Discover 9 UK-based Interior Designers Who Have Brought Out Their Very Own Collections of Homewares
There's a new demand for interior designers to create their own product lines – we meet some who are doing just that
Wouldn't it be helpful to have an interior designer on call to help choose furniture, find just the right coffee table, or track down the perfect lighting? Thanks to a growing number of studios that are adding retail arms to their offerings, access to interior designer-created and curated pieces is becoming easier than ever.
Of course, interior designers have long collaborated with brands and manufacturers to design products, particularly as they have their finger on the pulse with the new and emerging interior design trends, but now they’re creating collections under their own name, opening physical showrooms and online stores, and becoming brands themselves.
For many designers, it’s a natural progression, utilizing all their holistic experience and knowledge amassed over the years.
As a London-based designer, Samantha Todhunter explains: ‘As an interior designer, you spend so much time figuring out what works in a room, from exactly what sizes and shapes are best, to what filling is most comfortable. It made sense to bring all that together in furniture that really works in a broad range of scenarios, with multiple purposes and looks.’
For Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby, whose store Sister launched during the pandemic, it’s an opportunity to scratch a creative itch. ‘Sister gives me a space to be more experimental outside of the constraints of client projects and briefs, which has been a real joy,’ she explains, adding that ‘it’s also a way of sharing our world with a wider audience and that feels great’.
And Objects by Martin Brudnizki and Nichola Jeanes
When Martin Brudnizki and co-founder Nicholas Jeanes launched And Objects in 2015, the focus was initially on ‘bringing to life and making accessible’ pieces frequently inquired about from the designer’s interior projects.
The Abbas chair, originally designed for London's Annabel’s club, is one such example. From there, a standalone collection followed, but not in a way most might expect.
‘Instead of designing a range with a shared look and feel, it was important that each piece felt independent from one another, like a collection of antiques that you collect over the years for your home,’ says Martin.
A prime example of this approach is the Easton chair, crafted by skilled leather artisans in Portugal and customizable in a variety of hues and finishes. A showroom in Belgravia allows customers to see and try pieces in real life, including the Goodworth Sofa (below) finished here in the And Objects x Christopher Farr Cloth Tangled fabric with luxurious fringe trim.
The Goodworth Sofa finished here in the And Objects x Christopher Farr Cloth Tangled fabric with luxurious fringe trim.
Shoppa By Beata Heuman
‘I created the marbleized velvet and wallpaper for my first big project as I loved the idea of that type of pattern, but there was nothing on the market like it at the time. It turned out great, so I added some pics to my newly hatched Instagram account, and slowly but surely we began selling,’ says Beata Heuman of Shoppa, the retail side of her interiors practice.
Although products are now designed specifically for the brand, Beata says ‘the two sides of the company are very much feeding one another in different ways’. Shoppa’s most recognisable products include the Bow brass handle, the beautiful Nettle wallpaper (pictured below), and Beata’s pick, the Dodo Egg light. ‘I think the name has actually been a huge part of its success too,’ she says. ‘It matters more than one might think…’
Bryan O'Sullivan
For designer Bryan O’Sullivan, developing his own collection was a no-brainer. ‘It felt natural for us as we design custom furniture and lighting for all of our spaces. Also, we are lucky enough to work with incredible makers and craftspeople, so we wanted to build on these relationships and let our imagination run wild.’
Not only that, but it made business sense. Having a furniture and lighting company is certainly more scalable than a design studio. ‘Elevated’, ‘relaxed’, and ‘authentic’ are the buzzwords for Bryan’s style, and his new collection follows suit. Standout pieces include the Harvest table (above) with customisable brass inlay motifs – ‘I think the customisable element really appeals, it means the piece is unique and completely personal to the client.’ Below is the 'Croissant Sofa'
The Warborough Collection by Samantha Todhunter
Created to work ‘as the Little Black Dress in your wardrobe; classic, timeless pieces that work any time, anywhere’ – designer Samantha Todhunter’s Warborough Collection was launched in 2020, but has been years in the making. ‘These are the pieces tried and tested for years across projects, refined and revised until they became the ultimate versions of themselves,’ says Samantha.
Focused on upholstery and occasional furniture, the collection has a modernantique feel.
NiX by Nicola Harding
‘In the 30 years that I have been designing homes, there have been certain things I have repeatedly found hard to find. Over time, I have honed designs that answer those needs,’ says Nicola Harding. The result is NiX, which Nicola sums up as ‘beautifully useful building blocks that make a home sing’.
Pieces in the collection have all originated from Nicola’s interior projects and include stars such as the Tuck In dining table with its legs that are set back, allowing guests to be seated comfortably all the way round. There are also lighting ideas, upholstery, fabrics, and wallpaper, all designed to work in both contemporary and more traditional settings. As Nicola says: ‘I think of how each piece works and how it sits in combination, not just how it looks in isolation.
Out for the Count Four Poster Bed in Ruby Red. Made to order in 10-12 weeks. Available in three vibrant colours – Ruby Red, Marine Blue and Sage Green – and both king and super king sizes.
The Collection by Salvesen Graham
Created in 2019 by Mary Graham and Nicole Salvesen, The Collection by Salvesen Graham embodies the studio’s ‘future heritage’ approach to design. For the duo, who had collaborated with other brands and makers in the past, establishing their own range was a ‘natural and logical step’ – and was an opportunity to revel in their love for pattern and colour.
Influenced by an eclectic range of eras and styles from Britain’s Georgian period to 18th-century Indian textiles, the collection showcases ‘timeless design motifs reimagined with a contemporary twist’, says Mary – think checks, stripes and florals across wallpapers, fabrics, accessories and occasional furniture.
Studio Atkinson
Unable to find certain pieces of furniture that would work for her projects, Studio Atkinson founder Susie Atkinson set about designing her own. ‘We started with a few products that we developed for specific projects, then during lockdown, the collection was expanded to offer lighting, wallpaper, furniture, and accessories.’
Susie believes interior designers have an advantage when it comes to creating furniture: ‘We are looking at things not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also from a practical and functional angle. Studying plans and elevations for projects helps design products, as you have an understanding of spatial awareness and thus product size, for example.’ Shown is the Parsons desk lamp, which comes wrapped in hand-stitched leather in a choice of three colours.
Sister by Studio Ashby
‘For as long as I can remember, it was my dream to be a shopkeeper – I found the prospect of providing that experience so exciting,’ says Sophie Ashby. And so in 2020, Studio Ashby’s retail arm, Sister, was born, using the studio’s St James’s headquarters as a showroom, so customers can see and try things before buying.
Sophie says the collection is ‘a mix of forever favourites from client projects that we’ve reimagined, and others are born from our own curiosity’. Alongside in-house designs are those from makers such as Henry Holland Studio and Dutch designer Dirk van der Kooij, as well as artwork – an integral part of any Studio Ashby-designed space. Sophie cites the Gem rug (below) as one of the most popular pieces – ‘the pattern is bold and wild and quite mad – in a great way!’
Trove by Studio Duggan
Studio Duggan founder, Tiffany Duggan, opened the doors of her Trove showroom in Notting Hill in 2019, alongside a dedicated retail website. ‘We often receive enquiries about where we source furnishings for private clients, and with so much being custom-made for projects, we wanted to open up the world of Studio Duggan to a wider audience,’ she explains.
Designed by Tiffany and her creative team, the range includes seating, storage ideas, headboards and beds, lighting and accessories, alongside curated vintage pieces. Notable pieces include the hugely popular and best-selling Avalon large bedside table and a collection of beautiful handmade trays, including the Wild Rose Wavy Tray (below).
The Wild Rose Wavy Tray is lovingly handmade by skilled craftsmen in Bali.
As Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan says, ‘it allows customers who love our style but aren’t necessarily looking to fully refurbish their homes to purchase pieces designed and made by the studio’.
Above all, there’s the simple fact that many designers can’t find what they’re looking for elsewhere, so they create pieces themselves. A source of unique and carefully considered pieces, designer-conceived collections might be the design world’s best-kept secret.
