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Owl co-founders Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon are making the case for interiors that balance function with humor, character and small, unexpected details. In an interview with Livingetc, they said playful design need not mean bold colors everywhere: one personal feature can give a room a distinct identity while keeping it practical.
East London interior design studio Owl is arguing for homes that combine everyday function with humor and personal character, rather than treating design as a serious exercise in visual polish. In an interview published by Livingetc, co-founders Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon said playful details can make a space more individual and enjoyable without requiring a bold makeover throughout the home.
Van Winden and Gordon established Owl in East London in 2014. The studio provides bespoke interior design, styling and consultancy for residential and commercial projects. The co-founders describe their approach as rooted in a shared interest in joyful, daring design, while emphasizing that a room also needs to work for the people who use it.
In the Livingetc interview, they said playfulness can come from one unexpected feature within a more restrained scheme. Their examples include a painted checkerboard border around a doorway, an unusual mirror in a hallway, or an object displayed on a kitchen shelf. They said such details can give people something to notice or talk about, and may make a room feel less formal.
The designers also pointed to projects that combine different uses, including a Harpenden cinema room designed as both a playroom and a home cinema for a client in Hertfordshire. Livingetc also described an Owl-designed house completed in 2025, featuring a Misha Kahn mirror artwork in its living room. These examples illustrate the studio’s stated approach; the interview does not provide independent evidence measuring the effect of the design on residents.
Small Details, More Personal Rooms
The studio’s advice offers an alternative to treating a home as a finished image to be admired rather than a place used every day. Van Winden and Gordon said design should account for how a space feels and functions, as well as how it looks. Their emphasis is on reflecting the people who live in a home, rather than following a single visual formula.
That approach may be relevant to readers who want to personalize a room but do not want to redecorate it entirely. A small feature, such as a distinctive mirror or a painted doorway, can be considered without committing to a room full of bright colors or unusual furniture. The designers’ examples are suggestions, not evidence that a particular decorative choice will suit every home or occupant.
The interview also places their view against interiors shaped by polished images and online trends. The designers said they see homes as places for comfort and reconnection. That is their rationale for playful design, rather than a finding established by the interview. Their central practical point is narrower: character and usefulness can coexist, and decorative choices need not come at the expense of daily life.
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Owl’s Design Approach Since 2014
Owl has worked across residential and commercial projects since its 2014 founding, according to the Livingetc profile. The studio’s services include design, styling and consultancy. The interview presents its focus on playfulness as a longstanding part of its work, from early project discussions through to execution.
The designers said that, when they began working in the industry nearly 20 years ago, interior design could feel serious and intimidating. They said they wanted to make it more accessible and connected to real life, with homes that are practical as well as full of character. That description is the co-founders’ account of their motivation, not a wider survey of the design industry.
The Livingetc feature includes examples of Owl’s work, among them a blue-toned kitchen counter in a Victorian villa and a living room with a distinctive mirror. The article uses these projects to show how an unusual color, object or finish can become a focal point without requiring every part of a room to make a statement.
“The best interiors don’t take themselves too seriously.”
— Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon, Owl co-founders, in an interview with Livingetc
What the Interview Does Not Establish
The Livingetc feature is an interview about the designers’ philosophy and selected projects, not a study of how residents respond to playful interiors. It does not provide client feedback, comparative results or measured effects on wellbeing, comfort or the use of a room. Claims about a design bringing joy or helping guests feel at home are the co-founders’ views.
The article also does not set out costs, project timelines or detailed guidance on choosing materials and finishes. The examples are not a universal decorating plan: whether a feature works will depend on the room, the people using it, and practical requirements that the interview does not detail.
How the Studio Applies Its Ideas
The Livingetc interview does not announce a new Owl project, product or launch, and it gives no schedule for a future development. It describes the studio’s existing approach and work. Readers looking for further examples can follow Owl’s project portfolio and any subsequent coverage from the studio or Livingetc.
For homeowners considering the ideas discussed, the designers’ stated method is to identify an area that could use more character, then choose a personal detail that fits the room rather than adding decoration everywhere. The interview offers examples, but does not provide a formal step-by-step plan or prescribe specific choices for individual homes.
Key Questions
What is Owl’s approach to playful interiors?
Owl co-founders Sophie van Winden and Simone Gordon say interiors can pair everyday practicality with personal, unexpected details that add character. They do not suggest that every room needs to be bold or heavily decorated.
Does playful design mean using bright colors everywhere?
No. The designers said an unexpected feature can stand out in a more restrained scheme. Their examples include a distinctive mirror, a painted doorway detail or an unusual object on a shelf.
When was Owl founded?
The Livingetc profile says the studio was established in East London in 2014 and works on bespoke residential and commercial projects.
Does the interview show that playful interiors improve wellbeing?
No measured evidence is provided. The co-founders said playful interiors can bring joy and make homes feel personal, but the article reports their design perspective, not research proving those effects.
What project examples does the feature discuss?
Examples include a Harpenden room designed as both a playroom and cinema, a blue-toned kitchen counter in a Victorian villa, and a living room featuring a Misha Kahn mirror artwork.
Source: livingetc.com
