Thirty years ago they were being ripped out, replaced and removed, but thanks to the likes of Kirstie, Phil and Sarah Beeny, we’ve all learnt to love a good period feature in a house. Ceiling roses around pendant shades add a deco touch, original fireplaces are perfect for family photographs and coving breaks up the wall into interesting segments.
A few years ago, Eastern delights were the height of interiors style. You couldn’t open a glossy magazine without seeing a stone Buddha peering up at you, a couple of ornately carved chests and a wilting orchid or two. It was a reaction to shabby chic, which had previously been so prevalent, in that it was sleek and exotic – two properties you can definitely not assign to the vintage-style chandeliers and dining chairs that had previously been so popular.
Meg Mathews shot to fame in the 1990s as one half of a rock power couple with Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher. Known for being part of the Primrose Hill set and the hostess with the mostest memorable parties at her house, Supernova Heights, she has since reinvented herself as a successful interior designer. Her wallpapers and scarves are sold in Liberty, and she has just created a new capsule collection for the high street retailer View more
So you’ve booked some time away, a spot of winter sun. You’ve stocked up on tanning lotion, taken your swimsuits out of storage, and bragged about it just enough to all your friends, but then comes the boring part – the packing. We may be used to seeing pictures of celebrities wheeling entire fleets of monogrammed designer luggage through customs, but that’s just not practical for the rest of us – the airline costs of the extra weight aside, you’d spend the whole flight worrying your expensive case was being ...View more
Lisa Levis, the designer formerly known as Lisa Stickley, has had quite a year. Famous for her girlie designs under her eponymous brand, and the homespun charm she injected into Debenhams with six seasonal collections, she is now no longer working at her own company (which will carry on as “Lisa Stickley” without her), has got married, changed her name, and is starting out again. Still a fountain of knowledge on how to turn the banal into the beautiful, we caught up with her to find out her top tips on what to do with those tin...View more
With the return of shabby chic, mis-matched glassware has become less the product of a few breakages over the years leaving you with an odd collection, and more a lifestyle statement. Yes, in the same way that old clashing teacups have been used as the stylist’s shorthand for a homely vibe for years, now drinking glasses have become decoration, too. Displayed proudly on open shelves, used to hold tealights, flowers, or simply the contents of a good bottle of wine, they have a rustic quality that invites guests to get comfy, ...View more
You’ll have seen the iconic works of the house of Fornasetti. That print of the coy face, or just the lips, or perhaps a hand, has been one of the most popular design motifs of recent years, having been big at Liberty in 2006 and then picked up everywhere else, most notably at Milk Boutique in East London. The brand has been producing work since the 1950s, but it’s only un...View more
When I moved into my home six years ago, I didn’t have a bed, or even a mattress to start off with. I slept on a pile of duvets on the floor for the first five months (surprisingly comfy), until I finally had enough cash to furnish the place. I used that time spent to decide what would look good, where, too. What I did buy straight away however, was a sofa. The Klippan, from Ikea, to be precise. Short and boxy, it was their cheapest one, and probably not the comfiest, but it at least allowed me to lie in front of the televis...View more
I love Marks and Spencer’s. Unashamedly, whole-heartedly, and without any trace of irony. Sure, those Twiggy ads tested my patience, but they’ve gone now, and may they quickly be forgotten. For starters (and mains, puddings, and post-dinner digestifs) you can’t beat their amazing food halls, and anyone who claims not to love Percy Pigs is clearly telling porky pies. But more to the point, its interiors collections have been getting stronger and stronger with every passing seas...View more
It’s a fashion cliché to call black the new black. In clothing terms, there is never any colour that is the new black because black never goes out of style. In interiors, however, noir comes and goes, never sticking around long enough to become a true homeware staple. This season it is creeping into high street ranges as they nod to the monochrome trend that was so big a few years ago, but without expecting anyone to turn their living room into a sixties-style black-and-white homage to Twiggy. Instead, with just a black...View more
Emily Peck
Emily is the Founding Editor of the blog. Her experience includes writing and styling for Grand Designs, Stuff, Real Homes, Ideal Home, Woman&Home, Wired UK, C4 and the BBC.
Pip McCormac
Guest Editor Pip is the Commissioning Lifestyle Editor for The Sunday Times Style magazine. He's also written for Stylist, Elle Decoration and StyleJunkee.
Emma Morton Turner
Guest Editor Emma has written and styled for Woman&Home, Style At Home, Feel Good Food, Woman and Ideal Home to name a few. She's also fab at making stunning cakes!
David Nicholls
Guest Editor David holds the position of Design Editor at Telegraph Magazine, sourcing stunning homes around the world and reporting back with the best designs from high street to high end.
Zia Allaway
Guest Editor Zia is a gardening expert, author of books including How to Grow Practically Everything and editor of Beautiful Gardens magazine. She also contributes to Homes and Gardens and The Garden Design Journal.
Katie Treggiden
Guest Editor Katie writes award-winning design blog, Confessions of a design geek, and is the author of design book Interviews. She's also a regular contributor to We Heart, Heart Home Magazine and Design Milk.
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