I’m going to wish you all a Happy Monday even if you feel it isn’t because you know – fake it till you make it and all that. And then we are going to wander through some lovely spaces, breathing deeply and drinking in the inspiration. And then we can have a cup of coffee…
The Georgians really did know how to build houses – generous rooms, tall ceilings, ornate plasterwork and, I was told when I researched this years ago for a series of features on architecture for The Financial Times, they built them much better than the Victorians, who, I was told basically knocked up rows of terraces…
Our houses are getting smaller and our piles of possessions are getting bigger and, at some point, something is going to have to give. With the average British kitchen now measuring 13.4sqm (down from its largest of over 15sqm in the 1960s) this room really has to multi-task as it’s a space to cook, to…
As always a selection of images that have caught my eye this week and which then turn out to have a theme, so today we are looking at curtains and how they can be used differently, styled differently and serve different purposes. It’s not just about windows you know. I have written about curtains a…
There are so many things I love about this week’s property that I ended up wanting to include too many pictures but I have tried to restrict myself to those that are useful and which illustrate so many of the points that we discuss on these pages time and again. Also, some of the pictures…
And the podcast is back. This week Sophie is having a maximalist existential crisis – listen to find out if she should ditch her cushions. And even the yellow sofa is making her stressed and she might be about to rip down her gallery walls in favour of a more streamlined look. Also on the…
Today an edited extract from my latest book The Planner because, between now and 23 December, if you buy my online course you will receive a free copy which means, should you have cause to be buying presents for any reason over the next few weeks (ahem) you can give someone something to unwrap on…
Once we graduate from student accommodation and start decorating our own houses it’s rare that we hang a picture on a wall without putting it in a frame. Of course this protects it (and the wall from sticky marks) but, if done well, a frame enhances the picture that it holds. Our homes are surrounded…
Now this doesn’t happen very often but today we have a fabulous house for sale and, since I know the designer and she was mentioned in the details, I have been able to gather a few extra details from her. Emilie Fournet is a genius with colour and has featured on these pages many times…
Autumn truly is my season and while I work with La Redoute all year round there is nothing like a collection of warm yellows, burnt oranges, soft pinks with a splash of still vibrant green to lift the spirits. I have also noticed that this year, for the first time ever, I can go several…