“For survivors of domestic abuse, an empty property can feel frightening and overwhelming, so we create fully furnished, calming homes that prioritise comfort, dignity and stability. It’s about designing spaces that help women and children feel safe, grounded and able to rebuild their lives.”
Interior designer Emily Wheeler founded Furnishing Futures in 2019, after seeing first-hand in her former career as a social worker that families escaping from traumatic circumstances often end up in an empty property, sometimes without beds or even an oven. Less than two per cent of social housing comes furnished – so Furnishing Futures connects interior design retailers who have returns or leftover stock with families who desperately need donations for their home.
To mark International Women’s Day (Sunday March 8), Furnishing Futures has partnered with Brockley-based bespoke and vintage rug company Shame Studios to create the Roots collection. This limited-edition range of handmade rugs is available to buy, and will also furnish the homes of survivors of domestic abuse.
Shame Studios works with traditional craftspeople around the world to create modern carpet designs in an ethical and sustainable way, ensuring fair working conditions and pay to its weavers. The team at Shame heard about Furnishing Futures as operations manager Anna Luu lives near the charity’s base in Waltham Forest.
“We learned that flooring is often the hardest element [for the charity] to source,” says Sarah Lane, head of design at Shame Studios. “So initially, we donated surplus rugs. But the partnership grew into something more meaningful and we decided to create an entire collection in support of the cause. We will match every rug sold by donating a piece from the collection to Furnishing Futures.”
The result is Roots: 14 rugs designed by Lane and produced in Bhadohi, India – a city known as South Asia’s hub for hand-knotted carpets. The rugs are named after people who have benefited from the charity’s work, including Briony, Isla and Gabriella.
Creating a collection suitable for people who’d lived through traumatic events was key. “Strong colours and intense patterning can overstimulate people who’ve experienced trauma,” says Lane. “Instead, we focused on designs that feel warm and joyful without overwhelming the senses. Nature played a central role, as the natural world is widely recognised for its calming effect on the psyche. Sprawling florals, fresh blossoms, ocean-like waves and mountain-inspired triangles are seen throughout the collection.”
This approach is what Wheeler calls “trauma-informed design”, which “recognises the impact of trauma on how we experience our environment, and seeks to create spaces that support our sense of safety and wellbeing”.
The Roots collection will be on display at the Furnishing Futures shop, event space and creative hub in Waltham Forest until March, but will hopefully make life better for the survivors of domestic violence for many years to come.
“This collaboration places survivors’ lived experience at the heart of the design process, while showing how interiors can be a force for social change,” says Wheeler.
Lane agrees. “Working alongside them has reaffirmed our belief that design can – and should – play a role in making the world a more generous place.”
The Roots collection is available online from March 8 on the Shame Studios website. It will also be on display and for sale at the Furnishing Futures shop from March 12 to April 14.
@furnishingfutures
@shamestudios
The UK’s domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247, and you can contact Samaritans on freephone 116 123.
