Quiet intelligence and emotional texture

An Hour in Nature with Danielle McEwan 

Danielle McEwan is the founder and artistic director of design studio Tigmi Trading, inspired by a deep appreciation for culture, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Danielle founded Tigmi to curate and create pieces that honour tradition while embracing contemporary living. What began with a focus on artisan-made Moroccan rugs has evolved into a refined collection of furniture, lighting, textiles, and objects, each piece chosen or created for its timeless design, enduring quality, and meaningful story. Based in Byron Bay, Danielle is surrounded by some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery, so nature plays an important role in her life and work. We asked her to tell us how:  

What’s your favorite thing to do in nature?

Simply to observe and appreciate it. Nature is my greatest source of inspiration. There’s a quiet intelligence in the way everything just knows how to be. Whether it’s the curve of a branch or the weathering on a stone, I find endless design references in those details. It’s where many of our textures and palettes at Tigmi are born.

How does spending time in nature influence your mental health? Can you think of a specific experience where this effect was particularly strong?

Nature—especially the ocean—grounds me like nothing else. I’ve always felt drawn to the sea; it’s where I go to think, relax, and reset. Water, as an energy force, is both uplifting and cleansing. A swim in the ocean can completely shift my state of mind. It’s the best way I know to wash away stress or overthinking.

How do you bring nature into your home?

Natural materials are at the heart of Tigmi’s philosophy. From hand-woven wool rugs to raw ceramics, each piece tells a story of the land it came from. I gravitate towards finishes like wool, stone, natural timbers, and linen: materials that breathe. They age beautifully and bring a tactile calm into the home. There’s an emotional texture to living with nature indoors, I think it connects us to something slower and more intentional.

What is your favorite natural scent, and why?

Desert rain. That earthy, mineral-rich scent that rises from dry soil after rain: there’s truly nothing like it. It takes me back to Morocco, to still mornings in the Atlas Mountains. It’s grounding, nostalgic, and deeply comforting.

What is the real reason you get outside?

To pause and remember that we’re not separate from nature. We are nature. Stepping outside, even briefly, brings me back to that place of stillness and clarity. It helps quiet the noise and reconnect with what’s real, essential, and sustaining.