THE JOURNAL
JAMES MACKIE
Formerly an art expert at Sotheby’s and Bonhams, Mackie moved into the interiors world in 2020. He is based in Oxfordshire and London.
What have you become known for? I was very keen at the outset to occupy that space between the art and design worlds, and people have really responded to that. Instead of being a bit intimidated by the idea of
putting a collection together, it’s so integrated into my process that I think it does fill a bit of a niche.
What inspires you? The aesthetic of the English country house really got under my skin, from my early teens or even before, so a lot of what inspires me comes from there. And then all those years working with modern art are a counterpoint to that. Where I’ve ended up is a redacted version of the English country house – I don’t really like frills or chintz!
HARRIET SALE
West London-based Harriet Sale founded her studio (now a team of two) in 2021.
Previously she had worked for interior designer Penny Morrison on global projects, as well as designing products for Morrison’s accessories collections.
What have you become known for? I am very proud that all our testimonials have recognised our efficient processes and business integrity, alongside the aesthetics! I think it’s vital that the whole experience is exceptional, not just the creative side.
What inspires you? Books, art, people, emotions – I think it’s all about creating a feeling. It’s such a joy meeting specialist craftspeople who live and breathe their work. I’m also inspired by more environmentally friendly innovations, such as new materials and smarter ways to work with old materials.
What’s the thread that runs through every scheme, regardless of the aesthetic? I love creating character with colour and pattern, but I think good proportions are integral to making a room work and feel balanced. When the foundations are right, we can then make them sing with individuality, charm and a little je ne sais quoi!
Is there any business advice you wish you’d known when you started out? Build a cushion so you can ride the waves of business more comfortably!
What are you working on at the moment? A central London mews house, and a Grade-II listed country house.
What are the details that matter the most to you in your work? Making sure that every room is idiosyncratic and extremely comfortable. You must always have somewhere to put your drink down!
What’s your latest discovery at the Design Centre? Zak + Fox at George Spencer Designs.
TOLA OJUOLAPE
Having founded her practice in 2020, Tola Ojuolape broke through when she unveiled her work at the Africa Centre, a cultural hub in London’s Southwark, which opened to acclaim in 2022. She works with a team of three, overseeing the studio’s day-to-day work and creative projects.
What inspires you? Culture, travel and art are the pillars I draw from, and I seek to translate them into my work through a contemporary lens.
What’s the thread that runs through every scheme, regardless of the aesthetic? A love for materiality and culturally inspired aesthetics are prevalent in my work. And my personal love for colour, translated in a refined and contemporary manner.
Is there any business advice you wish you’d known when you started out? I think designers should be encouraged to be more financially astute and be emboldened and confident to charge their full worth when costing.
What projects do you have coming up? I am in talks to do projects on the African continent, which is very exciting as many parts of the continent provide visual inspiration for some of my work.
What’s your latest discovery at the Design Centre? While they not are not new, Pierre Frey, Lelièvre Paris and Dedar are my favourite fabric showrooms, and I always find a gem there.
What are the details that matter the most to you in your work? What doesn’t matter? More than anything, I want to be really involved in an absolutely granular way, so I obsess about everything, really, from thinking about room layouts to choosing lampshades. Having worked in a big corporate environment, I like the idea of doing something that I have autonomy over.
What’s your latest discovery at the Design Centre? I thought Collier Webb’s collection of wireless portable table lamps were amazing when I last visited.
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