This month I’m loving…
March has been incredibly busy for me this year, full of some amazing opportunities, fun events and of course, a lot of colour! From the exciting launch of my new collection with DFS to partying at the QEST fundraiser with the team at Harlequin, it has felt such a privilege to be working alongside such super inspiring and creative people. Not to mention everyone’s favourite and my podcast bestie, Kate Watson-Smyth of @mad_about_the_house, with whom I recorded our last episode (for a while) of the fabulous and ever so popular The Great Indoors podcast. Yes, thats right we say farewell to the pod at the end of March. It’s been almost 5 years and 149 episodes and to be honest, we have run out of puff! Kate is throwing herself into our new Italian venture, and I’m juggling so many projects this year my head is spinning.
But Spring is well and truly underway, the daffodils are grinning at me from my window and the Easter break is ahead.
But if you are still in need of some inspiration, shall we get into what I’m loving this month?
This month I’m loving…
watching:
Maybe I’m biased but I absolutely love this show. Alan Carr is the nicest man on (and off TV), Michelle is the absolute boss, and the contestants are beyond fabulous this year! I’d love to know who you are rooting for?
*SPOILER* At time of writing, Ash has just left the competition, and I always mourn to see the back of a fellow colour lover. Domnall’s illustrations made into wall murals were absolutely breath taking, showing how well he can pivot from 2D to 3D. And the less said about the Team India boat floating down the Gangee’s the better!
After a strong start Ben definitely had a major wobble and learnt that sometimes our ideas are better in our heads. And need to stay there! But seriously he’s the one to watch for me right now, I love his eccentric storytelling. What will he come up with next week?
Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr is on BBC ONE 8pm, Tuesday and available to catch up on iplayer.
Shopping:
Habitat turns 60! Habitat have a really dear place in my heart as they have always been about bringing the best of British and emerging talent to the high street, positioning it at a price point that is accessible to many.
I was invited to celebrate their birthday this month, hosted by Sebastian Conran, son of the great founder Terence Conran. As a design graduate myself I’ve always felt a strong bond with new designers and Habitat gave them a place to showcase.
But with their supermarket takeover (they are now part of the Sainsburys group) they honestly lost their way in the past few years. But this, their 60th year, I’m thrilled to see that they are back, with Creative director Andrew Tanner at the helm, I was privvy to the exciting new range of products and designer collaborations coming out next month. Watch this space!
wearing:
Last month it was dungarees and this month it’s joggers! It’s not lost on me that there is a thread occurring, but we aren’t quite into summer dress territory yet so I’m still working the comfortable trew and it doesn’t get much better than these.
Tip is to go really oversize and pair with a matching sweatshirt or hoodie. Colour blocking your tracksuit (matching top and bottoms) is the way to keep it classy, and with my signature Nike Air Max in tow, we are ready to go!
This brand, iets frans from Urban Outfitters, does some great colours including my signature cobalt, but theres also a lovely lilac and a blush pink that I have my eye on.
listening to:
- In short, get out of bed within seconds of your alarm.
- Get moving and expose your eyes to daylight, BEFORE you even think about looking at your phone!
- Drink a glass of water well before your morning tea and coffee.
I love these simple life hacks and can concur that they set me up for a better morning feeling positive and empowered.
enjoying:
Opening the windows!
With this new Spring sunshine I’m feeling an almighty burst in energy and optimism.
It’s the perfect time of year to refresh your home too, and after months of central heating and closed windows I’m relishing throwing them open (for short blasts, it’s still chilly outside) to bring the fresh air in.
There was some alarming recent stats that the air quality of you home can be worse than a motorway fly over due to all the pollutants we have trapped inside our insulated homes. So allowing the air to finally circulate is really important.
I might take it one step further and have a Spring clean this Easter weekend!
FOLLOWING:
@isabel_ladd_interiors over on Instagram. I actually met Isabel in Paris, last month, as she was over for Deco Off and joined me and the Harlequin team for lunch. Looking resplendent in a neon yellow lace blouse paired with fuchsia pink silk skirt and huge tassel earrings, we hit it off right away. Isabel is an interior designer based in the United States and if you thought I was a bit extra, wait til you check out Isabel’s interiors!
She takes Maximalism to the next level with a dizzying variety of patterns and colours all vying for attention, but the affect is unapologetically fabulous!
Check out the kitchen she recently designed Cafe Appliances at the Kitchen show in Las Vegas. She used loads of my wallpapers and fabrics from my new Harlequin collection and I’m just astounded how freakishly brilliant they all look mixed together. You can see the full reveal over on her instagram here
READING:
As you can probably tell I’m all full of Spring motivation so taking a deep dive into Fitter, Calmer, Stronger by my friend Kate Rowe-Ham.
Kate is an absolute powerhouse and someone you want by your side. With three children and a busy husband she knows only too well the struggle with energy, sleep and brain fog that can hit women in their mid life. I’ve been a member of her brilliant Owning Your Menopause app, and work out with Kate or Katie three times a week online before the school run.
But her new book released last month is a bit of a bible and while I’m on the road of recovery after severe burn out in 2021-22, I still am learning new ways to support my health, both mental and physical, in this, the most challenging time of life. But at the same time, it’s the best bit!
CELEBRATING:
With the podcast drawing to a close (for now) it felt fitting to have one of the design greats as our last guest of this current run. Kit Kemp has long been both a design and career inspiration of mine so I was slightly giddy with excitement to get the opportunity to interview her. We all met at Kit’s hotel, Ham Yard in central London, where she has just installed her new fabric collection in collaboration with GP & J Baker.
It was a wonderful dive into Kit’s decorative worlds as she shared her passion for textiles and how she sources her fabrics and design inspirations from around the world. Despite both her daughters now inside the family business, she is still very much at the creative helm. What an inspiration, joyous and generous woman she was. I hope you enjoy episode 147 here.
