Maurizio Pellizzoni, a 39-year-old former Ralph Lauren staffer who moved to London from his native Italy in 1998, founded Maurizio Pellizzoni Design in 2007. His first brush with interior design came when he studied interior architecture at London Metropolitan University and freelanced at Ralph Lauren as a window display designer. Pictured is Mr. Pellizzoni in his studio.

After graduating, Mr. Pellizzoni took a job overseeing Ralph Lauren's homeware collections in Europe. He attributes his ability to mix and match items tastefully to his three-year stint there. The vast majority of his work comes from customers referred from Ralph Lauren, who want to replicate the elegant aesthetic of the American brand. Pictured is a detail of Mr. Pellizzoni's London studio.

The first client for Mr. Pellizzoni was Huda Cotran, a Lebanese-British film producer he met through the Ralph Lauren showroom. Since taking on her project in 2007, Mr. Pellizzoni has decorated for many wealthy, first generation migrants to London. His clients range from Middle Eastern lawyers to British soccer stars. Shown here is Mr. Pellizzoni's London studio.

One of Mr. Pellizzoni's most high-profile jobs to date was for Carly Cole, the wife of the English soccer player Joe, who commissioned Mr. Pellizzoni to work on her townhouse in Chelsea, an upscale west London neighborhood. Here is a detail of the townhouse.

On average, Mr. Pellizzoni says that 80% of the pieces he uses come from his former employer, for which he gets a commission. His interiors use quirky antiques set against what Mr. Pellizzoni calls 'soft furniture' against a backdrop of warm colors. Here is a detail of the Cole townhouse.

'I really like the Ralph Lauren look and Maurizio's look is very familiar,' said Mrs. Cole. Mrs. Cole has since commissioned Mr. Pellizzoni for another property. 'Once I started, I didn't stop.' Here are details of Joe and Carly Cole's townhouse.

Mr. Pellizzoni takes the task of understanding customers' preferences seriously. Prior to designing a mansion in Scotland, shown here, he lived with his client's family in a bed & breakfast, interviewing family members for their input.

Another image of Mr. Pellizzoni's Mediterranean-inspired project in Scotland.

Mr. Pellizzoni's years with Ralph Lauren helped him establish links with many suppliers, allowing him to source otherwise obscure objects. He typically charges a fixed fee and takes a 10% commission on all goods ordered. Here is another detail from Mr. Pellizzoni's Mediterranean-inspired project in Scotland.