We had a chat with journalist Nicole Gray to get the lowdown on her new book The Reimagined Home, her top tips for bringing joy into your space—and, naturally, which Pooky piece she’s head over heels for.
Tell us a little bit about your book The Reimagined Home and your inspiration behind it…
In The Reimagined Home, I wanted to show how we can embrace sustainable design and transform spaces with joy—using existing pieces, adaptable design ideas, and conscious purchases.
It showcases the colours, patterns, and textures not often associated with sustainable design and highlights creative ways sustainable living can be tailored to suit every lifestyle. It features the inspiring and stunning homes of some of the world’s most well-respected creatives.
What does living sustainably mean to you?
Filling my home with pieces that are made to last and that feel personal to me.
Do you have any advice for those wanting to incorporate sustainable homewares into their homes?
Start small. Sustainable design doesn't need to cost the earth, and little changes will soon add up to make a big difference. Make charity shops, markets, and second-hand online platforms—such as Vinterior, Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace—your stomping grounds. You never know what you might find and help save from landfill.
Also, think about what you already own. Is there a way to reinvent it so that it feels fresh? This can be as simple and cost-effective as buying a second-hand lamp base and adding an existing shade, repainting an old chair, or turning a wardrobe or cupboard door into a reimagined piece of artwork with a mural.
When it comes to lighting in your home, what are your top tips for creating a joyful space?
Start by considering the primary function of the space—is it for working, relaxing, or dining? This will help determine the atmosphere and mood you're aiming to create.
For work-related activities, such as cooking in the kitchen or reading in the living room, you’ll need task lighting to create strong pools of light so you can see clearly.
If the space is mainly used for relaxing, decorative lighting—such as table lamps and wall sconces—will add a soft, welcoming glow and provide a focal point. Personally, I’m very partial to a statement (preferably oversized) pendant light above a dining table, or a large table lamp on a side table, to create a warm and stylish ambience when entertaining friends and family.
One of my favourite joy-inducing tricks is to use lighting to draw attention to special items in a room—for example, using a floor light to direct the eye upward towards an interesting piece of artwork.
Do you have a favourite Pooky piece?
I love the organic shapes and materials of the CCP (Collaborative Craft Projects) pendant lights. Ideally, I’d hang a trio of them above my dining table.
What do you love most about your home?
I love how it tells the stories of the lives lived in it. For example, we hung a rug we bought during our trip to Morocco as artwork on our bedroom wall. Papier-mâché hats made by the kids are displayed on shelves, and mismatched artwork gifted by friends and family is dotted throughout. It’s far from perfect—I don’t believe beauty equals perfection—but it feels perfect to us.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
As "blurgh" as it sounds: when decorating a room, always incorporate a piece of brown furniture. It helps ground the scheme.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Write about a subject you care deeply about and that others can use as an inspirational resource. Writing a book is a long road, so your subject matter needs to be close to your heart to keep you focused and excited.
