Interiors expert Abby Keene designs nurseries with star appeal
WORDS: SUE LEE PHOTOS: KELLY ZUBER @ KLR-PHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK
When Dani Dyer was thinking about how to decorate the nursery ahead of the arrival of her twin girls, she knew just who to turn to.
But while the Love Island winner was thrilled with interiors expert Abby Keene’s design ideas, the decorators charged with the task were a little less than convinced…
“It was the wallpaper on the ceiling – they thought I was nuts! But it’s a big trend, and Dani trusted me, we went with it and it turned out beautifully,” reveals Abby, founder of Ginger Nest Interiors.
Dani, who gave birth to Summer and Star in May 2023, admits she was initially taken out of her comfort zone with the proposal but says the room became the “perfect princesses’ haven”.
Abby also worked with reality TV star Lucy Mecklenburgh on a stunning green colour palette for her son Roman’s room.
“I’ve known Lucy since I was about 14 and she got in touch with me when she knew I was an interior designer. It was really fun to work with her. We have the same taste,” says 33-year-old Abby.
Other celebrity mum clients include Jessica Hayes and Ferne McCann, who Abby says “didn’t actually know what she was having when we started the designs so we went with something lovely and neutral”. And former TOWIE star Danielle Armstrong opted for gorgeous “girlie touches” in a neutral scheme.
But despite her famous customers, Abby, who has two sons, Louis, nine and seven-year-old Max, is adamant that anyone can access her services.
It was this determination to ensure what she did wasn’t just for the rich and famous that led the Essex-born entrepreneur to offer a method enabling anyone to get the interior designer experience without breaking the bank.
“I saw a gap in the market to offer virtual design, simple as that,” explains Abby, who has now extended her business from nursery and children’s rooms to include whole houses.
“Interior design can be seen as an expensive route to take – I wanted to shift that idea.”
Each client is looked after in the same way, she says.
“There’s no, ‘Oh, you’re on the back burner because we’ve got this big project coming in.’ And it’s always collaborative.”
Abby adds that clients usually find her through her Instagram account or word of mouth. Sh
