Inside your homes: Hali Mason

Enraptured by the minimal moments on her Instagram grid, we couldn’t wait to find out more about Hali and her home. Showcasing an ever-expanding collection of design icons, this minimal home perfectly balances pared-back living with a sense of comfort. Join us as we discover this serene interior, that prioritises timeless style over changing trends.

Could you begin by telling us a bit about you and what sparked your interest in interiors?

Hello, I’m Hali. I am originally from East Africa and I now live in Didsbury, South Manchester, with my husband. I worked in the legal sector after finishing my education, but I left a couple of years ago in order to focus on exploring my passion for interiors and design. I am currently experimenting with product styling and photography and I am excited to see where the journey will take me.

I would say my interest in interiors has always been there, but it wasn’t until my first trip to Milan Design Week that I realised it was what I wanted to focus on as a career.

We’ve been captivated by your stunning home on Instagram - but achieving a considered, minimal style can sometimes be quite a challenge. Have you got any tips for people looking to create more minimal spaces?

I have not always been a minimalist and so I can understand the difficulty in creating a minimal considered space. The best tip I can give people is to take time when considering each object they purchase for their home. I always try to select original pieces which are of good quality design and craftsmanship.

I would also encourage people to save for a piece of furniture or lighting that they can admire forever rather than buying mass-produced trendy products which can go out of style or are let down by their low quality. That way although the initial spend is larger, the object becomes an investment for the future.

After curating your home, how does the space and living within it make you feel?

Living in a minimalistic space does wonders for your mental health. After a stressful day, there is nothing better than coming home to a calm and tranquil surrounding without too much visual noise.

We’ve noticed your home features a collection of carefully selected designs, with a sculptural feel. When choosing timeless furniture for your home, what qualities do you look for?

There are some objects which call out to you personally in some way, I mostly look for good craftsmanship and unique design which is immediately recognisable. I am drawn to simple, pared-back designs that can make an impact on a room. I love it when you find an object that is on the cusp between subtle and statement - too much and it can overpower a space, too little and it fades into the background. A perfect example of this is my Audo Copenhagen Monument Magazine Holder.

What does home mean to you?

Home for me is not really the physical structure of the house I live in but rather the people and objects that surround me. It is the calm and welcoming feeling that a space evokes which makes me feel at home. A minimal aesthetic allows me to have every object I love on display and therefore I can appreciate them on a daily basis.

We think it’s really important to create spaces that are positive for your mental and physical health, especially now many of us are spending more and more time at home. Have you got any tips for creating a home that helps to look after you?

The most important thing for me when making a home positively influence my mental health is to keep the number of objects to a minimum. Lots of space and clear surfaces with a few select objects gives your mind room to breathe.

What’s your favourite item in your home, and why?

This is a really tough question to answer! I think it would have to either be my pair of 1401 Lounge Chairs by Wim Rietveld for Gispen, which were first shown at the 10th Milan Triennale (1954) and were awarded a gold medal, or my recently purchased Flos Arrangements light which I first saw during Milan Design Week 2018 and brings back great memories for me.

What’s your go-to place for inspiration? Are there any people, places or brands that never fail to inspire you?

The main sources for my interior inspiration are the design fairs that I regularly attend. My top two have to be Milan Design Week and Copenhagen 3 Days of Design. Someone who never fails to inspire me is minimalist designer Michael Anastassiades. It is quite rare that I want to own everything a person designs but with Michael that is definitely the case. His designs are sleek, unique and instantly recognisable. I love his minimal approach and currently have my eye on his Captain Flint floor lamp for Flos and his Beosound Edge speaker for Bang & Olufsen.

You live in Manchester, a city that’s at the heart of the creative industries in the North (and not far from our beloved Sheffield either!) Can you give us any insider tips on the best spots for design lovers in the city?

The North is full of amazing places to seek out design from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to Granby Workshop in Liverpool. In terms of Manchester, I would recommend visiting the art galleries such as the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Art Gallery, the latter hosted the Nordic Craft and Design exhibition last year which displayed some of the best pieces of iconic Nordic design.

For architecture, John Rylands Library is hard to beat and the Manchester Craft and Design Centre has some fantastic independent makers and craftspeople and is well worth a visit.

Do you have an inspirational interior? Share your home with us over Instagram by tagging us @nest_co_uk. Looking for your own piece of forever furniture? Browse Nest today to discover thousands of everlasting designs.