Jewellery designer Michelle Oh creates one-of-a-kind ‘future heirlooms,’ finishing each piece by hand from her studio in East London. Working with clients to commemorate the special moments in life, the wedding and engagement ring expert crafts timeless designs for ‘modern lovers’ using recycled precious metals and natural gemstones.

Since establishing her eponymous brand in 2011, Michelle has opened her largest showroom to date in Shoreditch. We spoke to the designer about how to establish a lasting sense of style and the East Asian interior influences behind her latest space.

Congratulations on your newest showroom in Shoreditch! How would you describe your jewellery brand and its shop interior style?

Thank you! It’s certainly our largest showroom yet, so that’s exciting.

I would describe our brand as colourful, personal, and unique. Our shop interior is more on the muted side colours-wise, but it’s because we wanted to meet our clients in a serene and quietly beautiful setting.

A lot of our clients are contemplating making a big purchase for a proposal so we didn’t want to feel like an intimidating space full of glass cabinets. Instead we wanted the space to feel almost like a sitting room in someone’s home, where we can chat in a relaxed atmosphere with our clients.

How did you come up with the interior design for the shop? Did you work alongside a professional or is this a reflection of your personal aesthetic?

I had been following Fred Rigby for some time and had been in touch with him recently to purchase a few pieces from his collection. I found out then that he also did spaces, and it was a very natural progression from there to having him design our entire space. Being of East Asian heritage I wanted to have textiles and materials that would hint at this in our showroom, so we chose materials like wood, linens, wool, rattan and bamboo with this in mind.

When it comes to sourcing interior items to complement your jewellery brand, do you approach the two in the same way? What styles are you naturally most drawn to?

I’m drawn to pieces with texture, pieces that play with scale and space, and pieces that don’t feel too perfect. A lot of my own favourite designs are ones that have that Wabi-sabi quality about them. I’m also drawn to creating harmonious asymmetry in designs, whether using mixed shapes, colours, or textures.

I think this was why I was particularly drawn to the pieces I bought from Select Works, by Abid Javed and Haar East. They share the same spirit.

How do you usually select artwork or furniture for the store? Are there any particular places online or IRL you visit to find inspiration? What’s your most treasured piece?

I have to say Instagram is a constant source of inspiration. As part of my work I do have to be on Instagram quite a lot so it’s also where I discover new artwork and furniture.

My most treasured piece of furniture (and I would also argue art) is my Fred Rigby desk. It was the first thing I had made for the showroom, and you could say we designed the rest of the showroom around it!

Do you have any tips for establishing a brand and interior style that will last?

Have confidence in your own taste and don’t be afraid to go for something if you know in your heart that you love it, but be wary of things that feel too ‘trendy’ or of the moment. I give my clients the same advice when they’re having trouble deciding between stones or designs.

A lot of the time people confuse ‘timeless’ as something that equates to boring or overly simple, but this isn’t always the case. What’s timeless for one person will be entirely different to another, ultimately it’s about staying true to what you love and going for it.

Images by Guy Archard.

Interior design by Fred Rigby.

Explore our ceramics collection to see similar works by Abid Javed and Haar East.