The Designer’s Journal: Inside Ainsley Design’s Personal Approach to Home

For Ainsley Design founder Ainsley Rose Hayes, great design is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about creating a space that feels personal, lived-in, and entirely unique to the people who call it home. With a style that blends timeless architecture with thoughtful, understated touches, Ainsley brings both function and soul to every project she takes on.

“I always want a home to feel like it belongs to the family who lives there,” she shares. We caught up with Ainsley to chat about her design process, the joy of working with repeat clients, and the Schoolhouse pieces she reaches for again and again.

Describe your design style in three words.

Timeless, personal, understated.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from the architecture because I prefer when the interior and exterior of a home are cohesive. Next, I look to the homeowners and how they like to live in the space.

What is your design ethos?

A home should reflect the people who live there! When the project is complete, it should feel as though it could only have been created with that family in mind.

What does your home say about you?

My home says a busy family lives here—nothing is too formal or precious, but it’s full of meaning. I’m sentimental, and many of our most-loved pieces have been passed down from my parents and in-laws. That layered, evolved look feels especially at home in an antique house.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on a wide range of projects—from historical renovations in New Canaan to a full gut renovation for empty nesters, and even a modern beach house. Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many repeat clients, as families look to refresh their spaces or invest in second homes.

Can you share your favorite Schoolhouse product with us?

The Princeton Sconce I used in my kitchen is my favorite fixture in the line. In my farmhouse kitchen—an addition to an 1840s home—I paired oil-rubbed bronze and copper for a unique look that ties in with my copper pots, the accents on my stove, and my black lower cabinets. The Alabax is another instant classic, and the wall sconces with the pull cord are especially lovely beside the bed.