House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews

'I'm completely driven by curiosity,' says Suzy Hoodless in the final episode of this House Guest series. Since her studio launched in 2000, Suzy has become one of the UK's most exciting designers. She chats to Carole Annett about her signature style, her work at WOW!House, and how the interior design industry has changed.

Today's House Guests are Sophie Eadie and Fi Crole, founders of design studio Eadie & Crole. They chat to Carole Annett about how they met, where they find design inspiration, and their new fabric collection.

This week's House Guest is Lee Lovett, co-founder and creative director of Soho Lighting. She shares her best lighting tips, discusses the evolution of the business, and gives us the rundown on their brand new collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces.

Today's House Guest is Frieda Gormley, co-founder of House of Hackney. Frieda set up the luxury interiors brand 13 years ago with her husband, Javvy M Royle, and the pair quickly ripped up the rulebook, reworking traditional print and colour for a new generation. Carole Annett chats to Frieda about creating heirloom pieces and developing a regenerative brand.

This week's House Guest is Clint Nagata, founder and creative partner of the award-winning BLINK Design Group. He chats to Carole Annett about his passion for travel and the origins of his latest project: Six Senses Loire Valley.

From Manhattan townhouses to sprawling country homes, Rita Konig is known for her no-nonsense approach to interior design. She chats to Carole Annett about her own house renovation, and talks through her online decorating course with Create Academy.

‘I loved houses – I watched all the programmes and bought all the magazines', says Alex Dauley. As a young mother of two with a part-time job, she hadn't considered pursuing a career in interiors until her husband persuaded her to find a course and follow her passion. Her studio is now ten years old; amongst a host of current clients, including a project for Capitol Records, she is designing the first ever media room at WOW House, entitled Date Night – a sumptuous, grown-up room that perfectly suits her 'introvert, extrovert' (Alex's words) personality.

Our final house guest for 2024 is Shalini Misra, a globally-renowned interior architect, designer and property developer. She chats to Carole Annett about her incredible work, which prioritises sustainability and wellbeing, and discusses how her Indian heritage has shaped her work in interior design.

With Christmas and Thanksgiving coming up, our thoughts turn to entertaining - and who better than Joseph Marini, whose new book, Mastering The Art Of Entertaining, tells you all you need to know to be a thoughtful and authentic host. We catch up with Joseph ahead of the festive season.

This week we're talking house renovation with content creator and Instagram star Millie Mackintosh, who recently renovated a new home for her and her family - during which she collaborated with COAT Paints on colours that symbolised Millie's focus on mindful living.

If you're looking for a unique decorative artwork - perhaps a life-size leopard lounging above a doorframe, surrounded by jewel coloured birds, butterflies and beetles - then Adam Ellis is your man. We catch up with him to see what he's been up to with his fine art and design practice. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

After 15 years at the helm of his eponymous fashion label, Henry Holland turned his attention from tailor's scissors to clay, forging a cult following for his Hackney-based ceramics brand, Henry Holland Studio. Inspired by the Japanese technique of Nerikomi, his signature marbled style has now been translated into a collection of papers and textiles in collaboration with Harlequin, part of the Sanderson Design Group. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

'Sometimes you have to do things you can't justify on a spreadsheet,' says Jacu Strauss, creative director of Lore Group Hotels. He chats to Carole Annett about his latest project at Pulitzer Amsterdam, his vision for Sea Containers London, and his work at One Hundred Shoreditch. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

After moving from London to Hampshire, Hannah Bryce decided to set up a floristry company, Minnow and Wolf, which produces gorgeous flowers grown without pesticides. Carole Annett chats to Hannah about her passion for nature. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

This week, Carole Annett sits down with Zoë de Givenchy, a Melbourne-born homeware entrepreneur, to chat about Zoë's stunning lifestyle brand, Z.d.G. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

This week, Carole Annett is in Paris meeting renowned French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who created the torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This week, Carole Annett sits down with stylist and digital creator Lucy Williams, whose transformation of her terraced house in West London has been devoured by thousands on Instagram. Sponsored by Naturalmat.

We kick off a brand new series of House Guest with England rugby player Maro Itoje and Simon Sadinsky of the King's Foundation, who tell us all about a very special project. They sat down with Carole Annett at Dumfries House, a Georgian stately home bought by a consortium led by King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) in 2007.

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).

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).

‘Surprisingly, I didn't think a maximalist would get that far,' laughs Roisin Quinn, ‘but I won!' she says of her recent triumph in BBC's Interior Design Masters.Roisin was spurred to change career in the wake of feedback she received after designing her own wedding (her dress was the only bit of white) and also doing the interiors of her parents' house during lockdown. 'This time last year I was still a travel adviser,' she says. Join us to hear about her uplifting tale of following your dream.

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. Tune in for more.

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.

In the final House Guest episode of 2023, Carole Annett chats to fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, who is dipping his toe into the world of interiors after nearly three decades of inspirational work in menswear. Tune in for more.

India Hicks is this week's very special House Guest. A model, businesswoman and humanitarian, India is the third child of Lady Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks – her mother served as lady in waiting to the queen and her father was a much-celebrated interior designer. We chat about family life on Harbour Island, her five children (she has two sons of 26, but they aren't twins) and why Mick Jagger named her pet parrot Jenga. India is about to launch a new range of bedlinen for Heirlooms which features her mantra: 'Live an extraordinary life'.

Trend alert: decorative art is back! Today's House Guest is decorative artist and rising star Meg Boscawen, who works with some of the biggest names in interiors – from Nina Campbell to Penny Morrison. "Truthfully, it's the everyday moments that give me inspiration," Meg tells Carole Annett. Tune in for more.

Today's House Guest is Randle Siddeley, the Lord Kenilworth, who set up his eponymous landscape business 48 years ago. Recognised globally for innovative and beautiful projects, he has worked on magnificent estates and hotel projects both in the UK and abroad. Randle's father was a well known interior designer and it was expected he would follow in his footsteps. But Randle didn't do well at school; he was dyslexic, and found solace and excitement outside the house rather than indoors. We chat about life and nature, and he is a fount of knowledge. ‘The most important thing I always say is: judge your garden by how it looks in winter,' he states. 'This is when you can tell you have a good structured garden. The most important element is the backdrop, ideally evergreen, because whatever you have in the foreground needs that backdrop… it's like a stage.' Tune in for more, plus a special appearance by Diego the beagle.

Dynamic interior design duo and longstanding friends Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock chat to Carole about their people-focused interior design company, Turner Pocock, how their friendship helped shape their business and what led to the creation of their charity, TP Caring Spaces. You can find out more about the TP Caring Spaces Carol Concert (and grab your tickets) at tpcaringspaces.co.uk

Architect Claus Thottrup chats with Carole about creating the Italian idyll, Borgo Santo Pietro. Originally a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims, the estate he bought, along with wife Jeannette in 2001, now comprises a 300-acre organic farm, cookery school (overseen by an 80-year old nonna), vineyard, two restaurants, manicured gardens and 22 suites. The concept hasn't changed - to offer a restorative sanctuary for modern souls along with an unwavering dedication to sustainability and organic living. 'We want to connect people to nature in a luxury way,' says Claus. Tune in for more. For a review of Borgo, head to countryandtownhouse.co.uk

'Over time I realised how important beauty is as part of the home', says John Sims Hilditch of Neptune. ‘I think it is something that elevates the spirit'. Launched in 1996 with friend and business partner Giles Redman, Neptune has grown into one of the UK's best-loved lifestyle brands. Tune in to hear how John went from a military career to designing a hammock which sold rather better than expected, and sowed the seed for something rather special.

This week, Carole Annett chats to celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. He delves into his multi award-winning work for the likes of Cher and the Kardashians, and he also discusses his brand new book, 'Star Style'. Tune in for more.

Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors is a four-poster bed virtuoso. ‘I don't think I've ever done a project without putting one in,' she says. An expert at creating immaculate, dreamy interiors, she says a four-poster not only makes you feel special, but it's also very romantic. Carole and Heni chat about the bed's history, consider fabrics to use when curtaining the sides, and discuss different styles, from mirrored columns to designs for children. Tune in for more.

Known as the Queen of Colour, Sophie Robinson is an interior designer and broadcaster and the authority on hue. In her podcast The Great Indoors with Katie Watson-Smyth, she is the aesthetic agony aunt to a nation of amateur decorators. We chat about her start in design – she specialised in plastics (surprise surprise) 'as that is where I could get the most colour in,' she says. After a degree studying wood, metal, plastics and ceramics at Brighton University, it was her YouTube channel that set her on a path to greater recognition, including BBC2's Great Interior Design Challange. She has just launched her first fabric collection with Harlequin.

This week, we chat to Freya Simms, who is heading up LAPADA, a fair in Berkeley Square showcasing jewellery, silver, art and antiques, opening on 27 September.

We're kicking off a new series of House Guest with Jules Haines, founder of the textile resale platform Haines. Jules is on a mission to tackle waste in the textile industry by working with designer brands to resell their surplus and deadstock fabric. The Haines platform now offers a huge selection of products, from gorgeous fabrics to cushions made from offcuts destined for landfill. Tune in for more.

Today we're revisiting a chat with Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, who lives in one of Britain's most magnificent stately homes: Belvoir Castle. The Duchess chats to Carole about her journey from running around on a Welsh farm as a child to running a 200-room stately home when she married the 11th Duke of Rutland 30 years ago. As a keen decorator, she gives an insight into how she stamped her personality onto the private areas of the house and how looking after fabrics and wallpapers in the State Rooms requires a delicate hand.

This week, we're revisiting our chat with Emma Sims Hilditch, an interior designer who grew up in a creative home where her mother loved to follow decorating trends, from 70s swirls to 80s swags. Emma inherited her mother's creative gene, but, ‘I wouldn't follow a trend,' she says, ‘because if you're not careful trends move on and then you're stuck'. As well as discussing her book, 'The Evolution of Home,' with Giles Kime – a fascinating dive into how English country house style has changed – she offers tips on how to bring atmosphere into a house (you need a multi-faceted approach) and why the dining room is back in fashion but not in its traditional guise. Tune in for more.

This week we're revisiting a favourite podcast with one of the best production designers of his generation: Lee Broom. Lee is one of the UK's leading furniture and lighting designers and a premium global design brand. His Crystal Bulb launched one of his earliest designs and was an instant hit, making him a darling of the design world and one who has continued to reach new heights with everything he does. Tune in for more.

This week we are revisiting an old favourite: an interview with garden designer Richard Miers before last year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. He ended up with the People's Choice award for his Love Garden. Tune in to hear all about how to design a garden fit for the famous Flower Show.

For any interior designers looking for that special something – whether it's a unique piece of ceramic to finish an interior, or individual hand-made cushions – head to Luiza Marra at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. At Colony by Casa Luiza, you will find beautiful objects, fabrics from Colony Roma, and furniture chosen with Luiza's meticulous eye. As the daughter of an ambassador, Luiza has lived all over the world gathering knowledge and taking in the world around her. Interiors are her second career and her passion shines through. Tune in to hear about decorating Mosimann's private dining room, how she discovered her flair for design, and her most recent collaboration with Natalia Miyar for WOW house, which opens next week (visit dcch.co.uk for tickets).

From aviation law to interior design, Noor Charchafchi made a significant career change and launched a successful design business, Celine Interior Design, while also bringing up three children. She is passionate about the impact of good interiors on people's lives. Her Iraqi heritage also plays an important role: ‘l feel 100% Iraqi and 100% English rather than 50% of anything', she tells Carole Annett. Tune in for more, including how to design amazing kids' bedrooms.

Be transported to the realm of magic and myth in this episode, as Carole Annett chats to British graphic artist and homeware designer Emma J Shipley. From fabrics and wallpaper to lampshades and candles, Emma's intricate designs bring to life the most enchanting aspects of the natural world. She delves into her artistic inspiration and discusses the origins of her unique style, which channels her childhood love of fantasy novels and films as well as experiences from her travels. She offers us an insight into her success and gives us the lowdown on her stunning new Quetzal collection. This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk

We're whisking you away to the sunshine of the French Riviera in this episode, as we head to Nice. Once home to Coco Chanel and Henri Matisse, Nice lost its mojo over the last decade or so, but it's back – and an influx of luxury hotels are hustling for the supermodel crown along the Promenade des Anglais. Leading the way is the Anantara Plaza (anantara.com), a belle époque beauty dating from 1848. Carole Annett sits down with general manager Stéphane Vilar to hear about the hotel's history, its new look, and what it takes to entice a new generation of discerning travellers. This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk

This week, in view of the royal proceedings, we are revisiting one of our favourite podcasts: Charles, Ninth Earl Spencer. The Earl chats openly about growing up in his family home, Althorp, as well as discussing the décor (which he altered dramatically after his step-mother passed away) and why he put a bouncy castle in the state dining room. Tune in for more. This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk

This week's House Guest is Jason Stewart, associate director of David Collins Studio, who gives a glimpse into the design of Cunard's new ship, Queen Anne, which is launching next year. ‘We have take elements of a bygone era and reimagined them in new ways,' he reveals.We also chat about Cunard's history, its importance in Liverpool, and what guests got up to in the early years of sailing (truffle sauce for breakfast and onboard games which included separate races for single and married ladies and pillow fights for men.) An exhibition of Cunard's history is on at Liverpool's Victoria Gallery & Museum now. Tune in for more. This episode is sponsored by Naturalmat. naturalmat.co.uk