Journal

Welcome to Maddux Creative’s journal – a place to discover more about the studio’s co-founders, Scott Maddux & Jo leGleud.

10 Years of Maddux Creative

How does one summarise ten years of partnership and creativity? Well, we’re still trying to figure that out. But the best place to start any story is at the beginning.

How does one summarise ten years of partnership and creativity? Well, we’re still trying to figure that out. But the best place to start any story is at the beginning. The dynamic duo that make Maddux Creative what it is today are Jo and Scott —two incredibly warm and wildly talented professionals who have transformed houses all over the world into homes for a decade now.

Maddux Creative stands as an industry leader with an exceptional portfolio and numerous editorial features, spreads and covers in esteemed international publications including Architectural Digest, House & Garden, World of Interiors, Vogue Living, Elle Decor, to name but a few.

As Jo and Scott embark on their second decade as maestros of interior design, they’d like to reintroduce themselves and share more about their partnership and journey together which has stood the test of time.

JO, YOU AND SCOTT HAVE SUCH A LIVELY ENERGY TOGETHER AND PRODUCE CELEBRATED INTERIORS, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR STORY AND SHARES CREATIVE PHILOSOPHY.

Scott and I met in the 90’s and we have the benefit of longevity in our personal and professional relationship together. Whilst we come to design from different perspectives and experiences, we have always been united in a common goal to design inviting environments which work for our clients. We want to bring joy to the interiors we design; it is about creating spaces in which people can live and have fun.


We met when I was an embroider working in fashion, and Scott and I really bonded over our love for Alexander McQueen’s visionary catwalk shows. The moment Shalom Harlow’s dress was spray-painted by robots at the end of the spring/summer 1999 show became one of the most memorable catwalk finales in fashion history. We both loved the philosophy of follow through that you see in catwalk shows from the 90s, where the designers would commit to a concept and pull it through the entire collection —which we feel made their collections timeless. It is that spirit of a core creative concept with follow through that underpins every one of our projects.


Our projects are extremely diverse and varied. We travel a great deal and meet interesting people, from visionaries to master craftsmen. It is this combination of masculine and feminine intuition and creativity that makes all the difference and that results in unique and very special interiors.

 

SCOTT, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE JO’S ROLE IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP?

I couldn’t be this calm without Jo and her fabulous ability to ensure I am organised and keep on track. 

Jo is the eyes and ears of Maddux Creative and ensures the studio runs smoothly and projects are delivered on time and the whole process runs efficiently.

Every client understands that we must begin with mutual respect and as a company we demonstrate that through a strong command of the financials—we take great care of our client’s finances used for the project, which is of paramount importance. Jo is essential in that process and keeping a tight eye on budgeting etc.

For the most part, Jo and I balance each other out: Where I am weak, she is strong and vice versa. The beautiful thing about it, though, is that as a result we've both grown as designers, business owners, and individuals, making us a stronger overall team. It's amazing to work with someone who you have a lot of respect for, who tends to see things the same way you do, and always has your back.

Jo’s creative genius is in her ability to ensure that the fabrics, textures and personal touches throughout our projects champion craftsmanship. These are the micro details and little touches that make the whole space come together and run the core concepts through until the end of the project. I cannot tell you how many people have complimented her work in textiles, particular a bespoke duvet she recently designed for a client of ours which elevated the interior’s overall transformation. Our partnership is like a relay race with Jo and I on the same team running towards the same goal.

The great thing about working with Jo is how much I appreciate her eye and point of view.

JO, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE SCOTT’S ROLE IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP?

I would definitely say that Scott is the creative lead who defines where the project is going aesthetically, he’s particularly amazing at editing the sources of inspirations clients come to us with and pointing them in the right direction. If I’m the micro-oriented one, then Scott is for sure the macro-thinker, he takes clients through a myriad of concepts and helps them consider things they never wouldn’t have on their own. His superpower is in helping clients to make erudite and illuminated decisions.

Deference is Scott’s power; he will defer making a decision until he’s absolutely sure that the research is thorough. He’s also brilliant at acting as an intermediary between the partners who will share the home when all is said and done —finding a way to marry the varying tastes and interests of a couple into the final design. Scott’s interpersonal skills are what make this part of the process run as smoothly as possible because he’s skilled at getting clients to be vulnerable about who they are and what they want with zero judgment. He encourages the eccentric and makes the journey one they can enjoy and grow from.

Our success stems in part from being able to be honest about what we want as individuals and what fulfils us most, and then help each other reach those goals. It's an open communication about what we want our experiences to be together and as independent creative beings.

SCOTT, AFTER A DECADE CREATING MARVELLOUS INTERIORS, WHAT IS YOUR METHODOLOGY WITH CLIENTS AND WHAT TYPE OF CLIENT WORKS BEST WITH THE UNIQUE ETHOS OF MADDUX CREATIVE?

After ten years, what I finally know is that I’m good at working with people who are happy to go on the journey of the creative process. Together we work best with collaborators who want to get involved and accept that at the beginning of our project I’m not going to be able to give them all the answers —because I don’t even necessarily know the questions! What we do is to unfold the process, with process being the key word. I require you as a client to engage with the process because the final product is meant to be the opposite of cookie-cutter design.

I also need brutal honesty to establish boundaries. Push me as much as I push you, be brave with the experience. Not everyone’s ready for this, but it’s a trust exercise and it produces the incredible results that we are known for. Throughout our projects, we’ve always taken on the role of teacher and essentially taught people how to work with an interior designer; which is why our experience is tailored for those who are open to new ideas, open to the creative process and looking for a luxurious experience that they acknowledge will take time to reach completion.

Our desired outcome is happiness. We want the client to be happy and if I don’t get tears at the move-in then I’m not satisfied. After ten years client happiness and satisfaction are still the most important —I know we’ve done things right when we get an emotive response from our work.

 

JO, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED YOUR PARTNERSHIP/WORK AND WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR MADDUX CREATIVE?

We became better friends throughout the pandemic and through that cloistered time we were presented with some opportunities to diversify the business which weren’t client dependent. With the creation of a soon to launch online store dedicated to craftsmanship, we have a new level of dexterity. As a trained embroider I naturally get incredibly excited about the endless possibilities the medium presents. It’s my raison d'etre and the next decade of Maddux Creative will decidedly see this facet of the business flourish.