Ashley Montgomery is the founder of Ashley Montgomery Design, a Toronto-based interior design studio celebrated for creating homes that feel as warm and inviting as they are beautiful. Known for her signature 'quiet luxury' aesthetic, Ashley layers natural textures, timeless colors, and vintage finds to craft spaces that are both deeply personal and effortlessly liveable.
Her work is admired for its balance of refined detailing and relaxed charm. In this conversation, Ashley shares her philosophy on designing homes that wrap you in comfort, her go-to palettes and materials, and why imperfection can be the most beautiful element in a space. From crafting kitchens that feel like the heart of the home to using paint in unexpected ways, she reveals how thoughtful design choices can create a home that feels both timeless and uniquely your own.
Your rooms feel both grounded and deeply personal. What’s the first thing you consider when starting a new design - mood, function, or something else entirely?
At the heart the homes I design are, of course, meant to be lived in. So I’m looking to create that cosy, warm, hug-like feeling. Each design is tailored to that specific project, so when we start a project, we want to know how the owner will live in their home. You know, some people cook, some people love to sit and read…we want to personalise it, so that all of our homes feel comfortable and cosy for the people who live in them.
In that case, what does ‘comfortable’ mean to you?.
Comfortable is approachable. I don’t want people wondering if they should take their shoes off, or whether they can move a pillow or not. I want people to feel they can kick their feet up, yet for there still to be a sense of quiet luxury.
And how would you define quiet luxury?
It’s all about layers, and it’s through layering that you get a sense of luxury, without anything being overtly ‘luxe.’ So there are, elements of raw textures, woven pieces, it’s not stuffy, it’s relaxed. It’s not overflowing with overstuffed sofas, there is a sense that everything is very tailored.
What colors fit into the palette of quiet luxury for you?
I consider earth tones to be a neutral - blues, greens, browns, even clay red and mustard yellows. These are colors you find on the leaves in Fall, and all of those colors come out of nature. I work with the Farrow and Ball color deck constantly, as there is a heritage to those paints,, and when you bring in those ‘old world’ colors, you create a timelessness. And they all just seemingly work together.
Which Farrow and Ball colors have become your go to?
Mouses Back we use all the time. Stoney Ground is popular for kitchens, Farrow’s Cream is a buttery, perfect yellow. You want a brown with a little pop of red, so Cola is good for that.
Many of your projects feature vintage and antique finds. What role does timeworn character play in your overall design philosophy?
There’s a soul that is brought into a space when you bring in a vintage piece, and I love that no two are alike. It adds something special. When you see a piece of vintage furniture, you see soul, the warmth of the wood that was used, its character and story
What do you look out for when you’re sourcing then? How do you find those gems among everything else?
You need patience! I will wander around an antique store, then go round a second time, and again, a third time, then they’re ringing through my things at the checkout and I’ll still be spotting stuff I didn’t notice - things that make my heart feel good. If it has a unique color, or is something you don’t usually see - I recently got some vintage crocks in a dusty pink. They’ll be perfect to leave on a nightstand with flowers in them or on a kitchen shelf with spoons stacked upright in them. Yes, you can buy reproduction, but it’s usually beige and doesn’t have the chips and glazing of a vintage piece. There is a beauty in imperfection.
How do you guide clients who want a timeless home but are nervous about mixing old and new?
It usually comes down to the functionality. They’ll say ‘I love the idea of the vintage dresser, but can I actually open the drawers?’ Some clients get scared of the authenticity, so for them we aim to make new things look old, or we bring in vintage via accessories and display pieces.
You often bring in visual softness through aged wood, traditional fabrics, and antique lighting. Are there materials or finishes you reach for again and again?
I love a pattern, especially on fabrics and when printed with a warm, oatmeal-colored back. When they’re on a stark white then it doesn't have the same depth. And I love mixing the scale of patterns, so pairing checks with and stripes, in materials like velvet and boucle.
Where do you source those oatmeal-tinged fabrics?
I love Jasper - everything it does makes my heart sing. But it’s not just those fabrics that add softness, to back to your previous question. Also painted tiles - and you only need a few as the price points are high, but a handful mixed into plain tiles will make a big impact. And living finishes like unlacquered brass from Perrin and Rowe, that ages and patinas as if it were vintage to start with.
In many of your spaces, the kitchens feel like extensions of the living areas, with vintage rugs, custom cabinetry, and furniture-like islands. What makes a kitchen successful in your eyes?
I always start with the kitchen, as it’s the heart of the home. First it needs to be a workhorse, but also beautiful, so I’ll look at elements others might not consider like the feet of the island, and work out how we can make them look like an old shop counter. I just did a panelled fridge that had vent holes so it looks like an old hut rather than a fridge. I like an eclectic feel.
Do you approach bathrooms in the same way?
Bathrooms are similar, we want to make sure they’re functional, but we’re also asking what’s our wow moment going to be? Is it the tub with some cool drapery, or is it a special floor tile, or is it a marble shower? You can have fun with the tiles, the floor finishes, and elements of how the vanity’s feet are going to look, and you can add in vintage furniture like a stool next to the bath. Not everything has to be shiny and white and purely functional.
And finally, what’s inspiring you creatively right now?
It’s paint - it can transform a space. People forget about the ceiling, but if you add wallpaper, or add a wood treatment, or paint it something wonderful then it’s just as important as the rest of the room. Back in the 1990s, trim was always just painted white, and we still deal with that a lot today - I always paint it a contrast to the room. Paint is what really brings soul into your home. If it feels and looks good to you then it’ll feel that way forever.
See more of Ashley's work at Ashley Montgomery Design
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