This story is featured in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of ESSENCE.
There’s a symbiotic relationship between fashion and the world of interiors, with more fashion creatives curating high-end decor collections—independently or with popular home brands. Carly Cushnie is one of the designers who has successfully made the leap from fashion into this exciting space. The transition feels seamless, she says, as she believes our aesthetic preferences naturally shape our surroundings.
“Personal style is very connected to interior design,” she explains. “It’s very collaborative. When you’re working with a client directly, it’s their home, their space—so it becomes about creating something that embodies who they are, while also maintaining your aesthetic, and meshing the two.”
The London-born, Brooklyn-based designer is widely known for the esteemed brand Cushnie, beloved for its feminine, glamorous and cutting-edge pieces. Initially partnered with Michelle Ochs, she opened the fashion house Cushnie et Ochs in 2008, dressing the likes of Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Lupita Nyong’o, Ava DuVernay, Rihanna and others. In 2018, Ochs departed the company, which continued on as Cushnie, until the pandemic hit in 2020. As a result of a revenue dip due to slow sales during that period, Carly Cushnie made the difficult decision to close the business that year.
But she didn’t give up on designing. She released a successful capsule collection with Target in 2020, and she collaborated with the lifestyle retail brand Anthropologie on an assortment of ethereal-meets-modern wedding dresses. Then she found herself going in a new and seemingly unexpected design direction. After completing her first interior design project during the pandemic, she began a collaborative partnership with decor company Lulu & Georgia in 2024, launching an upscale line of luxe furniture items. She also began bringing her interior design expertise to select clients, creating spaces that reflected their unique experiences and tastes.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing,” Cushnie says. “I love to be inspired by a person’s cultural heritage or the things they love, like art and books.” The style savant had developed an admiration for architecture, home decor and vintage furniture while attending Parsons School of Design from 2003 to 2007. “Similar to fashion, there’s just so much to learn from it,” she says. “It was something that I had been wanting to do for a long time, even while I had my clothing brand. I didn’t have the capacity at the time, but this was a natural progression for me. And what’s special about interior design is that it’s got much more longevity than fashion. I enjoy designing spaces and furniture that stand the test of time and can grow with the person, evolving alongside them. I felt like once I closed my fashion house, I had the space to expand myself creatively.”
For her line with Lulu & Georgia, Cushnie relies on her fashion knowledge to guide her when it comes to designing items. “People have shared with me that my furniture collection is reminiscent of my clothing,” she states. “At first, I couldn’t see that, but when I think about it, it makes sense. I wanted the collection to feel inviting. I wanted it to feel like it’s almost got a lived-in quality. There’s a cozy, warm feeling. The pieces are also refined and elegant. And I feel like there’s a little bit of an eclectic quality to them, with some of the detailing, such as fringe. We wanted the line to feel like you’ve collected these items over time. Each piece of furniture has its own little story.”
Cushnie sees similarities between the disciplines. “Interior design is almost the same as fashion in how it can bring a space to life,” she says. “When a collection is finally done and it comes to life, whether that’s in the photo shoot or on a runway, it’s showcasing all these inspirations that you’ve pulled together. It’s the same with interiors, whether it’s different furniture pieces that you’ve found or how you’ve brought a client’s vision to fruition. You’re taking a blank canvas and bringing life to it—because people are going to live their lives in it and make memories in this space, and that is the most special part of it.”
As she rolls out new furniture items with Lulu & Georgia in September and continues designing chic homes, Cushnie encourages us to discover which design elements bring us joy—and to hold onto that when curating our own digs. “Infuse your home with your style,” Cushnie says. “Whatever you like, and you want to be around, should be in your space.”
Sculpted & Styled
The designer shares a few pieces from her latest collection that explore the harmony between softness and structure.
“This sofa is the starting point of the collection, combining a luxe, refined aesthetic with soft, organic shapes and textures,” Cushnie notes. “The structured, fluted base is complemented by fluffy, overflowing cushions, giving it a relaxed vibe while still feeling elegant.” Crafted to order, this design includes an armchair, love seat and L-shaped configuration.
Available at Lulu & Georgia
“It’s impossible to pick a favorite, but this console is up there,” Cushnie reveals. “I’m a big fan of contrasting textures and patterns, even if they’re subtle. I love how the organic pattern of the burl wood sets off the striped wood of the drawers”—a fine yet striking detail.
Available at Lulu & Georgia
You can purchase the chair on its own or elevate the look with the full ottoman set. “It is super sleek and elegant, with lots of curvilinear angles, set off by a very organic fringe at the back, making it look as if the chair is unraveling,” Cushnie says. “It’s great to look at from all angles.”
Available at Lulu & Georgia
“The beautiful, soft curves in the rich, merlot-colored marble draw a lot of attention to your dining room,” Cushnie declares. For those craving something more neutral, the brand is debuting this same piece in a travertine shade this fall.
Available at Lulu & Georgia
“I adore the mix of golden marble and travertine, and how the angular shapes cut into the organic swirls of the marble,” the designer states.
Available at Lulu & Georgia