{ by Lady Annabel Goldsmith }

I first met Kathryn when she was a little girl, attending the same school as my daughter India Jane and my nieces. She swiftly became part of the tribe of children who would play in the large garden of my enchanting little Regency house, Pelham Cottage, where the garden door was never shut and everyone wandered in whenever they were passing. She remained in my life from then on until she moved to Los Angeles, but we stayed in constant touch. And then one day she appeared at my new home in Richmond—Ormeley Lodge—with a very tall, charming, and rather hirsute husband, even more energetic than herself, named Gary. She then proceeded to have three boys, one of whom is my godson.

Kathryn’s energy and talent for any artistic project was obvious from early on, but she told me she was first inspired by Pelham Cottage—which had been exquisitely decorated and refurbished by my husband Mark Birley, who had already established his famous nightclub Annabel’s, which he named after me—and later by my second home, Ormeley Lodge, where Kathryn frequently stayed when she came over from America.

Despite having three babies, Kathryn proceeded to decorate many houses in LA. By then she was producing the most exquisite fabrics and also had an office in London. A lot of her fabrics have been used at Ormeley and have been greatly admired.

But Kathryn is more than just a bundle of talent; she is one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met, with a sense of humor exactly on a par with mine. We cannot get through a telephone conversation or just be together without collapsing with laughter. We also share a love of houses and interiors, although regrettably, I do not share her talent.

This book is not about me; it’s about the friends and colleagues whose individuality and passion for design have inspired my life and my work over the years. My purpose with Inspired By is to take you on a personalized journey through an array of homes that reflect the diversity and eclecticism of people in my life. Some are homes of the interior design elite; others are houses designed by friends with careers far removed from the sphere of the applied arts; but all of these friends share three attributes: they’re innately creative; they have the confidence to be original; and their homes collectively express the ambient consequence of living passionately and stylishly.

Just as every friend has a story to tell, so does every house. Because a house is not just a portrait of the people who live there; it is also a biography. The most dynamic interiors are those that best reflect their owners’ passions, memories, hobbies, talents, and skills. The “stories” in this book abide by that precept, and the results are unique atmospheres that mix the rare, the antique, and the unexpected with the everyday yet always feel fresh, effortless, and livable. All of my friends understand that to surround themselves with objects they love creates instant comfort and coherence. And, in the end, this is really the method that makes a house magic—creating deeply personal interiors by building them up over the years with love and true passion in layers.

From a young age, I knew my true calling was houses. And not just stately manors or grand estates. (In France I now spend most of my time in a converted cow barn.) For me, going on play dates meant I got to visit my friends’ houses and experience them. I loved exploring the rooms and the feeling that came over me if the house was well-lived-in. My mother was a genius at creating a home and entertaining guests. She did it with such ease. From our flat in London to our cottage in Scotland, my friends were always welcome, two to a bed and as many as could squeeze around the table. Ours was the house everyone wanted to come to because my mother knew how to embrace mistakes, imperfection, and the chaos of real life. It’s a tribute to my mother that she made all of my friends feel so welcome, so appreciated, and so at ease.

I feel that way about all of the houses in this book, whether at Michael’s, where I stopped for a glass of champagne one night, or at Annabel’s, where I lived for over a year; weeks with Carina in Devon, afternoons and evenings at Windsor’s, Baby’s, and Martyn’s. I hope all of the homes included here will provide you with an array of inspiring ideas, and I hope none of my friends ever stop creating.