Creating homes from the heart
The world-famous UK interior designer Abigail Ahern speaks to ALHAUS magazine about surrounding ourselves with the things we love.
Florals and plants are a staple element used in Abigail Ahern’s joyful design portfolio. Photo courtesy of Abigail Ahern
ALHAUS magazine: For those new to the Abigail Ahern story, how did you get started in interior design?
Abigail Ahern: I started out in the UK working for Terence Conran, finding images for his interior books. Then in my early twenties I relocated to the US and started working for an architectural practice. I was kind of thrown in at the deep end really, as they assumed I had more of an interior design background than I had, and they made me head of the design department! Although nervous I relished the opportunity and would work during the day and then study interior design at night. It was an amazing experience that escalated my desire to fully immerse myself in the interiors world.
AM: Name a favourite recent project.
AA: I would probably say I’m most proud of my faux botanicals. When Gem (my sister who is also part of the biz) and I first had the idea to launch a faux botanical collection that had more natural vibe, sooo many people told us it would be the wrong thing to do and it would fail! I’m pleased to say that this is one of the most successful and popular parts of our biz and our faux botanicals have gone from strength to strength with every new collection that we introduce. Our style of natural, wild and loose stems and flowers are loved by our retail and wholesale customers and have received global recognition.
AM: Can you name a current favourite maker or craftsperson?
AA: Ana Kerin, creator of Kana London. She makes the most beautiful cups, bowls and plates. Super textural and earthy, I love her work.
AM: How important is sustainability to your work?
AA: This is of growing importance to me professionally and personally and I always try to seek a more sustainable way of doing things. One of the most relevant is the fresh flower industry; thankfully we are now recognising the environmental impact of using toxic chemicals and the air miles involved for something that essentially ends up in the bin after just a few days. Our fauxs have sometimes had a bad rap but I think everyone can now see them from the sustainability angle; it’s much more environmentally friendly to have something that you can keep, reuse and that will look beautiful forever. No single use plastic either!
Dark colours and dramatic accessories combine in an Abigail Ahern interior. Photo courtesy of Abigail Ahern
AM: With the restrictions imposed over the last year, do you think we'll see an even bigger appetite for joyful interiors in the near future?
AA: I think the pandemic has had such an effect on how we live, feel and use our homes, and how important our surroundings are to us in terms of making us feel safe, calm and relaxed. In my design classes I have always tried to encourage my students to make their homes personal to them by adding pieces that have meaning and evoke memories to create a space that is unique to them. This piece of advice now seems even more relevant; it just compounds how important creating a home that encourages us to surround ourselves with things that we love really is.
AM: ALHAUS exists to tell brand stories. The Abigail Ahern magazine is a wonderful vehicle for the stories of your brand — how did this come about and how important will this channel be in future years?
AA: I’m sooo grateful for having a brilliant community that interact with me either at my store, via video consultations, design classes and/or social media channels and I feel the mag is another brilliant way of communicating with them. I’m constantly inspired by what goes on around me and I love having a community to share that with. Every month we feel the mag gets bigger and better and it’s a great platform, not just for interiors but for other issues around us too. Our next issue will be dedicated to our love of all things ‘India’ and in doing that, we want to help raise awareness and encourage donations to help with the current atrocities that are happening in that part of the world right now due to the pandemic.
AM: Where do you look for inspiration?
AA: I find inspiration everywhere: my local neighbourhood, my garden, online, my travels... everywhere. Online is a brilliant platform for highlighting creativity all over the world and I love to seek out new and exciting creatives and tastemakers that inspire me.
AM: Your books have been worldwide hits; do you have any new editorial projects underway at the moment?
AA: Yep, I may have another book in the making. It’s early days so I can’t really reveal much but it’s definitely on the cards.
AM: Favourite holiday destination?
AA: With my biz I’m lucky that I get to travel and see so many beautiful countries, but I think Australia really has my heart.
AM: Ambitions for 2021/2022 — personal and professional?
AA: My biz continues to grow and it’s really exciting; professionally I’m always striving to create beautiful interior pieces and to continue to inspire others to have the confidence to create a home from the heart. I do love my biz but as you can imagine it’s 24/7, so as strange as it sounds, my personal ambition is to ensure that I take some time for me. To nourish myself inside and out and make the most of enjoying time with my family and friends.