In this episode:

• The joy of a chaise longue

• The simple joy of comfort

• How views affect our wellbeing

• Art that documents stages of life

• The importance of nostalgia

Anke Rainbow creates quirky & unique art & jewellery inspired by Bonnie Scotland and amazing  Northumberland. Reloving, repurposing and up cycling materials where possible play a big part in Anke’s practice.

Her work lovingly portrays her admiration for beloved & cherished Scottish & Northumbrian landmarks, landscapes & locations. Her original signature ranges, called Textures of Scotland / Northumbria, feature genuine imprints of real beloved & cherished Scottish and Northumbrian places. 

The use of real fragments of gemstones and beach treasures found inland and on the shores complement her amazing collections.

Her copper art Duncan the Coo is a playful homage to the adorable Highland cow and her Bonny Angel celebrates the North East icon; the Angel of the North.

If you love the North East or Scotland then she’s here to help you adorn yourself or your home with a bonnie piece of jewellery or art close to your heart.

In this episode:

• The importance of space and quiet

• The idea of a forever home

• Living in a gallery

• The joy of walled gardens

• How visualising her happy place helps with sleep

Today’s guest is Brenda Kilgallon — a change strategist, coach, and champion for women over 50 who are ready to stop putting everyone else first and finally live life on their own terms. With a career spanning corporate sales, training, lecturing, and running her own consultancy, Brenda has seen — and personally battled — sexism, ageism, and the glass ceiling. Those experiences shaped her mission: to empower women to embrace their brilliance, their femininity, and their unapologetic power. She’s the founder of Freedom To Be You coaching, creator of the Take The Bold Step programme, and host of the new women’s networking group Bold Northern Women. Brenda knows what it means to navigate transition — she’s done it herself many times — and now she helps others do the same with clarity, confidence, and courage.

Kimberli Werner is an abstract expressionist artist inspired by the textures, colours, and forms in the natural world, and specifically by decaying and eroding surfaces. She paints intuitively using a variety of mixed media. Her self-taught technique focuses on spontaneous creativity and not being tied to any one particular outcome. Her many-layered paintings emerge as bursts of spirited energy and colour and can be found at kimberliwerner.com.

In this episode:

• Moving across the atlantic to start a new life from scratch

• Stunning full height windows

• Adding new stories and memories to a building that’s part of the community history

• Finding inspiration everywhere

Aoife was born in Dublin and has lived in the North East for over 20 years. She studied History of Art in University and worked in PR for 25 years until she launched her own business last year. Aoife decided to lean into her passion for creativity and creating and become a professional gift wrapper. Her dream is to one day have a customised ice-cream van and be a mobile gift wrapper! In just one year, Aoife has launched a number of themed corporate workshops, worked with many private clients and has been shortlisted as a regional start up of the year. 

Aoife was also featured in edition 2 of The Curated Nest magazine.

Lauren Deakin is the designer and founder of Dopamine Design Co, a brand fuelled by colour, character, and a love of all things vintage. A self-confessed upcycling and colour addict, Lauren creates bold, dopamine-boosting prints and homeware that bring big personality into everyday spaces.

With a background in textile print design, she handcrafts seasonal collections and one-of-a-kind pieces — from painted vintage lampstands to botanical prints — as well as bespoke commissions for homes and indie businesses who want something truly unique.

Inspired by the layered charm of William Morris and the playful maximalism of House of Hackney, Lauren’s work is all about recharging your space with energy, story, and a little bit of magic.

Lauren was also featured in edition 3 of The Curated Nest magazine. Get the back catalogue here https://the-peacock-the-printmaker.kit.com/585de9a4bb 

In this episode:

• The stories behind older pieces of furniture and homes

• The joy of colour

• Making a renting house feel like a home - tricks of the trade

• The importance of balance

• Injecting your personality into a space

In our very first episode, Heather sits down with Jill Whitehouse, Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and founder of Inspired to Change Newcastle.

Jill has spent over 30 years as a teacher and senior leader in primary schools across Newcastle and North Tyneside before retraining in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy — a modern, positive talk therapy rooted in neuroscience. Today, she runs a thriving private practice in Gosforth, Newcastle, as well as working online, helping clients aged 7–107 take back control of stress, anxiety, and life’s challenges.

Alongside her work in mental health, Jill has a deep passion for creating homes that nurture wellbeing. In this conversation, she and Heather explore the emotional journey of turning a house into a home and how the spaces we live in can reflect, support, and even heal us.

Coming Autumn 2025! The Curated Nest Podcast — the place where creativity, colour, and home come together. I’m Heather Moore, a printmaker and lifelong lover of joyful, expressive living spaces. I believe our homes are more than walls and furniture - they’re nests we curate, fill with meaning, and share with the people we love. Each week, I’ll be sitting down with creative business owners, artists, and makers to uncover the stories behind their spaces: their favourite rooms and objects, the colours and art that inspire them, and the dreams they hold for their perfect home. Think cosy reading corners, bold gallery walls, treasured heirlooms, and those small details that make a house truly feel like home. If you’re someone who loves entertaining, surrounding yourself with beauty, and collecting pieces that spark conversation, you’ll feel right at home here. So pour yourself a glass of something lovely, get comfortable, and join me as we step inside the homes — and imaginations — of inspiring creatives. This is The Curated Nest Podcast.