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29 Nov 18

The Great Indoors Podcast S1 Episode 5 show notes

AlunCallenderPhoto TheGreatInterior 087 0537

Thanks so much to all of you for tuning into our brand new Interiors podcast, The Great Indoors. The popularity of the podcast just grows and grows so thanks to all of you who have left us a rating and review- do continue to leave your comments, we read every one!

So one of things you’ve been asking for is some show notes including useful links and some pictures to help you visualise some of the topics discussed. So here you are, a post dedicated to the key points we covered in episode 5 of the The Great Indoors.

kate watson smyth and sophie robinson record their odcast, The Great Indoors, and discuss how to up do your rented pad

A behind the scenes peek of Kate and I recording this podcast episode in our producer Kate’s rented home.

How to update your rented pad to look fab
  • Invest in great accessories. A bold patterned rug or large piece of art will have maximum impact, and you can take them with you when you move.
  • Check out removable peel and stick wallpapers. I don’t have any personal experience of using them but you can buy them at B&Q here or you can find some great designs on Etsy here, although many are shipped from the US.
  • Create your own graphic wall designs with Haru tape.
  • Hang pictures using Command strips, which mean you don’t need to knock nails into the wall.
  • Ask your landlord in advance what they will agree to in terms of decoration and improvements and be clear on who is paying for what.
  • Invest in quality flat pack furniture that can easily move house with you. The Brunel from Heals is especially designed to be easily flat packed.
  • Check out Insta-style for your Living Space by Joanna Thornhill for more styling tips.
  • I revealed the tip to remove wall decals is to warm the glue with a hairdryer first. I know this as unbelievably I used to be a rally driver and had to remove stickers from my rally car after every race!

Haru stuck on design from £11

 

Tower shelving, from £69, Heal’s is easily packed away, moved or reconfigured, so ideal for renters.

 

Insta-Style for Your Living Space by Joanna Thornhill

 

Yes it’s true! In the early noughties I was Britains top female rally driver.

Christmas gift guide
  • Both of us are agreed that it’s all about the wrapping!
  • Build up a group of presents around a theme. Kate recommended coffee beans, a Stelton coffee pot and mug for a coffee lover.
  • My plea is don’t buy plastic tat- be discerning at Christmas and buy less plastic
  • Dress up vouchers with some supporting presents. For example cinema tickets go with a bag of popcorn and a reusable cup for drinks.
  • Consider buying from local or small entrepreneurs and designer makers. There is a great edit of present ideas with sustainability in mind on the Etsy Good Store.
Design Crimes

Vertical Blinds

Up for discussion was whether vertical blinds are indeed a design crime? Kate kept them out of the Room 101 on the basis that they look good in 60’s houses or in modern extensions.

Bella vertical blinds, The Fabric Box

Also try….Decora, Luxaflex, Hilarys, Olivia Blinds, Decoshaker

Colour coded book displays

Again we disagreed on this one. I’m totally down with styling your books in order of the colour of their spines as I think it makes a great display in your room while Kate thinks it sacrilege!

My colour co-ordinated display and Kate’s very organised library

How to plan the guest bedroom
  • My recommendation is to go bold on the scheme, as this is a room you can unleash your wilder side on. Go for that wallpaper or bold colour that you love but chicken out of elsewhere in your home.
  • Hang a peg rail in the bedroom for guests to hang clothes, rather than a bulky wardrobe
  • Often guest bedrooms are mufti-tasking rooms. Seek out multi functional furniture, like sofa beds and style the room so it can shift easily from home office to bedroom.
  • Invest in fresh linen or freshen up your existing linen with scented linen water
  • Pop a dish of hotel sized toiletry samples for your guests to use

Dazzling Blue 100% Linen Bed Linen, duvet cover from £95; pillowcase from £18, Secret Linen Store

Thanks once again to Dfs for sponsoring our podcast. Episode 6 will air on the 13th and you can catch up on previous podcasts by following the link to your podcast platform here. And please do rate and review the podcast while you are there!

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Before and after! This room took me on a real jour Before and after! This room took me on a real journey.
At first, I thought I needed a calm, blank space to focus… so I painted it all white. I know - can you believe it?! I told myself it was for clarity and creativity, but the truth is, I hated it. I felt flat and totally uninspired.

So, I ripped up the rulebook and went back to what I know works for me: bold colour and big pattern. I painted the whole space in my favourite cobalt blue (Lazuli by @zoffanyfw) and installed the ‘In the Woods’ mural from my @Harlequinfw collection - and now it’s everything I wanted and more.

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A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨ It was such A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨

It was such an honour to guest judge the Interior Design Masters final alongside the fabulous @michelleogundehin and wow, what a finale it was!

The setting? The magical village of Portmeirion.
The challenge? Transform a bland holiday cottage.
The winner? The brilliant @john_cooper_design and what a winning design it was! 

John’s scheme was a glorious celebration of colour and perfect  storytelling. I loved how  he used bold Mediterranean hues and motifs from room to room which cleverly held this maximalist vision together. It felt like being whisked away to a land far far away. And thereby perfectly capturing the spirit of Portmerion. Honestly, it felt magical to be there!

I’ve unpacked all Johns clever ideas and design takeaways over on the blog (link in bio) — but I’d LOVE to hear what you thought.

Was John your winner?
What design moment caught your eye?
Could you stay in a house like this?

Tell me in the comments 👇

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EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignm EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignmasters ! 

Thankyou @john_cooper_design for a beautiful LIVE taking a deeper look into your amazing experience being on the this most loved show. We all loved watching you grow and develop as a designer and your collection with @johnlewis is an absolute triumph! Cannot wait to see what you do next 🙌
All the Finale feels ✨ What a joy was filming t All the Finale feels ✨
What a joy was filming this series of @interiordesignmasters with @michelleogundehin , @chattyman , not mention this year’s insanely talented finalists @john_cooper_design 💙 @ritamillat ❤️ There is a lot of love and positive energy that goes into making this show.

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TONIGHT at 7pm I’ll be going LIVE right here on Instagram with this year’s winner… SPOLER ALERT….

@john_cooper_design 
I cannot wait to chat all the behind-the-scenes design insights, and what it really takes to win Interior Design Masters. What a smashing journey John has been on. Wow his final design blew me away, it’s was soo well executed and his vision was perfectly in step with the flamboyant eccentricity of Portmerion. Top marks! 

Come join us and ask your questions during this exciting Live event or come back later and watch the replay! 👀

Missed the show? Catch  up with @bbcone  Interior Design Masters on @bbciplayer 

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Beware of listening to the ‘experts’! I get i Beware of listening to the ‘experts’!
I get it though, designing a house is hard, especially if your taste leans towards the 
maximalist style. There is every chance you’ll feel overwhelmed or stressed about getting it wrong with the end result one hot mess. However here are some of those common ‘design rules’ that I absolutely disagree with! Would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Ready to step into your best life? Start with the Ready to step into your best life? Start with the place that holds it all. Your home.

I’ve always believed that a joyful, soul-filled home isn’t just a reflection of who you are… it’s a catalyst for who you want to become. When you’re surrounded by colours that lift you, patterns that energise you, and decor that tells to your story, something magical happens.

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