Known for its sunny-yet-smart style, the interior designer’s work is the inspiration behind countless homes across the country – call it the ‘Ashby Effect’. Here, she shares the steps to achieving her look in your lounge…
Get arty with your starting point
Art is always the first thing I consider, and especially when it comes to living rooms. Often, it will be a very literal starting point for me, sourcing a piece of art and building an interior around it. Other times, it will be a more figurative point of reference, inspiring the palette or mood of the space.
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In our previous home, I hung an incredible Lakin Ogunbanwo photograph above the fireplace. I picked out the hue from his hat and then upholstered the sofa in the same acid-yellow velvet. I miss that living room!
Master the holistic approach
Think of your living room as part of the broader narrative of your home – every space should be inspired by your unique tastes and lifestyle. It’s this personal touch that will create the magic, so I would advise leaning into it at all costs!
Let the joy in
The space we live in should make us feel alive, and I think that life’s too short to design rooms that don’t feel joyful and soulful. I hate the thought of taking any of this [interior design] too seriously. Our homes should comfort us, nurture us and make us feel alive and connected to ourselves.
Learn how to ‘happy clash’
Often, I will layer tones and textures that complement a work of art or other statement pieces in the room, but as a general rule I’m not afraid of contrasts and like to play with unexpected pairings – what I call happy clashing!
For example, at our showroom space the ‘Blewcoat’ (pictured above), we brought together an array of tactile elements, including our hand-knotted ‘Gaia’ rug and our ‘Block’ sofa, upholstered in an ochre mohair velvet. By playing with different sorts of pairings, we were able to pack lots of patterns and palettes in one setting. Form goes hand in hand with function and, while a living room should, of course, feel comfortable and inviting, I like it to feel artful, too.
Combine vintage with new for a lived-in feel
Sourcing is where the magic happens, and it’s part of our every day at Studio Ashby, whether it be online or IRL. I like to bring together a mix of vintage finds and contemporary pieces, and I find the layered, eclectic look that emerges from this mix-and-match approach makes a space feel instantly more interesting, characterful and homely.
We have our favourite antiques dealers (Spazio Leone, Punch the Clock, Foster & Gane, Morentz, Oculus London), lighting brands (In Common With, Apparatus, Anna Karlin), galleries (Tiwa Select, Sarah Myerscough, Artemest) and fabric houses that we go back to over and over again. Plus, we always have a new piece of furniture or homeware
in the works at Sister [Ashby’s own brand], which helps.
Push yourself to make bold choices
It’s common to be hesitant when making daring design decisions in a space where we spend so much time, which is why there are so many neutral living rooms in the world! I encourage our clients to push away from this and embrace a statement piece, such as a big tree (pictured above) – it’s a true injection of nature that I’ve introduced in several of my projects. Alternatively, a signature colour brings the space to life, whether it’s a bold rug, a vibrant piece of art or unique furniture and lighting. studioashby.com
