Head of Press for East-London brand Illustrated People, Lauren Saffery invited us over to her apartment, located in the hustle and bustle of Stoke Newington High Street. Despite being a stone's throw from the hipster hub of Dalston and living on a road buzzing with restaurants, bars, independent supermarkets and vintage shops, Lauren's home is a calm, airy and sophisticated retreat.
What do you love about living in East London?
It's actually officially North! I grew up in Highbury, a 10-minute walk away from where I am now, then I went to college in Stokie, so all of my friends live so close. I don't think I'd want to live anywhere else. We're on Stoke Newington High Street now and it's always so busy, there's such a buzz around; when you open your windows it's like you're on holiday, you can hear people eating outside and live music across the road, and we join in just from looking out the window. N16 is where it's at!
How does your place now differ to the home you grew up in?
Not a great deal, my parents have always been into interior design and they've passed on their style to me, so apart from now being in a new build, my room's not that different to how it's always been.
How do you relax at home after work?
With a big glass of wine!
Where are your favourite places to shop for pieces for your home and wardrobe?
I love Habitat and Ikea is always a go-to, Zara Home for soft furnishings, but it's also good to have some old pieces that have been passed down or that you've found at antique shops. Too much new can look too much like a show room, I like somewhere to feel lived in.
Wardrobe - obviously Illustrated People (gotta represent my own) but I'm not a massive follower of brands in general, if I see something that I like I buy it. It's usually a mixture of high street, designer and eBay.
Could you describe your dream home?
When I've got kids I'd love to live in a massive Georgian house, the interior would be clean and simplistic with a mixture of old and new and obviously there would be room for a pool.
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