Ches & Co: Where Comfort Meets Conscious Design
At Design Insider, we’re always inspired by studios that bring warmth, personality, and purpose to every project they touch, and we’re delighted to feature Ches & Co for the very first time!
Founded by Francesca Toman, an interior designer with a lifelong passion for creating spaces that feel as good as they look, Ches & Co has quickly established itself as a thoughtful and people-centred studio based in Northamptonshire. In just under three years, the practice has grown into a talented team of three, balancing creativity and practicality across both residential and commercial projects. Their work is defined by an instinctive understanding of how people live, work, and connect, and by an unwavering belief that great design should feel inclusive, nurturing, and timeless.
In this conversation, Franny shares how Ches & Co’s human-focused philosophy came to life through the Social Business Space, a project designed around the theme of ‘Redefining Luxury’. She discusses how her interpretation of luxury as care, comfort, and inclusion shaped the space’s look, feel, and function, as well as how sustainability and longevity underpin every design decision the studio makes.
To start, could you introduce yourself and tell us about Ches & Co, how the studio came to be, the type of projects you take on, and the design philosophy that defines your work?
I’m Franny – Founder & Interior Designer at Ches & Co (Ches being short for Francesca). We are a small team of three based in Northamptonshire and the studio has been going for just shy of three years. I’ve always been interested in Interior Design and spent a lot of time growing up decorating and re-decorating my bedroom! The turning point was buying my first house with my sister and renovating it from the ground up – literally! After I qualified, I set up Ches & Co to do the same for residential clients, and more recently commercial, too. My designs centre around the people use each space – and how they feel in it.
Ches & Co has grown into a close-knit team with complementary skills. Could you introduce us to your team and share how each person contributes to delivering projects, from concept to completion?
I am the Interior Designer and creative lead for all projects.
Matt is my partner and Finance Manager who manages the money coming into and out of the business. He started his working life as a teacher with a particular interest in maths and is now training to be a qualified accountant. You’ll also find him on-site for install days!
Alison joined us over a year ago armed with operational and account management expertise and is focused on making sure every project runs on time and to budget.
Your work spans both residential and commercial design. How do you approach functionality and human-centric design across these different types of spaces?
Every project starts with who uses the space – whether that is considering family dynamics in a shared living space or both staff and clients for commercial projects. We always consider 1. How they use the space practically and 2. How they want to feel when they are in there.
Functionality is at the heart of every design, so practical questions are the focus at kick-off meetings – we need to know what currently works, what doesn’t and what would be the nice to haves.
From there, we consider the look and feel of the space – how do the people using it want to feel and what colours, textures etc. make them feel that way? For residential projects, that’s gleaning from them directly and for commercial projects, it’s reliant on the business knowing its customers and staff in addition to their business goals.
You designed the Social Business Space at the Independent Hotel Show around the theme of ‘Redefining Luxury’. How did you interpret that theme in the context of the show, and how does your definition of luxury align with the values you bring to all your projects?
To me, luxury feels like being looked after and part of something bigger – so we designed the Social Business Space to focus on these feelings rather than opulence and glamour. We wanted the guests to feel instantly part of the club, comfortable to be themselves and get involved in the talks with the people around them. We used fresh, bright and light colour on the walls complimented by warm accents in the materials throughout the space. We also created lots of different seating options so everyone could sit where they felt most comfortable depending what they were in the space to do – whether that was relaxing on the sofa having a coffee and catch up to checking in on emails at the table.
Functionality seems to be at the heart of your design process. Could you tell us more about how you collaborate with clients, or in this case, event organisers, to ensure every design decision enhances the way people use and experience a space?
The first information I find out from clients is what the space will be used for – not just the intended use or aspirational but the day-to-day how do you actually spend your time in it. I also think it is important to note in residential projects the small habits that clients have so that I can work with them on a practical solution rather than them committing to doing things differently!
For the Social Business Space, I worked with the organisers to find out what people will do in there. How long are they likely to be there for, what are the priorities and what has been the previous feedback so we can work with that to enhance visitors experience year on year.
You’ve described your vision of luxury as inclusion, care, and comfort. How do those values come to life in your choice of materials, colours, furnishings, and spatial layout, both in the Social Business Space and in your wider portfolio?
My aim in any project is for the client to walk in and feel instantly at home! This was particularly important in The Social Business Space as visitors would be using it for such a short period of time. I tend to lean towards more natural materials and colours with a muted tone because to me they feel more comfortable and approachable, so the materials are often linens, velvets, cottons, woods and marble which was reflected in the space. I also like to incorporate patterns to add depth to the colours and materials and give a well-rounded finish. It’s important to consider all of the senses, too – we incorporated scent across the Social Business Space which was received well throughout the event. The curtains and partition walls added to the spatial layout of the space by giving a cocooning feel.
Sustainability and longevity are integral to Ches & Co’s ethos. How do these principles shape your sourcing decisions, your relationships with suppliers, and your approach to creating designs that stand the test of time?
Sustainability is always a big consideration in our projects and here are some of the different ways that we consider our approach to each one:
- Consider what is already available – could it be re-used or repurposed?
- When ‘getting rid’ of items, how can we do it ethically? i.e. so that as little as possible goes into landfill!
- What is integral to the design and/or will stand the test of time in the space? Either something that the client particularly loves, is built to last etc.
- Considering the materials used in every piece that we source! Are they fit for purpose?
- Designing to the brief and the client’s style over fleeting trends.
- Working with suppliers that I know and trust – both long-standing companies and smaller, independent businesses that are local to the project and bring a new perspective to the design.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Ches & Co? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or ambitions that you’re particularly excited about as you continue to grow the studio?
The residential side of the business is consistently busy with both renovation projects and new developments – which both bring their own challenges to the table! Collaboration is one of our core values as a business and we are currently working with a couple of our suppliers to create a service that enhances both of our offerings. We’re also really excited to expand further into the hospitality market as it aligns so well with our approach to design. More than anything, we are just excited to continue to create spaces that people enjoy being in! Whether it’s commercial or residential, every new project brings with it a new brief, perspective and set of challenges that we can’t wait to get stuck into.
Photography Stephanie O’Callaghan