Sarah Akwisombe is making a serious splash as an interiors stylist for – as she puts it – ‘rule breakers, risk takers and statement makers’. Pooky caught up with her to talk interior design, lighting and horror movies... Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspired by watching super stylised movies or TV shows from the past. I'm a big fan of Tarantino, Wes Anderson, Baz Luhrman. Some of the sets in these films are incredible! I have seen some amazing pictures from the American Horror Story set but I'm a bit scared to watch!
How would you describe the style in your own home? Eclectic, statement and influenced by 20th century design.
Image: Sarah Akwisombe
What’s your favourite room in your house? Does lighting play a big part? My favourite room is probably our living room as we spend so much time in there. I think it's packed full of personality, whereas some of the other rooms in the flat still need a few more layers to get to the same level.
Detail from Sarah's living room. Image: Sarah Akwisombe
Lighting is really important to my husband and I, we have a mix of table lamps, LED strips, standard wall lights, pendants... It's all about layering up the various levels to create mood and ambience. Plus, a great table lamp or pendant can really add the 'wow' factor to a room.
Pooky's Isolde table lamp styled by Sarah for her hallway. Image: Sarah Akwisombe
We believe mixing and matching colour and pattern can make for some stunning results – do you have any top tips on how to do this in the home?
Yes - go 80/20. So 80% of one style and 20% of another, like an accent. That way you're not clashing all over the place! Plus using the same print but at different scale works well too.
Image: Sarah Akwisombe
Image: Sarah Akwisombe
Finally we’ve got to ask you, what is your favourite Pooky light and why?
The crescent lamp with antique rose silk drum shade
