Estelle Bailey-Babenzien

At Home With is an interview series from Salam Hello, where we follow our favorite pieces into the homes of designers, curators, and creatives shaping the way we live. Each story explores what home means and the objects, rituals, and perspectives that bring it all together.

In this edition, we step inside the world of Estelle Bailey-Babenzien, founder of Dream Awake Design and co-founder of Noah, the globally recognized clothing brand known for its thoughtful approach to culture, craft, and community. Born and raised in England and of Ghanaian descent, Estelle studied fashion at Central Saint Martins before moving to New York in 1999. Her creative path has moved fluidly between fashion, interiors, music, and design, shaped by travel, intuition, and a deep understanding of how spaces make us feel. Whether designing homes, stores, or gathering spaces, Estelle creates environments that feel layered, grounded, and deeply lived-in.


We spoke with Estelle about the rituals of comfort, the role of rugs in creating grounded spaces, and how home can hold both ease and expression. Pictured in her apartment, our Ridge rug from the Atlas Form collection brings texture, warmth, and a grounded sense of ease.

Our spaces are so personal. What does home look and feel like to you?

Home to me is comfort. Both my apartment in Brooklyn and our beach house in Springs, East Hampton, are incredibly cozy. We do not use large coffee tables in the living rooms because we like to spread cushions out on the rug and lay on the floor. My daughter loves to dance and do cartwheels, and we all like having space to feel grounded and stretch out.

Visual comfort is vital to me. Beautiful textures and warm materials help soothe or invigorate the senses in ways that disarm tension and inspire calm and relaxation.



What spaces outside your home feel like home to you?

I have designed all of the Noah stores to feel like homes. Nothing is overly precious. The books are there to be enjoyed, objects can be handled, nothing exists simply as a prop.

I incorporate layers of material and texture to create warmth and comfort. Rugs ground spaces and create zones for different experiences. There is always seating for guests to linger because we want people to feel relaxed and engage in conversation. The stores are social spaces to gather.

I also change the rugs and artwork seasonally to create different moods that reflect the feeling and inspiration of that particular time of year.



What places, aesthetics, or traditions shape your interior style?

I am half English and half Ghanaian, and I love elements of both cultures aesthetically. They are vastly different, but both carry such a rich sense of history, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

Travel has also deeply shaped the way I think about interiors. I am drawn to spaces that feel collected over time, layered with meaning, and connected to memory rather than trends.



How has your sense of style evolved over the years?

My taste has evolved, and so has my understanding of quality. I now invest in pieces that are beautifully made and built to last a lifetime. I am drawn to timelessness, to objects and furniture that I know I will never grow tired of.

At the same time, I still love mixing vintage with new, playful with serious, and high with low. The tension between those elements is what makes a space feel personal and alive.



What is the feeling you want your home to evoke?

I want it to feel grounding, comforting, and inspiring all at once. A place where people can fully relax, connect, and feel at ease. I think the best spaces invite people to slow down and stay awhile.



What is one thing in your home that you recommend to everyone?

A good rug. Seriously, it is the starting and ending point for everything.

Thank you, Estelle, for welcoming us into your world. Your thoughtful balance of comfort, texture, and timeless design reminds us that the most meaningful spaces are the ones that invite us to truly live within them.

See more from Estelle and explore her world of fashion, interiors, and design here.

Love the rug in her home? Shop her exact style here, or explore similar pieces below.

Photography by Jessica Antola.