The Nordic Arctic - the band of sub-polar wilderness that stretches across northern Finland, Sweden and Norway (Sápmi to the indigenous Sámi people) - draws me back again and again. I can't quite put my finger on why I love this remote part of Europe so much. Maybe it's the vast skies, which come alive with the dancing Aurora Borealis for much of the year . . .
New design finds | January 2025
It's time for my first monthly round-up of minimalist design finds of 2025, and I have some wonderful things to share with you today. There are newly launched home textiles, ceramics, lamps and furniture pieces, all with beautiful pared-back style and a perfect balance between function and form. And Japanese and Scandinavian influences feature strongly . . .
Eight minimalist kitchen ideas from Nordiska Kök
Swedish brand Nordiska Kök has just released its 2025 kitchen trend report, rounding up the looks and design features that its team thinks are going to be big in kitchen design this year. Now, I'm never one to advocate paying much attention to trends - I always believe that the most appealing spaces are an expression of the people who live in them . . .
Minimalist design in the desert: Hotel Aire de Bardenas & the Bardenas Reales natural Park, northern Spain
Following a bit of a hiatus, I'm sharing more of my September road trip around northern Spain with my friend Becky. After starting in Bilbao and journeying south to the wine region of La Rioja, we headed east into the province of Navarra. Our destination was the Bardenas Reales Natural Park - a hauntingly beautiful semi-desert that I'd wanted to explore for ages . . .
Stylish countryside hotels & pubs for cosy winter getaways in the West Country & Cotswolds
January and February can seem a little bleak - the Christmas festivities are over, the decorations are down and work beckons, but there's still a lot of winter to get through. I find it helps to have something exciting to look forward to, so I always try to plan ahead and get some kind of break in the diary for early in the new year. This time around I'll be heading off on an adventure to the . . .
This year’s Christmas decorations – minimalist elegance with glass, bows & earthy tones
A few weeks ago I shared three different mood boards for minimalist, nature-inspired Christmas decorations, and now December is here I want to show you how I've decorated our home for the festive season. I love dressing the house for Christmas, and I normally turn it into a bit of an event with festive music playing on the speakers and a glass of mulled wine in hand . . .
Profile | Adelaide Awuku of Sincerely Lumière
If you’ve read my regular seasonal candle round-ups and my recent small business Christmas gift guide, you’ll have seen the name Sincerely Lumière pop up several times. And with good reason. Based in London, this independent studio handcrafts candles, wax melts and more, all designed to encourage self-care and nurture wellbeing. There’s something special about the scents, and I’ve loved them from . . .
A wintry woodland stay at TreeHouse Retreats, West Sussex
[Advertisement - this post is based on a press stay, but all words and opinions are my own] There's always something magical about spending time in woodland: the dappled light filtering through the branches, the rustling leaves underfoot, the birdsong up above, the sense of being hidden away in an enchanted fairytale world... It's particularly special in autumn and winter . . .
Minimalist Christmas inspiration from the Ask og Eng apartment
One of my highlights from this year's 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen was the Ask og Eng apartment - the home of writer Emily Nathan, which the Norwegian studio had designed from scratch and which was accessible to the public during the festival. It has since remained visitable by appointment for those keen to see Ask og Eng's kitchens, furniture and object collection in a real-life setting . . .
The 2024 small business Christmas gift guide
It's time for my annual Christmas gift guide and, like last year, I've decided to focus entirely on independent retailers, artists and makers. I try to shop small whenever I can, and small businesses need support more than ever - in fact when putting this post together, I was saddened to see just how many wonderful names have vanished from the scene over the last 12 months . . .
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