Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 35
Occupation: Product designer, creative director, and founder of Atelier 278.
Instagram: @atelier_278
Hometown: London.
Studio location: Notting Hill, London.
Describe what you make: I work exclusively with natural stone to create pieces for the home, whether it’s a bespoke table or our collection of handcrafted onyx objet. Each piece celebrates the unparalleled beauty of nature while championing the specialist craft of stone masonry.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The first custom table I created. I was working full-time in PR while sourcing vintage items in my spare time when a client asked me to create a very specific table. I took a leap of faith and she trusted me to create it for her. Before I knew it, I was sourcing pure Italian travertine and marble and working with brilliant British artisans to create the table. The client loved it and ordered a second and suddenly the whole trajectory of my life changed.
Describe the problem your work solves: I began by curating vintage furniture, focusing on natural stone tables, to counter the prevalence of “fast homewares.” However, it became clear this approach wasn’t always effective. Many vintage items, though desirable, often ended up unused and discarded because they didn’t quite fit the bill. To address this issue, I decided to offer custom tables tailored to each client’s specifications. This not only ensures the table meets the client’s needs, but also increases the likelihood of it being cherished and utilized.
To minimize our environmental impact, we produce our tables locally in the U.K. By cutting the stone in a way that reduces waste and consolidating our deliveries to once a week, we aim to reduce emissions. Additionally, we avoid using packaging, opting instead for reusable blankets for transportation. The hope is that we make our client’s dream tables an achievable reality while still being mindful of the environment.
Describe the project you are working on now: I’m very proud to have been selected by a number of interior designers to create bespoke marble furniture for the luxurious new Townhouses at Chelsea Barracks, so we’re working away on perfecting these for their new homes. Our Rojo Alicante marble has been popular here.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I’m utterly fascinated by the organic quality of solid travertine and am working on expanding our debut furniture collection with solid base tables that will launch later this year. Extracted from quarries in Europe and transformed from irregular rocks into smooth and refined bases that stand boldly for a real statement.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: It’s so important to me that my studio is an inspiring and cozy space, so I’ve designed it as an extension of my apartment. Naturally, it’s filled with my own marble creations, but I’ve also pinched an antique Afghan rug from my apartment and my cozy armchair by Collection Seven is the perfect spot for curling up for a brainstorm. Coffee and good music are also non-negotiables.
What you do when you’re not working: I’m a real hodophile, so I’m constantly planning my next escape. But when I’m in London, I love hosting people at my apartment, particularly now that it has been transformed by interior design team Fare Inc. It truly is a joy to spend time in. The oversized eight-seater Romano travertine island in our kitchen has become a hub for quality time with friends and family.
Beauty treatments are my way of unwinding (I’m an ex-beauty PR after all). Recently, I’ve become a regular at the Omorovicza Mayfair Institute, not only for the incredible facials but also the dreamy interiors. It’s an ethereal Silver travertine wonderland, designed by Tina Vaia and Ed Milton of EJM Studio. Can you tell I like travertine?
Sources of creative envy: More so a source of creative inspiration rather than envy is jewelry designer Jessica McCormack. Her pieces are inspired by classic design and celebrate the exceptional beauty of natural stone (in her case, diamonds) and hand-craftsmanship. Our values are very much aligned, just in different realms. There isn’t a design of hers I haven’t loved and wished to own. I hope I can achieve the same with my collections.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Social media. My brand wouldn’t exist without it and I love the community I’ve built through it, but with that comes a lot of noise and comparison plus people being cheeky and pinching our work. I need to remind myself to stay focused on what I’m doing and not worry about others.
Concrete or marble? Marble of course! Each piece is completely unique and a result of how nature happened to react that day, thousands of years ago. It’s truly incredible.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse. Classic architecture is the way to my heart.
Remember or forget? Remember the good, forget the bad.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens.
Dark or light? Both. It’s all about balance.
