Latest news with #HamishWatson
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
How to achieve ‘Chipping Norton chic' at home (by the woman who invented it)
With its Aga, sofas draped with dogs and carpeted bathrooms, Susie Watson's Queen Anne home in a Wiltshire village is about as classically British as a country house can be. Nothing is white or straight – floors are uneven and walls are papered with muted stripes or painted in pastel colours. Yet it's not self-consciously whimsical, either: no frilly pelmets or elaborate ornaments. Watson, who has been running her interiors business Susie Watson Designs for 25 years, has strong views about what works in a country house and what doesn't. 'It's about trying to make your house look pretty without being twee,' she explains. Her exacting taste is reflected in the interiors of houses across the Home Counties and Cotswolds, with homeowners flocking to her flagship shops in Marlborough, Sherborne and Dorset for inspiration. Panelling, printed linen curtains and duck-egg paint colours are in; pale pink velvet cushions are not. 'I had a request for some the other day and I didn't know how to respond,' Watson says. 'Velvet is fabulous in dark colours but you'd never want it in anything light.' It's the opposite with linen, though, she continues: dark green linen simply does not work. Neither do small cotton cushions in the drawing room. 'They should never be anywhere but the bedroom.' Watson never trained as an interior designer; her eye for colour and pattern evolved in her twenties when she began designing women's dresses. She'd married Hamish, a property developer, and with four small children, she was eager for a distraction from nappy changing. To her surprise, her seasonal collections flew off the rail. 'I sold clothes to really posh people. It was the first thing I'd ever done that was creative or vaguely business-like and it made me realise I could develop an idea and make it happen,' she says. Next she started developing houses with Hamish; they'd buy them cheap at auction and then she'd decorate them to sell. 'I was intrigued by how to make a house feel lovely even without furniture – it's all about the doors and the paint colours,' she says. After a while, property development began to feel formulaic, however, so she decided to buy a shop instead. The business has grown slowly, but now in her seventies, Watson is working full-time with a team that includes her daughter, Anna, as designer. She advises all her customers to focus on what they love, rather than what they think will make their home look good to others. 'We're so Instagram-focussed that we forget to buy what we really love,' she says. 'It's a pity because you end up with a house filled with things you don't actually like that much.' The most beautiful pieces of furniture and art aren't necessarily new or perfect, she continues, which is why she only sells handmade furnishings and furniture, created by skilled artisans. Still, when customers say they want to buy a whole room of her products, she urges them to mix it up with antiques and furnishings from other companies. She also reminds them that no matter how many beautiful rugs and wall hangings they buy, a room is only as beautiful as its walls. 'The difficulty is convincing them that so much of it is the colour. They think it's the curtains, but it's not.' Her number-one rule is no white paint. 'This includes paint that is called something other than white, but still is,' she explains. 'Whitish colours are so cold, and all your other fabrics – particularly linen – look dirty against them.' If you stick to 'in between' colours – greenish, blueish or brownish – on the wall, everything else will fall into place. 'None of the colours you see in nature are one pure colour,' she explains. 'Go for sea-coloured walls.' Here are her top tips for achieving the perfectly imperfect country-house look at home. Don't default to white paint Colour is everything. When repainting a room, avoid all shades of white – you need to choose a colour that looks pretty, even if everything else is scruffy. Pink is a great colour for a kitchen and is a great backdrop for paintings. My sitting room has a green striped wallpaper – the two tones make it feel like walking into a glade. I used to use a lot of duck egg and celadon, but now I've moved on to bolder earthy and sea colours. Avoid white at the back of a bookcase, too – it makes the books jump out. I tend to opt for a slightly darker colour to give depth. Cover your walls Pictures are the most brilliant decoration. They're the only wedding present that actually survives. They don't break or get damaged by dogs and they make a room feel furnished even if you don't have much furniture. If you can't afford paintings, opt for mirrors, which are a cheaper fix and bring light into the room. Wall hangings are also a good bet; we've started making them as a cheaper alternative to paintings. Rug up Wool kilims aren't just a work of art (although the weaving is incredible), they're also the most forgiving floor covering. Some of mine are 20 years old and still immaculate despite the dogs. In fact, I think they become even more beautiful as the colours fade. Wool repels dirt, is washable and is also tough enough to cope with high-traffic areas. Don't listen to anyone telling you that you need to buy a plastic rug or carpet; think of polyester clothing – plastic eats dirt. You can't live without a fender A fender adds another seating area to a sitting room, which is particularly useful when there's not enough space for two armchairs either side of the fireplace. We sell a lot of them in winter; they're also a cosy place to sit when it's cold. Keep the clutter Don't feel ashamed of covering your surfaces with framed photographs. I never look at mine to be honest, but I do look at other people's. I like personal clutter in a house because it makes it feel individual. Revive the dresser Welsh dressers had largely disappeared from kitchens, but I'm bringing them back. They're perfect for keeping cereals and marmalades and other breakfast items, while also being an attractive piece of furniture to display your favourite plates and mugs. We sell quite a few now thanks to the trend for freestanding kitchens. I also love plate racks – why would you want to keep all your plates in a cupboard? It's so much easier to reach them if they're on the wall. Invest in an Aga If you're going to make one big investment, make it an Aga. I love them and wouldn't be without one. It can often be a miserable day, even in summer, so it's lovely to have one cosy room. It's an extravagance, I know, but you can do away with air fryers and other gadgets – I never cook on anything else. Have a bare wooden worktop We're all told not to have wooden kitchen worktops, because they stain, and if we do have them, we're told they must be heavily protected with varnish. The trouble with varnish, though, is that it wears in places and turns yellow. Anna and I have both had the varnish taken off our wooden kitchen surfaces and they look so much better bare. They might get the odd mark, but natural materials such as wood tend to push out stains. Avoid an oversized island Kitchen islands are brilliant but they're getting too big. I can't see why you need one so big. You don't need to eat at it – you've got a table for that, surely? An island is really just for dumping things on. The ones we sell are freestanding, with shelves at the front for bowls and books and space for three bins at the back. Honestly, you need space in the island for all that recycling. So many people have lovely kitchens but spoil them with big plastic boxes for rubbish. Throw on a tablecloth If you're having friends over, a tablecloth does all the work for you. They look cheerful and cosy and like you've made an effort. Add some candles and flowers and you're ready to go. Linen cloths are best as they're robust and don't show the dirt. Fake it with flowers I don't take flowers inside the house any more; they die. Fake flowers are much more sustainable; you can rotate seasonal blooms throughout the year. Be careful what you buy, though: 90 per cent of fake flowers are revolting, but if you pick and choose you can find some gems. I sell them in bunches to help customers avoid mistakes. You can never have enough dog beds We have dog beds everywhere. In some rooms there are several. I love having a proper place for them to sit, even though the dogs pull the cushions off. This doesn't mean that they don't jump on the sofa – they still do and I forgive them, even if they chew the arms sometimes. Hang up your laundry Running a tumble dryer costs a fortune, so make sure you have somewhere to hang up your wet washing. Preferably near the boiler. I don't go for pulley airers as they become so heavy with wet washing – I get a builder to put up wall brackets with simple dowels. I still tumble-dry my towels, though. I can't bear it when they're scratchy. If in doubt, put up panelling In more formal rooms, traditional panelling adds interest and texture, while MDF (medium density fibreboard) tongue-and-groove panelling is a quick fix that looks amazing when painted in a Swedish blue or green. I use it in bathrooms, painted with eggshell paint – it's so much cheaper than tiles. In fact, I avoid tiles wherever possible, as getting a tiler is so expensive – in showers I use the cheapest white tiles I can find in Homebase. Always carpet a bathroom No one has carpet in a bathroom any more, but I love the feel of it on my feet when I step out of the bath. It's practical, too – it goes down in seconds, costs much less than tiling and can be easily replaced. I choose wool carpets over anything synthetic – they dry quickly if they get splashed, aren't easily stained and don't smell. Curtains make a room I never draw my curtains as I like to look out at the view when I wake up, but a pair of pretty linen curtains adds a finishing touch to any room. They're a chance to introduce colour and texture – many of our curtain fabrics are appliqué. Pelmets have made a comeback recently – I still think really gathered pelmets are too much, but Anna designs them with smart box pleats that don't look twee. Don't go for a metal bedstead Iron bedsteads might look attractive, but the fact is it's more relaxing to lean back against something soft. An upholstered headboard furnishes a room rather like a pair of curtains. Ditch your duvet I can't stand changing duvet covers. I much prefer using a top sheet and quilt. The colourful quilt looks so much prettier than a duvet and you'll sleep beneath a more comfortable weight year-round – if it gets particularly cold, you can always throw a duvet between the sheet and the quilt. 'Chipping Norton chic'
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Edinburgh 47-17 Ulster: Three things we learned
Watson is force again Save for a few worrying moments when Ulster came back at them, Edinburgh put in a meaty performance and conjured one of their best wins of the season. They were physical, creative and pretty ruthless. They stormed into the last eight and have momentum now. Their pack is firing, their backline is delivering tries, there's a fire about them that's lovely to see. A few folk typify it - Magnus Bradbury, Ben Muncaster, Jamie Ritchie and, most especially, Hamish Watson, who's been wildly impressive. He's turning back the clock. Gregor Townsend might be a different challengeThe South Africans are on an excellent run, but games against Edinburgh are usually close. The home team has won every one of them, but the margins have been narrow - 34-28 Edinburgh, 22-16 Bulls, 31-23 Edinburgh, 33-31 Bulls. The most recent meeting was only a few short weeks ago when Edinburgh beat them at the Hive in the quarter-final of the Challenge know they can do it at home, but doing it in Pretoria is a different level. They'll travel with belief, though. Edinburgh have found some steel in recent months. If they can stand up to the Sharks (and should have beaten them) then they can do the same against the answers Lions snubThe winger was a buzz bomb against Ulster; so alert, so sharp, so influential, so ruthless. Three tries and yet more confirmation that even though he has somehow missed out on the Lions, he remains one of the most exciting wings in the now on 15 tries in his 25 games this season following on eight in 10 last season and 16 in 14 the season before. That's 39 tries in his last 49 games for club and Farrell has got this one wrong.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'That's what happens when we get it right'
Magnus Bradbury, Edinburgh's captain against Ulster on Friday night, spoke about his team's "tunnel vision" and "steely focus" in the critical win that took them into the URC knockouts as well as securing a place in the Champions Cup next season. Bradbury scored two of Edinburgh's seven tries in a powerhouse performance that also featured a hat-trick from Darcy Graham and an all-action display from Hamish Watson that conjured up memories of the flanker at his Test match best. "That's what happens when you get it right," said Bradbury, who is in fine form having fallen out of the international picture in recent times. Bradbury's inconsistency has held him back over the years, something he's at a loss to explain now that he's firing on all cylinders. "Mate, if I could tell you what it was, I'd answer a lot of questions for coaches. I'm playing well now because I'm just enjoying my rugby. "I'm enjoying being back here at Edinburgh. I'm enjoying coming to work each day. I wake up in the morning, and I can't wait to come and see the boys. I can't wait to come and improve. We talk about, it's a cliche and I hate to say it, but that 1% better every day." The back-row praised the veteran Watson for his outstanding finish to the season. "He's always been quality in my eyes," Bradbury added. "I think there's a bit of a stereotype around, once you reach a certain age. You're rubbish, essentially. I think that's unfair in this day and age. "There's a lot of top-flight rugby players that are over 30 still playing brilliant rugby. And I think Mish is an example of that. With Mish you know what you're getting each week. "I love playing with these guys. That's a big reason I came back. I love playing with Mish. I love playing with Jamie [Ritchie]. I love playing with [Ben] Muncaster."
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'That's what happens when we get it right'
Magnus Bradbury, Edinburgh's captain against Ulster on Friday night, spoke about his team's "tunnel vision" and "steely focus" in the critical win that took them into the URC knockouts as well as securing a place in the Champions Cup next scored two of Edinburgh's seven tries in a powerhouse performance that also featured a hat-trick from Darcy Graham and an all-action display from Hamish Watson that conjured up memories of the flanker at his Test match best."That's what happens when you get it right," said Bradbury, who is in fine form having fallen out of the international picture in recent times. Bradbury's inconsistency has held him back over the years, something he's at a loss to explain now that he's firing on all cylinders. "Mate, if I could tell you what it was, I'd answer a lot of questions for coaches. I'm playing well now because I'm just enjoying my rugby. "I'm enjoying being back here at Edinburgh. I'm enjoying coming to work each day. I wake up in the morning, and I can't wait to come and see the boys. I can't wait to come and improve. We talk about, it's a cliche and I hate to say it, but that 1% better every day."The back-row praised the veteran Watson for his outstanding finish to the season. "He's always been quality in my eyes," Bradbury added. "I think there's a bit of a stereotype around, once you reach a certain age. You're rubbish, essentially. I think that's unfair in this day and age."There's a lot of top-flight rugby players that are over 30 still playing brilliant rugby. And I think Mish is an example of that. With Mish you know what you're getting each week."I love playing with these guys. That's a big reason I came back. I love playing with Mish. I love playing with Jamie [Ritchie]. I love playing with [Ben] Muncaster."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Defensive discipline & accuracy form base for crucial Edinburgh win'
Edinburgh's win over Connacht on Saturday was founded in defence. Connacht had more territory and Edinburgh made more than twice the number of tackles. Nine of the top ten tacklers in the game were in orange, with Hamish Watson - who had an excellent match on both sides of the ball - topping the was also founded on discipline and accuracy. Edinburgh conceded just eight penalties in the 80 minutes, while our lineout functioned almost flawlessly. It seemed to me that there was less dancing in and out of the line prior to the throws in Galway so perhaps simplicity is best in this area.A word for fly-half Ross Thompson, who had an excellent game. His kicking was flawless, defensively he was solid and played a part in Hamish Watson's were a couple of areas of concern though. We conceded a try almost straight from the second-half restart. In our past 10 games we've given up eight tries in the period between 40 and 50 minutes - it's where we are most likely to be lineout looked a little more secure but our maul was repeatedly disrupted and of the eight penalties we conceded, half of them came from interference with the jumper in the air. It happens, but when you realise that it's something the referee is hot on, do you not adapt?Charlie Shiel's brilliant and unexpected run from his own half secured a bonus-point try, with Ben Healy's conversion and subsequent penalty meant a nervous game went Edinburgh's resulting five points mean at the very least we go into the final game of the regular season with a chance of knockout rugby.
