The Great Indoors
The Great Indoors is a celebration of all things interiors and everything you need to know about making your house a home. In each episode, TV presenter and designer Sophie Robinson and best-selling author and journalist Kate Watson-Smyth discuss, debate, and guide you through the top trends and hottest topics from the home front. Pull up a chair and join the conversation.
Episodes
159: Style Surgery
Ep159 – Style Surgery: The Final Episode
We’re wrapping up the series with a mega Style Surgery special! Sophie’s in beige (yes, really) and Kate is scandalised… but once we recover from that fashion bombshell, it’s straight into your design dilemmas.
Melissa’s juggling spotlights in a moody blue dining room, Jo wants a freestanding bath in the bedroom (and now so do we), and Rebecca’s trying to
158: Finishing Touches
This week, we’re talking all the bits that bring a room to life... the cushions, the lamps, the art, the knick-knacks. It’s the final episode before the big Listener Style Surgery and we’re wrapping up our Back to Basics series with a real joy bomb.
Kate explains how to use a red thread to create flow through your home, while Sophie makes the case for a “disruptor colour”... something bold and un
157: Colour Scheming
Episode 157: Colour Scheming
Sophie and Kate are back with the fourth part of their Back to Basics series… and this one’s all about colour. Some people are all for bold Crayola vibes - others prefer a calming neutral. Either way, this episode has you covered.
Sophie shares her go-to method for starting a scheme (hint: it usually begins with a cushion) and explains how to layer colour in a way t
156: Designing on a Budget
We’re talking brass tacks in Episode 156! It’s all about designing on a budget. Where to spend, where to save, and how to make your money go further without losing style or impact.
Sophie and Kate roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the juicy details... from when it’s worth splurging on designer paint and when it really isn't, to budget-friendly alternatives for tiling, taps, lighting, and
155: Plans in Place
Ep155 - Plans in Place
We’re still going strong with our Back to Basics miniseries and this week’s chat is all about the planning phase... and trust me, it’s a juicy one!
Before you even think about picking up a paintbrush or splashing out on tiles, you need to tackle the layout. Sophie and Kate get properly stuck into how to make your space work for your lifestyle… swapping rooms around, re
154: New Series - We're back to basics!
We’re back to basics!
Where to start with your home redecoration, and it’s not what you think.
Ep154
We’re back! And we’re kicking off this new 6 week season by asking the big question: where should you actually start when redecorating your
home?
Spoiler... it’s not picking a paint colour.
Sophie and Kate unpack the emotional side of
interiors, why mood comes first, and how to plan your layou
153: How we develop our unique design styles
Wrapping up this mini-series Kate and Sophie interview each other and get under
the skin of their own design philosophies. What is it about brown that turns Kate on?
Did Sophie’s parents hide away the colouring crayons leaving her with an unmet
need to cover everything in rainbow bright shades? Indeed why do we decorate our
homes the way we do. A fascinating insight into how we form our own design
152: Style surgery- the agony of anaglypta, rainbow paint and mastering the art of lighting.
On today's podcast we pass the mic over to you our lovely listeners to ask Kate and
Sophie your much agonised design dilemmas. From the perils of planning your
lighting for an open plan space, to designing a rainbow themed bedroom for your 4
year old ‘client’, we have you covered with a myriad of options and advice. We cover
budget hallway makeovers and decorating ideas for a north facing bathroom
151: Habitats back! Interview with head of design Andrew Tanner
This year is the 60th anniversary of Habitat and today we are thrilled to be chatting to
Andrew Tanner, head of design at Habitat who heads up a team of 28 designers who
have all been super busy re-issuing and updating iconic archive products as well as
creating exciting new ones. We all have our own fond memories of the high street
store that delivered exciting fresh designs. At one point it see
150: Finding Interior inspiration abroad and closer to home
And we are back! Well almost, as this return episode was recorded during the
summer break, so why not take our holidays as interior inspiration. Kate is inspired
by the pastel palette of Italy which has inspired her new paint range with
Graphenstone while Sophie takes a great escape to Bali for some blue skies and
jungle greenery. And perhaps the odd snake, spider and lizard thrown in too. And if
149: We’re going on a break!
It’s our last episode before we go on a break so we take the time to reminisce about the last five years and 149 episodes of interior design debate, advice, guests, fun and a lot of laughter. From our popular Design Crimes, Style Surgery and touring the houses of some fabulous guests it has been a whirlwind!
If you want to keep in touch with what we’re doing, you can follow and subscribe to Kate o
148: Style Surgery - Open plan nightmares, 3000 books and Sophie recommends a muted palette
Join us for our last Style Surgery before we take a break, as we answer your design dilemmas. From how to house 3000 books, to turning an open plan nightmare into a serene space, this episode is jam packed with fun interiors chat and advice. Sophie actually advises one of our lovely listeners to drop the pattern and go muted, whilst Kate recommends a green so vibrant it even makes Sophie proclaim
147: Interview with Kit Kemp and GP&J Baker’s Ann Grafton
We’re off on the road again to Ham Yard Hotel for a personal tour and interview with designer Kit Kemp and GP&J Baker’s Ann Grafton to celebrate their new collection. Listen to find out more about the design inspiration behind the fabulous collection of fabrics and wallpaper, how collaborations like these first come about and how they have brought antique archival designs up to date to suit modern
146: Is brown a spring colour though?!
Join us as we have a fun catch up in Sophie’s home, chatting all things Spring refresh from table settings and cushions to bedlinen, curtains and diy. As you can imagine we have very different takes on the subject, as Kate praises the virtues of brown all year round and Sophie gives us a sneak peek into her secret seasonal crockery cupboard. Sign up to become a friend of the show and receive weekl
145: Can Kate put a shelf up? With How to Basically’s Justin Kelly
We’re interviewing the founder of ‘How to Basically’, Justin Kelly, who runs a workshop in East Sussex which teaches people practical living skills from basic DIY, electrics and plumbing to how to look after everyday appliances. Listen along as Kate and Sophie attempt to put up a shelf themselves – something they’ve never done before!
Link to 'How to Basically':
https://howtobasically.co.uk/welcom
144: Sustainability, green washing and buying to last
This week we’re discussing an important topic we should all consider when updating our homes – how to make choices that are sustainable, use less energy, save us money and will last. We share what we have done recently to make our own homes more eco-friendly and who we love to follow for sustainable tips and inspiration.
Sign up to become a friend of the show and receive weekly newsletters, access
143: Style Surgery - Thermal wallpaper, multi-task rooms and apex windows
We’re answering your Style Surgery questions this week, from whether thermal wallpaper makes a difference, to how to design multi-task rooms and make the most of open plan living. We all agree beautiful apex windows are a nightmare for window treatments and there’s a gap in the market for a product that actually works. Listen to this episode full of practical tips that will help you with design di
142: ‘Espresso Yourself’ with the Pinterest Trend Report plus Deco Off 2024
From the sublime to the ridiculous we look at some of the trends forecasted for the year. The Pinterest Trend Report 2024 brings all the fun looking at increased searches from last year to garner what people will be into this year – think chrome, bows, kitsch kitchens and more out there suggestions like ‘the jellyfish aesthetic’ and ‘aquatecture.’
Our recent trip to Deco Off in Paris provided a m
141: Discovering your authentic colour palette with Karen Haller
Colour psychology and behavioural design expert, Karen Haller joins us for a fascinating chat about how the colours we surround ourselves with are having an emotional effect on us and our behaviours. Karen believes knowing which colours will affect us positively is helpful to avoid blindly following trends and societal ‘colour norms’ when designing the spaces we live in, but choose colours authent
140: Style Surgery: Basins in the bedroom
It’s time for our popular Style Surgery where we discuss the design dilemmas that have been bugging you.
Are wash basins in the bedroom outdated or a genius idea? How do you make a ceiling statement work with the rest of the room and what artwork should I put in a bathroom to make it feel less boring? Listen to this episode for more tips on colour theory for an effective work space, hanging decor
139: Refreshing your interiors without spending a fortune
There are so many ways you can refresh your home affordably this time of year. If like us, you're low on funds and energy in January, listen to this episode for the best ways to make your home feel cosy and ‘new’ without having to spend a fortune. From having a clear out, to moving art around, or upcycling a small Facebook Marketplace find, it’s all about the little changes that make a big impact
138: The house in Italy and a shop for Sophie?
It’s time for a big catch up after the festive break, whilst Sophie spent it enjoying her new kitchen with friends and family, Kate was knee deep in dust in the house in Italy. Sophie has been using the time to vision board for 2024, dreaming big dreams without getting caught up in the detail, and together they choose a word of the year. Will Sophie have her own interiors shop one day? Did the bui
137: Christmas, consumerism, and canapes
It’s the last episode of the year so we chat all things Christmas as it hurtles towards us at an alarming rate! It’s true what they say that ‘time speeds up as you get older,’ so join us as we take a moment to reflect on the year just gone and discuss our Christmas plans and traditions, what we’re looking forward to and what we like to avoid.
We also chat about the pressure we put upon ourselves
136: Style Surgery: Carpets, Colour and Curb appeal
In our monthly Style Surgery, Kate and Sophie take on the task of answering your design dilemmas.
From how much is too much when it comes to colour drenching, the best whites for a large room or bold choices in a small bedroom, these questions provide ample opportunity for some lively discussion and debate.
The episode also includes some fantastic tips on improving the exterior of your home, stair
135: A fabulous and thrifty Christmas with Ed Smith and Hazel Gardiner
In this episode we talk to chef and foodie expert Ed Smith about how to cut down costs on food over
the festive period plus florist, broadcaster and writer, Hazel Gardiner, gives us her tips on how to
decorate with foliage in a sustainable and thrifty way. As your resident design experts (ahem?!) we
share all our favourite ideas for Christmas decorating on a budget, and if anyone has spotted Kate’
134: Interview with Banjo Beale: How an Australian Cheese Maker from the Isle of Mull became a Successful Interior Designer
As winner of Interior Design Masters 2022, Banjo Beale has gone on to breath new life into homes
and businesses in the television series ‘Designing the Hebrides’, plus bringing his infectious
enthusiasm as host of the beautiful ‘Scottish Home of the Year’ on the BBC. Alongside this, he has
continued to design, inspiring thousands on Instagram with his incredible style and just in case that
wasn’t
133: Book Reviews – From Sunny California to the Isle of Mull
Join us for our tales from Venice plus we review four more books that span the breadth of the interiors world. From the escapism of super luxe living in sunny California, to authentic and sustainable design in the remote island of Mull, and designing your home to align with how you want to feel in a space. Listen to our lively debate as we pick out our favourite elements of each book including wha
132: Style Surgery – Designing your home from scratch – with or without a moodboard?
This week's Style Surgery dives into questions from the essentials of kitchen design to where to start when designing a whole home from scratch and how to style a beautiful Georgian hallway. This week’s dilemmas are wonderful problems to have! Listen as Kate and Sophie champion the humble moodboard (and how to go about it if you’re short on time) plus top tips on sourcing and hanging artwork.
If
131: Do we decorate our homes to fit our generational stereotypes? And should Kate be wearing silver trousers?
Join Kate and Sophie for this lively discussion as they go through each generation from Gen Z to
Boomers, and debate how each group are seen to approach design differently. From 70s
conversation pits, millennial pink and mid-century obsessions to the old adage of ‘if it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it’, they look at which trends are returning, plus the societal and economical differences
that have playe
130: Where design meets wellbeing: Interview with interior designer Juan Sandiego
Are you in the middle of a renovation and feeling stressed? Do you have a house move on the way
that’s causing you anxiety? Or do you feel your home isn’t quite making you as happy as you’d like it
to? These are just a few of the questions interior designer and wellbeing coach, Juan Sandiego, helps
to answer in this week’s fascinating interview. Juan champions a refreshing approach to design
focus
129: Book Reviews - are gallery walls over and does sustainable design have to be beige?
We love to share our favourite interiors books with you - from choosing art for your home to styling the spaces you live in - this week's books celebrate homes which put sustainability at the forefront of design and are rich with practical tips and inspiration which always provoke some healthy debate (have gallery walls had their day?) between our hosts, Sophie and Kate.
The Home Style Handbook by
128: Style Surgery - From tiny loos to kitchens under £1k
It’s time for our popular monthly Style Surgery where we solve your design dilemmas and are we in
for a treat today.
Listen to Kate and Sophie discuss how to transform a kitchen for under £1k, how to connect
adjoining rooms with colour and your ‘red thread’ and why they absolutely do not give you
permission to have a ‘disjointed space’!
From tips on how to make a tiny bathroom work and look beau
127: Radiate positivity: The art of Optimistic Decorating
Ever wanted to transform your home into a haven of joy and inspiration? Well, it would
appear you are not alone. Following on from the recent Focus and London Design Festival
talk of trends around the new collections are all about the notion of joy. Be that colour,
pattern, tactile textures, it’s mostly about tapping into what works for you. And if you are
not in the market for a redecoration, don
126: Are you ready for your walls to give you a sweet embrace? Interview with Marianne Shillingford from Dulux
Hot off the press of Dulux’s annual Colour of the year announcement, Sophie and Kate talk
all things colour trends with Creative Director of Dulux, Marianne Shillingford. The colour all
our walls will be wearing next year is Sweet embrace, a delicate pink, with a tinge of lilac
nudging towards a cool grey. It’s a response to continued pressures stresses and starins we
are all suffering under. It’s
125: AI friend or foe of interior design?
Here is a topic we didn’t think we’d be discussing a few months ago but the speed in which
this technology is developing means we are already seeing it across our Instagram feeds.
Opinion is that AI generated room designs are here, and not going anywhere. So how can
you use this technology to help plan and visualise your home? Will these aspirational
dreamlike interiors add to the already heavy fe
124: Style Surgery: How far should the architecture of your home dictate your interior choices and pattern versus plain curtains
This is the monthly episode where we pass the mic on to you our lovely listeners. We hear
From dilemmas that range from pattern or plain curtains, how to be inspired by a period
style and make it modern, and is the rule that you need to paint your light filled room in a
pale light colour hogwash? This episode gives our hosts plenty to row about, especially
around the acceptability of Moomin mugs a
123: Battle of the Browns - Our Hosts Swap Sides
Kate and Sophie are back from their summer sojourn and have so much to catch up on.
Sophie hijacks Kates love of chocolate brown for the walls of her new TV snug. Meanwhile Kate's
channelling her inner unicorn as Sophies love of a rainbow infiltrates her Italian Reno. Have
our favourite sparring hosts entirely swapped colour personalities? Who is influencing who?
It’s all kicking off in The Great
122: Bathroom Special: Why your bathroom mustn’t be white, grey, or beige
This episode is a deep dive into all things bathroom design with plenty of ideas and
opinions on how you can take your bathroom from the ordinary default white to something
bursting with pattern and personality. We dismantle your floor plan, eek out every inch of
small spaces and discuss how to light your bathroom to help you feel your best.
To become a friend of the podcast, enjoy ad free listen
121: From slogan T’s to wobbly pots - interview with Henry Holland
Lock down changed many of us but for British fashion designer Henry Holland his passion for
pottery got a whole new opportunity to thrive. Turning away from his iconic graphic fashion
brand in search of a more slow paced pursuit Henry has pivoted to pots. Kate and Sophie
enjoy digging a little deeper to find what drives his phenomenal creative energy and
discover that he isn’t going to stop at mug
120: Style Surgery: Should you put off your dream renovation plans and why colour blocking isn’t just for babies.
In our monthly style surgery Kate and Sophie help listeners with their personal design
dilemmas. From procrastinating over plans to build a dream kitchen to conjuring up a cosy
decorating scheme for a north facing living room there is a lot to advise and indeed disagree
on.
You can submit your questions for the monthly style surgery to
help@thegreatindoorspodcast.com
You can become a member of T
119: Barbiecore and all things Pink
Barbiecore pink is everywhere this summer. Spurred on by the trend and news that the film has in fact led to an utter drought of pink paint across the country, Kate and Sophie tackle a hot subject. Of course they don't share the same views on the colour and it's many shades, from fuschia to coral or rose - so tune in this week because hot pink rules the room.
Follow Kate and Sophie on Instagram
h
118: Why the British have the best taste: Interview with Anglophile and designer Jonathan Adler
Kate and Sophie sit down to drink tea with renowned designer, ceramicist and founder of a
global brand, Jonathan Adler. Through the cacophony of teacup clinkage, Jonathan shares
his esteemed knowledge for all things design. While growing up in New Jersey and based in
New York, he has a strong passion for British crafts and architecture which has heavily
influenced his work. A potter at his core Jo
117: Bedroom Special - The Secrets to Designing the Perfect Night's Sleep
In this episode Kate and Sophie take a deep dive under the duvet to unpick how
bedroom design can contribute to optimum rest and recuperation. With more data coming
out every year on the importance of sleep to our health, happiness and longevity, it’s time
to plump your pillows and get serious. While Kate likes to be cocooned in a tonal blend of
cosy colours, Sophie has just redecorated her bedroo
116: Style Surgery: Imposter Syndrome and Your Questions Answered
In our monthly style surgery Kate and Sophie begin by pondering on the phenomena of Imposter Syndrome, and with her new dream kitchen installed, Sophie is left feeling like an imposter in her own home! Help is at hand for listeners design dilemmas with concerns over open plan versus broken plan, what to pair with a purple quartz worktop and how does one create an elegant and calming interior. And
115: Outdoor Living
Summer finally seems to have landed and on this week’s podcast Sophie and Kate discuss outdoor living. Kate is firmly of the opinion that you should take the indoors outdoors for true comfort. Kate wants armchairs, sofas and real crockery, while Sophie likes throwing a few rugs on the grass and a big pile of cushions.
Head to wherever you download your podcasts for a listen.
Learn more about your
114: Micaela Sharp
In this week’s episode we discuss whether Sophie’s new kitchen will turn her into a master chef - does the kitchen maketh the cook? As the builders move into Kate’s Italian house, we learn what her plans are. And don’t miss our interview with tv presenter and upholsterer Micaela Sharp who reveals what it’s actually like to take part in a television competition where you never know if you will stil
113: Style Surgery
Kate and Sophie are back with listeners' monthly round up of interior design dilemmas. One listener in Texas needs ideas for how to brighten a dark kitchen. Another asks, how do you design a cosy and magical children’s bedroom for someone with asthma and dust sensitivity? And how can you help young people to find colour confidence when it comes to choosing a bedroom design?
Send us your style sur
112: Everything you need to know about kitchens
Including the kitchen sink! Having recently undergone kitchen remodels, both Kate and
Sophie are primed to share all that they know to creating that dream kitchen. From floors to
walls, worktops to appliances they share what works and what you might need to consider
to get the hardest working room in the house, working for you.
Send us your style surgery questions to help@thegreatindoorspodcast.c
111: Matt Siberry
An insightful interview with head of home at Pinterest Matt Siberry has Kate and Sophie musing on who really sets the trends. Do the brands influence us or are we dictating how we want to decorate to the brands? Either way Matt holds the crystal ball with Pinterest insights at his finger tips that reveal what we are all pinning, the colours we will be choosing as well as a few fungi surprises!
T
110: How to Make the Old Feel New
This week on the show we are looking at how to blend old pieces of furniture or objects
within a more contemporary interior. #GrannyCore may be all the rage on Tik Tok but for
those of us on the other side of 30 (possibly even 40) it’s a little too close to be ironic.
You might have inherited some furniture from your actual Granny. You might have bought
antiques from someone else’s Granny and the
109: Style Surgery: Brass or chrome, door curtains and plastic lean-to’s
We don the lab coats and answer listeners' monthly round up of interior design dilemmas.
Sophie asks should she go chrome or brass for her kitchen hardware, a listener wants to
know if door curtains are a design crime and what can you do to tart up a noisy plastic lean-
to? Other than knock it down.
Send us your style surgery questions to help@thegreatindoorspodcast.com
Become a friend of the po
108: Latest Spring Book Reviews
While Sophie starts her mini renovation by smashing huge holes in the side of her house to
make way for some sexy new glazed doors, Kate is just back from Turin. She’s picked up
the keys to her 30 year dream, a place in Italy, and there are squeals of delight and horror as
it dawns on her that she’s starting another renovation project before the dust has even
settled at home. For those in need of
107: Grow your own with Rekha Mistry
With cucumbers and lettuces disappearing fast from British supermarket shelves don’t say
we are not the only ones who have thought its about time we grow our own. We are
delighted to bring to you the absolute joy monger that is Rekha Mistry, food and garden
writer and presenter on Gardeners World. Whether you are going full on walled
vegetable garden, or thinking of starting with a few pots, Rekha
106: Managing your build and budget
Kate and Sophie address the issue of how to save money on your build with help from Tom, Sophie’s builder husband, who took time out from his own build - and broken down truck - to offer his calm and safe advice while Kate mostly runs around panicking that her worktop delivery is delayed. Is it, in fact, behind Tom’s broken down truck? Listen in for some really good advice. And drama.
Learn more
105: Industry Secrets
Kate and Sophie share their trade secrets and the contents of their address books to save you money when it comes to designing your own home, including how to get a designer kitchen for less and ideas for making your very un-designer kitchen look more bespoke. Tips include hacking flatpack furniture using fabric, paint and wallpaper, incorporating a tiny amount of a luxe material rather than a lot
104: Jules Haines
Sophie is full of the joys of Spring and plans to tidy up her garden so she can take coffee on the patio while Kate, having just renovated her windows and replaced her boiler and radiators is quite happy for Winter to carry on for a bit longer especially as her garden is full of renovation rubble. This week on the show the pair interview Jules Haines, of The Haines Collection, who is on a quest to
103: Style Surgery: Acres of cream and beams and the art of hanging art
Welcome to our monthly style surgery; the episode where you get the chance to have your burning design dilemmas answered by design experts Kate and Sophie. From how to combat the acres of cream and beams in a period house to adding character to a new build, our expertise knows no bounds! The burning question though, is where should Jordon hang his wall art in his small bedroom? Could it be time fo
102: Tiny Rooms
Don’t they say the best things come in little packages? Well that’s the topic of today’s
debate as we explore the smallest rooms in our homes and make the case that they are to
be cherished, indeed celebrated. With the trend setters kicking the open plan knock
through off the lust list, we are all falling in love with walls again. Designers are going one
step closer and putting an enormous amount
101: Michelle Ogundehin
Kate takes a break from grappling with her builders to bring you this delightful interview
with the TV presenter and design writer Michelle Ogundehin. BBC One’s ‘Interior Design
Masters’ returns this month, so Michelle is happy to share what’s instore this series!
When she’s not bringing aspiring interior designers to task, Michelle can be mostly found
tidying up! She’s just completed a month of l
100. The Best Bits of 100 Episodes!
Fearne Cotton's wardrobe, Kelly Hoppen's fridge and Jay Blades on the magic of mending. The death of grey, the banning of white and the utter horror of the scented candle. All this and much, much more as Kate and Sophie romp through the archives to celebrate the show's 100th episode. As long as no one mentions painted furniture...
You can follow them on Instagram @sophierobinsoninteriors @mad_abou
99: Maximalism and Lily Allen
If it’s a fight between maximalism and minimalism, then Maximalism has just pulled a right
hook. In the is week’s episode of The Great indoors, Kate and Sophie drool and dissect Lily
Allen’s freshly revealed Brooklyn home that went viral this month, thanks to a house tour
courtesy of AD magazine. Painted murals, tiger print, pattern carpet and a pink bedroom in
a cupboard should all be red flags,
98. Style Surgery: Broken plan, modular design crimes and where to even start!
Once again Kate and Sophie come to the rescue to help listeners caught up in a design dilemma. From how to divide and decorate an open plan space to whether you should choose curtains or blinds the Great Indoors has all the answers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
97. Macarons for Breakfast and Renovation Nightmares
This week Kate is back from a trip to Paris for Maison & Objet, the international design trade show. She’s brimming with talk of trends and fresh design inspirations. It was a welcome break from her own house renovation. And on that topic, we asked listeners to share their renovation horror stories, as a problem shared is a problem halved as they say. And Sophie and Kate provide solace and words o
96. All things mortgages with Kim Balasubramaniam from The Mortgage Mum
This week’s episode brings you a fascinating interview with Senior mortgage broker Kim Balasubramaniam from The Mortgage Mum. Kim has recently helped Sophie secure a new mortgage during a very challenging time, post the mini-budget’, which saw interest rates rocket. Kim believes a house is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a place where memories are made, dreams realised and comfort is sought
95. What's in store for 2023?
Happy new year 2023! On today’s show Sophie and Kate share what their dreams and aspirations are for the year ahead. Sophie has produced a whole vision board and Kate has come up with a word, such is her enthusiasm for the year ahead. Musing about the trends we can look forward to seeing in 2023, what’s in, and what are we quietly quitting. And will Kate ever we persuaded away with her love affair
94. A Beautiful Feast with The Hampstead Kitchen's Saima Khan
Tis the season to be jolly, and we got into the festive spirit with our latest guest to The Great Indoors, Saima Khan of the acclaimed Hampstead Kitchen. Saima is the queen of creating beautiful food and a table setting that is a visual feast for the eyes to boot! In this episode she shares expert insights on simple menu planning, creating mouth-watering table displays and keeping it thrifty, low
93. Sustainable Christmas
While Christmas is traditionally a season of excess, Sophie and Kate discuss how you can it more sustainable.
For all your Christmas and Home decoration desires visit our sponsor Anthropologie and use the discount code SPARKLE at check out for your 20% off your purchase, valid from the 1st – 21st December. This offer does not include furniture, cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, i
92. Style Surgery: Cool Yule Edition
Sophie and Kate devote themselves to all things Christmas in this special edition where they answer and argue over listeners style dilemmas. From how to style your Christmas themed mantel to how to make a drag queen tree topper, the Great Indoors has you covered.
For all your Christmas and Home decoration desires visit our sponsor Anthropologie and use the discount code SPARKLE at check out for 20
91. Future Proof Your Home, Autumn Lighting, Patterned Carpet
Let there be light - but not too much. Kate and Sophie discuss Autumnal lighting and explain how to create ambience and atmosphere in your home. They also talk future proofing your home and how to get ready for inevitable changes in your life without compromising on style. Plus - should patterned carpet be confined to the Queen Vic and other dodgy boozers? Kate thinks not, and is even considering
90. Farrow and Ball's Joa Studholme Reveals All You Ever Wanted to Know About Paint But Were Afraid to Ask
What's next for paint trends? Is Downpipe a design crime? Why on earth is Jitney called Jitney? And HOW do you decide what colour to paint your front room? Joa Studholme is the colour curator for adored paint and paper brand Farrow & Ball. Here she reveals all, from how she mixes colour in a ramekin at the kitchen table, to what colour paint she knows will always mean "home" to her children.
Do fo
89. Saving Energy, Radiator Covers, Wallpaper Trends
Are radiator covers a crime against the environment AND a design crime too? In the style crime scene that is Kate's new home, Kate and Sophie discuss stylish ways to save energy and reduce your heating bill. They also look at wallpaper trends, why an animal motif definitely won’t be making it onto Kate’s new walls and novel alternatives to the MDF radiator cover. Macrame, anyone?
Useful links and
88. Style Surgery: Find Your Style, Rockin' Storage, Artex Redux?
Can you really have it all? Industrial cosy colourful minimalism? Or must you choose? In this first edition of the regular Style Surgery Specials, Kate and Sophie help a listener caught in a torrid triangle of conflicting design passions. They also advise on stylish solutions to storing vinyl, suggest the best colours to complement views of the great outdoors, and have stern words with a listener
87. Value for Money, Shower Curtain Crime, Design Books
Is your shower curtain out to get you? Kate and Sophie consider the homicidal billowing mass in the bathroom... is it a design crime? There's a juicy stack of new design books that might help you get ahead with your (whisper it) Christmas shopping. Plus stacks of tips on how to get the best value out of your furniture.
These are the books Sophie and Kate discussed:
- More is More Decor by Siobhan
86. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on why Maximalism is the Only Way
Are beetles just middle class flamingos? In this week's interview, Laurence Llewelyn Bowen tells it like it is (and Kate and Sophie struggle to get a word in edgeways). What's the secret to pulling off maximalist decor? Is minimalism really misogynist? And why do we all need to #BeMoreRita? All that and More More More (including why we should never listen to designers...)
Laurence's book More More
85. Kitchen Island Crime, Honey I Shrunk the House, New Paint Colours
Is a kitchen island a design crime? Is hot pink a timeless classic? Will Kate ever escape from under a mountain of packing boxes? Sophie and Kate tackle all the big questions. There's downsizing, decluttering and ditching your O level coursework (but what if you need it?) There are sexy new paint colours from the likes of Dulux and Farrow and Ball. And there's a very controversial candidate for De
84. Moving House, Shelving the Reno, Washing Up Bowl-mageddon
The Great Indoors is Back! Even Kate is emotional (not really). With plenty to catch up on after the break, Kate reveals all about her house move, Sophie talks how to make the best of it when spiralling budgets mean your renovation dreams are dashed - and the listeners have a frightening amount to say about the mysterious design quirk that is The Washing Up Bowl...
Useful links and images are supp
83. How to Transform Your Rental, A-Z of Eco Paint, Cooler Kitchens
Think you know sticky-backed plastic? Think again. Serial renter, nocturnal DIY-er and queen of reversible decor hacks, Amara Hasham of @thepajaamahub and The Faff Store reveals the jaw-dropping possibilities to be had. If you rent, or just want to try out some bold ideas that can easily be reversed - you can't afford to miss this. Plus Kate and Sophie deep dive into how to make ethical choices wh
82. Garden Design, New Design Books, In-Between Spaces
Got your sacrificial plants in place? Arit Anderson, garden designer and presenter on BBC Two's Gardener's World, reveals the secrets of the Great Outdoors. She tells Kate and Sophie all about beating slugs, choosing plants - and why you should think of your garden as an extension of your wardrobe. There's something for everyone in the latest juicy design books up for review - and then the Style S
81. Yellow Rules, Make the Bed, Mismatch FTW
All yellow? Kate and Sophie chart the rise of the most fashionable colour of the moment - and reveal how you can harness its power. Then it's all about making the bed so fabulous you never want to leave it (tho Kate is already there tbh) And in the Style Surgery a listener asks how to mismatch furniture with confidence...
Useful links and images are supplied on each of Kate and Sophie’s blogs mada
80. Galley Walls, Original Features, Easy Impact
Is the gallery wall over? Sophie and Kate ponder the pros and cons of the much beloved wall-of-many-pictures. They're also bursting with tips for small ideas that create a big impact, from lampshades to tester pots. And an intriguing style surgery asks: when is a period detail a stunning "original feature" that must be preserved - and when is it a dated eyesore? Kate and Sophie would like to ask a
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