Beyond Trends: Creating Liveable Spaces with Natasha Lyon of Appreciation Project
We talk about conscious consumption, redefining the meaning of luxury, local craftsmanship, and designing for longevity.
In a world where the boundaries between work, leisure, and relaxation blur more than ever, creating liveable spaces means redefining our concept of inhabiting both our homes and workspaces. In this interview, Natasha Lyon shares her insights and expertise, about designing spaces that not only look beautiful but are actually liveable.
Appreciation Project, founded on principles of restoration and careful consumption, reminds us of the transformative power of design to elevate the human experience. Through Lyon’s commitment to creativity, compassion, and mindfulness, she invites us to reimagine the spaces that we inhabit; as reflections of our values, aspirations, and collective community.
Hello Natasha, looking at your creative journey so far, we can see that you’ve honed your craft as an accessories designer for prestigious brands including ACNE, Burberry, Roland Mouret, and Victoria Beckham. And you’ve now embarked on an exciting new chapter, creating Appreciation Project. A combination of a homewares boutique meets an interior design studio, that’s imbued with your exceptional eye for colour, texture, and pattern.Â
With your mindful approach to design and interiors, you create enduring spaces that prioritise a sense of belonging, timelessness, and liveability. Spaces that radiate joyfulness and modernity, in an effortless style that’s distinctly your own. I’d love to share some of your design processes on Land Journals, so that we can discover more about your creative life.
Rachel: Could you describe a typical day for you, are there any daily rituals or practices you do, that help you to develop your ideas and creativity?
Natasha: My day starts with a coffee, usually in the kitchen before my kids wake up and I always listen to jazz. My non-negotiable rule is I will always make my bed, otherwise I would be tempted to get back in! Once I have dropped my kids at school, I sit at my desk and immediately feel creative because my office is painted in a forest green making me feel calm, and then the rest of the room is an Aladdin's cave of inspiration. Everything from stacks of books, fabric and paint samples, to a trove of vintage glassware that I collect.
Rachel: Did you have a traditional pathway into design or more unconventional? Then, how did you make the journey from designing accessories to designing interior spaces and homewares?
Natasha: I have always been design-focused. I completed a foundation course at London College of Fashion, one of my most enjoyable and creative years. I then went on to study on a 4-year course also at LCF (London College of Fashion), receiving a first-class BA (Hons) degree in Product Design & Development for the Fashion Industry (Accessories). This included a year in the industry, where I worked at the most incredible places such as Alexander McQueen (and Lee was still there, an icon that I will never forget!). Then Chloe in Paris, which is where I learnt to draw. I was completely fearless back then, I would just call up the fashion houses and ask to be put through to the Head of Accessories Design and ask if they needed an intern. I would also hunt down names in Vogue and write to them, sending my CV, this fearless approach has guided my work to this day.
Then, after working at an incredible amount of prestigious fashion houses, with creative directors, it gave me the confidence that I can do anything. And when I have moments where I am in doubt, I try to quickly remind myself of this.
Rachel: When you started the Appreciation Project, what did you imagine it would be versus what it’s now evolving into? Did you find your way easily as a business at first, or were there obstacles that you had to overcome?
Natasha: Originally it was my husband, John’s idea to start a business together. I adamantly said ‘no’! as I thought we would never agree on anything. However, because our skillsets are both completely different, we realised it was a very complimentary pairing of minds. I was adamant that whatever the business was to be, it had to have a good heart and to be sustainable, otherwise I didn't see the point. We started out as a dried flower delivery company, offering bespoke bouquets as a sustainable alternative to fresh flowers. We launched during the pandemic’s lockdown and encouraged our customers to arrange the flowers themselves, taking a much-needed moment of calm. It was hugely successful and this took over three rooms of our house.
However, due to Brexit and many other factors, the price of the flowers and our bespoke boxes soon doubled in cost which made it much harder to push the business forwards. I had already begun adding table linen designs and knew I wanted to pivot the business further. With such an established background as a designer, I knew I had a lot more to offer. Our home was very much the backdrop of the business and gained a lot of attention, being featured in various articles and even included in a book. At this point, I had already renovated three properties and had always included interiors as inspiration for a variety of design work. When the time came to adapt our business model and become an interior design studio, it felt like a very natural next step.
There have been countless obstacles along the way, but the one thing that has fuelled me to keep going has been the vision that I wanted to create a brand where I could share my unique eye for colour, pattern and texture, and encourage people to change their shopping habits to ones that are more considered and impactful. The other obstacle has very much been my own lack of confidence at times, something most creatives suffer from. And it’s been John that has encouraged me to keep going at every single step. He stepped back from the business after a year, now helping with about 10% of the workload, so it really became my baby. However, without his unwavering support, it would have been very different. It takes a lot to keep myself motivated as a business owner, wearing a huge amount of hats, so I also only surround myself with friends who support me and hold my hand through the good and the bad. Between John and my strong friendships, plus many amazing fellow female business owners I have been fortunate to meet along the way, all of the obstacles have been broken down.
Rachel: Within your homeware designs, does the translation of accessory design marry well into these new forms of creation?
Natasha: I have a degree in product design with an accessories specification and this has given me the confidence to design and produce almost anything. Whether it’s an object or a room scheme, I approach it with the same eye for colour and detail.
What setbacks have you had along the way, and how did you overcome them?
There have been many setbacks along the way, mainly from others copying, whether that’s the homewares, our entire website, the logo, or even the ads that we have placed in publications - we have seen it all. The only way to deal with these setbacks is to keep moving forward and to stay one step ahead. Another setback has been the price of producing in the UK, however, I truly believe that it’s important to lean into new shopping habits; Only buying what we truly love, things that have a lasting quality and being completely mindful of where they were made, and who made them. This is the way forward.
Rachel: Do you have a specific design ethos, and how would you describe it?
Natasha: After a twenty-year career in the luxury fashion industry, I came away feeling it was important that if I created my own business, it had to have a good heart at the centre of it. While incorporating a sustainably focused homewares collection, and working with artisans and makers in the UK. I then adopt the same ethos when it comes to my clients for interior design; always first looking at what already exists and how we can breathe new life into it, or sourcing beautiful vintage finds. I also firmly believe in helping people feel confident with colour and pattern in their own homes. The impact of how colour can make you feel, will dramatically influence how you behave in a space and is a major part of my work.
Rachel: Where do you like to go to find inspiration, what are your practices for finding ideas and then developing them into design concepts?
Natasha: I have a huge library of books that I have collected my entire life. These truly are my go-to for inspiration and for stepping into creative ideas. I also get a lot of inspiration from places I have travelled, restaurants, hotels and boutiques. One of my favourite restaurants is Prinsen in Stockholm, I used to travel here frequently in my role as Head of Accessories Design at Acne Studios. It’s such a wonderful restaurant, with beautiful dining nooks covered in Josef Frank wallpaper, wooden panelling and filled with atmospheric lighting.
These snippets of inspiration swirl in my head, and then translate into considering alternative floor plans for customers, adding in a dining nook perhaps or a wallpapered ceiling. I’m constantly on a path to make each client’s home unique and full of character.
Rachel: Do you have any particularly loved designers or pieces, what draws you to them, and why?
Natasha: I have a long list of favourite designers of many different disciplines. The powerful duo behind the Swedish brand Svensk Tenn, Joseph Frank and Estrid Ericson are hugely inspiring to me. Designs that are relevant for a lifetime interest me greatly, their play with colour and print is completely unique.
Rachel: Could you tell us about some of your favourite designed spaces, and what makes them so special to you?
Natasha: My favourite space I have designed was for a wonderful family in Margate, and they trusted me implicitly, so we really had fun! Previously a dark room, where the owners had tried to make it work, but it just didn’t match the vibe of the rest of the house - I encouraged them to wallpaper the entire ceiling in a wonderful floral Josef Frank design, paired with calming green painted walls, and a very bold printed rug. There was a huge window bay, where I designed a curved day bed sofa to make use of the entire space. This was hands down, my most favourite project. My work is hugely collaborative, so when a client trusts you, together you can create something truly unique.
Rachel: You mention that being sustainable within your design process is important to you, how do you practice this when beginning a new project, and is there any advice you can impart on refining our environmental impact when making interior design choices?
Natasha: A well-designed interior should last a long time. This can be achieved by refraining from following trends and instead making a conscious effort to pull out the client’s taste and their own stories. I work hard to consider what is already there - can it be repainted, sprayed, or reupholstered? Always challenging what can be reworked rather than thrown away. Next, rather than buying everything ‘brand new’, I am quite the treasure hunter and find vintage pieces to mix in, much like I would dress myself, with a mix of high-end, small business pieces and vintage.
Rachel: Your store features some really beautiful, unusual objects and textiles, can you fill us in on a particular piece - its design back story and its manufacturing process and life cycle?
Natasha: The Marble vases are one of my favourite designs. Inspired by collecting marbles as a child and then whimsically making them supersized, I designed them and then worked closely with artisans in Norfolk. Each piece took two men to create, carefully mouth-blown and working the glass. Every one is a pure work of art, with the intent of being a future heirloom. Sadly, another dying craft that is facing a lack of people wanting to learn this skill and ever-increasing energy costs. I would love to make another glass collection at some point, as I really enjoyed the entire process.
Rachel: What do you find motivates you, and what do you do on the days when you feel less than inspired by life?
Natasha: The colours of the sea and nature, print, textures, objects, art, really everything inspires me. And on days when I may feel a little drained (which is only natural running my own business and with two small children), I always try and go for a seaside walk to refresh my spirits. I absolutely love living by the sea, it’s transformed everything in my life. I have also danced since I was 5 years old, and still do an adult ballet class every week. It makes me really happy and fully motivated for the next day. I will dance for as long as I can!
Rachel: And what are you reading right now? Or what would you recommend to read?
Natasha: I always have two or three books on the go. I listen as I work, and then have a hard copy of something else for the evening. Right now I’m listening to The Actor by local author and friend Chris Macdonald, and Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate. And I am reading Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee.
Rachel: Is there anything currently inspiring you that you can share?
Natasha: A book by Madeleine Castaing, a French interior designer and antiques dealer from the 1920s. Incredible style. I am a book fiend!
Rachel: How can people learn to curate a beautiful home that’s also true to who they are, are there any tried and tested tips?
Natasha: Firstly, stop looking at social media and instead draw upon your own interests, the places you’ve travelled, your favourite restaurant, your favourite piece of clothing, etc. What makes you, you? Once you have broken down those stories, you can start to think about how you want to feel in a space and how different colours make you feel. This is the best starting point. Not seeing picture after picture from endless scrolling and then regurgitating what you see, only to realise that green makes you feel seasick.
Rachel: What’s on the studio stereo currently?
Natasha: Alexis Ffrench, Sugababes, Frank Sinatra and Freemasons.
Rachel: Is there something that you’re currently working towards?
Natasha: I have a new product launching and a new collaboration. There are always many things happening in the studio!
Rachel: What is the one truth in life that you wish everyone knew?
Natasha: The sea has magical calming powers. And everyone should dance.
Rachel: What’s your astrology - sun, moon and rising?
Natasha: Capricorn
Find out more about the Appreciation project, here.
The Land Journal Interviews
Welcome to a series of curated interviews on LAND Journals, with the handpicked people who inspire me the most. These are the individuals who have a unique perspective on life and bring something entirely new into the World. They challenge my viewpoint and rouse my thought processes, bringing an enlivening new interpretation of life, and, I’m hoping that their insights will do the same for you. These truthful conversations are important, unfiltered, and mostly unedited. So, if you haven’t already, subscribe for more deep dives into the lives of some of the most fascinating people around.
Oh, and before you ask, my astrological line-up is is; Cancer Sun, Aquarius Rising, and Leo Moon.
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, get in touch via email: hello@rachelholland.co.uk