I believe every little thing in your house should be something that you love and have a special meaning and is therefore personal. So often in interior mags I won’t name them- ok maybe I will name one American Elle Decor what are you doing? The homes featured are so uptight, gracious and perfect yes but my god uptight. All the objects (furniture, accessories, textiles and so on) look as if they have been picked up by a decorator and are bland, soulless and lifeless.
If you want atmosphere surround yourself with objects that are personal – unusual bit and bobs. As a designer I follow my heart not what the Jones’s down the road are doing. I haunt thift stores in search of brown furniture that I can spray in super glossy car paint, and I jump up and down for joy when I find a gem – my 1950′s Gnome that came from an amusement park and doubles up as a light. Roughly thrown ceramics, old 60′s chairs that I have just covered in a super sexy slubby electric blue. Yes its a personal vision but I love the stuff that surrounds me and hopefully that comes across in all my designs.
Below my pad – taken from a wide angle lens so the perspectives look a bit odd – but hopefully you get the idea.
Is it your home? Is there any more pictures? I would like to write an article about it in a new magazine that will be launched in December 2009: The New Blog Times.
There are indeed many more pictures – my website http://www.atelierabigailahern.com under the interior design section shows a number of images. Also casasugar.com if you plug in my name comes up with a whole host of other images.
If you like quirky homes and mags – have a look at http://www.nzhouseandgarden.co.nz. Slightly biased as I worked there and my pooch made the cover (just once, due to fierce in-house competition and her gingerness made her difficult to match….), but I think you’ll see some very quirky and personal homes. You might even find some new products!
How exciting thank you for the tip will certainly have a look into
Hello,
I am Marga from Chocolate Creative, I just made a post about your blog, and selected some of the photos you have published in here. I hope it is ok with you. I really enjoy your work and this blog.
Marga
Absolutely astute that the mags are ‘sterilized’ designer rooms and that one’s own ‘personal vision’ is the path to follow!
Hi Abigail,
I’m a Toronto-based fashion and beauty editor and a huge fan of your work. I absolutely love your book, which I found extremely inspiring when I was decorating my new apartment this year. I would love to interview you for my blog, Tea Party Crasher (http://teapartycrasher.blogspot.com/) — is there an email address at which I can reach you?
Thank you!
Of course feel free to email my at abigail@atelierbypost.com. Would love to participate
I couldn’t agree more, I am an interior designer and hate the polished, finished look of mag shots and heartless storebought decorating. Let it grow, find meaning in the things that surround you and marvel over the imperfections…
Love your viewpoint!
How exciting you agree maybe bit by bit we can change the way some magazines seem to think!
Depressing… your home is just stunning!
Thank you very sweet of you to say
Hi Abigail,
Drool drool, I love your home and your decorating approach. I very much believe that style doesn’t have to cost a fortune and that many beautiful spaces can be created by recycling and re-using creatively. I also believe a home should reflect the personalities of those living there. Examples of such homes can be seen at http://www.boboho.com our interiors website dedicated to such.
Please take a look and let me know your thoughts. We are based in Scandinavia but we also have some new British homes coming soon.
Best Wishes, Tracy.
Thank you Tracy, I will for sure take a look thanks for this x
The more I see of your home and work, the more I fall in love. You have such a great eye! I just ordered your book and can’t wait for it to arrive. Thanks for sharing these lovely pics.
Thank you thats very sweet of you to say – hope you enjoy the book
Hi, I just discovered your blog…I actually posted about your house probably a months ago, hope you don’t mind on http://fewthingsfrommylife.blogspot.com/. I love your house:) I found it through Shootfactory. Thank you
Not at all thank you very much for mentioning me
I just came across your blog. I absolutely love your taste. What paint color (gray) did you use in these rooms? I painted my hallway ben moore puritan gray and it came out a little too green…this is exactly what i was wanting. thanks!
The paint colour is Down Pipe by Farrow &Ball and comes highly recommended – I have it everywhere!
Gorgeous! What is the print /painting on the wall above fireplace?
thanks.
Gorgeous! What is the print on the wall above fireplace?
thanks.
Not sure – when I have sec will look at the print you are referring to
where does the beautiful low wide pink armchair come from please? And the concrete one!
The pink chair is from George Smith and the concrete was a one off but Willy Guhl produced something similar a while ago and its still being produced now if you google he’s name coupled with concrete chairs.