The House Guest Podcast Is Back! Carole Annett Interviews Lucy Williams
2 weeks ago
Interiors Editor Carole Annett gets tips from top design experts. This week's guest: stylist and digital creator Lucy Williams
Welcome to the new series of the House Guest podcast where C&TH Interiors Editor Carole Annett chats with experts from the world of interior design and decoration, the people behind the houses and hotels you see in glossy magazines like ours. This series will see experts guiding readers on a particular area of their own expertise, we hope you’ll pick up some useful tips. Enjoy!
Today’s House Guest Is Lucy Williams
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This week, Carole Annett sits down with stylist and digital creator Lucy Williams, whose transformation of her terraced house in West London has been devoured by thousands on Instagram. Sponsored by Naturalmat.
Previous House Guest Episodes:
Episode 27: James Arkoulis and Saskia Howard of Howark Design
My House Guests this week are James Arkoulis and Saskia Howard of Howark Design. Launched five years ago and based in Chiswick, Howark Design creates characterful and timeless interiors with an emphasis on practical and charming design. The focus of our chat is rugs – what to buy, how to choose, what colours work best and how to use in an interior setting. ‘Having a very saturated rug (with colour) in a space can be draining,’ says Saskia, ‘and scale is important.’ They suggest buying rugs early on in a project, ‘it’s an investment,’ says James, ‘buy well and it will give joy for years to come.’ Howark Design has a small rug collaboration with Holmes Bespoke. Tune in for more.
Episode 28: Karen Barlow of The Old Potato Store
My House Guest today is Karen Barlow of The Old Potato Store, which specialises in sourcing decorative antique and vintage furniture and accessories that make a space feel individual and personal. We chat about the best hunting ground – fairs and boot sales are best for sourcing, what to look for and also how to photograph and style your finds if you want to sell them on.
Sustainability is at the forefront of her business – but, as a designer, aesthetics are everything. ‘If something is useful and beautiful, I believe that it can be reused or repurposed,’ she says. Inspired by salvage designers such as Retrouvius, she and her husband renovated their home using mainly reclaimed and vintage finds.
The Old Potato Store is located in a former Victorian, stone floored building in Manchester. It was previously owned by the local Allotment Society from 1901. Tune in for more.
Episode 29: How to buy a sofa
What should you look for when buying a new sofa? How do you test comfort and longevity? Carole Annett sits down on a perfectly plumped cushion with Amanda Barrett of British furniture maker George Smith to talk sofas, seat depth, wooden frames, duck feathers, colour and craftsmanship. Tune in for more.
Episode 30: Follies, fun and why ‘finish’ is a dirty word
Nicky Haslam, one of the most important figures in British interior design, chats with Carole Annett. ‘People think they’ve got to make it perfect but the whole point of decorating is layers and layers of imperfection making something wonderful.’
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Episode 31: How to Survive 30 Years in Interiors – Karen Howes of Taylor Howes
Carole Annett chats to Karen Howes of luxury interior design studio Taylor Howes. Karen’s credits include Soho’s glam-goth-meets-polished-punk hotel Chateau Denmark, to Knightsbridge penthouses and super-luxe ski chalets. Tune in to hear how she made it to the top.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Episode 32: Colour, Cushions And Why Dog Beds Are Boring – Eva Sonaike
Born and raised in the south of Germany and hailing from Nigeria, Eva Sonaike studied journalism and worked in fashion before turning her sights on interiors. While doing up her first house, she was unable to find anything that represented the glorious colours of her homeland, and it was at this point that she decided to have a go herself. She now runs a global brand and has collaborated with Soho Home, CP Hart and Kanuhara resort in the Maldives, with much more to follow… including dog beds.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Image credit: RankinEpisode 32: Stephen Webster talks Madonna, Boys’ Jewellery and Japanese Fighting Fish
Jewellery designer Stephen Webster shares his story, from apprenticing aged 15 at Hatton Garden to working on his latest collection, Sworn Enemies. Plus, he reflects on why we are experiencing an exciting jewellery renaissance. Tune in for more.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Image credit: Rankin
Episode 33: Jacu Strauss Talks Sandcastles, Storytelling and Why Hotels Should Be a Journey of Discovery
‘Design is much more than just things, it’s about the memories you create,’ says Jacu Strauss, creative director and designer for Lore Group hotels including the highly acclaimed 100 Shoreditch in London and Pulitzer Amsterdam.
After growing up in the Kalahari desert, where he spent hours building castles out of sand, Jacu headed for London aged 18. He worked in a bank (to keep himself afloat) and studied architecture before finding work with Tom Dixon. He then embarked on the interiors of Sea Containers house, which brought him to the attention of Lore Group hotels – a career-changing moment which has allowed him total creative freedom in his new ventures. Tune in for more.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Episode 34: What Have We Dunoon? How A Young Couple Bought A House By Mistake
It all started when Cal went to an auction in Scotland intending to bid for a two-bed flat in Glasgow and instead came away with a crumbled old wreck in the run-down area of Jameswood. Claire, his girlfriend and partner, is my House Guest this week. She recounts the last four years of their lives, from the ‘colander’ ceiling and the structural engineer who advised them to knock the house down to the joys and surprises of DIY renovation. Their Instagram account @whathavewedunoon sets out their extraordinary renovation journey and how it has transformed their lives and opened up a whole new world of friendship and community. A wonderful uplifting tale of our times.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Episode 35: Ship Shape: David Collins Studio’s Design For Cunard’s New Ship, The Queen Anne
This week’s House Guest is Jason Stewart, associate director of David Collins Studio, who gives us a glimpse into the design of Cunard’s new ship, Queen Anne, which is launching next year. ‘We have take elements of a bygone era and reimagined them in new ways,’ he reveals.
We also chat about Cunard’s history, its importance in Liverpool, and what guests got up to in the early years of sailing (truffle sauce for breakfast and onboard games which included separate races for single and married ladies and pillow fights for men.) An exhibition of Cunard’s history is on at Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum now. Tune in for more.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
Coronation Special: Charles, Ninth Earl Spencer Is Today’s House Guest
Today’s House Guest is Stéphane Vilar, General Manager Of The Anantara Plaza Hotel in Nice
Be transported to the realm of magic and myth in this episode, as Carole Annett chats to British graphic artist and homeware designer Emma J Shipley. From fabrics and wallpaper to lampshades and candles, Emma’s intricate designs bring to life the most enchanting aspects of the natural world. She delves into her artistic inspiration and discusses the origins of her unique style, which channels her childhood love of fantasy novels and films as well as experiences from her travels. She also offers us an insight into her success and gives us the lowdown on her stunning new Quetzal collection.
This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk
How to Design Children’s Bedrooms With Noor Charchafchi, Founder & CEO of Celine Interior Design
From aviation law to interior design, Noor Charchafchi made a significant career change and launched a successful design business, Celine Interior Design, while also bringing up three children. She is passionate about the impact of good interiors on people’s lives. Her Iraqi heritage also plays an important role: ‘l feel 100% Iraqi and 100% English rather than 50% of anything’, she tells Carole Annett. Tune in for more, including how to design amazing kids’ bedrooms.
Insider Go-To: Today’s House Guest Is Luiza Marra
For any interior designers looking for that special something – whether it’s a unique piece of ceramic to finish an interior, or individual hand-made cushions – head to Luiza Marra at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. At Colony by Casa Luiza, you will find beautiful objects, fabrics from Colony Roma, and furniture chosen with Luiza’s meticulous eye. As the daughter of an ambassador, Luiza has lived all over the world gathering knowledge and taking in the world around her. Interiors are her second career and her passion shines through. Tune in to hear about decorating Mosimann’s private dining room, how she discovered her flair for design, and her most recent collaboration with Natalia Miyar for WOW house, which opens next week (visit dcch.co.uk for tickets).
Garden Special: How To Design A Garden With Richard Miers
This week we are revisiting an old favourite: an interview with garden designer Richard Miers before last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. He ended up with the People’s Choice award for his Love Garden. Tune in to hear all about how to design a garden fit for the famous Flower Show.
Special Edition: Lee Broom is Today’s House Guest
This week we’re revisiting a favourite podcast with one of the best production designers of his generation: Lee Broom. Lee is one of the UK’s leading furniture and lighting designers and a premium global design brand. His Crystal Bulb launched one of his earliest designs and was an instant hit, making him a darling of the design world and one who has continued to reach new heights with everything he does. Tune in for more.
Image credit: Claire MenaryToday’s House Guest is Emma Sims Hilditch
This week, we’re revisiting our chat with Emma Sims Hilditch, an interior designer who grew up in a creative home where her mother loved to follow decorating trends, from 70s swirls to 80s swags. Emma inherited her mother’s creative gene, but, ‘I wouldn’t follow a trend,’ she says, ‘because if you’re not careful trends move on and then you’re stuck’. As well as discussing her book, ‘The Evolution of Home,’ with Giles Kime – a fascinating dive into how English country house style has changed – she offers tips on how to bring atmosphere into a house (you need a multi-faceted approach) and why the dining room is back in fashion but not in its traditional guise. Tune in for more.
Today’s House Guest is the Duchess of Rutland
Today we’re revisiting a chat with Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, who lives in one of Britain’s most magnificent stately homes: Belvoir Castle. The Duchess chats to Carole about her journey from running around on a Welsh farm as a child to running a 200-room stately home when she married the 11th Duke of Rutland 30 years ago. As a keen decorator, she gives an insight into how she stamped her personality onto the private areas of the house and how looking after fabrics and wallpapers in the State Rooms requires a delicate hand.
Turning Surplus Textiles Into Treasure: Jules Haines is Today’s House Guest
We’re kicking off a new series of House Guest with Jules Haines, founder of the textile resale platform Haines. Jules is on a mission to tackle waste in the textile industry by working with designer brands to resell their surplus and deadstock fabric. The Haines platform now offers a huge selection of products, from gorgeous fabrics to cushions made from offcuts destined for landfill.
Today’s House Guest is Freya Simms, Chief Executive Officer at LAPADA
This week, we chat to Freya Simms, who is heading up LAPADA, a fair in Berkeley Square showcasing jewellery, silver, art and antiques, opening on 27 September.
Today’s House Guest is Sophie Robinson, the Queen of Colour
Known as the Queen of Colour, Sophie Robinson is an interior designer and broadcaster and the authority on hue. In her podcast The Great Indoors with Katie Watson-Smyth, she is the aesthetic agony aunt to a nation of amateur decorators. We chat about her start in design – she specialised in plastics (surprise surprise) ‘as that is where I could get the most colour in,’ she says. After a degree studying wood, metal, plastics and ceramics at Brighton University, it was her YouTube channel that set her on a path to greater recognition, including BBC2’s Great Interior Design Challange. She has just launched her first fabric collection with Harlequin.
Today’s House Guest is Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors
Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors is a four-poster bed virtuoso. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever done a project without putting one in,’ she says. An expert at creating immaculate, dreamy interiors, she says a four-poster not only makes you feel special, but it’s also very romantic. Carole and Heni chat about the bed’s history, consider fabrics to use when curtaining the sides, and discuss different styles, from mirrored columns to designs for children. Tune in for more.
Image © Hope LeighToday’s House Guest is Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Interior Designer to the Stars
This week, Carole Annett chats to celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. He delves into his multi award-winning work for the likes of Cher and the Kardashians, and he also discusses his brand new book, ‘Star Style’. Tune in for more.
Image © Hope Leigh
Today’s House Guest is John Sims Hilditch of Neptune Furniture
‘Over time I realised how important beauty is as part of the home’, says John Sims Hilditch of Neptune. ‘I think it is something that elevates the spirit’. Launched in 1996 with friend and business partner Giles Redman, Neptune has grown into one of the UK’s best-loved lifestyle brands. Tune in to hear how John went from a military career to designing a hammock which sold rather better than expected, and sowed the seed for something rather special.
Today’s House Guest is Architect Claus Thottrup
Architect Claus Thottrup chats with Carole about creating the Italian idyll, Borgo Santo Pietro. Originally a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims, the estate he bought, along with wife Jeannette in 2001, now comprises a 300-acre organic farm, cookery school (overseen by an 80-year old nonna), vineyard, two restaurants, manicured gardens and 22 suites. The concept hasn’t changed – to offer a restorative sanctuary for modern souls along with an unwavering dedication to sustainability and organic living. ‘We want to connect people to nature in a luxury way,’ says Claus. Tune in for more.
Today’s House Guests are Bunny Turner & Emma Pocock of Turner Pocock
Dynamic interior design duo and longstanding friends Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock chat to Carole about their people-focused interior design company, Turner Pocock, how their friendship helped shape their business and what led to the creation of their charity, TP Caring Spaces.
You can find out more about the TP Caring Spaces Carol Concert (and grab your tickets) at tpcaringspaces.co.uk
Winter Gardens: Today’s House Guest is Randle Siddeley, the Lord Kenilworth
Today’s House Guest is Randle Siddeley, the Lord Kenilworth, who set up his eponymous landscape business 48 years ago. Recognised globally for innovative and beautiful projects, he has worked on magnificent estates and hotel projects both in the UK and abroad. Randle’s father was a well known interior designer and it was expected he would follow in his footsteps. But Randle didn’t do well at school; he was dyslexic, and found solace and excitement outside the house rather than indoors. We chat about life and nature, and he is a fount of knowledge. ‘The most important thing I always say is: judge your garden by how it looks in winter,’ he states. ‘This is when you can tell you have a good structured garden. The most important element is the backdrop, ideally evergreen, because whatever you have in the foreground needs that backdrop… it’s like a stage.’ Tune in for more, plus a special appearance by Diego the beagle.
Decorative Art is Back: Today’s House Guest is Meg Boscawen
Trend alert: decorative art is back! Today’s House Guest is decorative artist and rising star Meg Boscawen, who works with some of the biggest names in interiors – from Nina Campbell to Penny Morrison. “Truthfully, it’s the everyday moments that give me inspiration,” Meg tells Carole Annett. Tune in for more.
Live An Extraordinary Life: Today’s House Guest is India Hicks
India Hicks is this week’s very special House Guest. A model, businesswoman and humanitarian, India is the third child of Lady Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks – her mother served as lady in waiting to the queen and her father was a much-celebrated interior designer. We chat about family life on Harbour Island, her five children (she has two sons of 26, but they aren’t twins) and why Mick Jagger named her pet parrot Jenga. India is about to launch a new range of bedlinen for Heirlooms which features her mantra: ‘Live an extraordinary life’.
Today’s House Guest is Ozwald Boateng
In the final House Guest episode of 2023, Carole Annett chats to fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, who is dipping his toe into the world of interiors after nearly three decades of inspirational work in menswear. Tune in for more.
Elton & Me: Today’s House Guest is Tim Gosling
House Guest is back for another series! In the first episode, Carole Annett visits the home of designer Tim Gosling, whose clients include Elton John, David Furnish, Jo Malone and the late Queen Mother. They chat about the creative personalities Tim has worked with, his addiction to auctions – while revealing top buying tips – plus tales of renovating his own French chateau. ‘Elton is one of the most remarkable collectors I have ever met’, he says. Sponsored by ABI Interiors.
A Suite Fit For A King: Today’s House Guest is Guy Oliver
Guy Oliver of Oliver Laws has a background in architectural and design history, which stood him in good stead for a recent commission: The King’s Lodge at London’s iconic Mayfair hotel, The Connaught. A treasure trove of intricate panelling, jewel-coloured fabrics and carved marble, it was created in collaboration with King Charles’ Turquoise Mountain initiative which supports craftspeople in countries such as Afghanistan and Myanmar. Tune in to hear more about how the project came about and Guy’s own fascinating career. Sponsored by ABI Interiors.
Today’s House Guest is Giles Deacon
Known for skillfully mixing fashion, fine art, and theatre, Giles Deacon is the go-to couturier for celebrities including Kylie Minogue and Sarah Jessica Parker – but for his latest project, he’s dipping a toe into the world of interiors. In this week’s episode, Carole Annett chats with Giles about his new collaboration with Sanderson, the iconic fabrics and furniture brand. Sponsored by ABI Interiors.
Today’s House Guest is Sophie Ashby
‘Home is about the people, but possessions are also very powerful in making you feel comfortable and familiar,’ says Sophie Ashby, one of the UK’s most influential tastemakers. We chat about her childhood in South Africa, launching her business aged just 25 and moving house 14 times. She studied at Parsons School of Art in New York – she was there for only a short time but it had a huge impact on her career. She launched United in Design to open up the world of interior design to a wider, more diverse audience. Sponsored by ABI Interiors.
Today’s House Guest is Ippolita Rostagno
This week’s, Carole Annett chats to Ippolita Rostagno, a jewellery designer and the co-founder of Artemest, an online gallery for Italian craft. Ippolita travels throughout Italy seeking out artisans bringing visibility to both ancient and contemporary arts. Tune in for more! Sponsored by ABI Interiors.
‘Homes Don’t Happen Overnight’: Today’s House Guests Are Saffron Aldridge and Scarlett Supple
This week, Carole Annett sits down with Saffron Aldridge and Scarlett Supple of Alridge and Supple – a small, dynamic studio spanning decorating, interiors, sourcing and product design. They chat about the origins of the brand, give us a sneak peek into upcoming projects, and talk through their incredible restoration of a historic property on a Hebridean island. Sponsored by ABI Interiors.
Putting The WOW Into WOW House: Today’s House Guest is Katharine Pooley
Today’s House Guest is Katharine Pooley, one of the most respected and highly regarded names in the world of interior design and architecture. Katharine says, ‘All our conversations with clients start with comfort, happiness, wellness and sustainability’. Celebrating 20 years in the business, Katharine has a Chelsea design studio, a Walton Street boutique, and heads up a team of 50 people. Tune in as she talks chateaus, chicken coops and her upcoming showcase at WOW House, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour (June 4 to July 4).
(c) David WaytToday’s House Guests Are Rugby Player Maro Itoje and Simon Sadinsky of the King’s Foundation
We kick off a brand new series of House Guest with England rugby player Maro Itoje and Simon Sadinsky of the King’s Foundation, who tell us all about a very special project. They sat down with Carole Annett at Dumfries House, a Georgian stately home bought by a consortium led by King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) in 2007.
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