The leaders of design – interview with Fiona Ellis from Ellis Eye Interiors

With a fashion background, the british interior designer is well known for her boudoir meets boho glamour style, as well as for her love for beauty and antiques, creating unique and ecletic interiors that make us feel like they have evolved over time. Her “eye” for interiors is part of Boca do Lobo’s inspirational world. We just love it!

Take a look at Fiona Ellis’ own world.

Boca do Lobo – How and why did you get into the design Industry?

Fiona Ellis – Well a rather diverse background. I made a name for myself as one of the most successful model scouts in the fashion industry – spotting international super models Erin O Connar, Karen Elson & Alek Wek. I am also a regular contributor to both TV and consumer lifestyle titles.

Following a desirable career spanning twenty-five years, I left the world of modeling in 2010 to pursue my passion for interiors, continuing to use my instinctual talent for discovering beautiful things.
My instinctual eye for interiors comes as naturally as spotting a killer pair of cheekbones across the street.
Interior design has always been my passion, running parallel to my fashion career. I treat a space how I would look at a face … almost within the frame of a camera shot ….looking at the shape and the tones and how it all works and fits in together.
Both my fashion & interior design portfolio are 100% experienced based.

BL – How would you describe your design style? How varied are your designs? Do you have a signature touch with your designs?

FE – My designs are varied because my client’s wants are so different, but there is a cord which draws my designs together. I’d say my signature style is boudoir meets boho glamour. Living Magazine describes my styles as a “Mix of boudoir beauty and feminine sophistication.” I think that’s a good description.

My true loves are colour, luscious textiles and a mix of contemporary, antique, retro and French decorative furniture. Put them all together and you have an interior you never want to leave. My pet hate is walking into a room and knowing where every piece of furniture is from. In a recent interview with Belle Magazine, it said, “Minimalists might want to look away now. This is a realm of sensual, stokeable textures and luxurious colours’

BL – What do you love about being a designer?

FE – I love being able to express my creativity with colour, textures, and form and I love making people happy. I am a Tuarean and my home is my sanctuary…somewhere I escape from the world and spend time with family and friends. My home is and always has been my foundations and it was my first design project. I want to create this foundation for clients. On completion of a recent project in St John’s Wood, we had revamped the client’s bedroom, and my client commented that she never wanted to leave this space! It’s seeing that satisfaction and happiness from clients that I love.

I also love that I can learn from my clients through their own unique eye for things, relating to the colours they love or certain periods of furniture & furnishings. This aspect of getting to know your clients ….the psychology of it all is a big part of what I enjoy.

BL – Where do you draw your inspiration from?

FE – LIFE!! Everything that hits my senses and touches me!!
Nature – shapes – shells – plants – colour – light – touch – smell – watching a fire!! It’s all around me.

BL – What are some of your most popular designs? Tell us a bit about some of your designs and what you love about them. What’s your favourite and why?

FE – Antiques, amazing colours, beautiful textiles. I recently built a faux library wall for a Client, to recreate an atmosphere that she was otherwise not able to get from her current space.

I am all about comfort and having a chilled environment. On one particular project, the house was originally very plain in colour and so I really pushed bold, dark colours and luscious textiles. My client had some beautiful antique furniture, which I delighted in re-upholstering. Part of my design service is personal shopping, usually for antiques, as I know some great dealers off the beaten track and my clients love this.

BL – What precautions do you take to ensure your designs are sustainable and environmentally friendly?

FE – These days there is so much focus on the environment that I think interior designers must recognize this demand. There are many products on the market that are good quality, stylish and 100% recycled. Everything from hemp rugs to organic carpet tiles…it’s a growing trend. Designer recycled furniture is something that I enjoy making and sourcing for my own home and naturally; this transfers to ideas for my clients. I do encourage clients to revamp existing furniture. If it works with in a space but the colour or effect is not fitting in with there new scheme then lets change it and make it work, don’t throw it way!

BL – Is there anything exciting that you are working on at the moment that you can tell us about?

FE – I am working on a project now on the Wentworth Estate, in Surrey, which is going to be good for me. I will be experimenting with lots of different ideas and can’t wait to see this unfold.

In addition to my private work, I have collaborated with my partner Scott Hendrie to create a bespoke collection of skull heads, featured on the company website www.elliseyeinteriors.com. Prices on application.

BL – What colours, textures and furniture pieces do you love the most?

FE – My love is for bold dark moody themes that create a dramatic background. I’m a sucker for velvets and love an eclectic mix of furnishings.

I also have a passion for antique lighting…. every home should have a chandelier!

Love: Lobe Belle Coffee table by…. Sebastian Herkner
Love: Smoke chair by Maaten Bass @ Moooi
Love: MAISON BANANAS www.maisonbananas.fr & all the great antique shops in Lillie Road, London

BL – What is your philosophy on design and life?

FE – My philosophy on design is to create a space that feels like it has evolved over time using an eclectic mix of styles and periods. I feel the spirit of a room. With any design, my philosophy is to create a space that marries the old and new, making a room feel like it has evolved over time.

Harpers’ said “Ellis’s eye for interiors is of bold inspirational design’ and ES Magazine “(Ellis) marries impact with cosiness; its theatrical but inviting”.

My philosophy on life! …… Wow this is a big one! I would say ‘Live Life to the Max … Follow your passions, Travel and spend more time with the ones you LOVE’