Carol-Anne Leyden founder of CA Design chats to Tina-Marie O’Neill on International Women’s Day about all things design and business….

Carol-Anne Leyden is the award-winning owner of CA Design stores, which incorporates a design studio and consultancy business. She regularly features in magazines, newspapers and on RTÉ’s Room to Improve series. She has a wealth of knowledge about design, particularly in mid-century modern style, and has been involved in a number of high-profile collaborations and commercial projects in partnership with leading names in Irish architecture. The business is a fusion of interior designers, furniture and space creators, serving a gamut of clients from passers-by looking for trendy accessories to residential projects to large-scale commercial spaces.

Since winning the Image magazine Creative Businesswoman of The Year award in 2019, Leyden has been growing her business, adding European brands to the mix and introducing a unique selection of furniture and brands to Ireland, many of which are exclusive to CA Design. We asked for her advice on the benefits of enjoying a home’s surroundings, especially when people are feeling fed-up of staying in. “When you love your home interiors and have pieces in your home that spark joy, you instantly feel more comfortable, relaxed, and happy to be spending time there,” she said. When considering the most important thing clients could do to improve their overall wellness in their home during lockdown, she said: “Declutter, declutter, declutter! It sounds obvious but letting go of unnecessary items and organising your home as much as possible really helps to make the space a more enjoyable place to be. “Finishing touches and soft furnishings also make a huge difference and really help to make a home feel comfortable.”

When asked what motivated her to launch her business, she said: “I saw a gap in the interiors market for well-made, mid-century, modern-style furniture in Ireland and I made it my mission to bring this to the market. CA Design has since evolved and we now stock lots of European brands alongside our mid-century collection. “Every day and every week can be so varied. There’s always something exciting happening and a new challenge to overcome. This job is never boring, and all of this makes it so rewarding.”

In terms of home and interiors industry trends, Leyden predicts that trading online, a huge feature in the past year, will continue and develop further over the next few years. “Finding new ways to sell both products and services will continue to be a focus,” she said. “In-store experiences will also be important when society reopens but I do think the online focus will continue.”

When asked what advice she would give to people considering launching their own business, she said: “Trust your gut and instinct, be passionate about the product or service you are selling and never give up. “There are going to be ups and downs and challenges – being an entrepreneur and owning a business is mostly spent problem-solving so be prepared to think outside the box and push past your comfort zones. It is also super rewarding and the highs usually outweigh the lows, so embrace the journey.”