F&P 25 Years: Barneby Gates On 'Creating What We Love'

We started Barneby Gates in 2009 from a kitchen table in Alice’s basement in Shepherd’s Bush when we both lived in London. Alice moved to Wiltshire 14 years ago, so the business naturally also moved. It gave us more space for our design studio and plenty more storage options. We carry stock of all our designs and deal with all the order-fulfilment side of things, too, so it was a natural step for us to move out of the city. 

Some 14 years in, we had grown out of our studio, with the warehouse in a separate building a mile down the road. Our recent move to a lovely newly built barn has meant we now have our design studio and warehousing all under one roof, which has made such a difference to our efficiency.

We have always created what we love. It’s as simple as that. We hope that gives Barneby Gates an authenticity that is visible. We don’t like to follow trends. In fact, the words “interiors trends” together make us squirm. We aim for our designs to stand the test of time, not to be in fashion for just a season or two. We love that one of our earliest designs – Deer Damask – is still a favourite.

There was never a time when we sat down and delineated our roles specifically, “Alice will do this and Vanessa will do that”. We are a team and work together on most things. Our jobs have evolved to utilise our strengths. Alice is a trained artist, so inevitably, drawing designs is what she’s good at. Vanessa has a background in interiors magazines and styling, so she is good with colour and styling shoots. Creating a collection is a collaborative process; we are both involved in every step.

Barneby Gates co-founders Vanessa Barneby (left) and Alice Gates (right) with F&P Interiors' head of design Emma Vans Agnew during a recent visit to Barneby Gates's impressive new showroom near Pewsey in Wiltshire

"There's nothing like a fresh start to get the ideas flowing, so watch this space"

People assume that working with a great friend would automatically throw up all sorts of issues, but we can honestly say we’ve never once argued. Yes, we may disagree occasionally, but we know and respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so it’s always quite easy to reach a compromise. Being friends is a real bonus – it simply doesn’t feel like work most of the time. The pressure of running your own business is not always fun, but we support each other when the chips are down and celebrate with each other when things are on the up.

From the outset, it was important to us to produce our collections in the UK. From a quality perspective, there are so many incredible craftspeople here, and they must be celebrated. Also, it was always essential for us to keep our carbon footprint and environmental impact to a minimum. Our wallpapers are printed on environmentally accredited paper using non-toxic, organic pigments. The paper base is sourced from FSC-certified suppliers with a ‘chain of custody’ maintained throughout the manufacturing process. There is always more to be done as it’s a constantly changing world, but we are extremely proud of where we stand and are always eager to learn and evolve.

We believe it is important to step out of our comfort zone occasionally by doing collaborations. We know each other inside out and often finish each other’s sentences. We know what we like and how to create it. Bringing in a third person throws all that predictability up in the air and mixes things up a bit, which is exciting and anxiety-inducing at the same time. The brands we choose to work with always align with our values. The synergy of a collaboration can be powerful when you get it right. 

Our ambition is to remain authentically us. There’s so much interference with social media and “trends”. The most important thing for us is to move with the times but not be dictated by them. We are also enjoying our new studio space. There’s nothing like a fresh start to get the ideas flowing, so watch this space.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2025, we look back at how Emma Vans Agnew started out building her pioneering online design business from her garden shed to a company championing more than 120 independent artisan brands.

Discover how two childhood friends pooled their knowledge and experience to create a stylish and fun fabric and wallpaper business.