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By Alia Akkam
Ariel Okin understands the importance of momentum. In April, during the thick of the COVID-19 crisis, the New York interior designer carried on with the launch of her accessibly priced inaugural furniture collection for Roxy Te Owens’s Society Social. All seven pieces—including a family-friendly linen sofa that conjures up Bunny Mellon, a textured grass cloth cocktail table, and a beachy rattan bookcase—debuted virtually.
Then, in late June, Okin unveiled seven different wallpaper designs for Chasing Paper, the results of a year-long collaboration with the company’s founder, Elizabeth Rees, and Ashley Begley of Ashley D. Studio. After covering a large mood board in atmospheric 1950s and 1960s images, Okin and Begley—who applied soft watercolor detailing to the designs—dreamed up botanical-laden patterns such as the retro-tinged Palm Beach and Hydrangea, a cascade of florals which incorporates a smattering of bumble bees. Available in traditional and peel-and-stick varieties, as well as various colorways, each one is “fresh, inspired by nature, and happy, which I think is needed for this moment in time,” Okin tells AD PRO. “I love the cheerful pale pinks and chocolate browns. And at $40 a roll, it’s affordable.”
Fenimore Lane’s logo.
But Okin has yet to rest. That’s because what is arguably her biggest launch of the year is still on the horizon. At the end of July, Okin plans to introduce her devotees to Fenimore Lane, an editorial meets e-commerce website named for the street where she grew up on Philadelphia’s Main Line. “I studied journalism in college, and marrying my worlds of writing and design is something I have wanted to do for years. I finally decided to channel my energy into that dream,” she explains.
A large part of Fenimore Lane will consist of a constantly expanding shop filled with some of Okin’s favorite things. Here, she will highlight items such as vintage wicker lamps and hand-thrown bowls reminiscent of kitschy lettuceware. The vendors from whom she is sourcing are both large and small, and will include the likes of Etsy and Houston home decor shop Paloma & Co. Okin’s Society Social and Chasing Paper collections, as well as those from a yet-to-be-released pillow and accessory line with California artist Dawn Michelle Wolfe, will also be available for purchase.
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Beyond retail, monthly Ask Ariel Q&As will tackle questions posed to Okin via Instagram. Her home and kitchen content will be peppered with unfussy recipes for dishes like roast chicken and blueberry crumble pie—classics she makes for her own family and friends. But Okin is most excited about Talk Shop, Fenimore Lane’s landing page for interviews with design personalities such as former Tory Burch art director Abby Ward and Annabelle Moehlmann, founder of home accessories company Land of Belle. “There’s so much overlap in the industry,” says Okin, who has already completed 20 of the interviews the site is set to include. “Whether it’s a shopkeeper, designer, or artist, I want to talk to those whose style I admire and who have a distinct point of view. I want to hear about their childhoods, their influences, and their favorite coffee table books.” Soon, those who feel similarly will be able to do so.
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