Design life: Creating a sanctuary for the mind
Q&A with product/ textile designer and author Helen James.
I studied textile design in the National College of Art and Design before moving to New York City in 1993 where I worked with Donna Karan for many years designing textiles. I moved back to Ireland in 2002 and had my own range of hand-printed silk accessories here which sold in many private boutiques and Harvey Nichols in the UK. In 2010, I returned to NYC and again to Donna Karan but this time as a design director in their homewares department. I then returned and worked with Avoca before starting with Dunnes Stores and launching the Considered range in 2014.
My days don’t tend to be typical but if I am working on Considered, I will be in the Dunnes head office, maybe working on a new textile design, or sending out colour dips, approving samples, travelling for inspiration, or meeting with suppliers.
For me, being creative means I’m constantly looking forward and moving on to the next thing, so the most exciting thing I’m working on is always the next thing, but I am very proud of my book, A Sense of Home, which was published by Hachette late last year. It is a guide to creating a personal space that truly reflects the personal and has recipes, design tips, and bath and beauty recipes. I also love my new furniture which has just landed in Dunnes Stores.
I would like to say simple but with a soul. I try to create things that are beautiful, functional, and that have a story.
I am constantly taking in information and processing. It can strike at any time; a flavour combination could inspire the scent of a candle; a chocolate wrapper could inspire a range of textiles – I’m constantly collecting and gathering.
My favourite trend is not a style but the movement towards mindfulness. I believe that since we have taken away monotonous tasks from our daily life, we have stolen our moments to quiet the mind. I think the growing awareness of mindfulness and meditation is a recognition that in our busy lives the brain needs rest and calm, so we can take care of our mental health.
That is a tough one as I have so many and none at all, in so far as I have many things I treasure, like a little ceramic pot my father made me with poppy heads on it (he passed away four years ago), to a pair of shoes given to me by my mother that were bought for her by my grandfather.
In the same breath, the truly precious things are not ‘things’ at all but the people in my life.
Fashion designer Dries Van Noten is such an inspiration to me — I recently watched his documentary on Netflix and it only further confirmed my love for him and his work. I also love fellow Belgian interior architect Axel Vervoordt and while their work may look very different at first glance, to me they share integrity, authenticity and passion.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than creating my own living space, my sanctuary from the world outside. In my dream, it’s a beautiful Georgian terrace, though not too large, with a large back garden where I grow apricot, fig, and plum trees, and I create a wild and beautiful border filled with roses, lavender, and poppies.
The interior is a collection of furniture and paintings that I’ve collected telling the story of my life so far, worn wooden surfaces and striped curtains with original floorboards.
Get to know yourself and what you love and follow that. Your home should ignite all your senses and be a truly personal space that does not slavishly follows trends.
dunnesstores.com/considered-by-helen-james/home/fcp-category/home
Instagram: @helenjamesdesign
Twitter: @hjamesdesign
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