Interior Designer Anita Oakey on making your house a home

Aileen Lee talks to Interior Designer Anita Oakey.

Sat, 14 Jan, 2017 - 00:00

Aileen Lee

What’s your background?

I studied fashion design for a year and really enjoyed it. Through it, I found a fascination for interior design and transferred to training in that for a further four years, until I achieved my diploma.

I worked in a curtain specialist store for my first job out of college until the recession hit and there were no jobs to be had, so I took the bull by the horns and started my own business with my husband, and grew Aoki Interiors to the successful brand it is today.

We employ six people and in our showroom, we have an extensive fabric and wallpaper library where we provide an interior design service for our clients.

Our attention to detail and vast knowledge of our product is what our clients have come to rely on.

What’s a typical work day like for you?

My day always starts with a coffee and a meeting to decide on the day’s plan. Once everyone has their agenda, depending on the day, I either meet with clients or prepare schemes for clients.

My first meeting for an interior design is usually in the client’s home, where I would walk through the area to discuss requirements, and take pictures and measurements.

I feel the most important aspect of this meeting is to read the client, so that I can find schemes that suit them and the way they live.

From this, I go back to the showroom and compile ideas and put together initial schemes for the client, who then usually calls into the showroom and I present the schemes to help them to visualise the end result.

Tell us about a recent or favourite design or project that you have worked on?

I am just about finished a project that we have worked on for the past six months that has been a pleasure.

The client has built a home for her disabled daughter and engaged us to create a home that has all the necessary features for her disabilities.

We included features such as a sensory room and a pool for exercise.

What’s your design style?

My own style is quite minimal and contemporary.

I like my home to be comfortable and calm, as my life is quite hectic — when I get to take time off, I like to have a space that functions well and gives me a feeling of ease.

A smooth modern kitchen designed by Anita and below, bespoke curtains, blinds and shelf units made to order at AOKI’s studio.

I like a relaxed colour palate with colours such as Colourtrend’s Silver Moonlight, Thresher and Heather Dust.

What/Who inspires your work?

Many things inspire me, but mostly when I have a client that enjoys the process and trusts me to push the boundaries, it inspires me to be creative and come up with something that is extra special.

Busy day at the @selfbuildire show at the @CitywestHotel make sure to stop by tomorrow or Sunday for advice. pic.twitter.com/7ZiSyuTkYk
— Aoki Interiors (@AokiInteriors) September 9, 2016

What’s your favourite trend at the moment (if any)?

Trends in interior design are quite dangerous as they can be over by the time the project is even finished.

I prefer elegance and a style that is timeless.

What’s your most treasured possession?

I’m not sentimental about possessions as I like to change things around and create new surroundings every so often. I hate to say it, as I consider myself a technophobe and the opposite to my husband who is a technical genius, but the most important possession I have is my phone.

I have everything on it — photos, emails, notes, reminders — it’s like a personal assistant and I couldn’t function professionally without it.

Who would be your favourite designer, or style inspiration?

I have always been a fan of Kelly Wearstler.

Her style is very bold and textured and, of course, Zaha Hadid was a truly inspirational woman who pushed the boundaries of architecture.

What would be a dream project/design for you to work on?

I would love to get my teeth into a five-star boutique hotel. I can envision each room having individuality and the reception, restaurant and lobby having a calm elegant quality about them.

I would create a haven that you would want to escape to, to relax.