close

About Me and Contact

Hello and Welcome. This blog has now moved over to Substack. You can find out a little more about me below and if you want to follow me over there here is the link.

Screenshot Processed with VSCO with b5 preset

I’m Kate Watson-Smyth, a journalist who’s been writing about property, interiors and design in national newspapers for more than 20 years.

I spent about 15 of them at The Independent but have also worked regularly for The Financial Times (where I won Lifestyle/Interiors writer of the year at the 2013 Property Press Awards) and The Daily Mail. Way back in the mists of time (literally the last century) I worked at both The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian as a news reporter where I wrote about everything from Spandau Ballet’s court battle over royalties to rare flowers blooming at Kew Gardens.

My house, which I (I mean “we” if I’m being honest and actually I should probably say “they” as it was mostly the builders) completely renovated was created from two dingy rental flats which we bought in 2010.

It has been featured in Living etc, The Wall Street Journal, Corriere della Sera and Heart Home magazine as well as various product shoots for homewares and fashion.

The blog began as a place to show all the wonderful things and their creators that I couldn’t find room for in my newspaper work, as well as helping to show you how to decorate your own homes with interesting and unusual items.

 

My philosophy? Your home should tell your story. It should make your heart sing when you open the front door. I would sum it up like this: Something old, something new, something black, something gold. And always some natural wood.

There’s masses of stuff on here and in my books, from advice on choosing the right shade of grey paint (Shades of Grey) and How to Decorate Your Home, to where to source the perfect copper lampshade and 101 Design Answers.

If you want to know more and join my community you will find me (and 10,000 others over here.