We are so excited to hear about the new Maggie & Rose at Home! Please can you tell our readers a little bit about how the collection came about?
It’s really from 10 years of designing the clubs – we go to great lengths to source cool, unique and practical items for the clubs and we have found some awesome brands to work with. As our style is quite unique we are not able to always find toys and furnishings that work, so we found some great people and started making our own products with them. After featuring these in our Clubs and Nurseries people were asking where we get everything from and could they buy it for their homes… so at Home has happened pretty naturally, like the clubs.
What are some of the key pieces in the collection?
Definitely our handmade furniture – in particular our Mini Me Dining Chair is brilliant as it brings those who are too big for a high chair but too small for a standard dining chair to the family dining table. I’m also loving our SPLAT! range where we have gone all Jackson Pollock and splatted limited edition pieces for that extra design touch. I still splat these, as it is one of my favourite things to do with my kids.
Where will you be able to buy the new collection?
Everything is sold online at maggieandroseathome.com and will be in our clubs from September.
You are a mum of four, 1) when do you find the time? 2) how do you find the time 3) please impart all wisdom and secrets?!
It really is a team effort and bloody hard work so I am not sure I have any wisdom to impart!
Everyone – from hubby, both our mums, the club teams and the kids themselves – have to chip in. We definitely live in chaos most of the time and I often get calls from the schools saying I have forgotten one of them! I am lucky as they can spend time at work with me, and most of them work in some capacity for us now as well.
Finding time is like the fountain of youth – still searching for it but not really sure it exists!
When you are not busy working, what do you like to do to unwind?
I’m pretty boring! Hanging out with the kids and cooking as I don’t get to do that so much anymore. Equally love a cheeky glass of bubbles with the girls as well.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
It changes, at the moment it is my eldest daughter, Azia who is 17 – I am in awe of her determination, drive and her ability to stay an individual with all the pressure these teenagers face. She gives me hope that the next generation might be ok!
What was the inspiration behind launching a Family Members Club?
Boredom was the key driver – I had 3 young kids and nowhere inspiring to go. I went from Soho House to a church hall, and just couldn’t figure out why no one really cared about where parents hung out. So I created classes that were interactive and not patronising, which led to us finding the Kensington site where we designed a cool club to chill out, kids could play, we could enjoy a good coffee whilst mingling with other like-minded people.
Can you tell us what mums would expect to find at Maggie & Rose?
What is great is we are not just about the mum’s anymore as Dads love coming to hang out at the clubs as well! You will find an unpretentious home from home, where you can eat, play or learn something if you want to. Meet friends, relax, and take a moment to enjoy parenthood – we don’t get to do that enough these days with all the crazy pressure on us.
Do you have any tips for our reader mums who would like to start their own business?
Just Do it – it’s the only way, it you believe in it then find a way to make it happen, don’t take no for an answer and grow a thick skin!
Do you have any favourite family friendly restaurants & cafés across London?
Patty & Bun is our new favourite – Ollie told the waitress it was ‘the best burger he had ever had in his whole life!’ Plus I love the interiors. And Wahaca – I love Thomasina’s groove and we love Mexican.
In a few sentences, can you tell our readers what an average day is like?
I can tell you in one word – Mental!
Are you working on any exciting projects that you can share with our readers?
At Home is pretty exciting, we are designing new pieces of furniture and toys as we speak, plus we have a few new sites in the pipeline which I am loving working on the design for….. next year is going to be a crazy one!
What is the ethos of the brand?
Our values are very simple and work across both our clubs and our at Home brand. We live our days working to Inspire Creativity, Support & Nurture, Be Extraordinary and Think Visually – in all that we do.
Who is your biggest critic?
Myself! I am constantly questioning everything I do and pushing my boundaries on a daily basis. I am my best friend and worst enemy at the same time – as most heads of business are!