Wealden Times was borne from a desire to celebrate and share the many wonderful things that we love about this community of ours. A community in part defined by geography but one more broadly connected by shared values and an appreciation of nature, design, creativity, collaboration and craftsmanship. Draw a Venn diagram of these characteristics and Alie Carter, her interior design philosophy, and her delightful home would sit right in the middle. She is the epitome of our purpose. Her interior design aesthetic also reflects many of the values of the ‘slow home’ movement. More on than that shortly.

Alie’s journey into interior design began in New York in the late 1980s, styling fashion shoots for Cosmopolitan magazine, back when the likes of Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Elle Macpherson, and Christie Brinkley were front page news. She returned to London as a freelancer, styling shoots for Elle magazine and numerous other brand and ad campaigns. The transition from dressing houses for a modelling shoot to interior designer was a smooth one. Alie studied at the renowned KLC School of Design in London, now part of the prestigious West Dean College of Arts, Design, Craft and Conservation.

In addition to the history of design, it was here that she learnt how to structure an interior design project. How to break it down into its various parts: from design to construction, then how to use colour, texture, fabrics and light to bring a room to life. She also learnt how to manage suppliers and makers, and how to ask the right questions of clients in order to unearth the details that very often define the brief. 

“When I meet a new client, I ask them a lot of questions about their lifestyle. Most people don’t know what they want, so my job is to understand their needs and their nice-to-haves, and from that design them a room that will delight them. The next part of the job is delivery. I source all the suppliers, from carpenters to seamstresses, and then manage the delivery, installation, invoicing and snagging. And at the end of it all, they get a room that they will love spending time in.

“I start by asking questions about everything from the music they like to where they tend to read. I also want to know how they use each room or item of furniture. Do they like to sit on the sofa with their feet up or feet down? Do they like to entertain? Where do they eat: do they have family dinners in the kitchen, dinner parties in the dining room, or supper on their laps in front of the TV?” 

For every interior designer, getting to know the client and their family is key. The longer they work together, the more symbiotic the relationship. “The nicest jobs are where a family has bought a house and we work our way round it, doing one room at a time. I get to know them really well. We build up a relationship. They get to know and trust me and my suppliers, decorators, and curtain makers. Our relationship evolves with each room we redesign.”

Redesigning a whole house can feel quite daunting but taking an iterative approach, one room at a time, feels calmer and more manageable, with time to not only reflect on the changes made to each room but time to pause and enjoy them too. 
And this is where a bell rings and I’m reminded of the ‘slow home’ movement, whose origins began with the ‘slow food’ movement that many of us are familiar with. The ‘slow food’ movement is all about promoting local and traditional food, advocating for sustainable food production and consumption, and encouraging people to take the time to enjoy and appreciate their food.

It emphasises the importance of supporting small-scale farmers, preserving biodiversity, and acts as a counter balance to the ubiquity of fast food joints and industrialised agriculture, and results in a deeper connection to the food we eat, the people who produce it, and the environment it comes from. It was from here that the ‘slow home’ movement evolved. It focuses on designing and building homes that are sustainable, energy-efficient and mindful of the environment. It’s about thoughtful design choices, quality materials and creating spaces that enhance wellbeing and the quality of life. Simplicity, functionality and longevity are at the heart of each design brief.

It encourages consumers to invest in high-quality, timeless pieces and upcycle, rather than promote disposable or fast furniture.
You see these principles throughout Alie’s barn. As you would expect from a new home of this scale, it is extremely energy efficient, combining an air source heat pump with heavily insulated walls. Eighteen months in the planning and a year to build, this home wasn’t rushed. Alie had time to see how each space evolved. James Chapman of Kent Design Studios was integral to this process. “KDS obtained our planning for us and we worked closely together on the design of the building and then the structural details.”

One starting or anchor point for a room is often a client’s art. A great example of this is the bedroom that features the work of Alie’s artist sister, around which she found the wallpaper and then the furniture and fabric that would work with the art. Throughout our lives we all gather items of sentimental value, family heirlooms and objets d’art. We probably don’t give these items the space or prominence they deserve, whereas Alie’s empathetic designs do.
One of the most important things that Alie elicits from her clients is how they would like to feel in a certain room. She’s very clear about what makes her happy in her home environment.

“The big thing for me is light. I love that we can see big skies and enjoy open views from the property. But internally I want a feeling of openness too. So even though the house isn’t particularly open plan, there is so much light. It was the one thing we didn’t compromise on.”
The huge picture window and roof light over the front door which flood the spectacular entrance hall and landing with natural light are certainly testimony to that, whilst the French windows in the barn’s principal bedroom offer a stunning vista of trees, green fields and grazing sheep, all from the comfort of the bed. The wildflower wallpaper further connects the room with the greenery that surrounds the barn.

Look closely around the barn and you’ll spot lots of joyful and pleasing details, many sourced directly from local designers and makers. There’s the Rattan chair rescued from the tip, then elegantly upcycled. The Kevin McCloud designed chandelier (bought circa mid-90s when he used to have a lighting shop on the Wandsworth Bridge Road) that has been repurposed, reworked and reborn with the addition of new green ceramic cups from Kinkatou. And the most extraordinary handcrafted wooden pendant lights from Edenbridge-based Tamasine Osher. Clare Langdon in Cranbrook made all the bespoke blinds, whilst another long-standing friend and supplier, Pippa Clague from Canterbury, did all the curtains.

For the framing and hanging of all of her pictures, Alie used the wonderful Up The Walls.
The kitchen cabinetry was built to last by the brilliant cabinet maker Andrew Robinson, who’s based just outside Tunbridge Wells, whilst the stunning bathrooms were supplied by Salacia of Cranbrook, who have curated the most stylish collection of high quality bathroom suites, showers and tiles. 
The house itself was built with such great care by Ryan Blake and his team from Northiam-based Blakes Design – “Wherever they could they went the extra mile.” The exterior of the barn is beautifully clad with larch. Instead of inserting a standard metal grill into the roof to ensure air flow, they carved a circular wooden vent, so as not to spoil the aesthetic. It’s this thoughtful attention to detail that sets the best craftspeople apart.

What’s truly remarkable is just how many brilliant designers, creators and makers live and work across the Weald. The good news is that Alie can connect you to all of them. And what she has done brilliantly with her barn is bring all of these incredibly talented people together to create her perfect home. A home that on the one hand is contemporary and bold in its ambition, design and structure, but on the other has a gentle simplicity, that’s further softened by warm fabrics, natural materials and a rich colour palette. A range of colours that is both vibrant and exciting, yet feels soothing, welcoming and comforting. Alie’s barn is a wonderfully grand design, from a quite brilliant interior designer.

Address Book:

Find out more about Alie Carter Interiors by calling 07775 892688 or see aliecarterinteriors.co.uk.  

Andrew Robinson Furniture Instagram @andrewrobinsonfurniture
Blakes Design blakesdesign.co.uk

Clare Langdon Interiors clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk
Kent Design Studio kentdesignstudio.co.uk
Pippa Clague 07815 107032
Salacia salacia.co.uk/service/cranbrook-showroom/
Up The Walls upthewalls.co.uk