Atelier Abigail Ahern
137 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QP
Luxury interior design and friendly vibe aren’t two phrases that normally go together. But in this gorgeous treasure trove, Abigail Ahern bucks the trend. It’s a great place to browse, full of flights of fancy that evoke half-forgotten dreams and slightly twisted fairytales. The overall feel is vintage but with a quirky edge, from the owl candleholders to the slyly disturbing shiny ceramic “hand hooks”, the wonky sidetables to the leather wingback armchairs decorated with retro bus scrolls. Best buys include the storage boxes that look like glorious vintage books, the exquisite faux flowers – from peonies to green hydrangea – and the delightfully daffy poodle lamps, complete with lampshade hats. Prices range from the eminently affordable to bank-balance-busting.