A sneaky peak behind the scenes! Get the inside track on Interior Designers – from signature moves and pet peeves, to their biggest regret and ambitions for the future. This edition of the Insider Scoop features Chloe Bullock.
This edition of the Insider Scoop features Interior Designer Chloe Bullock of Materialise Interiors.
Chloe is the founder of Materialise Interiors, Brighton-based B Corp certified interior design company, started in 2005. Named as PETA’s Compassionate Designer in their Vegan Homeware Awards and awarded the British Institute of Interior Design’s Merit Award 2025 for services to the interior design profession.
Chloe Bullock of Materialise Interiors
Quick Fire Five
1. Favourite paint colour?
Quite frankly ANY coloured paint that doesn’t have animal tested ingredients – and ideally in Naturewatch Foundations’s Compassionate Shopping Guide. I want my projects to be harm-free! I don’t think anyone would want their paint (or adhesives, or grouts) to be animal tested, yet a loophole in the ten year old ban allows it. To avoid – ask for your paint and its ingredients to be both cruelty free and vegan (we don’t want animal derived ingredients either thanks!) – in the paint of your choice.
I really base my designs around the client’s brief and I listen to the building too! Paint usually comes last in the design for me – as it’s the easiest element to tweak and bring everything together. Get the large elements with fewer colour and finish options decided on first.
2. Must have interiors accessory?
I’m exploring safe and non toxic ways to add fragrances to spaces – adding another biophilic nature connection for the senses.
3. Signature interiors move?
Convincing clients to keep something they already have and design around it!
4. Go to interiors brand?
I don’t really have any. Brands who are conscious of their impact and counteract that. I’m trying hard to reduce the use of new things and my business is just design services. Firstly to take away buying new things to supplement revenue and secondly to ensure I look at the most suitable wider range of specifications, including refurbished and vintage items.
5. Interiors pet peeve?
Buying something expensive – you therefore assume everyone in the supply chain for it has been fairly paid a living wage. That’s not always the case. We need to ask more questions!
Design: Materialise Interiors for Yellowave Beach Sports Venue & Cafe. Graphics: Paul Nelson and Recreative Signs.
Four Insider Insights
1. Give us the scoop on your first interior design job & how much you made?
My first post degree job was as a junior designer for a furniture company. My first interior job was as a retail designer for The Body Shop international HQ. The most incredible learning experience which set me up for all that I’m still doing now.
2. Biggest regret or mistake?
I probably should have done my degree in Interior Design (as intended) but instead I was lured by the woodwork, metalwork and upholstery workshops of the sister Furniture Design degree at Trent Polytechnic when I went to the open day. I like materials and making things! I learned lots.
3. Biggest achievement or learning to date?
I still can’t believe I just received the BIID Merit Award this year. I still can’t believe I was asked to write a book for RIBA. But I really am so happy to have won PETA’s Compassionate Designer award a couple of years ago. I admire all they do as advocacy for animals and their undercover investigations were a key part in the Vegan Design course that Jecks Stone and I took.
4. What’s next for your business?
I’m starting to help other designers and architects to look at lessening the negative impacts of their own businesses and also their projects. I love doing that. I can help as little or as much as needed.
Design: Materialise Interiors | Stylist Collaborator: Jane Lee | Photography: Claire Waddell
Thanks for reading the Insider Scoop on Chloe Bullock of Materialise Interiors. And thank you Chloe for your time in taking part! You can find Chloe on Instagram. or LinkedIn or her website.
If you enjoyed this read you’ll love more Interior Designer ‘behind the scenes’ insights – read about Emily Brogden, Alex Dauley, Alix Stoney and Joanne Jeyes.
If you’re an interior designer and would like to take part – I’m always looking for contributors.
Please email me at [email protected] Thanks, Lisa x
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