A Cool Furniture Designer Talks Style, Inspiration & More
My style is classic with a twist – this applies to both fashion and interiors. My apartment is a blend of marble, linens and velvets juxtaposed with more contemporary chrome and stainless-steel accents. I love unexpected pairings.
My personal style really hasn’t changed since I was a toddler. For every outfit I choose now, there’s usually an equivalent photo from my childhood. From an interiors perspective, my style really emerged after I founded Atelier278. I’d be scrolling through my photos and realise I’d saved the same references years prior, even when I had no concept of starting an interiors brand.
Whilst I’ve always been creative, it was never expressed in an obvious way. I didn’t study art or design – my creativity was expressed through everyday tasks. From a young age, I would shut my family out of the kitchen and dress the table using my mum’s best crockery just for Saturday morning breakfast.
My mother was the first person to inspire me. She’s always had a very strong sense of personal style, and never cared what others were doing. I like what I like too – it’s best to stay true to yourself.
Roman architecture has always been a huge inspiration for me – in particular the use of natural stone. The awe-inspiring marble columns and ornate travertine buildings somehow manage to look timeless yet still completely relevant. They serve as a reminder that natural materials and classic design truly do stand the test of time.
I had no intention of changing careers. I used to work in beauty PR, but during the pandemic, I found myself with more free time and created an Instagram account to share my interior finds. This led me to sourcing vintage marble furniture for some prominent names in the fashion industry such as Bettina Looney and Suki Waterhouse, which then evolved into creating these pieces myself.
I love shops that welcome you into their world. I think Alex Eagle Studio, Jessica McCormack and Shreeji News all do this really well – you leave wanting everything.
The best item I have ever sourced was a vintage marble coffee table. I found it buried in a reclamation yard and now it sits in the home of Vogue Commerce Director, Naomi Smart. It had been lying there abandoned for months – I think people couldn’t see its potential because of the unusual surroundings.
I love green. From vibrant matcha tones to more earthy olive shades, I find it very pleasing to the eye and really versatile in interiors. I use a lot of green onyx in my accessories – the colour combined with the natural texture of the stone is perfect.
I always find my trips to Copenhagen very inspiring. The brands there tend to offer more than just a shopping experience, they make you feel like you’re part of something. I particularly love FRAMA and Yonobi Studio.
Glassware is something I enjoy collecting. I truly believe that a glass can completely change the way a drink tastes. I have pieces from Marrakech for fresh mint tea, wine glasses from trips to Paris and beautiful cut crystal tumblers for negronis. I have so many that my interior designer, Annie from Fare Inc., had to incorporate a dedicated cabinet into our kitchen plans.
Whilst I do appreciate theatre, I love the escapism of a film with great art direction. Some of my favourites are Call Me By Your Name, The Talented Mr Ripley and A Single Man – the interiors and settings are incredible.
A good working playlist is a must for inspiring creativity. I love listening to Arooj Aftab – she blends Pakistani music with more typically Western music genres in the most ethereal way. My playlists are hugely varied but I particularly love Sufjan Stevens, The Cure, Mazzy Star and The Cranberries.
I love cooking – my signature dish is one I discovered at a restaurant called L’Anse de Port Cros on my summer trips to the south of France. It’s sea bass stuffed with lemon and herbs, baked whole with a side of creamy parmesan, herb risotto and a big fresh salad.
There are many fellow designers I admire. I think the team at Banda, who we’ve had the pleasure of designing for several times, do interiors so beautifully. There isn’t a room they’ve designed that I haven’t loved. Also, everything the Bille Brahe family touches – specifically Frederik’s restaurants and Sophie’s jewellery.
I’m so proud of the Atelier278 collection. But my favourite piece of furniture from the range are the Ellipse Dining Table in Unfilled Romano Travertine that we created for Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. The organic finish of the stone makes such a statement in her home.
Our Octavia Console is also hugely popular. I think the main reason is that it’s really difficult to find good looking consoles, especially something that works in terms of size. Because we make everything to order, we’ve found there’s such a market for custom sizing when it comes to console tables. From our accessories collection, our coasters have been especially popular – functional and stylish in equal measure.
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