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Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
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Jun 10, 2026
How To Be Mad About Your House
Finding inspiration: the department store
with KATE WATSON-SMYTH — Design expert, journalist, best-selling author. Creator of UK's #1 interiors blog and podcast.
Lesson 5 of 29
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Getting outside and experiencing spaces with your own eyes is important when renovating your house. Taking you on a tour of Liberty in London, Kate explores different departments and explains how the design choices can be applied in your own home.
From the Lesson Workbook
Finding Inspiration: The Department Store
In search of inspiration, Kate visits Liberty in central London, one of her favourite department stores. Visiting department stores is key when looking for inspiration. How you feel in a space is just as important as how it looks. Different departments in a department store are a great source of inspiration when designing a home. Pay attention to the flooring, your flooring can be staggered, it doesn't just have to be straight lines.
It's not necessarily about if you like something, really look into how the colours and patterns have been paired with one another.
Your Assignment
Visit your local department store to find some inspiration. Really note how you feel in the space, pay special attention to how items are displayed and the use of colour and patterns.
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May 31, 2026
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Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Kate Watson-Smyth
Design expert, journalist, best-selling author. Creator of UK's #1 interiors blog and podcast.
Kate Watson-Smyth is an award-winning design journalist and author of the best-selling Mad About The House book series. She has spent the last 20 years writing extensively on interiors and design for publications including the Financial Times, The Independent and The Sunday Telegraph. Her home has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Elle Decoration and Livingetc, and her acclaimed website, MadAboutTheHouse.com, is officially voted the UK’s No1 interiors blog.
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