close

Brass Hand Chair

Many moons ago, when this blog was just a babe in arms, The Mad House featured in its first magazine shoot – it was way back in the January 2013 issue which, of course came out the previous November. I had been blogging for less than a year and was so excited to be included that I didn’t bat an eyelid when they swapped my sofa for something a little “less vintage darling” or changed my sitting room rugs for something “more contemporary sweetie”.

brass hand stool from rockett st george

In fact, when the replacement sofa did turn up it was lime green instead of the requested raspberry pink. Much was made of how it could be photoshopped to the right colour in post production and so I didn’t worry. Now the shoot was scheduled for the October half term (exactly four years ago today as it so turns out). And the 14yo (then 10) arrived downstairs at the same time as the photographer turned up at the front door. And from somewhere in his bedroom he had found a lime green t-shirt that exactly matched the sofa. “Oh look,” said the stylist and shoot director, “he can be in the shot.”

Which is why, if you ever come across a copy of this feature, you will see said 14yo grinning out from the cover page of the Mad House spread (which was not the cover of the magazine by the way). No, no it was fine. Honestly. There was absolutely no gnashing of teeth at all. And when he went to school a few weeks later and was recognised by one of the girls the playground he was so thrilled he then insisted in having the magazine in his school bag for weeks in case anyone else wanted to see it.

The story doesn’t even end there. A few months later one of the most recognised bloggers in the UK at the time – a certain Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar, who has since moved to New York – rang me up:

“I have just signed my first book deal all about colour and I wonder if I can come and do a shoot on your wonderful green sofa,” he announced.

Well I had to confess that the lime green sofa had gone back to whence it came and said he was more than welcome to come and pose on my “quite vintage” mushroom coloured velvet number. Funnily enough he declined.

om mudra gold hand stool from rockett st george

Anyway, when the magazine came out the headline was something about bringing drama and wow factor to every room and that brings me to today’s Object of Design. You should always try and include one amazing thing. One thing that will draw the eye – if necessary distract the other eye – one thing that is the showstopper if you like. In my sitting room it’s the 6ft tall brass palm tree light. But it could be a stool like this.

In my kitchen it’s the tin ceiling or the painted pink fire place in the spare room. It can be anything you like but there should be that one thing. Sometimes you will glimpse it through the open door as you go past. Sometimes it will lurk in the corner and provide a happy surprise when you go in.

Find that one thing. That is also that thing that will make the room uniquely yours. It could be a painting or a wall hanging like yesterday. An amazing rug or a chair that looks like a hand. This one is from Rockett St George and costs £450. If I didn’t have the palm tree light I would have this.

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.