Meet @theforever_curates
Karen Thomas, a Walthamstow-based entrepreneur, has made a remarkable transition from her illustrious career in luxury fashion buying and creative consultancy to establishing her own home and interiors business, @theforever_curates. With a background working for renowned retailers like Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and various independent luxury fashion brands, Karen decided to follow her passion, launching her new venture a year ago.
Initially started as an Instagram account during the pandemic, @theforever_curates began with daily musings inspired by art, fashion, home, and lifestyle. This platform has since evolved into a full-fledged creative business. Today, @theforever_curates not only highlights new and exciting home and lifestyle brands but also offers a range of creative services, including interior design and styling, content creation, and brand strategy services.
Karen’s new venture has quickly garnered attention, leading to collaborations with notable names like Donna Wilson, In Casa by Paboy, Addison Ross Home, Coco Lulu Designs, Hotel Elma, Tooka, Dottie & Cloud, and @curateology.
For Karen, inspiration strikes in various moments, whether it's a simple walk in the forest, a cultural outing to galleries, or visits to flower markets. She finds beauty in the ordinary and mundane, often overlooked in everyday life.
Creatively, Karen is drawn to colour and print, a passion rooted in her days as a luxury fashion buyer. She has a keen eye for anything artisan and handmade, recently developing an obsession with hand-painted ceramics. New techniques and innovative ideas on reimagining everyday objects continually spark her creativity. She follows interior design studios that excel in mixing colours, shapes, and materials to reinvent spaces.
Karen’s philosophy on colour is simple: more is more. She compares adding colour to seasoning a dish—it's the magical ingredient that personalises and enlivens a space. For Karen, colour is a tool that profoundly impacts our moods and well-being.
The pandemic led many to a "colour awakening" as they spent more time at home, realising the importance of creating the right mood with colour. Karen believes that colour and light can make or break a room's ambiance, influencing whether people want to stay or leave. This understanding has prompted businesses to invest more in their corporate spaces, recognising that a well-designed environment boosts productivity. Whether at home or work, colour directly affects our sense of well-being.
Post-lockdown, outdoor spaces have become integral parts of homes rather than afterthoughts. Investing in colourful furniture and accessories can personalise and enhance these areas. Karen notes that colourful outdoor settings, especially during warmer months, create visually appealing and uplifting environments.
Websites like Glassette and Maison Flaneur offer a plethora of artisan outdoor products, encouraging people to embrace nature's backdrop and maintain a cheerful atmosphere.
Karen views al fresco gatherings as inherently celebratory. She believes that the table should look as good as the food tastes. Here are her tips for enhancing outdoor gatherings:
- Invest in Beautiful Table Settings: High-quality table mats, napkins, and statement tablecloths can instantly elevate the dining experience.
- Choose Elegant Glassware and Cutlery: These details add a polished feel to the table.
- Use Statement Salad Bowls and Serving Utensils: They help create a stylish and cohesive tablescape.
- Add Fresh Fruit and Pretty Vessels: Fresh fruit in water jugs and attractive carafes for wine and condiments add colour and unique points of interest.
- Incorporate Fresh Flowers and Festoon Lighting: These elements add a summery touch and set the mood for the gathering.
- Create a Great Spotify Playlist: Music is essential for creating the right ambiance.
By following these tips, you can create memorable and visually appealing al fresco gatherings that delight friends and family.