Renowned for her bold and creative interior schemes, Abigail Ahern encourages us to ‘decorate differently’ when it comes to making a house a home. As an author and homeware designer, her creations are designed to stand the test of time; combining textural, tactile and the explorative to create distinctive spaces designed for immersion.
Beginnings
Working for Sir Terence Conran as a Picture Editor at his publishing house ignited my love of interiors. When I moved to America, I studied a degree in Interior Design part-time alongside working on design projects. I returned to the UK with plans to open my own store with an extensive portfolio of projects, including the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach.
Today
Interiors are my passion; from project work to design books and being a panellist on BBC's Interior Design Masters. Our lifestyle brand continues to evolve, and our collection of homeware sits at the crossroads of modernity and tradition; encompassing both relaxed living and a more refined aesthetic. Through my masterclasses and podcast, I aim to make design accessible.
The collection
We design things that we love, and that inspire us. Storytelling is key, and creating an emotional connection between the products and our audience is something that we are passionate about. Blending classic influences with modern lines, we’re empowering people to ‘decorate differently’ and embrace the unexpected, creating a rich visual narrative. For us, it's about creating beautiful things that you will want to live with forever.
Creating a home
I am a firm believer that creating a stylish home is about surrounding yourself with things that you love and that resonate with the heart. Think about how you want to feel in your space; this is a 'free from rules' domain. Interiors should be a multi-sensorially experience; lighting, colour and texture are key when it comes to changing the ambience of a space. The most immersive, cocooning spaces can be created with the addition of soft glow lamps, while shifting the tone of depth of colour in a room will afford a an entirely alternative look and feel. Then think of texture as more like a herb or a spice; adding visual intrigue to a space.
Trendsetting
This year sees a resurgence towards maximalism and warm earthy palettes. Think colour drenching - decorating an entire room in one material or colour – alongside the addition of accessories with lots of personality. Introducing intriguing shapes and interesting silhouettes can really transform the spaces that they occupy, have fun with form and scale to create rooms that are uplifting and energising.
Escapism… at home
Immersing myself in nature is true escapism for me. Spring, with its sense of renewal - new beginnings, lighter days – is my favourite season; I get such a sense of optimism when the clocks change. Along with spending a lot of time nurturing my garden, I love forest and coast path walking along with getting creative in the kitchen.. anything that involves me being away from my phone for a few hours is a positive!
… and away
Generally, I seek interiors that are modern and timeless with a relaxed blend of comfort and sophistication when I holiday. Features such as wooden furniture, layered fabrics, comfy sofas and curated objects imbuing the space with an instant sense of belonging. A place to which I return time and again is the Gara Rock Hotel near Salcombe. With its clifftop position and private beach it occupies a beautiful spot. Further afield - Carmel Highlands in California, with its cliff walking, beaches and amazing food - is on my bucket list of places to visit!
Visit Abigail Ahern to view the homeware collection. We are partnering with Abigail on a giveaway, that combines a 3-night weekend stay at The Signal Station in Cornwall with a £1,000 Abigail Ahern voucher.
