Joanna Lewis meets internationally acclaimed interiors guru, Michelle Ogundehin, at the official opening of Heal’s, the retailers first store in Bath, to discuss her design ethos and the city’s newest design destination. Photo: Michelle Ogundehin. Image courtesy of Heal’s
The iconic British furniture retailer, Heal’s, recently opened its doors on the heart of Milsom Street, with internationally renowned interiors authority and former editor-in-chief of ELLE Decoration UK, Michelle Ogundehin, as the store’s special guest. The opening marks Heal’s first permanent store outside of London since 2017, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to bricks-and-mortar retail in one of Britain’s most design conscious cities. Spanning two stylish floors and covering 3,500 square feet, the store has been carefully curated to showcase Heals’ own-brand designs as well as dedicated areas for customers to experience iconic furniture brands.
“I’m a big lover of Heal’s and what it stands for,” explains Michelle. “It [Heal’s] stands for craftsmanship. It stands for good design. It stands for quality. It stands for the timeless and the classic.”
It’s probably those elements that have carried the store, which started life as a mattress maker in 1810, through two centuries of design excellence.
“I think Heal’s was one of the first to really understand design as a tool, that it was something that not only transformed your home, but actually transformed how you would feel within your home,” Michelle explains.
Indeed, it is this ethos that also sits at the heart of Michelle’s approach to design, working to empower health-conscious homemakers to thrive through considered design choices.
I always ask people to think about what really resonates with them, what colours, textures, and finishes. The things you buy should be an expression of what you love
The design expert says she doesn’t believe in trends, pointing to the fact that trends are simply a marketing gimmick to encourage sales.
“They’re flighty, they’re ephemeral, they’re in, they’re out. They are what marketers use to sell stuff.”
She tells me that what she really loves is encouraging people to embrace timeless, well-made items, like those sold at Heal’s, that they truly love; legacy pieces that can be handed down to their children.
“I always ask people to think about what really resonates with them, what colours, textures, and finishes. The things you buy should be an expression of what you love.”
However, if we are talking about trends, Michelle does believe that we are becoming more intentional about what we purchase. “Going into 2026 I feel like we’ve all been through so much that this idea of actually just slowing down a bit and being really thoughtful,” explains Michelle.
Before making any purchases, Michelle says that buyers should first consider whether they are buying the item because they love it, or because they think the item is on trend. She points out that this is two very different ways of thinking about the items that we surround ourselves with.
Imagineering
She says one of the benefits of a high-end interiors store like Heal’s is the ability to pop in to see the items and how that enables people to really envision their own interior space.
Michelle explains, “Coming into a beautiful store like this, you are kind of given permission to do what I love to call ‘imagineering’; and that can be really powerful. Physically seeing the items, getting advice, and seeing what’s possible. It’s getting excited about it [design].”
“Home isn’t just where you live, it’s where wellbeing starts,” she says. “Wellbeing is shaped so profoundly by the things that we choose to surround ourselves with and that environment is key to shaping your habit and behaviour.”
Michelle’s four step programme, outlined in her best-selling book Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness, centres on helping people truly embrace items that they love.
“First you clear, which is getting rid of all the stuff that does not resonate with you. Then the next step is cleanse, which is making sure you are surrounding yourself with healthy materials that are non-toxic. Then we have colour, which doesn’t have to be full fat colour, it can be shades of neutral, but it’s colour that you’ve sat down and thought, ok, these are my colours that make me happy. Then, the final stage is curation, which is where you take your personal items and arrange them in a way that tells your authentic story.”
Michelle believes that life is busy and that ultimately, when you return home, it should hold and support you. “Your shoulders drop, you exhale, and you feel safe.” She adds that it’s not about spending loads of money, rather it’s about being really intentional with each purchase. “It doesn’t have to be designer pieces. Just quality pieces that you love and that support you and your wellbeing.”
After all, she notes, home should be a place that restores, rejuvenates, and replenishes.
Visit: michelleogundehin.com ; heals.com/bath
Michelle’s best-selling book:
Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness.