The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
At home with Paloma Faith
Sam Wylie-Harris chats to the singer about the launch of her interiors label, and why she takes the same approach with decor as she does with her outfits
Opulent glamour, vintage chinoiserie and romantic noirs influenced by the cinematic works of Wong Kar-wai, deserve to be showcased with a flourish.
And as someone who likes to feel “every minute of every day is beautiful”, Paloma Faith knows how to channel her love of retro bohemia and vintage style – whether that’s with her scenestealing outfits on stage, or her home style.
In-between finishing albums and filming projects – she’s set to tour her fifth album, Infinite Things in September – the singersongwriter has just launched Paloma Home (palomahome. com), a blueprint for the personal style reflected in her own London townhouse.
“It’s inspired by the way I decorated my own house,” says Faith, who turns 40 later in July. “Because I’m never at home and usually on tour pre-Covid, I tend to take pictures of a space and then imagine it in my mind and put everything together while I’m away,” she adds. “And when I get back, it’s all done and I just pray that it works – and it usually does.”
Her debut line features three collections – Spiced Up, Rock N’Roll and Lady Muck – to help you create a ‘beautifully bohemian set up’. With 10 house prints, including Pouncing Tigers and Oriental Leaves & Birds, there’s eye-catching bedding, a parade of striking scatter cushions, furnishings and wallpapers – all with a hint of luxe and prices starting from £21 for a ruffle cushion.
Faith says she’s applied the same ethos as she takes with costumes and clothing.
“The way I do it is like putting an outfit together, like every room is an outfit, and I’ve made this range to be that way. A collection with inter-changeable pieces,” she explains.
“Almost like when a designer makes a capsule collection and you buy every bit of it, and then mix and match. I would say it’s probably more of a curation than a design, more about curating prints that shouldn’t be friends, but for some reason are.”
As well as being her favourite eras, Faith sees the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies as the heyday of design. “When you look back at the way everything flowed, the clothing, the interiors, there wasn’t really a differentiation between the two things, it was a lifestyle.”
Chatty, fun and a selfconfessed maximalist, Faith says her love of thrift shops and shopping started when she was in her early-20s. “My mother and father were very much into minimalism. They were both young in the Sixties, when white walls
and trying to make a house look as empty as possible was the trend.
“So it was all about the opposite of maximalism. But my father’s mother, who was Spanish and Catholic, just loved tat, which I think is where it might have come from. Lots of Spanish Catholic influence, hoarding ornaments and stuff. And my mum and dad were always culling, throwing things out and saying this place is too full up.
“Whereas I became the opposite,” Faith states. “I really enjoy looking for old things, and over the years, travelling and everything, I never go to a city without having a quick look through vintage homewares and clothes, to bring stuff back.”
And if she had to pick just one piece? “It would be the tiger print sofa,” says Faith. “It’s with the same fabric as the cushions and bedding. I’m already trying to imagine which piece of furniture from my home I can get rid
Bthe most common crimes committed, so when it comes to protecting your belongings and your own safety, you can’t be too careful.
The good news is there are plenty of ways you can protect your home from opportunists and thieves – the first step in crime prevention is knowing your options.
1. Rethink your locks
A weak door gives thieves an easy point of entry, so adding a second lock can beef up your security.
Security expert Michael Fraser, speaking on behalf of 247 Blinds (247blinds.co.uk) says: “Most people only use a cylinder lock on their door, which isn’t very secure. Doors should ideally have a cylinder lock and deadlock and both should be used together for maximum security.”
It can take just 10 seconds for a thief to ‘snap’ a cylinder lock (the process of breaking and manipulating it to gain entry), so think twice about how you lock up your property while you’re out and about.
2. Secure the windows
“If your double glazing has failed, it’s not only an eyesore, y greater target for thieves,” says Louis McGee, north west area manager and glazing expert at Cloudy2Clear Windows (cloudy2clearwindows. co.uk). “Faulty double glazing can be easily spotted by potential criminals due to its telltale cloudy window panes, caused by gaps in the seals. It’s a clear sign to burglars your windows aren’t secure.” Repairing cloudy double glazing is easily sorted with professional help. While your windows might already have locks, additional window locks can enhance your security and if you’re on the ground floor or basement level, you might want to consider adding window bars.
3. Let there be light
Motion-sensing lights can be a cheap and easy way to deter would-be thieves.
“Exterior lights fitted near the entrances to your home will automatically activate if someone approaches the property – not only does this provide an opportunity to alert you or a neighbour of trespassers, it’s also likely to spook opportunist thieves into trying their luck elsewhere,”
says McGee.
nterior motion-sensing lights are also an option and work in the same way as an outdoor floodlight. Simply screw a special motionsensing bulb into a lamp or light source near your home’s entrances that will alert you if there’s any movement near your doors or windows.”
4. Set up a home security system
Home security technology is making surveillance more affordable and accessible than ever before and you don’t need to pay a security company to watch your patch while you’re away.
Doorbell cams like Ring (£123 down from £159, currys. co.uk) can help you keep track of who’s outside your property. When someone presses the doorbell, no matter where you are, an alert will be sent to your smartphone so that you always know who’s at your house. Often just the sight of outdoor cameras can deter thieves. There are a range of smart CCTV systems available from the likes of Blink (blinkforhome. com) and Yale (yalehome.co.uk) giving you plenty of options.
We also like the Google Nest Cam indoor (£89, argos. co.uk), which alerts your smartphone when it picks up motion in your house while you’re not there – sending you clear footage of the incident. It also has a microphone that can listen for sounds like glass being broken.
5. Lock down your wi-fi details
Your wi-fi router can also be vulnerable to thieves who want to capture your data and passwords to gain access to financial information. To make your router secure, it’s advisable to change your router username and password, using a combination of letters and symbols. You should also change your generic network name, as it gives thieves information about the type of router you’re using, which they can exploit to get access.
We also recommend making sure your router firewall is enabled, as this adds a firstline defence against potential digital attacks. You can do this by entering your router’s IP address into a web browser (it should be detailed on the router box), logging in and changing the security settings.
6. Keep your valuables out of sight
Keeping your blinds open in the day with a tempting view of laptops, tablets and expensive jewellery makes it easier for a burglar to scout out your home. “The best way to keep your valuable possessions safe from prying eyes is to make sure nobody even knows they’re there for the taking,” says McGee. “Leaving expensive items like jewellery, electronics or cash in plain sight makes your home a much bigger target for thieves, as you’re guaranteeing there’s something worth stealing on your property.” The same can be said of leaving our digital footprint wide open too. “Burglaries are often strategically planned and social media is the perfect way to gain insight into your life,” says security expert Tom Tahany at Blackstone Consultancy (blackstoneconsultancy.com). “It goes without saying that you should be careful about sharing where you live, but sharing your location whilst you’re out can identify you as a target, so be sure to check your privacy settings before posting.”
From left: Google Nest indoor camera; Ring doorbell cam; Yale outdoor camera. Bottom, left: Blink home security system.