Interview with Interior Designer: Maria Benaki on building a studio rooted in purpose, stories and self-belief
Maria Benaki is the founder of Studio Benaki, a south-west London interior design and architecture practice specialising in bespoke residential homes across London and Greece. In this conversation, she talks about leaving a corporate engineering career to build something deeply her own — and why investing in her visual brand was one of the first decisions she made.
A Journey of Transformation: from Civil Engineer to Interior Design Studio Founder
Maria’s path to interior design wasn’t a straight line — and that’s exactly what makes her story compelling.
After returning from her second maternity leave to a corporate role as a civil engineer, something shifted. “I remember thinking: if I don’t do this now, I never will,” she says. “Combining my creativity with my technical background brought me real joy, so I was confident in my direction. It was simply a matter of timing.”
That clarity wasn’t accidental. A simple observation sparked her own personal journey. “I always admired people who felt fulfilled through their work, to me, that felt like a true blessing. Understanding what fulfilment meant to me, and how I could translate that into a career whilst staying true to my values, was the real inspiration behind Studio Benaki.”
The leap wasn’t without weight. Leaving her corporate career meant more than handing in a notice. “For me it wasn’t simply leaving a job — it was leaving behind a significant part of my identity: years of hard work, studies, experience, colleagues and financial independence. Reminding myself that I would make it work, and staying true to my values, has been what has carried me through.”
An Interior Design Studio built on Four Principles
Based in Wandsworth and working across London and Greece, Studio Benaki takes on everything from single room transformations to full-scale house renovations. What unifies every project is a clear design philosophy built on four principles: purpose, setting, personality and sustainability.
“Every element in our designs has a purpose — a space has to flow and function, which is why we take the time to understand our clients: how they live, move and feel in their spaces,” Maria explains. Then comes setting: we believe design should honour the past while supporting the present, carefully balancing a building’s character with contemporary living. Personality is where we bring our client’s stories into their homes – every interior should feel deeply connected to the people who live there. And finally, we believe in designing for longevity, incorporating sustainable materials and practices wherever possible.
The work Maria is most drawn to? Challenging briefs. Dated homes that need spatial rethinking. Projects where sentimental objects and heirlooms need to be woven into the design. And historical buildings. “There is something unique about discovering the history of an old building, understanding the lives that once occupied the space, and reimagining it for the present and the years to come.”
The Business side of Running a Design Studio
Ask Maria about the hardest part of studio life and she’s refreshingly candid: it’s the business side. “All the background work that goes into running a small independent studio is a real challenge — but one I genuinely enjoy learning.” She structures her week deliberately, dedicating specific time to creative design work and separate time to marketing, accounting and business development. Some days are set aside purely for inspiration: museum visits, gallery spaces, supplier meetings, connecting with fellow designers.
“I’m still learning a lot, and that genuinely keeps me going. In many ways, that exposure and challenge is one of the reasons I wanted to run my own studio.”
She sought out mentoring during the launch period — something she credits with changing how she works. “I felt quite alone in the process and recognised that I needed someone to bounce ideas off, to offer perspective, accountability and structure.” The biggest shift that came from it? Letting go of perfectionism. “Better done than perfect.”
Visual Brand: why Maria invested in personal branding photography from the start
Interior design is a visual industry — that much is obvious. But Maria’s thinking went deeper than that.
“Clients need to connect with the person behind the brand, not just the spaces we create. Our service relates to something deeply personal — their home — and so naturally they want to know who you are before they invite you into their lives.”
From the very beginning, she knew professional photography wasn’t optional. “It simply gives your business a better chance. Images are a powerful tool to communicate the value of any business. The right imagery conveys the right message, emotions and feeling. For an interior designer or architect, there really is no substitute”.
Going into the shoot, she had her reservations. “I genuinely thought I wouldn’t enjoy it.” The preparation felt stressful especially as it was my first time doing this. During the shoot, I felt uncomfortable at first, but very quickly felt at ease — and by the end, I wanted more. Afterwards, you feel exhausted but accomplished. And then excited, waiting for the final images. It feels like an exciting and concrete step toward the success of your business”.
The impact from having the visuals has been clear. “The images have given me the confidence to speak about my business more openly, to approach other businesses and to position Studio Benaki more clearly in the market. The online presence is undoubtedly stronger, and I receive a lot of positive feedback, which is incredibly encouraging for a new business. Even months on from the shoot, I keep finding new ways to use the images. The journey continues — and it’s a happy one.”
And on what it felt like to be photographed as the face of her own business? “Strange, as I’m not used to being in front of the camera. But in a way — it felt empowering.”
What does success look like for you now?
Maria is thoughtful when the conversation turns to success. Her answer has evolved.
“What I’ve learnt is that success doesn’t have to be big or loud. It can be small and impactful. Success is very personal and can be multidimensional too. In the past, the concept of success didn’t really occupy me. But now, moving through my professional journey, success has become important in a very simple sense. She pauses, then: “To be trusted to do what I love doing. That, for now, is everything.”
Looking ahead, her ambitions are clear but measured. She wants Studio Benaki to gain greater visibility across south-west London and beyond, to build trust in the community, and to grow a steady pipeline of meaningful projects. There’s a new project on the horizon she can’t share details of yet — and she recently completed a women’s strength training studio in Earlsfield that she describes with visible pride.
“My vision is simple: to see the studio flourish, to have my clients trust me and be happy with what we deliver, and for genuine connections to grow naturally.”
What three words would describe your journey as a studio founder?
I asked Maria to describe her founder journey in three words.
Reflective. Grounded. Self-belief.
“Reflection is such a powerful way to grow,” she says. “Grounded, because staying connected to my values has been the thread throughout this whole journey, especially as a career changer. And self-belief — because without it, none of this would have happened.”
Studio Benaki Interior Design
Studio Benaki is a residential interior design and architecture practice based in Wandsworth, south-west London, working across London and Greece. Find out more at studiobenaki.com.
