In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon is joined by illustrator and designer Isla Simpson, whose work has evolved from beautifully illustrated stationery into fabric and wallpaper collections inspired by English interiors, gardens and decoration.

After training in printed textiles at Central Saint Martins and spending fifteen years designing handbags for fashion brands, Isla gradually built a business centred around the part of design she had always loved most – drawing. What began through Instagram and bespoke illustration has naturally evolved into timeless collections for interiors, alongside collaborations with brands from around the world.

Together, Alexandra and Isla explore how the visual world we grow up in quietly shapes the way we see beauty. From childhood homes filled with Laura Ashley and William Morris, to Merchant Ivory films, Georgian architecture, the Costume Museum in Bath, and treasured books that have stayed with her throughout her life, Isla shares how these early influences continue to inform every design she creates today.

The conversation also explores designing for longevity rather than trends, preserving the human hand within a digital process, creating fabrics people will want to live with for decades, and why confidence often comes from embracing the things we have always loved rather than chasing what is fashionable.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How our earliest visual memories shape creativity

• Training at Central Saint Martins and a career in fashion design

• Finding your own creative voice through illustration

• The enduring influence of Laura Ashley, William Morris and English decoration

• Designing timeless fabrics and wallpapers for modern interiors

• The importance of craftsmanship, patience and refinement

• Why designing for longevity matters more than following trends

• Balancing digital technology with the human hand

• Collaborating with brands while remaining true to your own aesthetic

• Building a creative business that has evolved naturally over time

Whether you are designing a home, building a creative business, or discovering your own personal style, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about trusting your instincts, embracing the influences that have shaped you, and creating work with warmth, character and lasting appeal.

CONNECT WITH ISLA:

Instagram: @islasimpsonstudio

Website: islasimpson.com

BOOKS, PEOPLE & PLACES DISCUSSED:

The Fashion Museum, Bath (The Costume Museum)

Elizabeth Goudge – The Little White Horse

Nancy Mitford – The Pursuit of Love

Rachel Johnson – A Diary of The Lady

Amy Patterson

OTHER EPISODES FROM 'THE INSIDER' DISCUSSED IN THIS PODCAST:

EP 10 - Kate Teyssier - Craftsmanship, Creativity, and Design History

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dceRkvStkaj9ADaeRtSkO

EP 9 - Henrietta Martindale - Creativity, Confidence and Finding your Style

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BhoP6TKvlb9ImvlSo98tG

Ep 8 - Camilla Fraser - Designing Spaces, People Experience and Remember

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ed8DqlJNPchmoL4bwQJmJ

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA:

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years' experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon is joined by Kate Teyssier, founder of Teyssier, the British fabric and wallpaper studio known for its beautifully considered collections and deep understanding of colour, pattern and textiles.

Following on from the design journey explored throughout the series, this conversation looks at the relationship between craftsmanship, creativity and design history. From growing up in a family of makers to building an extraordinary archive of historical textiles, Kate shares how studying the past continues to inform the way she designs today.

Together, Alexandra and Kate discuss creativity, curiosity and the importance of understanding how things are made. The conversation explores the role of research within the creative process, the value of craftsmanship, and how knowledge and experience build confidence over time.

The episode also explores working with mills and manufacturers, developing original collections, championing British makers and heritage skills, and the creation of Line Up, a new Chelsea showroom bringing together a carefully considered collection of British fabric, wallpaper and interiors brands.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Growing up in a family of makers

• Collecting and studying historical textiles

• Creativity, curiosity and developing a design eye

• How design history shapes contemporary design

• Building confidence through knowledge and experience

• Creating original collections informed by the past

• Working with mills, weavers and manufacturers

• Craftsmanship and understanding how things are made

• Championing British makers and heritage skills

• The story behind Line Up and its new Chelsea showroom

• Collaboration within the design industry

• Reflections on creativity and the design journey

Whether you are interested in design, craftsmanship, creativity or the stories behind the objects we live with, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful insight into how knowledge, research and making shape the creative process.

CONNECT WITH KATE:

Instagram: @helloteyssier

Website: teyssier.co.uk

And view more of the brands discussed at @line_up_uk

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA:

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years' experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon is joined by Henrietta Martindale, founder of The Styled Writing Company, a Suffolk-based calligraphy and design studio creating beautiful work for weddings, events and luxury brands including Fortnum & Mason, Cartier and Dunhill.

Hen began her career in London's fast-paced world of fashion PR before building a business around her lifelong love of lettering, creativity and thoughtful design. Together, Alexandra and Hen discuss how creativity develops over time, building confidence in your own style, and creating a business and home that reflect who you are.

The conversation explores creating memorable experiences through design, the importance of collaboration within creative industries, and the realities of moving a successful business from London to rural Suffolk. Hen also shares the story behind renovating her farmhouse, how the house has shaped her aesthetic, and why some of the best design decisions come from allowing a space to reveal itself over time.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Building The Styled Writing Company

• Creativity as a skill that grows with confidence

• Finding your own style within a traditional craft

• Creating meaningful experiences through design

• Building relationships and trust with clients

• Moving a creative business from London to Suffolk

• Collaboration, community and creative events

• Renovating a Suffolk farmhouse

• Designing a home that reflects your aesthetic

• Allowing a house to reveal itself over time

Whether you are building a creative business, renovating your home, or navigating your own design journey, this episode offers an honest and inspiring conversation about creativity, confidence and creating a life that feels authentically your own.

CONNECT WITH HENRIETTA:

Instagram: @thestyledwritingcompany

Website: thestyledwritingcompany.com

BUSINESSES & CREATIVES DISCUSSED:

@jakeskitchen

@sophieharveycurated

@minniparkerdesigns

@wildernessreserve

@butleypriory

@wbjwine

@kinship_creativedc

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA:

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years’ experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon is joined by Camilla Fraser, an interior designer based in Cape Town whose work includes some of South Africa’s most beautiful hospitality projects, including Coot Club — named House & Garden Hotel of the Year 2024. La Cotte, and properties within the Perfect Hideaways collection, which she designs alongside Dominic Touwen.

Following on from the design journey explored in previous episodes, this conversation brings the process to life through the work of a designer who creates spaces people experience and remember. Together, Alexandra and Camilla discuss designing in response to landscape and architecture, balancing beauty with practicality, and creating interiors that feel both timeless and full of personality.

The episode also explores hospitality versus residential design, the role of colour and atmosphere within interiors, and how collaboration shapes the creative process. Camilla also shares how she works alongside Dominic Touwen, balancing family life with a creative career, and how experience has shaped the way she approaches design today.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Designing spaces people experience and remember

• Creating interiors that feel connected to their surroundings

• Hospitality design versus residential design

• Designing Coot Club and working with landscape

• Using colour, pattern, and texture with confidence

• Creating hotel spaces that feel timeless and individual

• Working collaboratively with Dominic Touwen

• Balancing work, creativity, and family life

• Reflections on creativity and the design journey

Whether you are renovating your home, designing a hospitality space, or interested in how interiors shape the way people feel, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful insight into creating spaces with warmth, character, and longevity.

CONNECT WITH CAMILLA:

Instagram: @camillafraser

Dominic Touwen: @dominictouwen

And view some of the projects discussed @coot.club @la_cotte_farm @perfecthideaways_locations

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA:

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon is joined by Stacey Dyer from @end_of_the_row

Following on from the design journey explored in previous episodes, this conversation brings the process to life through Stacey’s experience of renovating and designing her Arts and Crafts home over the past three years. Working room by room, Stacey shares the importance of planning, how her approach has evolved, and what she has learned along the way — including developing an understanding of the materials needed to restore a timber-framed house. We also discuss how living in the house has shaped her decisions, what she focused on first in her renovation, and how she hopes documenting the process will encourage other women to approach their own homes with confidence.

From uncovering original features to balancing colour and pattern with the character of an older building, this episode explores the realities of designing a home gradually, and the value of taking time to understand both the space, how you want to live within it, and the materials needed to do this.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How renovating one home shaped the approach to the next

• The importance of understanding how you want to live in your space

• What it means to design a home room by room over time

• How working more slowly can influence design decisions

• Approaching colour and pattern within an older building

• The realities of working with period properties and unexpected challenges

• The balance between creativity and practicality

• Reaching key milestones, including completing the final rooms

• Reflections on the design journey and what Stacey has learned along the way

Whether you are renovating your home gradually or planning a larger project, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful insight into the design process as it unfolds in real life.

CONNECT WITH STACEY:

Instagram: @endoftherow

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA:

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Photo: @brentdarbyphotography

Stylist: @kinship_creativedc

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years’ experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon reflects on the full design journey — bringing together each stage of the process and how they connect.

From defining your Project Objective to moving through Spatial Planning, Design, Build and Installation, this episode explores how a structured approach supports better decisions and a more enjoyable experience. Alexandra explains how each phase builds on the last, and why following a clear process allows you to approach your own project with clarity and confidence.

• How the full design journey fits together

• Why each stage builds on the one before it

• The importance of following a clear and structured process

• How to approach your own project with clarity and confidence

• Common questions around timelines, priorities and decision-making

• Why a well-designed home continues to evolve over time

Whether you are about to begin your project or reflecting on your own journey, this episode offers a clear overview of the design process and how to approach it in a more considered and confident way.

EVENT

The Design Process with Interior Designer Alexandra Langdon and The Styled Writing Company

https://www.thestyledwritingcompany.com/events/p/the-design-process-with-interior-designer-alexandra-langdon

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Photo: @brentdarbyphotography

Stylist: @kinship_creativedc

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years’ experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon looks at the final stage of the design journey — installation, where your home comes together and begins to feel complete.

From preparing for installation to coordinating deliveries and trades, this episode explores how to manage the final stage of your project with clarity and confidence. Alexandra explains how to organise and oversee the installation process, and how to style and refine your home so that it reflects everything you have worked towards.

• How to prepare for installation and create a clear schedule

• How to manage deliveries and coordinate trades effectively

• Why checking orders and tracking deliveries is essential

• How to approach styling and the final layers of your home

• What to expect during installation and how to stay organised

• How to manage common challenges calmly and efficiently

• The importance of handover and aftercare

Whether you are nearing the end of your project or planning ahead, this episode offers practical insight into managing installation and bringing your home together with care and attention to detail.

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Photo: @brentdarbyphotography

Stylist: @kinship_creativedc

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years’ experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon looks at the build phase — where your plans move off the paper and begin to take shape on site.

From communicating with your builder to managing decisions and unexpected changes during construction, this episode explores how to navigate the build process with clarity and confidence. Alexandra explains how to work collaboratively with your builder and wider team, and how to maintain the integrity of your design as the project progresses.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How to prepare for the build before work begins

• Why complete drawings and clear specifications are essential

• How to work effectively with your builder and wider team

• The importance of communication, planning and sequencing decisions

• What to expect as the build progresses and how to stay organised

• How to maintain design integrity during construction

• Why flexibility and a contingency are key to managing challenges

Whether you are renovating or building from scratch, this episode offers practical insight into navigating the construction stage of the design journey and bringing your design to life with confidence.

Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd

Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk

Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk

Photo: @brentdarbyphotography

Stylist: @kinship_creativedc

Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative

Marie has over twenty years’ experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.