Based by the sea in Southsea, England, Kate Reid shares a creative life with her husband and son. With over 12 years in the arts, Kate blends design, simple living, and the outdoors into their family rhythm. From baking cinnamon buns to exploring the coast or crafting with sea glass, their days are filled with thoughtful, hands-on moments. We spoke to Kate about family life, creativity, and the small rituals that bring them joy.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
My name is Kate, I am 33 and live with my beautiful boys; my husband Joff and our son Elwood. I am a designer and Joff a screen printer and we have both worked within the creative industry for over 12 years. The arts play a key role in our lifestyle as well as simple living and being outdoors.
Where do you call home?
We live in an apartment in Southsea, England.
What does a typical day look like for you and your family?
We have our daily rhythms for our working and schooling week. Elwood is an early bird so is the first to rise. We always gather and eat dinner together at the end of the day and slow down with stories in bed every night. We are very family orientated and always try to attend events together. Our weekends tend to be spent going swimming, visiting art exhibitions, the skatepark, spending the day at the beach or a nature walk.
What does your family like cooking/eating together?
Elwood's favourites have always been pancakes and spaghetti carbonara. We also love to bake banana bread and cinnamon buns together.
What is your favourite outdoor activity?
We adore the fresh air at the beach or a hike. We love to bike ride together or tend to our allotment. I love packing up a picnic and hot flask of tea and spending the day outdoors together.
What creative activities do you like to do with your son?
I have always loved to play with clay with Elwood. We love to collect sea glass together at our nearby creek to decorate our clay art.
I also love watching Elwood create art from our recycling - Our old cardboard boxes have been turned into so many cool new toys, dens, rockets!
What is the best motherhood advice you have ever been given and why?
"It takes a village" - because it really does, no matter how many children you are raising.
What surprised you the most about being a parent?
Just how much growth and healing my inner child I would do from being a mother.
What is your special everyday luxury that you just can’t live without?
A simple cup of tea to start my day.
How do you like styling your Vild – House of Little pieces?
We're very into layering as well as mixing and matching.
What do you like about Vild, or find different from other childrenswear brands?
I love the quality of the fabrics on the skin and the colour ways are so playful. The ease of creating outfits with garments from different collections as well as what we already own is super important to us.
Thank you so much, Kate!
Elwood is wearing the Vild Lab No.12 - Earth Rocks! Organic Cotton Woven Collared Shirt and Tencel Shirt.