RENOVATING THE HOUSE REIGNITED EMILY’S LOVE OF INTERIORS AND DESIGN

The sink in the bathroom (top) was found on Ebay; the floor is marine ply. The bedroom walls (above) are painted in Mole’s Breath by Farrow & Ball. Living room cushions (above right) are from Aerende

Guardian,” she says. “I wanted to do something different and with more flexibility to fit around the children. I also wanted to create work where I wasn’t the only beneficiary.” Renovating the home reignited her love of interiors and design, and a long-held desire to run an online homeware shop.

“I didn’t want it to be a shop like all the others, though,” she says, “I wanted it to count.” A chance purchase of a basket at a local craft fair made by adults with learning disabilities crystalised her thinking. “The baskets were amazing quality. I realised that if they were put in front of more people, they would sell loads. I also thought there must be other makers facing social challenges who needed an outlet to sell their work.” Sure enough, she soon found other UK craftspeople, including potters, textile makers, soap and candle makers, all making high-quality items, and Aerende (an Old English word meaning ‘care’), her shop selling “life-improving homewares”, was born.

Everything in the shop reflects Emily’s values and philosophy: each item provides an opportunity for the person who makes it, is made to last, sustainably sourced and covetable. “I only sell products I like and want to use,” she says. The principle of ‘buy less, buy better’ is one she lives by in her own home, too. Alongside ceramics and linens from Aerende, are pieces of furniture sourced from Ebay – “I like to know their provenance” – or secondhand shops. “Introducing carefully chosen things into your home gives it a wider, spiritual value,” she says. “It’s all about appreciating the space you are in.” Check out Emily’s shop, aerende.co.uk. To find out more about Emily and other British makers, visit frombritainwithlove.com.