Interior designer Emily is the founder of the interior design studio Fantoush based in Edinburgh. She tells us about her eclectic style and her life-long passion for treasure hunting.
How would you describe your interior style?
First and foremost eclectic. I love mixing different styles and periods to create something that feels unique and curated. All of the projects that I work on are different. Sometimes the client wants a really contemporary and fun look, and some clients want something much more traditional. Our work is really client led but my own home is a mix. I have a lot of mid-century and contemporary lighting, mixed with antique pieces of furniture, antique Moroccan and Caucasian rugs, and lots of contemporary art.
How do you use antiques in your projects?
I think you need pieces that have lived, in order to bring a project to life. Our projects are always littered with antique and vintage items often paired with new pieces. For example, we often use antique dining tables with contemporary dining chairs, I love imagining all the stories a table has heard.
What do you love most about sourcing antiques?
The eternal thirst for the one! I was a born treasure hunter and I've been doing it since I could walk. My parents used to take me to this old market called the Den's Road Market in Dundee which was a mixture of total tat and some gems. There were a lot of days when you came home empty handed but when you struck gold it was pure joy and I just loved it (even if we all had to go in the bath when we got home to get rid of the smell of cigarettes and chip fat!) What makes sourcing antiques so special is that you find things that are utterly unique because handmade items can never be duplicated. These pieces bring soul to a space.
What does home mean to you?
I always say that a home should be like a physical autobiography of the people living there. Your home should tell your story, a space that supports the way you live. A well-designed home should acknowledge the occupant's habits and help make every day as simple as possible. When I travel, I always like to take something home with me, sometimes it's art, sometimes it's a locally made textile or ceramic piece, but our home is full of found items that are a little snapshot of a time and place in our lives.
Photography by Susie Lowe
