Stark Creative Director Ashley Stark Kenner debuts her e-commerce brand, Ashley Stark Home—offering an ultrachic bounty of rugs and wallcoverings plus a selection of curated decor, lighting and tabletop.
“The Ashley Stark Home brand enables me to connect with my followers in a way that I’ve never been able to before, giving direct access to everything that inspires me and that I am using within my own home,” says Ashley Stark Kenner of her launch of Ashley Stark Home. The chic collection will range from exclusive rugs and wallcoverings in partnership with Stark and The House of Scalamandre to collaborations with buzzy brands like Diane James Home. We polled the tastemaker for all the stylish scoop.
What inspired you to launch your own line?
Sharing what inspires me on social media has resulted in other people feeling inspired, and Ashley Stark Home is an extension of myself and this connection I’ve created with others. There’s something special about taking my inspiration and making it a beautiful, tangible home decor item people can have in their homes.
You have such an amazing family legacy in the interior space. How do you think your unique aesthetic brings something fresh to the table?
I celebrate the fact that everyone can have their own individual style, and Ashley Stark Home embraces this as well. Ever since I began sharing what inspires me, my followers have resonated with an aesthetic that isn’t just one note. The collections we created are an extension of this, and they have a universal appeal that transcends any style. From the classic to the modern, these unconventional pairings and truly unique pieces will find their place in the most stylish and well-decorated homes.
What are some of your favorite products in the new collection?
A clear favorite is impossible and like choosing a favorite child because I selected everything in the new collection. But as the creative director of Stark—and having great insight into what makes stylish and luxurious floor covering—being able to share the Ashley Stark rug collection directly with consumers is a dream come true. e family showroom is trade-only, but with Ashley Stark Home I can give them direct access to flat weave, hand-knotted and custom rug designs.
My first collaboration is with Diane James, a brand known for exquisite faux florals, and it will always be dear to me because it’s the first for Ashley Stark Home. All of the pieces are gorgeous, but a standout for me is the salmon Quince Blossoms we placed in a contemporary glass vase with illusion water. It’s the perfect accent for a large coffee table or a dining room—a true statement decor item.
Where do you hope to expand the brand?
Ashley Stark Home has launched as a digital-first brand with a full inventory across many home categories. Rugs, custom rugs, wallcoverings, lighting, tabletop, decor and collaborations will always be expanding because my inspirations are always expanding. We already have some amazing partnerships lined up and will continue to pursue new collaborations to bring my favorite design partners to my community. Our first collaboration with Diane James Home has been an amazing success already and so much fun to design. We could see a branch into retail at some point in the future. We plan on listening to what our customers love and resonate with them as we continue to develop the collection.
How do you think this collection fills a void in the market?
Ashley Stark Home offers an elevated and aspirational experience as an e-commerce brand. We’re able to bring the luxury of Stark to the online consumer for the first time. On the other hand, the advantage is that this same online customer has the ability to see, touch and feel the quality of our rugs and custom rugs in our Stark showrooms with access to work with the best carpet and rug experts in the business. Ashley Stark Home operates as an independent brand but has the advantage of Stark’s resources and infrastructure.