In this episode:

• The importance of pieces that are durable

• Screen free dining room time

• Zoning for personal space for each family member

• Some of the mistakes people make with Pinterest

• How mock ups and mood boards help clients understand the vision

• Why Leann doesn’t follow trends

Leann is an interior designer who believes that great design isn’t just about how a space looks, it’s about how it supports the way you live every day. She works with clients to create homes that feel intentional, functional, and deeply personal, whether that means rethinking a layout, refining finishes, or bringing clarity to a renovation that feels overwhelming.

Her approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and grounded in the idea that our environments shape our habits, our energy, and ultimately our quality of life.

Ashleigh Donald is Co-Founder of Halo Business Consulting, the award-winning hospitality marketing and customer experience consultancy that helps hotel owners, operators and teams bring their brand promise to life, strengthen loyalty, and drive sustained growth. She is also co-host of The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh & Michael Donald, a weekly podcast sharing real stories and practical insight from hospitality and travel leaders.

With more than two decades in senior Marketing and Communications leadership, Ashleigh has supported international hotel and real estate businesses across strategy, digital marketing, launches, repositioning and rebrands, working with brands including Shangri-La, The Luxury Collection, Hilton, Four Seasons, Montcalm Collection, Resident Hotels, Kew Green Hotels and Hudson Yards. Ashleigh was recognised as a winner at the 2025 Great British Businesswoman Awards. She also contributes to the sector as a Entrepreneur in Residence with Sheffield Hallam University Business School and mentoring through The Girls’ Network

In this episode:

• The variety of ways that hotels make us feel at home

• Celebrating experiences through decor

• How homes and people adapt to life’s changes

• The contentedness of loving where you live

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.