Karen Darlow
An experienced writer on interiors and gardens, Karen Darlow is houses editor for homesandgardens.com, and homes editor for the brand’s sister titles, Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors. She loves visiting historic houses for Period Living and writing about rural properties for Country Homes & Interiors and says by the time she’s finished an interview with a homeowner she’s always got a handful of new ideas to try in her own house, as well as plenty of good stories for the magazine. She began her career as a sub editor at Hi-Fi News and Record Review magazine, starting to write album reviews just as they switched from vinyl to CD releases. Her move to women’s magazines came soon after, in the shape of Living magazine, a forerunner of the supermarkets’ own magazines, which covered cookery, fashion, beauty, homes and gardening. The standout moment was meeting the Body Shop’s founder, the late Anita Roddick, who Karen says was every bit as dynamic – and fun – as you’d expect.
From Living Karen moved to Ideal Home magazine, where as deputy chief sub, then chief sub, she started to really take an interest in properties, architecture, interior design and gardening.
After a career break to raise a family of three boys, she freelanced as a writer and book editor – on topics as diverse as gardening, cookery, art, education, health and beauty – before returning to work full time as homes editor for Period Living magazine.
Karen is a real Francophile and adores France, (French wine and cheese!) and French country style interiors. She likes featuring rustic Scandi homes, and is now fast becoming an expert on US home style reference points. She enjoys talking to interior designers and homeowners from all over the world and hearing about the choices they make and the challenges they face in putting together some of the beautiful interiors we feature in the world’s best homes here at homesandgardens.com
Latest articles by Karen Darlow
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An architectural masterpiece in Miami Beach with amazing views across the bay
A mid-century style glass-fronted home in Miami Beach with panoramic views of the bay and city skyline
By Karen Darlow Published
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The renovation of this Georgian cottage uncovered features dating back 300 years
This 18th-century village home was full of secrets waiting to be revealed beneath layers of plaster and cement
By Karen Darlow Published
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This redesigned 1950s home is a lesson in how to tile in style – Scandi-style
Lee Thornley of Bert & May tiles shows us round his Scandi-style home, and has some sound advice for fellow renovators
By Karen Darlow Published
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This historic thatched cottage in the country is picture perfect inside and out
This pretty thatched home has had a real country makeover with flowers spilling in from the idyllic cottage garden outside
By Karen Darlow Published
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This redesigned home nails California Casual style – and everyone's invited
Clever interior updates turned a dated Mediterranean-style house into a cool California Casual home with a warm welcome
By Karen Darlow Published
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A historic home in Washington mixes traditional and modern style elements
The updates to this historic home enhanced its original features and introduced some great new design elements too
By Karen Darlow Published
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Coastal interiors and ocean views for miles – this home gave us beach house envy
This Nantucket holiday home ensures the living is easy – and beautiful – with outdoor decks and cozy indoor spaces too
By Karen Darlow Published
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This grand 1920s property was saved from demolition to create a luxury family home
A Mediterranean-style home in Illinois has been restored inside and out ready to face its second century in style
By Karen Darlow Published
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Beautiful living indoors and out – here's how one Santa Monica home gets the balance right
Striking a balance between outdoor living and indoor comforts, this Southern Californian home looks good inside and out
By Karen Darlow Published
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Hollywood stars are battling it out to own this Paul R. Williams home – here's why
With offers up to $5m already on the table from celebrities keen to move in, this haven of farmhouse style is hot property
By Karen Darlow Published
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Old meets new in a cottage extension that seamlessly blends with the original house
The addition to this Victorian country cottage is so authentic that it's hard to tell what's new and what's original
By Karen Darlow Published
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7 good reasons why building a new luxury home was the answer for one family
Balancing practical family needs with a luxury look and feel, this Washington DC new build gets it just right – inside and out
By Karen Darlow Published
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This barn conversion with neutral furnishings and high ceilings is one-of-a-kind
It's back to basics in this converted barn, where neutral walls and simple furnishings put the old beams in the frame again
By Karen Darlow Published
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6 clever updates to this Californian family home made it easy to entertain a crowd
Smart changes to this Piedmont home mean it's just as comfortable for big get-togethers as it is for a family of five
By Karen Darlow Published
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7 clever styling tricks that helped a family upscale from an apartment to a house
Moving from a small apartment to a larger home brings challenges – here are the great design tricks that helped a Long Island family upscale in style
By Karen Darlow Published
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How to care for a string of pearls plant – tips for success
Expert string of pearls plant care advice to ensure you get the best out of this popular house plant
By Karen Darlow Published
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7 lessons we learnt about storage from this beautiful historic Californian home
Built in storage doesn't have to fade into the background – this home in Piedmont, CA, puts it front of house and center stage
By Karen Darlow Published
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Calm neutrals and mid-century magic – 8 key takeaways from a special LA home
It's all in the details… how paying attention to the little things turned a couple's first house into a harmonious home
By Karen Darlow Published
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7 ways new design updates added more character to an historic LA home
Brighter, lighter but in keeping with its character, this home's new look balances period features and modern comforts
By Karen Darlow Published
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9 beautiful design tips worth borrowing from this converted Georgian church
Interior designer Dean Keyworth renovated a former church, giving it a colorful new look that's guaranteed to lift the spirits
By Karen Darlow Published
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Stepping out of the comfort zone paid off for the owners of this Georgian home
A major renovation and bold interior choices breathed new life into this historic English country home
By Karen Darlow Published
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7 ways wood brings character to this smart country home
The natural beauty of wood enhances this barn conversion – and is the go-to choice for all the updated living spaces
By Karen Darlow Published
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9 sustainable design lessons we've learnt from an historic Connecticut home
Sustainability was key in this stylish redesign of a 1920s home, where upcycled materials play their part in its fresh new look
By Karen Darlow Published
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This barn conversion's stunning new look was inspired by its coastal setting
This old farm building has been carefully updated to add a little luxury, while still keeping sight of its rustic origins
By Karen Darlow Published