Well hello there and welcome to HOME & HORT by JP Clark

If you’re new to us then start here!

Now come sit by me and I’ll tell you a little about myself and why it’s worth subscribing to my newsletter. Grab yourself a coffee, or if it’s past 5pm, something fabulously stronger and make yourself comfy.

First of all, I’m so pleased you’ve popped by! Thanks for finding your way to me. If you love interiors and gardens and a good old natter with a large dose of witty banter then you’ve come to the right place.

So who the hell am I? Well, I’m an all round creative guy in his early ‘50s - I know, I don’t look a day over 40, do I! Good genes darling , good genes! Well, unless you’re counting my inherited IBS, wonky eye, bad skin, or the fact I have one kidney. It’s amazing what the right angle and a good filter can do!

I’m a full time interiors and garden blogger and creator, but my ultimate goal is to be a published author. I’ve been blogging over on my website: jpslifeandloves.com for over five years. I’ve won awards for my writing and I have a lovely following over there, who are now (does joyous happy dance) over here. I also have a successful interiors and gardens Instagram account @jpslifeandloves where I post about my life and all the things I love.

I’m a serial renovator and garden makeover man. In the 26 years, me and my hubby, Mr C, have been together, we have totally transformed nine of our own homes and gardens and now there’s a tenth! It’s a 1500s barn conversion with a lovely walled garden. It’s the last one, I promise! We live there with our sweet dog Missy. Over the next few years you will witness the gradual transformation of our home and garden on here.

One of the homes we transformed is a monochromatic waterside ‘60s deckhouse on stilts, which we rent out as a luxury holiday home. In my spare time (sorry, what’s that?) I become my alter ego Gladys the Chambermaid cleaning and ironing for lovely guests at the deckhouse. That’s one of the things you will learn about me, we don’t get help in for anything. We do it all ourselves.

My forte is bringing the outside in and visa versa. I believe that our homes and outside spaces are intrinsically linked. Using nature to beautify our homes and treating our gardens as another room, can be one of the easiest ways to feel balanced and calm. Our homes should be havens, a sanctuary for our minds and souls. Linking the outside world is one of the most advantageous things you will ever do for your wellbeing. Even if all you have is a window and no garden, you can maximise light and a sense of openness.

I also have a real love of the seasons and being in the moment - celebrating each season to the max. With interiors I often do this by a simple change of detail like cushions, throws, candles and flowers. Although, I have been known for outrageously extra seasonal displays too. It’s all part of the fun.

In the garden, I’m a firm believer in planning ahead to maximise each season with colour. I use something called successional planting, which effectively has layers of different plants that show off their beauty at different times of the year. So, the idea is that there is always something of interest, even in the dead of winter.

I have a passion for mixing old and new and love nothing better than a day at an antiques fair, rummaging through rusty crap that to me looks like treasure. If I can find something preloved, rather than buying new, then I will. The chances are it was made ten times better than it could be manufactured now.

My style is coastal with a hint towards The Hamptons.

So, why Substack?

Well, for some time I’d been looking for a place on the internet that had the buzz and friendly vibe that Instagram used to and I think Substack is definitely the place. I had also been searching high and low for a platform where I could write and send out newsletters, but where you could respond and then we could have a conversation. My blog was great, but it could be super lonely and it’s very one-way.

I also wanted a place where I didn’t have to do sponsored brand work or bow down to advertisers. A place where there are no pop-up adverts, or algorithms that hide me from you.

Here, I can be with other writers and authors and nurture my love of writing specifically. I want to write that book and I want you to read it. I want to share all the funny things that happen in my life as well as my experience in interior design and gardening, without having to worry about how long the caption is, or whether the algorithm will be on my side. I want to be able to talk about all aspects of my life and not be made to stick to my niche all the time. After all, we are all so much more than just cushions and hydrangeas!

Why should I subscribe?

What if you already follow me on Instagram, or you subscribed to my old blog or read my Threads? Why subscribe to my newsletter? Well, here it’s so much more intimate. As well as weekly newsletters, I offer audio versions of them too, read by me, so that you can listen while you’re cooking supper.

You’ll have full access to my archive, which is getting rather huge now. I’ll also be gradually adding my archive from my website too.

Here we can chat about interiors and gardens to our hearts content in our very own chat forum. I might start the conversation, but you can also chat amongst yourselves and make new friends.

I do a few ad hoc series, one is an edit of all the things I have loved in that month, imaginatively entitled: ‘JP Loves’. There are gift ideas, hot interior and garden trends, places to visit and things to do. I’ve also started Midweek Musings, which is usually in the form of a video. Sometimes I show you how to do something, or reveal an interior, or garden update. Sometimes it’s just me chatting with you and being silly over a glass of wine. I’ve also just started another series called How to Renovate.

I’d like to start that book and let you read it, a chapter at a time. It’s something I’m working on and you’ll be the first to know. I’m hoping to have guest appearances from other bloggers and writers, possibly even do a podcast.

I’m hoping to pop on more in the latter part of 2024 and tell you the funny thing that happened to me that day and we can all have a good old giggle. In essence, my newsletter is a platform that encompasses everything that I am and everything I do, sharing my life, my home and my garden, my ups and downs, my successes and disasters with all of you. We’re all on a journey of interior and gardening discovery, so why not do it together?

I used to be a Vidal Sassoon hairdresser by day. A client once said to me: “You know, I love coming here. I get my hair done, I get interior and garden advice, book, play and restaurant recommendations, help with my man problems and a whole lot of laughs. It’s like having my very own gay best friend.” – and that’s where my little acorn of an idea for my blog originally came from. In fact, it was originally called: My Gay Best Friend, but quite a few men got the wrong idea about what kind of website it was!

I hope I can inspire as well as make you think and make you laugh. More than anything, I wish for all of us to find increased happiness in our homes and gardens and a deeper understanding of how our surroundings affect our lives.

Phew! Well done for getting to the end! You’ve gotta hit that subscribe button now surely? Subscribe to get full access to my newsletter. Never miss an update.