Open House – Edward Thomas Interiors

March 25, 2023

Showhome Editor, Anna Wood, catches up with Steve Hird, Director, Edward Thomas Interiors

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? 

I’d raise more awareness about the diversity of roles available. People hear housebuilding and automatically think tradespeople. Don’t get me wrong, this is obviously a vital role, but there’s so many more career opportunities, whether that’s in sales & customer service, marketing, surveying, land & planning, procurement, or interior design. Housebuilding also offers great apprenticeships, so I’d love to bring more attention to this.

What three traits define you? 

Energetic, motivated and fair.

What’s the coolest trend in the industry today? 

From an interior design perspective, there’s two trends that have caught my eye. The first is the rise of self-expression; how people are unafraid to show their personalities in their homes. Some of my favourite ‘marmite choices’ from our recent designs include pink kitchen cabinetry, pineapple light fittings and mirrored walls!

The other trend is what I’m calling a ‘bootility’, a combined boot room and utility! As everyone looks to maximise available space, multi-purpose rooms are becoming more popular, and a designer bootroom with space for laundry, wet weather gear, bike helmets, and a home for four-legged family members has become a top priority.

How do you define success? 

It’s not all about money. We all need money, and many of us aspire to earn a good living, but for me, success comes from people and the relationships we build. I love creating a team, developing its people to be the best version of themselves and seeing them support each other to achieve group goals. There’s no better feeling than when you collectively succeed and share that moment together…

Read the rest of this exclusive interview in our latest issue here.