Design inspirations

Decorating with the tudors Wolf Hall …and stairs? …and living room? I’m spending Wednesday evenings on the sofa with the BBC’s fantastic adaptation of Wolf Hall. Will Anne Boleyn manage to keep her head if she re-decorates Hampton Court? The precious light in those cold, candlelit rooms gives us vignettes of vibrant colour and opulent … Read more

We take a flying visit to Heimtextil to see the very latest in European home decor All the fun of the Frankfurt fair Last week we decamped (along with thousands of others from the industry) to Frankfurt to visit Heimtextil – a huge complex of eleven airplane hanger-sized exhibition halls, full to the brim with … Read more

A visit to Top Drawer/Home Showtime! The trade shows have started in earnest so it’s an exciting time for our team searching out the latest trends for our lovely customers. We love the shows, which is just as well as we’ll be schlepping around miles of exhibition spaces. Comfy (and naturally, fashionable) shoes are a … Read more

Shed the season’s clutter As much as I love Christmas with all the razzle dazzle it entails, I’m happy in the new year to declutter, detox and revive my seasonally over-stretched home with a pared down style and quiet soothing patterns, natural fabrics and calming colours. So this weekend why not join me in putting … Read more

Some last minute prep with Mel and Maisie Everybody ready for Christmas? This year, as ever, it’s a huge family Christmas at ours. Of course it’s not always easy entertaining in a veritable palace of decorating glamour, but after a couple of festive sherries I’ll be able to laugh in the face of gravy on … Read more

Nothing scaredy cat about these designs… Scaredy cats? Not these Timorous Beasties… We got together with Paul Simmons from Timorous Beasties to explore the roots of their wonderful creations. WD How did you and Ali McAuley decide to work together? PS We met and studied together at Glasgow School of Art 1984-1988, then from 1988-1990 … Read more

Poinsettia display points to a perfect Christmas Poinsettias paint a perfect Christmas Leaden skies may loom over lovely Lewes, but the window of No. 1 Lewes (remarkable antiques shop and stylist’s wonderland) features a heavenly poinsettia display that’s the perfect antidote to Winter. The Santa’s coat, deep scarlet flowers and undiluted green foliage make the … Read more

An interview with the master joiners and paint makers Winter gardens with Marston & Langinger This week the designerpaint team had a chat with MD Phil James about his company’s paints, and found out they know an awful lot about what goes under that lovely paint too… DP So how did Marston & Langinger begin … Read more

I’m a celebrity. Decorate my house. It’s a jungle out there! It’s been a rough week in I’m a Celebrity. Maybe you lap it up. Maybe it turns your stomach – but the hugely popular celebrity competition to be crowned king or queen of the jungle is certainly not for the faint-hearted. There’s no way … Read more

A sneak peek at Mini Moderns new paint collection Thoroughly Modern Minis We’ve been treated to a sneaky peek at Mini Moderns’ coming collection, and we’re very excited! Mini Moderns Hinterland wallpaper collection is inspired by the history and culture of the Cinque Ports towns of Kent and Sussex. We can’t show you the papers … Read more

Yves Saint Laurent’s blue and yellow miracle garden Marrakech Express(ion) We’ve just enjoyed a whistlestop whirl around Marrakech. A tangle of Arabian, French and African culture, artisan craft and design that can’t fail to inspire and intrigue. After a couple of days alternately relaxing in the luxury of our opulent Riad and losing ourselves in … Read more

Dastardly pumpkins from the incomparable Slindon Pumpkin Festival Halloween it like you mean it If our house is going to do Halloween… we’re going to do it properly. There will be no namby-pamby gap-toothed smiley pumpkin glowing benignly from our window sill. The Ad(d)ams Family will be opening our creaking front door under the malevolent … Read more