When selecting pieces for Ellei Home, my approach is guided less by a style than a sensibility. I am drawn to objects that create a bridge between modernity and the past, rootedness and multiculturalism, helping to create spaces that feel distinctive and personal.

Many of the items in my shop are one-off pieces, unique vintage finds or products individually made by hand in small or even single-person production. Each piece is selected for its character and its ability to contribute to creating expressive, personal interiors. Achieved, in part, through the uniqueness of many of the objects on offer, I select with those in mind who prefer something outside the mainstream: one-of-a-kind vintage Moroccan carpets, paintings created long ago by forgotten artists, hand-carved pieces from salvaged wood or woollen throws made using wool from sheep raised on the maker’s own farm. These pieces contribute to creating individual, layered homes with character and the kind of soulfulness that results from being put together slowly and over time.

Similarly, as the proprietor of a small business, I can offer a more personalised customer service. When you engage with Ellei Home, you will almost always be engaging with me. There is a kind of continuity in that, which stands in opposition to chatbots, call centres and standardised email responses. If you reach out via email, I will be happy to answer your questions and help in any way that I can.

Values

I put deep and careful thought into how I run my business and strive to be as conscientious as possible amidst the complexity and layered nature of the time and place we find ourselves in. Rather than adhering to dogmatic governing principles, I am committed to transparency and continuous learning, evolving my approach to how I run my business in line with my changing understanding of our world. I try to practice humility, in the wake of my inevitable ignorance, and flexibility in changing direction as my knowledge, understanding, and perspectives expand. I have always been and will continue to be beholden to my values as a human being above my values as a business owner.

Rather than using terms like ethical or sustainable, which can feel overused and at times even meaningless, I offer a few of the thoughts that drive my decision-making as a business owner, but you can read more in the JOURNAL section of our website: