Space Makers: how Aiden T moves beyond trends to shape homes that grow with its inhabitants

The distinction remains central to the practice today. Founded as an independent studio at a time when many interior firms operated closely alongside contractors, Aiden T was conceived as a consultancy-led model that prioritises long-term thinking and close collaboration with clients.

As a result, conversations often wander far beyond interiors. A favourite restaurant in Paris, a memorable hotel in Tokyo, a collection inherited from family or the atmosphere of a beloved neighbourhood can reveal far more than a moodboard ever could.

“A home should do more than simply look beautiful,” says Nijen Twilhaar. “It should positively influence how daily life is experienced.”

That belief extends beyond aesthetics. Spatial planning, proportion and movement through a home are often addressed long before decorative decisions are made—as it should be. In an era defined by constant notifications and fragmented attention, Nijen Twilhaar argues that the home should provide clarity rather than demand more of it.

The practice’s recent rebranding reflects that evolution. Alongside Aiden T, he launched Maison Nijen Twilhaar, a consultancy platform dedicated to exploring the relationship between environments and lived experience.

“The home has been reduced for too long to something purely visual or functional,” he says. “In reality, it shapes how we experience everyday life.”

The following projects offer three different expressions of that philosophy.

At this Grange Road residence, a conversation about Art Deco became an exploration of the cultural forces that shaped the movement across Paris, New York and Berlin.

Rather than recreating the movement literally, Aiden T explored the cultural currents that shaped the Art Deco spread across Paris, New York and Berlin, eventually drawing inspiration from the exuberant world of Josephine Baker and the creative energy of interwar Paris.

Here, Art Deco references sit comfortably alongside Haussmann-inspired detailing, contemporary interventions and moments of restrained brutalism. The client wanted a home that reflected her personality and love of entertaining. What was once a transitional corridor was transformed into a dedicated bar, creating another setting for gathering and conversation. Colour, pattern and texture are used liberally throughout, allowing each room to assume its own character while remaining connected to the larger whole.

Wallpapers by Divine Savages, a Timothy Oulton coffee table and a richly patterned Wendy Morrison rug reinforce the home’s expressive character. In all, the apartment feels like a collection assembled over years, shaped by curiosity, travel and true personal taste.

Designed for a client with a passion for collecting and entertaining, this North Bridge Road apartment combines Indochine influences, chinoiserie references and contemporary living without becoming beholden to any one style.

The original compartmentalised layout was almost entirely replanned to create a more connected home. Structural beams that might have been concealed elsewhere were embraced instead, becoming part of the apartment’s architectural language. Mirror-lined transoms, arches and layered ceiling details soften transitions and bring a greater sense of openness to the interiors.

One of the project’s defining moves is its use of compression and release. Visitors enter through a darker, more intimate foyer before moving into brighter and more expansive living spaces beyond. The sequence creates both drama and a heightened awareness of space.

Indochine influences, chinoiserie references and antiques are woven throughout the interiors without becoming overly thematic. Antique Chinese furniture sits alongside mid-century pieces and contemporary interventions, creating an environment that feels accumulated over time rather than designed all at once.

The living room takes cues from the atmosphere of a tea pavilion, anchored by a chinoiserie-inspired rug and layered with antiques that lend the home depth and character without tipping into nostalgia. Nothing feels newly acquired, even when it is.

Notably, the project relies less on built-in cabinetry compared to many other contemporary homes, favouring movable furniture and collected objects that allow the interiors to evolve naturally.

Featured pieces include antiques from Just Anthony, wallpapers by Zoffany and rugs by Wendy Morrison.

Perched above the West Coast with sweeping sea views, this Pepys Hill apartment presented a challenge of scale.

Although generous in size, its long linear layout and relatively low ceilings created a sense of imbalance. Instead of pursuing greater openness, Aiden T focused on restoring proportion and creating a stronger architectural rhythm throughout the home.

Oversized rooms were divided into smaller yet interconnected zones, resulting in spaces that feel simultaneously more intimate and more expansive. Cased openings, sliding French doors and mirror-lined transoms enhance continuity while improving the perception of light and scale.

A carefully choreographed foyer establishes a stronger sense of arrival, while the living and dining spaces have been recalibrated to create a more harmonious relationship. Throughout the apartment, architectural detailing replaces visual heaviness, resulting in interiors that feel elegant yet relaxed.

The palette is softer and more restrained compared to some of the studio’s other projects, combining contemporary furnishings with subtle Art Deco references, layered textures and sculptural forms.

Key elements include furniture from Caracole, surfaces by Cosentino and custom-designed rugs that help define individual zones within the home.

The three homes may share little stylistically. One draws from the exuberance of interwar Paris, another from chinoiserie and Indochine influences, while the third questions the assumption that bigger, more open spaces are always better. Yet, they arrive at the same place.

For Nijen Twilhaar, good design is less about establishing a signature look than understanding how a home will be used years after the photographs are taken. The measure of a successful home, he argues, is not how it looks on completion day, but how it feels years later, after habits have formed, collections have grown and life has settled into its rooms.

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