About Me

I'm a lifestyle and interiors writer and editor with 18 years' experience in content creation for national and global print and digital publications across homes and interiors, food, travel, and wellbeing. I'm skilled in composing engaging and eye-catching pieces for print, building online audiences through SEO and targeting Discover traffic, as well as crafting on-brand copy for interior design and lifestyle businesses.

My work

House & Garden •

How to bring the holiday spirit home – design principles to follow for authentic travel-inspired decor

As we come to the end of what has been a truly exceptional British summer, incorporating elements of the sun-drenched style of your holiday destinations into the home feels so appealing. The places we visit during our precious, and long-awaited trips away can hold cherished memories, and capturing some of that essence back home serves as a nostalgic reminder of happy and carefree days spent in magical locales. However, whilst bright hues and ornate patterns can look fabulous in the sunshine, bac...
House & Garden •

Could a retro bedroom sink be the ultimate unexpected luxury?

When we moved into our 140-year-old cottage a decade ago, one of my first thoughts was ‘that bedroom sink has got to go’. My husband was in agreement: ‘We’ll never use it, it’s a waste of space,’ he said. The white porcelain bowl with its integrated (and more than a little kitsch) shell soap dishes jarred with both the dark wood vanity unit underneath and the patterned blue and white tiles that were added as a modern splashback. Then there were the Hollywood-style vanity lights above the mirror....
House & Garden •

How to do coastal interiors authentically, according to designers

Coastal style is one of the most timeless looks to try in your home, conjuring a feeling of calm. If you live by the sea, it creates a pleasing connection with the landscape outside the window. If you don't live anywhere near the sea, it's a lovely reminder of holidays and another way of living. However, in trying to recreate the most impactful coastal interiors you could be at risk of falling into cliché territory, especially if you stick too rigidly to the common tropes, such as blue and white...
House & Garden •

How to bring your garden back to life after this summer of heatwaves

With its record breaking temperatures and extended heatwaves, it's safe to say this summer's weather has been unprecedented. While the lack of rain may have allowed for long lingering evenings outdoors and actually being able to make weather-sure social plans, the subsequent drought has wreaked havoc on our gardens – barren lawns, shrivelled shrubs and dry, cracked soil that you can't get a shovel into are just some of the challenges faced by gardeners countrywide this August.You only have to lo...
House & Garden •

This Victorian townhouse in London is an exercise in balance, thanks to a calming yet colourful aesthetic

The Victorian property, located on a beautiful street in Parsons Green was purchased by an American family (a couple and their daughter), who relocated from New York, and now live between the UK and their summer holiday home in Nantucket. He owns a men's fashion company and she works in the contemporary art world, so it's no surprise that they both brought a keen design eye to the project in their own right.‘I wouldn’t say it started for them as an overall vision,' explains Tiffany, ‘but there w...
House & Garden •

How to paint furniture and bring a unique decorative touch to your home

Whether you’re looking to simply revitalise a tired piece, or turn something ordinary into the focal point of a room, knowing exactly how to paint furniture is an easy way to add character to your home while giving old pieces a second chance. From a lick of your favourite palette-defying paint you were aching to incorporate (but didn't know how) to a geometric pattern or intricate decorative illustrations, there are countless ways to transform even the simplest piece of furniture into a beautifu...
House & Garden •

Discreet and stylish garden privacy ideas to help you enjoy your outdoor space

It can be tricky to figure out how to create privacy in the garden. If you live in an urban area, you'll likely be overlooked on at least one side by neighbours, and may share fences or borders. However well you get along with the people next door, you might not want them overhearing your conversations as you enjoy a peaceful post-work sundowner on the patio, nor do you always want them popping their head over the fence for a ‘quick chat’ while you're peacefully weeding your borders. But obvious...
House & Garden •

How to get a Barbican Conservatory plant cutting as renovations get underway

This piece of brutalist architecture in the heart of London was much maligned when it was built in the 1960s, by architectural firm Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, as part of an urban renewal project following the devastating war-time bombing. And while the Barbican has continued to divide opinion, there's no doubt that it is now considered an iconic part of London's cultural history, and the conservatory, something of a green lung amid the urban sprawl.Established in 1984, the Barbican Conservatory...
House & Garden •

This tiny but characterful Cotswolds bolthole, designed by Christopher Howe, could be yours for £1 million

With an appealingly petite floorplan – it's a one-bed des res, arranged over two floors, with a sitting room overlooked by a mezzanine level, a beautifully appointed Plain English kitchen and first floor bathroom – the lodge would be perfect for someone looking for a holiday home. And with such a tranquil and bucolic location on a wildflower meadow with a babbling brook as its boundary, Barton Meadow Lodge is simply made for restorative country escapes.Its current owners had purchased the proper...
House & Garden •

How to turn your garden into a cooling oasis

This might be the hottest, most consistently sunny summer that most of us can remember. There have been days when the heat has been so brutal it has been impossible not to think about what future summers might feel like as our climate continues to change. Many of us have begun researching air conditioning units in earnest; those of us lucky enough to have outside space have sought the cool respite of our gardens. When the mercury rises, even the tiniest garden feels like a luxury. British garden...
House & Garden •

I ignored the warnings about using dark colours in small spaces and it paid off

We are often led to believe that dark colours will make a room feel smaller. We're encouraged to opt for brighter, ‘safer’ whites, off-whites and neutral tones that reflect the natural light. However, when I moved into my 100-year-old cottage, the existing white walls felt stark, characterless – even cold. I didn't want our dinky rooms to feel pokey, but nor did I want to just throw white paint at the problem, particularly in the living room, where I wanted the space to have some impact.Living i...
House & Garden •

The best outdoor paint colours to elevate porches, pergolas, outbuildings and trims

When you're thinking about freshening up your garden for entertaining, choosing outdoor paint colours might not be the first thing that springs to mind, but adding a new hue to your exterior trims and structures can transform the space just as effectively as planting and landscaping.‘Nothing brightens up the outdoors quite like a fresh coat of paint,’ explains Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene. 'As the seasons change, it's the perfect opportunity to refresh exterior woodwork,...
House & Garden •

Princess Margaret's former West Sussex country estate is for sale

Once the country residence of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, Old House – which dates back as far as 1481 – is on the market for £3,950,000.In the village of Staplefield in West Sussex, between Horsham and Haywards Heath, and just a ten minute drive to the picturesque South Downs, Old House is a country retreat imbued with a richly layered history and boasting a mix of Tudor and Georgian architecture .Part of the Nymans Estate, which was purchased by Lord Snowdon's great grandfather, Ludwig...
House & Garden •

A quietly characterful Norfolk home with interiors inspired by its bucolic surroundings

From the moment interior designer Rebecca Hughes set foot inside this Norfolk home, an impressive six-bedroom, six-bathroom Georgian country property set on a sprawling estate, she was struck by an innate sense of calm. ‘The whole place, the house and the surrounding landscape, exudes peace,’ she says. 'It's a very, very calming place to be.'The estate was purchased by an entrepreneurial couple – avid hosts with two young children with a dream of creating their own slice of pastoral life. Infuse...
Homes & Gardens •

16 Chic Garden Party Ideas to Help You Style Your Next Gathering Like a Professional Host

Part of the beauty of summertime is the natural ease that it brings to hosting. Invitations are more likely to be spontaneous, gatherings relaxed and lingering, and food and decor simple, seasonal, and abundant. Think bountiful bouquets of fresh garden flowers in mismatched vessels, casual and comfortable seating, self-serve buffet and drinks stations, layered linens and strings of twinkling lights adorning the trees in whimsical abandon.We've turned to top event designers, caterers, and enterta...
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Testimonials

“Katrina is a dream to work with. Not only is she organised, punctual, and always follows a brief, but her eye for good design means I can trust her with the vision of a piece from the very beginning."

Hebe Hatton, Head of Interior Design, Homes & Gardens

“Katrina is a delight to work with. A skilled writer, she also has a great eye for visuals and is very detail-focused.”

Jessica Jonzen, Editor and Co-founder, The Home Page


Contact Me

Please get in touch if you are looking for engaging and impactful content, eagle-eyed editing, or sparkling copy to bring your brand or publication to life. I’d be delighted to discuss how we could work together. 

Email: khl.freelance@gmail.com

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