My Design London: tube seat fabric designer Emma Sewell is fascinated by colour, contrast and pattern in the capital

The fabric design for Tube seats as well as richly coloured cushions, throws and scarves are the staples of Wallace Sewell. Here one of the company’s partners, Emma Sewell, reveals her favourite design shops and places to visit in the city.

My design: her upholstery for the Tube’s Circle line, which references famous London landmarks including the London Eye

Corinne Julius20 October 2017

Most of us have sat on a bit of Emma Sewell — probably on one of the moquette fabrics she and her business partner, Harriet Wallace-Jones, designed for Tube seats. Richly coloured cushions, throws and scarves are the staples of their company, Wallace Sewell, which is 25 this year. The duo’s work is recognisable for its modernist look and carefully thought-out colourways.

WHERE I LIVE

At work: Emma Sewell at Wallace Sewell

I live close to Camden Town. I used to live a few streets away as a student and wanted to come back for my daughters’ secondary schooling. I enjoy the village atmosphere in our enclave and the great local shops.

I live with my husband, who’s a graphic designer, and our two teenage daughters in a Sixties mews house we completely redesigned. It’s an upside-down house with the bedrooms on the ground floor.

We have a back patio and three terraces. We take a cup of tea up to the top terrace and look at our tomatoes growing.

Urban jungle: autumn seed heads on one of the three terraces behind Sewell’s Camden Town home

DESIGN INSPIRATION

Colour fascinates me. Just walking to work I get inspired by the buses and people set against them which provide the bright colours. I also draw on art: paintings, colour, pattern.

DESIGN TIP

Play with contrasts. Old and new, bold and subtle, bright and neutral. If you use strong colours you need to use neutrals, to offset them. We use really bright, bold colours but mix them with a range of subtle tones.

FAVOURITE MUSEUM

The Fashion & Textile Museum. I like the combination of the main show and a side exhibition by contemporary makers. From now until January 21 they will be showing our work.

BEST MARKET

Chapel Market because it is still an authentic market that hasn’t got too cool for its own good. I buy fruit, veg and fish, and love a bit of Tupperware.

SECRET SHOP

I go to Ray Stitch for amazing textiles and haberdashery. It runs courses on everything from making Roman blinds to embroidery.

LATEST PROJECT

Latest project: artwork for Wallace Sewell’s new range of silk scarves

We have just launched our first rug collection, we’re guest designers with a Belgian company and next year we’re designing rugs, ties and scarves for the Royal Opera House. We’re doing a new range of printed silk scarves for next summer.

FAVOURITE ITEM OF HOME DESIGN

Home design: Sixties Eclipse lamp by Italian designer Vico Magistretti

Our Artemide Eclisse lamp, where you can pull the cover over to dim it (£104.55 at Aram).

MOST TREASURED DESIGN POSSESSION

My T25 VW Campervan. I grew up with Campervans. I inherited my parents’ van including camping bits like my grandmother’s crocheted blankets from my childhood.