Have you always lived in West London
No. I was born in Derbyshire and have moved to various places in the UK. Weirdly, my parents lived in Bayswater 30 years ago – just around the corner from where I am now. I love it here, but I’m a country girl at heart.
Where do you like to eat and drink locally?
I loved Ark, an Italian restaurant in Notting Hill, but it has recently shut down! The Mall Tavern on Kensington Mall is great for roasts and comfort food. And for a fab cocktail once in a while, E&O is still the place. But my favourite place of all to eat is under a tree in Hyde Park: prosecco in plastic cups, and some tasty cheese.
How friendly are you with your neighbours?
Very – my block is amazing. Partly because things keep going wrong with the building. Recently my upstairs neighbours were sat in my living room in their pyjamas at 1am as we tried to work out how to stop the water from a burst pipe in their bathroom cascading into my kitchen. My lovely across-the-hall neighbour, Janet, has been a great friend to me. We don’t see each other too much, but it’s great to have someone looking out for you. My country friends say London is unfriendly. Maybe the Tube can be a bit frosty, but the city itself is a friendly one.
As a designer, do you feel inspired by your local area?
I love watching the seasons change. Floral and architecture feature heavily in my designs. Plants obviously change with the seasons, but so do buildings as different light catches them. With the park and so much glorious Georgian and Victorian housing stock, I’m surrounded by inspiration.
Where would we find you chilling out?
In the park, on a Boris bike!
Do you shop at the weekend?
Oooh yes! Space NK is rather dangerous, being so close by, Portobello but not on the weekend when it’s heaving, Kensington Church St (if I’m feeling flush) and Trilogy stores is perfect for jeans (and because I love the people who work there)!
If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
I really do have a lot of love for Derbyshire: salt of the earth people, beautiful rugged countryside and gorgeous country estates. Or maybe the south of France for the weather and the food (we can all dream…).
Who in West London wears your scarves?
Tina Hobley, Holly Willoughby, Alex Jones, Denise Van Outen, Fearne Cotton, and Jameela Jamil have been spotted wearing Mercy Delta. But what thrills me is when I see a stranger looking great in one of my pieces. I have to fight the urge to go up to them and say thank you!
Who would you love to see in Mercy Delta?
Duchess Kate, of course! She is just another neighbour, after all.
Who is your hero?
I’m completely clear on this one: Scarlet O’ Hara. “Tomorrow’s another day”
What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
Kick off the heels and climb into some loungewear. After 12 years in fashionable shoes, my feet are destroyed.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“No”, is a door opening, a response, something to build on… That’s where it starts and “yes” will follow after some more work.
Tell us a secret about west London….
Whatever you may hear from the Hoxton types – it is STILL cooler than east London. Fact.
