Interviews

Earl of East Meets | Nicole Gray and Sophie Van Winden

In Conversation with Nicole Gray & Sophie Van Winden: How to Make Your Home Stylish and Sustainable

Join us in person at Earl of East Coal Drops Yard on 16/10/25 to listen to the conversation in person and pick up your copy of The Reimagined Home - register here.

At Earl of East, we believe that home should be both beautiful and mindful. To celebrate the launch of The Reimagined Home by interiors stylist Nicole Gray - featuring Sophie Van Winden’s inspiring Margate home - we hosted a conversation about how to make your living space stylish and sustainable.

The Reimagined Home challenges the idea that sustainable design has to be minimal or neutral. What inspired you to show a different perspective?

Nicole: When I started writing The Reimagined Home, I kept coming back to this idea that sustainable design had become too closely tied to minimalism-all clean lines, soft neutrals, and lots of plywood. While that can be beautiful, it’s not the only way to style your home responsibly.

I wanted to showcase homes that were driven by personality and felt layered and lived-in- spaces where sustainability showed up through vintage pieces, use of bold colours and materials that have been repurposed in unexpected ways. Sustainability doesn’t mean decorating less- it means decorating differently.

For someone just starting their sustainability journey at home, what are the first small, impactful changes they can make?

N: Paint is one of the most accessible and transformative tools we have-and it’s often overlooked when we talk about sustainable design. A single coat can shift the entire mood of a space, without the need to buy anything new or undergo a full renovation.

There are plenty of low VOC, water-based vibrant paints to choose from now, too; Coat, Yes Colours and Francesca’s Paints are all great options.

A lot of your book celebrates joy and colour-how do you balance playfulness with making eco-conscious choices?

N: I want to encourage people to choose colours and patterns that make them feel alive and at home, while also being mindful about where those materials come from and how they’re made. One of my favourite examples of this (included in the book) is in the townhouse belonging to the founder of salvaged textile brand, Haines Collection, Jules Haines. Jules repurposed bright red bungee cord, inspired by an exhibition she saw at The Tate, as a tactile stair guard to stop her young children from
falling off the stairs.

It’s such a simple idea, but made her home feel personalised and creative, whilst still being eco-conscious.

Your Margate home is featured in Nicole’s book - can you tell us a little about the
ethos behind your space and how sustainability plays a role in it?

Sophie: I wanted the space to feel calm and soothing. My work is very busy and full of colour
so I wanted a home that would calm my mind, almost like a palette cleanser, as I am
often working on lots of different designs at the same time.

I also wanted to reflect my surroundings. I had just moved to Margate when I bought
the property and was so inspired by the beach walks, chalky cliffs and ever-changing
skies (I still am!). Being surrounded by nature and so much vast, fresh air really
makes you think of materiality and that’s where the sustainability aspect of my
design started from... I wanted as many natural materials as possible, so the interior
felt clean and free of toxins as the outside.

Using materials such as cork and lime paint and natural stones and wood help bring
that calming energy that nature gives you inside your home

What’s one design decision in your home that you feel best combines style and
sustainability?

S: I think the mix of lots of vintage pieces, added with a few new and bespoke items
added in, creates a layered look and a unique style totally personal to me, whilst also
being as sustainable as you can be really as the least new pieces you can buy the
better it is for the environment.

Many people feel overwhelmed by the idea of creating a “sustainable” home. What advice would you give for starting small and building gradually?

Nicole: It’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed- “sustainability” can sound like a big, all-or-nothing goal. But in reality, creating a more sustainable home is about starting with what you have.

One of the most powerful shifts you can make is to ask yourself if you need to bring that new item into your space, or if you can borrow, repurpose or find it second-hand?

I recommend starting with one corner of your home or one habit. Maybe it’s switching to low-VOC paint when you next redecorate, choosing natural textiles for your bedding, or finding a second-hand table instead of buying new. Each of these small choices adds up, and will create a home that feels layered over time.

Sophie: I would say layering vintage pieces with new is a great way to start as anything that doesn’t have to be manufactured is instantly better for the environment. And then things you do want to buy check the labels and buy from as close to home as possible and with materials that are either natural (wood – FSC approved only, cork, stone, cotton, linen) or recycled or recyclable.

Are there particular everyday objects - whether it’s candles, ceramics, or textiles - that you think make the biggest difference in shaping a mindful, stylish home?

N: Textiles are transformative. I love raw linen for its softness and breathability, and organic cotton for everyday pieces like throws or tablecloths. Even something as simple as swapping out synthetic fabrics for hemp or undyed wool can bring a home closer to nature, both in look and feel.

Ceramics made with local clay, or glazes using natural oxides, also carry a beautiful imperfection and earthiness. And with candles, I always recommend beeswax or soy-they burn cleaner than paraffin, and often come in refillable or recyclable containers.

S: I think art (including ceramics, textiles and artefacts) is what makes a home completely personal to its owners and sets the tone for a space. Finding local artists, and pieces from your travels adds layers of memories and colour palettes totally unique to you.

Shop Nicole's Edit

From a cushion that will go with everything, a blanket that could also be framed as artwork, to easy ways to elevate the everyday, Nicole's curated her Earl of East wish list.

SHOP THE EDIT