She talks furniture, renovation updates, and what it was like to work on a building site.
“Many people might not know it, but I have a background in the building sector with two degrees, one in construction design and management, and another in quantitative surveying, and I’ve always had a passion for home and interiors,” is how Vogue Williams explains why she’s designed a range of swish products for EZ Living Furniture.
At uni, part of her coursework was to watch Grand Designs.
“I’ve always been interested in how spaces are put together and how things are made. Moving into furniture design felt like a really natural progression because it brings those two worlds together. It’s not just about how something looks, but how it’s built, how it functions, and how it fits into everyday life.”
At the launch in the newly renovated Coolock store, she’s dressed in an angora pink twinset. It’s not the kind of look she rocked while working for a large French construction company, Bouygues, on sites in the UK. “I only did it as I wanted to live in London,” she explains, adding that while she was the only woman on the site, she found the environment very respectful. “I could stand my ground.”
She “didn’t love being on a freezing cold building site”. Does she still have her hard hat? “No, I’m raging I never kept it.”
The recent announcement that she has a co-presenting role on Channel 4’s DIY show Renovation Rescue, to be broadcast in early summer, means it’s likely she’ll need a new safety hat.
The selection is a smart move by the broadcaster, for she brings a following and has expertise in both construction and renovation.
She shares the screen with former Love Island star Luke Mabbott, who is a trained heating and plumbing engineer.
The premise of the series will resonate with anyone who has had work done. The pair help those whose homes have been left in a bad condition by builders, remedying the situation.
London renovation
Vogue has already overhauled several homes of her own. She’s completed work on her Howth house and has the builders in at her London address. She and Spencer both have a wish list of changes they wanted to make, but had to take many of them out due to costs. In this, she says she is far more practical than he is, saying, “He wanted to take out the floors, dig down and go out and under the garden. It would also be very expensive,“ she says.
“What I want of each house is to grow into the houses, designing spaces for the kids' toy storage that can turn into something else.” Not all the bedrooms will have ensuite bathrooms either.
How did she find the right builder? She tendered it out. “You have to be so careful with the builder you choose. Really look at their past work. Don’t go for the cheapest. A lot are found through word of mouth.”
Hot seats
Having shopped at EZ Living Furniture for a long time, buying Christmas decorations and the like, a collaboration seemed like the right move for both Vogue and the furniture chain.
The Vogue Williams Collection is smart and stylish.
The Howth range feels delightful to touch. The lovely handle is a cotton, polyester and linen mix to give it a more tactile feel and is also wipeable. French seams add polish and just enough form to the cuddler to make it the perfect seat for one.
It comes in several fabric options. Fashion fans will love the broad chalk stripes, in chambray blue or khaki green.
Evocative names
It features names such as Howth and Kenmare, explaining that she decided to go with names of places that tell a story. “I split my life between London and Ireland, so it felt really natural to reference places that genuinely mean something to me.
“Kenmare is Irish, and it represents that calmer, more grounded side of my life.” She also namechecks her friend Bryan O’Sullivan, who comes from there.
“Howth, of course, holds a special place in my heart as it’s where my home in Ireland is and where lots of family memories have been made.
“Piccadilly and Carnaby, on the other hand, are pure London energy - bold, confident, and full of character. I’ve matched each name to reflect the personality and vibe of the sofa itself, too. So, you’re not just buying a piece of furniture, you’re buying into a feeling and a lifestyle.”
Favourite seat
Which style is her favourite? “Howth completely stole my heart from day one. There’s something about it that just feels so ‘me’. I’m obsessed with the stripe - it’s timeless but still has personality, and it works beautifully in both relaxed and more styled spaces. In fact, that’s actually how I have it in my own home in Howth. The chalk stripe is such a classic look, I love the character it brings to a space whilst remaining liveable.”
But as good as the pieces look, they also need to function. What sort of seat testing did she do to determine what the sofas and chairs would be like to sit on?
The sit test
“I took the ‘sit test’ very seriously! I spent a lot of time with my UK-based manufacturing partner during the design and development process. I literally sat, jumped, and lounged my way through the testing phase. We talked through different interior fillings and constructions, and I learned a lot about how each one creates a different lounging experience.
Whether you want something more structured or something you can really sink into, I’ve made sure there’s a choice. It was such a hands-on process and honestly, so much fun, but comfort was non-negotiable for me. The best way to find your favourite seat is to do the sit test yourself!”
