Inside style experts' homes: Carole King - in pictures

Carole King is co-editor of Heart Home, an interiors magazine. Her home is in East London - a 1930s semi with two bedrooms, three reception rooms and a garden. Photograph: Andrew Boyd/Andrew Boyd

“The living room gets used the most and is the least designed room in the house, by which I mean there was no plan for it. It’s just cosy. I haven’t spent a huge amount on decorating, I just shopped around. The Eiffel tower lamp in the corner is from Sainsbury’s, and only cost £15. I got it ages ago, but it’s very similar to a more expensive one in Graham & Green, and the Jan Constantine cushion on the sofa was a bargain from Homesense.The fire doesn't work anymore and it used to be a dark, reproduction fireplace which looked very dated. I painted it white and added the Chinese-style tiles myself and filled the fire with fairy lights from B&Q to make it into more of a feature." Jan Constantine cushions, from around £40, Amara.
Photograph: Carole King/Carole King

“The living room is mostly put together with things that I’ve brought when travelling, such as a Moroccan wedding blanket on the back of the sofa and prints I bought in Vietnam. I usually take a backpack when I’m travelling, but I always make sure there’s room for at least one thing to bring back for the house. In the corner, there’s my one big designer buy: a black Kartell lamp, which I love.” Kartell table lamp, £85, John Lewis. Moroccan rugs and throws, prices vary, Moroccan Bazaar. Photograph: Carole King/Carole King

“The bathroom was the one room I didn’t want to compromise on. The bathroom used to be divided into two separate rooms first, so we knocked through the wall to make it one space. I wanted a real sense of hotel luxury, hence the dark wood, candles and Missoni towels - which I always get in the sales.” Missoni towels, from £10.40, House of Fraser. Photograph: Carole King/Carole King

“I was obsessed by Marilyn Monroe when I was younger, and felt I couldn’t have a feminine bedroom without a reference to her - she sums up what the room is about, really. I bought the frames, the prints and the mounts from Sainsbury’s, again - which goes to show there’s no need to blow the budget.” Marilyn prints, £9.99, Art.co.uk. For similar frames, try Amazon. Photograph: Carole King/Carole King

“I wanted the bedroom to be feminine, with a touch of the 1920s and 1930s about it. The wallpaper is by Anna French and is foil backed which gives a reflective sparkle. I’ve mixed pieces from different price ranges, spending on the things I really wanted, like the wallpaper, and accessorising with bits and pieces that cost less from - the lamps are from Ikea.” Bird in the Bush wallpaper, by Anna French, £87.62 per roll at Wallpaper Direct. Silver side lamps, £35, Ikea. For similar bedside tables, try Ikea's white pedestal table, £16, Ikea or Artisanti's aluminium pedestal table, £143. Photograph: Carole King/Carole King