An interview with interior designer Ashley Montgomery.
Toronto-based luxury interior designer Ashley Montgomery has got a signature style. You’ll often find an interior she has designed is rich with layered, organic textures, natural, timeless materials, and a seamless blend of vintage and contemporary that makes a space feel truly lived in. Her interiors have an earthy, modern luxury aesthetic that takes a true expert’s eye to achieve.
But that doesn’t mean her designs are repetitive or follow a template. They’re all highly personal, working with both the bones of the space and the clients who live there. Whether it’s chocolate brown cabinetry with Delft tiles in a pantry or a neutral kitchen with mixed tones, Ashley gives each space its own identity.
We sat down with the designer to find out what inspires her, what she avoids, and why she chose Armac Martin for her own tranquil cabin in Oro-Medonte, Canada.
Features our Washwood Cabinet Handle and Cotswold Bun Cabinet Knob in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
In your own words, how would you describe Ashley Montgomery Design?
I’d say Ashley Montgomery Design is really about creating spaces that feel elevated but still easy to live in. I’m not interested in anything that feels overdone or overly precious. Everything has to feel comfortable, personal, and actually reflect how my clients live day to day in their homes.
I tend to lean toward a more timeless approach, mixing classic elements with a bit of a contemporary edge so nothing feels too trendy or dated quickly. I love working with natural materials, soft layers, and details that add depth without making a space feel busy.
At the end of the day, it’s about creating homes that feel warm, considered, and effortless. Spaces that look beautiful but, more importantly, are meant to be lived in.
Why do your clients choose to work with you?
I think my clients choose to work with me because they trust that I’ll really understand how they want to live in their home, not just how they want it to look.They want something that feels elevated and thoughtful, but still comfortable and approachable.
I am often told it's that “cosy feeling” that clients want and they feel that in our homes. They’re not looking for a show home, they want a space that works for their real life, and that’s always the starting point for me.
I also take a very hands-on, collaborative approach. I guide the process and make it feel manageable, especially on larger projects where there are a lot of moving parts. My clients know they can rely on me to make decisions, solve problems, and keep things moving without it feeling overwhelming.
What spaces inspire you most?
I’m most inspired by spaces that feel effortless. Where nothing is trying too hard, but everything just works. It’s usually homes with a sense of history or character, where you can feel a bit of the story behind them.
I’m also constantly inspired by nature and the outdoors. Natural materials, soft light, organic textures, and muted tones all play a big role in how I approach design. I think bringing a bit of that feeling inside helps create spaces that feel calm, grounded, and connected to their surroundings.
More than anything, I’m drawn to spaces that are layered over time, where there’s a mix of old and new, and everything feels collected rather than overly designed. That kind of warmth and authenticity is what inspires me the most.
Where do you start when designing a new space?
I always start by really understanding how my clients want to live in the spaces we are creating for them. Before anything else, it’s about function. How the room needs to work day to day, what’s important to them, and how they move through their home.
From there, I usually build out the overall feeling I want the space to have. It’s less about a specific look and more about creating a mood, something that feels cohesive, calm, and reflective of them. I also tend to start with the kitchen whenever I can. It really is the heart of the home, and it naturally sets the tone for everything else.
Once that space feels right, both functionally and aesthetically, it becomes a strong foundation to carry through the rest of the house. I like to keep things a bit flexible so the space can evolve naturally rather than feeling too rigid or overplanned.
It’s really a balance of being thoughtful and intentional, while still leaving room for things to come together in a way that feels effortless in the end.
Are there any trends or aesthetics that you avoid?
I tend to steer away from anything that feels overly trend-driven or like it’s going to have a short lifespan. If a space feels too tied to a specific moment, it usually doesn’t age well and that’s never the goal.
Very stark or cold interiors also don’t resonate with me either. I always want spaces to feel warm, layered, and inviting, so I naturally avoid anything that feels too minimal in a way that lacks softness or depth. For me, it’s less about avoiding specific trends and more about staying focused on creating something that feels timeless, grounded, and personal to the client.
What materials are you drawn to most?
I’m always drawn to materials that feel natural, timeless, and a little bit imperfect (in the best way). Things that have texture, depth, and will only get better with age.
I use a lot of wood, especially in warmer tones, because it adds an instant sense of warmth and grounding to a space. Stone is another big one for me, whether it’s marble, limestone, or something a bit more understated, it brings in that organic, lived-in feeling I’m always after.
I love mixing in softer elements like linen, wool, and plaster finishes to create that layered, tactile quality. It’s important to me that a space doesn’t just look good, but actually feels good.
Are there any projects that you’ve enjoyed working on the most?
It’s hard to pick just one, because I genuinely enjoy different projects for different reasons.
I’m really drawn to full-home projects where I can take a space from the ground up and think through how everything connects. Those are the ones where the kitchen, in particular, sets the tone and everything else builds from there. I love that level of continuity and storytelling throughout a home.
What stands out most for me are the projects where there’s a strong level of trust with the client. When they’re open, collaborative, and willing to lean into the process, that’s when the work feels the most rewarding and usually the most successful!
Do you have any dream projects you’d love to work on?
I’m really drawn to the idea of working on projects where there’s a strong sense of character or history – whether that’s a heritage home, a property with architectural significance. There’s something really special about layering design into a home that already has a story.
I also dream about working on homes where nature dictates the story. A mountain home, a coastal beach house, a southern homestead – where you can use the geography to help influence the interiors.
More than anything, my “dream” projects are the ones where there’s trust, creative openness, and collaboration with the client. When you have that, you can really push ideas, explore details more deeply, and create something that feels thoughtful and completely personal.
What are your top tips for a client working with an interior designer for the first time?
When working with an interior designer for the first time, I think the biggest thing is coming in with openness and trust in the process. It helps a lot when clients can share how they actually live in their space, not just how they want it to look. The more honest you are about routines, pain points, and what you love (and don’t love), the better the end result will be.
I’d also say be open to collaboration and exploration. Some of the best ideas come through conversation and iteration, not from a fixed plan at the start. It’s okay if things evolve, that’s part of the process.
And finally, be prepared to make decisions. There are a lot of layers in a project, so being responsive and engaged helps keep things moving smoothly and ensures the design feels cohesive and intentional in the end.
Features our Cotswold Bun Cabinet Knob in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.
Features our Queslett Cup Pull in our polished nickled plate (PNP) finish.
You chose Armac Martin hardware for your own cabin in Oro-Medonte. What did you choose and why?
For my cabin located in Oro-Medonte, I was really intentional about keeping the hardware consistent with the overall feeling of the house. Warm, timeless, and a bit elevated without feeling fussy.
I used Armac Martin in a polished brass unlacquered finish throughout the kitchen and key areas. I was drawn to pieces from collections like Cotswold and Queslett because they have that slightly traditional, honest quality to them, but still feel really refined in their detailing.
What I loved most about it is how the unlacquered brass will naturally patina over time. In a cabin setting especially, that evolving finish feels really appropriate. It adds to the character of the space rather than staying static and gives it that little sparkle it needed!
For me, it was less about picking individual “statement” pieces and more about choosing a hardware language that supports the architecture and materials already there, and lets everything age beautifully together.
You’ve also chosen Armac Martin for your new design studio. Which pieces do you like most, and why?
For the studio, I wanted the hardware to feel like an extension of the design language we use in our projects. Warm, refined, and quietly detailed without ever feeling overworked.
I absolutely love the Queslett and Cotswold pieces, especially in aged brass finishes. They’re a bit more classic in tone, but they bring warmth into the space in a really subtle way, which I think is important in a working studio – you want it to feel inspiring, but still calm and grounded.
Overall, I like mixing slightly more modern or linear profiles with more traditional shapes. It creates that same layered feeling we try to achieve in our interiors – nothing too matchy, just a thoughtful balance of texture, patina, and form that will age well over time.
What are three things everyone should do before starting an interior design project?
Before starting a design project, I always think there are a few really important things that help set everything up for success.
First, get really clear on how you want to live in the space. Not just how you want it to look, but how it needs to function day to day. How you move through your home, what’s not working right now, and what would actually make your life easier. That clarity becomes the foundation for every design decision. A home that does not function well will never be beautiful no matter how aesthetically beautiful it is.
Second, have an honest conversation about the budget early on. It doesn’t need to be exact down to every line item, but having a realistic range helps guide the scope of the project and ensures the design direction is aligned from the beginning. It also avoids frustration later in the process.
And third, gather inspiration, but in a loose, intuitive way. You don’t need a perfectly curated board. It’s more about identifying patterns in what you’re drawn to: colours, materials, moods, or even how certain spaces make you feel. That helps a designer understand your style beyond just specific images.
If those three things are in place, the design process tends to feel a lot more focused, collaborative, and enjoyable from the start.
What is one design secret you would be happy to share with our community?
One thing I always come back to is that good design is really about restraint. It’s easy to want to add more. More finishes, more moments, more “ideas” but the spaces that feel the most elevated and timeless are usually the ones where we’ve edited things down and let the key elements really breathe.
If I had to put it simply, I’d say: invest in fewer, better decisions. Focus on the things you touch and live with every day. Cabinetry, lighting, hardware, and stone and let those elements carry the space. Everything else should support them, not compete with them.
When a room feels calm, balanced, and a little bit effortless, it’s usually because a lot of thought went into what wasn't included as much as what was.
Features our Latchford Appliance Pull, Queslett Cup Pull and our Cotswold Ball Cabinet Knob all in our polished brass unlacquered (PBUL) finish.