The Studio

From Hovel Heartache to Delightfully Designed Homes

Spatial design company Foreign Bear Studio began when Genevieve McGill and Phil MacMahon bought and renovated a dilapidated Victorian flat in the up-and-coming borough of Hackney in East London. What was initially a first home together in a then-unfashionable area of the city ignited in the couple a thirst for interiors and renovation. It allowed the duo to indulge their passion for design while engaging their ability to see through the most neglected and derelict spaces to the home that lies within.

Hours were spent salvaging the original Victorian staircase and rejuvenating the sash windows: budget-conscious methods that have become a motif through their design projects today. With this first home came a bigger adventure, the beginnings of their new business.

From minimalist and timeless designs to the more quirky details, their projects encompass perfect craftsmanship and technical accuracy. This is balanced with their own unique furniture designs, curated finds from their travels and upcycled objects from flea-markets and auction rooms, that give their spaces a unique design flair on a budget.

Alongside their ingenuity for conceiving and constructing individual homes, Foreign Bear Studio offer a custom design service that fuses the contemporary with the traditional, allowing their designs to evolve organically into a collection of unique and stylish spaces that tailor to the demands of city living.

Architecturally aware, their interiors aim to showcase space-enhancing solutions by using high-quality materials and innovative lighting schemes that create bold, dramatic yet intimate spaces.

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