Broadcaster and author, Laura Jackson

Laura Jackson is a broadcaster, author and interiors tastemaker known for presenting on BBC One, designing fashion collaborations with Label Mix and most recently launching her own lifestyle brand, Hoste. With an effortless style, Laura fuses together her fashion relationships with her passions for food and interiors through stylish events and collaborations.

We caught up to talk about interior inspiration and what makes a house a home.

Q&A with Laura Jackson

Is this your first home?

This is the first home that I have bought and lived in.

Did you renovate and decorate?

Yes – well my husband and I decorated together. I feel so inspired by friends and images that I find online and in magazines so I have been collecting ideas for years. We worked with a builder on the renovation and an architect as we live in a conservation area.

Laura Jackson at Hoste

Any grand plan for the interior?

The plan has always been to create a comfortable home that we look forward to spending time in. It’s important for it to be functional, practical and beautiful. It takes years to build a home – layers of travel and trinkets so I can’t wait to see how the house evolves over the years.

Who or what inspired the way you decorate?

Everything and everyone! I love Instagram and magazines but I feel so inspired by restaurants and hotels – these are functional spaces so I love to see how they work. It’s important to only feel inspired as you don’t want to copy a restaurant – it’s about taking elements and making it work for you. For instance, I feel so inspired by the cafes in Paris – their use of glass is really interesting. I used gloss in my walls in the basement and its really modernised the space.

Alternative’ Sisal Bubbleweave Honey Bubble stair runner as seen at Laura’s home

Laura told us about her choice of sisal

I chatted to Alternative Flooring who didn’t recommend this particular sisal for stairs as the large loop isn’t great for heels, but as we don’t wear shoes in the house this wasn’t an issue.

Colour or pattern or both?

It’s so subjective – it really is whatever works for you. I like to play with both.

Lessons you’ve learnt?

Do your research and don’t make snap decisions. Its” important to invest time into the project. Shop around for tradesman and get quotes. Personal recommendations are a must!

Image on the left shows Laura’s bathroom with an antique cupboard sourced in Brussels. Image on the right shows Laura’s bedroom with a unique vase found in Copenhagen.

Favourite room in the house?

The bathroom. We bought vintage sanitary ware from a place called original baths and have trade-last on the walls – including the walls of our Grecian inspired shower. It feels really light and calm. It also has a working fire place – that feels so special in a bathroom.

An object you’d never part with and why?

I could live without anything. As much as I love ‘stuff’ – nothing is that important I couldn’t live without it. Ha – sorry to get all serious with that one.

Laura at home seen standing on Alternative Flooring’s Alternative’ Sisal Bubbleweave Honey Bubble runner

Any recent finds from antique fairs?

I love Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton. – that’s a classic – but it’s a classic for a reason! Great stock and dealers – but it seems to be more expensive now the whole world knows about it.

Future plans for the house?

Just to let it breathe and evolve – a house takes time. My next challenge is outside the house; the garden! I would love an outdoor pizza oven and a vegetable patch.

Did you find Instagram helpful when decorating?

Yes, I love Instagram. Homeware accounts are my favourite. I love House and Garden, The apartment DK and John Derian.

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Alternative’s Flooring Sisal Bubbleweave lifestyle shot

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