Spear’s Review

Sharon Lillywhite founded Oliver Burns Studio in 2004 and over the last two decades has become an esteemed interior designer to some of the world’s wealthiest families, luxury brands and property developers.

Lillywhite incorporates ‘thoughtful luxury’ into her designs through a focus on craftsmanship, artisanal sourcing and attention to detail. She tells Spear’s: ‘What brings [a design project] together is an absolute attention to detail and thought, and the narrative that goes into everything.’

Projects include Belgravia townhouses, a residence overlooking Buckingham Palace garden, Italian lakeside villas and country estates. ‘For us, it’s about quality, not quantity,’ Lillywhite says. The designer has also refurbished the luxury lounges at Heathrow’s VIP terminal, which are frequented by royalty, A-list celebrities and senior statespeople making their way through the airport.

‘It’s the world’s best private travel space,’ she says, adding that she took inspiration from the ‘icons’ who have visited the airport over the years. To one wall, for example, she added a picture of the late Queen’s corgis descending the steps of her private plane.

Adviser Profile

Oliver Burns Studio is the studio called upon when only the exceptional will do, entrusted with the world’s most prestigious commissions, from landmark private residences and the most special hospitality projects to yachts and spaces of rare significance.

Although proudly British, its work extends to the world’s UHNW hubs, from heritage estates in the English countryside to pioneering residences across the Middle East’s dynamic cities, shaping not just the skyline, but the stories of those who live within it. Through the studio’s Thoughtful Luxury philosophy, it crafts environments that go beyond the aesthetic: designs that nurture wellbeing, inspire connection and embody artistry, innovation and integrity.

The studio is led by Sharon Lillywhite, founding partner and creative director. A respected and influential figure within British luxury, and a Goldman Sachs 10KSB graduate, her work has been recognised in the Walpole Power 50 and Forbes’ ‘Elite aesthetes: The design world’s darlings’.

Over two decades, Sharon has assembled a team of experts driven by passion, precision and purpose. Beyond design, she has cultivated meaningful relationships with the world’s most respected brands, artisans, cultural institutions, developers and discerning families. Her portfolio, valued at over £1 billion, reflects both the scale of her work and the trust she has earned. Every commission is personally overseen by Sharon, ensuring it meets the exacting expectations of those who seek the very best.

As custodians of a more beautiful future, Oliver Burns Studio chooses to collaborate with those who share its values of excellence, sustainability and legacy. This fundamental ethos has earned the studio a reputation for quiet influence, admired for its creativity, trusted for its discretion and renowned for designs that move both heart and mind.