Inside design: Allegra Hicks

S@H I once interviewed a furniture designer who likened home accessories to jewelry. Do you agree with that?
AH Yes! I mean, when you think about it, items like cushions and candlesticks aren’t necessities. A sofa is a necessity, but accessories set the mood of a room -- they make a statement. Accessories can be whimsical or glamorous, but they should always be personal. The biggest mistake people make is thinking that everything needs to be expensive. Accessories should reflect who you are, from your favourite colours to special memories and cherished objects. When I'm designing, those are the things I draw on. I hope they touch others in the same way.

Building a harmonious home
London-based fashion and lifestyle designer Allegra Hicks has won a place in the hearts and homes of many Europeans with her trademark style: elegant organic. Here’s how you can take natural chic to the next level.

• “Natural” doesn’t have to mean “rustic” or “ethnic” when organic motifs (leaves, coral, florals) are incorporated into sleek, sophisticated fabrics and materials, like silk and resin.

• “Patterns prescribe the tone of a room,” says Allegra. Chintz isn’t so modern, but a leaf in a repeating geometric is very contemporary.

• Subtle changes can make a big difference. Adding Allegra’s coral handles to your own black lacquered tray is all it takes to inject a touch of the natural world into a modern interior.

• Get personal. Use what you have around you: shells collected on vacation, branches from the tree in your yard.

Read more in Decorating & Design and Inside Design