Sturman & Co

Name: Sturman & Co
Telephone: +44 7515 385211
Rating: 5

19 Reviews

Interior Designers & Decorators

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About Us

High-end

Award winning

Offers Custom Work

Live Beautifully. Award winning Yorkshire Interior Design Studio

Since 2011, Bess Sturman has become the go-to Yorkshire Interior Designer for original, elegant and individual interior designs. Our award-winning modern English aesthetic is rooted in a clean, classical style and a sensitivity for colour inspired by the natural environment. By carefully balancing our creativity with diligence and process, a Sturman & Co. interior is a perpetual invitation to live beautifully and well. Our Three-Phase Approach: At Sturman & Co. each step of our journey with you is an expression of our love for clean, elegant and classic interiors designed to make your life more beautiful. We know that time and energy are your biggest luxuries, so our designs follow a distinct three-phased process to keep things simple for you and deliver results that will surpass your expectations every time. - Concept Design We believe that the functional space we create is even more important than the furnishings. This crucial and initial phase of our design process defines your brief and creates an overall spatial masterplan for your project, working alongside your architect where needed. - Detailed Design Based on our Concept Proposal for your project, this phase of our design delves into the detail of exactly how your new interior will look and feel, as we create a comprehensive design proposal for your home and lifestyle, woven with our unique and enduring sense of warmth, elegance and quality throughout. - Project Implementation Our experienced team takes expert care of implementing the critical steps (including technical design) aligned with installing our complete Design Proposal, guaranteeing that our designs are installed flawlessly saving you time, energy and expense. Our studio is located in the beautiful spa town of Ilkley in West Yorkshire. We work on projects in Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton, Leeds, Wetherby and Otley and do travel further for the right project. Check us out on 'The List' - https://thelist.houseandgarden.com/united-kingdom/ilkley-west-yorkshire/service/sturman-co

Services Provided

3D Rendering, Interior Architecture, Interior Design

Areas Served

Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton, Leeds, Wetherby, Yorkshire, UK

Awards

- 2016 Winner of Best Commercial Interior Design (>£250,000k) for Ilkley Cinema - 2016 Top Award for Design and Conservation of an Historic Building and Special Commendation from Ilkley Civic Society. - Shortlisted for the Design & Architecture Awards 2020

7 Projects

Business Details

Business Name

Sturman & Co

Phone Number

+44 7515 385211

Website

sturmanco.com

Address

Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 9LW
United Kingdom

Typical Job Cost

£500,000 - £3,000,000

Prices vary based on scope and scale of the your project

Followers

62 Followers

Socials

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Credentials

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Featured Review

A Bell

I chose Bess for a full redesign of our country farmhouse because of her intelligence, sense of style and clear capability in managing large and complex projects. Read Full Review

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19 Reviews for Sturman & Co

Newest first

5.0|19 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

5.0

James

We used Sturman & Co to provide us with an interior masterplan for our home which included a new side and rear extension. We were particularly struggling with the ground floor as we couldn't figure out a layout that worked for us. Bess and her team spent time finding out what we wanted from our home and provided us with a detailed design which incorporated all of the things we were looking for. This included moving some internal walls to open up spaces which will make a big difference to how we use our home. We are really happy with the end results. Everyone at Sturman & Co was very easy to work with - Bess and her team are very well organised and thorough and communicated well throughout the whole process. We would recommend them!

May 4, 2021

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you James for taking the time to write a review. We're delighted to know you got what you needed from the Concept Proposal we created for you and we really appreciate your positive feedback.

Charlotte

We have been working with Bess and her team on the concept design of the renovation of our large Victorian property. We were drawn to Sturman & Co by the very pragmatic approach to design and the quality of their portfolio. The way the process is set out in phases made it very easy to understand what we were committing to at each stage. We have had a number of meetings, necessarily through Zoom these days, both with Bess and members of her team. These have allowed us to explore what we are looking for from a designer, what Sturman & Co are able to offer and latterly, what we want from our home and therefore would like to see in the concept design. For the past 90 years the house has been lived in as two separate flats and since moving in three years ago we have continued to live that way despite our desire to return the property to a single dwelling. Bess has helped us to see the potential of this property and her designs have re-captured the grandeur of the space and turned it back into a family home. She was able to help us see through our pre-conceived notions and challenge some of our less well thought through ideas in a non-confrontational way. Each room now has a purpose which will allow them to be lived in mindfully and usefully. We have been particularly pleased with the way Bess has created a parents’ zone and kids’ zone within the home. As we move from a family with children to one with young adults this will help us live alongside each other harmoniously. We look forward to continuing to work with Sturman & Co into the detailed design phase of our project.

April 6, 2021

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your experience of working with us so far. We’re delighted to read your feedback and can’t wait to help you bring the transformation of your wonderful period home to life.

jlhartley

We were looking for an interior design service, which matched our requirements for elegance and understated design, which could help us with our 6,000 square foot (approximate budget £650,000) new house build and renovation of our connecting Victorian home. The project posed its own unique challenges, as there was a need to blend a large glass contemporary structure with a connecting traditional style home. After spending many hours searching, we loved what Bess and her team did and they certainly did not fall short - but exceeded in every way. The whole team instantly fully understood our requirements and were wonderfully easy to communicate with, very efficient in their working practices and extremely professional. The team were consistently thorough in every way and designs and ideas were communicated to us, which could be understood easily by us and in detailed versions, which can easily be shared with specialist trades. A detailed full electrical plan was devised for the whole house and Bess and her team totally blew us away with the intricate level of detail and thought that was put into the plans. To say it exceeded our expectations and delivered us more than what we were expecting, has been a game changer for our project. Using Bess’s team has given us great confidence and the future vision of our brand-new home, which we could have never thought of before and will greatly improve the way we use our home going forward. A great way to add value to our project!

October 5, 2020Last modified:October 6, 2020

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you for your kind words. It has been a delight getting to know you both. We have very much enjoyed being involved in the transformation of your beautiful home.

A Bell

I chose Bess for a full redesign of our country farmhouse because of her intelligence, sense of style and clear capability in managing large and complex projects. Having worked through concept phase I am excited to move into detailed planning with Bess and her team. So far I’ve been really impressed by her ability to listen, advise and think creatively about spaces that do not lend themselves to easy solutions. We’re really impressed.

August 9, 2020

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you for your kind comments and feedback. It's been a real pleasure to develop the spatial plans for your home and we're excited to get into the next phase of detailed design, before bringing your project to life in 2021.

Shelley Jordan

Bess was recommended to me by a friend when my husband and I were looking to renovate our house. Very quickly, Bess and her team's professionalism, ideas and obvious capability won us over. The fact that we had the option for Bess to project manage the work was an easy choice to make. We know nothing about this and have no desire to attempt it! Our novice status has not been an issue at all. Throughout, Bess has broken the project down into manageable chunks for us, whether that's working with the architect on the tender pack, looking at the flow of the house, or highlighting the smartest way to use the budget. Everything is clearly explained with regular communication. I can see all her designs, individual items, fully costed in our online suite so keeping track of it all is easy. She listens closely to our needs as a family so as the style of our house comes together, it really feels like our home, with our choices and Bess's skill pulling it all together into a beautiful finish.

August 4, 2020

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much for your positive feedback Shelley. I have really enjoyed working with your family and can't wait to see your project come to life, especially as our progress has been so rudely interrupted by the global pandemic!

Jill Goodman

For somebody who feels baffled by the possibilities and options in a house project, Bess and her team are a breath of fresh air. They are lovely to deal with and have refined the advice process to a set of clearly defined stages. Bess provided a number of options to fit the brief with beautifully drawn out plans making choices easy to make. I felt a confident in the advice given which was creative and practical at the same time. I would strongly recommend Sturman and Co.

December 20, 2019Last modified:February 24, 2020

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much for your kind words. We very much enjoyed working on the plans for your beautiful home.

Sue Siddons

A friend recommended Sturman & Co. to help us with some initial ideas for our kitchen/ diner layout as my husband and I couldn't agree on the best way to extend or plan the space. Bess visited us and was able to provide real clarity from the outset. At this stage, we didn't intend for Bess to come in and complete the whole project for us, but seeing how easily she was able to help us make decisions when we are both so busy, it felt like the obvious thing to do. The whole process from start to finish was slick. Sturman & co. liaised with contractors, managed the orders and deliveries and I know that the project would have taken so much longer and would have been so much more invasive had we been managing it ourselves. All the contractors on site were polite, respectful and trustworthy and got on with their work efficiently and with minimum disruption to our lives. I was kept up to date with the programme of activity throughout the project and made aware of any changes or updates to the programme. It was reassuring to know that everything was being project managed from start to finish. Bess was able to create a timeless look, in keeping with the Edwardian features of our home, that feels very 'us' and we are absolutely delighted with our new kitchen/ diner. We use the space so much more effectively now. I can chat to family and friends whilst preparing meals and my daughter plays happily alongside me in her own dedicated part of the kitchen. My daughter is delighted with her new bedroom and ensuite. The mornings run much more smoothly now that she has her own dedicated space in which to get ready. I would definitely use Sturman & Co. again for a larger project that requires a lot of project management and decision making. Their input was invaluable.

November 5, 2019

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such lovely feedback on your project. It's made our day! It's great to hear you're delighted with the outcome and enjoying your beautiful new kitchen/living space.

TJ Curle

Huge thanks and kudos to Sturman and Co for our beautiful home!! We are all so thrilled by the transformation, especially the kitchen - I still squeal with delight every time I walk into the room! Your design is such a perfect reflection of our family, and we really appreciate the care and attention to detail which makes it feel so special and elegant, but at the same time homely and warm. As when you transformed our dining and living room last year, we find that we are living in the space in such a different way. The children spend more time playing in their bedrooms. W is delighted by his themed bedroom, proudly displaying his most treasured Lego pieces. A has previously preferred to play in the kitchen but clearly now feels a greater ownership over her own space and now has elaborate dolly parties in her room. In turn, we have been able to reclaim the kitchen area, the breakfast bar has been a big hit with everyone especially as a space for relaxing while someone cooks... Having the bifold doors open has been a real pleasure this summer. The kids have roamed in and out of the garden, and we have relaxed in our glamorous new surroundings. We've been motivated to entertain a bit more often, and various friends and family have visited (and admired the new kitchen!!) As for the sewing room, what a lovely and peaceful haven that has become! A lovely fresh, calm space for me and the kids to enjoy a bit of craft or music, retreat away and chill out. The icing on the cake has got to be the professionalism, speed and dedication put in by the whole team to achieve such a transformation in such a short space of time. We really can’t thank you all enough!

October 2, 2019

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you for posting your kind feedback Tolla. We have all enjoyed working with you and your family and we're delighted to know you're happy in your newly-refurbished home.

HU-332310182

The team at Sturman & Co. worked closely with us throughout the design process to ensure that the final look and feel of our living room and conservatory would be everything we were hoping for. We are delighted with the way that our rooms now look and our friends and family are really impressed by the transformation. The space works so much better for us and we are enjoying spending much more time in these rooms. The finishing touches of bowls, flowers and other decorative items were unexpected and really complete the look. The deliveries were well handled by Sturman & Co. We had a huge number of items arriving on one day and the team were on hand to check everything was as it should be. Any issues were dealt with quickly and efficiently. I would definitely recommend Sturman & Co. to friends and family who are looking to transform their homes

April 9, 2019

Delyth Higham

I have always admired Bess's work and was delighted that she agreed to work with us to transform our ground floor into an open plan kitchen dining room with snug and utility off. Bess helped us to get started, recommended trusted work contacts, held our hands, gave us the confidence to make difficult decisions, and best of all made it a fun, pleasurable and quick process! We easily saved the money that we paid in making the right decisions and in giving our build the high-end look we desired. Bess's advice on colour schemes, room layout, lighting and lighting plans made all the difference. We really love the room and it has transformed the way we use our house. We need to save up now to make the rest of the house look as fab! Thanks so much to Bess and her team!

October 18, 2018

Rachael Jones

We asked Bess to help when we realised how big a project we had taken on with our new build home and were feeling overwhelmed. It was a good decision! She worked with us on space planning and lighting schemes, gave thoughtful, insightful advice on the practical and aesthetic aspects of creating our home and opened up her amazing contact book to put us in touch with other professionals, all of whom are of an equally exceptional standard. I loved working with her, she has deep knowledge and real flair. She made the experience an enjoyable one; she inspires confidence, always met deadlines, communicated costs in advance and we stayed within budget. Thanks Bess!

March 21, 2018

Claire Collinge

It was fabulous to work with Sturman & Co on the redesign of our downstairs space, including living room and family room/kitchen. Our aim was to make a kitchen and separate dining room into a brighter and more useable space, and to give the adjoining lounge a different, cosier feel. Bess took time to get to know us, our style and what we wanted to achieve from the space. She fully understood the need to balance beautiful design with the functions required of a busy family home, suggesting changes in the internal layout of the house to ensure the building works didn't just create a big open space, but created a well designed, individual and functional family home. By using Bess, we avoided the need for architects, and although we managed the build ourselves, we were able to follow her detailed design and seek guidance on any element of the design, including kitchen design, cabinetry and furnishings, as well as benefiting from her excellent contacts in those areas. She responded quickly to all queries, always providing really helpful advice and often suggesting items we may never have thought of, but were completely 'us'. Bess' experience and eye for design and detail were evident throughout. She gave us the confidence to make the right choices and we felt that we were in very safe hands. We now have a downstairs space that the whole family can enjoy and we absolutely love. Most importantly though, Bess' collaberative approach has meant that the finished design feels totally 'us' and reflective of our personalities and tastes, which I imagine is the mark of a great interior designer.

October 19, 2017

Leonie Pratt

Having used Sturman & Co at our previous home and husbands office, Bess was the first call I made when I secured new business premises. Giving the interior design brief to Bess at a busy time in my life - moving work and home meant that I knew I had someone that would make all the right decisions for me. Bess completed the work within the tight time frame and on budget so that it didn't impact on my business. Her interpretation of my requirements exceeded my expectations and has resulted as in an increase of student retention as my studio is so well thought out. Her professionalism extended to liaising with my landlord and decorator to ensure that the end result was harmonious and to everyones satisfaction. I cannot wait to work with Bess again on our next project.

October 18, 2017

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thanks so much Leonie for taking the time to write this review. I'm looking forward to working with you again next year too!

Judy Lethbridge

I hired Bess to advise me when renovating my new house because I wanted to avoid expensive mistakes. It proved to be a wise investment. Bess was careful to assess my requirements and taste at the outset and as a result her initial designs were an accurate reflection of the spaces I was comfortable with and excited to live in. Bess supported me throughout the renovation project and the trade contacts she recommended were invaluable as I was new to the area. She was quick to respond to any queries I had - and I had several as the project progressed. Bess put together colours and shapes in a way I would never have thought of on my own and they work brilliantly - allowing me to keep the furniture, paintings and objects that I loved from my old house and really enhancing them. She made new purchases easy - doing all the hard work for me, allowing me to select furnishings from sources I would never have found on my own, and encouraging me to keep furnishings I liked and target my spending on elements that made a real difference. Bess has been professional throughout - reliable, punctual, supportive and tactful. I am so glad I chose her.

October 14, 2017

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your experience of work with me Judy. I really appreciate it and wish you every future happiness in your new home.

Jen Hamilton

Bess transformed two rooms in our house in record time, on budget and with the most professional hassle free (for us) service. She spent a lot of time with us listening to our likes and dislikes, set us up on Houzz and Pinterest and asked us to get pinning so that she could build up an image of what we liked. This paid huge dividends as we loved the first mood boards she produced on sight. Both rooms were completely redone ( painted, new flooring, new curtains and she blinds and furniture, art work, lamps etc) within around 4 weeks of seeing the mood board. The works were carried out in a 2 week period when we were on holiday using Bess' recommended tradesmen under her supervision. We came home to a big reveal, the house had been carefully cleaned and there were flowers waiting from Bess. It was just the most amazing surprise. Best money we have ever spent on the house and looking forward to working with Bess on our kitchen next year.

October 13, 2017

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much Jen for your kind words. It was such a pleasure to work with you this year and I'm looking forward to completing the transformation with you in 2018.

wetherby_98

We had Bess recommended by friends to help us with the design, layout and décor of a new extension to our 1930’s house. We were adding a large kitchen diner and really needed some help to agree the best layout and get some inspiration for the décor. We’d never used an interior designer before but it was brilliant. We are so pleased with the end result where we have a beautiful room that functions well and looks amazing. The process was fun where we spent time making sure the basic layout was going to function, agreed a detailed lighting plan and then narrowed down our tastes and style to what we wanted and would work well to get to a final design. As we were designing mid-build we needed some flexibility in timing which was no problem. Bess recommended colours, flooring and furniture from various sources and had great contacts with local suppliers that we would never have found ourselves. All in all it saved us loads of time and delivered a modern look and feel that we would never have created ourselves. We’d definitely recommend to others.

March 27, 2017

Tim Knight

We've worked with Sturman and Co on a couple of projects for our house and cannot recommend them enough. Our first project was to completely transform a dated lounge into a warm, comfortable space. This involved not just the overall design / feel of the room, but structural changes (removal of beams, false chimney breast, new stone fireplace) and bespoke cabinetry. To accommodate electronics a new lighting and electric scheme was required. Our second was somewhat more challenging - creating a new kitchen / dining / living area, incorporating combining several new and existing areas of the house. Accommodating multiple different kinds of use, in one space, with a single coherent design was no small task, especially with construction work yet to start. In both instances, Bess has been a joy to work with, developing smart thinking and design ideas we wouldn't stumble across in a thousand days staring at Google! Perhaps more importantly, Bess was able to (tactfully!) mediate differences in opinion between the pair of us and help us find a sensible way to balance everyone's requirements. We chose to draw on Sturman and Co's expertise for the entirety of the design, which involved multiple consultations, room plans, schematics, examining sample materials and recommendations of specific items / tradespeople. The only downside of this is that by stretching our thinking we always ended up stretching the budget slightly - but to a much better overall result! Highly recommended if your house is a home and you want to get the best of your time there.

October 16, 2016

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you Tim for your generous words. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide such detailed feedback and I have been delighted to work with you both over the past couple of years. I'm now looking forward to seeing the finished results in your kitchen/living space next year. In the meantime, your progress updates and any queries are always welcome.

claire10000

Sturman & Co. have done a fantastic job of helping us work through our schemes for each room. They have suggested new ideas within our budget and they are a pleasure to work with. They covered every area and helped us with the smaller details of the project. They suggested new ways of doing things and alternative ways of pulling schemes together. They are wonderfully creative, very efficient and they made the whole process very enjoyable. After working with Bess at Sturman & Co. we feel really focused and clear about how our rooms will look and what we would like to achieve. We would thoroughly recommend them!

June 12, 2016

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you Claire10000 for taking the time to give this feedback! I loved working with you and am looking forward to starting your next phase with you soon.

newellali

Sturman & Co have just completed the re-styling of our lounge and dining room and we are delighted with the results! They have completely transformed the rooms, which now look so much more inviting, make much better use of the space and just make us happier to be in them. I knew the look and feel that I wanted for the rooms but didn't really know how to achieve it. Bess was brilliant at transforming my Pinterest boards of various rooms I liked into a scheme that would work in our home. She was really easy to work with and was great at presenting different options until we were happy with the design and furnishings (she has a great suppliers list and knowledge of different products available). Sturman & Co provided great design ideas and just the right amount of guidance so we felt we definitely made the decisions on the project but just with expert design advice and a nudge in the right direction when appropriate! The project management service Bess and her team provided was invaluable as they co-ordinated all the suppliers and, best of all, dealt with any problems that arose along the way so we had no headaches at all. They use first-rate suppliers, communicated well with these and with us so we were updated about any snags that they were sorting and ensured that everything was completed on schedule. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Sturman & Co’s services - they are very approachable, lovely to work with - very creative designers but also pragmatic and professional so the project was completed on time and on budget.

June 2, 2016

Comment from Sturman & Co:

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this review. I loved working with you on this project and am delighted to know how much you love your finished room.

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Sturman & Co