Anna + Nina is the Amsterdam-based emporium of eclectic and colourful homewares.
Inspired by friends Anna de Lanoy Meijer and Nina Poot’s travels to exotic places like Thailand, Bali, and India, the duo endeavoured to bring the rich colours and intricate details of Asian design to home soil. Further inspired by film, art, and nature, their cool, out of the box designs have earned them a legion of fans around the globe. Alongside their own designs, they have artfully curated an edit of the most Instagrammable interiors pieces, from the likes of Les Ottomans to Astrid Wilson.
We caught up with Anna de Lanoy Meijer to become fully immersed in the whimsical world of Anna + Nina.
What first sparked your interest in interior design?
Nina and I always had an interest in interior design. I remember being obsessed with a jade, fish-shaped ashtray my grandmother had. I [also] used to steal the bathroom’s golden mirror and hang it in my room. This annoyed my parents very much. Nina has been changing and painting her room since she was a little girl too.
How would you describe the Anna + Nina aesthetic?
Escapist, full of colour, and tongue-in-cheek.
Do you consider yourself a maximalist?
Definitely!
What do you look for when sourcing new product for the store, what piques your interest?
We look for pieces with a story. We products that speak to us, that are not only functional, but also take us away and make us dream about another place.
How important was it to you to create a collection at an accessible price point?
Very important. Although we do want to keep a certain quality, we also feel that a lot of brands are overpriced. Our products are handmade, but still reasonably priced.
What are some of your home comforts?
For Nina it’s her new bed; for me it’s my Indian cotton bed sheets, and the hammock in my garden. We both love a good bath too.
What is your favourite room in your house and why?
I own a lot of Anna + Nina pieces, so it’s hard to choose. I love mixing and matching. When tablescaping, I go all out and mix printed table cloths with clashing napkins and plates. I’ll pair coloured candles with glass candle holders, and include big vases with flowers. As I said, I’m a maximalist!
How can interiors help add more joy to our homes?
I loved the title of Beata Heuman’s book Every Room Should Sing – that’s exactly how we feel at Anna + Nina. To us, a room should express who you are. Showing memories, colours, and fabrics, that remind of us what we like, and how we feel. We like to use many colours and never take ourselves too seriously.
What are your top tips for building an excellent tablescape?
We normally start by picking a certain theme: it might be florals or pastel colours, or even a season. We love to choose a fabric and then build on that, with lots of flowers, big napkins, candles, objets, and name tags. We love a party, and the table should look like one.
What are your top tips for hosting an excellent dinner party?
Choose your guests wisely. Also, creating ambiance is everything! Playlists, dim-lighting, lots of candles, an easy menu, and thoughtful name cards for your guests, will make them feel extra welcome. Last but not least, don’t make it perfect – make it fun!
Where do you look for interiors inspiration?
We love reading House and Garden. We are big fans of Illustrator Luke Edward Hall too. We adore visiting Marche Aux Puces in Paris, and the vintage shop at Los Enamorados in Ibiza.
What’s your favourite room in your house and why?
I have an extra room – next to my living room – which is painted green. I just love the colour. It even has a little library.
Some of the best places in the world to shop for interiors include…
– Marché aux Puces in Paris
– ABC Home in New York
– John Derian in New York
– Catbird in New York
– Liberty in London
– Khasto in Amsterdam
Do you buy vintage furniture? If so, from where?
Van Dijk and Ko in Amsterdam Noord has amazing vintage furniture and antiques. Neef Louis Design also has a beautiful vintage design collection.
How would you encourage readers to be more bold with colour?
It’s not the end of the world when you get it wrong. You can always paint again. Play with colour: it’s very addictive!
Any Questions or Tips to add?