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  • Autumn-winter 2023 design news | Part 2

    Autumn-winter 2023 design news | Part 2

    September 21, 2023February 17, 2026

    A look at two homeware brands, Ferm Living and Tine K Home, whose latest collections combine sculptural forms, organic shapes, natural materials and beautiful contrasts…

  • Profile | Lesley Bramwell of Essence + Alchemy

    Profile | Lesley Bramwell of Essence + Alchemy

    September 18, 2023February 4, 2026

    I chat to Lesley Bramwell of Essence + Alchemy about the power of scent, the inspiration behind her wonderful candles and her journey with aromatherapy…

  • 6 stylish places to stay in Comporta, Portugal

    6 stylish places to stay in Comporta, Portugal

    September 12, 2023September 2, 2026

    The best boutique hotels, holiday rentals, B&Bs and guesthouses in the beautiful beachside village, salt marshes and sand dunes of Comporta, Portugal…

  • 8 ideas for minimalist flower arrangements

    8 ideas for minimalist flower arrangements

    September 8, 2023February 17, 2026

    Inspiration and tips for simple yet striking arrangements of flowers and foliage, from sculptural branches to pared-back ikebana-inspired displays…

  • Autumn-winter 2023 design news | Part 1

    Autumn-winter 2023 design news | Part 1

    September 6, 2023February 17, 2026

    A look at three new interiors collections that embody minimalist, multifunctional design that enhances everyday life: New Works, Muuto and Northern…

  • The VLA61 ‘Monarch’ chair – sculptural beauty meets functional design

    The VLA61 ‘Monarch’ chair – sculptural beauty meets functional design

    August 25, 2023February 5, 2026

    The latest addition to Carl Hansen & Søn’s range of timeless Danish design is a beautiful, comfortable and versatile chair by modernist architect Vilhelm Lauritzen…

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[AD - PR product] A new candle discovery - 'Night' [AD - PR product] A new candle discovery - 'Night' by @koadescentedcandles. It's a deep, lingering blend of dark rose, oud wood, leather and oak that's prefect for this time of year, when the evenings start to draw in. I love the steel vessel too - it fits beautifully into our living room, where I've played on contrast by mixing cool metals with gnarled wood and other natural materials. This is just one of my picks of the best scented candles for autumn, which I've updated for 2026 with some new finds alongside old favourites. You can see the full selection on my blog. #autumnhome #candleseason #cosyseason #neutralhomedecor #softminimalstyle Cottage living room | Neutral living room | Rustic minimalist decor | Cottage renovation | Neutral home | Beige interiors | Autumn styling | Scented candles
I've hung the dried autumn wreath I made last year I've hung the dried autumn wreath I made last year on our front door, and it looks so pretty next to the Bath stone walls. We also have a visitor on the door - a little moth, which has camouflaged itself perfectly against the paint and has been quite happily sunning itself all day. #autumndecorations #autumnhome #autumnwreath #falldecorating #cottagecorestyle Cottage renovation | Bath stone cottage | Front door style | Autumn decor | Autum home style | Seasonal styling | Seasonal living | Cottage life
[AD - features some PR products, which are marked] [AD - features some PR products, which are marked] You've seen the kitchen and the dining room, and now it's time to share the living room - the missing link in our newly renovated trio of downstairs rooms. This room appealed to us the moment we viewed our little cottage, as it has two windows and gets lovely light. But it was also the trickiest space to get right: not only is it a through space, it had also been stripped of most original features, leaving it looking bland and soulless. The first thing we did was build a new stud-wall chimney breast and commission a Bath stone fireplace from @christopheremerystone. It gives the room a much-needed focal point using a local material (the same as the house is constructed from, in fact), and we've added a clean-burning bioethanol stove to help create a calm, cosy sanctuary. Swipe through the photos and captions for more... #cottagerenovation #neutrallivingroom #minimalistlivingroon #cottagedecor #softminimalism Cottage renovation | Neutral living room | Cottage decor | Soft minimalist interiors | Neutral interiors | Neutral decor | Simple interiors | Stone fireplace | Beige living room The doors to the dining room and kitchen are in one corner, so we set up an inviting seating zone away from the main traffic area, with the furniture slightly pulled out from the walls and anchored by a large rug. The space by the doors hasn’t gone to waste, as we’ve added a slimline console table (which sat in the hallway in our previous house). Sadly neither of the sofas that we had in our previous living room were the right size for this one, and the larger of the two wouldn’t even have fitted through the narrow doorway. So, the hunt was on for a new one. I really liked the idea of a linen slipcover design to fit with the rustic-minimalist aesthetic, and IKEA’s ‘HYLTARP’ model proved ideal. It’s long enough for both of us to sprawl out in comfort, and it comes as a self-assembly flatpack so there were no worries about how to get it inside! I also like the fact that the covers are removable, meaning we can take them off to wash them, replace them if they wear out or even change them entirely if we fancy a new look. We've
A beautiful September sunset sky snapped from our A beautiful September sunset sky snapped from our front door yesterday evening. I'm starting to sense hints of the seasons changing around me, and it's wonderful after that long sweltering-hot summer! #sunsets_captures #thisprettyengland #visitwiltshire #septembermood #cotswolds
Some moody flower photos, taken at @gchalfield (al Some moody flower photos, taken at @gchalfield (always one of my favourite National Trust places) last weekend. We're gradually gathering inspiration for our little cottage garden, and slightly wild-looking white blooms will definitely feature (these are some of my favourites - climbing roses, Japanese anemones, guara). It's a next-year project though, as replacing our leaking bathroom and fixing our broken drain will have to take priority. #gardeninspiration #cottagegardenflowers #flowerphotography #moodyflowers #naturephotography

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