Earthy neutrals offset with the occasional streak of leopard print, London-based interiors tastemaker Abigail Ahern offers all the finishing touches needed to make a house a seriously stylish home.
If you’re after proof, you need only check out the tour of her Dalston townhouse, live on The Standard’s own Homes & Property section.
There, the designer reveals the evolution of her style, including how she embraced the rich, dark colours that have become her hallmark. Safe to say, if you’re a fan of maximalism or looking for a way to bring cosiness into your nest this season, it makes an inspiring read.
Think stone and ceramic vases filled with hyper-realistic faux stems, arty sculptures punctuating the mantlepiece, and tactile textures in the form of rugs, blankets and shaggy pillows, all gently lit in the warm glow of multiple table lamps.
It's not just knick-knacks either, there's plenty of covetable furniture to lust over too: bold, structurally interesting pieces that could work wonderfully in your existing set-up, if you embrace Ahern’s wise words: “When you go off-piste, magical things can happen.”
If you’re done with Scandi whites and looking for a way to introduce a bit of mystery into your home, we’ve rounded up the pieces you can shop from Ahern’s house tour below. We’ve included alternatives where an exact match couldn’t be found and suggested pieces that emulate the designer’s style to get the look for less.
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Abigail Ahern Karnata Carved Console
Made from intricately carved mango wood, this console may sit on the side of the room, but it's destined to be the star of the show. Style it like Ahern against large-scale artwork and topped with a statement lamp and sculptural vases.
Buy now £880.00, Abigail Ahern
Classic Living Zalia 120cm Solid Wood Console Table
Add texture without fluff to hallways and living rooms with this carved console table, made from mango wood. If the natural finish doesn't do it for you, you could add a white wash over the top or paint it an entirely different colour.
Buy now £459.99, Wayfair
DUSK Hampshire 3 Seater Sofa - Muted Gold
It's not an exact copy for Ahern's living room sofa, but as furniture doppelgangers go, Dusk's muted gold three-seater makes a convinicing proposition. It comes assembled, delivered to the room of your choice.
Buy now £629.00, DUSK
Abigail Ahern Natalia Artificial Bouquet
Now, I know - £150 is a lot to spend on a bunch of flowers. But this hyper-realistic bunch from Abigail Ahern will last all winter long and for many more to come, so the cost-per-use is fantastic value. With deep, faded pinks, olive and mossy green hues amongst the mix of silhouettes, it's a no-fuss way to breathe life into a lonely corner.
Buy now £140.00, Abigail Ahern
Abigail Ahern Barmount Textured Cushion
In her house tour, the designer is sitting on a mustard-coloured couch with her dog Myrtle by her side. The rest of the space is taken up by an extremely shaggy cushion that has the texture of a Highland cow.
While you won't find an exact match of it online, Ahern's site has plenty of textured cushions to emulate the look, such as this oat-coloured Barmount design. Made with lengthy wool tufts, it's an easy way to update beds, chairs and sofas.
Buy now £50.00, Abigail Ahern
Abigail Ahern Jensen Textured Cushion, Natural
Unapologetically bold, this wool and cotton cushion is made for cuddling without leaving you feeling sweaty or smothered. It's removeable too, so easy to clean and keep smelling fresh.
Buy now £60.00, Abigail Ahern
Atkin & Thyme Aviator Armchair in Cotton Rug
With a mango wood frame wrapped in cosy cotton rug, this low-backed chair makes a worthy bedroom addition or extra seating for guests.
Buy now £543.20, Atkin & Thyme
Abigail Ahern Saskia Cream Faux Fur Armchair
Never underestimate the transformative power of an accent chair. Ahern's uses sumptuously soft faux fur all over, with an oversized seat so you can nuzzle right in. The perfect refuge for rain-pelted days.
Buy now £1160.00, Abigail Ahern
Abigail Ahern Tampa Wool Rug
A very similar style to the rug spotted in Ahern's airy kitchen, this Tampa design uses simple yet bold patterns to offer a statement look that doesn't feel overwhelming.
Buy now £298.00, Abigail Ahern
Ruggable Cambria Ruby Rug
A jewel tone pairs beautifully with dark interiors, adding a sense of richness to your space. Give floors a lift with an antique-style covering - Ruggable has lots of aged-looking designs to choose from, including this Cambria in a ruby hue.
From £99.
Buy now £99.00, Ruggable
LE LABO Encens 9 Classic Candle 245g
It's all good and well making your home look like Abigail Ahern's, but if you want it to smell like it too, Le Labo is the fragrance house to hit. We spied the brand's Encens 9 candle, packed with rich frankincense and clove notes, artfully arranged on her coffee table.
Buy now £68.00, Selfridges
Abigail Ahern Whispers Canvas Art
Large-scale art, generally of the abstract variety, appears to play a huge role on Ahern's walls. We spotted this Whispers canvas above her carved console, the inky hues providing a stark backdrop to streaks of brilliant white.
Buy now £250.00, Abigail Ahern
Abigail Ahern Hearst Canvas Art
Big pieces of wall art can act as wallpaper, but add colour and texture without the commitment (or faff) of paste. Ahern's Hearst canvas mingles dark hues with sunset tones, including a streak of gold foil applique, ensuring its golden hour in whatever room it finds itself in.
Buy now £295.00, Abigail Ahern
H&M Extra-large stoneware vase
If there's one takeaway from Abigail Ahern's home is that the designer adores a good vase, both of the raw and glazed variety. H&M Home's collection ticks the sculptural box too - this stoneware beauty is the perfect case in point.
Buy now £34.99, H&M
Woolroom Wild and Wool Horse Wool Throw - Latte
Crafted from soft and cosy wool fibres, a statement blanket offers an easy update to tired sofas. This equestrian-themed one from Woolroom comes in soothing biscuit and cream colours.
Buy now £56.24, Woolroom
Abigail Ahern Pandora Portable Table Lamp, Honey
This adorable portable lamp is more of a piece of homeware than practical lighting, but the lack of wires means it's ideal for adding to dinner tables or beside the bed for a little dot of magic.
Buy now £24.50, Abigail Ahern
Pooky porcini table lamp
Best for: slick industrial chic
The chic lighting expert makes no secret that this design is inspired by fabulous fungi; its named after one of the tastiest varieties around. With Art Deco and industrial styling, the slim look is an understated look that will feel right at home in a dark corner or by the dining table.
Buy now £180.00, Pooky
M&S Ruffle Layer Jug
A fancy jug just won’t just make gloomy WFH days a bit brighter, but it can also stand in for a vase when you splash out on your next bunch of flowers. This one features ruffle details, adding to its appeal.
Buy now £25.00, M&S
M&S Reactive Glaze Ceramic Small Candle Holder
Giving an elegant antique vibe, this ceramic candlestick is perfect for dressing up dinner tables. The glazed finish gives it an aged look that will look even better when big light is off.
Buy now £7.50, M&S
OKA Themis Marble Bowl - Pale Grey
Even a simple fruit bowl can be a statement if you see things through an Ahern prism. OKA's footed marble bowl raises produce up onto a pedestal, making it ripe for picking.
Next has a budget-friendly version here.
Buy now £122.00, OKA
Anthropologie Marble Stone Coaster
A coaster this good can’t be reserved solely for drinks. Use it to accent your curated coffee table or somewhere to keep jewellery. The raised bobbin edge will stop small fiddly bits from rolling off.
Buy now £18.00, Anthropologie
