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  • A guide to visiting La Rioja, Spain

    A guide to visiting La Rioja, Spain

    October 4, 2024February 3, 2026

    What to see and do in La Rioja, Spain, from wine and walled towns to tapas trails – plus how to get there, when to go and where to stay…

  • A stay at Koto at The Point – minimalist eco cabins in Cornwall

    A stay at Koto at The Point – minimalist eco cabins in Cornwall

    October 1, 2024January 28, 2026

    My review of Koto at The Point – a cluster of minimalist Scandinavian-inspired eco cabins near Rock on the north Cornwall coast…

  • My interiors book, the Soft Minimalist Home – published today!

    My interiors book, the Soft Minimalist Home – published today!

    September 24, 2024January 30, 2026

    Introducing my new interiors book, The Soft Minimalist Home – Calm, Cosy Decor for Real Lives and Spaces…

  • 10 things to see & do in Bilbao, Spain

    10 things to see & do in Bilbao, Spain

    September 17, 2024February 3, 2026

    My top 10 things to see and do in the vibrant city of Bilbao, northern Spain – from pintxos bars and boat tours to the stunning Guggenheim Museum…

  • New design finds | September 2024

    New design finds | September 2024

    September 16, 2024January 29, 2026

    Minimalist designs on my radar this month include sustainable twists on Nordic classics, new furniture and lighting, gorgeous rugs and super-stylish kitchen appliances…

  • How to pack lightly & travel with carry-on luggage only

    How to pack lightly & travel with carry-on luggage only

    August 29, 2024January 29, 2026

    I have packing lightly down to a fine art, and it’s years since I last checked baggage. So, here are my top tips for travelling with cabin luggage only…

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[AD - press stay] Earlier this week I showed you S [AD - press stay] Earlier this week I showed you Sessile, the room we stayed in at @holmsomerset. Now here's a peek at some of the others, which I got to have a quick look at between guests. They're all gorgeous, but Elm was a standout with its four-poster bed, arched niches, egg-shaped bathtub and gently warm colour palette. I also loved Osier, with its fireplace and lovely natural light, and the cosy Hornbeam, tucked beneath rafters in the loft. If you fancy treating yourself to a stay at HOLM this autumn and winter (and I would wholeheartedly recommend it), there are mid-week deals starting from £149 per room, Christmas 'Stay & Dine' packages from £496 (the festive menu launches on 23rd November), and various walking experiences. I particularly like the idea of a relaxing Twixmas stay, or coinciding with the Wednesday and Friday morning yoga sessions. Thanks again to @curatedspacesclub and the whole team at HOLM for our fantastic visit. We absolutely loved it. #boutiquehotels #ukstaycation #uktravel #winterbreaks #countryescape Somerset travel | UK boutique hotels | West Country places to stay | Somerset places to stay | UK minibreaks | Country hotels | UK travel | Restaurants with rooms | Stylish places to stay | Autumn breaks | Winter breaks | Twixmas travel ideas
Yep, the pumpkins are everywhere in our house... Yep, the pumpkins are everywhere in our house... Last year's Halloween was marred by house-move stress (although I was lucky enough to go to the live recording of the Uncanny Halloween special with @tiffanygrantriley after winning audience tickets in the ballot), so this year I'm making the most of it. Chris and I are going to see the new Ghosts film on Thursday, we have a table booked at our favourite haunted local restaurant for Saturday lunch, and we're having spooky candlelit drinks and nibbles on Saturday evening. I can't wait! #pumpkinseason #halloweendecorations #naturalhalloweendecor #autumnhomedecor #seasonalhomedecor Minimalist Halloween decorations | Pumpkin display | Halloween styling | Autumn home | Shaker kitchen | Minimalist cottage interior | Neutral home | Cottage kitchen
[AD - press stay] A favourite of mine to bookmark [AD - press stay] A favourite of mine to bookmark for a relaxing West Country getaway: beautiful restaurant with rooms @holmsomerset in the pretty village of South Petherton. I've eaten at HOLM a couple of times before and I've always wanted to go back for an overnight stay. Last week Chris and I got the chance, and it definitely lived up to expectations. The interiors are gorgeous - calm, cosy and softly minimalist, with tactile plaster walls, vintage mid-century modern furniture, abstract artworks and handcrafted pieces by local makers. The seven guest rooms are all named after trees (we stayed in Sessile, shown in the first few photos here) and come with lots of treats, including super-comfy beds, snuggly linen throws and homemade cookies; some also have freestanding in-room tubs and four-poster beds. Downstairs is a candlelit dining room and bar, warmed by a fire in autumn and winter and spilling onto a lavender-fringed terrace in spring and summer. The food from Chef Director @nicholasbalfe and his team is delicious, with tasting menus and à la carte options based around local, seasonal produce. This time around we sat at the informal 'chef's counter', watching activity in the open kitchen as we tucked into Westcombe cheddar fries with pickled walnuts, trout tartare, goats' curd-filled pasta with girolles, local venison and more. The wine was excellent, too - especially as we were lucky enough to have our visit coincide with one of the regular wine-tasting events! Thanks to everyone at HOLM for a wonderful stay (the perfect break from renovation chaos at home!) and to @curatedspacesclub for organising it. We'll be back, for sure. #boutiquehotels #ukstaycation #uktravel #somersethotels #countryescape Somerset travel | UK boutique hotels | West Country places to stay | Somerset places to stay | UK minibreaks | Country hotels | UK travel | Restaurants with rooms | Stylish places to stay
I'll be honest: renovating with a chronic health c I'll be honest: renovating with a chronic health condition (and living in said renovation at the same time) isn't easy, and after an entire weekend and a Monday evening of DIY, I feel like I'm dragging my limbs through mud today. But I'm really enjoying the journey of making this little cottage our own. We still have a lot to do (the guest bedroom, landing, stairs, windows and garden haven't yet been touched, and the primary bedroom is only half-finished), but I'm so proud of what we've achieved so far. This house had been unloved for so long, and I feel like we're giving it the soul and heart it deserves. When I walk into completed rooms like the kitchen, I still have to pinch myself that they're ours! #cottagerenovation #shakerkitchen #softminimalistinterior #minimalistkitchen #neutralktichen Minimalist cottage interiors | Cottage renovation | Beige Shaker ktichen | Cottage kitchen | Neutral home decor | Neutral kitchen inspiration | Open kitchen shelves | Kitchen renovation
[AD - features PR products*] Pumpkins are taking o [AD - features PR products*] Pumpkins are taking over every room in our house... I'm determined to make the most of autumn this year. It's possibly my favourite season, but I struggled to enjoy it last year because we were in the middle of house-move stress and worried our entire chain was about to collapse. In fact by October 2025 it had dragged on for six months and was really starting to affect my health - not an experience I ever want to repeat! [*Our beautiful Wishbone chairs were a PR product from the lovely people at @hollowaysofludlow.] #pumpkinseason #autumnhomedecor #diningroomdecor #neutralhomedecor #cottageinterior Autumn styling | Halloween decorations | Minimalist cottage interior | Dining room decor | Neutral dining room | Autumn foliage

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