Sleep Series No.07

Leanne Kilroy

Good Bones Interior Design
What is your job? 
I'm an interior designer who also has a bustling Instagram over at @goodboneslondon and a substack at The Good Bones Life. I spread myself between residential interior design projects, design consulting, some new product design collaborations and sharing all I know and love on my social media platforms.

Why did you decide to start Good Bones?  
I started Good Bones in 2023 once my youngest daughter went to school. I was full of creative energy and needed to get back to work. It started slowly as an online only retail business selling Scandinavian mid-century pieces and quickly pivoted into interior design when the work I'd done in my own home garnered a lot of interest. Essentially, I just kept saying yes to things and here we are. 
Design projects from Leanne’s Good Bones practice.
How do you curate a calm, relaxing environment for sleep? 

I love a good set of sheets, a firm mattress and a feather duvet. I've also designed our bedroom in a way that makes it feel cosier by partitioning a sleeping area that's separate from the dressing area, and drenching the whole room in a lovely, calming colour. 

What do your nights look like & how do you wind down in the evening?

My husband and I try to get to bed early but with three daughters it's not always possible. We have dinner as a family, put the kids to bed and often get into bed ourselves to talk, read or maybe watch something. If we have friends over, we'll go to bed later but otherwise we're in bed by 9.30pm most nights.

Favourite spot in your home to relax?

I love relaxing on the sofa in our bedroom. It is sunny, quiet and there is a great view out onto the street. 

What is your pre-sleep routine?

I don't have much of a routine - just face wash, applying all my creams and potions, then getting into my pyjamas. Sometimes my husband will make me a cup of Sleepytime Extra tea, which puts me right to sleep. I have also started taking nighttime vitamins with magnesium in them.  
Leanne wears the Pale Pink Pyjama and the Green Ticking Stripe Relaxed Pyjama
Last thing you do before sleep?

Set my alarm - though I almost never need it - and put my phone on airplane mode. 

What keeps you awake at night?

Usually thinking of all the things I have to do the next day or life stuff. Sometimes anxiety strikes.

What’s your favourite relaxation tip? 

I may be the wrong person to ask, but I do love a hot shower and fresh pyjamas. 

How do you sleep generally?

I generally sleep well, unless work stress is high. My eldest daughter gave me a bonnet to wear on my hair that falls over my eyes and it keeps me zonked out all night.

How many hours is a good night sleep for you?

I aim for 8.

 
What does self-care look like to you?

My version of self-care is giving myself a day free from meetings and consults every few weeks so I can fully focus on being creative - the part of my work I love the most.

Book to unwind to?

I read most nights and it definitely helps me settle down for the night. At the moment I'm reading a collection of short stories by F Scott Fitzgerald called Taps at Reveille.
What’s the first thing you do every morning?

I'm sorry to say I check my phone. After that I get up, brush my teeth, wash my face, open all the curtains and make the bed. 
Leanne's beautiful London home.
Favourite HONNA style?

I love the Classic Pyjama set in Green Ticking Stripe. 
What do you look for in your sleepwear?

I love something that is soft and loose, something I can lounge in downstairs in the kitchen without my kids telling me to cover up. I wish I loved a nightie, but they just ride up as I sleep.  
Finally, What does the perfect weekend morning look like for you?

Slow, warm and sunny with nothing at all to do but drink coffee, lounge around with my family and putter in the garden. 

Discover Good Bones and follow Leanne for more calming and beautiful interiors inspiration, here.

Images and text cannot be used or shared without Leanne Kilroy's permission.