The trailblazing entrepreneur Cath Kidston MBE’s influence on interiors and homeware cannot be understated. Having sold her eponymous brand and launched C.Atherley – her natural body care brand with products made only from distinctive geranium fragrances – Cath shares her Home Truths with Jessica Jonzen
CATH KIDSTON IN HER TV ROOM AT HOME. IMAGE: CHRIS FLOYD
Where do you live and why?
I live with my husband, Hugh, in a Cotswold farmhouse near Stroud. We have known this area for a long time as Hugh had a house here before I met him. We fell in love with the house as it has a magical view and was very unspoilt.
How would you describe your home?
It’s a 17th century farmhouse that had a Georgian front added. It’s quite rambling but also very cosy. We live between our kitchen and TV room and office when we are alone but fill it up to the brim every now and then.
What was the first thing you did to your home when you moved in?
We had the builders in and they sorted the roof and the bones of the house, adding new bathrooms so that was quite consuming. We kept all the old floors and fireplaces and wanted it to feel untouched. The aim was for it to be as timeless as possible, so we used old bathroom fittings and avoided anything ‘on trend’. Our stamp came in all the personal things such as our pictures and furniture which we have collected or inherited over the years.
If the objects in your home could talk, which would have the best stories to tell?
The pictures, for sure. We have a huge collection that we have gathered from all over the place. They range from car boot finds to more serious purchases, and lots come from my great aunt, Corisande Soames, who was a painter.
Which part of your home makes you happiest?
It depends on the time of the day. I love my bedroom in the morning when the sun pours in, and the TV room in the evening when we light a fire and close the shutters.
What’s on your bedside table?
Too much tech! My phone, laptop and watch all get charged by the bed – something I keep vowing to remove. I also have a pile of books and an antique glass lamp that was in my parents’ bedroom.
What was your childhood home like?
It was heavenly. A Georgian house with ponies lots of pets and very colourful and with lots of chintz curtains.
Do you have a domestic guilty secret or pet hate?
I guess my guilty secret is that I’m not that much of a kitchen person. I find cooking a bit of a chore and, as much as I like eating, I never dream of food or get excited by the idea of cooking something. There are so many things higher on my list, such as being in my greenhouse or going for a walk. So, my pet hate is washing up after a roast lunch – all those pots and pans!
What is the most memorable thing to have happened in your home?
My stepdaughter Jess’s wedding. We put a beautiful round tent on the lawn which was filled with dahlias from the garden. It had views down the valley and there was magical Harvest moon that night.
What makes your house a home?
The things I dream of when I am away are my bed and bath. The bed has old fashioned linen sheets and blankets and I have collected D. Porthault pillowcases over the years. Then I have a huge bath tub with a window looking out over the garden. We are lucky to have spring water here and this gets pumped up to the house from a Victorian ram pump and the difference in the water is amazing. And, of course, I love using the C.Atherley bath oil. Those two luxuries really make me feel I am back home.
The other side is when we have people here. The house is very relaxed, hopefully welcoming, and really comes alive when it’s full.
THE EXTERIOR OF CATH KIDSTON’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOME, WHERE SHE LIVES WITH HER HUSBAND HUGH PADGHAM. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER SIMON SYKES
CATH’S BEDROOM, WITH HER BED MADE UP IN D. PORTHAULT LINEN AND BLANKETS. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER SIMON SYKES
CATH’S MUCH-LOVED TV ROOM, WHERE SHE HUNKERS DOWN IN THE EVENING. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER SIMON SYKES
THE VIEW OF THE APTLY NAMED PARADISE VALLEY, AS SEEN FROM CATH’S HOME. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER SIMON SYKES
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