Katie Woods of @comedowntothewoods has taken the interiors world by a storm. A mother of 4, dentist, blogger, Instagrammer, contributor to LivingEtc and co-founder of No House Rules we are quite convinced that there is nothing that Katie can't do!
Incredibly creative, resourceful and inspiring, we first met Katie at the Amara Interior Blog Awards 2017 and we've been obsessed with her fabulous blog and Instagram feed ever since! With an incredibly unique and eclectic style that speaks to our souls, Katie's blog and Instagram focused initially on the renovation of her home - Peach Palace but now is a go-to for interior inspiration. So, we have sat down with Katie to learn more about her work, home and her favourite Rockett St George pieces.
1.You are a mother, dentist, Instagrammer, blogger and an all-around superstar in our opinion! Tell us a little about yourself?
I'm Katie, a mum to 4 little kids, twins Maxwell & Felix 8, Toby 4 and Dottie 2. I am an interiors blogger, a job that I kind of fell into last year, a job which now battles for attention with an important one that I trained for 5 years to achieve. Teeth drilling and writing don't necessarily go hand in hand but I'm doing two jobs that I totally love.
Like everybody else, I'm just someone being busy at life, juggling balls made of glass and breathing a sigh of relief at the end of the day when they are all still intact.
2. You write the interiors blog Come Down To The Woods. Have you always loved interior design and what inspired you to start writing your blog?
I was heavily pregnant with my 4th child when I decided it was time to up sticks and move. Clearly, the hormones were to blame because looking back it was a truly crazy idea but we very quickly found this house and fell in love with it. That was where it started, the house was floor to ceiling peach and thus the renovation of the Peach Palace began.
I turned to Instagram for inspiration and the creative floodgates opened. The blog started soon after as a tribute to this fabulous house, a way to document it's progress. Think of it as a baby journal for a new home. I've always loved interior design but this mammoth project gave me the confidence to really go wild.
The Rockett St George Midas Bar Stools in Come Down To The Woods Kitchen
3. You live in Leeds, with your husband and four children. How would you describe your home to someone who has not seen it before?
Bold, eclectic, peachy, fearless and marmite.
I made design decisions during this project that I never thought I would make. This house has given me the courage to step widely outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself. Think clashing patterns, sumptuous fabrics and lashings of colour. This house is a testament to the fact that great design and statement furniture can work even with a boatload of kids and a shaggy dog.
4. We love your bathroom with the super distinctive pink tub, gorgeous tiling, art deco wall lights and eye-catching artwork. For someone who is trying to create a room that is just as uniquely show-stopping as your bathroom, what top three tips would you give them?
1) Firstly, go with your instincts. If you feel that it will work then go for it. I can't tell you the number of people that who visibly recoiled when I told them I was thinking of a pink bath, don't be afraid to take risks.
2) Celebrate the original features. Be respectful of them, they are often a great starting point to the design of a room.
3) Mix and match. Be eclectic in your choice of furniture, accessories and lighting, it will bring personality to your space.
5. Is there any piece or artefact in your home that has a sentimental meaning to you? If so what is it?
I have an old battered drop leaf table of my granddad's. Its nothing fancy and it has been kept in the garage so could really do with restoring but I will always cherish it. It's the table we all used to sit at eating our Sunday cheese on toasts, it means the world to me.
6. Is there a room in your home that you plan to re-decorate this year and if so what are your plans?
We built a large modern glass-walled extension on this Edwardian house and I'm ashamed to say that I totally bottled it when it came to decorating. I made safe choices that I have regretted every day. Most things are easy to change but I went a bit vanilla with the floor and kitchen, decisions that just can't be changed. I do have big plans for the lounge area in this room though, think botanical prints and green velvet.
7. Where do you go for interior inspiration?
Instagram has been life-changing in that respect. It's like an instant glossy magazine packed full of your favourite things. Better still, you can ask it questions!
Aside from Instagram, I find inspiration everywhere, fashion, nature and travel. I've just been to Thailand for a couple of weeks and am obsessed with the use of wood and sharp angles softened with textiles.
8. You have co-founded, No House Rules, with Amy Wilson (@thisstyle_rocks) to unite interior brands and interior enthusiasts in the North. Tell us about this collaboration?
Amy and I met through Instagram and our obsession with interiors.
She held an 'instameet' at her amazing house and as soon as we met each other we 'double clicked'. Together we very quickly realised that there wasn't much happening for interior addicts up north, everything seemed to be happening in London. So, we vowed to bring our community together and make some northern noise, give brands a reason to take notice and get involved.
No House Rules host, facilitate and create awesome interior events and also run a members-only club (not just for northerners) offering exclusive discounts and offers. We are pretty proud to call it the coolest interiors club around (partly because it's the only one we know of!). Our aim is to bring our members and the brands they love together.
9.Finally, name 2 RSG products that you love!
Katie's Choices:
1. Gold Peace Hand Ornament £19.00
2.Bespoke Oyster Shell Armchair £1,750.00
Quick Fire Questions
1. I am happiest when… I'm listening to my kids' laugh. I don't care where I am, but if I'm doing this with freshly blow-dried hair then even better
2. My favourite magazine is… Living Etc for interiors but I am a little obsessed with food magazines.
3. My dream holiday would be… East, always East. I'm talking Asia rather than Hull. The smells, colours and sounds just can't be beaten. I've never been to Vietnam and would love to go.
4. An ideal day would be spent…. Start with a lie in, remember those? Picnic with the family, mooch around some vintage shops and then dinner with friends by the ocean. Not much to ask for right?
5. My personal motto is… Treat other people how you would like to be treated yourself. Kindness and consideration is the key to solving most problems. Also, buy the bloody velvet sofa!
6. My guilty pleasure is… Salt and vinegar crisp sandwiches on white bread.
7. The last film I saw was… Wonder. I watched it on the plane with my 8-year-old and we were both in pieces. A truly great film.
8. My favourite book is… Captain Corelli's Mandolin. The first book to truly take me somewhere else.
9. In five years’ time, I want to be… Happy, with all of my glass balls still intact.
10. The three things I can’t live without are… Positivity, kindness and good hugs.
