HOME & WORK WITH KIM & DANNY

Kim and Danny have long been friends of Earl of East, supporting us since our early market stall days. During that time we have gotten to know each other fairly well, and we have always been inspired by their love for independent brands and businesses. Like a lot of Londoners, neither of them originate from the city, but they have made it their home, and the sense of community they have is very kindred to our own.

Danny is the Editorial Director of Courier, the magazine and media brand about working better and living smarter. Kim is a marketing and events pro and Founder of Kim Does Marketing, a consultancy for startups and small businesses.

For them and a lot of other couples, the past year has meant some adjusting to both living, and working together. We caught up recently to chat about just that.

Kim: I wasn’t fond of Brutalism before coming to London. I come from a tiny village in France where all the houses are yellow, orange or beige, where there’s lots of wood and terracotta, and everything’s surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. So it’s the exact opposite of the Barbican. But weirdly enough, there’s something peaceful and majestic about a big slab of concrete.

Danny: It’s a totally weird but lovely place to live. The estate was built in the 1970s as a modernist housing complex in an area that got clobbered during the Blitz. There’s something like 2000 flats here across 15+ buildings. From the outside all people see is concrete, but there’s actually tons of greenery – parks, ponds, sections of ancient Roman walls, a secret wildlife garden I recently discovered. It’s all smashed up against the City of London’s office buildings, which are now abandoned, so we actually haven’t been here when the City is in full swing. There are quirks inside the flats too – tiny sinks in the bathroom, a rubbish collection system from the Jetsons. It’s not for everyone, but we love it so far.

Kim: I’m a big fan of incense so I usually burn some on Saturday morning to make me feel like it’s the weekend. It sets the tone and helps purify the atmosphere and my busy mind. We use Earl of East’s sandalwood sticks.

Danny: I make a fresh cup of Aeropress coffee in the morning, right after I wake up, and drink it on our terrace overlooking the park. It helps me focus and start the day right.

Kim: Easy – we were colleagues before being partners!

Danny: Kim has had to cope with near-constant podcast interviews which I do from my makeshift home recording studio (i.e. my desk).

Kim: Looking at things differently, being open to new perspectives, searching for inspiration everywhere and not being afraid to let your imagination take over your reason.