Aiveen Daly: Luxury Upholsterer To The Stars

Since setting up her studio in North London 10 years ago, Cork-born Aiveen Daly has established herself as one of the UK’s most respected upholstery designers. Having created bespoke pieces for luxury hotels, ‘super-yachts’ and private homes everywhere from London to Shanghai, Aiveen recently launched an online store to bring her work to a wider audience.
Born in County Cork, Aiveen Daly got her training in traditional upholstery at London’s Metropolitan University. Going on to establish her own business, she put her mind to creating only the finest hand-upholstered, impeccably made furniture and accessories. Utilising hand-dyed feathers, delicate beading and opulent fabrics, her designs routinely overlap with the related disciplines of art and high fashion.

Complex beading in an Aiveen Daly design

Aiveen’s made-to-order Paradise Chair – which features an intricate, hand-beaded bird design and detailed satin pleats – takes seven specialist craftspeople six months to complete. The design, one of her signatures, was shortlisted for the International Product Design Awards 2016 and forms part of her Treasured Possessions collection, launched in July of this year.

Of the collection, Aiveen says, ‘Every day I am inspired by couture, jewel setting and other haute crafts which become so personal to their owner, and I have tried to relay that with upholstery at the centrepiece as it has a very tactile and aesthetic quality. I hope the craftsmanship in each piece will sing out to match the technical ingenuity and conjure up a true sense of delight.’

After making a piece for British luxury property developer brothers Nicholas and Christian Candy several years ago, Aiveen’s name was quickly added to the contact lists of members of the UK uber-elite looking to update their homes. Creating bespoke pieces to the highest possible standard, Aiveen has since worked with other interior design companies like Carlisle Design Studio, whose portfolio includes private homes in the impossibly swanky London neighbourhoods of Knightsbridge and Kensington, as well places as far-flung as Phuket and Lagos. Aiveen’s work can also be found in upscale hotels, like the Gansevoort in New York’s Meatpacking District, and inside award-winning super-yachts.

But Aiveen’s high-end work is not limited to those precious few who can afford a super-yacht. In September 2016, the queen of British luxury upholstery launched a new online cushion store, allowing customers to browse and buy items from a ‘capsule, couture-inspired collection’ of handmade cushions that would have previously only been made to order. Featuring her most popular designs – such as the ‘Empress’ and ‘Feather Flower’ cushions – the range starts from £470 (around €543) per cushion.

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