The owner of Amber + Willow’s gorgeous Carlow home is full of unique finds
A home full of vintage finds, craft from makers around the world and pieces that speak to its owners has created a rich and layered space, with interesting stories at every turn.
Looking around Amber Clery’s Carlow home, it’s clear that it’s the product of a lifelong passion for interesting pieces. “I’ve been gathering stuff for years,” she says. “Things I couldn’t leave behind on my travels or I found trawling vintage markets, salvage yards and antique shops. I’m always on the hunt for pieces that have personality, soul and a story.”
She’s also carved a career from her eye for finding and styling treasures, first as an interior designer, then as a wedding stylist, and most recently, launching an online homeware store, Amber + Willow.
As well as offering a curation of pieces from international brands, she stocks handmade crafts from female-led artisans and makers, and one-off finds. This combination of craft, modern design and the rich character that vintage pieces can bring, is exactly how she decorates her own home, she explains.
“A single vintage find with its timeworn patina and texture can transform a space, making it feel softer and more welcoming; whether it’s a vintage cabinet in a seductive turquoise chippy paint, or a beautiful piece of architectural salvage that to me looks like a piece of sculpture that could be mounted on the wall. These pieces are full of stories and can elevate any interior, whether it’s a contemporary or traditionally styled space.”
Amber has always been inspired by her travels, from textiles she carried around for months in her backpack in South America, to Indian carved panels. “Our home is inspired by places we’ve visited, holidays we’ve been on and things we’ve admired on our travels,” she explains.
The kitchen was inspired by Mediterranean designs. “I’ve always loved the more informal feel they have, and wanted to avoid upper cabinetry and built-ins,” she explains, preferring open shelving, and adding a large Spanish-style cooker hood.
Amber also designed the large island to resemble an antique baker’s table. “I wanted it to feel like a piece of furniture in the room. It’s where homework is done, breakfast is eaten and where everyone congregates when we’ve family and friends over.”
Amber and her husband Mick built their home 12 years ago, and while they were inspired by elements of Georgian architecture, they designed the layout with modern living in mind.
“We prefer the cosiness of separate rooms as opposed to big airy open-plan spaces with walls of glass,” Amber explains, “but we still wanted our main living spaces to flow together and be connected. They all open onto each other in one long block, leading out to the patio and garden, so the whole space can be used together or separately.” Each area is differentiated by subtle details such as glass doors in the living room, a reclaimed brick wall in the dining area and an arch separating the sunroom.
With so many pieces having an interesting story or history, it creates a home with a sense of rich layers, of styles and influences meeting and merging to create something new and beautiful, as well as entirely personal to the family that lives there.
There’s also a wonderful sense of playfulness in the home, from colourful modern prints to the enchanting rooms Amber has designed for her children, Willow and Finn. “We created a Narnia-inspired ‘magic wardrobe’ for the kids on the upstairs landing, which they just love. I searched high and low for an antique wardrobe that would fit into the space and got the back panel taken out.
“The walls and ceiling in the corridor behind are papered in a star print from Cole & Son to create that magical feel, and I attached some leftover navy velvet fabric to create a drape that you walk through, into a secret play space.”
Her shop includes gorgeous pieces for kids’ rooms, which Amber says was important to her. “Willow absolutely loves getting involved when I’m moving things around, so I really liked the idea of having a small kids’ edit that she could be involved in. Kids’ rooms can be tricky to decorate – what they’re into one day can be different the next, so having cool accessories and décor can really change up the look of a kids’ room that has to evolve as they grow.”
Amber’s love of travel is continuing to inspire her work, with a range of handmade Italian ceramics joining her range this summer, inspired by a trip to Positano on the Amalfi Coast, and she is excited to stock vintage Frazada cushions from Peru. “I was blown away by the textile design I saw in Peru,” she says. “The streets were lined with little shops heaving with piles of handmade blankets that hit the ceiling.”
It’s this love of unique finds, and continuous curiosity to learn more that has filled her home with such a special feeling. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop treasure-hunting for pieces that hold meaning or spark a memory and add magic to a space,” Amber says. “Those are the touches that pull it all together.”
Photography: Ruth Maria Murphy
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