HOME & HORT | JP Clark | Substack

Why you Should Create a Garden Before Renovating the House

My argument for doing things the wrong way round, and how to protect it when the build starts.

Aug 13 • JP Clark

Design Ideas: The En Suite Bathroom

Finally, some sexy stuff to talk about: tiles, vanity units, rimless loos, thermostatic showers, and whether you need a bum gun or not.

Aug 9 • JP Clark

When you Find Out your Bathroom Floor is Supported by Jack Shit.

Plus other jolly renovation discoveries, enough to make you put your home on the market and move to Marbella. It’s all in today’s thrilling barn…

Aug 2 • JP Clark

Things That Make me go Ooh!

Things that delight, inspire, comfort or surprise me.

Jul 30 • JP Clark

Recent Vintage Finds & How I Use AI to Imagine Them in my Home

An en suite vanity for less than £20, a boot room bench, lighting ideas, a front door revamp, and the pendant shade to end all pendant shades.

Jul 26 • JP Clark

Most Popular

Three House Tours from Key West, Florida

Apr 12 • JP Clark

The Truth About The Holiday Cottage

Nov 10, 2024 • JP Clark

Substack V Instagram - 15 Things I’ve Learned in a Year.

Aug 11, 2024 • JP Clark

My Battle With Weight Gain & The Mounjaro Miracle

Jul 20, 2025 • JP Clark

Welcome! Join our happy bunch of interior & garden lovers

Recent posts

At Home With…Robyn Elliott

The Queen of DIY herself. Come and join us as she opens up about life, moving house, and what really happened that fateful night just before her…

Jul 23 • JP Clark

My Kind of Tuscany: A Laid Back Guide to Florence, Siena and San Gimignano - Part 2

Ten days of soaking up Tuscan culture, heavenly food, delicious wine, amazing views, chilled pool days, luxury hotspots, fabulous shopping, and…

Jul 16

My Kind of Tuscany: A Laid Back Guide to Florence, Siena and San Gimignano - Part 1

Ten days of soaking up Tuscan culture, heavenly food, delicious wine, amazing views, chilled pool days, luxury hotspots, fabulous shopping, and…

Jul 12 • JP Clark

A Postcard from RHS Badminton Flower Show

A few mini disasters on the way, but what a show! The largest ever show garden, The Archers 75th Anniversary Garden, a little honest feedback and a…

Jul 9 • JP Clark

53:04

Live Renovation Update at the Barn: Get Ready to be Shocked!

A recording from JP Clark's live video

Jul 6 • JP Clark

A Drought-Tolerant Planting List for a Hot Sunny Flower Bed

Revisiting the sunniest border in my garden. What worked and what didn’t? Plus a LIVE event tomorrow at 4pm!

Jul 5 • JP Clark

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Home

Design Ideas: The En Suite Bathroom

Finally, some sexy stuff to talk about: tiles, vanity units, rimless loos, thermostatic showers, and whether you need a bum gun or not.

Aug 9 • JP Clark

When you Find Out your Bathroom Floor is Supported by Jack Shit.

Plus other jolly renovation discoveries, enough to make you put your home on the market and move to Marbella. It’s all in today’s thrilling barn…

Aug 2 • JP Clark

Recent Vintage Finds & How I Use AI to Imagine Them in my Home

An en suite vanity for less than £20, a boot room bench, lighting ideas, a front door revamp, and the pendant shade to end all pendant shades.

Jul 26 • JP Clark

Live Renovation Update at the Barn: Get Ready to be Shocked!

A recording from JP Clark's live video

Jul 6 • JP Clark

53:04

The Near Homicide of a Nightmare Conservation Officer as our Bank Balance Haemorrhages Money

But, there is good news too and huge progress. It’s all in today’s barn renovation update.

Jun 28 • JP Clark

Hort

Why you Should Create a Garden Before Renovating the House

My argument for doing things the wrong way round, and how to protect it when the build starts.

Aug 13 • JP Clark

A Postcard from RHS Badminton Flower Show

A few mini disasters on the way, but what a show! The largest ever show garden, The Archers 75th Anniversary Garden, a little honest feedback and a…

Jul 9 • JP Clark

A Drought-Tolerant Planting List for a Hot Sunny Flower Bed

Revisiting the sunniest border in my garden. What worked and what didn’t? Plus a LIVE event tomorrow at 4pm!

Jul 5 • JP Clark

A Sunny Cottage Garden Border One Year On: What Worked and What Sucked?

A no holds barred account of the reality of gardening. The wins, the totally crap failures, and the unexpected surprises. It’s all part of the fun.

Jun 14 • JP Clark

At Home With… Jo Thompson

The 4th instalment of my interview series for Home & Hort readers with fabulous guests from the interiors and gardening world.

May 28 • JP Clark

Housing Ladder

Is The UK’s Home-Buying System About to Join the 21st Century?

Will Gazumping, Collapsing Chains, Rogue Agents, and Nervous Breakdowns Become a Thing of the Past?

Oct 9, 2025 • JP Clark

The Instagram Home Renovation Trends That Will Lose You Money

But, does it really matter if they bring you inordinate amounts of joy? Another bumper edition not to be missed!

May 11, 2025 • JP Clark

19 Things That Actually Increase the Value of Your Home

A bumper issue with some surprises, plus the % increases for each job. Based on extensive research of the market and 27 years of renovating, buying and…

Apr 27, 2025 • JP Clark

How To Design & Renovate Your Way Up the Housing Ladder - Part 4

Why you should never sell a home that isn’t finished. Creating and selling a lifestyle and Knowing your buyer.

Mar 30, 2025 • JP Clark

The Home Buying Points System

A foolproof plan to help you make the right choice.

Mar 26, 2025 • JP Clark

Life

Things That Make me go Ooh!

Things that delight, inspire, comfort or surprise me.

Jul 30 • JP Clark

101 Films To Take Your Mind Off A Crazy World

Movies that lift your mood, bringing joy and hope.

Mar 26 • JP Clark

Stop the World I Want to Jump Back On - Embracing My One in 41 Million Diagnosis

After months of fearing my cancer was back with a vengeance, the truth was something I could never have imagined.

Mar 1 • JP Clark

Happy New Year to You All

Plus a little round-up of the best of 2025.

Dec 31, 2025 • JP Clark

How To Prepare Christmas Dinner in Advance🎄

My tried and tested, stress-free way to prepare Christmas dinner up to 6 weeks ahead!

Dec 4, 2025 • JP Clark

JP Loves

Summer at The Old Curiosity Shop

Antique shutters from Provence, ancient Indian stone carvings, retro French bistro furniture, Moroccan pedestal bowls, 1800’s cake stands, vintage…

Jun 4 • JP Clark

JP Loves: My Top Picks for Summer Garden Entertaining

Table linens, crockery, cushions and lighting. Links, links and more links. Enjoy!

May 7 • JP Clark

JP Loves: Things I’ve Bought, Tried, Want, or Lusted After

Fabulous homeware, beauty & health gadgets that work, home & body fragrance, gardening finds and men’s summer style.

Mar 12 • JP Clark

JP Loves: My New Favourite Travel Essentials

Brilliant Luggage, Genius Travel Tech, The Best Toothbrush, Holiday Skincare, A Fab Fake Tan, A Mounjaro Travel Tip & Two Special Discounts Links for…

Jan 11 • JP Clark

The Old Curiosity Shop at Christmas

Beautiful, One of a Kind Vintage Festive Finds From Me to You. But, Hurry, There’s Only One of Everything!

Dec 11, 2025 • JP Clark

Kitchen Design Course

How to design a kitchen: Stage 5 - the fun part!

I’m opening up my little black book to tell you where to buy everything!

Mar 24, 2024 • JP Clark

How to design a kitchen - Stage 4

How we saved a fortune building a high end flat packed kitchen.

Mar 17, 2024 • JP Clark

How to design a kitchen - Stage 3.

A kitchen design course for beginners - Storage, islands, open shelving, pantries and cupboard placement.

Mar 10, 2024 • JP Clark

How to design a kitchen - Stage 2.

A kitchen design course for people wanting that top end look for less.

Feb 25, 2024 • JP Clark

How to design a kitchen - Stage 1.

A kitchen design course for beginners. Get the kitchen you want for less.

Feb 18, 2024 • JP Clark

Crafts

The Easiest Hydrangea Wreath You’ll Ever Make

Make a beautiful wreath in less than 20 minutes and save yourself hundreds of pounds

Oct 23, 2025 • JP Clark

How To Make Your Own Candles

A Beginner’s Guide To Faffing With Wax

Sep 14, 2025 • JP Clark

How To Make Your Own Lampshades

A easy step by step guide, including a video. You just need to provide the patience!

Aug 24, 2025 • JP Clark

A Simple Christmas Swag (Festoon if you please) for 2024

Because I can’t be arsed to make a wreath and they look better anyway!

Dec 8, 2024 • JP Clark

How to Make my Suspended Autumnal Branch

Get ready to meet Giovanni the branch - he’s quite the charmer!

Oct 30, 2024 • JP Clark

Come on, join us! You know you want to!

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