Today I’m super-excited to interview one of my favourite designers based here in Canada, the very talented, Arren Williams. Arren as some of you already know, is a renowned designer and interior stylist in the design world, having graced magazines, newspapers and television for the last two decades.  He, along with his husband, David, also founded Casa Cubista,  a home collection centred around a contemporary take on traditional Portuguese craft. And most recently, Arren’s been freelancing on some very cool design projects. Early in 2019 he launched a collection for the home titled Arcade in collaboration with a few companies which is now available exclusively at Hudson’s Bay. He’s also one of those people, that I have never met in person, but know from emailing back and forth throughout the years and watching him on television, is just a real stand up guy.  So it’s an honour to have him here on the blog today, knowing his super busy schedule (he was even on Cityline this morning), not to mention he and David are also renovating their home.  He’s got a busy life. (So thank you Arren)! And readers… I know you’ll enjoy our interview. 

Q. I always love to get a little background to start things off and love hearing how people started in their field. I read in your “About” page on your blog that at age 12, you mentioned that you weren’t playing with G.I. Joe, but with Art Deco clocks, shall we start there? 

It’s true! Both my grandmother’s played an outsize influence on my life. 

Pauline was a can-can dancer in Paris in the 1920’s, and I learned to love all of the big Holly-wood movie musicals of the twenties and thirties because of her. She’d always critique the dancers if they weren’t in synch, or didn’t point their toes on a kick, while I was blown away by the Art Deco sets and all of the glamour. 

Lena was an antique dealer with a great eye for a hidden gem. She would blag her way into church and jumble sales before they were open, and I’d tag along to learn how to bargain and what to look for. It was such an incredible kind of accidental training for the rest of my life! 

So really, my eye was trained because of both of them. And, even though I don’t have any of the clocks in my collection any more, I do still have a glam alabaster dressing table mirror that’s survived a move across the atlantic, and numerous moves since. More than forty years on and I still love it.