House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews

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).

Kate Watson-Smyth is the founder of Mad About The House, passionate about renovating and decorating, she documented the dramas of creating her London home from two flats and now doing up an Italian property where she plans to invite guests for decorating workshops (a collaboration with Graphenstone paint on new Italian-inspired hues is also in the offing). We sat down to chat about her travels - she travelled to Senegal for her gap year, writing a book about shades of grey (and the mix-up with a book with a similar title!) her friendship with Queen of Colour Sophie Robinson, how The Great Indoors podcast came about, and what plenty more. Make a cuppa, sit down and enjoy the tales from a colourful life, plus a few giggles along the way.

This week, Carole Annett sits down with Paula Sutton – who listeners might better recognise as the woman behind @hillhousevintage. Carole discovered Paula's account on Instagram, and quickly became a fan of how she depicted life in the country with her family and beloved pooch Lady Dashwood. A Bridgerton addict, Paula delights with her vintage finds and decorating ideas.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.