Welcome to At Home With…, a new series where I invite past clients to share their unique connection to home. Home is more than just a space – it’s a feeling, a reflection of who we are, and a sanctuary where our most precious moments unfold. Through this series, we’ll step inside the lives of mothers who have embraced in-home newborn photography, exploring why home holds so much meaning for them and how they’ve intentionally crafted a space that feels like an extension of their identity.
First in this series is Ali, the creative mind behind Interior Motives, a beautiful curation of vintage pieces that bring depth, history, and soul into the home. When I photographed Ali’s newborn session last year, I was immediately drawn to the way her home felt – thoughtful, layered, and full of character. It was a true reflection of her eye for design and her love of storytelling through objects. I knew she would be the perfect person to begin this series with.
Here’s Ali, in her own words, on home, motherhood, and the beauty of imperfection…
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business – what do you curate, and what inspires your work?
I’ve always been creative but kind of struggled to find my ‘art’ and I realised over time that one of my skills is actually finding really gorgeous pieces and putting them together. So my art is less about creating something from scratch and more about placing items together and giving them the space to sing. Vintage items have so much character and are often much better quality than modern mass-produced pieces. Plus they’re better for the environment!
I want to provide pieces that add a spark of joy to your day – whether making a coffee in some epic mid-century espresso cups or shell dishes for storing your everyday jewellery – those little glimmers are important, I think, to make us stop and enjoy a mundane moment.
I started Interior Motives properly in 2021 after leaving London and moving to the countryside, and it’s just kept growing ever since. I feel so grateful to have a business that allows me to do the things I love.
I adore finding unique pieces. I don’t have any particular style or box that I fit into, but I have always admired mid-century style. Shapes and silhouettes draw me in – thrown in with lots of natural textures like wood and stone amongst the glint of stainless steel! I find natural materials grounding, so handmade ceramics and carved wood are my jam.
Travel has been such an inspiration, and layering pieces that have sentimental meaning amongst found objects really pays tribute to that. I’m interested in too many things to stick to one theme. Whenever we go away, I end up bringing things back both for our home and for my business. My husband, bless him, is often roped into carrying precious pieces back. I’ve had to start taking a big wad of bubble wrap with me anytime we go because I just know I’ll find treasures that I can’t leave behind.
My husband and I both studied ancient history at uni – we met in our first seminar – and I think you can see that across our home. We love history and pieces that nod to that. I feel like a kind of interior archaeologist, digging around for beautiful items.
Friends and other people really inspire me. I am lucky to have lots of creative, artistic friends, and I love to have their pieces in my home. One day I’d love to expand Interior Motives to also have artisan-made products.
Because I can never just do one thing, I also have a freelance marketing business (CAKE marketing) after having worked for some recognisable brands like L’Occitane, Charlotte Tilbury and Molton Brown for a decade or so. Since then, I’ve also supported conservation and charitable organisations because I’m passionate about the environment and our planet. True to form, my work is as eclectic as my house.
2. What does ‘home’ mean to you, and how do you bring that feeling into the spaces you create?
There are a lot of stunning, super curated homes that you see on Instagram that are so inspirational, but I also think there’s something beautiful in seeing a house that’s lived-in. I can’t live in an actual museum (as much as I’d like to) because it just wouldn’t be functional – so balance is key.
Our houses evolve with us over time as our needs change – particularly so if we have little ones. I’ve had to embrace the chaos a little more with Arthur’s toys spread across rooms, but I also try to find things that are a bit ‘me’ so we have woven baskets for his toys and cool magazine racks for his books. I have to find the joy in the pieces that surround me!
For me, home needs to reflect how I want to feel in that space, so I try to adapt each room for its purpose. I have some art that calms me, some that I find inspirational and enlivening, and some that’s a bit tongue-in-cheek. In workspaces, for instance, I like to have pieces that remind me to stay curious. And in our bedroom, we have darker colours mixed with teak furniture as I wanted it to feel like living in a moody oil painting.
Our surroundings definitely reflect us. And that feels really special to me. It’s our sanctuary away from the noise of the day – a place where we come back to ourselves.
3. Why did you choose an in-home newborn session, and how did it feel to capture those early moments in your own space?
I love being at home (in case you couldn’t tell). I also had a homebirth for that reason, and so it only felt natural to have an in-home shoot. Hanna, I love your style so much – the second we saw your images we were like ‘yup, that’s the one.’ My husband was so relieved because I’m not comfortable in front of the camera and I have quite specific taste!
But you so beautifully capture natural moments that don’t feel forced. Your style is this incredible mix of ethereal, soft femininity and powerful, warrior-woman vibes. And now having met you, your work so reflects you – your grace and strength, all rolled into one. It’s incredible to witness.
Aesthetically, I remember worrying that there were nighttime snacks on my bedside table and muslins draped everywhere in the background, but actually those little elements are so special in the photos. You captured this perfectly chaotic moment in time in all of its sleep-deprived, intense, beautiful glory!
4. If you could describe your home in three words, what would they be?
Eclectic, layered, evolving.
5. Where can people find your work?
For Interior Motives, follow along on Instagram and shop through Etsy. I’m also on Narchie and Vinterior.
My marketing and consulting business, CAKE, is here. You can see some of Ali’s beautiful work below.
Thank you, Ali, for this incredibly inspiring post. A true curator of beautiful things, grower of the most gorgeous houseplants, and maker of a home filled with meaning, warmth, and history. A space layered with intention, designed to be lived in, loved in, and ever-evolving – just like you.
Let’s capture these precious moments at your home.
Your in-home newborn session invites you to slow down, be present, and savour every fleeting second of your baby’s first few weeks. If you want to remember your baby’s homecoming—savouring the small moments like the softness of their skin as they rest in your arms—click here to book your session today.
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