Finding Balance and Peace in the Natural Beauty With House of Grey

Louisa Grey Uses Natural Imperfections and Eco-Friendly Materials to Create Masterful Designs

In The Neighbourhood Exhibition - Grey House - Photographer: Rory Gardiner

Name:
House of Grey
Photography:
Courtesy of House of Grey
Words:
Marissa Stempien

For over 20 years, Louisa Grey of House of Grey has been perfecting her hand at interior design. Whether for residential or commercial properties, she has created a niche aesthetic through the use of locally-sourced, sustainable, and natural materials to bring the organic imperfections of nature indoors. Her work blends form and function, allowing businesses and homeowners the opportunity to grow and flourish in the space, making it their own as it evolves with them.

House of Grey designs to stimulate the senses beyond the physical beauty of the space. It’s meant as a reprieve from the stresses of everyday life, a harmonious space where one can find balance, wellness, and comfort. For Louisa, the interiors she creates are about changing the way that we design, and if possible, using those new and unexpected elements to allow us to appreciate the natural beauty of the environment within the space, be it visually, mentally, or emotionally. We spoke with her about how she found her place in environmentally-friendly design and how she works towards remodeling the design industry as a whole.

VISUAL PLEASURE Magazine: What is the story behind the start of House of Grey? How did you initially found your eponymous studio?

Louisa Grey: My parents are incredibly creative and met at art college in the ’60s. They have always encouraged me to think differently.

My father was an architect and builder for many years. I would watch in awe whilst he spent time crafting buildings and spaces into well-thought-out beauty. His eye for detail and craftsmanship are elements I have learned and use in my work today.

My mother was a successful international knitwear designer and mother. I watched her juggle being a businesswoman and a mother, and that impacted me positively. I respect the idea that we learn from our elders so I have also used my parents as my mentors.

I was fortunate in that my parents have a visionary circle of friends, and were all working within the interior industry. And so, I began as an assistant to a designer and then embraced it as a career.

The turning point for House of Grey was that I could not find a creatively fulfilling job. What I did with that juncture of my life was decide to create a company that I could work for. This has allowed me to make lifestyle choices for myself which in turn has made me extremely happy.

You use locally-sourced, natural, and sustainable materials whenever possible in your designs —why is it so important to you to use these types of materials in your work?

I have always been surprised with the amount of waste in design, and this has required thought and planning so House of Grey has applied that process for our clients. This flows through all of our projects from recycling as many building materials on-site as possible (electrical cabling, copper pipes), to using reclaim companies to pick original wood flooring up. We work with our contractor to ensure this is carried through to our standard.

With all elements of our business, we are extremely sustainably conscious.

This observation, understanding, and personal passion of how we could change interior design as a small design business, was the seed that has generated over the years. We view ourselves as a creative tribe and that we are stronger with selected creative partners, local craftsmen, artists, and small suppliers than alone.

We design spaces that enhance and improve the lives and human health of our clients, through improved air quality, reduced VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). We look at the long term impact of the materials that we allow into our homes and workspaces and how they affect our internal and external environment in the long term. When you understand the damage of synthetic materials to our planet, it is devastating, with the textile industry responsible for 10 percent of annual global carbon emissions. This equates to more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

As an innovative interior design studio, we need to demonstrate and lead the change. House of Grey is committed to environmental sustainability. We choose to select cradle-to-cradle certified or Greenguard certificated pieces. These certifications allow us to identify interior products and materials with low chemical emissions and allow us to work transparently with our clients.

We partner with Ekkist who is part of the Well Building Standard who supports the studio by continually developing the materials and specifications library. This library is the starting point for all of our projects to create space developed from the most sustainable and low-impact materials.

House of Grey Studio | Showroom - Photographer: Rory Gardiner

“The clutter that we have all become accustomed to is not necessary. It visually over loads us on a daily basis. It is important that we take time to consider the pieces we surround ourselves with. The emphasis on life necessities as this will improve the flow of communication, increasing productivity and mentality. ”

— Louisa Grey

Frama X House of Grey 'Senses' for 3 Days of Design, Copenhagen 2019 - Photography: Rory Gardiner

Do you feel that you’re better able to express yourself creatively when you use these types of eco-conscious and natural elements in your designs?

With my background in weaving, I have always found myself drawn to natural yarns and the imperfect qualities they have. Visual layering through warm, raw, organic textures comes naturally through instinct. This creative expression, developed through experience and observation, has led to gratitude for the Earth and the value it brings to us all. We as humans are part of a smaller universe and human bodies are innately programmed to follow Earth’s rhythms.

Designing holistic spaces at House of Grey allows us to be ethical, considerate, and work with integrity in our day-to-day and that is a priority for me as the founder and owner of a business.

What aesthetic do you feel is a cornerstone of your design element?

Our holistic approach is founded upon the idea of stimulating the senses, whether that be visually or mentally, to lead us to a more contented being. There is no substitute for our sense of touch, perhaps the most important of our senses for wellbeing, or smell, perhaps the most underrated. Our surroundings should embody a real feeling of comfort that is meaningful to us, and that lasts. Something you can build, that has real value. A retreat that gives you pleasure every day. Using our five senses to design spaces means that when you are in one of our spaces it is a multi-layered experience.

It seems that you lean toward a minimalist and/or very clean design, lots of clean lines and muted colors—how would you describe the style of House of Grey?

Our concept is rooted in simplicity and restorative value within spaces, and we design consciously for wellness in our lives. We create spaces that function as a living respite and return us to a sense of balance. This brings an elevated sense of contentment which in turn gives us more energy and more time through good design. A deeper profound experience of the present moment.

We tend to fuse simplicity with the intrinsic uniqueness of imperfections created by natural materials and objects that have stood the test of time. We believe in embracing these imperfections as a grounding presence and a source of visual stimulation beyond clean lines and immaculate forms.

We create spaces that are as nourishing as they are visually pleasing, both calming and energizing, balancing function with form. We ensure we create places that stand the test of time not only due to the quality of the materials used but by designing a space that evolves with you as you use it.

The clutter that we have all become accustomed to is not necessary. It visually overloads us on a daily basis. It is important that we take time to consider the pieces we surround ourselves with. The emphasis on life necessities, as this will improve the flow of communication, increasing productivity, and mentality.

In our visually and overstimulated world, we bring a sense of calm at the end of a busy day. Our ethos is we design quiet, understand luxury.

Deidre Dyson - The Looking Glass Collection - Production and Styling - Photographer: Jake Curtis

“Personally living life at a fast pace made me reassess the importance of balance and the feeling of calm and the need to be in a place that you can fully rest your body and mind at the end of each day giving a deeper profound experience of the present moment. ”

— Louisa Grey

House of Grey works on everything from residential projects to exhibition design for major brands, which are your favorite types of projects to work on, and why?

Our work crosses over a variety of creative platforms from installations, to interior styling. The majority of our projects are however focused on residential interior design.

I founded House of Grey knowing there was a need for change on how we were living and building our home environments.

The habitual processes in the design building industry that have been in place are unsustainable. The impact of what we choose to surround ourselves with on a human health level and mental state of mind needs to evolve. This, of course, will take time but we see the long term benefits as all the studio members share the philosophy.

Do you feel that you can express yourself more creatively with one than another? Do you think about their function first and foremost or does the project originate from a creative space?

When we work with clients for photographic shoots there is a wonderful creative process which starts with viewing the collection which is to be photographed, this is our starting point. We then, as a studio, pull together ideas and a starting point to move forward from.

We view each project with no boundaries even when we have budget restraints. We release the limitations that can be set in one’s mind. The challenge brings momentum to the visuals as it encourages you to think laterally and suggest new concepts which may not have come to light without the confines.

What are some of the biggest differences you have to think about or remember when working within these varying spaces?

Different spaces require alternative mindsets and thought applications.

When we are designing a client’s personal space there is certainly attention to detail within the studio physiologically viewing the impact of the environment on our client.

The installations and photographic shoots derive from a different space. We generally will have a brief to work from but we view it from a standpoint of how the client would like the visuals to be received and the framing of the collection being launched.

How do you find a balance between form and function for your client while also designing a beautiful and creative space?

At House of Grey, function and the quiet, understated luxury aesthetic go hand-in-hand, as we design spaces that function as a living respite, and return us to a sense of balance.

We always ask our clients how they want to feel in their space as this is extremely important. The home provides a foundation for our client’s lives and is reflective of the vibrations they generate during the day and emulate to people they connect with. This element is fundamental in how we approach each project as every person is unique and has varying ways they wish to live.

Personally living life at a fast pace made me reassess the importance of balance and the feeling of calm and the need to be in a place that you can fully rest your body and mind at the end of each day, giving a deeper profound experience of the present moment.