Ashley Stark Kenner
Ashley Stark Kenner is the Creative Director of STARK, the force behind the influential @ashleytstark Instagram account which has more than 1.3 million followers, and the stylish namesake behind Ashley Stark Home. At an early age, she fell in love with the legendary carpet and textile company founded by her grandparents, which led to a life that immersed her in design, honed her eye, sharpened her sense of quality, and drove her desire to learn every aspect of the business from the bottom up. She has worked directly with artisans in Nepal as they sit on long looms hand-knotting rugs, adjusted color combinations in person at factories in India, and checked for quality as rugs dry on rooftops in the Nepalese sunshine. She understands every step that goes into making an heirloom rug — one with both the looks and quality to last for generations.
“For me, good design always starts with a great rug.”
INTERVIEW
Choosing to come back after having kids, realizing how much I love working and what I do.
Remodeling, doing gut renovations, especially for my own home.
Having cohesive designs that are timeless and work well together.
Juggling my three kids and maintaining a healthy work vs. life balance.
In 2022, Chad, CEO of STARK (and my cousin) and I co-founded Ashley Stark Home, a new destination for rugs, wallcoverings, tabletop, lighting, decor, and design collaborations. I had been approached by various people and brands to do different lines and finally, we decided we would do it ourselves. Ashley Stark Home is an extension of me and everything I like. There’s something really special about taking my inspiration and making it a tangible item people can have in their homes.
I grew up knowing I always wanted to be a part of STARK. My grandmother would take me to the STARK showrooms as a child to teach me about the different types of rugs and carpets and really nurtured my interest in the business. I started interning at STARK in college and have learned every aspect of the business from the bottom up.
As creative director, I’m involved with every aspect of the business. From designing and buying, to materials and production, to ensuring the business is growing with the ever- evolving industry, I’m involved with it all.
I’m inspired by fashion and travel. I love attending Paris Fashion Week and trade shows in the world’s design capitals like Basel, Milan, and Mexico. I love spotting future trends and reinterpreting them in exciting ways.
My great aunt Iris Apfel is also a huge source of inspiration for me. From a young age, she taught me the importance of beautiful textiles and materials, and I still look to her for inspiration. She is fearless in her fashion choices and never listens to the naysayers, which is something I admire about her.
I’m also inspired by other creatives and designers I discover on social media. I do all of the designing for STARK and my Instagram account began as a Pinterest board to capture the posts that had inspired me. It still serves the same purpose for me, however, I find it really amazing that I’m able to inspire other people through design and fashion. I get a lot of DM’s from people saying “Came for the interiors, stayed for the fashion.”
A modern beach house on the water.
When I first joined the company, STARK had been run only by men, primarily my father and uncle, for many years. Early on, I had to convince my father to add softer colors like gray and lavender to the roster. This received a lot of pushback at the time, but today, gray is one of our best-selling hues. This taught me to always trust my instincts.
To stay true to yourself and your own design aesthetic, also know the ins and outs of scale – that could be a huge make-or-break point.
Rebel traditionalist.
For me, good design always starts with a great rug. It’s the perfect way to create a beautiful backdrop or focal point in any space.
Some of my favorite podcasts are Domino’s Design Time, The Business of Home Podcast, and How I Built This. I love learning from other creatives, designers, and founders.
Thank you so much Ashley, for this lovely interview!
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