Charlotte Taylor made her name sharing dreamlike, digitally rendered interiors on Instagram as Maison de Sable, amassing more than 230,000 followers in the process. In recent years, however, the designer has swapped renders for reality, expanding her practice into brick-and-mortar architecture, furniture, scenography and interior design. Her latest projects include a family home in Vienna and a series of private residences across Europe and the US, not to mention numerous upcoming furniture collections.

When we speak, she’s at home in the leafy London suburb of Bromley—her childhood house, recently renovated and now serving as both sanctuary and studio base. It’s a quieter setting than her former life in Hackney, in East London, but for someone who describes herself as “quite an introverted person in general,” it’s one that suits her.

Ali Morris: You started out in digital design. What sparked the shift to physical spaces?

Charlotte Taylor: It began around three years ago, though it was always in the background. I originally applied to study architecture but realized I didn’t really understand what I liked about it at the time, so I ended up studying fine art instead. The digital work happened almost by accident, while recovering from an injury. I started playing around with physical models in the workshop, which turned into illustration, then 3D renderings—and eventually, real-world commissions started coming in. I do still take on digital projects—mainly on the brand and advertising side. Everything I do feeds into each other, and I still really enjoy that side of the work. The digital is my playground.