Some of you may know designwonderland, but for those that don’t, take a look. It’s a blog compiled by a women who is clearly passionate about all things design related. It was a lovely surprise to be interviewed for it, given it is a blog I read myself. Thanks to Jessica for the interview below.
“I had the fortunate opportunity to interview the very inspiring designer,Anita Kaushal. If you are a regular reader, you probably remember my post on her family’s London Home. If you haven’t seen it, go and look. It’s stunning!
Anita was a contributor to Cookie magazine, and is also a prominent author and designer of both product and interiors. She has written two Lifestyle books, Together We Go, a tome about family traveling and The Family at Home: Love.Life.Style.
This is a 2 part interview. Part 1 of the interview is all about Stylish Family Living. Part 2 is all about the designer herself, process and inspiration. I am absolutely overjoyed that she took the time to share some of her tips for making a beautiful home. Let’s get started with the fun shall we…
Design Wonderland: Thank you much for agreeing to answer questions for Design Wonderland.You wrote the book, The Family at Home: Love Life.Style and I consider you an authority on blending stylish living with family living. Often people think they are separate and sacrifice style for the family. What advice do you have on how to create homes that meet the needs of both children and adults in both a stylish and functional manner?
Anita: I think the first thing to remember is to see the family as a unified whole and not a as a “them” and “us” because frankly, no matter how much space you devote to them, they will always want to be where you are anyway. Treat the home as on family space but bedrooms as private retreats.
Think about what you did before having children. Perhaps you mixed styles – old with new, modern with classic, soft with rough – that is really all you are doing now. When children come along you are mixing their style with yours and that makes for a really charming space that comes alive. I would not have had a swing in my kitchen before the children came along but the house is so much better for it as it signals welcome to all who enter. That being said, I still enjoy beautiful objects such as hand blown glass lamps, but I don’t limit these to the bedroom – my daughter has an amethyst one in her room and enjoys it as much as I do. I think it is about mixing it up and having fun with it – the house is so much better for the personalities that live in it and if you relax, they will too. I don’t see any sacrifice in having children in the house – it just opens up so many more possibilities.
DW: Any creative storage tips for parents looking to hide toys for when guests arrive?
Anita: I tend not to hide toys but to display them in unusual ways, although if you did want to hide them then a beautiful old screen works well as do large French [armoires] or chests – the point is you need not stick to conventional children’s storage as that is simply too limiting. Ideally you want pieces that will grow with the children and that they will want to take to their own homes one day.
Put children’s toys in unexpected and beautiful storage – I keep my son’s little toy animals in a massive hand carved ebony bowl from Africa.
You find as children get older they want fewer toys but there are those that they will cherish always and I put these in over-sized glass jars so they can be enjoyed but contained.
I give special attention to key pieces of their artwork by framing them beautifully – perhaps in an old antique frame or a modern mount – children know they are truly valued when such attention is given to something they cherish – besides their artwork is so much better than mine.
DW: Your home is so serene and poetic. Many parents would shy away from using white, thinking it not so child-friendly. How do you make it work? Where you nervous about using white so prominently?
Anita: Not at all. I believe children appreciate space and light as much as we do and they need an element of order in their live to function well and to feel secure, but that need not mean being ridged. My son plays football in our kitchen daily and that’s fine with me – it’s there to be enjoyed and the great British weather means we have to be prepared to exercise in-doors. If it gets dirty, we will re-paint it – not a problem. My daughter makes potions in her bedroom, the bathroom and kitchen and again, spills are all a part of the process – so long as she cleans behind her that is fine with me and it is a good discipline to have. Also I soften the look with different colour and texture in each area of the house.
DW: When working on your own home, did your children participate in the process with you? How did you involve them in the decoration of their own spaces or other rooms in the home?
Anita: Yes, my children helped every step of the way. I am always changing things here and there, but in ways that the children can enjoy and get involved with. I have just moved an over-sized mirror from our hallway and onto our kitchen wall. The children have been photocopying old family cards, letters, and photos and sticking them all around the frame which they shall then coat with clear acrylic varnish to finish. They have painted and stuck things on their furniture; they have chosen accessories for our home and even designed a few things for my collection.
DW: Any parting words of design wisdom for parents or tips you would like to share?
Anita: Do what pleases you. There nothing so beautiful as a family that is comfortable in their skins and in their surroundings.
Design Wonderland: When it comes to design, you do it all, product, Interiors and Creative Direction. What inspired you to become a designer?
Anita Kaushal: All design holds equal weight and pleasure for me, be it the detail that goes into stitching a cushion, styling a corner of a room or creating a complete house re-fit.
I have always been drawn to creative work and also designed some key pieces when I started my company Earth Tones in 1999, which showcased small artisans next to international designers and home accessories next to large pieces of classic furniture. Customers kept asking us to put the looks together and it all begun from there but I was not even aware I was suddenly moving into interior design because everything I do works on the same principles.
DW: What inspires your work?
Anita: Well- being, happiness and comfort inform my every decision and I am deeply inspired by implementing these into the whole design process. I am mostly inspired by the people I am designing for in that I want their homes to be a reflection of their personalities and to tell the story of their evolving journey.
I have loved designing and decorating houses for as long as I can remember, but the children have been a huge inspiration in my work as they have opened a window into seeing the world differently. I now find that what I do is so much more multifaceted and has more depth than ever before.
I am also inspired by anything made with love and passion and human hands – these things hold magic, meaning and a deep connection.
DW: I’d love to know if the creative process of writing design and travel books is similar to the process of designing. What ways were they similar? Different?
Anita: Yes, the process of designing and writing, no matter what the topic feels very similar so for me the travel book is really no different to designing a product or interior as it is all about expressing the joy of life.
DW: Any plans to write another book on design?
Anita: Yes, as a matter of fact, I have just finished a treatment for a new book, but I may have to wait a bit as there are other projects that are taking up much more time and balance is hugely important to me, so something has to give. As much as I love writing/the whole creative process, the book will have to wait until 2011.
DW: I would love to know what colors or color combinations are you currently drawn to?
Anita: I think much depends on the climate and style of house you live in too. This climate suits muted tones but each house I have ever lived in has had tones of antique pink, lilacs, amethysts, purples, pale blues and taupe’s. I also love to have hints of tarnished golds and silvers here and there
DW: What advice to do you have for new designers or people interested in design?
Anita: Trust in your instincts as this is how you will bring something fresh and new to the industry. Follow your heart and do what you do with abandon.
Finally I just want to say a heartfelt Thank you to Anita Kaushal for sharing her time and her words. In speaking with you I am reminded of just how thoughtful, beautiful and organic the process of Creativity should be.”
