The blog’s 2021 interiors predictions drop today with a particularly optimistic spring in their step. The only slight hiccup is which title to give the post. A descriptive ‘Interior Design Directions for Spring 2021’ could work, as could ‘Sea Change’ or ‘Reset’ but that has already been taken. What hits the blog spot nicely though is the title for David Hockney’s forthcoming exhibition at The Royal Academy in London. Here then is the blog’s Arrival of Spring 2021.
Continue reading “The Arrival of Spring 2021”Homemade Christmas decorating 2020
Are you ‘going early’ this year, are undecided or maybe waiting until the winter solstice to ‘deck the halls’? A neighbour put their front door wreath up on 16 November, which under normal circumstances might seem a little premature but then everything is different this year. In a bid for some much-needed festive cheer it seems our neighbour is not alone. Even though this Christmas is going to be tough for so many, people all over the UK are decorating earlier than usual. So when I got a commission to do the same, I didn’t hesitate.
Christmas gift ideas 2020
This year is certainly going to be different in terms of how we celebrate Christmas but I hope that whatever size our celebrations are, they bring a welcome distraction and boost to everyone’s spirits. As a freelance shopping editor, I thought I would share with you a few Christmas gift ideas which have caught my eye this year. The humorous, handmade, repurposed and charitable are always top of the list.
Garden design at The Newt, Somerset
If like me you are drawn to colour, pattern and texture in all its forms, I hope you might enjoy this snapshot of some inspirational garden design ideas from a recent visit to the gardens at The Newt in Somerset. The garden had been on my radar for a while so I was excited to be able to take the opportunity to make a flying visit.
New Morris and Co x Ben Pentreath collection
It is the launch the interiors world has been waiting for ever since it was first rumoured that such creativity was afoot. I don’t think it would be overcooking it to say that The Queen Square Collection between Morris & Co and architectural design and interior Decorator Ben Pentreath is one of the most exciting interior brand collaborations in recent times. The collection of 18 recoloured William Morris wallpaper and 18 fabric designs has been styled and photographed at Ben’s beautiful and famously ‘grammed Dorset rectory.
Continue reading “New Morris and Co x Ben Pentreath collection”
Autumn/Winter 2020 interior design directions
At the beginning of the year, interior design trends were set full steam ahead for an Autumn/Winter 2020 season of bold colour and pattern. But then the pandemic happened and stopped us all in our tracks. With all the anxiety and uncertainty, it was almost as if a pastel-sized iceberg crept into our interior psyches reminding us of the calming decorative qualities of pale blues, pinks and greens …
Continue reading “Autumn/Winter 2020 interior design directions”
Fanny’s Antiques
Alongside the re-opening of other ‘non-essential’ shops this week was one of Reading’s Sleeping Beauties . Fanny’s Antiques awoke from its lockdown state to the new normal and an appreciative audience of interior designers, stylists and general hunter-gatherer-types who couldn’t wait for it to open its doors again. Continue reading “Fanny’s Antiques”
Hebridean Island style
Interiors staying connected
‘Staying In’ has offered unexpected positives, one of them is having time to think about what’s important. In these very difficult times, it has been lovely to see so many acts of human kindness and creativity. It has also been inspiring to see the interiors industry getting supportive with webinars and even a new charity aimed at giving NHS heroes, interior designed havens to come home to. I thought I would share with you some of the creative Staying-In inspiration that has caught my eye these past few weeks.
Sleeping beauties
How are you all? I do hope that you and your loved ones are well? This is my first blog post since ‘you know what’. I can’t quite bring myself to mention it because the blog is primarily about sharing interior decorative beauty and will continue to do so. But with the seismic shock that one way or another we have all experienced, the virus has frozen in time everything that happened before March 2020.