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Owl co-founders Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon are making the case for interiors that feel personal and playful rather than overly serious or picture-perfect. The East London studio says small, unexpected details can bring character and enjoyment while leaving a home practical; the interview does not announce a new project or product.
East London interior design studio Owl is arguing for homes that combine practical use with playful, personal details, rather than interiors that feel overly serious or designed only to look polished. In an interview with Livingetc, co-founders Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon said small choices such as an unusual mirror or a painted doorway can add character without requiring a room-wide overhaul.
Van Winden and Gordon established Owl in East London in 2014. The studio works on bespoke residential and commercial projects and offers interior design, styling and consultancy. In the interview, the founders described playfulness as a guiding principle across their work, from early project discussions through to the finished space.
Their approach is not a call to make every room bright, busy or unconventional. The designers said a restrained scheme can accommodate a single unexpected element, such as a checkerboard border around a doorway, a one-off mirror in a hallway or an unusual object on a kitchen shelf. They said those details can give residents and visitors something to notice while helping a room feel less formal.
Owl’s examples include a Harpenden cinema room designed as both a playroom and a home cinema for a client in Hertfordshire, and a Victorian villa kitchen featuring a blue-toned counter. Livingetc also describes a living room with a Misha Kahn mirror artwork in a house completed in 2025. These examples illustrate the studio’s work; the interview does not announce a new commission, launch or change in business.
Small Details Shape Everyday Homes
The designers’ argument is that home design can be judged by more than how a room photographs. They say interiors should support daily activities and reflect the people who live in them, while also creating moments of pleasure. That perspective may appeal to homeowners who want more character but do not want to redesign an entire space or commit to a highly decorated look.
The interview also gives a practical distinction between playful design and visual excess: the aim, according to Owl, is to choose details that feel personal and work within a room’s broader scheme. A painted doorway or distinctive object can be a relatively contained way to change how a space feels. These are the designers’ views, not evidence that a particular design approach produces measurable benefits for every household.
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Owl’s Practical Approach to Play
Van Winden and Gordon said that when they began working in the industry, interior design could feel serious and intimidating. They wanted to make their work more accessible and connect it to everyday life, describing their preferred homes as beautiful, practical and full of character. They have worked across residential and commercial projects since founding the studio in 2014.
The founders linked their interest in personal spaces to a media environment they described as polished and curated, as well as to news that can feel heavy. They said homes can serve as places to find comfort and reconnect. That is the designers’ explanation for their approach, rather than a broader finding established by the source. Their central recommendation is to favor individual choices over simply following a trend.
“The best interiors don’t take themselves too seriously.”
— Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon, Owl co-founders, speaking to Livingetc
No New Project Is Announced
The source is an interview about the studio’s design convictions and examples of its work, not a report of a new business development. It gives no project budget, client feedback, performance data or evidence comparing playful interiors with other approaches. It also does not specify the interview’s publication date.
The founders’ comments about comfort, happiness and practical living are their professional perspective. The source does not establish that any particular detail will suit every home, budget or resident, and it does not provide a step-by-step plan or cost estimate for adopting the approach.
No Follow-Up Is Specified
Livingetc’s published interview presents Owl’s existing design philosophy and selected projects. The source identifies no upcoming announcement, deadline or next project milestone. Readers interested in applying the ideas can start by identifying one overlooked area—a doorway, bathroom detail or headboard—and considering a personal accent that fits the room’s practical needs, as the designers suggest.
Key Questions
Who are Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon?
They are the co-founders of Owl, an East London design studio established in 2014. The studio works on bespoke residential and commercial interiors, styling and consultancy.
What does Owl mean by playful interior design?
The founders describe it as using personal, unexpected details to bring character and enjoyment to a space. Their examples include an unusual mirror, a painted doorway border or a distinctive object on a shelf.
Does the approach mean using bold colors throughout a home?
No. Van Winden and Gordon said playful design does not require bold choices everywhere. They recommend introducing an unexpected detail within a more restrained scheme so it can stand out without overwhelming the room.
Has Owl announced a new project or product?
No new project or product is announced in the Livingetc interview. It discusses the studio’s existing approach and examples of completed work, including a Harpenden cinema room designed to serve as a playroom too.
Source: livingetc.com
