Set within a characterful Victorian terrace nestled in The Hoe, Plymouth, this dual-purpose space serves as both a part-time home and a sustainable holiday let. Our client approached us after discovering Boaz Studio through our B Corp certification, looking for a sustainable interior designer whose values aligned with their own. We had a clear vision: to create a beautifully designed, environmentally conscious space that could support ethical tourism in the South West.
From day one, sustainability wasn’t an add-on — it was the brief. Together with the client, we developed a clear set of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to guide every design and sourcing decision throughout the project.
These included:
Our schedules are a key tool for communicating with both clients and contractors throughout the project. They capture every detail of each specification — from finishes to fixtures — ensuring clarity and accountability. For this project, we expanded our standard format to include dedicated sustainability and ethical criteria, adding columns to record information such as distance from site, manufacturing processes, and third-party certifications. This allowed us to track impact transparently and make values-led decisions at every stage.
We invited our suppliers to complete our sustainability questionnaire to better understand their environmental practices, ethical standards, and transparency around materials and manufacturing. This questionnaire also serves as a tool for opening up conversations around sustainability and ethics, reinforcing to our suppliers that we genuinely care about where their products come from, how they’re made, and the values behind them.
We love specifying vintage and antique pieces in our projects — they bring character, history, and a lower environmental impact. But sourcing them is more involved than it might seem. It often comes down to timing, luck, and acting quickly when the right piece appears. From the outset, we made a plan for which items we could realistically source second-hand and which would need to be specified new. This helped us stay practical while still prioritising sustainability at every step.
Our goal was to achieve at least 50% local specification (within a 50-mile radius), and we surpassed that — reaching around 70%. Materials and furnishings were sourced from Devon, Cornwall, and the wider South West wherever possible, including many from fellow B Corps.
From the outset, the intention was to retain anything that didn’t genuinely need replacing — a key principle in reducing unnecessary waste. Most of the existing appliances were kept, as they were still in good working order and met the energy efficiency standards required for Green Tourism certification. In the bathroom, where some elements were updated, we introduced WRAS-certified fixtures to ensure water efficiency and compliance with recognised sustainability benchmarks.
Breathable paints were essential for this project, allowing the fabric of this historic building to breathe and helping to prevent issues with trapped moisture and damp. These finishes are not only better for the building’s long-term health, but also a healthier choice for the people living and staying in the space — thanks to their low or zero VOC content, which improves indoor air quality.
All construction waste and packaging recycling was managed by the contractor, in line with our sustainability aims. As part of the client handover, we provided detailed schedules that serve not only as a record of specifications, but also include a dedicated column for end-of-life recommendations. These note whether items are eligible for things like supplier buy-back schemes or recycling information. The client then has this to support a circular approach beyond project completion.
We used Boaz Studio as we needed some help reimagining our lounge after moving in just before having our first child. Our house wasn't working for us and our toddler. Stephen is so approachable and friendly and really listens. He's keen to understand what your needs and wants are as a client and then has an amazing way of turning that into something beautiful, practical, and personal. I am so impressed and would highly recommend Boaz Studio. On top of that, they're really professional, and communication is easy.
Stephen managed to build a true understanding of what we wanted and embed that in his conceptual designs. When we first saw those designs for a fresh and contemporary take on the heritage library, we knew that we would be creating something special.
I found boaz studio to be the perfect combination of design ideas and down to earth sense. They opened my eyes to aspects I hadn’t considered and delt with problems in creative ways.
You have been incredibly instrumental in the first part of this project and given us inspiration on how best to utilise our space, giving us vision on layout, design, style and colours. You are very skilled at what you do !!
Boaz Studio came in to advise on the complete refurbishment of the communal space here at Sunley Orford House, a purpose-built block of quality retirement housing in the centre of Truro. Having listened thoroughly to the design brief he provided well thought out advice on materials, colours and decoration with options that not only bring a more contemporary feel but will revitalise the space for the future. His thought and attention to detail was appreciated by all involved.
We worked with Boaz Studio to plan our two-storey extension and associated alterations to our house. We couldn't have done it without them, they were brilliant! Their thoughtful designs really made the most of the spaces, not only in terms of furnishings and decor but also really useful advice about positioning for doors and windows. Stephen and Alice are both fabulous at what they do and really lovely to work with. Highly recommended!
Boaz provided layouts and concept interior designs for our new home, and the results were fantastic: they managed to somehow provide us with something completely unexpected that was completely our style and what we wanted. We feel so much more confident managing the building work and decorating now, and can't wait to see it finished. Highly recommended.
Stephen and Alice worked with us to produce a design for the interior of our coffee house - their ability to bring together all of our different needs and ideas into one unified concept was fantastic - they have knack for drawing out the most efficient use of whatever space they're working with. First class.
Stephen managed to build a true understanding of what we wanted and embed that in his conceptual designs. When we first saw those designs for a fresh and contemporary take on the heritage library, we knew that we would be creating something special.
"We used Boaz Studio as we needed some help reimagining our lounge after moving in just before having our first child. Our house wasn't working for us and our toddler. Stephen is so approachable and friendly and really listens. He's keen to understand what your needs and wants are as a client and then has an amazing way of turning that into something beautiful, practical, and personal. I am so impressed and would highly recommend Boaz Studio. On top of that, they're really professional, and communication is easy."
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