Sophie Ashby
In her new London studio and showroom, the designer displays her label’s furniture and homewares, as well as her undeniable sense of style
With its soaring, six-metre-high ceilings and an abundance of original details including panelling, plasterwork and Corinthianstyle columns, the property that Studio Ashby now calls home is something of an architectural gem. ‘There are windows on all four sides so light comes in from every angle, and there’s a fireplace and a very old clock above the front door,’ enthuses the founder and creative director Sophie Ashby. ‘It’s the most elegant space you could dream of. In the same way a gallery allows everything to have its moment, with the light and the height here, everything looks good. It all feels more exciting because it’s such a beautiful place.’
Originally built in 1709, the Grade I-listed building, just a stone’s throw from London’s St James’s Park, was once home to a school for the underprivileged, known as The Blewcoat School. Years later, it was bought by the National Trust, who transformed it into a gift shop, and although still owned by the charity, it then became a bridal boutique before being adopted by Studio Ashby, whose 16-strong team recently moved here from a shared workspace in west London. ‘I wanted that own-front-door feeling, somewhere we could really make ours, and for it to be a little bit experimental and bold,’ says Ashby. ‘I worked on it at the same time as my house, so they have quite a lot in common, and hopefully it feels really personal, like someone is coming into our home. I’d also like for it to grow and not be static. My wish is to keep it fresh and inspiring, but we have to figure out how to do that without being wasteful or doing things just for the sake of it.’
Ondisplayattheby-appointmentpremises,whichisalsoashoppable destination for clients and customers alike, is a combination of madeto-order furniture as well the studio’s ‘Sister’ range of homewares and antiques, plus additional pieces by selected designers and brands. These include Dirk van der Kooij, the designer of the colourful ‘Meltingpot’ table, and Danish brand Menu.
‘We’ve launched with an exhibition of work by Erin and Mia Chaplin, who are both incredible painters from Cape Town,’ explains Sophie. ‘The art will be ever-changing and we’re planning on inviting curators and doing biannual residencies. It’s also such a great space to hosts events and we have a little bit of outdoor space too, which is such a treat in central London, so it feels like the opportunities are endless. I’m really attracted to the idea of growing a community, and location-wise we are in a part of London where there’s lots of design going on. It’s a real step change for me from running an interior-design studio to having this very different style of business. This is a blank canvas for so many creative things, and it’s really, really exciting.’ studioashby.com
‘I wanted somewhere we could really make our ours,
and for it to be a little bit experimental
and bold’