A short history

Sally Bourne has always loved working with colour - but not just any old colours. There is a particular restrained palette found in objects worn by the ravages of nature that have always caught Sally’s attention. This palette has been her inspiration since childhood. The relationship of one colour with another is more important than any single colour

“I suppose I love understated colours," she says simply. "The muted tones of different colours having the same core pigment can be so beautiful and restful; they simplify spaces and exude a feeling of calm. I feel this is what I am about. The relationship of one colour with another is more important than any single colour and is key to any scheme be it Interiors, Fashion or Garden Design".

This restrained colour palette together with smooth, yet matt textures influenced Sally’s early ceramics work when she trained at the Central school of Art in London. It has remained her trademark through 20 years of ceramic production, culminating in her own range of tiles sold by Fired Earth and her own retail outlet in North London.

The daughter of an architect, Sally has always felt comfortable working with interiors. She has worked on large contracts from Pubs and hotels, to schemes for discerning private clients.

“I loved the transformations," she recalls," but I need more than sitting behind a drawing board 24/7. I wanted to be both more immediate and part of the supply chain”.

Sally started selling designer paints along side her range of tiles at a workshop made from converted stables in Crouch End, North London.

The process of choosing colours can be so daunting for people “I had just moved into the area after having my first child. We were renovating a wreck of a house and I really felt that there was a gap in the market for simple muted coloured tiles and felt that complimentary paints were also needed. I really wanted to create a place that helped you in the process of choosing of colours which can be so daunting for people. We started selling Designer paints above the tile workshop and it became so popular it soon became apparent that we needed to move into the local high street and expand further into interior accessories."

About us

Sally opened her first retail shop in Crouch End in 2003; a second branch in Muswell Hill opened in November 2007.  The Muswell Hill shop continues to reflect Sally’s calm and understated style and emphasis is given to customer care. The aim of the shop is to provide informed help for people wishing to transform their homes. The Team  are key to their success - indeed as many staff members began as customers, they are always sensitive to customer's needs.

The shop offers over 12,000 colours of paint, with hundreds of colours painted onto large boards , to enable true comparisons. Wallpapers and fabrics are also available along with Sally’s own range of handmade tiles. The huge range of home accessories, ranging from dishcloths of Swedish linen to antique French furniture, makes for destination shopping.

Sally travels extensively to source products for the shop, as well as working closely with local suppliers. She tries to promote a network of local trade and a sense of community. It is Sally Bourne's mission to support the smaller artisan companies, as well as working together with their suppliers to try to ensure that all the products sold are sustainable and ethically produced.

Sally Bourne Interiors is also trying to reduce the carbon it produces as a business. They are currently working to make the business carbon neutral (for more details, please see the Environmental and social responsibility statement).