Welcome To Mad About The House
“The best interiors blog on the Internet.” – The Guardian
“If you're looking for practical guidance that feels equal parts thoughtful and stylish, you will find it here.” – Architectural Digest Middle East
I believe passionately in the importance of how we decorate our homes. It’s so much more than a pretty curtain or a lick of paint. Our homes tell the story of who we are and when they are designed for the way we live, in colours that we love, and arranged in ways that make best use of the available space, they become not just a roof over our heads, but vital support systems for both mental and physical health and wellbeing.
“I am redoing my home and found your blog and podcast to be a bright spot in a difficult and dreary year.” – June Zandona
I have been a writer for more than half my life. I started out on a local paper as a trainee news reporter to learn my craft. I graduated to writing for the UK national press, including The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Mail and The Sunday Times. In 2012 I founded Mad About The House, which went on to win many awards and became the No 1 interiors blog in the UK. I currently write a monthly column for Red magazine. Words are my jam. Not videos, not reels, not music over the top of everything. It’s all about the words for me –both reading and writing – and for that reason I’m so happy to have found the space and elegance of Substack after the hurly-burly of social media.
“I’ve been following your blog for years and always found it incredibly helpful, inspiring and practical and I love your engagement with readers.” – Miriam Kimber
In the 12 years since starting my blog, I have covered everything from why the kitchen table is the most important piece of furniture in your house, to how to plan your lighting, and what pieces you should buy if you rent. All of that information has now been moved over here into my archive and is instantly available to paid subscribers. (If you’d like something you can hold in your hands, there are also five best-selling Mad About The House books to consult!)
“I love your literary approach in how you break down the design process.” – Carmel Donaldson
Now, about those subscriptions… Here’s what you’ll get:
· FREE SUBSCRIBERS
You will receive one Design Postcard a month as well as a longer read, House Notes, which will cover my own news as well as product launches and shopping. Each edition will also feature a design tip and an occasional detailed breakdown of the design details of a great room. Free subscribers will also be able to join On The House, a free monthly chat with Lisa Dawson on all things interiors as well as an opinion piece if the news warrants it.
But I really want to bring you more…
· PAID SUBSCRIBERS (£7/month or £75/year)
As paid subscribers, you will have a chance to connect with me directly and to consult me for advice and ideas via my monthly drop-in Design Clinic.
You will receive a weekly Wednesday post on all things interior-design related from How To, Design Advice, Interviews with experts and my regular Design Decoded features - lots of information and inspiration in a nutshell.
You will have access to my full archive of more than 200 essential posts covering all aspects of home decor – from how to plan the perfect kitchen, to creating a lighting scheme, tips for buying vintage and understanding how to choose the right sofa.
The posts will include details from my little black book of interiors – including unmissable design destinations and the best places to shop for all budgets - so you can add them to yours.
You will be the first to receive invitations to Mad About the House Design Retreats that take place at my house in Italy which is located just outside Turin.
And finally you will be able to tap into advice from my expert friends - after 30 years writing about interior design I have lots of them. On Fridays they will share their knowledge on easy DIY to save you money, decorating with vintage and clever shopping and sourcing ideas.
There’s so much to read and learn and I hope you will join me for all of it.
“You just really get it and you’re always ahead of (or perhaps creating) the interiors curve.” – Susan
FOUNDING MEMBERS (£350/year)
If you want to be become a Founding Member, then for £350 you will have a a 60 minute one-to-one design consultation with me. We can discuss everything from room layouts and architectural features to lighting, styling and shopping, and selecting paint and paper.
You will also receive a signed copy of whichever of my books is right for you at the time of joining. At the start of a project it might be my first bestseller, Mad About The House: How to Find Your Style. But if you're a little further down the line, it might be 101 Interior Design Answers, or the Mad About The House Planner with specially formatted pages for lists, decorating prompts and graph paper for floor plans. Or my most recent book Home: The Way We Live Now, with cut pages so you can put together design tips for small spaces, rented spaces and working from home spaces - whatever works for you.
Does this sound like something you’d be up for? I hope so. If so, hit the button below and I’ll see you on the other side!
