One Day with Alice Palmer

ONE DAY WITH | MASTERS & MUSES | WORLD OF CABANA

Our new series, One Day with, is an insider's look at the daily routines and rituals of artists, designers, creatives and tastemakers. This week, Sophie Goodwin speaks to London-based designer Alice Palmer, known for her jovial, colorful lampshades and prints. 

INTERVIEW BY SOPHIE GOODWIN | MASTERS & MUSES | 3 MARCH 2025

Alice Palmer, photographed at home by Petrina Hesketh.

I wake up at 7am on most days, providing the kids haven’t found me first. If I’m lucky enough to have my alarm go off, that’s a big win. I throw my clothes on; I adore my friend Debonnaire von Bismarck's creations for their ease and style. When it's warm enough I live in her colorful kaftans (which I am wearing in these portraits).

Breakfast is short lived. It's toast, cereal and yoghurt shovelled down by my three children, Margie, Arnold and Basil. I have an oat milk latte, which I drink quickly whilst chasing my family out of the house. It’s always very weak as caffeine can make me feel a little deranged. I have enough energy as it is.

I’m a morning person and am quite sprightly as soon as I wake up. Start early, finish early, that's my motto!’ I don’t have the time or mental capacity to do anything other than ensure we all leave [the house] on time. I generally skip breakfast, or snack on the kids leftovers. BBC Radio2 is on, but I’ll often turn it off. I find conversation hard to absorb first thing, my life is filled with noise so I long for peace and quiet.

The working day kicks off at 9am. When I arrive first thing I check emails and do any admin at the studio. Then I sit down and draw or use photoshop, some prints are created from scratch, others a riff off vintage fabric. Apart from the design side, much of my job is now content creation (reels / stills etc). We film everything in-house.

I find it hard to stay focused. I have a lot going on. If I am really engaged in what I am doing it's easier, if it’s boring I can't concentrate. The design for the house fascinates me, and holds my attention. I haven’t used an architect, I do all the drawing and designs. I am easily distracted by gossip. I love scandals.

My showroom is in Kensal Rise and it is my safe haven. The space started with a tiny shed in the back, and we converted the shop front last November. Thankfully the inhabitants moved out of the extended property so we were able to expand easily. It’s just at the end of the road of our old family home. I love my showroom, it's our Alice Palmer world. It’s south facing, and has a mellow and peaceful vibe. Our products, from tissue boxes to bed valances, mirrors, cushions and wallpapers, are made in England, India and Portugal, but this is where the magic happens design wise.

My life is basically my business. Which I think gives a sense of authenticity people can connect with and understand. My friend, Petrina Hesketh, lives close by in Notting Hill and takes a lot of our portraits, she is very talented. I only like to collaborate with people I know. Again, it gives commerciality a sense of reality.

I cook lunch at home, usually left overs from the weekend. I make everything from scratch, favourites include lamb tagine, and garlic kale. Being in the kitchen relaxes me, my latest triumph is a delicious Mexican dish, pulled pork with tacos and guacamole. I like strong, Aramaic flavors - and North American cuisine. If I wasn't working, I’d eat at Brinkley's, my family restaurant. I’ll order the caesar salad and deep fried brie. I'm a 90s girls at heart. I also love a Spritz, Campari is my current favorite.

I’ve just finished All Fours by Miranda July. When I have a spare five minutes and I'm not working on home improvements - I've been doing up where we live intensely for the past two years - I like to read. All Fours is about a married woman having a midlife crisis who launches into a wild affair. It's very well written.

We don’t break during the day, I like to get a lot done. I enjoy accomplishment and box ticking. We've just launched bed canapés and added new colorways to our wallpapers. I'm ultimately creating a fully immersive Alice Palmer world.

I love travelling, particularly Morocco, India and Spain. My most recent trip was to Tangier with Leah de Wavrin, I adored it. The interiors, food, sunlight, buildings, you name it, it was fabulous. Next up is Portugal to source my ceramics and India for fabrics. If I could start my life all over again I wouldn’t, I have my dream job.