Founder of global PR agency LMPR, which represents some of the most well-known faces and lifestyle brands in the industry, Liz Matthews has her finger firmly on the pulse of all things stylish. She lives in South London with her partner Al McCuish and children Bram, Buddy, Gabe, Teddy and Wren, and Sid the dog
Why do you live where you live?
Mostly due to the location of the kids’ schools, but also I love South London, it has amazing green spaces, fantastic restaurants and a real sense of community.
Did you know when you first saw the house that it would become your family home?
We’ve only been in our house for a year but I have been lusting after it for a decade. It’s next to a fantastic local museum, The Horniman, where my kids practically grew up and I used to drive past this house and wonder who was lucky enough to live in it. Now we are! I still pinch myself daily.
Describe your front door…
We have steps which go up to a fairly substantial black front door, but it’s pretty as there are beautiful white pillars to each side.
I used to drive past this house and wonder who was lucky enough to live in it. Now we are! I still pinch myself daily.”
You have four children and a stepson. How do you make your home work for you as a family?
Balance, juggling, a lot of winging it and mostly help from my mum. We’d all be lost without Nana Linda! My eldest travels to and from school independently now, as will my second child from next year, and I take the twins to their school and start my working day on emails and making calls from 9am. My mum does pick up, tea, clubs and homework and I’m usually home for bedtime. It works. Until the Summer holidays when we all unravel a little!
What is your favourite room in your home and why?
The main front room is gorgeous and light, it has floor to ceiling windows at one end and a large bay overlooking the garden at the other end, so the light is stunning. One end has sofas and the telly and the other has comfy chairs for reading, but it’s mostly used as a dance floor!
If the objects in your home could talk, what would they say?
That the house is full of love and music. That despite there being a lot of us, we all find our own space. That is luxury to me.
What’s at the bottom of your garden?
An amazing view of the back of the house, which is just as pretty as the front. This is the first time since I was a child that I have had a proper garden and it brings me daily joy. I never thought I’d find gardening so relaxing but, actually, I’m never happier than when I’m dead heading the roses!
What was your childhood home like?
Like a slightly smaller version of this house. It had a great garden with fruit trees and I was lucky enough to live in the loft and have that freedom to navigate being a teenager, which is exactly what my son has now.
What’s on your bedside table?
Lots of books I’ll never get around to reading, an asthma inhaler, a lamp and an iPad to watch Netflix in bed!
What does your home mean to you?
Safety, love, joy and stability. I want to spend time and what money we have, when we have it, loving it and restoring it like the previous owners did. We have only managed to do one bathroom yet, but we plan to be here a while. Next stop is the kitchen!
