Zoe Willis expands into Dublin targeting prime residential and hospitality fit-out market
London designer launches pre-purchase design intelligence service for Irish buyers and developers
9 April 2026 | editor@breakingground.news
London-based interior designer Zoe Willis is expanding her practice into Dublin this summer, targeting Ireland’s high-end residential, boutique hospitality and fit-out sectors at a time of increased delivery of new homes and refurbishment activity.
Willis, founder of Zoe Willis Design, has built a portfolio across luxury private homes, hospitality and commercial interiors in the UK and Europe. Her move into the Irish market reflects both growing demand for differentiated design in residential schemes and a strategic push into a market experiencing sustained housing delivery pressures.
From a construction and development perspective, her Dublin operation is expected to focus on prime residential projects including period refurbishments, apartments and second homes, alongside boutique hospitality schemes. The studio will operate in tandem with its London base, bringing an established network of specialist contractors, artisans and suppliers into the Irish supply chain.
This cross-market approach is likely to be of interest to developers and fit-out contractors seeking access to international design expertise and curated sourcing across bespoke joinery, materials and finishes.
A notable element of the expansion is the introduction of a “design intelligence” advisory service aimed at estate agents, private buyers and investors. The service provides early-stage feasibility analysis of residential properties, assessing layout potential, renovation complexity and cost ranges before acquisition.
The reporting framework includes spatial analysis of floorplans, material specifications, phased renovation strategies and identification of key risks such as planning constraints or structural limitations. It also delivers a clear recommendation on whether a property aligns with a client’s brief, positioning the service as a decision-making tool rather than a traditional design proposal.
For developers and funders, this type of pre-acquisition design assessment may support more informed investment decisions, particularly in refurbishment-led projects where cost overruns and design misalignment can impact viability.
Willis’ design approach, characterised by “colour-drenching” and layered materiality, aligns with a broader shift in residential delivery towards higher specification interiors and more distinctive product offering, particularly in urban apartment schemes and premium housing developments.
Her entry into the Irish market comes as developers face increasing pressure to differentiate schemes, improve buyer experience and manage rising construction and fit-out costs. The integration of design strategy at earlier project stages is emerging as a key factor in both sales performance and long-term asset value.
In parallel, Willis has signalled an interest in the role of AI in early-stage design, particularly for improving speed and clarity in concept development, while maintaining that final design decisions remain driven by human expertise and material understanding.
The Dublin expansion is expected to build out an Irish project pipeline while maintaining ongoing work across London and mainland Europe, positioning the studio within a growing cohort of international design practices targeting Ireland’s residential and hospitality markets.
