Renovating, extending or building your own home? Before You Buy the Sofa is the design thinking, interior design podcast that helps you get the big decisions right before you spend a penny!

Most costly renovation mistakes don't happen at the end. They happen months earlier: the socket in the wrong place, the radiator on the only wall the sofa fits, the builder's quote that left half the job out. Award-winning interior designer Lesley Taylor has spent more than 30 years designing high-end homes and boutique hotels. She has written 10 books on interior design, appeared on BBC and ITV as a design expert, and built and sold a tile company. In this podcast she shares the design thinking that usually stays behind the designer's desk.

Every week Lesley sits down with an expert who knows their subject inside out: architects, builders, kitchen and bathroom designers, lighting and home technology specialists, stylists, and the fabric, wallpaper and paint designers behind some of Britain's best-loved brands. You'll also hear from homeowners who've been through a renovation or self-build and lived to tell the tale, sharing the mistakes they'd never make again.

Each guest answers the Before You Buy the Sofa Six, the same six questions, designed to give you their best insider advice:
- What's the one decision people make too early?
- If you were starting your own project tomorrow, what would you do first?
- What has a project taught you that no textbook could?
- What do homeowners misunderstand about what you do?
- How do you know when you've got it right?
- What's the one thing you'd tell every homeowner before they start?

You'll learn how to brief your builder and compare quotes, when to bring in an architect or interior designer, how to plan your layouts, lighting and electrics, how to design a kitchen and bathroom that work for the way you live, and how to choose colour, pattern and paint with confidence. No jargon, nothing too stuffy: just friendly, practical conversations that help you save money, avoid stress and enjoy the process.

Whether you're planning a home renovation, a kitchen extension, a self-build or simply redecorating a room, this is the advice to hear before you buy the sofa.

New episodes every Thursday. The first three episodes are out on Thursday 19 November.

Get each new episode in your inbox: https://beforeyoubuythesofa.mykajabi.com/episodes

Follow @beforeyoubuythesofa on Instagram for free behind-the-scenes extras from each episode, quick design tips, and the mistakes I see most often, plus first access to new guides and courses.

]]>https://www.riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 15 Nov 2026 18:07:21 GMTThu, 12 Nov 2026 08:02:10 GMT60Lesley Taylor BIID<p>Renovating, extending or building your own home? Before You Buy the Sofa is the design thinking, interior design podcast that helps you get the big decisions right before you spend a penny!<br /><br />Most costly renovation mistakes don't happen at the end. They happen months earlier: the socket in the wrong place, the radiator on the only wall the sofa fits, the builder's quote that left half the job out. Award-winning interior designer Lesley Taylor has spent more than 30 years designing high-end homes and boutique hotels. She has written 10 books on interior design, appeared on BBC and ITV as a design expert, and built and sold a tile company. In this podcast she shares the design thinking that usually stays behind the designer's desk.<br /><br />Every week Lesley sits down with an expert who knows their subject inside out: architects, builders, kitchen and bathroom designers, lighting and home technology specialists, stylists, and the fabric, wallpaper and paint designers behind some of Britain's best-loved brands. You'll also hear from homeowners who've been through a renovation or self-build and lived to tell the tale, sharing the mistakes they'd never make again.<br /><br />Each guest answers the Before You Buy the Sofa Six, the same six questions, designed to give you their best insider advice:<br />- What's the one decision people make too early?<br />- If you were starting your own project tomorrow, what would you do first?<br />- What has a project taught you that no textbook could?<br />- What do homeowners misunderstand about what you do?<br />- How do you know when you've got it right?<br />- What's the one thing you'd tell every homeowner before they start?<br /><br />You'll learn how to brief your builder and compare quotes, when to bring in an architect or interior designer, how to plan your layouts, lighting and electrics, how to design a kitchen and bathroom that work for the way you live, and how to choose colour, pattern and paint with confidence. No jargon, nothing too stuffy: just friendly, practical conversations that help you save money, avoid stress and enjoy the process.<br /><br />Whether you're planning a home renovation, a kitchen extension, a self-build or simply redecorating a room, this is the advice to hear before you buy the sofa.<br /><br />New episodes every Thursday. The first three episodes are out on Thursday 19 November.<br /><br />Get each new episode in your inbox: <a href="https://beforeyoubuythesofa.mykajabi.com/episodes" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://beforeyoubuythesofa.mykajabi.com/episodes</a><br /><br /><strong>Follow @beforeyoubuythesofa on Instagram</strong> for free behind-the-scenes extras from each episode, quick design tips, and the mistakes I see most often, plus first access to new guides and courses.</p>episodicLesley Taylor BIIDinfo@lesleytaylordesign.comnoYou found the perfect sofa. Then nothing else fitted. The sofa was never the problem. The order was.

Before You Buy the Sofa is the design-thinking podcast from award-winning interior designer Lesley Taylor, for anyone renovating, extending or building a home. Each week Lesley sits down with architects, builders, designers, stylists and real homeowners to uncover the decisions that save you money and stress, long before you choose a fabric.

The first three episodes are out on Thursday 19 November. Follow now so they land in your library the moment they go live.

GUESTS IN THIS TRAILER

Marc Reardon, chairman of FMB Cymru and founder of Pearwood Projects
https://pearwoodprojects.co.uk
https://www.fmb.org.uk

Kerry Lockwood, interior stylist
https://kerrylockwoodindetail.co.uk
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kerrylockwood
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kerrylockwood_

Claire Vallis, Design Director, Sanderson Design Group
https://sandersondesign.group/
Instagram: @sanderson1860 @zoffanyfw @wmorrisandco

Jane Griffiths, Park Place Gower
www.lanelocations.com
Instagram: @parkplacegower @lane_locations

STAY IN TOUCH
Get each new episode in your inbox: https://beforeyoubuythesofa.mykajabi.com/episodes
Instagram: @beforeyoubuythesofa

]]>16f7c77d-156d-4af2-b6a3-69e3eaeee861Thu, 12 Nov 2026 10:07:08 GMT<p>You found the perfect sofa. Then nothing else fitted. The sofa was never the problem. The order was.<br /><br />Before You Buy the Sofa is the design-thinking podcast from award-winning interior designer Lesley Taylor, for anyone renovating, extending or building a home. Each week Lesley sits down with architects, builders, designers, stylists and real homeowners to uncover the decisions that save you money and stress, long before you choose a fabric.<br /><br />The first three episodes are out on Thursday 19 November. Follow now so they land in your library the moment they go live.<br /><br />GUESTS IN THIS TRAILER<br /><br />Marc Reardon, chairman of FMB Cymru and founder of Pearwood Projects<br /><a href="https://pearwoodprojects.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://pearwoodprojects.co.uk</a><br /><a href="https://www.fmb.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.fmb.org.uk</a><br /><br />Kerry Lockwood, interior stylist<br /><a href="https://kerrylockwoodindetail.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://kerrylockwoodindetail.co.uk</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/kerrylockwood" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://instagram.com/kerrylockwood</a><br />YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/@kerrylockwood_" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://youtube.com/@kerrylockwood_</a><br /><br />Claire Vallis, Design Director, Sanderson Design Group<br /><a href="https://sandersondesign.group/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://sandersondesign.group/</a><br />Instagram: @sanderson1860 @zoffanyfw @wmorrisandco<br /><br />Jane Griffiths, Park Place Gower<br /><a href="https://www.lanelocations.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.lanelocations.com</a><br />Instagram: @parkplacegower @lane_locations<br /><br />STAY IN TOUCH<br />Get each new episode in your inbox: <a href="https://beforeyoubuythesofa.mykajabi.com/episodes" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://beforeyoubuythesofa.mykajabi.com/episodes</a><br />Instagram: @beforeyoubuythesofa</p><p><br /></p>no00:01:07Welcome to Before You Buy The Sofa ( trailer)trailer