Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: At Home With Katy Orme of Apartment Apothecary
A London blogger opens up her flat and talks about her inspirations
As a young person living and working in London, Katy Orme found herself captivated by the world of blogs and social media when she discovered them a few years ago. She started her own blog while working as a teacher, and built it up over the course of a year, before eventually quitting her day job to focus on the site. That’s now her main job, and she posts around four times a day, as well as styling homes for magazine shoots and writing craft tutorials for various publications.
Take a tour around her bright and airy home in Bermondsey, London, which she’s crafted into a bright and breezy little haven in the city, and learn a bit about her, her life and her blog.
Take a tour around her bright and airy home in Bermondsey, London, which she’s crafted into a bright and breezy little haven in the city, and learn a bit about her, her life and her blog.
What do we need to know about your blog? It’s called Apartment Apothecary and it’s an interiors-focused blog where I share design ideas and DIY projects, which I showcase in my flat.
Cushion, Orla Kiely from John Lewis. Chalkboard paint, Rustins Quick Dry Blackboard Paint, available at Pease of Garforth.
Cushion, Orla Kiely from John Lewis. Chalkboard paint, Rustins Quick Dry Blackboard Paint, available at Pease of Garforth.
How did you decide on the name? I met my partner in a bar and noticed he was drinking from a bottle that looked like an apothecary bottle. He agreed with me and I liked the fact he knew what one was. Plus the tagline of my blog is ‘make your home feel better’, so it just kind of made sense.
Armchair, Louis love seat from Habitat.
Armchair, Louis love seat from Habitat.
What made you start blogging?
I got obsessed with looking at interiors photos on social media before I even knew what a blog was. This opened up a whole new world of interiors, design and craft blogs and I knew I had to have my own.
Sofa, Sofa Workshop.
I got obsessed with looking at interiors photos on social media before I even knew what a blog was. This opened up a whole new world of interiors, design and craft blogs and I knew I had to have my own.
Sofa, Sofa Workshop.
How long have you lived here and how did you and your flat meet? I’ve been here for five years. I used to live just up the road in a studio flat and I watched this apartment block being built. I knew I wanted to live here because of the huge windows and views across London.
Sideboard, G-plan from Ebay.
Sideboard, G-plan from Ebay.
What was the place like when you first moved in? It was a brand-new, bright, white box with boring beige carpet throughout. I kept the walls white, but got rid of all the carpets and painted the floor grey in the living area and white in the office and bedroom.
I wanted it to be white to maximize the natural light. Also, because it’s a new build, it doesn’t have features such as alcoves or cornicing, and I think it might feel a bit stark if I’d painted it in a color. I wanted it to be a blank canvas so I could add to it with my furniture and textiles.
I wanted it to be white to maximize the natural light. Also, because it’s a new build, it doesn’t have features such as alcoves or cornicing, and I think it might feel a bit stark if I’d painted it in a color. I wanted it to be a blank canvas so I could add to it with my furniture and textiles.
What’s your favorite spot in the flat and why? I love my home office because it’s so fresh and motivating. I just wish I didn’t have to share it with my partner!
What makes you happiest at home? Having my dog, Otto, snuggle up with me and trot around after me wherever I go.
What makes you happiest at home? Having my dog, Otto, snuggle up with me and trot around after me wherever I go.
What’s your next big decorating project? I plan to do a kitchen makeover, as I don’t like the generic cupboard doors and cheap-looking worktop. I would like to make it feel more personal to me.
What’s your signature dish? I try to pass off as much of the cooking to my partner as possible, but when I’m forced into it, I make a really good beef carpaccio.
What’s your proudest DIY achievement? I’m really pleased with my home office. I painted the floor, made the large desk from lengths of MDF and did a sideboard makeover, adding pegboard above it. These changes completely transformed the room for very little money.
The floor is just the MDF that was under the carpet, so painting it was quite a quick fix DIY solution, but it’s really quite nice and keeps the light bouncing around the room.
Desk legs, Ikea. Black desk chair, Herman Miller from John Lewis. White desk chair, Out there Interiors. Pegboard, Amazon.
The floor is just the MDF that was under the carpet, so painting it was quite a quick fix DIY solution, but it’s really quite nice and keeps the light bouncing around the room.
Desk legs, Ikea. Black desk chair, Herman Miller from John Lewis. White desk chair, Out there Interiors. Pegboard, Amazon.
What’s your favorite city or country? I’m in love with Buenos Aires: the architecture, the markets, the restaurants, the style — I could have stayed there forever.
Favorite sport? Formula One… weird, right? I used to watch it with my dad when I was a child and it’s just stuck.
Favorite sport? Formula One… weird, right? I used to watch it with my dad when I was a child and it’s just stuck.
Do you have any pet hates? I hate clutter and hoarding. I’m very good at not having too much stuff — I constantly cull things every couple of months. When my partner moved in, he brought loads of stuff, and I would just secretly get rid of it without him knowing. The way I see it, if you put things in a box and don’t miss them after a couple of months, then you’ll never miss them.
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning? I spend far too much time in bed with a cup of tea, checking social media! Or, if it’s my turn, I take Otto for early morning walks, which is a lovely start to the day.
What’s your ideal Friday night? Dinner with friends at a nice restaurant. My favorite street is Bermondsey Street – there are so many nice restaurants and bars, and it’s just up the road.
How do you like to spend Sunday afternoons? I love pottering around the flat preparing for the week ahead, maybe doing a bit of gardening on the balcony or roof terrace, and I’m always creating bits and bobs.
Bed, Coco bed from Loaf. Bedside lamp, Occa-Home.
What’s your ideal Friday night? Dinner with friends at a nice restaurant. My favorite street is Bermondsey Street – there are so many nice restaurants and bars, and it’s just up the road.
How do you like to spend Sunday afternoons? I love pottering around the flat preparing for the week ahead, maybe doing a bit of gardening on the balcony or roof terrace, and I’m always creating bits and bobs.
Bed, Coco bed from Loaf. Bedside lamp, Occa-Home.
What’s your key to a happy, healthy lifestyle? I try to do and tell myself many things, although not always successfully! At the moment, I’m focusing on trying to see the positives in every situation.
Do you have a design rule you live by? I like to have an eclectic mix of furniture and textiles in my home, but I always try to bring cohesion by using one or two colors that thread through the look, pulling everything together. My dream is eventually to live in a Victorian terrace, but at the moment I prefer to be in central London in a new-build flat.
Is there anything you couldn’t live without? My phone. I am totally obsessed with Instagram — and checking my blog!
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Katy Orme with her partner and their dog, Otto.
Blog Apartment Apothecary
Size 2 bedrooms
Location Bermondsey, London
That’s interesting Katy’s flat comes with a huge communal roof terrace with 360 degree views of London