My journey, gosh where do I start? I have always loved being creative and taking pride in creating lovely environments. Whether that be in showrooms, showcasing beautiful products, designing sets for photoshoots or someone’s home – it has always been a joy to take pride in creating something beautiful.

I studied Textiles at Loughborough University and fell in love with fabric. I was so interested in the manufacturing, the quality and then applying it into a space. I was very much a ‘mixed media’ student, which meant I worked with lots of different processes and different ways of working, which for me worked perfectly. Throughout my time at Loughborough, I also undertook work experience at Next, Joules and with a local Interior Designer – Window Hangups. All wonderful brands in their own right and I learnt so much. I was selected to present my work at New Designers, after completing my final major project, and this was where I met the wonderful team from Sanderson Design Group.

I got chatting and before I knew it, I was applying for a job in their Styling Team on the Travel Lodge WIFI (which trust me, was not reliable!!). This is where I started my career, firstly as a Styling Coordinator and then progressed into an Interior Stylist. My role involved marketing and launching new collections. I styled beautiful wallpapers and fabrics for photoshoots, designing entire room sets, sourcing all props and furniture, and collaborating with some truly amazing photographers, videographers and set builders. I also worked on showroom updates in New York, Chelsea Harbour, London and beautiful Paris. This role took me to incredible places, and I’ve been so fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented people in the industry.

Having had such a wonderful career as a Stylist, I then decided to take the leap and set up my own business. My brand Emily James, has allowed me to continue my love for Styling as well as Interior Design, creating interiors that lift your mood & your mind. Warm & honest design for real living. With Emily James, I really wanted to make a personal difference to someone's life – for me, this was creating a home that feels like their sanctuary and calm escape. What a joy it is, and what lovely people I have met so far, starting off as clients and are now wonderful friends.

I’m an absolute perfectionist, and my greatest joy is creating beautiful homes. I adore every part of the design process, from the initial concept to mood boarding (everyone who knows me knows I love a mood board), sourcing, planning, and installation. I love to delve into the psychology of your space and how you want it to feel. It’s so important that the design is right for you and reflects how you use and live in the space. I pride myself in designing warm, honest design for real living. No project is the same, it’s all designed around you – after all, it’s your home and no one knows it like you.

Thoroughly enjoy making corners feel beautiful; however, I also believe they need to be practical and functional. My home is very small with limited storage, so each corner is precious and displays many of mine and my husband’s collected pieces, including trinkets, vases and framed artwork. I would describe my approach as ‘lived in’, as I enjoy having all my favourite pieces around me, especially as my home is also my office and a source of inspiration for many of my designs. I want my clients to feel the same sense of comfort and warmth that my own home brings to me.

I think the key word for this is ‘considered’. When styling or dressing a space, I always think less is more. I allow space around my chosen pieces, giving them room to become focal points in their own right. I also think practically, I like to style in a functional way and only dress pieces that you will actually find in the space. It then looks effortless and as though it has already been there instead of staged for photography.

Considered use of fabrics and texture bring softness, depth and warmth. So, when your partner throws those scatter cushions off the bed remind them of this!! Soft furnishings in the form of upholstery, cushions, curtains, blinds and rugs all pull the scheme together. They have such an important role in creating tonal balance, reflecting light and creating a tactile environment that softens the mood and promotes calmness and warmth.

Oh what a ride. I am going to be completely honest with you, it has been hard work. Myself and my husband James have completed most of the work ourselves, so every waking moment has been paint brush in hand and coffee in the other – often tempting James with my famous completely over the top yogurt bowls. Our home, had become quite unloved. We were hoping to sell last year and had a rather stressful time attempting to move. Clearly, we were trying to do something that the universe was dragging us away from because the penny dropped last November and I turned to James and pitched him the renovation proposal.

Firstly, I want people to feel warmth. I want people to feel seen, heard and genuinely safe. These are all key words that I wrote down when I was thinking of my own home and what words define the meaning of a home to me. I want people to feel content and calm and enjoy the little moments. Life is a whirlwind and I want to do my bit in helping people navigate the day to day, so if that means coming home to a space where they feel relief and softness, well, I have done my job right.

Owning your style takes time and is so personal to you and your way of living. Effectively, your style is what you are drawn to. This could be a colour, texture, surface, shape or could be simply that you like it. Patience is key and the ability to grow and understand that your style can change and is often a reflection of who you are and how you want to feel in your space at the time. Don’t be afraid to throw a curve ball and adapt to something that you gravitate to even if its ‘not your style!

Soft furnishings are so important when it comes to creating a comfortable, lived in and cosy living space. They are easy to layer, add beautiful tonal variation and create depth and warmth to your room. I am always swapping and changing mine to align with the seasons as I find the way I use my living space changes and things such as cushions, throws and rugs are a lovely way to create additional moments and comfort when you deem necessary.

It was a joy selecting pieces from Gathered Living. It was so difficult not to just say ‘oh bring it all’ but I somehow don’t think it would all fit into my tiny cottage funnily enough! Anyway, for this photoshoot, I wanted to capture lived-in corners of my home, to show you all that you don’t have to live in a giant house to have a lovely home. I wanted to welcome you into a space that defines me as a designer yes, but also as a homemaker, someone who simply loves sitting in my home and enjoying the company of my cats and occasionally James (joking!!).