Toby young (design Director)
After 12 months “hands on” experience in the building trade and completing his Diploma, Degree and Masters in Architecture, Toby took over Barnes Associates to create a different and friendly design practice that could relate, explain and guide clients through the world that is “Architectural and Interior Design”.
Toby has an efficient “get things done on budget and on time” ethos. This is paramount, without ever compromising the design concept. Toby's drive is to translate his clients ideas into reality whilst dealing with all the pitfalls along the way.
A straight talking tennis player and daddy to 4 girls, once the office shuts, Toby is also a drummer. Its a well known fact that if the band gets a record deal, Kelly will advertise for a replacement business partner.
Kelly Robinson (design Director)
Kelly always wanted to be an interior designer, from a very early age, although she didn’t know what it was. After over 23 years experience in the industry she has come to believe that design does not have boundaries, and as a designer, believes neither should she, always striving and learning.
Although an academically trained interior designer, Kelly’s extensive experience lies in interior architecture and practical project realisation. Her experience at the Palace of Westminster, as Design Manager for the House of Lords was both invaluable and humbling. However Kellys’ ‘can do’ attitude and enthusiasm was stifled and she returned to Barnes Design, to do something she loves - make a direct difference to her clients and their homes.
Kelly is a calm, people person, a perfectionist, a tidy freak, highly impatient and quietly determined. A typical Libra. These traits can be seen in the residential architectural design she tends to specialise in and is passionate about.
sam tuck (senior designer)
Being from the “sunny sunny” sandy coast of Bournemouth, Sam decided to continue the beach boy life (no he can’t surf) and studied his Architecture Part 1 at the Arts University Bournemouth. The never-ending diet of fish and chips and the fact Bournemouth’s population has an average age of 90, led to Sam making the decision to pack up his bucket and spade and move to London.
After securing a role at a top architectural lighting design firm, Sam spent 7 years working up to a Senior Designer level developing his knowledge and design skills in this field, working on award winning projects such as Battersea Power Station, Westminster Abbey, Fortnum and Mason and more. You could say he was de ‘lighted’ with the results of his hard work.
Having ripped down most of the walls renovating his flat in Tooting, Sam soon realised he could no longer contain his urge to design architecture so decided to leave the lighting world behind and joined the Barnes Design team.
Being from Bournemouth, Sam is obviously a die-hard Liverpool supporter. In his spare time, he continues to design his Steven Gerrard mural as well as preparing for his next music festival or planning where his next bottomless brunch will come from (but he’s not a Hipster okay?!)
BEN BAGSHAWE (SENIOR designer)
BEN IS BACK!
Ben is not your average architectural designer. With an unwavering passion for design and an unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries by employing sustainable and eco-friendly design principles, Ben has cemented his place in Barnes Design. Renowned to us for his ability to seamlessly blend form and function, Benji is a breath of fresh air!
Both of Bens’ applications to Barnes Design have been unique. Very much like his Architectural experience. A Masters graduate from Birmingham City University, Ben relocated to London to join our team in 2013. After quickly progressing and making himself invaluable Ben decided to spread his wings six years later. Now, we’re pleased to say, Ben is back! An accommodating and extremely creative architectural designer with a can-do attitude, (and Contract Administration experience which would blow your mind), Ben enjoys riding his bike(s), looking after ‘pigdog’ Max, and generally being a social butterfly. As he has lived in South London for more than a decade we’re assuming his t’northern side is waning. You can still definitely hear it though…
Kate wootton (CONTRACT designer)
Kate graduated with a degree in Interior Architecture in 2013 from Nottingham Trent University. Originally from Yorkshire (the best place in the world. Ever.) She landed a year long placement in London as part of her 4 years at university and once she was in the door of Barnes Design we couldn’t let her leave! She loves all things interiors and knows that it is the smallest details that can make the biggest impact.
Aside from her professional qualifications, she is known for introducing 'Wine Wednesday' to the office, sneezing more than any other human on the planet, and for not letting her Yorkshire charm and cheeriness be beaten out of her by the southern way of life...even if she does get laughed at for saying ‘gravy’ really weirdly.
Kate relocated back to Yorkshire in 2021 but continues to be an important part of the Barnes Design team.