Cocoon | Ali Heath

Intro:                Welcome to the one and only interior design book podcast, Decorating by the Book, hosted by Suzy Chase from her dining room table in New York City. Join Suzy for conversations about the latest and greatest interior design books with the authors who wrote them.

Ali Heath:         My name is Ali Heath. I work as a freelance writer, stylist, designer and creative mentor, and my new book is called Cocoon, Creating Homes with Heart, which follows on from the first two Curate and Create.

Suzy Chase:       Here it is the third book in your trilogy. First was Curate, second was Create, and now Cocoon, a masterclass on how to create our home sanctuary that focuses on the human touch. So chat a little bit about that concept.

Ali Heath:         Well, this time I really wanted to write a book that was focused much more on the human touch and the whole notion of home as a sanctuary. My first two books were focused much more on the visual and how to curate styles or to create a look. I just got to the stage where, and I think the same for many people, our world is feeling ever more fast paced and a slightly crazy, and I think we're all desperately craving and needing our homes to feel more personal and definitely more nurturing. So for me, the idea of cocooning was very much about trying to create an antidote to the speed of the modern world. And I think just simply by listening a bit more to our hearts and balancing those decisions between head and heart, it really can sort of help you transform and heighten the experience you have of your home and how that makes you feel.

Suzy Chase:       So what are some hallmarks of a cocooning home?

Ali Heath:         For me, primarily it is the sort of the one place that for you should feel like your safe harbor, so to speak, the place where you are loved, you give love, and where you feel really comfortable to expand your own horizons. I think home should really be the place that you are able to sort think creatively and to feel curious about life. And I think if you feel comfortable in your space that happens. I think the house is never just about four walls and formulaic decoration. It has to be somewhere that nurtures you, feels like an escape and makes you feel alive.

Suzy Chase:       The idea of home as our temple rings so true for you, you've lived in your family home for nearly 25 years and you say it's a space that speaks to your heart where you feel connected to your family, and I love this and where we can all be ourselves without worry or judgment. So talk a little bit about that one.

Ali Heath:         I think it's just so important. I think we never intended to stay in this house for 23 years. We found it by chance. It's a very old Georgian house. It was built in 1750 in the heart of a little town called Fareham in the south of England, and it felt very serendipitous when we found it. We were quite lucky to get it and it hasn't got a huge garden. We've got a really pretty walled courtyard garden, which when the kids were little I think we sort of thought that we would move on. But actually the house has kept evolving with us and for me it's home has always been about wanting to encourage a really sociable atmosphere. I wanted the kids to feel that they could bring their friends home. We're quite sociable as a couple, so it's always been a house where we wanted to have people come and gather, but more importantly it was a space where everyone in the family can kind of speak their truth.

                        We're all brutally honest with each other. I think we've always encouraged the kids to be who they are and celebrate that and to kind of do what they want in life. If home is somewhere that nurtures those emotions, then hopefully it's somewhere that they keep wanting to come back to. Like we were saying earlier about Grace is in London now Arch at Union Cardiff and they get excited about coming home. And for me as a parent, that's everything. And it's quite fun now with myself and my husband that actually the spirit of home is changing again and what that means for us as a couple. So yeah, it is definitely somewhere that speaks to our heart. Whether we'll ever move, I don't know, but we're very happy here and I think that is everything, isn't it?

Suzy Chase:       It is. It's funny because our son is in his first year of college and we're picking him up next week and we thought when he goes, we're moving, we're going to get a farmhouse, a rural something on a lake. But then we realized he loves this house, he loves coming home from college, this is his childhood home. And now we're kind of pausing for a minute.

Ali Heath:         Yeah, I really get that our kids are the same. They can't imagine not living here. So I think it's really good to take your time and to make those decisions. It has to be right for all of you, doesn't it?

Suzy Chase:       Yeah,

Ali Heath:         It's a big one. It's a big one when you've been where you've been for a while, but yours looks very lovely looking at your background behind.

Suzy Chase:       So with the glossy home magazines and social media, I know I tend to play into the idea of what a home should look like. So what's your design approach when it comes to that?

Ali Heath:         I think that's a really common thing that most people do and we are surrounded by such a visual interiors industry that were kind of programmed to think about how a home looks first and foremost. But for me, when I'm working with clients, I always try and get them to flip that question rather than sort of coming to me and asking for advice on how their homes should look. I always ask initially how they want them to feel and it's a really simple twist, but I think if you can articulate in a few words how you want to live in that house and how you want that experience to be, it really helps with the design decisions fallouts, it stops people making decisions that are based on what they think other people should do or what trends dictates and they actually start listening to what they want.

Suzy Chase:       I love that because I feel like now with the dawn of Pinterest and Instagram, you almost feel like, wow, I am not doing this trend. I'm so far behind. But as you can see from me, I have everything I grew up with. I try not to go with the trends.

Ali Heath:         That's the best way I look at your artwork and I think there's probably a story behind each of those paintings. Yeah, that's me. Is that you? Yes. I love that. How gorgeous is that?

                        But it's so important and I think that's the other really key lesson that I think sometimes people always think they've got to throw out the olds and bring in the new when they listen to trends, which is really wrong because you end up parting with things that actually they do tell your story and they are what makes your home personal. And I think the other really big thing is we are privileged to speak to both of us, to speak to lots of people in the industry and I go on beautiful shoots to houses all the time, but there is definitely not a direct correlation between the size and value of someone's house and how that place feels. And I think if you can get one message across to people that take advice from people like us in the industry, it is to realize that because I think you can feel quite intimidating. And for me, demystifying the idea of home and encouraging people to be brave of the decisions they make to trust what they're surrounding themselves with about what they like, not what the mags are saying this month you should be doing it just stops that whole paralysis of feeling dependent on somebody else's opinion rather than your own.

Suzy Chase:       So you have a full design manifesto where you tell us it starts with a reality check. And I'd like to highlight a few of them that intrigued me because as we talked about, my husband and I are considering moving out of New York City because our son is off at college. So these intrigued me. Number one, what stage of life is your home at? Talk about that one

Ali Heath:         In the book. I sort of split this down into three stages for you to consider when you're looking at design process. One is your house, is it at the stage? Is it a classic beauty? Is it architecturally standing or is it a bit rough around the edges or is it in need of a total overhaul? And I think depending on where you are, it's really good to look to where the house is at itself because it will guide your decisions. If it's a classic beauty, often less it's more because architecturally the bones will be really strong and it will encourage you to maybe spend your money on investing in a few really beautiful pieces, but you've got space for the bones of the house to do some of the work for you. It is a bit rough around the ages, which is my favorite. I think that actually perfection is not a reality.

                        We all show beautiful pictures on Instagram and the shoots we create for magazines, but the reality is all of our homes have got stacks going on behind the scenes behind my Mac here once talking to you, we've all got it. And actually that makes a house feel comfortable if it is a bit rough, you sort of know that actually your budget, you can kind of work out a time kind of what you want to improve and when and the pressure is less. And whereas if you are in need of a complete overhaul, you have to think wisely because that your financial considerations around that are going to really depend on how much you can do. And that's when it comes back to me of if you are in need of a real overhaul, just be considered and don't rush because I think when we rush, we buy things that are often cheaper, don't last, and you end up having to repeat the cycle.

                        Whereas if you accept that your house is in a bit of a pickle and everything needs renovating, just choose the rooms and work through methodically, but plan big at the beginning. If you plan your sort of dream house and then are sensible about how you prioritize that, you will get to the end and you'll get the projects that you've always hoped for. Whereas if you rush to have the perfect house in three months, that probably isn't going to come in on budget and emotionally it probably won't sort of feel as you answered it to. And again, it's a question that people don't really ask themselves. They don't actually take the time to sit down and think about the stage their house is at. But it's a really important one when you're considering where you're going to spend your money.

Suzy Chase:       So the second one is surround sounds. What does that mean?

Ali Heath:         Well that for me is about again, sort of going back to sort of how your space makes you feel like you are probably similar if you live in the middle of New York, we live in the middle of our town and there are traffic noises. We have the singing going on in the local creative arts center. You hear people walking by if those things are going to drive you crazy. Then at the sort of the start of a project, it was probably a really good idea to think about windows and insulation and if you want to block those noises off. Whereas if those noises are things, if you think about them, the creeks and the houses, the sound of squeaky doors, the floorboards actually I love all of that. I think it adds character. So I don't have a big need to change any of those things. Or if you want to bring nature in and you know that you want bigger windows to hear what's going on with birds and things outside, they're all decisions that I think will impact on how you connect emotionally with your space and what will either bring joy or annoy you. So it just helps to tune into those at the beginning.

Suzy Chase:       It is funny, we live in the middle of New York City basically, and our kid said that he can't sleep when it's really quiet.

Ali Heath:         Oh yes. So funny. I really get, we went on holiday, went to France the complete remote farmhouse thinking that we were going to move from buzzy town life to this rural ideal and all of us came back saying we really don't want to live remotely. It's funny, isn't it? It is funny. I really miss all the hub hub. I did miss hearing the noises that go with living in a busier place. Yeah, it's funny.

Suzy Chase:       So the next one is blurring of spaces. What is this about?

Ali Heath:         As the years have gone by, I think the press have become much better at speaking about this. And for me this is a really big consideration when working with clients on design projects is that how can you use each room to give you the maximum benefit for your life in those spaces? So the ability to choose a dining room as a home office, but you can pack it all away in the evening and then it feel like a really comfortable calm space to enjoy supper. I've seen lots of guest bedrooms where a formal bed has been replaced and great big, beautiful ottoman put in the center of the room, which doubles as a bed for guests staying over, but then those rooms are converted into library spaces, things like that. It's just considering how you can, rather than having a room that only is only used a couple of times a year, how can you switch that so you use it every day but still make it feel welcoming for other people to come to the house. And then just little things like we've all probably got spaces in somewhere in the house, whether it's a nook on Thelan or a little space in the kitchen to tuck in another armchair. Just places that you can kind of curl up and enjoy some private moments away from everyone when space is more limited, but you're bringing that comfort element back into your house.

Suzy Chase:       So you feature Betty Soldi's creative Florentine studio and in the intro section you focus in on light. Tell me about Betty and her artistic retreat. It's one of the many terrific interviews in this book.

Ali Heath:         Oh, thank you so much. It was brilliant. Going to see her, we traveled to Flo to shoot her in a studio space and I'd connected with her on Instagram was sort of drawn to her creative flair. She trains officially as a design and visual in design and visual communication. She was born in Florence to a firework family. So she sort of took on the Bauhaus principles of architectural script, but she's then sort of overlaid her own very fluid arty renaissance style. On top of that it feels like she calls it creating fireworks with Inc. And it does really feel like that when you're with her words come alive and she works with lots of brands and holds workshops now from where she is in Florence. But the actual space itself is in a very beautiful 17th century walled garden. And the studio is in an old limine where they used lemons were very revert back in that period and they would keep the lemons inside and then take the architectural detail of a normal interior onto the exterior of the building.

                        So you've got these wonderful sort of beautiful sculptural facades around the doors and then she has a very long length of old, really old glazed doors that open up onto this garden and you're raised above street level. So again, you're a quiet quarter of Florence, but you've still got all the beeping of the cars and work and working and all of that gorgeous sort of buzz and life that comes with Italy. And then set off against this completely tranquil garden, which is full of old historical statues and fountains and urns and sort of very quiet little corners where you can sit and literally look up to the stars as the day draws in. I mean it is totally magical and the smells, I mean she's surrounded by roses and jasmine, so it is a complete his on your senses. And I think for her, she moved from her work from her home, which is just around the corner, which is very dark.

                        So that element of light has just completely uplifted and changed the way she works. It was a real lovely quote she said to me when I was with her, she, to get lost here is to find yourself and your thoughts. And I just thought that was charming because that's so true, isn't it? I think if you are in a space that conjuress creativity and allows you to breathe, which clearly there you can, she's kind of created that sanctuary for herself but also for lots of the people that visit her professionally. So it it's very magical.

Suzy Chase:       I know this is going to sound weird sometimes I read books like your book and I immediately thought, oh, she could be my friend just by looking. Oh, I love that. And people's interiors. Oh my gosh, we would have so much to talk about. Isn't that weird?

Ali Heath:         Yeah, it's so true. I love that. I think we could talk interiors for a long time. I think it would be fun. I think that's the thing, isn't it? I think you have friends who are your gorgeous lifelong friends. Interiors is not necessarily their thing. See, when you connect with people professionally who are passionate about what they do, it just brings this whole rich full cycle, doesn't it? And I've had that with the books that I've met so many beautiful people that I've connected with because of the books that that's a gift. I think

Suzy Chase:       Your mantra is, home is not a place, it's a feeling. Soulful, timeless, and non erasable. I love that you have some clever tips for how to create a home. We never want to leave. A few are bathrooms should feel reviving, not clinical.

Ali Heath:         Invest your money in the best flooring you can. I think if you've got natural underfoot, it will always feel more luxurious and inviting to walk into. I always suggest to clients that they choose the best taps and fixtures that they can afford at that moment in time. Because every time you touch that dial as you turn the shower on or twist a tap or pull a tap, if that mechanism is a beautiful one, you will appreciate it every time you touch it and use that. I always suggest to layer in lighting, really think about lighting and treat it almost as one of your living areas. Bathrooms typically sort of have the really harsh, horrible spotlights coming down from the ceiling, which are great for certain tasks, things that you need to do. But introduce beautiful wall lights introduced hanging pendants. Think about if you've got the space to put a chandelier in because it will add softness and so much atmosphere to a room.

                        And then the two other things that I love to do is never tile a bathroom in its entirety. Always introduce paint and wallpaper because it will make it feel cozy, not sterile. So I always put artwork in the bathroom, don't worry about the steam. I've never had an issue and always add decorative mirrors. I think mixing cool modern bathroom suite with a beautiful antique mirror looks gorgeous. That mix of old and new, if you can just try and look the beautiful accessories to store toiletries when everything feels clinical, it definitely destroys that element of creativity and sort of passion for being in a space. So I think the more you can make it inviting and more like your sitting room, that really helps

Suzy Chase:       God. The steam. When I was growing up, my mom made me crack the door in the bathroom when I took a shower because she had the cutest wallpaper. It was so annoying. Every time if I closed it, she'd say crack the door.

Ali Heath:         That's funny. These things stay forever, don't they? The yes.

Suzy Chase:       You also tell us to keep spaces intimate. Now what exactly does that mean?

Ali Heath:         Just try and make them as welcoming as you possibly can. Plump sofas, cozy arm chairs, piles of blankets for people to pick up. Lay your beds with lovely textiles, make them inviting. Make every space somewhere where you'd want to hunker down gardens this time of year as well. Gardens are really good ones to think about because we've often all got outdoor furniture going on. But again, sort of the same principles with textiles. Layer them so they feel cozy spaces and dress. I'm a real fan of a tablecloth and a napkin. I love that. And I think that whole resurgence has really come back to the fore. So I sort of had those to hand in the summer. I think it makes general, normal everyday experiences really joyful. It's about those little finishing touches with not much effort.

Suzy Chase:       Okay, so you tell us to close our eyes. Talk a bit about that

Ali Heath:         Probably sounds a bit strange, but again, because we're so stimulated by the visual in every aspect of our lives, we've kind of got media coming at us from every angle. I think sometimes we forget what it is to actually into our senses and to really think about what's moving us emotionally. So when you shut your eyes and you're in a space, your space, somebody else's space, you really start tuning into how that home smells, how it feels, again, what noises you can hear, but more importantly touch. This sounds a really weird one, but I get them to test up their feet on surfaces and their hands on countertops before we make a decision on materials because again, that's really important for me. It's about disconnecting short term with your visual to enable you to reconnect. It has the ability to really transform the home

Suzy Chase:       And then from over consumption to a reality check. Now what is that?

Ali Heath:         We're all guilty of it and over the years I have been as well. But I think our culture, it is become, we've become greedy. Too much is never enough. We're always craving the next thing, the new thing, the latest look. It is back to trends, but all of that has led to us all over consuming at various stages of our life. When you slow down a little bit and you become more content with what you have, and I think that is an age thing. I think you hit a point where A, you can't get as much into your house anymore, but also you actually just want beautiful things around you. You don't want to keep filling it with nonsense. I think when you start to calm those cravings, your head stops demanding bigger and better and you actually appreciate what you have and then subsequently become more discerning about what you introduce.

Suzy Chase:       Finally, I love a good list and in the back of the book you have a list called Things I Love. Tell me about a couple of the books that have influenced your idea of home.

Ali Heath:         I read when it was really interesting when I was writing this and researching, I actually read quite a few architecture, but I can highly recommend Peter, I'm going to pronounce this incorrectly. Peter Sumter, his book Atmospheres and the Architect Han, I really probably am pronouncing it incorrectly, so apologies to them. I have, he's written several books, but the Thinking Hands and the Poetics of Space by Gaston Blanchard all really appealed to me. They didn't think like architects. They had the ability, as I read their books, to challenge how you connect with emotion and imagination and not just the visual. And I think for me, the imagination thing is a really important thing as kids, we have it as adults, we lose it. They've brought all that back to the four for me. And my other favorites are always Elsa Crawford. She's been one of my heroes for a long time and has always focused on human-centric spaces.

                        And Elsie de Wolfe and actress, who you, I'm sure will know really well her book, I've got an original first edition, her book, the House in Good Taste. I've read that for years. And again, I revisited it when I wrote this book and those values and the things that she considered. She was born in 1865 and I think it's always good to look back, look at the present and look forwards. I think it really helps you be more considered with how you approach your own spaces. So I can highly recommend all of those. So where can we find you on the web and social media? My website is Ali Heath.co.uk and my Instagram is Ali Heath UK and I'm also on Substack Dunno, do you guys use Substack in the States?

Suzy Chase:       Yeah, I'm on Substack too.

Ali Heath:         Oh, you okay. I need to follow you then. I didn't realize that. Mine is For The Curious, but the actual handle is ali heath.substack.com. I look forward to following you on that.

Suzy Chase:       Yay. So you've reminded us that home is where the heart is. Thanks so much, Ali, for coming on the show.

Ali Heath:         Thank you, Suzy. It's been an absolute delight to chat with you and I'm very grateful. Thank you.

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