The romance of hospitality design steers Charlie North, but he is seasoned enough to know the courses of such love stories rarely run smoothly. “No project comes without its stresses and pain—and it’s definitely a labor of love,” the designer says. “Upon completion, it’s easy to breathe a sigh of relief and forget the toil that went into creating it, so you find yourself taking on another project thinking it will be a breeze.”
At the helm of Ennismore’s interiors practice since 2016, North now spearheads an 18-person team that continues to grow as the visibility of its work gains wider exposure and praise. From the Hoxton’s recent U.S. growth spurt with locations in Brooklyn- Williamsburg, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon to the redo of the posh Gleneagles in Scotland, North evokes a design language attuned to a distinctly British sense of luxury that is as opulent as it is familiar. In other words, North works to ensure the guest always feels right at home. “The spaces we create have a direct impact on people’s emotions, the quality of their dinner, the success of their dates,” he says. “I love improving people’s days, nights, and weekends.”
North’s journey began during his studies at Bournemouth University in the UK. Three years into his tenure, he entered a “baptism by fire” as a design intern tasked with overseeing sample libraries in addition to building models and sample boards. His design prowess led him to become the late David Collins’ protégé and then to practice under prolific designer Martin Brudnizki for five years.
Ennismore has afforded North a chance to perfect his individual design language in a way that promotes a greater integration of practices within the hospitality world. And he’s only getting started. “I knew joining Ennismore would give me the chance to build my own studio and design spaces for a variety of brands,” North says. “It’s inspiring to work in an environment with so many people from a cross section of industries. I get a huge sense of satisfaction learning what goes into making a space successful beyond the aesthetics.”
