More About Our People

Elly Hutton - architectural design and project lead for Elegant Design clients’ projects. Here’s a more detailed view of her background.

I spent my early working life with John Laing Construction.

I learned to deal with the pressures of working on large projects in this male dominated industry working on-site on various projects inc the St Katherine’s Dock South Bank Project in Central London and Woking Town Centre redevelopment. Whilst expecting my first son, I still relished the challenge of a 6 am start from home and squelched around the construction sites in my boots dealing with and negotiating with sub-contractors.

Motherhood took me away from Laing Construction but when the boys started school the prospect of becoming self-employed beckoned. I learned the latest version of AutoCAD, a leading software design application used in architecture and engineering and began working with local architects in South London and Surrey.

I designed an ambitious extension for our own family home at Cheam in Surrey which my husband Mike built. I formed my own design and planning company in 2004 and I now have good working relationships with most Council Planning Departments and associated Building Control Inspectors in the surrounding areas.

I regularly dream of buildings in my sleep, I design instinctively by visualising a walk through of the finished building during the design process. I have also learned much through foreign travel and my appetite for inspirational TV shows like Grand Designs has not diminished.

In addition to design work I can offer optional project control /management services to our clients, skills that

I acquired early in my career with John Laing Construction.

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