For over a decade, through over 300 interior design projects, we have crystallised our design ethos into a signature principle. In each design project we search for the distinctive röda tråden – a unique red thread – that binds people, place and building.
Our clients are international, inspirational, and exacting. We create spaces that answer their unique questions of living and we are passionate about involving them in the design journey.
The scale of the questions differs dramatically: from contemporary new builds in Jordan, Kuwait and Portugal, to projects in London where our interior design studio works on listed buildings that are hundreds of years old. Our determination to provide answers that add value and enhance our client’s lives does not change.
Leading 100 Designers, 2020
For over a decade we have been on some incredible design journeys with our clients. From the Algarve to Saudi Arabia, from Kuwait to California, our clients lead inspiring, fascinating lives, and we have been privileged to help shape their interiors and tell their stories. Please have a look at how we have added value to projects of all shapes, sizes and settings:
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Our Knightsbridge Project was awarded the best apartment in London in the The International Property Awards 2015 and was shortlisted for the global award in the same category.
Whilst our design studio is headquartered in Chelsea, London, we are internationally known for the quality and clarity of our residential interior design, recognised with awards and featuring on various lists of leading designers both in the UK and beyond.
Still, most of our interior design work comes from personal recommendations from existing clients, and repeat work for clients – on a second home, a commercial project or a family home embarking on their next chapter with new questions of living.
See all our AwardsWe are set apart by the strength of how we communicate with our clients and how tightly we hold onto the red thread that we weave through each interior design project.
Director and Head of Product Design
We run small teams of committed, experienced designers from around the world. Founders Staffan and Monique stay creatively involved in all projects.
We are known for the creative and financial value we add to the projects we work on. We tease the most out of the space available, making sure we plan spaces to answer our clients' questions of living.
We value solid, natural materials and whilst we are not a traditional practice, we constantly look to the past for the best answers, especially when it comes to craft traditions.
As working parents of a young family, we are increasingly convinced that a well-designed home can improve family life. While the balance of form and function is at the head of our practice, the heart of our work is about how to create spaces and opportunities for family time and personal growth.
Read our testimonialsKensington Family Home
Our clients need spaces to look beautiful while being as bullet-proof as possible. We are experts in fusing form and function to ensure that materials are fit for purpose and joyful to look at.
We aim to bring our clients into the heart of the story. Our client's collections are the starting point for finding the red thread of their unique design journey.
The red thread is a Scandinavian metaphor for the creative DNA that runs through a design journey. We use it to tell a story that binds people, place and setting.
Born out of a shared passion for design, the Design Group is run and managed by Inchbald-educated, husband-and-wife team, Staffan and Monique Tollgård. A background in feature film and documentary production characterises our work: a commitment to the power of story-telling, to the narrative that our clients bring, to the history of the buildings in which we work and the shared stories of the design objects we curate in each interior.
The Tollgard Studio brings together a team of talented, hardworking, and creative individuals from across the globe. Collaboration is the lifeblood of the team, and they pride themselves on working closely together to deliver beautiful and functional interiors for clients.
As Creative Director, Staffan has crystallised his design ethos into two principles: the search for the Scandinavian notion of the distinctive ‘Red Thread’ or creative DNA in each project, and the commitment to the creation of ‘functional sculpture’.
Monique leads the interior design arm of the company. Comprised of small teams of architectural interior designers, technicians and support staff, Tollgard Studio works on a variety of projects for private and developer clients, from large-scale new builds, listed refurbishments to decorative projects around the world.
As Technical Director Oscar oversees our deliverables & technical information. Having worked on a wide range of project types for both private and public clients and with many successful clients and high-performance global teams, Oscar has a particular expertise in running projects from inception to completion, with an emphasis on the top prime residential and leisure sectors. On our UK projects Oscar often acts as Lead Architect and lead consultant and oversees coordination work between design disciplines and construction team.
Filipa brings her combined experience in Operations and her knowledge of residential and commercial sales environments to Tollgard. Adaptive, enthusiastic and efficient, her love of systems and standards is second only to her commitment to the people she works with.
Filippo Castellani was born in Pisa, educated in Florence and trained in Milan. Creative consultant and product designer for leading international design brands, his experience has seen him work from high-end and limited production items, to mass-produced and globally retailed products. Informal – balanced – unconventional – figured – detailed… these are the keys to his concept of design.
With a BA in Interior Design from ESDI in Barcelona, Spain, Ariadna has worked on large high-end residential projects both in the UK and internationally. Additional experience in the commercial world has come from time working at the Maybourne Hotel Group design team, for Claridge’s Hotel. Her excellent technical skills and Iberian flair have endeared her to colleagues and clients alike. While her design ethos is summed up by Mies van der Rohe’s dictat that “Less is more”, the same cannot be said for Ariadna’s strong work ethic and commitment to her projects.
Upon completing her BA in Architecture, Esra gained experience in residential and hospitality projects at an architectural practice. Whilst also working on volunteering projects, she further studied MA Interior Design to hone her design flair and continue her approach from the exterior to the interior. She believes that the design journey is as important as the final result because it creates the identity of the building.
Joana holds a MA Arch from Porto University in building rehabilitation and a postgraduate degree in Interior Design. Experienced in high end residential and furniture, she wholeheartedly engages with every project, viewing each one as an opportunity to craft a unique narrative that embodies the client’s story within the proposed space.
Lily graduated university with a BA(Hons) in architecture, before gaining experience in commercial interior design, working on a wide variety of hospitality projects. She has worked with many well-known brands, helping clients to develop a strong design identity. Lily believes in the importance of the journey and story that lead to the final design. She is passionate about creating environments which have a lasting positive impact on individual experiences.
Claudia’s passion for creating characterful designs that pay homage to history and culture began during her BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture and Design. Her subsequent professional work blends aesthetics, practicality, and character. Claudia has developed her design expertise across a range of projects including high-end residential and commercial schemes. Known for her detailed eye, calm manner, and organised approach, she is well-versed in delivering projects on budget and on time. With each new project, she strives to create beautiful spaces that feel authentic and engaging.
Josephine joins the Tollgard family at Grosvenor Waterside, as Office Manager & Sales Assistant. She trained at Queen Mary University of London and British Academy of Interior Design, where she gained BSc (Hons) in Business Management & BA (Hons) in Interior Design. Having worked in the luxury Interior Design market for several years, and with her friendly and pleasant personality, she enjoys providing excellent customer care and highly efficient, comprehensive office support.
Striving for the perfect balance between creative thought and strategic balance, Faaizah’s foundations began at King’s College London where she earned a BSc (Hons) in Business Management. Passionate to develop a well-rounded skillset across a range of mediums, she has worked for global brands within the retail and advertising sectors. Turning to interiors in recent years, Faaizah has gained an in-depth industry education working on global campaigns for market-leading brands. She prides herself on her ability to look at the big picture and craft stories that captivate and engage audiences.
New to the design industry, Rosie brings with her over 25 years of financial experience within a wide variety of sectors including Retail, Construction, Hospitality and Charity. Proactive, approachable and a keen eye for detail are just some of the skills she brings to the Tollgard Design Group. The knowledge she has gained throughout her career enables her to support the Finance function in providing a smooth and efficient service.
Our expertise in the residential interior design world has successfully translated into the commercial sphere where we work with developers and corporates on a variety of projects, bringing a ‘resi-mercial’ vision of how to make spaces outside the home more liveable.
We would love to be involved in your design journey. Please give us a little information about the project and how you think we can help. When are you starting design; when do you want to be finished; are you looking for help with furniture sourcing, or with changes to the interior design? We will be in touch with some more questions and will let you know more about how a design journey with us works.
