Instagram is arguably one of the most influential marketing tools and an ideal outlet to share your passion to the world. With over 1 billion users worldwide, it’s increasingly challenging to capture an audiences imagination with original content and meaningful posts.
We always admire IG peeps who consistently produce quality posts and their ability to connect with their followers. A couple of weeks ago we were fortunate enough to meet the creative driving force behind one of our favourite IG accounts, @Zoe.interiors.
Zoë has kindly dropped by to see us in our humble East London office to share her wisdom and tell us a little bit more about what makes her tick.
Zoë styles her home to showcase her work and styling skills |
Zoë: Hi, I'm Zoë, I own Zoë ID, an interior design business based in Hertfordshire.
I originally trained as a graphic designer, then went on to become a visual planner. I realised quite early on that interiors were where my heart was, after redesigning a restaurant that we had designed the brand identity for.
I’ve been doing it for a long time for friends and family, but for clients, about 2 years. I’ve always got my jobs through word of mouth but this year I have decided to really push the business to see where it can go. I'm about to launch my first website which I`m really excited about.
Zoë: I started my Instagram account as a bit of therapy really. My dad passed away in Oct 2016 and the pain I was in was indescribable. I needed something to distract me, that wasn’t the day to day stuff we all have to do.
I really think it saved me from depression as I suddenly had an escape from all the heartache I was feeling. I also see it as my scrap book/diary in a funny way. I’d always kept a scrap book at Art College and had fallen out of the habit of keeping one, so it was nice to start again albeit in a different format.
Zoë: It’s evolved massively, when I first started I didn’t think anybody would be looking at it, so I was only really doing it for me.
I’m now much more critical of what I post as it has a lot more engagement. What I love though, is looking back at the first posts I ever did to see how much I’ve grown.
Zoë: I would describe my style as modern with a Scandi influence. As much as I appreciate lots of different design styles, I’d be very happy living in a concrete cube filled with only the necessities for living.
John Pawson is my hero, I love the absolute minimum in a home but it would be very hard for my husband and son to live like that, so I’ve chilled a lot more on that front since having a family.
Home office featuring selection of products by Vitra and Hay |
Zoë: The most challenging element when I style my posts is the light in my house. It’s a Victorian house which is lovely and tall so ceiling height is amazing, but it's long and narrow too so plays havoc with my shots! I live opposite a large church which blocks out a bit of natural light as well.
Zoë: I only ever shoot on my iPhone, I’ve just invested in the new iPhone X Max so I can get the best quality shots possible in the most convenient format for me. I love using it as I always have it on me, it fits in my pocket and I can do all my editing on it as well.
Zoë: Portraits are my fav as they give you much more room to play around with. I was very happy when Instagram introduced it.
Yuzu Handcream, £15; Sugar Soap, £18.50; Fir Body Lotion, £28, by Tangent GC |
Zoë: It's not always that immaculate but I work from home so it would really stress me out to work in a mess. Everything in my house has a place and I’d not have anything I didn’t love on show. All that stuff lives in cupboards!!
I also have a room that my husband and I call the 'dump’. We literally dump everything in there from clothes and cushions to ornaments I no longer want on show. Every home needs a ‘dump’ room as living like this is actually hard work. I would die if anybody saw that room!
Strong look with Svalnäs shelving system |
Zoë: The most treasured thing in my life is my son Mack but second after that is a piece of art I bought around 15 years ago. It’s by an artist called Tomoya Yamaguchi, who’s a Japanese artist based in the UK. I have a fascination with artworks that take a painstaking amount of time. I’m very impatient as a person, so his work fascinated me. Buying one of his pieces started a trend in the artwork I now buy. My collection consists of pieces that are very time consuming and that makes me feel a little giddy, when I think about the time they take to create.
Zoë: Top of my wish list right now is Kristina Dam’s Curved pouf. I absolute adore her work. The pouf looks like a work of art and could enhance any room that it goes in. I’m just not sure I can justify spending £400 on something that I rest my feet on, but I will get it eventually!
Zoë: This actually isn’t a possession, but I wouldn’t be able to live without Fight Klub. It’s a high intensity exercise class set to Drum ’n’ Bass music, a mixture of boxing & kick boxing. It's the only exercise class that’s kept me engaged for well over 2 years. I used to think that people who said they couldn’t function without doing exercise were weird, now I completely get it. You just have to find the exercise that’s right for you and do something you love.
It's also really important to me that my son sees his Mum being active on a regular basis. It's so great for mental health as well as fitness and I want him to value and have an understanding of both as he gets older.
Left: Rivington Jug, £25; Highball set of 4, £29. Right: Wooden dish from £9, By Yod and Co |
Zoë: I'm going do one of each here.
Fav shop would be Stileben in Copenhagen.
It’s curated beautifully with amazing products, ceramics, jewellery and art, some of which are one off pieces that you’ll only find in that shop. It's a must visit for any interior lover and is one of the world’s most unique shopping experiences, in my opinion. Also, it's based in Copenhagen which is such a stylish place to visit, even the airport has a Ferm Living in it! I love that place.
Fav restaurant would be Scully’s in St James, London.
The food is incredible but so are the staff, their always so welcoming and friendly. It's not one of those restaurants you feel uncomfortable in. The food is outstanding too, Ramael Scully's family has a real mix of eastern heritage which is really reflected in the food he offers his guests. I highly recommend you checking it out.
My fav city would have to be Berlin.
I know I know, "not a Scandinavian city?" but my husband worked there for 5 years so I spent many a weekend there eating nice food, hanging out and seeing a side to the city that you don’t get to see on a short city break. It’s an amazingly cultural city with art galleries everywhere, even on most street corners you’ll find some sort of artistic expression.
Since its reunification there’s been a massive boom in creativity which influences the nightlife scene and restaurants plus a lot of these places were still very affordable for the average man to experience. You could eat in a cool restaurant for under £20 and that included a glass of wine It was a breath of fresh air to a girl from London! I also loved that on Sundays no shops were open, so Sunday really was a day of rest, where people caught up with family and friends. I just loved it.
Rivington carafe, £25; Set of 4 Tumblers, £25, by Yod and Co |
Zoë: I don't really have one if I'm honest, but I do love popping into Home Sense on a regular basis. It's one of those shops that look really twee on the outside, but you can pick up some really lovely little finds in there, if you visit it on a regular basis.
Zoë: I already offer my interior services outside of IG in my business. If people were interested in using me as a stylist then of course, I would certainly be up for collaborations in that area.
Left: Zoë's Collection of ceramics with Epoch teapot & teacup, from £12.50. Right: Denim Wash, £12 by Tangent GC |
Zoë: I think the best advice I could give to anybody about to embark on their IG journey is to not take it too seriously and to not live in a world of comparison.
The 'best of the best' are showcasing their work on Instagram and it is very easy to feel ‘not good enough’ in the Insta world, so go easy on yourself. Not many people are showing the shit bits of theirs lives, but we all have them. I read all too often about how Instagram can make people feel really worthless, people who you look at their grid and say “Wow!! They are living the dream” but they still feel rubbish sometimes.
They also worry about how others may be doing better than them or have more stuff than them. So, I would say, DON'T compare yourself to anybody because they are not you. Once you realise that being you is your super power, your life on Instagram will be a more peaceful one.
All images above taken by Zoë
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About Scheid:
At Schneid we work with a holistic view of sustainability. Our entire process of creation is soaked with the fundamental concept of creating fascinating objects with ethical value. For us, working sustainably also entails sharing the vision and enhancing sensitivity in order to elevate the consumer’s perception of craftsmanship and artisanship.
Our products are the result of a process characterized by formative research work and conception to the close cooperation with local manufacturers. At the heart of our business lies the approach ‘form follows meaning’. For this reason we strive to further ethical aesthetics and believe that the close correlation of the two constitutes a crucial base for extraordinary and timeless design.
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Artist Åsa Stenerhag, Design Director at Totême and former Head Designer of Filippa K, was invited to interpret the new fragrances visually. Her works have been transferred onto the packaging, resulting in 100 unique soap boxes.
In connection with the project she was interviewed and asked what motivates her: “The process drives me. […] I’ve met some challenges in our mutual project, for example. We have worked with a colour spectrum I normally don’t use. We have been forced to find printing solutions to transfer our works onto packaging. All the meetings, decisions, discussions and choices really matter and are all important parts of the process.”
As part of the launch, the 100 boxes will be sold at selected retailers around the world starting February 2019. (sadly not with Yod and Co, but you can still shop the normal products with us!)
The New Perfumes
— TGC107 sugar: Sugarcane pulp exudes a lively musk aroma accompanied by rounded notes ranging from chestnut and fresh milk to maple syrup.
— TGC108 cedar: The hallmark note of pencil cedar is that of warm and dry wood It also carries with it a faintly discernible trace of wild berries.
— TGC109 clover: White clover blooms throughout the summer; its floral signature – with a wisp of new grass and nectar is indeed the season’s score.
— TGC110 kiyomi: Kiyomi is sweeter than the common orange. It is happy – and a bit more refined, as well.
Product Information
The soaps are organic and made of olive and coconut oil. The plastic bottles are made from sugarcane, leaving a negative carbon footprint.
About Tangent GC
Tangent GC, a Swedish enterprise founded in 2012, specialises in organic care products. The products, made from natural ingredients, are sold around the world
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As a keen gardener, and after years of working within the Health and Beauty industry, Kanchalika developed an awareness on the importance of using natural ingredients on the skin. She found that not only did this improve overall skin health, it also encouraged better wellbeing and had a powerful impact on the mind and body.
She then began her journey,combining her love of nature with her passion for wellness to create MALĀKO; her vision of what beauty should be- products that aren’t just skin deep. Carefully choosing the best ingredients, and balancing them with complimentary fragrances to create ranges that not only nourish and heal the skin, but also stimulate the senses and awaken the soul.
Inspired by the places she calls home, Kanchalika explored the benefits of Western and Thai therapeutic plants, and was captivated by their amazing diversity and healing properties.
It was on a life changing visit to Thailand that she reconnected with her roots and learned the secrets of holistic Thai medicine. She met with Thai herbalists and healers, from whom she learnt the fundamentals of traditional Thai medicine, the concept of living in harmony, and being Metta- the Buddhist term for focusing on the development of unconditional love for all beings. It is here that she learnt the importance and craft of combining healing ingredients with complimentary fragrances, to create products that heal from the inside and out. Products that inspire and aid happiness, wellness, and peacefulness.
Undercover premium bed linen blends the finest quality cotton with a revolutionary botanical yarn, Tencel™, to create an exquisite lightweight textile that’s both soft and crisp – guaranteed to give you a wonderful night’s sleep.
All bed linen comes from the medieval Portuguese town of Guimarães, a region known globally for its expertise in home textiles. Their textiles are made by a business that’s been crafting high quality bed linen for decades.
London Design Festival is in full swing, and to celebrate we are partnering with AIDA, an independent concept store in the heart of the Shoreditch Design Triangle, to launch our new products for Autumn 2018. For the duration of London Design Week visit Boskke x AIDA at 133 Shoreditch High Street, London and experience lush urban greenery alongside the latest fashions, coffee and more.
We will be celebrating Shoreditch Design Triangle with Late Night opening Tuesday 18th September – 10.30am – 8pm. |
Don't forget to drop by to preview our new products and the amazing space at Relay Represents 102 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5SA / 15-24th May
New products available end June. Drop us a line if you're interested. hello@yodandco.com
]]>With their refined design skills, DESIGNBITE collection is a year long collaborative development with an aim to create a truly functional living with great aesthetics. The homewares and accessories range includes the Big Hug Series, Frame System and Hexagon System.
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With their refined design skills, DESIGNBITE collection is a year long collaborative development with an aim to create a truly functional living with great aesthetics. The homewares and accessories range includes the Big Hug Series, Frame System and Hexagon System.
Yod and Co will be excited to launch the brand at Top Drawer , 14-16 January, Olympia, London. Stand F27, HOME section
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Yod and Co are delighted to announce a series of window takeover installations at Playground, a new creative space in the heart of Dalston, London from 22nd June – 31st August 2017.
Launched in 2016 by Yod Suntanaphan, Yod and Co is brand agency and online interior and lifestyle emporium devoted to showcasing beautiful design, objects and accessories from all over the world. With Yod’s background as a colour, material and finish (CMF) designer, the curation is dedicated to designs with great colour sense and tactility as well as working with young talents to create a launch pad for their works.
The window takeover is a fun experiment to visualise Yod and Co’s online presence into a physical entity where the importance of CMF in the products is brought to life. The first of the window series will feature still life photography in collaboration with stylist Olivia Bennett and photographer Kristy Noble.
Alongside the window rotation, Yod and Co will be launching a pop-up shop over three weekends, bringing various exciting products and brands for everyone to try out and purchase. Dates for the pop-up shop are available below.
Playground is a curated space by Antonia Huber and Julia von Meiss. The space opened its doors in November 2016. It is a studio and workspace, integrating and fostering collaborations amongst people and disciplines, all sharing a similar vision.
Yod and Co Window Take Over
Featuring OMMO, Sue Pryke, Yield Design Co, Rig Tig and Fuga
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Thank you Design Milk for featuring OMMO + Yod and Co on their blog! This includes both Collection 1 and Collection 2
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"Debuting earlier this year, contemporary housewares brand OMMO set out to offer simple, functional products that are defined by their eastern and western influences. Designer Shane Schneck designed Collection 1, which features a mix of kitchen-related products to make your life easier. Take a look."
]]>Yod and Co is featured on Elle Decoration September 2016 issue. A great little article about OMMO. Check out the range here. Plastic Fantastic!
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We're thrilled to be featured in Top Drawer AW16 Preview Magazine! These include OMMO, FUGA and NAVA Workshop! Start counting down to our launch this September. Drop by and say hello!
We are a big fan of Sight Unseen and they've recently featured OMMO on one of their post! Click here to have a look.
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Honolulu: The Monocle Travel Guide Series from Gestalten.
Monocle's Travel Guide Series about Honolulu is just amazing. We would definitely need to work in a 'research' trip for this next year!
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