I have been following Ashley Stark online for several months and always admired her aesthetic: casual with extreme attention to detail. Then, when the piece on her newly renovated home came out in the October 2020 issue of Architectural Digest, she was described as being eight months pregnant and going through floorboards, and I thought: now THAT is someone I would get along with. Balancing motherhood, business, and creating a family home are all familiar to me and I could see myself in that exact position, examining each and every detail so that it would realise my vision while juggling all three aspects.
Ashley Stark is Creative Director of STARK, the legendary family-run carpet and fabric company founded over 75 years ago. Guest contributor Tova Ossad discusses steering the family business into an exciting new chapter, striking a balance between motherhood and a busy work life, and renovating her beautiful Manhattan townhouse.
I don’t! Well, more seriously I try my hardest to find a work-life balance and have learned through time to be present wherever I am at that moment. I try to turn off work when I am home with the kids in the evenings and try to focus on the task at hand while working. I have learned that no one can do it all and that’s ok because no one expects you to.
I try to show that women can have a powerful voice even in a company led by men. I fought for what I believed in even if it was something my father and uncle couldn’t understand. I believe women can do anything and I want to show my own daughter that you can have it both ways; be a present mom and a hard-working woman.
I hope to continue bringing the company to the future while maintaining our long-standing history. I hope the company continues to grow and be a leader in the design world.
London has so much to offer and is a great jumping point to all the European countries. It just made sense to be in the heart of the amazing city.
My grandmother was a huge inspiration for me growing up. She always took me to the office to show me how the company worked and told me that one day, if I worked hard, I could be taking her place. She was classic with a touch of edge and that’s similar to my style. She showed me a strong powerful woman who could be anything she chooses if she sets her mind to it.
Yes sustainability and eco-friendly design is something that is personally important to me so I look to bring that to Stark. We are already very green using many natural materials. We even have a whole line of “green” carpet.
It hasn’t come to play yet but I look to my own home life and am constantly coming up with ways to be more sustainable use less plastic and I hope to bring this to the company.
I think people have seen the importance of the home and making one’s space comfortable, liveable, and beautiful all at the same time. People are needing ‘work from home’ spaces and more practical spaces. I think people have seen that they can work from home and while I think it will take longer than a year for them to give up their home offices, they will go back to the office.
I think I was influenced more in the décor of my home. I am constantly surrounded by color and pattern so when I come home I want a soothing escape. I made my home very neutral with lots of layers and textures.
I love looking to everyone in the design community and mixing and incorporating it into my personal style.
I learned that it’s better to just go for it than to do half and half later. I realized you end up paying more that way and have to do the work twice. Better to just do it once the right way.
My Instagram began as a way to show what I loved and what inspired me. Now I love finding new talent from all over the word and making their work available to my followers. I love promoting the design community and helping people match with the right designers.
Designed By Woulfe has invited Tova Ossad of Ossad Art Management to interview a range of art world personalities. Her fifteen years’ experience working in this sphere has exposed her to many artists, auction specialists, art advisors, conservators, and gallerists, thereby giving the Design Journal fresh insight into the fundamentals of art. This series will explore buying, selling, appreciating, and everything in between.
