Interiors: A designer’s fashionably light home
White walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and floral flourishes make this one-up, two-down Victorian terrace a sunshine-filled haven for fashion brand Mother of Pearl’s creative director AMY POWNEY.
Amy in the living room. ‘Everybody thinks this is an original painting,’ says Amy. ‘It’s actually a poster bought from the National Gallery. The frame was more expensive than the print!’
‘I’ve been asked many times if I have a strange obsession with pearls,’ laughs Amy. Having worked her way up from assistant to creative director of fashion label Mother of Pearl, one could say that she has. ‘I don’t like to be stared at in the street because of what I am wearing,’ she says. ‘I like to create pieces that allow me to feel comfortable, but that also possess a certain unique luxury detail – such as a ruffle, a frill or a well-placed pearl – that makes me feel good.’
Over the past 12 years, Amy has honed this playfully feminine, understated luxury aesthetic for the brand. The collections range from silky pyjama-inspired pieces through to tailored shirts with elongated sleeves, and all strike the perfect balance between casual and luxury. ‘I’m a Northern girl at heart – lots of denim but with a glittery sock and statement shoe,’ says Amy. ‘The brand reflects who I am.’
Born in Stockport, as a child Amy moved with her family to a caravan in rural Kent. They had no electricity or gas, and ‘my dad was the first in our area to build a wind turbine.’ Weekends were spent helping to dig wells or to build walls. ‘It changed my perception and made me realise the value of commodities.’ It also triggered Amy’s passion for promoting sustainability within the fashion industry.
The dining-room table was a vintage find. The dining chairs were an Ebay steal at £50 for all four. Amy reupholstered them in House of Hackney fabric. For a similar distressed vintage-inspired rug try frenchconnection.com
The bespoke kitchen was a collaboration with the South London workshop Pluck (pluck.kitchen). For similar pendant lights try housedoctor.dk
This ethos is central to Amy’s work. The Mother of Pearl offices are plastic-free, food is delivered in paper boxes and an osmosis water filtration system has been installed. Amy’s first sustainable fashion collection, launching next month, is ethically sourced and made solely from organic fabric. ‘I want to rebrand sustainability, to fix a problem in a fun and contemporary way,’ she says.
In her home, unfussy, clean white walls wrap around stained oak flooring and create a light-filled blank canvas that can be easily updated with a change of accessories whenever Amy and Nick feel inclined. Flashes of blowsy fabrics are fused with blocks of bold colour, and ornate flourishes are dotted throughout in the form of fringing, bows and artwork. ‘Our house is not a show home – it reflects the life we lead,’ she says.
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The hints of copper and warm woods add warmth to the marble splashback and worktop in the open-plan kitchen-diner. For similar copper pans try johnlewis.com
‘Nick and I like to leave nice messages for each other as we both work a lot,’ says Amy. ‘Sometimes we even leave messages for Roxy!’
A glass-box extension fills the house with light, while the refurbished stained floorboards nod to its history. The cushion and pouffe, designed by Amy, are from Mother of Pearl’s new homeware collection
In the living room, stained oak flooring and giant cushions upholstered in Mother of Pearl floral fabrics provide a striking contrast to the white walls. For a similar sofa try grahamandgreen.co.uk
These cushions are also part of Mother of Pearl’s new homeware collection, which Amy was inspired to launch after redesigning the house
Nick’s bike is kept in the living room overnight. The unit is from Ikea; the surface was made to measure by Pluck (as before). The photo on the shelf is of Amy and Nick’s summer wedding
Amy’s studio is in the garden. ‘This is where I work when I want some peace and quiet,’ she says. ‘I hope to install a wood burner for the winter months.’ The sketch, by acclaimed fashion illustrator David Downton (daviddownton.com), was presented to Amy when Mother of Pearl won the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund award last year
Roxy in the studio. The coat is a Mother of Pearl bestseller
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