From a gold ceiling to secret storage, interiors writer Kate Watson-Smyth’s home is full of inspiration you can steal
Kate’s attic space doubles as a guest bedroom and home office. The rug and eye cushion are a Quentin Jones x habitat.co.uk collaboration. The sofa is from bonluxat.com
A wood burner by aradastoves.com was installed last year in the open-plan kitchen/dining room extension that Kate added when the family moved in. The dining table is from norr11.com while the chairs are Visu by muuto.com. The rug was found ten years ago in a North London vintage shop
Two ‘dingy rental flats’ caught Kate Watson-Smyth’s eye in 2010 and became more than just a new home for herself and her growing family – husband Adam Leigh and their sons Isaac (now 18) and Noah (16). The journalist, who has written about property, interiors and design for more than 20 years, also showcases her converted terraced pad in Crouch End, North London, on her multi-award-winning blog Mad About The House.
‘When we needed more family space, this “doer-upper” came to my attention – and has sparked creative projects ever since,’ says Kate. ‘The blog began as a place to show wonderful things that I couldn’t find room for in my newspaper work, as well as helping to show how to decorate with unusual items.’
Since the family bought the property, a podcast and two books have followed. But at the core is Kate’s home, which has had many makeovers, from whitewashed scandi cool via a shades-of-grey love affair with Farrow & Ball’s Downpipe to a more earthy alchemy, combining rich dark chocolate hues with raspberry, soft pinks and off-whites.
The fireplace is painted in Rothschild Street and the ceiling in FTT002, both mylands.com. The carpet is natural undyed wool as it ‘allows the ceiling to glow’. The Georgian writing desk was found on Ebay
Now rocking more of an individual vibe – all hail the gold-painted study ceiling (right) – Kate says, ‘I am less about trends, more about what I love, and my mantra “something new, something old, something dark, something gold” still holds true.’
Mad About The House: 101 Design Answers
Each update sticks to Kate’s ethos for making the best of what you have, embracing independent stores and arriving at conscious choices. ‘My DoLessHarm hashtag on Instagram is about being more sustainably aware, and I am compiling a directory to help buyers make informed retail choices.’
In the same vein, her third book, Mad About The House: 101 Design Answers, out next year, will be about creating a home that works for you, avoids costly mistakes and saves you money. ‘That’s where it’s at,’ says Kate. And there’s nothing mad about that.
Get the look
Copy Kate’s sumptuous style with jewel shades and plush textiles