This Week’s House Guest? South African-Born Designer Christian Bense

Franky Rousell On Her Sensory-Led Design Studio Jolie

This week, Carole sits down with Franky to discuss her multi-sensory interior design studio, Jolie. Born from her entrepreneurial instincts in her 20s, Jolie was inspired by a drive to make sense of the world through creativity and science. Fascinated by the intersection of human behaviour, design and performance, Franky saw a business that needed more than beautiful spaces. It needed environments that embody brand, spark emotion and deliver results. Tune in for more.

Finding Your Perfect Art Match With NALA’s Penelope Sonder

This week, we meet Penelope Sonder of art discovery platform NALA. This digital matchmaking service – something that our interiors editor Carole Annett says she’s never seen before – helps to introduce contemporary artists to new audiences, and is aimed at interior designers, collectors and casual buyers. Carole sits down with Penelope to find out more.

Uncanny Studio’s Églantine Sicat & Pauline Dellemotte On Layering Spaces With Stories

Églantine Sicat and Pauline Dellemotte of creative and design practice Uncanny Studio, which challenges conventional thinking and takes clients on a journey of emotions, sensations, and memories. A Franco-British interior design studio, it’s built on a shared belief that spaces should tell stories. The studio’s hospitality and residential projects skilfully blend mid-century elegance with contemporary flair, designed to leave a memory and foster special experiences. Carole sits down with the design duo to find out more.

How Rug Designer Laylah Holmes Moved From Handbags To Homes

After a career in the fashion industry working with, amongst others, Ralph Lauren, Laylah Holmes realised her future wasn’t in handbags but somewhere her imagination and creativity could fly. Her rug business, Holmes Bespoke launched eight years ago and this summer Laylah opened her Chiswick showhouse – a beautiful studio with rugs on the walls, on headboards, seating, in the bathroom and even on a mirror. Carole went along to find out more.

Boura & White On Sofa-Buying And British Craft

Welcome to a new series of House Guest! This week, Carole sits down with Boura & White co-founders Abi Boura and Katie White in their Hampshire showroom to discuss sofa-buying and British craft. As a female-led, British business Boura & White pride themselves in considerate craftsmanship, a sustainable approach, and in embracing the ethos of slow interiors and quiet luxury.

Farrow & Ball’s Colour Queen Joa Studholme Reveals How She Dreams Up The Brand’s Best-Loved Paint Names

This week Carole heads to the Chelsea showroom of Farrow & Ball paint to chat to Joa Studholme – the genius behind paint colours such as Elephant’s Breath and Skimming Stone. She joined Farrow & Ball more than 30 years ago, and as well as developing new colours, she consults on design projects all over the world. Joa shares her wealth of knowledge on choosing paint and hints at the colour trends ahead. She also admits how many times she repaints her own home every year. Tune in for more.

House Guest now takes a short summer break. Thanks for listening and please join us again in September.

How AGA Has Warmed Homes & Hearts For 100 Years

With names such as Jilly Cooper, Daisy Lowe and Mary Berry amongst its fanbase, few brands encompass as much love, friendship, and loyalty as AGA. This week Carole sits down with Dominic Worsley and Laura James of AGA Rangemaster to talk about the brand’s renaissance under new leadership, as well as its new colours, new controls and much-loved heritage. Tune in for anecdotes, snippets of AGA history, plans for the future, and to discover the brilliant sales advice advertising guru David Ogilvy came up with when he worked for the cast-iron cooker brand.

Hattie Hansard On How Interior Designers Transform The Temporary Spaces At Henley, Ascot & Wimbledon

As we are well into the summer season – with Royal Ascot behind us and Wimbledon still ongoing – Carole Annett chats to Hattie Hansard of Joanna Wood about how interior designers are often employed by hospitality companies to transform these temporary spaces into something magical. Using a clever eye and often complicated logistics, here’s how they create a memorable space for guests enjoying a day out.

Meet Jeweller Kiki McDonough: A Pioneering Business Woman & A Favourite Of The Royals

This week, we’ve gone a little bit off-piste from interiors as I sit down to chat to Kiki McDonough. A favourite jeweller to the royals (with Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales regularly seen wearing her pieces), she has now worked in the industry for over 40 years. Sitting at the helm of a much-loved, globally-renowned brand, the fifth generation jeweller is renowned for her pioneering use of coloured gemstones.

One of the first women to make a name for herself in the British, luxury jewellery world, Kiki has built a well-respected business on her own with the support of a great team, while juggling two sons, multiple patronages and a social life that would tire most 20-somethings. We talk about running a business and the very exciting news that she has just gained a royal warrant.

Christophe Carpente: On Art, Architecture And The Homes That Shape Us

What does it take to turn a house into a home? For Christophe Carpente – the French-born, Swiss-trained architect behind some of the world’s most considered luxury interiors – the answer lies in chemistry, trust, and the willingness to let go. In this episode of House Guest, Carpente joins Carole from his Notting Hill studio to reflect on nearly 30 years of practice: from designing flagship stores for Cartier, Burberry and De Beers, to the deeply personal work of building homes for their owners.

How Neptune Co-Founder John Sims-Hilditch Has Led A Successful Business For 30 Years

In this week’s episode of House Guest, interiors editor Carole Annett catches up with John Sims-Hilditch, the co-founder of Neptune, as the brand celebrates its 30th year of making furniture and accessories for the home. ‘There are two sides to designing something: it needs to be useful and it needs to be beautiful,’ says John Sims Hilditch. ‘I actually slightly fall into beauty being the most important thing in design,’ he continues. ‘Utility falls away but beauty endures’. Tune in for more about how John and his business partner Giles Redman went from selling hammocks to building a hugely successful brand.

Difference Is In The Detail: Creating Exceptional Interiors With Charu Gandhi Of Elicyon

Carole Annett talks to Charu Gandhi of Elicyon about what it takes to create luxurious, welcoming spaces for a discerning clientele. ‘There’s always something I’m worrying about. For the months the project is with you they are like your children. I’ve recently been fretting about a pair of bar stools in a project: are they the right height and if the cushions are plump enough. There’s a soap dish on another project I don’t like… Do we need a soap dish, are soap dishes cool? I really care,’ Charu laughs. ‘And I should care, as clients are entrusting us with a meaningful part of their lives’. Tune in for more, including an insight into the Elicyon + Lalique bar at this year’s WOW House at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour.

Beyond Storage With Neatsmith’s Philipp Nagel & Charlotte-Elizabeth Evans Of Charlotte Elizabeth Interiors

Carole Annett chats to Philipp Nagel of Neatsmith and Charlotte-Elizabeth Evans, founder of Charlotte Elizabeth Interiors about the beauty, practicality, and lasting value of bespoke wardrobes. Together, they discuss how well-designed wardrobes and dressing rooms combine elegant aesthetics with storage tailored to individual lifestyles. Philipp shares insights into some of the projects he has worked on – including creating a display for a collection of Hermès Birkin bags, while Charlotte-Elizabeth offers design solutions on how to make storage as beautiful as it is functional, whatever your budget.

Designer Stefan Diez On The Brilliance Of The Everyday

This week Carole chats to German industrial designer Stefan Diez. One of the best in the business, Diez’s designs touch the everyday, from baths to chairs, bar stools and benches. His design is firmly rooted in the workshop, where he indulges his passion for material experimentation. The son of a cabinetmaker he says he had the perfect childhood, being left alone in his father’s workshop. He lectures at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna but beware students trying to impress. His message to young designers: ‘Don’t think you’re special and dont start by making meaningful things. Keep it simple and respect the materials. Go and explore. I like to be surprised by ingenious ideas that simplify everything, like a magic trick.’

How Brian Woulfe Transformed From Concert Pianist To Interior Designer

‘I know sometimes clients struggle to make a decision and I just say the same thing: go with your gut,’ says interior designer Brian Woulfe. ‘That visceral reaction, that emotional reaction, if you love it go for it, go make it work.’ Today, Brian Woulfe is best-known for Designed by Woulfe – his multi-awarding winning, luxury interior design studio based in London. But that wasn’t always the plan. A polo player, concert pianist and father to two dogs, Brian Woulfe has done it all. Tune in to discover how.

Sponsored by ⁠Aqualisa Showers⁠.

How To Create A Sense Of Place With Young Huh

Multi-award winning, New York based designer Young Huh is this week’s House Guest. Masterful at crafting a sense of place, she is one of the designers at this year’s WOW House event at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. She says of the room she is showcasing, the design of which was influenced by her love of Korean folk art: ‘It has lots of small moments – that’s how I like to design. First you have a big impact and as you explore a room you then see more and more detail.’ Young Huh is about to launch a new book and has a very special reason for visiting London – her love of sausage rolls.

Sponsored by ⁠Aqualisa Showers⁠.

Hotelier Sarah Wetenhall On Bringing Palm Beach’s The Colony Back To Life

Sarah Wetenhall is the owner and CEO of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and the soon-to-open Hedges in East Hampton. With no prior experience of running a hotel, Sarah used her marketing background and love of entertaining to bring Palm Beach’s iconic luxury beach house back to life. ‘We have one foot in the sand and one foot on Worth Avenue,’ she says. The hotel is a go-to for celebrities and Sarah has collaborated with luxury brands and clients such as Aerin Lauder and Gwyneth Paltrow. Apple TV also came calling for a takeover when its Palm Royale TV show went live: a wonderful story of a love affair with an iconic hotel.

Sponsored by ⁠Aqualisa Showers⁠.

How Romanos Brihi & Venetia Rudebeck Of Studio Vero Combine Work & Friendship

‘I think there are two things that make a good interior designer,’ says Romanos Brihi, one half of Studio Vero alongside his partner in design Venetia Rudebeck: ‘Being nosy and having a good visual memory’. Friends since childhood, the pair crystallised their enduring partnership when they launched their studio in 2014. Their practice is renowned for breathing life into a space with flair, intrigue, antiques and art. Tune in to hear more about how they combine work and friendship, creating beautifully inviting interiors and having a lot of fun along the way. Carole caught up with them in Romanos’ newly-decorated Kensington home.

How Ewan Frost-Pennington Is Turning His 800-Year-Old Home Into A Carbon Neutral Property

Renewable energy expert Ewan Frost-Pennington believes that like vultures – the star attraction at his Lake District home, Muncaster Castle – heat pumps are often painted under a bad light. Keep an open mind says Ewan as he tells Carole Annett how he convinced his parents to radically change their traditional thinking on heat and energy to transform the comfort levels, and coffers, of his ancestral home.

Sponsored by the ⁠Department for Energy Security and Net Zero⁠.

How Sandrine Zhang Ferron’s Cat Inspired Her To Found Vinterior

This week Carole sits down with Sandrine Zhang Ferron, the founder and CEO of Vinterior, as the online marketplace celebrates 10 years of selling beautiful pre-loved furniture.

‘I think that it’s important that things are beautiful and to be in beautiful places,’ says Sandrine. Sandrine values beauty so dearly, in fact, that she was inspired to quit her successful finance career when she found herself struggling to source the perfect Poul Volther chair to match the yellow of her cat’s eyes. Frustrated with the inefficiency of the vintage furniture market, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Motivated by her desire for a better pre-loved shopping experience, she taught herself to code – and so Vinterior was born. Tune in for more

Fiona Barratt Campbell On Her Industrial-Superluxe Style

Fiona Barratt Campbell’s ‘industrial meets superluxe’ design philosophy sets her apart and has earned her some impressive projects, including The Powerhouse Chelsea Waterfront – formerly the Lots Road power station which once powered the London Underground network. I met up with her in one of the penthouses to talk design, work-life, her love of rugged texture and natural stone and why everything she does has to have integrity. Tune in for more.

Meet The Interior Design World’s Best Kept Secret, Jonathan Sainsbury

‘Young Sainsbury is a cheeky little sausage with the most wonderful eye for detail. His furniture is extraordinary’, says his client Sir Rod Stewart.

Meeting in Guy Goodfellow’s Chelsea atelier, this week Carole Annett sits down with the design world’s best-kept secret: Jonathan Sainsbury. Founded in 1918, his eponymous family-run business has a reputation for creating some of the finest furniture in the world, often (though, as he stresses, not always) inspired by classical interiors of the 18th- and 19th-centuries. The key to his success? Quality. As he tells Carole: ‘I only trade off my quality. I don’t trade off price. I don’t trade off being the quickest in the world. I don’t trade off any of that. I only trade off people saying “If you want the best job then go and see Jonny and he’ll sort it out for you”.’

How To Design The Perfect Kitchen, With Chef Jason Atherton

This week Carole sat down with celebrated chef Jason Atherton to chat about life, food, Michelin stars and his collaboration with luxury kitchen design company Smallbone. As a young boy growing up in Skegness, working in a restaurant gave Jason discipline, which along with a lifelong passion for fresh seasonal ingredients, has shaped his life. He has been married for 22 years with three daughters and they all know how to cook pasta from scratch. Tune in to hear more about fine dining, the simple way to upscale supermarket tomato purée and how to design a perfect kitchen.

How To Design Comfortable Luxury, With Alua Kul Of Lumi Interiors

Coco Chanel once said: ‘Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury’ – words that perfectly encompass the philosophy of this week’s House Guest, Alua Kul, of Lumi Interiors. ‘Practicality and functionality are the most important aspects of interior design,’ she says. Tune in to hear more about how she fell in love with interior design and used her inquisitive mind and business acumen to set up a successful business practice which bridges London and Dubai.

Tara Bernerd Is A Tour De Force In The World Of Hotel Interiors

‘When we talk about hotels, we talk about building soulful places at scale and you have to feel a connection,’ says Tara Bernerd, founder and head of a globally-renowned multi-disciplinary design studio Tara Bernerd & Partners. Tune in to hear more about her projects including the stunning Maroma – a Belmond hotel on the Maya Riviera in Mexico – her collaboration with Italian brand Frette, the time she met Robert Redford in an elevator, and why she’s learning all the time.

How Mélie Dunod Is Revolutionising Holiday Home Ownership

From the Alps to Mallorca, Mélie Dunod’s August Collections bring elegance, efficiency and eco-conscious design to co-ownership, making the European holiday home dream much more attainable. The chic co-founder of August chats to Carole Annett about why becoming an entrepreneur was inevitable, what the tick-box is for each property August buys, and why she never asks for preferences or advice on the interior design. Tune in for more.

What Kelly Hoppen Has In Store For 2026

The first House Guest podcast of our new series is interior design supremo Kelly Hoppen. Renowned for her love of neutrals – ‘They are good for your state of mind,’ she says – Kelly tells Carole Annett about her East meets West philosophy, what happened when she met her design icon, Ralph Lauren, how excited she is about creating the ultimate home on the high street with her M&S collections, and why 2026 will be pivotal for her career. The podcast was recorded in December 2025.

How AI Can Support Sustainable Shopping With Barbara Neto

Is this the future of vintage furniture shopping? This week, Carole sits down with Portuguese interior designer Barbara Neto to hear about how she’s challenging the design industry’s status quo with the launch of Curiouz. Describing the brand as more than a marketplace, but a movement, the AI powered platform is designed to revolutionise vintage furniture shopping. Born out of her own frustrations as a seller and consumer (never sure if the information she was given about items were correct or how they would arrive), she created Curiouz so that designers could finally shop and sell with confidence.

How To Follow Your Interiors Instinct, With Shayne Brady

‘I think the only thing I can rely on is my intuition and instinct,’ says this week’s house guest Irishman Shayne Brady. A recurring guest on BBC Interior Design Masters (they can’t get enough of him and who can blame them), Shayne has recently consciously uncoupled from Brady Williams, the studio he set up with his former business partner Emily over 13 years ago (they still talk most days).

He has taken his commercial clients, including restaurant supremo Jeremy King, into the new studio. Among his many projects is the soon to reopen Simpson’s in the Strand. Shayne had me giggling most of the afternoon – loved my time with him. Tune in for more.

How To Add Historic Character To A Home, With Guy Goodfellow

This week Carole Annett sits down with interior designer Guy Goodfellow in his stunning London townhouse. Guy and his team of architects and designers are renowned for creating comfortable and inviting spaces in grand and historic estates. Armed with his passion for detail, in this episode he and Carole discuss how to imbue modern properties with historic character, and how to add a contemporary edge to older homes.

How To Design Antiqued Mirrors, With Dominic Schuster

This week, Carole sits down with mirror master Dominic Schuster to discuss how he designs his antiqued and gilded mirror glass. With Decorex just around the corner, he explains how he transformed from a decorative antiques restorer to a mirror expert, talks his new furniture and lighting collection and shares some exciting upcoming projects.

How To Keep Craftsmanship Alive, With Sophie Paterson

Sophie Paterson is a tour de force in the world of interior design. For the past 16 years she has built a reputation for creating homes that blend comfort with sophistication. Generous with her knowledge to her (almost one million) followers on social media, she has recently launched an online academy with ‘everything I wish I had been told when I started a career in design’. Down to earth, honest and easy going, she loves a car boot sale and is currently drawing every dog she’s ever been acquainted with (including my own lurcher) for a special wallpaper launch. Sophie is always a delight to chat to. Tune in for more.

How To Tell Your Story Through Design, With Natalia Miyar

Natalia Miyar never wanted to have a house style, rather she seeks to tell the personal story of her clients. Carole catches up with the in-demand interior designer (whose work is currently taking her around the world) to discuss the challenge of expressing a client’s personality, as well as how she strikes a balance between aspiration and familiarity in her designs.

How To Perfect Pared-Back Luxury, With Albion Nord

This week, Carole visits design studio Albion Nord to discover how the brand has redefined luxury through their pared-back aesthetic. Sitting down with director Ben Johnson and associate Becky Floyd, they discuss how the British landscape inspired their design of the Brittanic Explorer train.

How To Master Regenerative Design, With Simone Suss

This week’s House Guest is Studio Suss founder Simone Suss, a specialist in creating contemporary spaces that balance function, elegance and environmental responsibility. ‘The UK throws away 22million pieces of furniture every year, over 670,000 tonnes’, she says. ‘The design industry needs to be aware and to do something about it.’ Tune in for more about Simone’s approach to regenerative design. 

How To Mix Colours & Design Styles, With Suzy Hoodless

‘I’m completely driven by curiosity,’ says Suzy Hoodless in the final episode of this House Guest series. Since her studio launched in 2000, Suzy has become one of the UK’s most exciting designers. She chats to Carole Annett about her signature style, her work at WOW!House, and how the interior design industry has changed.

How To Create Calm Interiors, With Eadie & Crole

Today’s House Guests are Sophie Eadie and Fi Crole, founders of design studio Eadie & Crole. They chat to Carole Annett about how they met, where they find design inspiration, and their new fabric collection.

How To Harness The Power Of Home Lighting, With Lee Lovett

This week’s House Guest is Lee Lovett, co-founder and creative director of Soho Lighting. She shares her best lighting tips, discusses the evolution of the business, and gives us the rundown on their brand new collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces.

How To Bring Nature Into Your Home, With Frieda Gormley

Today’s House Guest is Frieda Gormley, co-founder of House of Hackney. Frieda set up the luxury interiors brand 13 years ago with her husband, Javvy M Royle, and the pair quickly ripped up the rulebook, reworking traditional print and colour for a new generation. Carole Annett chats to Frieda about creating heirloom pieces and developing a regenerative brand.

How To Design Happiness, With Clint Nagata

This week’s House Guest is Clint Nagata, founder and creative partner of the award-winning BLINK Design Group. He chats to Carole Annett about his passion for travel and the origins of his latest project: Six Senses Loire Valley.

How To Renovate A Home, With Rita Konig

From Manhattan townhouses to sprawling country homes, Rita Konig is known for her no-nonsense approach to interior design. She chats to Carole Annett about her own house renovation, and talks through her online decorating course with Create Academy.

Finding Your Niche: How Alex Dauley Turned Her Passion For Interiors Into A Successful Career

‘I loved houses – I watched all the programmes and bought all the magazines’, says Alex Dauley. As a young mother of two with a part-time job, she hadn’t considered pursuing a career in interiors until her husband persuaded her to find a course and follow her passion. Her studio is now ten years old; amongst a host of current clients, including a project for Capitol Records, she is designing the first ever media room at WOW House, entitled Date Night – a sumptuous, grown-up room that perfectly suits her ‘introvert, extrovert’ (Alex’s words) personality.

‘Say Yes & Figure It Out Later’: Today’s House Guest Is Joseph Marini

With Christmas and Thanksgiving in mind, our thoughts turn to entertaining – and who better than Joseph Marini, whose new book, Mastering The Art Of Entertaining, tells you all you need to know to be a thoughtful and authentic host.

Today’s House Guest Is Millie Mackintosh

This week we’re talking house renovation with content creator and Instagram star Millie Mackintosh, who recently renovated a new home for her and her family – during which she collaborated with COAT Paints on colours that symbolised Millie’s focus on mindful living.

Today’s House Guest Is Adam Ellis

If you’re looking for a unique decorative artwork – perhaps a life-size leopard lounging above a doorframe, surrounded by jewel coloured birds, butterflies and beetles – then Adam Ellis is your man. We catch up with him to see what he’s been up to with his fine art and design practice.

Today’s House Guest Is Henry Holland

After 15 years at the helm of his eponymous fashion label, Henry Holland turned his attention from tailor’s scissors to clay, forging a cult following for his Hackney-based ceramics brand, Henry Holland Studio. Inspired by the Japanese technique of Nerikomi, his signature marbled style has now been translated into a collection of papers and textiles in collaboration with Harlequin, part of the Sanderson Design Group. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

Today’s House Guest Is Jacu Strauss

‘Sometimes you have to do things you can’t justify on a spreadsheet,’ says Jacu Strauss, creative director of Lore Group Hotels. He chats to Carole Annett about his latest project at Pulitzer Amsterdam, his vision for Sea Containers London, and his work at One Hundred Shoreditch. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

Today’s House Guest Is Hannah Bryce, Founder Of Minnow & Wolf

After moving from London to Hampshire, living in the countryside inspired Hannah Bryce to set up her floristry company, Minnow and Wolf, which produces gorgeous flowers grown without pesticides. Carole Annett chats to Hannah about her passion for nature. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

How To Live Beautifully: Today’s House Guest Is Zoë de Givenchy

This week, Carole Annett sits down with Zoë de Givenchy, a Melbourne-born homeware entrepreneur, to chat about Zoë’s stunning lifestyle brand, Z.d.G. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

Today’s House Guest Is Mathieu Lehanneur

This week, Carole Annett is in Paris meeting renowned French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who created the torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

Today’s House Guest Is Lucy Williams

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.

Today’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. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

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).

‘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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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.

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

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

Today’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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Today’s House Guest is Stéphane Vilar, General Manager Of The Anantara Plaza Hotel in Nice

Coronation Special: Charles, Ninth Earl Spencer Is Today’s House Guest

Episode 35: Ship Shape: David Collins Studio’s Design For Cunard’s New Ship, The Queen Anne

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.

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.

Episode 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.

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.