Meet Amanda and Kristian Dean, the husband-and-wife duo behind Margot, a new family-run interiors brand which celebrates the joy of cooking, gathering, and home. They share how timeless design, craft and a deeper purpose come together – from their home to yours. By Jessica Jonzen
MARGOT FOUNDERS AMANDA AND KRISTIAN GRANT. IMAGE LOLA MANSELL
Nestled at the foot of the South Downs in the historic town of Lewes, you will find Margot. With its chocolate-brown shop front and artful window display, this new homeware store has become a destination in its own right for interiors lovers – and that’s before you even set foot inside. Yet Margot is about far more than aesthetic appeal – it’s a love letter to the rituals of family life. Founded in 2025 by husband-and-wife team Amanda and Kristian Dean, Margot is a family-run interiors and lifestyle brand that celebrates the beauty of the everyday: shared meals, seasonal flowers on the table, and the joy of gathering with loved ones.
At the heart of Margot is a simple yet powerful belief: that the home is not just a place to live – it’s a space “where memories are made, meals are shared, and family traditions are passed down,” says Amanda. Having spent years designing and styling homes, the couple wanted to create something lasting. “We wanted the opportunity to share both our interior style and favourite, most treasured, timeless pieces that we use every day,” Amanda says. “It felt a natural step to create a brand that shared this lifestyle with other homes.”
Their exclusive range of homeware reimagines classic interior pieces – carafes for wine, bowls for salad, candle holders for cosy dinners – all chosen because they’re used and loved in their own home. “We decided to create pieces that we use in our everyday life or when we are hosting. These are our staples for dressing up the table, special occasion or not.”
Each item is designed by Amanda and Kristian, and produced in close collaboration with multi-generational artisans whose skills bring timeless authenticity to the Margot collection. “We seek out artisans who often are multi-generational family run with a wealth of experience in their craft,” Amanda explains. “We take the traditional methods of our makers and then adapt and tweak the designs to give them the Margot feel. Our design process often starts with a sketch, working with the artisans at each step of the way. It only makes it into the Margot range if we genuinely use it in our home – from our home to yours.”
A SELECTION OF THE ARTISAN-MADE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO BUY AT MARGOT. IMAGE: LOLA MANSELL
The shop itself is housed in a Grade II-listed Georgian building, lovingly restored by Kristian to showcase its original character. “The shop was a blank canvas, a white room,” he recalls. “We stripped it back to reveal its original period features, which boast a stunning tongue and groove with old shelf marks, original wallpaper, and both lincrusta and lath and plaster ceilings.” The design was led by the building’s history, which now frames a warm, chocolate-brown space filled with reclaimed terracotta tiles, a Margot chocolate sink for fresh flowers, and a marble basin from Spain – all thoughtfully curated to reflect the Margot aesthetic.
But Margot’s story extends far beyond its walls. All profits support Cook School, the non-profit Amanda and Kristian launched in 2019 to teach children how to cook nourishing, affordable food that’s kind to both the body and the planet. “We started Cook School because we saw a real gap in food education, especially in primary schools,” Amanda, a renowned food writer, explains. “So many children were missing out on the opportunity to learn how to cook, not because of lack of interest, but because schools often didn’t have the equipment, time, or confidence to teach it.”
Determined to change that, they built a programme that’s practical and inclusive. “Our aim was to make it as easy and accessible as possible for teachers to deliver proper cooking lessons, even in the most basic classrooms, with minimal kit,” they say. “From day one, everything we’ve done has been focussed on inclusion and practicality: affordable ingredients, simple recipes, and real-world cooking skills that children can take home and use.”
Now reaching over 300,000 students across the UK, Sweden, Finland and soon the USA, Cook School continues to grow with the help of Margot’s success. “Margot is an extension of Cook School,” Amanda and Kristian say. “But rather than aiming at children in schools, we’re helping families in their homes to enjoy the ritual of cooking and eating together.”
(LEFT) THE MARGOT SHOP FRONT IN LEWES, EAST SUSSEX; (RIGHT) APRONS FROM COOK SCHOOL, MARGOT’S SISTER INITIATIVE. IMAGES: LOLA MANSELL
That sense of connection is also reflected in Margot’s partnerships with other independent makers – each handpicked for their dedication to craft and story. “As creatives, we love working with other creatives and love supporting other brands and artisans who share our ethos,” Amanda says. “This collaboration in turn adds an additional richness to Margot. You can expect to find hand-blown, crystal, vintage-inspired wine and water glasses, hand painted celebration cards, our favourite French kitchen knives, locally roasted coffee, and seasonal, locally grown flowers.”
Their aesthetic is also shaped by time spent living and travelling in Southern Europe – from a family home in Northern Spain to years restoring historic villas in the south of France. “All of these countries have deep rooted traditions and heritages. It’s these traditions and heritages that we pull our ideas from,” says Kristian.
Now parents to five grown children – each following creative paths of their own – Amanda and Kristian see Margot as a natural continuation of the life they’ve built together. “Having worked together for a long time on Cook School, it was a natural progression for us to take on our other passion through Margot,” they say. “Our home to yours is not just a strapline – it is something that we want to come across in Margot.”
And when asked to choose one piece that embodies that spirit? “Our Margot Jug,” they say without hestitation. “Our kitchen table always has a jug full of seasonal flowers. And if it’s not full with seasonal flowers it’s full of iced water or a cocktail at mealtimes.” Initially launched in natural terracotta, the jug has since been joined by a new buttery cream version – a modern heirloom in the making. “What is in Margot today will always be in Margot,” Amanda and Kristian say. “You won’t find anything here that we don’t have in our own home.”
THE MARGOT MILK JUG. IMAGE: LOLA MANSELL
FLORAL HAND BLOCK PRINTED LINEN TABLE CLOTH, TOPPED WITH HAND THROWN CERAMICS. IMAGE: LOLA MANSELL
GREEN GINGHAM LINEN NAPKIN WITH THE MARGOT TERRACOTTA JUG. IMAGE: LOLA MANSELL
THE MARGOT SALAD BOWL, WHITE LINEN NAPKINS, SERVING PLATE, TERRACOTTA WINE JUG AND CANDLE HOLDERS. IMAGE: LOLA MANSELL
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