SUPER NATURAL
Modern minimalism meets cosy homeliness in this Dublin family home, where artful layered natural textiles and a muted palette deliver a back to basics style that’s fabulously feel-good, writes SUZIE COEN.
Suzie Coen visits the minimalist home of stylist Kim Gray
If it’s possible to be both riotously busy and serenely calm at the same time, then that is what best describes the family home of South African couple Kim Gray and husband Mark and their four children: son Harry, aged six, and the triplets, Joy, Oliver and Ben, who will be two this February. “For me, it’s the balance of trying to create an inspiring and comforting home, but also being thoughtful and considered and keeping things simple,” explains Kim. “I think the point of interior design is to create the background for the best life you can have. Which means embracing the chaos of everyday existence and building a home around it that’s as useful as it is beautiful, as loved as it is lovely.”
A former stylist and fashion blogger in South Africa, Kim’s design aesthetic is informed by her native décor (lots of natural wood, grass materials and baskets) but now combined with European influences – Nordic minimalism, French farmhouse, Moroccan and modern Irish crafts. White walls, pale floors and an abundance of natural light give the house a classic Scandi feel. But a clever use of symmetry, texture and styling ideas means the rooms are warm and intimate, rather than chilly. Natural materials, industrial lighting, vintage metal pieces and bare wood inject an organic feel and act as a foil to the modern look. There’s a calming feel that envelops this aesthetic. It’s about design in its rawest form, the interiors
equivalent of a pared-back high fashion look; a style that’s well made but not showy.
This home has the kind of individuality and soul that usually takes ages to achieve, despite the fact that the family moved in less than two years ago. And with a very bumpy landing… “We moved into our house the day the triplets were born, unexpectedly and premature, at 28 weeks,” explains Kim. “It was a very stressful time having three premature babies in NICU, so designing their nursery kept me in a good ‘hopeful’ headspace. I created it pretty inexpensively with cots and some furniture from Ikea, but then added some special touches like wall hangings from gather.com; a special woven piece from South Africa (greyroom. co.za); handmade animal characters above their cots (ellaandtheroo.com), large Malawi chairs, and a big Kilim rug that inspired the colour palette. We spent hours in this room at the beginning, feeding and putting Joy, Ben and Oli down. We put a bed in their room so we could also be with them in the very early days. It needed to be a comfortable and relaxing space.”
Like her home, Kim’s personal style is chic, relaxed and understated. “Don’t get me wrong, if I had a wedding to go to, I’d be very excited to don a pair of heels, but I’m a stay-athome mum right now, and so it’s often jeans, a good T-shirt and trainers. I love a fuss-free, oversized dress and simple wool sweaters. I live in my Aran cardigan from Scout, and while I don’t usually do much colour, my Liadain Aiken knit is also a favourite. I’d say my Petria Lenehan tweed coat is my signature piece, along with a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers.”
Although a self-confessed magpie in training, Kim’s desire to buy well and own less ramped up a notch this year when she discovered The Minimalists podcast and Courtney
Carver’s blog, Be More With Less, and Courtney’s book, Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More. Kim was hooked. “So, for three months, I lived with 33 items,” she explains. “This includes clothes, shoes and accessories. My wardrobe felt quite bare, but I always had something to wear – everything worked together; I never had to sit and think about what to wear – decision-making and decision fatigue is taken out of the equation. It really opened my mind up to how little one really needs. After three months, I still felt the itch to shop, but I’ve definitely become more thoughtful in my choices. My friend Ruth of The Little Wooden Peg opened me up to a world of conscious brands and incredibly tasteful and special pieces for kids. The triplets only have four or five outfits each max, as we’re washing all the time, and so I find there’s no point in having tonnes of clothes. I mix a few special, good quality items with cheap and cheerful denims. I love jeans and oversized tops for them, a classic dress for Joy or great cotton knitwear, usually made by my mum, that can be washed and tumble dried.
I think a home should reflect your stories and adventures, your style and your outlook on life. Having been a stylist, my home is a constant playground for me. An ongoing project that evolves with what works for the kids and visually for me. For me, it’s all about taking a slow, considered approach and being mindful of the things we put into our home. Less is more, definitely. If I had to describe the feeling in my home, it’s exactly that.