At home with… Linda Harrison
What makes a house feel like home? In “At Home With…,” I explore this question with fellow business owners and public figures, uncovering the unique ways they shape their spaces. Through a shared set of questions, each guest reveals what’s important to them—from treasured items to thoughtful design choices that reflect their lives and values.
Today, I’m thrilled to feature Yorkshire PR specialist, Linda Harrison. Step inside as Linda shares her style, her inspirations, and the details that make her home a true reflection of who she is…
Small business PR specialist, Linda Harrison
Linda Harrison specialises in PR for small businesses in Yorkshire. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, she started her career as a reporter on regional newspapers and then worked as a feature writer for national newspapers in London. She has written for The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, MailOnline and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles. She now loves using the power of PR to help small businesses to raise their profile - and attract new customers - by getting their stories featured in the press.
Let’s get Linda’s perspective on what makes a house a home…
Tell me a little bit about your home and who you share it with?
I live in a 1930s semi-detached house in beautiful York with my husband, our son and our rescue cat, Max. We moved here a couple of years ago and love it. After taking on a few 'doer-uppers' over the years, we were ready for a house that we could move straight into, but where we could still walk or cycle into the city centre - and this house ticked all the boxes.
What is your favourite spot in your home and why?
The kitchen/ conservatory because these rooms flow into each other. My son loves art, and I love being able to look at his pictures on the kitchen walls whenever I'm cooking. The conservatory is a real suntrap in the mornings and has lots of natural light as it's south facing. I often get up before the rest of the house is awake to read the news online and check for any press coverage for clients - and this is my favourite spot to work with a cuppa. It's also our cat's favourite place for a stretch and a nap.
Do you have any family heirlooms, or items inspired by your family history in your home?
I've always loved history and I'm fascinated by old family photographs. I have a fair few of these dotted around the house but many more tucked away in drawers. One of my favourites is the black and white photo of my nanna and grandad's wedding day. They got married at the start of World War II in Scarborough - and after that photo was taken, they didn't set eyes on each other again for about five years. They ended up being happily married for about another 60. Harold, my grandad, kept a treasured photo of my nanna, Maude, in the pocket of his uniform throughout the war, taking it to North Africa, Iceland and Italy. I remember him still plucking it out of his shirt pocket to show people when he was well into his ninth decade!
Linda’s favourite family photograph - her Grandparents, Harold and Maude, on their wedding day.
Do you have any quirky or unusual items?
Lots of family heirlooms, including some old glass lemonade bottles apparently from my great-great grandad's time. He was an entrepreneur and owned a lemonade factory in the town where I grew up in North Yorkshire, and these bottles have somehow survived over the years.
What is the oldest thing in your house?
A couple of Roman coins - we've got boxes of old stamps and coins in the loft, which have been passed down through the generations.
What is the last thing you bought for your house?
A new tin of paint for the spare bedroom, which doubles as my home office. This room was painted a neutral off white when we moved in, and I've been dying to put our stamp on it but there just never seems to be enough time. We've chosen a soft, pale green Farrow & Ball to freshen things up a bit. It's a small room but it's at the back of the house overlooking our garden, so it's a cheery, light place to work and chat to clients over Zoom.
What colours have you used in your home and what inspired those choices?
As we have lots of neutral walls and rugs, we've been able to add some lovely bright pieces of furniture. One of the first things we bought after moving in was our M&S dark green velvet sofa for the living room. I like big and bold sofas, ideally which you can sink into. We've also got a mustard-coloured armchair, and a retro picture over the TV featuring a mustard hippo. I'm a huge fan of swimming and water, so quite a lot of our artwork features blues and greens.
Linda’s Mustard Hippo print adds a pop of colour to her living room.
A well-designed home doesn’t only look great, it works on a practical level, and makes life easier for those who live there. Are there any life-enhancing, practical design features in your home?
I love that we finally live in a very practical home. There's plenty of storage (although we still seem to always need more!). The fact that the kitchen and conservatory are essentially one room is a design feature that makes it a sociable space, which makes me happy.
If money were no object, where would you live and what would your home be like?
Anywhere by the sea... A clifftop house with a sea view. It would also have a swimming pool. I'm a Pisces and I find if really calming to be near (or in) water.
Linda’s love of water and swimming is reflected in the artwork around her home.
Nest and Flourish Interiors is known for creating accessible and inclusive spaces, can you describe what makes you feel welcome and comfortable in a space?
Somewhere that feels relaxing - we're definitely a family of hoarders, and our house can often feel quite cluttered and busy. Natural light is also very important. And you can't beat a real fire crackling away to make a home feel truly cosy and welcoming.
And what puts you off and makes you want to leave a space?
Bright lighting and somewhere that feels too formal.
What makes a house a home in your eyes?
Definitely the people (and animals) in it. And all the trinkets and treasures that the owners have collected over the years. I love reading - our first house was a Victorian terrace that we did up, and we put in loads of shelves around the chimney breast in the living room and filled them with our book collections. But that isn't really practical in our home now, so we've had a major declutter, sent a lot to charity shops, and got it down to just a few books. Also, I can put up with our home being untidy and a bit chaotic as long as it feels warm, relaxing and welcoming when you walk through the front door!
Linda’s treasured book collection makes her house a home!
Tell me about your business, what you do, where you do it, who you help, and how people can contact you?
I am a PR consultant who works with small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them get their stories into the media (because PR isn't just for big brands). This includes raising their profile via articles in newspapers, magazines or online, arranging radio or TV interviews, or putting them forward as podcast guests. I work with a wide variety of clients, from interior designers, artists, authors and holistic health specialists to restaurant owners, HR professionals, menopause coaches and charities. My clients are mainly female founders based in Yorkshire. I am extremely passionate about what I do - and slightly obsessed with getting excellent PR results.
In addition, I enjoy teaching small business owners how to do their own PR through online courses, workshops and DIY downloadable templates. I also do copywriting - blogs, articles and case studies - and proofreading, and still write as a journalist for industry and charity magazines.
People can sign up for free monthly DIY PR tips with my Kickstart Your PR newsletter.
You can also contact me via my website www.lindaharrison.co.uk or via email: linda@lindaharrison.co.uk.
You can find me writing about PR on Substack and Linked In.
My downloadable PR template is available to purchase in my Etsy shop.
Many thanks to Linda for allowing us a peek inside her home. If you would like to be featured in the Nest and Flourish “At home with blog…” email Kim Heslip kim@nestandflourish.co.uk.
Nest and Flourish Interiors, founded by interior designer and former nurse Kim Heslip, specialises in creating beautiful, accessible, and inclusive spaces that promote dignity, independence, and wellbeing.
With 20 years of nursing experience, Kim understands the transformative power of supportive environments and designs homes and workspaces that cater to health needs, disabilities, and different neurotypes.
Based in Yorkshire, Nest and Flourish Interiors provides tailored, one-to-one design services across Leeds, York, Harrogate, and beyond.
Contact Kim to discover how she can help you create a thoughtfully designed space that works for everyone who uses it.