Board-game designer Alexandra Llewellyn on mastering the art of playful interiors

Alexandra Llewellyn can chart her love of board games back to holidays in Cairo when she was a child, where she would play backgammon with people “10 times my age – and we didn’t speak the same language… It’s this thing of a game being a common language, like football is around the world,” she says. “I love the idea of games bringing people together.”

With a background in fine art and product development, Llewellyn has now been designing exquisite luxury board games for more than a decade. Based in east London, close to many of the artisan makers she works with, she incorporates ancient techniques of craftsmanship into the making of these intricate pieces – that are as much a work of art as they are functional, tournament-sized boards. One uses marquetry, for instance, to translate her design into woods that have been specially chosen for their depth, color and grain direction. “In the butterfly, we use a ripple sycamore for the wings because it has a sheen to it, just like the iridescence of a butterfly wing – and the blue background has a beautiful silky movement to it, so the design really comes alive being translated into wood,” she says. Another uses photographic prints of vibrant photo-real butterflies, which juxtapose with the geometry of the triangles on the board.

The design process has to go beyond the aesthetic to take into account the process of playing backgammon, the oldest recorded and “easiest game to learn”, says Llewellyn. “The design itself is dictated by the game, the diameter of the playing pieces and how they fit with the board.” The dice, for instance, are laser cut for precision to ensure each face is exactly the same weight.

There has been a resurgence in board-game playing during the past year, she believes – not least as we have all spent more time entertaining ourselves at home. She also cites the huge success of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit – “Chess boards must have sold out around the country,” she laughs.

Here, Llewellyn shares four ways to reflect a playful personality in your space:

“I think [interiors should] reflect your biography, your life, your travels. For me, it’s all about collecting an eclectic mix of beautiful pieces that have memories associated with them. I love color and pattern and objects with meaning, [to create] a beautifully curated space that is a bit like wearing your heart on your sleeve.”

“I love objects that are an objet d’art, a conversation piece, but that also have a function – such as being a board game, which draws people in to play.”

“Having grown up with games, I think there’s no better way of bringing people together than having them in the house – it’s about conversation, about laughter, about fun… Sometimes about arguments! It’s a way of breaking the ice, bringing this energy and making connections. It’s about bringing playfulness with purpose into a room.”

“Before I buy something, I ask myself about quality, where it’s made – I like to be knowledgeable about the materials and how they’re sourced. I love looking for the unique things that are different and exceptional.”