When it comes to interior design, Anna Elyce Smith wants you to ask questions. The founder of Annabode Interior Design, a firm specializing in both environmentally and socially conscious interiors, posits that learning as much as you can about your consumer habits and the products and services you purchase results in the thoughtful, responsible design that she’s known for.
We chatted with Anna about Annabode’s mission, her recent Old-World-meets-California-casual Handpainted Tile project, and her attainable approach to factoring sustainability into all of her designs.
Shop Anna's top tile colors here!
Tile Shown: Tempest, Peabody, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Shetland Wool, Feldspar Gloss, Sand Dune, and Antique.
Meet Anna!
When did you first become interested in design? How did you get your start?
My childhood was steeped in art, history, and travel - which have always been my passions but it took a long time to find a career that married my strengths and interests. My graduate work was in the history of decorative arts; I spent time studying at Sotheby’s in London and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., interned at a historic house museum, and then finally fell in love with the process of design when we bought our first home.
Can you tell me about your design process? What is your favorite part?
With my background, it’s probably no surprise that I always start with the time period and architectural style of the home. Sometimes those are the same (a Victorian Queen Anne, for instance), but sometimes they are wildly different. Denver is home to scores of Tudor Revival homes from the 30s and 40s - two design aesthetics that couldn’t be farther apart. I love building on each home’s design language in a way that respects what is original, recreates what might have been there at one time, and embellishes with what our clients love and want. Our goal is always to make our client's “new” spaces feel like they’ve always been there.
Tile Shown: 1x6 in Eucalyptus // Image: Brandon Lopez
How would you describe your aesthetic?
My own aesthetic, if given free rein, is wildly different from what’s in our portfolio but still permeates each project. Modern, earthy, simple, and uniquely creative spaces bring me endless joy. I find the most beauty in objects where the hand of the artist is obvious, not hidden.
Tile Shown: 4x4 Kasbah Trellis in Neutral Motif // Image: Brandon Lopez
Where do you draw inspiration from?
As a history lover, mostly from people and places that have come before me. George Nakashima’s compound and Wharton Esherick’s quirky, self-built home (both in Pennsylvania) are two places that embody everything I love.
What are your 3 best design tips?
1) Before you start adding to, or investing in, any space it helps to take a hard look at what’s inside it. Most people start from the assumption that they need more storage, rather than asking themselves if they actually need all the things they want to store.
Tile Shown: 4x4 Kasbah Trellis in Neutral Motif // Image: Brandon Lopez
2) If you find a new piece you love, ask yourself where it was made, how it was made, and what it’s made of. If you have trouble answering any of those questions, dig a little deeper and make sure you feel good about the answers.
Brick Shown: Olympic // Image: Brandon Lopez
3) Support your local creative community. Whether it’s something small like a beautiful piece of pottery, or an investment piece like a dining table, knowing who made the objects you surround yourself with makes for a more meaningful and beautiful home.
How do you factor sustainability into your designs? Any advice for those wanting to have a more sustainable home?
When it comes to interior design, sustainability is an approach and an ethos rather than a stamp we can put on our projects. I could chat for hours about how to practice design more sustainably, but it boils down to asking a lot of questions (of our vendors and trades) and thinking deeply about the impact of every decision, beyond just our clients.
Tile Shown: 3x6 in Calcite Gloss with Mini Star and Cross in Calcite
We have standards for everything from cabinetry to fabrics and have been in the process for the past few years of evaluating each of our vendors on everything from manufacturing to waste to community outreach. If you want a more sustainable home, it boils down to being mindful of just three things:
1) What you already own.
2) How you consume and acquire.
3) Your purchases going forward.
The more we pay attention to our consumer habits, and exercise them consciously, the more power we have to shift our society towards a more sustainable future.
Tile Shown: Custom Sintra in Feldspar Gloss, Driftwood, and Caribbean Matte // Image: S. Brenner Photography
Do you have other sustainable brands you love that you'd like to recommend?
Absolutely. We love Coyuchi for bedding, Lundy for furniture (available in our shop), and Two Sisters for natural fiber upholstery fabrics.
Brick Shown: Wind River // Image: Brandon Lopez
Why do you like using tile in your designs?
Any tile - whether handmade or manufactured - subconsciously speaks to craftsmanship. We all know looking at tile in a bathroom or kitchen that someone spent the time to lay each one by hand. There is a human element inherent within that we don’t register with finishes like paint, stone, etc. Handmade tile brings that human connection even closer to the surface.
Brick Shown: Wind River // Image: Brandon Lopez
What made you want to work with Fireclay Tile? What do you love most about your tile?
Our core mission is to have a positive impact on the world beyond the lives of just our clients, so we are committed to working only with vendors who share that vision. We love sharing Fireclay’s commitment to zero waste, carbon offsetting, and charitable giving with our clients and helping them to use their consumer power to invest in their values.
Tile Shown: 1x6 in Eucalyptus // Image: Brandon Lopez
Do you have a favorite tile moment from all of your projects?
Right now we are under construction with a repeat client whose 1930s Tudor Revival home we’ve been working on for a few years. It’s our first project using Fireclay’s architectural trims and I’m very excited for all the details.
Let's talk about your most recent project! The custom Sintra Kitchen. What were the goals for this space? What sort of look were you going for?
We wanted to blend the home’s Old World aesthetic with our clients’ California casual style and love of the ocean. The rest of the finishes are relatively quiet and neutral, so we wanted a bigger moment on that side of the kitchen. It really is the design “centerpiece” of the main floor.
Tile Shown: Custom Sintra in Feldspar Gloss, Driftwood, and Caribbean Matte // Image: S. Brenner Photography
You've used our tile in a number of projects, any tips you've learned on working with handmade tile that you'd like to share?
Make sure the installer has worked with handmade tile before, and that they have great attention to detail. Beautiful tile can easily be ruined by an inexperienced tiler.
Tile Shown: 1x6 in Eucalyptus // Image: Brandon Lopez
Lastly, which of our tiles would you love to use in future projects?
It’s a toss-up between Dot Dash 3 and 4; I’d love to use them on a floor with mostly solid
color 6x6s and then sprinkle in some as a surprise. Only in a modern home though - maybe
my own!
Tile Shown: Dot Dash 3 in Plein Aire Motif
Tile Shown: Dot Dash 4 in Plein Aire Motif
Ready to dive into your own environmentally and socially conscious design? Start today by bringing home up to five free color samples.
