IN CONVERSATION WITH:
CO-FOUNDER,
STELLA GITTINS_
AT HOME WITH A.LONDON May 2020
Running an international award-winning interior design company is challenging at the best of times and even more so during a global pandemic. Our Co-Founder, Stella Gittins has shared her secrets to running a successful business.
How has your morning routine changed?
If there are words that I thought would never come out of my mouth they would be “I roll out of bed and down the stairs into the kitchen for a Zoom workout with my PT”, but since lockdown, I have realised how important it is for me to exercise in the morning to clear the brain fog and set myself up positively for the day.
What are your secrets to running a design studio?
The biggest secret, like with all businesses, is to surround yourself with people that are more talented than you and make sure that you have varying skillsets so that you can inspire and teach each other. Most importantly, make sure your teams have the same values as you and are encouraged to grow so that you can build an inspiring culture.
I am super excited about our new venture Bazaar (@bazaar.london) which will be an online shoppable world of A.LONDON’s interiors. This was our Associate Director, Lydia Lavelle’s brainchild. She is fearless and was encouraged to go for it with all of our support. Watch this space!
“…surround yourself with people that are more talented than you and make sure that you have varying skillsets so that you can inspire and teach each other.”
– Stella Gittins
Co-Founder
How does your own personal style compare to the A.LONDON schemes?
I am a great believer in the old and the new enhancing each other to bring to life and add character to a scheme. For example, A.LONDON’s award winning interior at Lyons Place and The Hexagon Apartments both contained exclusively designed furnishings which sat harmoniously alongside amazing antiques.
I have never consciously followed an interior ‘trend’ in my own home, although that’s not to say that my tastes don’t evolve as I witness new and exciting products, textures, colours. That is actually a bit of a stumbling block for me as I am constantly inspired by new ideas in the studio and I have to make a selection quick before the next inspired moment. My home has evolved over the years and one thing that is consistent in my taste is the desire to surround myself with items that I cherish. I love the contrasting effect of antique finds blending in with the new, so although I live in an 1850s cottage, the interior scheme doesn’t look 150 years old but compliments and enhances the character.
I am also a huge art lover and I do not believe that all great interiors have to have something on the wall that matches the scheme. Although, statement Art can be a great starting point and inspiration for an interior, Art also looks amazing when it contrasts against schemes. As each piece tells an individual story and with it being so personal provoking various emotions; sometimes a picture just needs to stand out as opposed to blend.
What do you get up to outside of running a business?
I am actually enjoying going back to basics and revisiting very old ones and so I’ve purchased an outdoor activity table and an abundance of crafts to indulge in with my toddler. In my work life, I have trained myself to always have a strategy or a clear vision of my end goal and so as I have got older, I have found it increasingly difficult to put paint to paper and just ‘make stuff’.
I’ve also become somewhat of a kitchen expert after renovating my daughter’s toy Kitchen so it matches my grown-up version. Not only was it a fun project but it looks super classy and less of an eye-sore! I have found this all incredibly therapeutic and it has definitely kick-started a strong desire to dust off my old art materials and zone out.
One thing I would really like to master though is the art of reading as I currently have four books on the go, and I am failing to get to the end of one!
If you would like to hear more from our team, read our ‘At Home with A.LONDON’ series including top tips from our interior designers. Don’t forget to follow Bazaar.London to keep up-to-date with the latest news of the new online shoppable world of A.LONDON’s interiors.