John Cooper, a design and technology teacher from Stockport, has won the latest series of Interior Design Masters. He transformed a cottage in Portmeirion, Wales with a Mediterranean-inspired design in the final episode. Cooper faced elimination four times throughout the series.
Contestants often had to justify their design choices in front of the judges, with Michelle Ogundehin playing a key role in the decision-making process. Despite the pressure, Cooper followed the advice he gives his students: “don’t give up, persevere, and all that sort of stuff.”
Cooper had to keep his win a secret until the show aired, even though his students kept asking about it. “I had my fair share of time on the sofa and I told myself ‘come on, take your own advice’,” he said.
He expects a positive reaction from his students when he returns from the half-term break. One of Cooper’s notable achievements on the show was successfully transforming an Edinburgh pub. He said the show’s host, comedian Alan Carr, helped him through difficult moments during the series.
“He’s so, so funny 100% of the time,” Cooper said. “When he rocks up and you’re stressing… he comes along and he makes you smile and he makes you happy.”
Cooper trained in design before becoming a teacher.
Cooper’s design journey and success
He plans to leave teaching after this school year to pursue interior design full-time. “That’s been the dream for all this time and it’s actually becoming a reality now,” he said. Cooper has also launched a new homeware collection at John Lewis & Partners.
The 20-piece range features items starting from £8, including bedding, candles, cushions, fabric by the metre, table lamps, a throw, a tote, towels, a quilt, wall art, and a reimagined iconic John Lewis Blocky Chair. The collection incorporates geometric patterns with a distinct monochrome look. Cooper met with John Lewis’s in-house design team just two days after filming for the series ended.
Fionnuala Johnston, lead textiles home designer at John Lewis, said collaborating with Cooper was a joy from start to finish. “He had a strong sense of style and brought brilliant ideas to the table, from the initial sketches to the colour palette, which features a combination of monochrome and a warm toffee tone that feels both personal and on trend,” she said. Each product in the collection tells a story, with many pieces named after places from Cooper’s upbringing in Yorkshire.
Fionnuala states the result is “a collection that feels considered, heartfelt, and full of personality.”
Cooper described the collaborative process with John Lewis as an “incredible experience.” He said, “Together, we have designed homeware rooted in bold design, raw texture, and honest materials. It’s a collection with soul, made to bring warmth, character, and a bit of edge into the home. I am extremely proud of the collection and cannot wait to see it in stores!”
