About me

I'm a journalist and editor, I work all over the place and write about all sorts of things, lots of it for the Independent, where I also write a weekly slot in Sunday's New Review magazine, about homes-y stuff called The Insider (as well as, more sporadically, another called Being Modern). 

Currently I also work a couple of days a week at the Independent on Saturday Magazine, commissioning, editing and doing a bit of writing.

On top of that, I teach a bit of journalism (see Catch 22). Occasionally you'll see me trying to pretend live TV is relaxing on Sky News too, though the pinnacle of my career to date has probably been the time I was a contestant on Ready, Steady Cook.

I also provide beginners courses on blogging and journalism (pitching, editing, finding and shaping ideas etc.), either one-to-one or in small groups. Do drop me a line on kate [at] yourhomeislovely.com if you'd like to know more.

Here are a few house-related things I've written: 

Design Beside the Seaside The Independent
Double Trouble The Guardian
My House Needs a Total Makeover, where do I start? The Independent
Kind of Blue The Guardian

I write about all sorts, not just homes. See some more of my stuff here

And I used to run another blog, called Save the Boozer, about my love of a very different interiors, typically ones with nicotine stained walls, worn carpet, juke boxes and a special tankards for regulars. One day I shall revive it...


Meanwhile, hope you enjoy Your Home is Lovely.

Kate Burt

Audrey and co

"Audrey" (as in Hepburn) as she got named on account of her elegant stance, came from a junk shop many years ago. She's a shop's hatstand. The lamp - amazingly - came from Sainsbury's, and the mirror (one of a pair) came from Graham and Green. It cost more than I should have paid for it - I just couldn't find a nice, solid, plain round mirror anywhere. Until, of course, I'd parted with £160 and they were suddenly everywhere. I'd tried to get the lovely Ikea Agnes one, but they'd discontinued it. If ever they come back in stock - a far more sensible (and, dare I say, slightly nicer) option.

Tasty table lamp

Continuing my obsession with lighting, this black table lamp is a modern addition to the secondhand homewares that dominate my house. It was a spontaneous purchase from a big branch of Sainsbury's, which has a surprisingly good selection of interiors additions. Right now, their sister outlet, Homebase, has some nice options. Currently the rather sleek Richmond Touch Lamp, a bronze and chocolate on the look, is just £8.49.

I spent far too much on my pair of round mirrors, which I bought from Graham and Green - why didn't I get these almost identical ones for just £24.99 each from Ikea?

Audrey - as I call my lovely swan-neck hat mannequin - was a long-ago find in an Oxfam shop. See if you can find one on the brilliant secondhand round-up website, Shopadilly, which I can't believe I've only just discovered, or buy a new one for just £14.95 from the sensibly named Equipashop.