your ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ ethos?
I created our ethos of ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ as the core value that runs through every aspect of the studio. It goes far beyond our approach to design; it reflects how we want to exist in the world, how we treat our team, and how we engage with the people we work with. This ethos is brought to life by the way we curate, collaborate and narrate, creating designs that go beyond the aesthetic. When it comes to sustainability, we apply our ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ ethos to every decision we make. This approach aligns closely with our work with Positive Luxury, ensuring that through our design choices, sourcing of materials, and processes, we stay true to our manifesto while driving meaningful change.

For Oliver Burns Studio, how do the worlds of luxury and sustainability collide?
There’s a common misconception that luxury and sustainability don’t go together, but we’re working hard to challenge this. In my experience, the advancements in materials and technology means that we now have so much more choice and there really is no need to compromise on either front. We are committed to sharing these options with our clients and team, demonstrating through our research we have discovered more sustainable alternatives that match the same level of quality. Our design approach is built on creating elegant, timeless spaces. By focusing on longevity, we inherently embrace sustainability. We collaborate with the finest British artisans to ensure our designs are crafted to last a lifetime. This approach reduces waste and minimises environmental impact, allowing us to make thoughtful, responsible, and more sustainable choices that stand the test of time.
What do you see as the greatest sustainability related challenge for the brand?
Years ago, it was seen as luxurious to import materials, scouring the world to find ‘the very best’ with little consideration of what impact this was having on our footprint. This mindset has since been challenged, and it’s about shifting these ideals and behaviours.
And how do you aim to overcome this?
At Oliver Burns Studio, we recognised that by focusing on working with British artisans, we were not only supporting our fellow leaders in the UK luxury market but also reducing our environmental impact while still achieving the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship. This approach allows us to understand the provenance of every piece we source – where the materials come from, how they are crafted, and how far they have travelled. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with the best of British artisans. For instance, Peter Reed, who is one of our suppliers, supports their community by using organically sourced materials. Likewise, Aiveen Daly showcases the beauty of innovative materials, such as yarns made from seaweed, nettles, and vegan silk, which bring stunning levels of artistry. We want to continue conversations on a regular basis, which is why we’ve introduced a supplier survey for any new suppliers. This helps us ensure that everyone we work with shares our ethos of ‘Thoughtful Luxury.’ It’s not just about challenging ourselves, but also encouraging our suppliers to reflect on their practices and make improvements where possible. We see it as a collective effort toward a more sustainable future.

How has working with Positive Luxury changed or informed your approach to sustainability?
‘Positive Luxury’ is a phrase that you’ll often hear around our studio when we’re discussing materials or new designs. Partnering with sustainability consultants and joining the Positive Luxury community has really helped this become second nature in our business. It’s shown us that maintaining the highest standards of luxury doesn’t require sacrificing sustainability. It is also great to be surrounded by others who are learning and finding ways to progress their manifestos – knowledge sharing and conversation is a big way of how we can all work together to deliver positive change.
What’s next for Oliver Burns Studio?
After a busy summer, we’re excited to continue working on the first phase of Heathrow VIP, which is currently being installed. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the project come to life after all the hard work the team has put in. We also have some international projects on the horizon, which are fuelling our creativity and inspiring new ideas. As always, we remain committed to educating and challenging ourselves to work even more sustainably, partnering with like-minded clients and suppliers who share our vision and dedication in driving positive change.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BUTTERFLY MARK CERTIFIED OLIVER BURNS STUDIO
< Back