Mother+ Meets: gem boner, founder of Restaries
Welcome to Mother+ Meets… our interview series spotlighting women who are building brilliant things while also building a family. These are the stories behind the headlines — from late nights and bold pivots, to the quiet decisions that rarely make it to Instagram, but shape everything.
This week, we meet Gem Boner — founder of Restaries, a luxury countryside retreat rooted in creativity, connection, and slow living.
After seven years as Communications Director at Soho House, Gem swapped London life for the wild beauty of rural Suffolk, where she and her husband, fashion consultant Thom, have transformed a historic farm into a place where people can pause, breathe, and reconnect.
Mother to two young girls, Aries Rae and Deià Luma, Gem’s story is one of courage, creativity, and building joy from the ground up. We spoke to her about leaving the city, building something from scratch, and the art of finding beauty in the everyday.
Tell us a little about you and how Restaries came to life.
Thom and I stumbled across this historic Suffolk farm thinking we’d just “redo one of the barns.” But with a few strange twists of fate, we ended up realising we wanted to go all in.
We wanted to create something that celebrated slow living and creativity without feeling too precious or curated. So Restaries became just that: a place for stories, restoration, and a bit of wild magic.
You and Thom transformed a historic Suffolk farm into something truly special. What inspired you to turn it into a retreat destination?
We were craving a life that felt real — closer to nature, to each other, and to a sense of purpose that didn’t come from emails and deadlines (although we absolutely still have that). Thom’s background in fashion and my love of interiors and storytelling somehow collided in this old farmyard.
Add a few animals (and a lot of mud), and suddenly the place had a heartbeat. We realised it wasn’t just our home — it was somewhere others could come to breathe, to feel, to remember what space and stillness can do.
What does a typical day look like for you, if there is such a thing?
There’s no such thing as typical here — only coffee-fuelled chaos with flashes of calm. Mornings usually start with our daughters Aries and Deià, and of course the animals, followed by a dance between guest messages, creative projects, and muddy boots.
Some days I’m moodboarding brand collaborations; other days I’m hauling hay or rearranging rooms until they feel just right. It’s messy and magical in equal measure.
What’s been your proudest moment so far, and your biggest “what now?” moment?
Proudest moment? Seeing our very first guests arrive and actually get it — that spark when someone steps onto the land and exhales. That, and hearing our daughters’ laughter echoing across the fields.
The biggest “what now?” moment happens every few months. Growth can be exhilarating and terrifying — one minute you’re in flow, the next you’re wondering how to juggle a baby, a business, and a broken gate (or worse, a flood) all before 10 a.m.
How has motherhood shaped how you work, or how you define success?
Motherhood completely rewired me. It didn’t slow me down, but it sharpened my focus. It made me quicker — you have to be to juggle it all.
Some days I’m building big ideas; others I’m building towers out of blocks with Aries on the floor. Both matter.
What do you wish more people understood about building something from scratch — especially outside of a big city?
That it’s both wildly romantic and deeply unglamorous. There’s mud, isolation, and a million tiny decisions no one ever sees. But there’s also this incredible freedom — the ability to shape something honest and lasting.
You have to be okay with slow growth and trust that beauty comes through the cracks and chaos. Nothing ever feels finished.
Where do you find your energy, and what drains it?
Energy comes from coffee and nature — morning light on the fields, the sound of rain on the barns, or watching guests really enjoy their time here.
What drains me? Overstimulation, endless admin, and any day that keeps me too far from the creative bit. The lack of sleep is gruelling.
You’ve created retreats that feel rooted in creativity and connection. How do you want guests to feel when they stay at Restaries, and how do you see that experience evolving?
I want guests to feel like they’ve exhaled — like they’ve stepped out of their heads and back into their senses. Restaries is about connection: to nature, to each other, to yourself.
As we grow, I want that feeling to deepen — through more creative residencies, wellness collaborations, and sensory experiences that invite people to slow down and feel again.
With such busy lives, what does balance mean to you right now?
Balance looks like surrender — accepting that I can’t do it all at once.
And finally, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to women trying to do both — raise a family and build a business?
Don’t chase perfect — there’s just no way. Some days your business will need you; other days your kids will.
This summer, I had a journalist on site reviewing us at the same time as Aries’ sports day — I was running back and forth between races like a mad woman.
The teacher whispered, “Are you ok?” I wasn’t. But she told me Aries hadn’t noticed.
For more information and to book a stay visit www.restaries.com | Instagram: @restaries
Quick Fire Round
Current bedside book
Something half-read and slightly water-stained — at the moment it’s The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (in theory), and I’ve just finished All Fours by Miranda July — that is wild.
Go-to podcast or playlist when you need a boost
Ladies Who Launch or The Diary of a CEO — always self-help. I need it.
Favourite place to eat — with kids and without
With Aries: anywhere she can throw bread to ducks.
Without: The Greyhound in Pettistree.
A mantra, quote, or reminder you come back to
Smile. It will be ok.