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06 Feb 20

House tour with Oliver Heath – podcast show notes S6 Ep3

Welcome to the Great Indoors podcast show notes, and for this episode, Kate and I went on location to Brighton to tour the home of Eco expert Oliver Heath. But first, a huge thanks to our sponsors for this series, Topps Tiles and if you are looking for tile inspiration, hop on over to their Instagram grid. As always you can listen to the full episode here.

On with the show, Now many of you may remember, Oliver Heath from his time on one of BBC ONE’s hit TV show Changing Rooms back in the 90s. But he is now renowned for his work in the realm of sustainability, biophilic design, well-being and all things eco. Oliver’s architecture and interior design practice are an authority in this area, carrying out research and sharing their findings within the design community. With his TV career as a platform, Oliver has a mission to educate people on biophilic design and why it is so important. We just had to find out how he practices it in his own home!

When Oliver and his family of four, moved into this 1960s house,  he did so with the vision to convert it into an eco-house. This period of architecture was a perfect choice as he was not required to restore the house to its former glory, but instead, he could make the most of the footplate and generously sized windows, which you don’t get with most older period houses. He practically stripped it of all its 60s identity, he removed the terracotta tile hung exterior cladding and UPVc windows in favour of a more sustainable design and contemporary look.

Retrofitting your home to be more sustainable

The first thing to consider when making your home more sustainable is insulation – from insulating exterior render to tackling the attic, draughts and areas that leak heat were all tackled. Next was a ventilation system or to be precise ‘a whole house heat recovery system’ a very complicated network of pipes that extracts warm moist air and pumps warm fresh air back into the house, which is very clever.

Next, Oliver pointed out that his background is in architecture, and urged that it’s essential that the bare bones and how a house works on a practical level are the fundamentals for delivering health and well-being to a home. Before you even look at a paint colour!

Interesting fact: 80% of the buildings we’ll be living in by 2050 are already here so there’s only going to be 20% of new buildings.

So it’s important to work out how to make older houses healthy and serve us in the future. I was surprised to discover that it can be a case of simply opening more windows as trapped moisture in our homes can cause damp and mould. Did you know that if you open a sash window on the top and bottom it creates a natural ventilation system – cold air comes in at the bottom and warm air escapes at the top.

Then we moved on to energy – we’re moving towards houses being powered by just electricity and in around ten years time, there will be far fewer houses running boilers. Renewable energy is the best starting point and it’s easy to switch with more and more companies out there offering affordable 100% renewable energy, for example, try Good Energy, Bulb, EcoTricity

Wellbeing and Biophilia

Biophilia means the ‘love of nature’ which actually came to the fore in the 1980s and became popular through workplace design, who have the focus on staff productivity. Approached scientifically, it was measured how our connection to nature helps to reduce stress, productivity, and health. We’re now seeing a real growth in interest in introducing it in the home – let’s face it we spend most of our time there and if it works in the workplace!

Plants are key in Oliver’s pad – large and small

Oliver’s house may be an eco-home but that doesn’t mean it lacks in the style stakes. The open plan living/dining space features a fabulous timber-clad wall which is actually larch salvaged from the big storm of 1987 from Kew Gardens. (Oliver found it at his local timber merchant who was breaking down one of their sheds, and offered Oliver the worn timber, which is why it has so much character). The beauty of it is, with all those knocks and scratches there’s no need to be too precious about it – it has certainly stood up to family life. Unlike many architects I meet, Oliver is not uptight about his house and its internal appearance. He says, “much like nature, we take beauty from the imperfections which add character and identity.” He also told us that through research studying forest countries including Scandinavia, Japan and Australia, having wood cladding on the walls can help reduce heart rates and blood pressure levels.

The floor is wire brushed engineered wood which emphasises the grain, allowing a more rustic look, and best of all, hides the wear and tear!

A study was carried out over 76 years to establish the key to happiness in the home and found that the strong bonds we make with friends and family are intrinsic to our wellbeing. So, in terms of interior design, it’s all about how to bring everyone in the home together to create a happy environment. Oliver has created this with the dining table becoming the most important piece of furniture in the house, set centre stage between the kitchen and living areas.

Oliver’s dining table is the social hub of the home, and is open to the kitchen and connected via a sliding door to the living room

You’ll notice the log burner is the focal point in the open plan area. Oliver wanted a real fire in the home with a flickering flame because of the ‘non-rhythmic sensory stimuli’, which is a calming sense of movement. Think of leaves on a tree blowing in the breeze, ripples across the water or even looking at a fish tank – it’s the ever-changing but never the same movement that calms us.

The corner sofa has a detachable footstool that can be butted up so the sofa becomes like a big double bed to stretch out on.

We turn the corner and hit by a gorgeous hue of emerald green with yet more fresh greenery and a fabulous L shaped sofa – this is the ideal space for the family to chill out and escape to. Being a 60s house there are no fireplaces hence no alcoves for storage, so Oliver created a modular wall of shelving to house their books and essentially becomes the focal point of the room. More timber clad walls here but this time treated with Osmo oil with a black stain, which cleverly disguises the TV. Spot the Himalayan rock salt lamp which gives off a very calming and soft light and also adds a bit texture. Salt lamps claim they can clean the air in your home, soothe allergies, boost your mood and help you sleep.

Bedroom

The huge Monstera plant not only adds visual texture and colour to the room, but it also helps draw out toxins, modifies temperature and humidity

Oliver designed the wooden bed himself, a black timber frame and the headboard is So Shugaban timber – a Japanese technique of scorching and then brushed to remove the burnt wood and you’re left with a lovely textural surface.  Oliver maintains that it’s important to have authentic forms of nature in and around you so again the timber texture is key to the well being effects.

Moving on to another area of well-being, sleep. The impact of poor sleep can affect our interactions with others, the ability to focus and concentrate, easily distracted and apparently more attracted to fatty food. No one wants that!

Olivers three top tips for getting a good nights sleep
  • Maximise natural light – is crucial as it affects our circadian rhythm (also known as your sleep/wake cycle) our mood, behaviour and our body’s release of serotonin and melatonin (sleep/wake hormones). Natural light balances this out and aids a good night’s sleep. We spend 90% of our lives indoors so getting out in natural light is crucial.  The Lumie light clock – uses colour changing light to mimic the sunrise and ease you out of bed in a more natural way.
  • Ditch technology – as much as we want to check social media, news or weather on laptops, phones and tablets, it’s the blue light from these that tell our brain late at night that it’s the middle of the day!
  • Dusk til dawn light bulbs – Oliver has the Philips Hue light bulbs which are colour changing and with a simple adjustment on an app you can change the tone from the usual yellow to an orangery dusk colour to ease you into the perfect sleep mode.

Oliver’s house is full of plants and even more so in the bedroom as they clean the air and provide fresh oxygen for you to enjoy when you sleep. However, check out their properties first, as some plants give off oxygen in the day and take out CO2 at night and some do it the other way round. To help you decide here’s a list of plants ideal for the bedroom.

Bathroom

Natural texture is key in this household. The Kirkstone natural slate has a beautiful green tone, and of course another touch of greenery.

Oliver purposefully didn’t got out to design a  trend-led bathroom.  He wanted something with a timeless quality and it was more about the natural textures and patterns. His top tip here is if you go for natural materials they won’t date quite so quickly, as this bathroom testifies, it was decorated over 12 years ago and still looks great today.

Lastly, think about the lighting – sidelight is the most flattering way to light your face and in turn, psychologically it will give you a boost and creates a positive vice before you start your day. And we could all do with that!

It just leaves me to say a huge thank you to Oliver Heath for letting us into his wonderful home and don’t forget to check out his Instagram feed @oliverheathdesign.

Do hop on over to our Facebook group and be part of the Great Indoors community. And thank you to Topps Tiles for sponsoring this series.

 

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comments

Sandra on 07.02.20

WOW – another off the charts GREAT episode : ) . Thank you… but only problem is I think I shall have to listen to this episode several times to absorb it all! You two have the very best podcast in the world.

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 26.02.20

Thanks so much for your kind words x

Reply
AMB on 09.02.20

I’m so glad ventilation was brought up! A boring subject but I have had so many debates on interiors forums about ventilation and window vents. People seem to think that any kind of draught or breeze must be blocked up in an effort to keep the heat in, but it is so important that a house is ventilated and allowed to breathe, especially older houses!

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 26.02.20

So true!

Reply
Jaimie on 11.02.20

Such a beautiful house tour – I love the Himalayan salt lamp. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 26.02.20

pleasure!

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DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the paintbrush out! Giving old and unappreciated brown furniture of coat of colour is not just easy but quick too and you get ooodles of satisfaction giving something a new lease of life. Since the sun is starting to poke it’s head out it’s the perfect opportunity to fling open the windows, roll out the dust sheet, and calm your senses with the therapeutic strokes of a paint brush. I transformed these battered old Ercol chairs that I found at a car boot sale with an undercoat of Zinsser and a top coat of eggshell so they really can withstand the knocks. ( here’s a tip, use a sag brush for spindly furniture) I love how the pink legs pick up on the pink in the wallpaper. I’ve got a couple of pots of chalk paint waiting in the wings. This just might be the weekend to tackle the bedside tables at last! Have a wonderful weekend  and I hope the sun shines on you wherever you are! 

CREDITS Reclaimed terracotta tiles @ca_pietra_  Borastapeter Rubarber wallpaper @wallpaperdirect Clock @newgateclocks Doors painted in Rose Ash Light @sanderson1860 Everything else is vintage 

#easywininteriors #kitchen #countrykitchen #upcycle #upcycledfurniture #countryliving #countrylivingmodernrustic #countrykitchen #greenkitchen #greenandpink #interiorinspo #interiordesign
DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do with what you’ve got and making it work. For most of us, decorating our home and choosing all the things we want to go with it is a long if not a life time journey and there are plenty of compromises along the way. One of the ways I make do with things I’m less happy about is with distraction. You can use colour to draw the eye and highlight the bits you do like and similarly blend away the areas that need to fade into the back ground. For me joinery, radiators and my unattractive windows all get painted in the same colour so they fall to the background and then the cushions and artwork can come to the fore and catch your eye. I painted these lovely old solid wood doors bright yellow on a whim with some left over paint. It was a quick and easy way to inject a burst of  colour joy. So don’t discount doors and architraves as a fun way to play with colour, but only if you have nice ones. 
On the PODCAST today @mad_about_the_house and I discuss more ways you can make do. I interview leading interior designer and queen of colour and pattern @nicolahardingandco who has amazing insights on how to go about planning your schemes, conjure mouthwatering colour palettes and work with what you’ve got. And our style surgery is from Callum who finds himself stuck with a shiny blue green sofa which he doesn’t love and doesn’t know what to put with. Obviously cover it with cushions and distract the eye with A bright yellow door Callum! 

If you have a question for our style surgery do please send it in as we are lining them up for the next series and we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email to thegreatindoorspod@gmail.com.You can here all our ramblings and insights on today’s show The Great Indoors and thankyou to @katetaylorldn for producing the show. 

#thegreatindoors #bluesofa #yellowdoor #banthebeige #interiorspodcast #podcast #interiordesign #interiorinspo
DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling th DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling the benefits of an occasional chair. I’ve always loved occasional chairs primarily for their decorative function. I’m a patterned fabric addict and so an occasional chair I’d another opportunity to add more pattern, more colour and another cushion to boot! But during these extended periods of lock down and staying at home I’ve appreciated the quiet little corners they offer. I’m lucky enough to find a space for one here on my landing but they can also find a home in a bedroom, a home office, under the stairs or indeed #lifegoals in the bathroom. So rather than playing second fiddle to THE SOFA put your occasional chair in pride of place and grab yourself 5 minutes solitude! Most of mine are junk shop funds bought back to live with my hoarded stash of remnant fabrics. So it’s time to raid grannies attic and  create a seat that makes you smile . 🥰  use the hashtags #easywininteriors to share your favourite corners of escape.

#easywininteriors #vintagearmchair #armchair #occassionalchair #colourlover #banthebiege
DAY 15 of #easywininteriors and I’m having a re DAY 15 of #easywininteriors  and I’m having a reshuffle on the bookcase to celebrate the happy Back To School vibes! 🙌 YES! This one is a work in progress because sorting your books as to the spine colour can be really meditative! I’m excited for you guys to share your colour coded bookcases using the hashtag #easywininteriors because I’ve seen some amazing examples on here! This idea can also include colour coding your ornaments or glassware collection too. Somehow grouping them in blocks  just intensifies the colour and I love the 🌈 effect. Happy faffing! 

#interiorinspo #interiorstyling #colourlover #banthebeige #faffthegaff #bookshelf #shelfie #shelfiestyling #rainbow #rainbowstyle #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe
DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are o DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are often the day I get the house in order before the week starts again. It’s laundry day, the on-line shop gets done and if I can be bothered I might do some batch cooking. 💪 But the garden is also pulling our attention at this time of year and I spent yesterday picking up twigs that have littered the garden after the high winds and piled it all up for kindling. Satisfying! I’m not a naturally tidy or organised person  but I do feel like I’m winning at life once chores have been done and everything is in it’s place. And here lies the easy win. If you have systems in place it makes it so much easier! This shoe storage was game changing. Before the hall was littered with shoes and bags that I was always tripping over. So planning your storage and then using it is key to creating order and an element of calm. And once the storage is fit to bursting, it’s time to have a declutter. How do you keep the house feeling orderly and calm and do you use Sunday as a Sort It day too? #sortitsunday 

CREDITS walls in Lazuli and woodwork in Perfect white @zoffanyfw . Havana Bauta cement Tiles @claybrookstudio . Fabrics are vintage and @thestripescompany . Stair runner @roger_oates 

#easywininteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #hallwaydecor #hallway #interiorinspo #declutter #storageideas #shoestorage
DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the bedroom and enjoying a well earned lie in this morning! My morning routine has been really important to me during lock down. In  his brilliant book ‘think like a monk’ @jayshetty talks about how a positive morning ritual sets you up for the day. Similarly a good night time ritual sets you up for a good nights sleep. Styling up your bedroom  to support these ideas really helps! I’ve taken to setting my wake up alarm an hour before the rest of the house so I can enjoy some quiet solitude before the day gets going. I make my coffee in my favourite mug and spend a while reading or exercising. But no phone scrolling! My bedside is laid out with everything I need including a big pile of books and a dish for my watch and specs. I charge my phone in the kitchen to keep it away from temptation! Admittedly I’ve never had a problem sleeping but I was hardly what you’d call a morning person. Now it’s my favourite time of the day! Have a gorgeous lazy weekend folks x

CREDITS wallpaper @mollymahonblockprinting bedside table is vintage. Lamp @pookylights Vases and dishes all vintage. Pillows and duvet @cocoandwolf Flat sheet and bedthrow @societyofwanderers 

#easywininteriors #bedroomdecor #countrybedroom #colourfiedhomes #colourstylehome #colourlover #banthebeige #patternclash #interiorstyling #interiordesign #interiorinspo #faffthegaff
DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half w DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half way there! Whoop whoop, March is  just nine short days away! And I can feel the Spring vibes! It’s getting lighter, the bluebells are coming and the birds are singing! But back to it, we’ve got work to do! Today I’m sharing how I switch my home from working day to home time, without leaving the house. It’s so important for our mental health that we can make that transition. I’ve worked from home for years so I’ve always done this, but I find it essential to tidy my desk/kitchen table at the end of everyday and get it out of sight. This often means piling up all my paper work, laptop, pen pot and putting it all into a tray. And if you don’t have a deep tray a cardboard box does the job. Then hide it in the cupboard, pop it on a shelf or slide it under the table. The key is that you can’t see it and it doesn’t encroach on your non-work life. Out of sight out of mind kind of thing. 
And you might notice in the back of this shot is my 2021 vision board. I keep this in my view everyday as it helps keep me focused, uplifted and motivated. Im hosting a live webinar next Tuesday on how and why I create vision boards for every aspect of my life, including my interiors. If you’d like to join me it’s 7pm 23/02/21 and I can promise a fun, creative and enlightening evening! Link to book is up in my bio if you fancy getting a boost of inspiration towards creating your dream home. 

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend 😍

#workingfromhome #myhomeoffice #interiorstyling #visionboard #interiorinspo #interiorinspiration #homeoffice #creativeworkspace #colourlover #colourcolorlovers #banthebeige
DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make it super easy after yesterday’s kitchen cupboard love, which I’ll be honest, felt a bit strenuous! So today is all about creating as simple but effective styling moment; a trio of vases. Three seems to be the magic number when it comes to styling your objects and I have a few tips . I like to make sure there is a mixture of sizes, colour and textures but all held together with a theme. These three work because they’re  all vintage, Picked up from various car boot sales over the years! You can create little trios all over your home from the sideboards, book shelves, worktops, bathrooms and side tables. Push the tall one to the back and bring the small one to the fore but it’s the lack of symmetry that makes it pleasing. And you don’t have to stop with just vases, a trio of objects works with picture frames, ornaments and candle sticks too. 

#easywininteriors #vintagestyle #howivintage #myvintagehome #interiorstyling #interiorstyle #interiorinspo #colourlover #banthebeige
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