Designer Donna Wilson is known for her colorful homewares and textile designs, and her husband Jon is a furniture designer who makes bespoke furniture for shops and galleries. Together and with their two young children, they live in Leytonstone on a period property they purchased four years ago, which they’ve been lovingly turning into a home ever since.

Having started her career selling handmade “creatures” in her local store in London when she was still a student at the Royal College of Art, Donna now has her own design studio where she creates homewares, a clothing line, and contemporary furniture. Her house is (as one might expect) a gallery for her work, and you can spot her own designs throughout, from the mounted plates and artwork arranged on the walls to the knitted items in the kids’ room. Even the armchair in the kitchen is designed by her.

As a furniture maker, Jon took on the job of making bespoke beds for the boys. “The height of the bed part is adjustable by adding or taking away another shelf block. The two year old has one less block, and that also allows plenty of storage space,” Donna explains. This ingenious idea means that the boys will both have a top bunk each (there will be no fighting for the top bunk!) and also have space below for a little den, a desk and a bookshelf. “Once they are both put to the same height I’d like to make a little rope bridge across from one to the other!” What a wonderful room for the boys to grow up in.

My Style: Colorful, contemporary mixed with eclectic skip finds.

Inspiration: Found treasures, patterned blankets, nature.

Favorite Element: Hallway, and high kitchen ceiling.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping it tidy with having two crazy boys.

What Friends Say: Love the floor!

Biggest Embarrassment: Lots of things started but not finished, eg. cupboard under the stairs, tree house, etc.

Proudest DIY: Loads, Jon is a pro, like the kids’ amazing bunk beds.

Biggest Indulgence: Lindsey Adelman light, love love love

Best Advice: High-up shelves create spaces for little installations of sentimental objects. I love having objects around that remind me of something I’ve done or something that inspires me; I think it’s what makes us unique. But my kids are very intrigued by objects, too, so I tend to keep them up high!

LIVING ROOM
Stove — Charnwood
Sofa studio couch — Ercol
Cushions — Donna Wilson
Pouf — Donna Wilson for SCP
Mantis floor light – SCP

DINING ROOM
Table and chairs vintage cowhorn — Ercol
Arm chair and cabinet — Donna Wilson for SCP
Stove — Charnwood

KITCHEN
Large glass cabinet, ex British museum – Retrouvious
plates- Marimeko/ Donna Wilson/ Meyer-Lavigne

BATHROOM
Floor tiles — Topps Tiles
Macramé – Artecnica

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