Stylist, creative director and visionary founder of Caravan, Emily shares the story behind her beautiful English seaside home, Sea Tower — from Shoreditch to Margate.
From Shoreditch Pioneer to Seaside Sanctuary
What first attracted you to Shoreditch?
I was drawn to Shoreditch for its raw energy and creative potential – it was an affordable area back then, full of character, texture, and possibility. Chris and I moved into a large live/work industrial unit not long after we met. He ran his video production company from there, while I worked freelance as an interior stylist, author, and writer, alongside having the space to collect treasures from my travels.
My first shop was on Cheshire Street, off Brick Lane, shared with a friend who made beanbags, surrounded by makers and artists. We’d open during market weekends – I used the basement for shoot prep during the week and sold my books and market finds upstairs.
“It was more than just a shop – it was a community, and it became an extension of the creative energy that fuelled my work.”
It was more than just retail — it was a meeting place, a creative hub, and the beginning of something that would evolve far beyond a shop front.
How did Caravan come to find its home on Redchurch Street?
Over our time in the next shop at Spitalfields, where Caravan had a wonderfully loyal following, the area was changing and developing at a startling rate, with the market becoming sleeker and more commercial. I felt ready to move somewhere that still had that raw edge. A friend was leaving their showroom on Redchurch Street (a building coincidentally owned by a local resident and Caravan customer), and I took it over. At the time, Redchurch was still an in-between street – a little off the map but brimming with potential.
The building itself was perfect: a generous space spread over three floors, with room for a stockroom in the basement, a spacious double-fronted shop floor above, and an office/studio space upstairs. It allowed Caravan to evolve — to feel more like a creative studio than just a retail space.
What began as a shop full of treasures naturally expanded into Caravan Style — styling, storytelling, and creating spaces that helped others feel at home, too.
How did you discover Sea Tower – was it love at first sight?
Sea Tower found me at just the right moment. My husband and I hadn’t set out with a plan to move. When we saw the property, with its sea views and sense of history, something clicked for both of us. It felt like a place where life and creativity could flow together naturally — a home that could evolve with us.
It was a big change from the city, and I’ll always have a soft spot for Shoreditch, but the pull was strong. In many ways, moving here felt like a continuation rather than a departure — a new chapter in the same creative story.
How did you approach the renovation?
Renovating Sea Tower was definitely a labour of love. It wasn’t without challenges — a Grade II listing, coastal weather, structural surprises, and layers of history hidden in the walls. But we approached it gradually, always respecting the building’s character.
The biggest lesson I learned was to see the renovation as part of the creative process, not something to rush. We balanced practicality with intuition — sometimes stepping back and letting the space speak for itself.
For anyone starting out, I’d say think holistically — structure, light, materials, flow — it all connects. Let the house tell you what it needs.
Tell us about the interiors — the textures and atmosphere.
The kitchen was designed around simplicity and tactility. The poured limecrete floor adds a quiet strength to the space, grounding the more delicate, timeworn pieces. The bathroom was one of the first rooms to be furnished — the free-standing bath echoes original fireclay baths from the time Sea Tower was built in 1882.
Throughout the house, polished raw lime plaster, clay paint, and linseed paint allow the walls and woodwork to breathe and age gracefully. Texture is everything here — softening the light and creating depth.
“The ‘perfectly imperfect’ aesthetic has always resonated with me – spaces with soul, that feel evolved rather than styled.”
The palette is neutral and layered rather than loud — perhaps an intentional shift from the busyness of the city. The changing light and sea views have become the main event.
And the exterior?
Sea Tower is one of the original bungalows built on what became the first bungalow estate in Britain — a visionary seaside development inspired by single-storey homes in India in the late 1800s. The original geometric windows give the façade its distinctive character, while the veranda wraps around the house, providing shelter and a place to watch the storms roll in over the sea.
The tower itself offers a lookout across the water, and the garden runs right down to the shoreline — every view feels like a painting in motion.
Sea Tower is also available as a shoot location.
Opening the house for shoots felt natural. It’s a real home, not a showroom, and that authenticity translates beautifully on camera. Through Caravan Style, I offer styling support for shoots — reshaping layouts, layering details, and helping clients get the very best from the space.
How has life by the sea influenced your work?
Living here has changed my pace and perspective. I notice light more keenly and feel drawn to grounded materials — linen, plaster, wood, clay. The rhythm of the sea has brought a calm focus to everything I do.
Sea Tower captures everything Caravan Style has become — calm yet characterful, quietly imaginative, and deeply connected to its surroundings.
“Sea Tower is my home, but it’s also a reflection of everything Caravan Style stands for – creating space for your magic.”
Photography Credits:
The portrait shot is by Ellen Christina Hancock - www.ellenchristinahancock.com - instagram: @ellen.christina.hancockThe
Exterior & product shots are by Annelie Bruijn - www.anneliebruijn.com - instagram: @annelie_bruijn
Interior shots by Michael Braithwaite for Love Locations.
Vases, table and cushions - these are all products from the shop, Caravan (www.caravanstyle.com)