British interior designer Hollie Bowden is a self-described “minimal maximalist.” Her pared-back, contemporary interiors are enlivened by one-off objets and stand-out pieces of furniture that won’t have been seen anywhere else. “Sourcing unusual, diverse pieces that hopefully no one has ever seen before is very important to me,” she explains. “It’s partly about great objects, but I especially love how they make exquisitely detailed spaces so richly textured. I hope my projects look well-traveled and unique rather than ‘interior designed’ as a result.”
This summer, admirers of Hollie’s singular aesthetic will be able to shop her curious collection of finds as she opens The Gallery on Calvert Avenue. The appointment-only space—which is next door to her Shoreditch design studio—will give shoppers a rare glimpse into her magpie mind.
“I am very intuitive,” says Hollie of her approach. “Sourcing off-beat and theatrical pieces has been part of what I’ve been doing for so many years, so I’m constantly on the hunt for anything and everything.” As a result, The Gallery is full of serendipitous finds, most of which can be described as monochromatic, sculptural, primitive, or patinated. “The collection is highly eclectic,” explains Hollie, “but it feels that everything fits and works very well together.”
“When shopping for antiques, I never have something specific in mind,” Hollie explains. “It just doesn’t really work that way. I once wanted to find a lamp and ended up coming home with ten chairs which is part of the fun of sourcing—coming back with the unexpected.”
Her hunting grounds are limitless. “Sourcing ‘objets’ and furniture is a constant part of my life, so I’m on the hunt everywhere and anywhere. I love sourcing in the UK and on my travels abroad, in charity shops and local markets. I always try to tie in a sourcing trip when I’m away. Les Puces, in Paris, is my ultimate favorite flea market.”
Like most astute hunters, Hollie forms an instant bond with the pieces she selects. “It’s incredibly hard to part with objects I’ve collected, as there is such sentimental value in each piece,” she says. “I recently parted ways with a ceramic walrus which I found in Mexico many years ago. I love it but it’s gone to a great home which makes parting ways more bearable.”
Whether shoppers come away with a coveted design classic or a shapely marine mammal, the intention is for each piece to add a unique richness to your home.
To book an appointment at The Gallery, contact Hollie Bowden.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation