Nielsen House: bringing clarity and confidence to interior design

There is something quietly powerful about a home that feels just right. A space where proportion, light, materials and furnishings come together naturally, creating an interior that is both beautiful and comfortable to live in. At Nielsen House, achieving this begins not with decoration, but with understanding the property itself.

Founder and Design Director Sarah Jane Nielsen brings more than three decades of international project experience to this process. Having begun her career as a project designer with a London architectural practice, she went on to work across private homes, hospitality environments and prestigious residential projects in London, Paris, Dubai, Moscow and beyond.

Raised between rural Scotland and the English Lake District, and influenced by her Danish family heritage, Sarah has developed a particular sensitivity to architecture, landscape, proportion and natural materials. Mallorca has become another important influence, with its distinctive light, textures and relationship between indoor and outdoor living.

Today, Nielsen House has evolved into an interior design consultancy centred on clarity, direction and experienced design judgement. Rather than requiring clients to hand over the entire delivery of a project, Sarah works particularly well with private homeowners, developers and investors who want to retain their own architects, contractors and purchasing teams while benefiting from an experienced designer overseeing the creative direction.

Her role is to establish what a property could become, define the design intent and help clients make the decisions that will allow that vision to be realised successfully.

For projects in Mallorca, Nielsen House can also provide local support through a multilingual Mallorquin colleague based on the island.

Initial Design Clarity

Some properties have obvious potential, while others require an experienced eye to reveal it. An initial consultation gives clients the opportunity to explore their property with Sarah and identify the decisions most likely to make a meaningful difference.

This may be particularly useful when considering a property purchase, preparing for a renovation, reassessing how an existing home functions or seeking professional guidance before committing to significant changes.

Sarah considers elements such as spatial flow, proportion, natural light, layout, atmosphere and the relationship between the architecture and interiors, helping clients understand what is worth changing and where to focus their investment.

Design Direction

For clients who require a more developed vision, Nielsen House can establish a clear design direction for the property before contractors, suppliers and other specialists move forward.

Depending on the project, this may encompass spatial planning and layout guidance, overall interior concept, materials and finishes, furniture and lighting direction and recommendations for creating greater cohesion between the architecture and interior.

The result is a clearly defined design framework that allows the client and their chosen project team to move ahead with greater confidence.

Ongoing Design Guidance

For clients managing their own renovation or development, Sarah can remain involved as an interior design advisor throughout the project.

Architectural plans and design decisions can be reviewed as the work progresses, helping to maintain consistency with the original concept and resolve questions before they become costly mistakes.

This approach gives homeowners, developers and investors the freedom to retain control of their contractors, procurement and project expenditure while having experienced design guidance available when it matters.

Interior Styling & Final Direction

Nielsen House can also help clients refine and style an existing or newly completed interior. Sarah works closely with clients to make decisions around furniture, artwork, lighting, accessories, textiles and placement, helping disparate elements come together as a coherent whole.

The objective throughout is not to impose a particular style, but to give clients the confidence and professional direction to create a home that feels personal, considered and appropriate to the property.

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment specified in the Project Schedule can be sourced and managed directly by Nielsen House. Clients may also choose to handle procurement themselves, using the provided schedule as a guide. Where possible, Nielsen House offer trade discounts, ensuring value as well as quality. A scheduled delivery plan is arranged, with storage options discussed as needed.

Sarah Jane Nielsen BA (Hons) Fine Art & Design is the Design Director, owner and founder of Nielsen House, with over 30 years of international project experience. Her work has earned multiple accolades, including the UK Northern Design Award (2016), NDA Living etc Residential Design Award (2018), International Design Awards winner (2021), and Hospitality Designer of the Decade Finalist (2021). She is also a 2021 SBID finalist, a winner of the Design & Build UK Awards (2021–2023), and is shortlisted for the 2025 IDA Residential Restoration Project and UK Luxury Residence.

Does Nielsen House manage the construction and delivery of a project?

Nielsen House increasingly works as an interior design consultancy rather than taking over the complete construction process. This is particularly suited to clients who wish to appoint and manage their own architects, contractors or procurement teams while looking to Sarah for experienced design direction and oversight of the creative concept.

Can Nielsen House help at the very beginning of a project?

Yes. In fact, involving Sarah early can be particularly valuable. Nielsen House can assess the potential of a property, review spatial possibilities and help establish the overall interior direction before significant architectural or financial decisions are made.

Can I work with Nielsen House if I already have an architect or contractor?

Absolutely. Nielsen House regularly complements an existing professional team. Sarah’s role is to provide clarity around the interior design intent and help ensure that architectural, spatial and aesthetic decisions work together successfully.

Can Nielsen House advise me without designing the entire property?

Yes. Clients can begin with an Initial Design Clarity consultation or engage Nielsen House for specific stages of a project. This is ideal for homeowners, developers and investors who want an experienced second opinion, help making important design decisions or professional guidance as their own project develops.

Does Nielsen House work with clients in Mallorca?

Yes. Nielsen House continues to support projects in Mallorca, with Sarah providing the overall design direction and a multilingual Mallorquin colleague available on the island. This gives clients access to Nielsen House’s design expertise while retaining the flexibility to work with their own local project and contracting teams.

What value can an interior design consultant add to a project?

With more than 30 years of project experience, Sarah is able to identify spatial and design opportunities that may not be immediately apparent, while also anticipating potential problems before decisions are made. Her role is to bring clarity to the project, helping clients invest in the changes that will have the greatest impact on how the property looks, functions and feels.