The Brands, Products & Places A Design Expert Really Rates
My perfect shopping day would include an early breakfast, followed by a wander through my favourite antiques shops, independent makers and little galleries. The best discoveries are usually the ones you weren't looking for, especially when someone shares the history or provenance behind something. I'd round it all off with a late lunch and a celebratory glass of champagne.
The most interesting interiors shop is Marin Montagut in Paris. It feels like stepping into a cabinet of curiosities but the best department store in the world is Fortnum & Mason. It's easy to think of just teacups and hampers but the home department has evolved into something far more exciting. Alongside heritage names, it champions independent designers and, through Brownrigg, has introduced antiques.
The coolest independent interiors brand is Get the Gusto. The selection of ornate frames, papier-mâché objects and hand-painted furniture is unlike anything else. It's playful, imaginative and impossible not to love. For independent designers and makers, head to Madrid. I never come back empty-handed. From hand-thrown ceramics and esparto grass workshops to tiny local stores full of charm, it has it all. A favourite of mine is Pequeña Inglaterra.
The under-the-radar brand I’ve recently discovered is House of Capricorn; the collection showcases Portugal's rich craft traditions, reimagining them in a fresh and contemporary way. It's the perfect balance of heritage and modern design. The best vintage stores in the world are Myriad Antiques and The Lacquer Chest in London, and Olofane & La Californie in Madrid. I could name many more but these are some of my favourites. They each have an exceptional eye for both vintage and antique pieces, and I never leave without discovering something I hadn't noticed before.
My favourite vintage piece is a pair of upholstered single headboards I found at Madrid's flea market when I lived there. They're currently tucked away in my mum's attic, waiting for the right home but I couldn’t leave them behind – especially at just €100 for the pair.
Balineum is making great strides to preserve traditional crafts. In 2023, it acquired its Stoke-on-Trent tile workshop to protect the skills of its craftspeople and ensure the future of tube-lined and hand-cut tile making. To me, it’s just as important as using sustainable materials.
For something really special I go to Bonadea. It's one of those rare shops where every object feels like it has been chosen with incredible care. Whether it's porcelain, glassware, table linen or decorative objects, everything is so well crafted.
If I could only buy homeware from one place, it would be Zara Home. It has great basics and almost everything you need from bed to bath to furniture (on my wish list is the Vincent Van Duysen Sofa in terracotta, although mustard would happily do too). It recently launched a new collaboration with Katharine Pole, which I’m currently coveting.
The best interiors gift I’ve ever given someone else was a tea towel inspired by Nicky Haslam's iconic Things That Nicky Haslam Finds Common. I redesigned it with a portrait of one of my closest friends and a list of all the things she finds common. Needless to say, it raised a lot of laughs.
The best interiors gift I’ve ever received was a wax auricula. I love the craftsmanship – it’s one of those decorative objects that makes me smile every time I see it.
The items I bought most recently for my home include a plate, tiny vase and little bird from a local maker in Greece. I always try to bring home something handmade that reminds me of a place rather than a traditional souvenir.
The most expensive investment I’ve made in my home was probably a bed and sofa I bought for an unfurnished rental flat in Madrid. When I moved to the UK, I sold them to the next tenants, so they could continue their life long after I left.
When it comes to tableware, I buy anything that catches my eye. I love Capdeco for high-quality cutlery, browsing Portobello for vintage finds and I have a soft spot for my Ginori Oriente Italiano plates. The most interesting tables are the ones that mix old and new, high and low. The Vintage List is perfect for pieces you can use every day but still feel special. For bed linen, Marks & Spencer does affordable, good-quality basics, and Volga Linen or Vis à Vis Paris to treat yourself.
For art, I turn to Instagram, Collins & Green and Artists At Home to discover local talent. The best fairs include The Affordable Art Fair and The Decorative Fair. I have a portrait of my nephew by the artist Mercedes Carbonell, whose work I discovered years ago. I recently saw the finished painting in her studio, so my only challenge is figuring out how to get it safely back to Spain.
The item I regret not buying is a hand-painted antique mirror with pastoral scenes around the frame. I still have a photo of it on my phone and occasionally wonder whether it's found a new home or if it's still waiting for me.
Next on my shopping list is a Forwood Malachite or Tortoiseshell waste bin. I have a few of the brand’s pieces already – I've reached that stage in life where you splurge on a fancy wastepaper bin!
Soft furnishings are a lovely way to personalise a room. I like Blithfield for timeless fabrics and wallpapers, Wicklewood for colourful cushions and Etsy for vintage textiles and one-of-a-kind finds. For lighting, I love Alvaro Picardo for hand-painted lampshades and Candeluze for vintage toleware.
I don't own a huge amount of furniture but I've been fortunate to acquire a few special pieces, including an Alfred Newall bobbin side table and a striped footstool from Ceraudo, which have followed me from home to home.
If my house was burning down I’d save my photo albums and a handful of keepsakes that have been with me most of my life. Interiors can always be recreated but the objects that hold your memories are irreplaceable.
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