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ONE DAY WITH | MASTERS & MUSES | WORLD OF CABANA
In this series, we glimpse into the daily lives of artists, designers, creatives and tastemakers. Connolly founder Isabel Ettedgui lives between a 15th-century Tudor cottage in Hampshire, England and a townhouse above her London store. She is rarely still. A lifelong aesthete, Ettedgui navigates various domains: the studio, the shop floor, the warehouse, and antique markets. She guides Emma Becque through the rhythms of her days, both in and out of work.
INTERVIEW BY EMMA BECQUE | MASTERS & MUSES | 5 DECEMBER 2025
Connolly, London, founded by Isabel Ettedgui. Images courtesy Connolly.
I’ve always been an early riser. I start my day with a proper mug of Fortnum's breakfast tea as soon as I wake. Breakfast typically consists of a boiled egg, toast, an orange, and strong coffee with hot milk. In London, I now walk to Marchesi on Mount Street or Hyde Park for coffee, cherishing those moments of clarity when walking with a hot drink and no phone. If my morning ritual is disrupted, my day feels off.
My morning routine begins with my dogs. Babette, my elderly French bulldog, stays close, while Ajax, our younger Greek rescue hound, needs a walk before anything else. This takes me outdoors early, often along the river in Petersham and Ham, before returning to our 15th-century timbered house.
When I’m in London I stay in the townhouse above Connolly on Clifford Street. The house has its own atmosphere. Whichever home I’m in, I always have the radio on in the background, usually classical music on Radio 3 or 4.
I like commuting, perhaps because I’m nosy and enjoy observing. I’m lucky as I always get a seat, my train is the start of the District line from Richmond. Sometimes I send my team messages when my thoughts are racing; otherwise, I forget to do so. I should probably look into scheduled emails and messaging, but my team knows I am relaxed. Each morning, I enjoy reading the condensed news alerts from The Economist.
Images from an exhibition at Connolly, Mayfair. Images courtesy Connolly.
Running a small business means no two days are the same. I could spend a few days at the design studio in Ham, and a day in the shop, and another in the warehouse, meetings, or simply catching up. Connolly is an intensely hands-on business. We aren’t a big machine. I’m involved in everything, from designing clothing and knitwear to foraging for art and antiques, and working closely with craftsmen on leather goods.
Even at this stage, I want to be part of the process. Authenticity is key. It is invigorating to collaborate with my team on product design, content planning, and creative direction. I can’t be everywhere at once. However, it’s essential to me to remain true to the brand's essence.
I see lunches as something I enjoy on holidays or weekends. But when I’m in the studio with my team, lunch is a proper meal. We all cook something together and sit around a big table. Usually, vegetarian pasta or seasonal salads are on the menu. It’s a tradition we started after the pandemic, and I cherish it. Lunch in town is functional, usually a quick sandwich, crisps, Diet Coke. Occasionally, if time allows, I might visit the Royal Academy, Maison François, or Oswald’s for a proper meal.
My afternoons are unstructured, which I prefer. I might work on visual merchandising in the shop, collaborate with the e-commerce team on photography, review antiques, or brainstorm new designs with studio colleagues. There’s always something to refine. The shop is not just a retail space; it’s a gallery, a living room, an inviting space for our customers. We try to create layers: objects, lighting, fabrics, books.
Connolly, London, founded by Isabel Ettedgui. Images courtesy Connolly.
I don’t really take breaks. I might make tea or step outside for some air, but I’ve learned over the years to compartmentalise. Once my busy day is over, I can close the door and wait until the morning arises. That didn’t come naturally - it’s something I had to develop. Having a team I trust makes that possible.
As time has gone by I have become more of a homebody. But I am very sociable, so I might meet friends or go to the ballet in the evening. I love the kind of performances that don’t require a plot to follow. A musical with movement and color lets me disappear. It’s like walking through a beautiful woodland. You don’t need to think; you are just present.
Switching off isn’t easy, but taking a holiday helps. Ideally this would take place in Greece, or Uruguay, where my friends host me. I love to swim in any kind of water, add in breakfast and friends and family for company, and I am set.
When I have a day off, I love to visit antique fairs or explore galleries. Ordovas is a favourite of mine, which is a small, beautifully curated space. Lindsey Ingram truly knows her artists and presents their work with such intimacy. Gagosian, of course, takes your breath away. I’m always on the lookout for new places. Pimlico Road is a haunt I return to again and again. You never know what you’ll find.
I take inspiration from everywhere. But if I had to pick three places on the spot: Phoebe Philo, Maureen Doherty at Egg, and Axel Vervoordt. They’ve all created spaces and identities that are entirely their own. There’s a spirit in their work that isn’t diluted by corporate structures. I also look at shop windows, colors in a cookbook, and, of course, fashion, people, art, and interiors. It’s about the human touch.
One place I keep coming back to is Kettle’s Yard. It has a human-sized scale; I love it. The balance of intimacy and intention feels very close to what we try to create at Connolly. I hope Connolly emanates a similar feeling as a place people return to. Somewhere that holds a sense of goodwill. Our customers come for a leather bag or a cashmere coat and leave with a shopping story, a memory, a sense of belonging. That’s what makes an object into an heirloom. Another space that lingers in my mind is Casa de Pilatos in Seville. It features rooms filled to the brim with intricate tiles.
If I weren’t doing this, I’d probably be running an antique shop or a bed and breakfast somewhere beautiful. I am very sociable, enjoy completing design projects and love breakfast, so in my imagination, this would be a perfect fit. But I’m not sure I’d be very good at the running-it part.
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