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22 Aug 19

Home Happiness, TV Interior Design Masters review and Statement walls and floors S4 Ep4 show notes

Sophie Robinson and Kate Watson-Smyth recording episode 4 of the fourth season of the great Indoors podcast. #sophierobinson #podcast

Hello and welcome to the next installment of the Great Indoors podcast. On today’s show, we review the latest in interiors TV, Interior Design Masters on BBC Two, we chat about the findings from the recent home happiness survey AKA The Good Home Report and we look at the return of statement interiors – walls and floors. You can listen to the full episode here. We are now on episode 4 in the fourth series and a huge thanks to Topps Tiles for sponsoring us and of course our producer, Kate Taylor.

The original ten designers taking part in the Interior Design Masters on BBC2

New TV Show Interior Design Masters

So first up, we are all obviously huge interior design fans and Kate and I are huge TV fans, so we now have the perfect combo, a new Interior Design show! Presented by the lovely TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton and judged by former Elle Decoration editor-in-chief Michelle Ogundehin, Interior Design Masters is a welcome return of interiors to our box. Aired every Wednesday at 8pm on BBC2 it’s a bit of a mash-up of The Apprentice and The Great Interior Design Challenge.  This time the difference is that the designers are semi-professional which has really upped the stakes and of course,  it still makes for great viewing with the usual expected characters – I want to know your favourites! Unlike GIDC the challenges are commercial projects (no quaint country cottages in this show!) and the series kicks off with a show home then a hotel. It’s TV gold as you end up shouting at the TV, Kate is already ticking off her design crimes, however!

We are reminded by the judges that there is a brief to be followed and judge Michelle makes the point that a good designer will not impose their style and taste and be able to fulfill a specific brief. By the end of this process, the prize is a contract to design a hotel, so they are going to have to show true design skills, manage a budget and prove their versatility – it’s a tough game! Keep an eye for me in episode 4 where I pop up as a guest judge with the challenge being university halls of residence. You can catch up on iplayer here and the series will be coming to Netflix at some point.

Home Happiness

 

The ultimate happy home, Fearne Cotton’s stylish living room

Back in June, some rather detailed research was carried out by The Happiness Institute, commissioned by Kingfisher to look into home happiness and the results are quite fascinating. Kate was quite cynical when she first came across it but when she landed on the stats it was a different story (she is the stat queen after all). They asked just under 13.5k people in ten countries 44 questions (quite an ask) they found that 73% of people who were happy in their homes were happy in their lives. If you imagine a pie chart of overall happiness the biggest slice is your mental health at 17% and in 2nd place at 15% is home happiness – more than your physical wellbeing, your earnings and your job – that is quite a piece of insight!

Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Institute, based in Copenhagen, says what he found fascinating is that people are looking for happiness in the wrong places – and it’s literally on our doorstep. So, it’s ok to yearn to get the paintbrush out and get some DIY done and make your home your happy place. Another point that stood out for us was that it’s not all about size – it’s more about creating a sense of space rather than the overall square footage.

We both picked up on another big point – whether you own your home or rent it has little influence on your happiness, and with the rental market growing here in the UK, it’s encouraging that not being a homeowner doesn’t directly influence your well being.

You can read more about the ‘five ways to make a happy home’ on my blog post here

I have always been passionate about creating a happy home and all the elements that help you achieve it. Following on from her successful Happy Place Podcast, Fearne Cotton created her own Happy Place Festival as she is very interested in mental health and wellbeing and I knew I just had to be part of it, read about it here.

Statement walls and floors

Don’t ignore the 5th wall – a statement ceiling by Susi Bellamy

So a bit of a touchy subject for Kate, whether we call it a feature wall or statement wall, but I wanted to talk about statement floors too. Sees there is no end to ways you can make a wow in your pad. We’ve recently seen an upswell in bold floor designs which utimately dominate a space. It’s quite a commitment which is why I sadly see so many people go for a more neutral option. Although many of us are getting braver and going for bolder and colourful options – going back to happiness in the home, we are creating homes that we love and adding our own personalities. We are generally staying in our homes for longer so more willing to make that investment and go for it. We both agree not to play it safe as you will regret it in the long run, once you’ve discovered your style it will give you such a sense of pride and a real boost.

Ca’ Pietra have a fabulous range of statement tiles that will add the wow to any floor

We are loving patterned tiles and they are everywhere now, available in such a variety of colours, patterns, and budgets, they can be used in pretty much any room. If, like Kate, you have trouble visualising a patterned tile floor in situ, take a look at the visualizer tool by Topps Tiles which allows you to select a room similar to yours and choose from a multitude of tiles to add on walls or floors. Being able to understand how your room will look with pattern is essential in giving you the confidence to make the purchase.

Statement wall tiles in a herrigbone formation in teal blue. How to ake a statement floor and wall discussed by interior designer Sophie Robinson

The Lampas Peacock tile from Topps Tiles, arranged in a fashionable herringbone format

You don’t need to commit to a full-on patterned tile, you can be creative with plain tiles, like the classic metro tile, and lay it in different ways, herringbone, vertical or stripes for instance. Or why not go for a coloured or even glittery grout for a more subtle, yet unique finish. You can see a post I did recently on patterned flooring here

Check out our Facebook group The Great Indoors Podcast here and come and join in on the conversation. We’d love to hear your opinions, design ideas, and of course design crimes!

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Designer Spotlight: Kate Langdale, Florist Anglian Styled By Me Competition winners

comments

Kim S. on 30.01.20

Oh my! I can’t get enough of you two. Never mind Blanket Box or whatever the name was, your laugh is fabulous and I chuckle right along with you.
I’m from Canada and have visited the UK twice in the last three years. I love the Union Jacks, the Highland Cattle and the Yorkshire hares, and would have dearly loved to bring something related home with me, but it just wouldn’t translate! Instead, when I travel, I purchase a a Christmas ornament from every place I visit. Every year when we decorate the tree, the memories of our vacations flood back, be it be the weeks spent in Madeira or the visit to Algonquin Park when my son worked there for a summer.

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Sophie Robinson on 26.02.20

I absolutely love this idea! Thanks for sharing

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I absolutely adored visiting @annalysejacobs in he I absolutely adored visiting @annalysejacobs in her beautiful rental apartment. Her love of colour and creativity just over flows and is positively infectious ! I spent a morning in her gorgeous company filming another fabulous house tour for my new inline course and Anna generously shared all the insights, tricks and hacks she’s used to turn her rental  flat from its previous mushroom incarnation into the splendid expression of colour joy that it is now. As an artist Anna is a master of colour and conjures up some mouthwatering palettes that feel fresh, new and playful. And because she rents she’s used paint to make the biggest transformation. From walls, ceilings, kitchen units, furniture to her fabulous murals she has quickly and affordably made this apartment her own. Because the thing is beige makes Anna feel low and depressed but because she knows what her happy colours are, she’s rolled them out in all her walls, and she is thriving. 😁 Anna is a complete creative whirlwind and I found it a real tonic being in her home. It’s lovely, she’s definitely one worth a follow! 

My new course, Confident Colour scheming launches on the 17th May, but you can enrol now with a juicy £100 discount with the pre-launch offer. Just follow the link in my profile. Trust me, colour makes you happy and I’ll show you how!

Lots of questions about my dress on stories yesterday, it’s new from @phaseeight and is the most amazing colour for spring! 

#colourpalette #colourlover #banthebiege #springdecor #colourconfident #confidentcolourscheme #bbbinteriors #ihavethisthingwithcolour #colourcolorlovers #springiscoming #interiordesign #colourmehappy #housebeautiful
Happy Friday! The end to a marvellous week visitin Happy Friday! The end to a marvellous week visiting some of my favourite colour filled homes. This is a peek into the wonderful world of @interiorcurve which is a maximalist masterclass. I interviewed Siobhan for my new online course, which is called Confident colour scheming. I love Siobhan’s passion for Art Deco and fifties Hollywood glam and she fuses it using her own fearless  approach to decorating. She pulls together pattern and colour and designs from the heart. She feels it abs when it feels good she goes for it. And as a result you feel it too. Being inside her home infuses you with a real feeling of joy and fabulousness. What a tonic! Siobhan’s house will be one of many inspiring house tours that are inside the new course. Enrolment opens today with a juicy £100 discount if you sign up before the course launches on the 17th May. ( link in bio) I think we could all do with being a litltle more Siobhan. #bemoresiobhan 

#colourlover #banthebeige #maximalistinteriors #eclecticdecor #interiordesign #artdeco #artdecostyle #colourmyhome
Hip hip hooray it’s PODCAST DAY and @mad_about_ Hip hip hooray it’s PODCAST DAY  and @mad_about_the_house and I are back with a fresh new series, and thrilled to have @harlequinfw  supporting the show. 
During lockdown sales of scented candles have gone through the roof so we tackle the topic of whether a smelly candle really can transport you somewhere else. Whether it’s fig and pomegranate , gingerbread, sea salt or ‘scent of freshly signed divorce papers’ there is a scent to suit every mood it would appear. One of my favourite smells is ‘Love is the drug” by @rockettstgeorge.co.uk  and I use it to help me unwind as I soak in the tub. Would love to know what your favourite home scents are so drop me a comment as @mad_about_the_house needs some inspiration in this department! 
We also round up the latest design books all launching this spring . New out this month Is ‘Resourceful living’ by our favourite style savvy insta influencer @_lisa_dawson_ . We drool over the colourful world created by @beataheuman as she shows us how ‘every room must sing’. And I couldn’t put down this little gem of a book, ‘the mindful home’ by @joannathornhillstylist is set to inspire and inform you in equal measure to create a home you can thrive in. 
You can find us as always in your podcast app by looking for ‘The Great Indoors’ so make sure you subscribe. A huge thanks to @katetaylorldn for producing the show, and to you for listening. 😍
. #thegreatindoors #greatindoors #thegreatindoorspodcast #scentedcandles #smellycandles #bathroom #howivintage #colourlover #banthebeige #patternlover
Just completed a fabulous trip to Leeds to do some Just completed a fabulous trip to Leeds to do some filming inside some of my favourite colour fuelled homes. 
Meeting Sandra from @the_idle_hands and getting to experience the fabulous interiors she has created (that Ive drooled over for years here on Instagram), was a huge treat for the eyes and food for the soul. This past year more than any other has got us deeply connected with how much our homes mean to us and I love to learn how they have also become a creative outlet for so many. We have this wonderful platform to share our designs and indeed egg each other on to ignore the sensible advice and instead make bolder and more audacious design choices. Following your true heart always pays off!  I’ve got connected to the passion, joy, and uplift that can be gained by doing it your own way and owning your style 100% .  It involves plenty of graft but ultimately if you get connected to the colours and patterns that chime with you,  and dare to make some bold moves along the way, you are rewarded with a home that just feels awesome to be in. My little trip away has left me inspired and invigorated itching to get some fresh new colour rolled out on the walls! And possibly to get a puppy! Nel totally stole my heart 🐶
These little films I’ve made will be part of my exciting new course, coming out in May all about how to create confident colour schemes because a little know how goes a long way to creating your dream colour filled interior. Cannot WAIT to share all this mouthwatering content with you 😍

#colourlover #banthebeige #colourscheme #interiordesign #ihavethisthingwithcolour #styleithappy #myhomevibe #victorianhouse #interioraddict #eclectichome #eclecticdecor #crashbangcolour #colourcourse #bbbinteriors #houseofhackney #puppylove
How’s your Monday? Did you get to the shops? Dri How’s your Monday? Did you get to the shops? Drink a beer in a pub garden?! I’ve attempted train travel today  and three cancelled trains later I’m wishing I stayed at home! Anyone else not ready for this new normal yet! I’ve grown very attached to my sofa and cosy clothes this past few months! 

CREDITS Cardigan @jumper_1_2_3_4  Trousers @me_andem Trainers @nike Sofa @sofaworkshop (discontinued) in magnolia @gpjbaker  Tiger print cushion @trashvelvetuk pink cushion @grahamandgreen Flowers @sageandco.floraldesign Curtains @habitatuk (discontinued) 

#nonewnormal #banthebeige #colourlover #myhomevibe #noplacelikehome #pink #ihavethisthingwitpink 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto
I do love some HEAVY PETAL action. Florals are eve I do love some HEAVY PETAL action. Florals are everywhere in my home and it gives me full on joy to see them layered up on walls, on furnishings and my latest edition this hollyhock cushion. But they don’t  love me. As the blossom is bursting out this spring my hay fever is in full flow. 🤧sending love and tissues to my fellow sufferers! 

CREDITS Wallpaper is Artemis @houseofhackney . Painting by @beckyblairartist . Side board is vintage from @vinestreetvintage . Vases and chair are @grahamandgreen . Hollyhocks heavy petal cushion @houseofhackney . Flowers by @sageandco.floraldesign . Wall light @pookylights . Floor is intenso parquet @quickstepfloors 

#heavypetal #floralwallpaper #floraldesign #flowerpower #colourlover #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #mycolourfulinterior #mycolourfulhome #howivintage #sodomino #interiors123 #interiordesign #countryinteriors .
Had a very busy day filming today and I got my mak Had a very busy day filming today and I got my makeup done all fancy and put on some pretty clothes. I’m exhausted because it was hard work but I also feel like I’ve had a real boost to play with some all the pretty things in all the pretty colours. Like these new pumps from @roguematilda which are giving me life! And they are flat so my feet are happy to. 😍

Thanks @swainy2021 for the style inspiration and @jadefarmiloemua for the eye bag hack! (See my stories)
It’s podcast day! And on today’s show @mad_abo It’s podcast day! And on today’s show @mad_about_the_house and I discuss the pitfalls of shopping online, because admit it, we’ve all fallen down one! Whether it’s find out your forest green sofa is shiny teal (mentioning no names Callum) to discovering the dining room chandelier is no bigger than one of pat butchers earrings. 
Swiftly moving on we interview the fabulous @_paintgirl , creative director of paint brand @littlegreenepaintcompany who explains why there is a thirst for neutrals right now and how to pick the perfect shade. I’m currently giving my living room a refresh and for one nano second considered a neutral for the walls. 😳 But then I had a chat with myself and remembered that leopard is a neutral. There, I feel so much better! I hope you love the show, it’s the last in the current series. Kate and I will be having a short lie down and then back with a bang on 15th of April. I can promise you an awesome series we have planned with some know guests! So make sure you subscribe and why not leave us a little review if you get a moment. We read them all you know! Thanks to @katetaylorldn for producing the show. 

#leopardisaneutral #banthebeige #thegreatindoors #thegreatindoorspodcast #livingroom #interiorrefresh #colourlover #maximalistinteriors #maximalistinteriors
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