Tat London Briefing: The Latest & Greatest
Here we are, trying to lighten your hearts with the ridiculous, the beautiful and the heartfelt, we want to take your minds to country houses, auctions and easter eggs.
Dream people,
I apologise—as ever—for always starting like this, but I feel it's as much for me as it is for you. The Tat Job Board. It really is getting better and better. While it’s mostly design-focused, we’ve got some wonderfully varied roles cropping up.
So here I am, touting it once more—for you, your cousin, and anyone else who’s been wringing their hands about what’s next career-wise.
Secondly, a brief detour—think of me as your slightly overbearing but well-meaning tour guide—around the Tat Blog. As I’ve mentioned before (repeatedly, like a broken record with good taste), full access will set you back £25 a year. That’s £2 a month—less than a coffee and infinitely more useful. A compass for your next house move, a lifeline for flailing holiday plans, and a lantern held aloft in the murky world of affordable antiques, fabrics, and whatever else I manage to dredge up.
Here’s a selection of Members Articles from the last month or so (Free pieces are loitering further down, should you wish to graze.)
Members Articles
A Tour Of Gayer Anderson House
On a recent jaunt to Cairo—yes, as one does—with the delightful company Anut Collection, I seized the chance to make a pilgrimage to one of the city’s hidden gems: the Gayer-Anderson House. I mean, what’s a trip to a new city without an overly enthusiastic visit to a historic house museum?
Beyond Airbnb: The Joy of Booking Elsewhere
You and I have been on quite the journey with Airbnb. I’ve always genuinely enjoyed putting together the round-ups — a sort of Easter egg hunt across the UK and further afield, each one a little adventure in itself. And while I won’t say I’ll never do them again, for now, I find their leadership a little... questionable.
Discovering Lucinda Lambton's "Animal Crackers" by Blue Firth founder of Dohm Ceramics
Whenever Blue sends me an article, it fills my heart with joy. Blue is one of those rare people who cultivates the odd, the creative, and the festive corners of life. Nowhere is that more evident than in this introduction to Lucinda Lambton—someone I now realise was a glaring omission from my life. And if you, too, haven't yet had the pleasure, then you're welcome. Well—Blue's welcome.
Our Little Black Book Of Lighting
As you know, we’re in a constant quest to make your subscription worth it—and with our Little Black Book series, I think we’re getting pretty close. For starters, it’ll help you dodge that horrid top bar of Google, where only those who’ve paid the most float to the top. Many of these floaters aren’t necessarily the best (between you and me, I don’t think they ever are).
Our Picks Of The 30 Best Properties On The Market For £500k & Under
You know us—this feature means a great deal. We’re always on the hunt for properties that’ll have you poring over floor plans and daydreaming about a different life. Last month, we went full-on cottaging; this time, we’ve turned our gaze towards the city. That said, charm has not been sacrificed. The selections below are heavenly, and a special shout-out goes to Fine & Country, who’ve brought a few of my personal favourites to the table.
20 Homes That Tempt: A Look at the Market’s Best
This is the second time we’ve run this feature, which, by my reckoning, makes it a tradition—at least until I decide it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Still, there’s something oddly reassuring about scrolling through wildly expensive houses and thinking, “Oh dear, they’ve really mucked that one up.” Which happens with surprising regularity.
FREE ARTICLES
Here are the wonderful freebies, you’re welcome!
Here at Tat, we take the idea of Things To Do very seriously. It’s now one of the most popular sections on our site, and we’re rather proud of that. Our aim is simple: to guide you towards events and happenings you might not have the time (or energy) to hunt down yourself.
Not many of our Tête-à-Tats start at La Famiglia, but it seems like a suitable place to begin when your subject is as charming as Steven Rodel. This was the case two weeks ago, on the sunniest day of the year so far. I went to meet the new (ish) Creative Director of one of the interior world's most esteemed design studios: Guy Goodfellow.
Outdoor spaces deserve as much thought and creativity as interiors, yet garden designers have long had fewer resources when it comes to sourcing beautifully designed furniture and sculpture. This was a frustration for Tabi Jackson Gee, a garden designer and writer, who wanted to bring original, story-rich pieces into her projects—objects that reflected the consideration and care she and other garden designers put into their making.
House Clearances: Why It’s Worth Having a Few Options
House clearances are one of those necessary evils – unavoidable, often overwhelming, and usually needed in a hurry. Whether it’s the end of a tenancy, a relative moving into care, or the more difficult task of clearing a home after a loss, it tends to land on your plate at the worst possible moment.
This week, we’re delighted to be joined by the renowned antiques expert and aesthetic savant, Guy Tobin. He introduces us to the Dreweatts sale of his late friend, the distinguished dealer Philip Astley-Jones, and generously shares a few of his favourite pieces going under the hammer.
The Most Gloriously Over The Top Chocolates To Buy This Easter
The Easter egg arrived on shelves sometime around Valentine’s Day, and by now you might be thoroughly sick of the sight of them—stacked, shrink-wrapped, and soul-sapping. But bear with us. These ones offer a welcome reprieve: colourful, carefully considered, and delightfully over the top. Exactly the sort of joyful excess we at Tat can wholeheartedly get behind.
THE END.