Name: Abigail Ahern, her husband Graham Scott, Mungo the miniature schnauzer, and Maude the Welsh terrier
Location: Dalston; London, UK
Size: 2,200 square feet
Years lived in: 13 years
Imagine if Vermeer and Rousseau got to share a canvas, the Dutchman
filling it with his trademark dark interiors, soft light filtering in
through a window, and the Frenchman adding lush ferns, copious flowers,
birds and animals peeking through the foliage. Now add layer upon layer
of texture —wood, velvet, pottery, wool, metallics — and you are getting
close to envisaging designer
Abigail Ahern’s fabulous East London home.
Abigail, her husband Graham, and their two adorable dogs, Mungo and
Maude, live in a four story Victorian townhouse in Dalston. Round the
corner is London at its most chaotic, vibrant and noisy, but inside Abi
has created a cozy and welcoming haven that mixes glamour and grandeur
with fun and quirky details that make you smile. Welcome!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Eclectic, boho, glam. I am obsessed with
dark interiors. They cocoon you and make you feel snug and comforted,
particularly in London where the light is very soft. When you put an
object up against a dark wall, it has the effect of making it pop and
gives it grandeur.
Inspiration: It is a huge mix drawing on many
influences — Hollywood glam, old glam drinking dens, traditional
interiors. I travel a lot and see lots of trade shows, lots of flea
markets, meet lots of artists. I see a lot of stuff! I ignore trends and
I buy something because I love it. A lot of what ends up in my shop
ends up here too. Interiors can be a snooty business. I want my home to
be glamorous, but not uptight. The penguins and poodles and other
animals immediately lighten the mood.
Favorite Element: I love the double height glass
wall, which extends the space inside and out. I wanted the garden to be
overgrown and forest-like and create our own little private enclosed
space. We built an outdoor kitchen last year and we use it all the time.
We cook sea bass, prawns, pizza, steak, chicken, everything out there.
Biggest Challenge: Making each and every room a cozy
space. I wanted them to almost wrap me in the squishiest of blankets, so
I've recreated that feeling through an abundance of texture.
What Friends Say: "Wowzers!"
Biggest Embarrassment: Years ago I painted my whole
studio in a color I hadn't tested first. I started on the cornice and
just kept going. Then right at the end, I figured out I hated it!
Proudest DIY: My wardrobe in the bedroom made from MDF.
Biggest Indulgence: Lighting. Some of my pieces are handmade and took the artists 6 months to create.
Best Advice: Buy only what you love!
