Summer 2019

44 Ana Engelhorn Interior Design is a London-based design firm that brings together the old and the new to create interesting, fresh and unusual interiors for residential and commercial properties. Following the firm’s recognition in the 2019 Leading Designers programme, we sat down with Ana Engelhorn to find out more about her inspiration and design ethos. Where some designers embrace the pursuit of perfection, Ana sees inspiration in the famed Japanese ‘Wabi-Sabi’ aesthetic, realising that perfection can be found anywhere and in the most mundane of things. This is rather an unusual outlook for someone working in the luxury sphere, where grandiosity, opulence and the avant-garde reign supreme, with alternative perspectives seen as lacking or falling short. One only needs to look at Ana’s work to appreciate it and understand that a very special talent indeed has nurtured the spaces with a delicate eye for form, lines and function. Ultimately, Ana’s work is all about bringing a sense of authenticity and texture to the forefront, instead of dressing it up and disguising it in rich fabrics and Achieving Perfection Through Imperfection bombastic colour. Ana is keen to explain this philosophy in more detail. “Inspired by wabi-sabi, we take a perfectly imperfect approach to bring out a room’s innate authenticity. Celebrating the imperfections found in natural building materials and furniture in its raw state, we especially love working with objects that have a story to tell, which show their beauty with age. Whether the space is old or new, we delight in bringing antiques together with stunning modern pieces. Previously, we worked with private homeowners and hotels across Continental Europe – now I have moved the business to London and look forward to working with new private and commercial clients here in the UK”. Jun19150