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Abigail Ahern on her obsession with Australia & her new book

September 24, 2020 Leave a Comment

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British interior designer Abigail Ahern, known for her love of breaking decorating “rules” says she’s obsessed with Australia and would love to move here. But, in the meantime, she’s in talks to bring her product range to our shores for the first time.

Abigail Ahern

Decor + Design 360, the online version of the popular Melbourne trade fair, kicked off this week with a VIP media event where Abigail and fellow Brit designer Kit Kemp were guests of honour. The virtual event was hosted by design gurus Robyn Holt and James Treble, and Australian House & Garden and Belle editor in chief, Tanya Buchanan.

Abigail gave a great interview about her love of interiors, how Covid has brought the importance of home back into perspective, and why a maximalist look doesn’t have to mean “a hot mess”.

“I am so obsessed and addicted to interiors because it’s not about fluffing a cushion, it’s about how it makes you feel, it literally lifts your spirits,” she said.

She recently had to close her London store for three months but, since reopening in August, has been busier than ever. “Covid has made everyone refocus on the home,” she said. “Home always played second fiddle to fashion and beauty. Now it’s really come into the forefront. The main reason I’m so obsessed with interiors is it doesn’t matter about budget or where you live in the world, you can do a few small things to your home and it totally affects how you feel.”

Her biggest sellers have been her faux botanicals (she really has made fake not just cool, but convincing again) and accessories like cushions and candles “The five-minute facelifts of the decorating world, as I call them. Something you can plonk on a sofa or a coffee table and it just elevates it.”

Abigail is known for her love of a darker palette and she said she often gets asked if that can work in a hot country, like Australia. “During Covid, I started painting rooms in a warmer dark, really earthy colours,” she said. “My next paint range is actually inspired by Australia. I want to relocate to Australia because I’m obsessed with your country!”

She adds: “People think if you paint a room in a dark colour it will be depressing. It actually isn’t, it brings a lot of warmth. For me, I don’t want people to go dark if they don’t like dark. Colour is very personal and if you’re happy in pale, by all means go pale. I just have a slightly different interpretation and I gravitate towards inky, swampy, bottom-of-the-lake type colours! The thing about colour is it’s the easiest, most transformative and cheapest thing that you can do to any room.”

Abigail’s dark kitchen

Abigail says the older she gets, the less she cares what people think of her unique style, or if they think she’s a bit bonkers! Although she certainly has thousands of fans who love her style and can’t get enough of her tips on how to incorporate it in their own homes.

Later in her discussion with Robyn, James and Tanya, Abigail talked about how she came to design her own faux flowers and foliage (or botanicals, as she calls them) with her florist sister Gemma, who is a partner in the business. They’re actually available in Australia now through Fenton & Fenton.

She is big on connecting the inside with the outside, no mater the time of year or where you live. “I’m all about this relaxed sensibility. I don’t like uptight interiors. I don’t want to walk into a space where I feel I’ve got to sit really properly and take my shoes off. I just want to sprawl out on the sofa and slurp wine!” Oh, don’t we all?!

Abigail’s new book, Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide, about to be released next month, is all about debunking the myths around more is more. “When someone says maximalism, in my head, I picture cluttered, Grandma, stuff everywhere, a complete hot mess. I just wanted to show people that you can have a lot of things but it can look curated and beautiful.

“The book takes you through the process of how to have things in your home, to have forever (because I don’t think interiors are like fashion, things don’t come in every season and go out every season, you should just buy things that you love), and the principals to adding more layers.”

Her long held love for our country is alive and well: “Australia’s known for its interiors and this relaxed sensibility which I really gravitate towards, so we have a huge audience in Oz. We’re talking to a really big exciting brand about bringing our stuff to Australia for the first time so I’m just keeping all my fingers crossed because I would be so excited!”

Kit Kemp

The chat with Kit Kemp, the founder and creative director of the beautiful Firmdale Hotels, was equally enjoyable, so I’d urge you to watch the recording of the discussion with both these amazing British design icons, which is now available to everyone, here.

Decor + Design 360 is a five-day virtual event from Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October, free to anyone in the industry. REGISTER HERE.

The lineup for this year’s Australian House & Garden International Seminar Series is amazing, and includes my chat with Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk. See the full program and buy tickets.

Bobby Berk chats to us about Australia, Queer Eye & his design business
From his perceptions of Australian style to how we can feel happier at home, I thoroughly enjoyed my Zoom interview with American interiors icon and my favourite Queer Eye host,…
Bobby Berk, Abigail Ahern & Martyn Lawrence Bullard at Decor + Design 2020
It’s been heartening to see many of the industry’s favourite events embrace technology and go virtual for 2020 as we all struggle with the uncertainty of where Covid-19 will end.…
6 top tips for pattern and texture in your home, by Abigail Ahern
As you all know, I’m a huge fan of Brit Abigail Ahern and her bold, unconventional interior style, which tends to break every rule in the book, with gusto! I’m…

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One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavet One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavetimeforthis, turns out former Neighbours actor @gemma_peanut is even more multi-talented than we thought! Will you check out the joyful and colourful reno of her holiday home (and airbnb) @yo_caba_caba?!

Head over to the blog via link in bio to read all about why she went bold and full of pattern in this project, which is a stark contrast to her zen and neutral Northern Beaches abode.

There's also plenty of details about where things are from etc.

"Iโ€™m not an interior designer so I just chose what I liked and followed my gut. Ultimately this home has been an opportunity to explore my alter ego โ€“ it allowed me to do things that I wouldnโ€™t normally do.โ€

๐Ÿ“ท @tanikablair_photography 

#interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #gemmapeanut #wedonthavetimeforthis #parentingpodcast #parentingpodcasts #holidayhousesofinstagram #cabaritabeach #airbnbstyle #airbnbstyling #colourandpattern #wallpapergoals #patternedtiles #featuretiles #poolgoals #sparkjoy #yocabacaba #boldinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulkitchen
Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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