July has arrived in London, bringing with it sun-drenched days and the unmistakable rhythm and vibrancy of summer. The season seems to invite us to linger a little longer; lunches become dinners, gardens become living rooms and the evening light invites us to experience more of our days -there is a renewed sense of energy as life spills outside, onto streets, terraces, riversides and gardens once again.
I am often asked where inspiration begins and the answer is never singular. It might be the colour of a weathered façade on a historic building, or the carved detail of an antique discovered in a quiet corner of a market. But lately, I have found myself especially inspired by the people and places closer to home – the extraordinary London Design Community, and the small businesses across our country whose craft has been refined over decades.
This is reflected in the events unfolding across the city: the Pimlico Road Summer Party brings together designers, makers and artisans in a way that truly enriches the relationships and connections across our network. The Katharine Pooley Summer Social, pictured above, is an annual celebration we all look forward to in the Studio. While elsewhere, spaces like WOW!House at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour offers a remarkable platform for collaboration and creativity on the world stage, where rooms become immersive expressions of craft and imagination and breed innovation. I was thoroughly impressed by this year’s designs, which seem to surpass themselves year after year. A heartfelt congratulations to Claire German and the entire DCCH team on another outstanding WOW!House, and to Claire on so deservedly receiving the ‘Community Award’ from Country & Town House Interiors for 2026/27.
As part of WOW!Talks, I was thrilled to be invited to discuss the enduring ingredients of a truly exceptional room alongsideEmma Burns and Philip Hooper of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. In a conversation moderated by Steele Marcoux, Editor in Chief of Veranda, and hosted in the Colefax & Fowler Showroom, the discussion explored what truly transforms a space into one to love and the importance of creating interiors with character.
Between gallery visits and industry gatherings there has been no shortage of inspiration. London has a wonderful way of constantly reinventing itself while remaining deeply familiar, and it continues to offer endless opportunities to discover new perspectives, materials and ideas that inevitably find their way back into the Studio. On a personal note, two particular highlights this month include attending Ascot, a wonderful occasion that always feels so quintessentially British in its elegance and tradition.The other was seeing our Mallorca project featured in a digital story by ELLE Decoration. Both moments have been a reminder of the joy of variety and stepping between worlds – of celebrating heritage and tradition in one instance, and contemporary design shared through a global lens in another.
A standout moment abroad was returning to Monaco for the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The unique blend of precision, elegance and spectacle is truly something. Beyond the excitement of the circuit itself, it is always inspiring to see exceptional design woven into every aspect of the experience. It really is an event that celebrates excellence in every sense and we were thrilled to once again be working alongside Burgess in the design of their curated hospitality space. One of my favourite days this month was spent behind the camera rather than in front of a drawing board, with a photoshoot at my home in Oxfordshire. The final images and videos are a culmination of months, sometimes years, of creative collaboration and watching my team come together, and collaborate with external stakeholders with such care and precision, as well as raw creativity, is a reminder that everything we do is the result of thoughtful collaboration – I can’t wait to share the final videos and photos with you.
What I find most compelling about this time of year is how naturally design begins to extend beyond interiors and into everyday life. Streets feel more connected, showrooms open onto the pavement and engaging conversations spill into the evening air. There is a shared sense of curiosity and creativity fuelled by sunshine. Looking ahead, I am excited by all that is still to come: more shoots, more projects, more design – the pace shows no sign of slowing and in truth, I would not have it any other way.
Katharine
