*🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.*

Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.

Vincent Reed sits down with Emma Hooton, founder and design director of London-based Studio Hooton, to explore her journey from West London estate agency to leading a boutique interior design studio specialising in historic and listed properties. Trained at KLC School of Design and shaped by early experience under House & Garden Top 100 designer Hugh Leslie, Emma shares how craftsmanship, antiques, and bold, original thinking define her approach.

Emma explains Studio Hooton’s “anti–show house” philosophy, how she guides clients through clear and considered design decisions, and why communication and trust are just as important as creativity. She also discusses growing her studio organically, building a strong team culture, and navigating the complexities of working within conservation constraints—highlighted through projects like the Bishop’s Palace transformation.

*Other topics covered include:*

• Learning design during the Lehman Brothers crash

• The influence of craftsmanship and traditional materials

• Rejecting generic “showhome” interiors

• Managing client expectations and avoiding overchoice

• Building trust and understanding client psychology

• Growing a design studio without a rigid long-term plan

• Working with listed buildings and conservation specialists

• Choosing the right clients and projects

• Expanding into international markets

• Designing historic homes for modern living

Whether you're an interior designer, architect, or heritage enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insight into restoring and reimagining historic homes with sensitivity and character.

*Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps:*

(Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section)

00:00 Meet Emma Hooton

01:51 From Estate Agency to Design

02:55 Learning Under Hugh Leslie

05:35 Craftsmanship and Bold Style

09:03 Rejecting the Showhome Look

11:16 How Designers Lead Clients

14:00 Presentations Without Overchoice

17:13 Client Psychology and Trust

26:30 Starting Studio Hooton

30:31 Early Confidence and First Hires

32:53 Building Team Culture

37:31 Growing Without a Five Year Plan

40:59 Vision and Drive

43:33 Dream Projects and Specialism

45:11 Expanding Beyond the UK

46:44 Choosing the Right Clients

48:25 Navigating Conservation Rules

52:09 Managing Team Dynamics

56:33 Competition and Client Trust

01:02:51 Starting Out in Today’s Market

01:06:47 US Clients and New Markets

01:08:07 Favourite Historic Transformation

01:11:46 Where to Find Studio Hooton

01:13:48 Advice, Networking and Challenges

01:16:36 What Makes It All Worth It

01:19:58 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

*Connect with Emma Hooton and learn more:*

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmahooton/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiohooton/

Website: studiohooton.com

Email: emma@studiohooton.com

*Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:*

https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com

Join the conversation:

https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual

#InteriorDesign #HistoricHomes #ListedBuildings

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.

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Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.

In this special first on-site episode, Vincent Reed visits Scotney Castle to sit down with James Kenton, a National Trust senior building surveyor and conservation architect.

James shares his journey from a farming background to discovering his passion for architecture through school work experience, university at Portsmouth, and trips to historic sites like Rome. He explains the path to becoming a conservation architect, including accreditation (AABC and RIBA) and professional qualifications.

Discover the day-to-day work of a National Trust surveyor, from compliance and condition reporting to long-term planning and climate impact management. James also highlights church inspections, quinquennial surveys, and major projects at Chartwell, including stabilising Churchill’s kitchen garden walls and refurbishing the uniform room.

Other topics covered include:

• Early career challenges during the 2008 credit crunch
• Trades skills, apprenticeships, and the future of craftsmanship in an AI-driven world
• Balancing duty of care, project budgets, and return on investment
• Work culture and learning opportunities during COVID and furlough
• Publications, BBC filming at Sissinghurst, and sharing expertise with the public

Whether you’re a heritage professional, architecture student, or simply curious about historic buildings and conservation, this episode offers invaluable insights into preserving historic places for future generations.

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Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps

Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section

00:00 Meet James Kenton

00:30 From Farming to Design

00:55 Work Experience Spark

04:54 University and Conservation

09:09 Becoming a Conservation Architect

09:49 Accreditation Case Studies

14:45 Qualifying and Part Three

19:38 Starting Out in the Credit Crunch

21:44 Church Work and Inspections

24:45 Climate Change Building Impacts

25:46 Chartwell Projects Deep Dive

31:58 National Trust Teams and Crafts

35:02 Trades Skills and AI Future

41:35 Work Culture After COVID

44:04 Back to Scotney Castle

44:13 Becoming Church Inspector

45:39 Juggling Dozens of Churches

47:22 From Farm Conversions to Ambition

49:50 National Trust Interview Gauntlet

52:04 Taking the Leap to NT

53:39 Starting Then COVID Hits

56:49 Furlough Era Extra Portfolios

01:00:18 Portfolio Reshuffle After COVID

01:01:49 Senior Surveyor Role Explained

01:05:31 Day to Day Surveyor Work

01:10:09 Reports, Budgets and Planning

01:14:06 Balancing Duty and ROI

01:16:43 Stress, Responsibility and Pride

01:20:00 Where to Find More

01:21:18 Publications and BBC Filming

01:25:20 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

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Connect with James Kentorn and learn more:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kenton-nt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_kenton/

Email: jamesphkenton@gmail.com

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Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:

https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com

Join the conversation:

https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual

#NationalTrust #ConservationArchitect #HistoricBuildings

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.

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Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.

Host Vincent Reed speaks with conservation carpenter and surveyor Nathan Goss about his unconventional journey from leaving school at 15 with dyslexia into a carpentry apprenticeship in South Wales, early work crafting coffins and staircases, and later restoring historic buildings across the UK including projects at Windsor Castle and Hereford Cathedral.

Nathan also shares how television opportunities arose through his friendship with Griff Rhys Jones, his transition into a building surveyor role with the National Trust after a rugby injury, and international conservation work with the World Monuments Fund.

Topics covered include:

• Starting a carpentry apprenticeship at 15 and early work crafting coffins

• Restoring major heritage sites including Windsor Castle and historic buildings across Wales

• Life as a travelling carpenter working on castles, cathedrals, and historic halls

• How a friendship with Griff Rhys Jones led to television and heritage documentaries

• Retraining as a National Trust building surveyor after a career-changing rugby injury

• International conservation work and training projects in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone

Perfect for conservation carpenters, heritage professionals, craftspeople, building surveyors, and anyone passionate about traditional building skills and historic building restoration.

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Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps

Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section

00:00 Welcome and Catch Up

00:29 School Struggles and Apprenticeship

03:17 Early Joinery and Bonus Wages

05:20 Coffin Making Mindset

09:06 How Coffins Were Built

14:20 Glue and Finishing Touches

16:18 Leaving Joinery for Restoration

21:16 Windsor Castle and Hand Skills

24:24 Heritage Projects Across Wales

27:27 Life as a Traveling Carpenter

29:33 No Photos Back Then

31:10 St Fagans Museum Work

31:42 St Fagans Church Restoration

33:32 Museum Repairs and Fire Rebuild

34:45 Royal Visits and Moving On

35:22 Meeting Griff Rhys Jones

37:59 Pembroke Slate Roof Dilemma

42:39 Friendship and TV Opportunities

44:06 Pilgrims Walk TV Adventure

46:44 More History Shows and Research

51:40 Rugby Injury and Business Collapse

53:39 National Trust Surveyor Path

59:57 Luck Mindset and New Contacts

01:02:18 Ethiopia Palace Project Hook

01:06:20 Mindblown Heritage Moments

01:07:33 Ethiopia Palace Training

01:10:42 Funding Shift Fallout

01:12:53 Family Travel Juggle

01:15:30 TV Work Reality Check

01:21:39 Sierra Leone Timber Rescue

01:26:03 Mahogany Termite Surprise

01:30:03 Future Plans and Wrap

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Connect with Nathan Goss and learn more:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-goss-18a0b792/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathangossconservation/

Email: nathan@nathangoss.co.uk

Website: nathangoss.co.uk/

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Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:

https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com

Join the conversation:

https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual

#Coffinmaker #WindsorCastle #Ethiopia