Michelle Ogunden has become a dean in the world of interior design.
While training first and foremost as an architect, Ogunden went on to be the Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration UK where she spent 13 years at the helm cementing her position as a global authority on the latest trends.
In addition to her regular contribution to prestigious homeware labels including Vogue Living, she has also crafted Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness, which is a practical guide detailing how to make your space work better for your well-being and has another guide on the way.
So it’s no surprise that De’Longhi used it to coincide with the launch of the new The Ballerina Collection breakfast collection to encourage us all to return to the love of our home – something we can all do after a long shutdown. .
We caught up with Ogundehin to find her tips for transforming your home into a more creative space.
What are you up to at this moment?
I’m about to finish filming with Alan Carr for season 3 of MA Interior DesignI am starting to work on my second book. Simple Inside: Master Your Space, Take Control of Your Life.
What is your style in interior design?
I don’t subscribe to the idea of a style. Instead, I surround myself with colors, objects, patterns, and prints I love, and I don’t feel the need to give that name tag a go! Simply put, I believe that your environment is just as important to your health and happiness as good food and exercise, and what is meant is to create a truly supportive environment. Someone who is completely authentic to you, and therefore able to be both calming and sustainable. Basically, I like to think of home as my secret superpower!
How can you change your space with some simple purchases?
For me, it’s not about what you buy, but why you buy it. Mindful shopping is the fast track to a true at-home makeover. The key is to find out what you like before you hit stores or click on those links.
What are the colors that make you happy? What textures excite your fingertips? What materials bring you happy feelings! Once you do, you’ll never buy anything that isn’t really right or doesn’t work in your home. You will also be able to embark on a very thoughtful mess to rid your home of those things that do nothing to your soul. Only then do we actually make room to see that simple pot, received as a gift, that we truly cherish. Or pictures, framed casually, which are invaluable given that your children have made them.
What are the staples for your kitchen?
Of course the kettle! And more, a set of sharp knives, a wooden cutting board, some wooden spoons, two stainless steel mixing bowls, glass measuring jugs, a good mixer, and a trio of stainless steel cooking sinks. Oh, and now maybe fall is on its way, I’ll be looking for a slow cooker to make some warm stews.
What recent purchases have made you happy?
In fact, I haven’t bought anything in a while because I love everything I already have but I like to switch up my stuff regularly to keep my creativity flowing! I also have a weak point in art – anything from a charity store or marketplace find out to online fair picks – and books. I always seem to be able to find a space to hang a new picture or pile another pile of reading material.
What are the essential pieces in organizing a family space?
Comfort is everything, and I personally think you can’t have too many pillows! I love mixing all the different motifs, prints and colors together to create a true textile setting. And when piled high on the sofa, it can become a modern den, somewhere to sit with legs crossed like a baby, feeling comfortable, secure, and able to relax at the end of a busy day. After all, we are highly sensual beings, so home should be a deeply tactile place.
How do you treat yourself?
Bath, book and early night!