The Great Indoors

The Great Indoors is Back! Even Kate is emotional (not really). With plenty to catch up on after the break, Kate reveals all about her house move, Sophie talks how to make the best of it when spiralling budgets mean your renovation dreams are dashed - and the listeners have a frightening amount to say about the mysterious design quirk that is The Washing Up Bowl... Useful links and images are supp...

Think you know sticky-backed plastic? Think again. Serial renter, nocturnal DIY-er and queen of reversible decor hacks, Amara Hasham of @thepajaamahub and The Faff Store reveals the jaw-dropping possibilities to be had. If you rent, or just want to try out some bold ideas that can easily be reversed - you can't afford to miss this. Plus Kate and Sophie deep dive into how to make ethical choices wh...

Got your sacrificial plants in place? Arit Anderson, garden designer and presenter on BBC Two's Gardener's World, reveals the secrets of the Great Outdoors. She tells Kate and Sophie all about beating slugs, choosing plants - and why you should think of your garden as an extension of your wardrobe. There's something for everyone in the latest juicy design books up for review - and then the Style S...

All yellow? Kate and Sophie chart the rise of the most fashionable colour of the moment - and reveal how you can harness its power. Then it's all about making the bed so fabulous you never want to leave it (tho Kate is already there tbh) And in the Style Surgery a listener asks how to mismatch furniture with confidence... Useful links and images are supplied on each of Kate and Sophie’s blogs mada...

Is the gallery wall over? Sophie and Kate ponder the pros and cons of the much beloved wall-of-many-pictures. They're also bursting with tips for small ideas that create a big impact, from lampshades to tester pots. And an intriguing style surgery asks: when is a period detail a stunning "original feature" that must be preserved - and when is it a dated eyesore? Kate and Sophie would like to ask a...

Living room, sitting room or lounge? Sophie and Kate dive into the whimsical world of what we call the rooms in our houses - and why we care so much. The pair discuss the intriguing trend for rental furniture, reporting back on companies like Harth, Shelff and the John Lewis collab with Fat Llama. The Style Surgery has a prescription for rugs in kitchens, and we hear listener reactions to the Resu...

Paint it black? Kate is in shock over Sophie's dramatic design choices in her new TV show, Design Home Makeovers. Sophie is in shock over reports that Grey is Back and about to take over the nation's walls again. And both are running screaming from the terrifying spectacle of... house moths. Better calm down with a nice soothing Wordle. Useful links and images are supplied on each of Kate and Soph...

What's next? Colour? Curves? Not caring about trends? Kate and Sophie look ahead to what's in store for 2022. And the pair talk you through how to encourage your own inspiration and creativity. Plus - for one episode only - Design crimes is back and badder than ever... Useful links and images are supplied on each of Kate and Sophie’s blogs madaboutthehouse.com and sophierobinson.co.uk or join our...

Is it the most ranty time of the year? Sophie revels in Kate's traditional festive rage about Christmas... but never fear there's still time for excellent decorating tips and inventive present ideas to make your Yule cool. Plus, the Style Surgery is all about cosiness and colour in open plan living... Useful links and images are supplied on each of Kate and Sophie’s blogs madaboutthehouse.com and ...

Which side are you on when it comes to The Battle of The Big Light? Kate and Sophie talk glow vs glare when it comes to lighting choices, and how to do both of them right. The pair reveal how to pant your walls and ceilings when odd angles and sloping plaster means you aren't quite sure where one starts and the other stops. Plus there's a gorgeous batch of design books reviewed, just in time for y...

Stuck between a yellow sofa and a purple beetle? Kate and Sophie are together again and Kate's already criticising the decor... But the pair are also sharing all the news of what they've been up to, from making hit TV to making eco sofas. Then the Builder Husband is on hand with a practical guide to greening your home. And in the Style Surgery a listener struggles with a flooring dilemma... Useful...

Tempted to try upholstery? Sharon O'Connor of Vintique Upholstery reveals her top tips, whether you're having a go yourself or calling in an expert. There's a ravishing roundup of all the trends, as the Dulux colour of the year is revealed and the design shows reopen. And in the Style Surgery a listener asks: can an English country cottage be created from a crumbling 70s nightmare? Kate and Sophie...

Fancy a Wall of Hair? Cult classic Changing Rooms is back and who better to grab the staple gun than hosts Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio? Sophie gets all the inside gossip on Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, rogue paint pots and the Hair Wall that united a nation in horror... Plus Sophie and Kate reveal everything you ever needed to know about wallpaper - and help a listener who desper...

Do you have a collapsible Japanese temple yet? Kate and Sophie visit the mews house of designer Guy Oliver, managing director of Oliver Laws. Poking their noses into everything as ever, the pair discover the secrets of distilling Guy's international experience, personal history and eclectic taste into a small space.  Guy works extensively with artisans in Afghanistan through the Turquoise Mountain...

Do you know your rattan from your cane? Sophie and Kate reveal the definitive guide to winning at the biggest trend in town. A flurry of sexy design books get reviewed, from Kit Kemp's Design Secrets, Oliver Heath on Urban Eco Chic and Phaidon on Contemporary Designers. And in the style surgery, what to do with a lightless hallway when your partner won't let you embrace the dark and keeps bleating...

Is there a builder in the house? Sophie goes all the way into the room next door to bring us an absolutely invaluable toolbox of tricks and tips on how to get the best from your builder, courtesy of the Builder Husband Tom. Kate sings the praises of floorplans and how changing the layout could transform your space without, well, calling in the builders. And the Style Surgery considers: what colour...

Fancy staying in a home-tel? Sophie and Kate are bursting with ideas for creating that holiday vibe at home (though Kate can't quite bring herself to say "home-tel") Plus there's ingenious ways to win at teensy bathrooms, and in the Style Surgery a listener asks from under a pile of children: when is it safe to have beautiful, fragile, interior decor that won't get covered in yoghurt and scribbles...

Are you a Stylish Person? Find out as Sophie tests Kate... what are the items every truly Stylish Person owns? Iconic designer Halston surely fits the bill. At any rate the hit Netflix show about his life stars some incredible interiors (alongside Ewan McGregor) Plus, Professor Stephen Westland of Leeds University has some jaw-dropping insight into the science of colour taste. You can find more ab...

Living in a grey wicker world? Kate and Sophie tackle the stylish options for garden furniture and outdoor living (and agree to disagree about Kate's Danish Sitting Suit) The joy of tablescaping and how glorious tableware doesn't have the break the budget. And finally how to keep morale up over a long renovation. Useful links and images are supplied on each of Kate and Sophie’s blogs madabouttheho...

Got your glitterball yet? Kate and Sophie are in the same place for once, and it's the fabulous, colourful and creative home of singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Beyond the kitchen where Sophie's famous lockdown discos happened, she reveals her cushion obsession, her beloved giant ice cream cone, her unexpected talent for taxidermy. She talks about how stuff tells your story, about why sh...

Fancy some gold wallpaper? Kate and Sophie consider the interiors furore around Boris and Carrie's lavish refurb and ask if John Lewis is really the stuff of nightmares... Designer Simon Hamilton gives an optimistic update on the progress of initiatives to encourage diversity in design. And in the Style Surgery a listener is planning to upcycle her kitchen - but is it worth it? To book your online...

Ready to channel your inner lady of the manor? From pelmets to marble busts, Sophie and Kate explain how to do the new country house style. Then it's everything you ever needed to know about blinds, curtains and all things window related. And finally Sophie's asking for inspiration when it comes to pets and interiors. No hope for the cream curtains with giant navy pompoms... Useful links and image...

Scented candles or just... smelly candles? Kate and Sophie consider the scene-setting power of the candle, from fig and gingerbread to the "scent of freshly signed divorce papers". The pair review luscious books by Lisa Dawson, Beata Heuman and Jo Thornhill, and in the Style Surgery a listener needs to negotiate with her conservatory... Find out more about Lisa Dawson's Resourceful Living on her w...

Time to embrace neutrals? Colour-lover Sophie has an identity crisis as Ruth Mottershead, creative director of The Little Greene Paint Company, reveals the essential guide to using the New Neutrals. Kate and Sophie offer a host of practical tips for shopping online - and the Style Surgery tackles the conundrum of hallway flooring. Find out more about Ruth's work at littlegreene.com Useful links an...

Are you now or have you ever been guilty of painting furniture? Kate and Sophie explore everything you need to know about vintage from antiques expert Drew Pritchard of TV's Salvage Hunters - including a controversial Design Crime! Sophie reveals all the behind the scenes gossip from the BBC's Interior Design Masters, plus the pair help a listener who is starting with a completely blank interiors...