Lily and Patrick Watson, the siblings going above and beyond at Heathfield & Co, on evolving with the family business and creating lighting designs that stand the test of time.
Tell us about your design background and how Heathfield & Co started.
Patrick: Heathfield & Co has always been part of our lives – it’s a true family business. As kids, we’d spend school holidays helping out in the office, stuffing envelopes and packing boxes, which definitely gave us a strong grounding in the business from an early age.
After university, I worked as a lighting designer at Isometrix, where I got to be part of some incredible projects – a highlight was the revamp of Annabel’s in London. It was an amazing professional experience and certainly a steep learning curve which ensured that when I came back to Heathfield & Co in 2018 I had a much deeper understanding of the technical side of lighting design.
Lily: My journey was a bit different. I started in tech marketing but always knew I wanted to be part of the business one day. To gain relevant experience, I worked in marketing for design trade shows like Decorex and KBB, then joined Soane Britain before returning to Heathfield & Co in 2020.
Our dad, Andrew Watson, founded the company over 40 years ago after stumbling across a lampshade maker’s workshop in Bromley. Inspired by the craftsmanship, he scrapped his plans to renovate the building and instead chose to save the business and preserve the heritage of the craft. That was the start of Heathfield & Co. Over time, he built strong relationships with major department stores, and by the early 2000s, we had become a trusted lighting partner for interior designers looking for beautifully designed, customisable pieces.
What does Heathfield & Co stand for as a design company?
Lily: We create lighting that’s timeless and transitional. We don’t chase trends – instead, we focus on designs that stand the test of time and will sit comfortably in your home for years to come. We love working with natural materials, combining unique finishes in unexpected ways, and exploring organic shapes and silhouettes. Every piece is designed to be a decorative object in its own right and will look just as beautiful turned off as it will when switched on.
Patrick: Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Over the years, we’ve built amazing relationships with artisans who share our respect for craftsmanship – from alabaster specialists in Spain to glass blowers and ceramicists in Portugal. Every piece is then hand-assembled and finished in our Kent workshop, ensuring the highest quality and allowing customers the flexibility to customise their lamps where possible.
Tell us about the inspiration behind your new showroom.
Lily: We wanted to move away from the traditional showroom format and create a space that feels warm, welcoming, and functional – more like a real home. Collaborating with like-minded brands such as Pelican House, Loop & Twist and Interrupted Art helped bring this vision to life. The result, we hope, is a thoughtfully layered space where designers can experience our lighting as part of a cohesive interior — just as it would feel in a real home.
What’s the biggest challenge for Heathfield & Co in today’s global lighting industry?
Patrick: Lead times and supply chain pressures are always a challenge. Decorative lighting is often one of the last things to be installed in a project, so we’re used to working with tight deadlines. Since we make everything to order in Kent and source materials from across Europe, managing timelines efficiently is crucial. We work closely with our suppliers to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
How do you approach sustainability in the design industry?
Lily: We think about sustainability in two ways. Internally, we’ve made big strides in reducing waste and improving efficiency – we’re now carbon neutral, have eliminated air freight, and are constantly refining our packaging to cut down on plastic wherever possible.
Externally, we focus on sourcing materials responsibly. By going straight to the source, we can trace the origins of our materials and build strong, ethical partnerships with suppliers, as well as cutting the impact of unnecessary transport journeys.
What’s next for Heathfield & Co in 2025?
Lily: Opening our first permanent London showroom is a huge milestone for us as an independant, family-run business. In 2025, our focus is on making it a hub for creativity, collaboration, and connection – a place where designers can explore, be inspired, and work closely with us to find the perfect lighting solutions for their projects, however big or small.
Patrick: Growing the business remains a key focus, even in a challenging economic climate. Our export business continues to thrive, particularly in the residential interior design sector, while our large projects team is going from strength to strength alongside our UK and hospitality divisions. We’re fortunate to have an incredible network of agents and ambassadors across Europe and beyond, who play a vital role in introducing us to new clients. Strengthening those relationships will be a big focus for us in 2025 — ensuring we’re well-placed to bring Heathfield & Co’s designs to even more inspiring spaces worldwide.