Homing

Max Rollitt, a renowned interior decorator and antiques dealer, shares insights from his visually-driven approach to design. He recalls his childhood in Winchester and the profound impact of sentimental objects in shaping his home. Max discusses the emotional layers behind his farmhouse’s decor, the creativity fostered in his family, and his journey through dyslexia. He emphasizes how objects tell stories and offer a sense of security, while revealing the spirituality and rituals that nurture his family's creative spirit.

Much like her taxidermy-based sculptures, Polly Morgan is an artist who delights in looking beneath the surface. Her home in Camberwell is deliberately minimalist - a space viewers may recognise from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer. As she prepares to move out after 13 years, with most of her possessions already shipped off to the countryside, she reflects on the highs and lows of her time there. Growing up in the Cotswolds, Polly’s childhood was characterised by watching animals die and by seeing her father dissect bodies to understand anatomy. Those early experiences formed her way of seeing, not as something morbid, but as a curiosity about life and its endings.Entirely self-taught, Polly has always worked slightly outside of artistic convention. She speaks about wanting to notice what most people overlook, to find the parts of things that are usually hidden.It’s with this same outlook that she talks about the loss of her sister and mother, and the decision to say goodbye to her city life as she prepares to return to the countryside.This is a conversation about artistic process, growing older, family, and learning what to hold on to and what to let go of.This episode was recorded in person at Polly’s home in Camberwell.To hear more from us:YouTube: Subscribe to our channel, Homing with Matt, to watch the video versionInstagram: @homingwithmattTikTok: @homing.with.mattContact: Email us at hello@mattgibberd.comFor more content and exclusive walking tours:Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMattMatt Gibberd’s book, A Modern Way to Live, is available here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320176/a-modern-way-to-live-by-gibberd-matt/9780241480496Music by @simeonwalkermusicIdentity & design by @lena.winkler.creative.office Produced by @podshoponline ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Chris Packham has always fascinated me. As a broadcaster, naturalist, and conservationist, he’s helped millions connect with wildlife and the natural world through shows like BBC’s Springwatch – but sitting down with him in his home, I realised how much of his story is about creating refuge, both at home and within himself.In this deeply personal conversation, Chris speaks candidly about his childhood in Southampton, being diagnosed with autism in his forties, and how he has designed a home that helps him manage sensory sensitivities – ironically filled with furniture and artwork that is deliberately uncomfortable.He reflects on solitude versus loneliness and how nature provides safety, structure and healing when the human world feels overwhelming.It’s a conversation about finding comfort in discomfort, about refuge and resilience, and, above all, about what it means to feel at home in the world.It’s also one of the most memorable episodes I’ve ever recorded. This episode was recorded in person at Chris' home in the New Forest.To hear more from us:YouTube: Subscribe to our channel Homing with Matt, to watch the video versionInstagram: @homingwithmattTikTok: @homing.with.mattContact: Email us at hello@mattgibberd.comFor more content and exclusive walking tours:Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMattMatt Gibberd’s book, A Modern Way to Live, is available here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320176/a-modern-way-to-live-by-gibberd-matt/9780241480496 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Homing podcast explores the importance of home in shaping who we are. Join Matt Gibberd, author and co-founder of The Modern House, as he takes listeners inside the homes of inspiring guests to examine what really happens inside our walls – how they influence our emotions, creativity and sense of self. Featuring leading voices from art, film, wellbeing and beyond, Homing is a thoughtful journey into remarkable homes and the minds that shape them.  Be prepared for tears, laughter, and everything in between."The Best Podcasts To Listen To" – Vogue Homing is produced by Podshop, with music by Simeon Walker.Homing is an independent podcast and operates as a separate venture from The Modern House Limited. While Matt Gibberd is a co-founder of The Modern House, all opinions expressed on Homing are solely those of the host and his guests. To hear more from us:YouTube: Subscribe to our channel Homing with Matt Gibberd, to watch the video versionInstagram: @homingwithmattTikTok: @homing.with.mattContact: Email us at hello@mattgibberd.comFor more content and exclusive walking tours:Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMattMatt Gibberd’s book, A Modern Way to Live, is available here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320176/a-modern-way-to-live-by-gibberd-matt/9780241480496Music by @simeonwalkermusicIdentity & design by @lena.winkler.creative.office Produced by @podshoponline ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Bethan designs everything from furniture to lighting and textiles, and some of her work is currently on display at the Design Museum in London.   She presents herself to the world like a human peacock. She dyes her hair different colours, wears layers of vivid clothing, and puts dots on her cheeks.   Her flat in east London isn’t exactly demure either. We recorded this podcast in the company of various hats and handbags, a jar of balloons in liquid, and a lamp shaped like a jellyfish.   In this conversation, we dig into the differences between collecting and hoarding. The objects Bethan lives with are like a cast of characters in a film. The way she arranges them isn’t just about what looks good together; she’s also thinking about the stories they tell.   Going back to her childhood, she tells me about dressing like “a 1950s cool dinner lady”, and how watching TV inspired her to apply for the Royal College of Art.   We talk about the impact of bullying, and how she’s been shaped by her dyslexia.  She’s a fascinating character, and I really enjoyed getting to know her better.   For more:PLATFORM: Bethan Laura WoodSubscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationPick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To LiveFollow Matt Gibberd on InstagramFollow The Modern House InstagramWatch our Homing In films on YouTubeProducer: Laconic CollectiveGraphic Design: Ben TuckerMusic: Simeon Walker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today's guest is the wonderful Lakwena Maciver.Lakwena is an artist whose work has exploded out of the Instagram generation. She uses bright colours and patterns inspired by her African heritage and bold written slogans.Given that her work is so positive and uplifting, I was really interested to find out that she's a natural pessimist with a very tough inner critic. So the words that appear in her art, which say things like 'Do Better' and 'Raise Your Hopes', are actually messages to herself.She kindly invited us to her house in east London to record this episode, and I really enjoyed finding out more about her home life. She reveals that she didn't really fit in anywhere as a child, so she was one of the only Black kids at her school and at home, she was an introvert in a household of extroverts, but she found drawing, which she describes as a process of empowerment. The act of putting pencil to paper helped her make sense of everything she was experiencing.We discussed a refurb she's done on her house, and how she's had to learn to compromise with her husband, especially when it comes to carpets. We talk about the importance of taking the time to reflect on your successes, why she'd secretly like to live in a hut in Uganda.For more:Subscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationPick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To LiveFollow Matt Gibberd on InstagramFollow The Modern House InstagramWatch our Homing In films on YouTubeProducer: Laconic CollectiveGraphic Design: Ben TuckerMusic: Simeon Walker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Welcome to the first instalment of our new gardening series, How My Garden Grows, hosted by lifelong gardener and journalist Francine Raymond. "I have visited hundreds of gardens, some for work and others for pleasure, but what excites me most about gardens is their atmosphere and the stories they tell," she says. "In this series of garden get-togethers, I want to explore real gardens going through the seasons; gardens that have been grown with passion and patience."Each garden visit will be accompanied by a feature, a podcast and a short film. In this first episode we meet creative consultant Phil Gomm, who lives in a terraced house by the sea with his husband Paul Carey. Together, they have created a plushly planted urban sanctuary in wind-swept Whitstable.Subscribe to our new podcastMusic by Simeon WalkerA TMH Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Christopher was President of the Royal Academy for eight years and given a knighthood in 2021.  I first met him a few years ago, when The Modern House was selling his beautiful home in Camberwell. Shortly after that, he had a joint exhibition in Los Angeles with my wife, Faye Toogood, so I got to know him better during the week we were out there together.  This podcast gave me the chance to go a bit deeper, and I really enjoyed finding out more about his life.   Despite always finding himself in positions of authority, Christopher paints a picture of a naturally shy and introspective character. He and his wife, Charlotte Verity, moved out to Somerset a couple of years ago, and we had a snoop around their studios before sitting down to record this podcast in their lovely Georgian farmhouse.  Christopher gives me a fascinating insight into what it's like to be a professional painter: from the importance of the space he's working in, to the rituals he goes through and what he's thinking about.  He tells me about what it's like to live with another artist – how they need to give each other space, and how they critique each other's work.  And we discuss the important houses in his life, notably the Victorian villa that he extended with the help of the architect Jamie Fobert.  I've got a huge amount of respect for Christopher, and I found this conversation so fascinating. I hope you enjoy it too.For more:Subscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationPick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To LiveFollow Matt Gibberd on InstagramFollow The Modern House InstagramWatch our Homing In films on YouTubeProducer: Laconic CollectiveGraphic Design: Ben TuckerMusic: Simeon Walker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Zandra's home is one of the most colourful, cluttered and downright bonkers living spaces I've ever been in.  We recorded this podcast just before Christmas, so there was an extra layer of sparkle on top of the kaleidoscope.  Zandra walked me through her incredible life story... from being born during an air raid in 1940, to being discovered by American Vogue's fashion editor Diana Vreeland... dressing people like Freddie Mercury, and having lunch with Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.   We discussed why she dyes her hair pink and wears flamboyant clothes, and why she's never seen herself in the mirror without makeup on.   She told me about her colourful family history, including a dad she was embarrassed by, a mum who channelled all of her ambition into Zandra, and a grandmother who was murdered.   Zandra's in her mid-eighties now. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live, so I wasn't sure quite what to expect.  But I found someone who's incredibly full of life, working as hard as ever, and optimistic about the future.  This episode was recorded in person at Zandra's home in London.For more:Pick up a copy of Zandra Rhodes' latest book, IconicSubscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationPick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To LiveFollow Matt Gibberd on InstagramFollow The Modern House InstagramWatch our Homing In films on YouTubeProducer: Laconic CollectiveGraphic Design: Ben TuckerMusic: Simeon WalkerThis episode is sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Nigel is the first podcast guest ever to make me cry. I'm a big fan of his writing, and suspected he'd be a kindred spirit, but spending the day with him in his house was an overwhelming experience I wasn't prepared for.He lives around the corner from where I grew up, in a pared-back way that feels very familiar. In this remarkably honest conversation, he outlines the essential role his home plays in keeping him on an even keel. We discuss what it's like to suffer from panic attacks, and how they're triggered by the built environment. He tells me that whenever he arrives in a building he hasn't been to before, the first thing he does is check where the exit is so that he can plan his escape. We touch on the childhood trauma that he wrote about in his brilliant memoir, Toast, from his mother's death to his father's bullying. We discuss the roots of his lifelong interest in gardening, why he keeps a daily diary, and the importance of smell within the home. This is a conversation I'll remember forever. Thank you, Nigel.  This episode was recorded in person at Nigel's home in London.For more:Pick up a copy of Nigel Slater's latest book, A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy … a Memoir of SortsFind out more about Nigel's collaboration with Perfumer HSubscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationPick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To LiveFollow Matt Gibberd on InstagramFollow The Modern House InstagramWatch our Homing In films on YouTubeProducer: Laconic CollectiveGraphic Design: Ben TuckerMusic: Simeon WalkerThis episode is sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★