The Great Indoors

The Great Indoors

By Sophie Robinson and Kate Watson-Smyth: Interior Design ExpertsSociety & CultureArtsDesign
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The Great Indoors 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 hide the telly without going full gallery wall. We’ve got tips for wallpapering kitchen cupboards, picking the right carpet tone, rescuing a “too pink” neutral, and even starting your dream kitchen from scratch.

    Packed with brilliant advice, laughs, and a few emotional goodbyes… this one’s a corker.

    We’ve loved every minute. See you over on Insta @thegreatindoors.podcast and Substack!


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    56 min
  • 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 unexpected to shake things up. There’s top chat about painted lampshades, curvy shapes, colourful towels and how to make even the tiniest bathroom feel fabulously you.
    From scatter cushion strategy to why your radiator might need a macramé makeover, this episode is all about personal flair. Forget perfection... finishing touches are where the fun begins.
    Come chat on Instagram @thegreatindoors.podcast
    Fancy more? Sophie's design school is at sophierobinson.co.uk and Kate’s on Substack with house tours and all the extras

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    52 min
  • 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 that feels personal and pulled together. Kate flies the flag for powerful neutrals… even if it did take her five repaints to land on the right greige!

    Laughs, colour mishaps, and loads of brilliant advice on undertones, contrast, and how not to choose your wall colour from a tiny swatch. Oh, and Sophie’s hatred for beige carpets is very real.

    Join the chat over on Instagram @thegreatindoors.podcast @sophierobinsoninteriors and @mad_about_the_house.


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    54 min
  • 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 even furniture. Plus, a big reminder about contingency planning and those pesky renovation surprises that can swallow your budget whole.

    Sophie shares her genius hack that saved thousands by painting over UPVC windows rather than replacing them, and Kate talks sensible socket placements and why your mattress or desk chair might be worth a bit of a splurge.

    And yes, we do kick things off with our brand new segment The Feisty Fifteen, where we get a few things off our chests… this week? Beige. Bland or brilliant?

    It’s packed, it’s practical, and it might just save you a fortune.

    Got a question for Listener’s Style Surgery? Send it in to [email protected] — we love a voice note too!


    Find us on Instagram @thegreatindoors.podcast @sophierobinsoninteriors @mad_about_the_house


    You can also watch this podcast on Youtube here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLvhI9iX_bs&list=PLDfF7mwP3vj7PrNm-3-UP04KsTfP8eP42

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    56 min
  • 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, rethinking doorways, and deciding if your sofa really needs to be pushed up against the wall.


    Expect tales of sliding doors, repurposed pantries, and a solid rethink on the whole extension obsession. There’s even a Wordle tangent and some seriously good tips for anyone working from home.


    It’s practical, packed with inspiration, and full of laughs. This episode might just save you a ton of money and help you fall back in love with your home.


    Got a question for the Listener’s Style Surgery? Email it to [email protected]. We love a cheeky voice note from your phone!


    Follow your hosts on Instagram: @sophierobinsoninteriors @mad_about_the_house


    Don't forget, you can watch our podcast on Youtube:

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDfF7mwP3vj7PrNm-3-UP04KsTfP8eP42&feature=shared



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    44 min
  • 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 layout before splashing the cash. Expect some strong feelings about lighting grids, a surprise colour consultation during an ultrasound, and Lucy the dog stealing the show as usual.

    Funny, fabulous and full of practical tips… this is your essential starting point for any home makeover.

    If you have a question for our upcoming listeners style surgery, please email it to [email protected]. We love a voice note which is very easy to do from your phone, before emailing it in.

    You can follow your hosts over on Instagram

    @sophierobinsoninteriors @mad_about_the_house

     

     

     


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    50 min
  • 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 DNA

    that forms our own tastes and sense of home.


    A huge thank you to Naturalmat for sponsoring this episode of The Great Indoors.

    Naturalmat are delighted to offer The Great Indoors listeners 10% off their first order

    by using the code THEGREATINDOORS either online or in one of their showrooms.

    Valid until 30th November 2024. https://naturalmat.co.uk/


    Join in on the chat and become a member of our vibrant private Facebook

    community here. We’d love to hear the stories that have shaped the way you

    decorate

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/363976081184669/


    Please submit your questions for our style surgery my emailing your voice note to

    [email protected]


    You can follow Kate and Sophie over on Instagram

    https://www.instagram.com/sophierobinsoninteriors/

    https://www.instagram.com/mad_about_the_house/


    A huge thank you to our producer Sarah Cuddon of Feast Collective for producing the

    podcast.

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    42 min
  • 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.


    Submit your style surgery questions to [email protected]


    A huge thank you to Naturalmat for sponsoring this episode of The Great Indoors.

    Naturalmat are delighted to offer The Great Indoors listeners 10% off their first order

    by using the code THEGREATINDOORS either online or in one of their showrooms.

    Valid until 30th November 2024. https://naturalmat.co.uk/


    Join in on the chat and become a member of our vibrant private facebook community

    here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/363976081184669/


    You can follow Kate and Sophie over on Instagram

    https://www.instagram.com/sophierobinsoninteriors/

    https://www.instagram.com/mad_about_the_house/

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min
  • 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 seems everyone had the

    iconic Tord Boontje garland light. Taking over the legacy laid down by the late Sir

    Terence Conran, is a big one, but Andrew, who also heads up the design teams at

    Argos and Sainsburys, is uniquely placed to understand the challenges it has faced

    in recent years which is how, perhaps we can now say Habitat is back!


    A huge thank you to Naturalmat for sponsoring this episode of The Great Indoors.

    Naturalmat are delighted to offer The Great Indoors listeners 10% off their first order

    by using the code THEGREATINDOORS either online or in one of their showrooms.

    Valid until 30th November 2024.


    https://naturalmat.co.uk/


    Join in on the chat and become a member of our vibrant private facebook community

    here https://www.facebook.com/groups/363976081184669/


    Please submit your questions for our style surgery my emailing your voice note to [email protected]


    You can follow Kate and Sophie over on Instagram

    https://www.instagram.com/sophierobinsoninteriors/

    https://www.instagram.com/mad_about_the_house/

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    49 min
  • 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

    you haven’t managed to get away this summer, don’t despair. We talk about our

    favourite TV shows that we’ve been binging, and which sets are influencing our own

    designs.


    A huge thank you to Naturalmat for sponsoring this episode of The Great Indoors.

    Naturalmat are delighted to offer The Great Indoors listeners 10% off their first order

    by using the code THEGREATINDOORS either online or in one of their showrooms.

    Valid until 30th November 2024.


    https://naturalmat.co.uk/


    Join in on the chat and become a member of our vibrant private facebook community

    here https://www.facebook.com/groups/363976081184669/


    Please submit your questions for our style surgery my emailing your voice note to [email protected]


    You can follow Kate and Sophie over on Instagram

    https://www.instagram.com/sophierobinsoninteriors/

    https://www.instagram.com/mad_about_the_house/

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    36 min

About The Great Indoors

From the publisher's feed

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…

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