I always dreamed of writing my own book. And so, when I started The Pink House blog/business three years ago, a book was part of the plan. I felt there was a gap in the market for a beautiful, colourful interiors book that inspired its readers to create a home that made them truly happy, while making them laugh…
Pink House Living (for people cheating on fashion with furniture) is this book. And thanks to my wonderful publisher, Ryland Peters & Small, it’s turned out exactly as I imagined it, right down to the pink foil-embossed fabulously tactile fabric cover.
So what’s inside? Well, as you’d expect, there’s quite a lot of pink. Because, as we all know, pink is f**king fantastic and makes the world a better place. I also love how today pink is the colour of freedom, of individuality, of change. It’s been reclaimed by the very people who once were repressed and stereotyped by it and turned into a symbol of power and non-conformity.
But Pink House Living is about a lot more than pink. It’s about the challenges of doing up a house in Edinburgh with a colour- and clutter-shy husband and two messy children. And then selling that house and doing it all over again in London.
The Pink House kitchen, as seen in Pink House Living/Photo: Susie Lowe
It’s about making your home fit your personality; it’s about what colour to paint your kids’ rooms when you’d expected them to be a different gender; it’s about decorating with colour and pattern and confidence. It’s about making your garden into a space you love when you don’t love gardening.
The book is divided into chapters by room, making it easy to navigate, especially if you’re renovating a particular space. In each chapter I look at the rooms of that type I’ve renovated, paying particular attention to things I ballsed up/am proud of, and how I managed (or failed) to win the interior war against my nemesis, the Pink House Husband (love him really).
The Pink House front door/Photo: Susie Lowe
And then, in a nod to my 15 years as a journalist, in each chapter I interview one of my interior heroes about where they found ‘Pinkspiration’ for their designs of that type of room. Interiors experts featured include ‘queen of colour’ India Mahdavi (who is responsible for THAT pink room at sketch), award-winning blogger and stylist Sarah Akwisombe, and swoonworthy boutique hotel Artist Residence’s co-founder Justin Salisbury.
There are also quizzes (which I’ve always loved both writing and answering) to help you work out which pink shade best suits your personality, and whether you are indeed cheating on fashion with furniture (guilty).
Of course, words are all very well, but it wouldn’t be a fabulous interiors coffee table book if it wasn’t also packed with beautiful pictures. My brilliant pal, top interiors photographer Susie Lowe, has done me proud with her stunning photos of my homes, and there are also gorgeous shots of the rooms designed by my interviewees to drool over (wipe it up quick, though!).
The Pink House sitting room, as seen in Pink House Living/Photo: Susie Lowe
I really believe in this book. It’s fun, fabulous, beautiful, silly, sexy, honest, practical – and pink! Buy it for yourself; buy it for a friend who’s doing up their home; buy it for your décor-mad mum on Mother’s Day. Buy it simply because it’ll look lush in your living room. And if you buy it, I’d love to hear what you think – so do write a review on Amazon, comment below or find me over on Instagram @pinkhouseliving where I’d love you to share pics and stories of your book using the hashtag #pinkhouseliving – do tag me in as well and I’ll share the best styled shots with my followers.
Finally, a HUGE thank you to all of you Pink House Guests; without your support Pink House Living would never have been written. You’re all ace. Here are some pink flowers to say thank you…
Flowers by Hayford & Rhodes in my dining room/Photo: Susie Lowe
