Olga Ashby: Our house is a reflection of our inner world
people • designers
Olga Ashby Interiors is a London based interior design studio established by Olga Ashby in 2014 to provide clients with a creative and professional interior design service. Olga’s international background gives her an understanding and appreciation of different cultures. Projects have included chalet in France, numerous private residences in London and Moscow, as well as projects for developers.
Interiors of Olga Ashby Interiors have been covered in some of the profession’s most prestigious magazines such as AD, Elle Decor and InStyle.
WEBSITE: olgaashby.com INSTAGRAM: @olgaashby
Words: designeers
September 2023
designeers
What inspired you to enter the interior design industry?
Olga ashby
I have always been sensitive in terms of beauty and even as a small child was constantly trying to decorate things, add an extra bow on a hat, paint some more flowers on the wallpapers and tie the curtains in the knots. I always was one of those kids who would spend an hour building a sand castle on a beach with face dead serious and using all the tools in the box. I was neither praised nor told off so it felt really natural to me. In high school I was dreaming about being a plastic surgeon to help people change their life through beauty, but after watching a documentary about plastic surgery going wrong I canceled my plans overnight, I couldn’t stand the thought of ruining someones life by my mistake so I went for interiors instead where the stakes were not so high.
designeers
How would you describe your style or aesthetic?
olga ashby
I would say my style is very natural and light, layered but not overdone, sometimes less is certainly more and even when I work with lots of little objects I still prefer to create something structural and architectural to dominate the scheme.
I love a moment of perfect imperfection, sometimes it is planned, sometimes it comes naturally. Normally working with the space I try to find its voice and develop the potential it already has, I don’t like bringing something hostile and unnatural just for the sake of a bold effect. My interiors are mostly eclectic, but in a very discreet way. The best compliment for me would be for a guest to not notice that the place was recently refurbished, I’m certainly after “it was always just like that” look.
designeers
How did you start building a portfolio when you had none?
olga ashby
It is difficult to find the first client if you don’t have your own or family property to start with so you have two options to begin your career path; First is to work in an established business where you can make mistakes, but someone else would pay for them. Second option is to try to put yourself out there, tell everyone you have graduated from design school and agree to style, assist with a current project or do anything design related.
Needless to say, I chose the second way, went out for weeks in a row speaking to every person I knew who could be potentially buying or renovating a property. It turned out that one of my friends had just signed up with an architect, but was ready to let me help with furniture and styling. This project was never photographed, but at least I was meeting people in a field and gained more confidence speaking about my work.
designeers
What do you think sets you apart from other interior designers in a crowded industry?
olga ashby
I’m actually not sure :) I’m trying not to compare myself to the others and certainly don’t want to say I do anything better than my colleagues. I only can say that I care about how my clients or guests would feel in this little world I’m creating for them. I want my projects to let clients see more, feel more and have something they never new they wanted, but now they can’t live without. I love working with strong personalities and paint their portraits using interior design tools as we all know our house is a reflection of our inner world.
“Space is just like a person that speaks to you. The view from the window, the shape of the building, the amount of natural light, some historical features, you have to consider it all.”
olga ashby
designeers
What is one piece of advice you would give new designers when dealing with clients?
olga ashby
Be patient.
When I had just started I struggled to understand why people can’t imagine things and see what works and doesn’t work in the space. People are just wired in a different way and that can’t be changed.
Most of interior designers have vision and colour sensitivity as main given talents which other people don’t poses.
It is like stamina or over flexibility when you have it you can’t understand why everyone can’t run a marathon or do splits and binds. There are tools to overcome the barrier, I normally use CGI to communicate.
designeers
Who or what inspires you when designing new spaces for clients?
olga ashby
It is a combination of clients identity and space which drives me. Interiors are certainly personal to me, it is always great to know what the person is passionate about, what their dreams are and consider it all while designing the project.
At the same time, space is just like a person speaks to you. The view from the window, the shape of the building, the amount of natural light, some historical features, you have to consider it all. I love staying in a place on my own for a bit to let my imagination run free and see what the space would like to show.
