Island House, Laugharne: The Story Behind a Grade II Listed Interior Design Concept
Chapter 1 of the Island House interior design journey
Island House is a new luxury boutique hotel, bar and restaurant currently being brought back to life in the heart of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire. This is the first chapter in its interior design story. Over the coming months I'll be sharing the thinking behind the design as it progresses — the decisions that shape it, and how the concept is developing into a complete guest experience.
How a period property interior design concept begins
Before creating the design concept for Island House, I spent time in Laugharne simply observing.
I explored the building, learned about its history, walked the estuary, noticed the colours and textures of the Carmarthenshire coastline, and watched how people experienced the town. I wanted to understand what already made this place special before deciding what it could become.
This is where every period property interior design project should start — not with a mood board, but with the building itself. What's been changed over the years. What's original. What the light does in each room at different times of day. You can't design a renovation properly from a set of photographs; you have to stand in the space.
Renovating a Grade II listed building without losing its character
The restoration of Island House has already been underway for more than five years, and it's a project that means a great deal to the local community. That made it even more important to create a design that respects what people already love about this building, while giving it a new future.
Island House is a Grade II listed building with a history stretching back to the 1600s — and possibly even earlier. Over centuries it has evolved alongside the town, becoming part of Laugharne's story.
Working on a listed building interior comes with real constraints — what you can change, what needs consent, what has to stay exactly as it is. But those constraints are usually what make the final design better, not worse. Renovating a period property well isn't about stripping it back to something neutral and inoffensive. It's about knowing which original details are worth protecting, and which parts of the space can carry something new.
That's exactly how I want Island House to feel as it begins its next chapter. Not reinvented. Just properly evolved.
Designing for how a place is actually experienced
From my observations and research, the concept for Island House began to take shape — not as a particular style, but as a feeling for guests. What they'd expect. How to not lose the reason they're visiting this lovely little Welsh town in the first place — to wind down.
A place where guests don't just admire history, they feel immersed in it. A hotel that reflects the character of Laugharne, respects the heritage of the building, and offers the comfort expected of a modern stay, without losing its soul.
This is how I approach every project, whether it's a listed hotel on the Carmarthenshire coast or a private period home in Pembrokeshire:
I study a building's history so that every new intervention feels like it belongs.
I observe how people use a place so that the design supports real life, not just beautiful photographs.
I draw inspiration from the local landscape so that every project has its own identity, rather than following trends.
If you own a period property and you're not sure how far you can push a renovation without losing what made you fall for the house in the first place — that's usually the first conversation we have.
Interior design across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
I work with private homeowners and commercial clients across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and the Gower — from period properties near Laugharne to modern coastal homes, and boutique hospitality spaces like Island House. Every project starts the same way: understanding the building and the people who'll use it, before anything gets designed.
I offer three ways to work together, for residential and commercial projects alike:
Signature Interior Design — full, hands-on design and project management from concept to completion. For homeowners and commercial clients who want to hand the whole process over and trust me to lead it.
Design & Direction Session — a focused session to set the direction of a project, whether that's a single room in a period home or the opening concept for a commercial space like Island House.
Style & Moodboard Consultation — for clients who want clarity on style and direction before committing to a full build, residential or commercial.
Follow along for chapter 2, as the Island House concept starts to take shape.
SA1 Interiors — interior design for period and luxury coastal homes, and boutique hospitality spaces, across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and the Gower.