Emily Chalmers
Creative Director,
Kent, UK
Woman-Owned Business
Emily Chalmers is an interior stylist, author, and shop owner living in a Victorian bungalow by the sea, where she runs Caravan—her long-loved shop and creative studio—alongside Sea Tower, the location house she and her husband restored with a careful, sustainable hand. With a background spanning styling, magazines, book production, and shopkeeping, her work is rooted in intuition, detail, and a deep affection for homes as living, evolving spaces. Today she brings together her styling practice, her online shop, and the creative energy of Sea Tower into one gently curated world shaped by thoughtfulness, craft, and a lifelong love of interiors.
Offerings:
— A shop for curated homewares and treasures
—Interior styling and 1:1 creative consultations
— Sea Tower, a location house by the sea for film, photography, and retreats
Who are you?
I’m Emily Chalmers - interior stylist, author, and shop owner living in a Victorian bungalow by the sea with my husband, Chris, and our daughter, Bunty. I’ve also opened our home, Sea Tower, as a creative location house to host independent businesses, photographers and small teams for film, photography, content creation, and retreats.
What do you do in your business?
I founded Caravan, my shop, as a bricks-and-mortar store in Shoreditch, London, while working as an established interior stylist and author. I’ve always loved the tactile, creative rhythm of shopkeeping - from curating displays to connection with customers. My shop has since evolved into an online destination, with a tiny hotel-lobby-style space here at Sea Tower for visitors and shoot teams to browse if they’d like to take a little Caravan style home.
Where is your current home base?
I’m based in a village near Margate on the East Kent coast - the sea is quite literally at the bottom of our garden. We’re five minutes from a mainline train station, so I can be in London in an hour and a half. It’s the perfect balance - dreamily calm, yet wonderfully connected.
What has your business journey looked like so far?
My studies led me through an art foundation, a diploma in valuation and auctioneering, an arts degree I finished by selling my final collection at a London fair, and then into roles with a lighting designer, design companies, and magazines where I became deputy homes editor before leaving to freelance and produce 8 interiors books. It was while working on the books that I opened my first shop. After years in central London my husband and I came across Sea Tower by chance—a Grade 2 listed 1882 house in need of love—and we were excited by the prospect of bringing it back to life. The repair work required a very considered natural, ecological and sustainable approach, and we now know the building inside out. Styling-wise it’s been my biggest project to date, and as someone very detail orientated, such a treat.
What is your creative process like?
My process is instinctive. I’m a Pisces - a dreamer - and I tend to rely on intuition rather than logic. I have to feel when something’s right. Often, I’ll explore every possibility before circling back to my original idea. I used to find this frustrating, but I’ve learned to appreciate it as the core of my “do it once, do it well” approach. I value time and depth in creation; for me, beauty comes from considered decisions.
What does a day in your workspace look like right now?
My study at Sea Tower is my little creative haven. Once the butler’s room, it has a view of the front door and now houses my desk, paperwork, and a vintage haberdashery cabinet full of new shop stock.
I’m an early riser and my best ideas come in the quiet of the morning. After walking my daughter to the bus stop, I settle in for focused work, often followed by yoga to reset. Afternoons are for communication and creative admin. One day a week, I offer 1:1 styling consultations, connecting with clients online to talk through everything from room layouts and renovation plans to creative direction and design dilemmas. I love holding space for others in this way - it’s a deeply collaborative and inspiring process.
On shoot days, I prepare the house for visiting teams, sometimes styling alongside them or hosting creative away-days. My experience in production helps ensure things run seamlessly - from courier deliveries to the final set-up. I’m selective about who works here, as Sea Tower is also our home, but those who do always comment on its calm yet inspiring atmosphere.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
Freedom. I love being able to set the pace and direction of my work - to shape my days with purpose and magic. There’s enormous satisfaction in making creative choices that feel authentic. I also value the flexibility it gives me as a parent and partner. Home is my favourite place to be, so building a business that allows me to work from Sea Tower feels truly special.
Has there been a particular challenge you’ve faced in your business?
For a long time, I never imagined running an online store. I knew I’d miss the sensory experience of a physical shop - the conversations, textures, and little details. But over time I’ve realised that connection and atmosphere can be created digitally too. The same goes for my styling work - offering online consultations once felt strange, but now I see the power of that focused 1:1 space. It’s such a treat to be able to connect this way, across different time zones, and the focus enabled by the technology can allow for even deeper clarity.
Do you have a favorite success story or client moment that stands out?
One that comes to mind is an order of wall lamps for a private members’ club. After a long wait, they arrived in the wrong size, but by some twist of fate, they looked even better that way. It taught me that sometimes things go right when they appear to go wrong. Over the years, through Caravan and my styling work, I’ve collaborated with everyone from high-street retailers and boutique hotels to creative homeowners and publishers. The most fulfilling projects are always those infused with good communication and trust - the alchemy that turns a practical job into a creative partnership.
Studio Notes
Creative Rituals
Instinctive ideas in the quiet of the morning, intuition-led decisions, and a “do it once, do it well” rhythm.
Currently Exploring
Opening Sea Tower to creative teams, growing Caravan online, and building space for thoughtful styling conversations.
Three Words
Considered, intuitive, detailed.
