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  • 12 of the best minimalist full-length mirrors with hanging space | These Four Walls blog

    12 of the best minimalist full-length storage mirrors

    February 16, 2022

    I’m always on the look out for clever space-saving solutions – not only do I live in a fairly compact home myself, I’m often asked by interior-design clients to help…

  • Calming grey bedroom with iconic Flowerpot wall lamp by Verner Panton | New finds - February 2022 | These Four Walls blog

    New finds | February 2022

    February 10, 2022February 9, 2022

    It’s time for my regular round-up of interesting design finds and new product launches – my first of 2022! And I have some real gems to share with you this…

  • Home tour - Nordic minimalism meets original features in Lisbon | These Four Walls blog

    Home tour | Nordic minimalism meets original features in Lisbon

    February 7, 2022February 3, 2022

    I love homes with calming, clutter-free design. And I love homes that are filled with lovingly restored period features. Occasionally, I come across a home that balances both, and my…

  • Improving home air quality with the Tag Ultrasonic humidifier from Duux | These Four Walls blog

    Improving home air quality with the Tag Ultrasonic humidifier from Duux

    February 2, 2022February 1, 2022

    [Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with Duux, but all words and opinions are my own] Living in a Victorian house with a ground-floor damp issue (one of the…

  • The 'Frame' collection from Kristina Dam Studio | These Four Walls blog

    The ‘Frame’ collection from Kristina Dam Studio

    February 1, 2022January 31, 2022

    Normally the first week of February would see me heading off to Sweden for the Stockholm Furniture Fair – one of the biggest trade shows in the design calendar. That’s…

  • A cosy Cotswolds minibreak at Wild Thyme & Honey

    A cosy Cotswolds minibreak at Wild Thyme & Honey

    January 19, 2022January 22, 2026

    [Advertisement – this post is based on a press stay, but all words and opinions are my own] Despite all the talk of new plans and a fresh start, I…

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[AD - PR products] Summer light falling across the [AD - PR products] Summer light falling across the dining room and our lovely Carl Hansen Wishbone chairs from @hollowaysofludlow. I've been working down here for the past few weeks as it stays cooler than the office upstairs, and they really are comfy enough to sit on for hours at a time. Bring on long, cosy meals and board games in here once the nights start drawing in!

#neutralhomedecor #scandinaviandecor #minimalinterior #minimalistdiningroom #cottagerenovation
The hills on the edge of Bath - like everywhere el The hills on the edge of Bath - like everywhere else, they're looking both beautifully golden and scarily parched at the moment. We've had several wildfires around here over the past couple of weeks, so I'm longing for some rain. And although I don't like to wish time away, please bring on autumn! 

#bathengland #theprettycities #bathskyline #thisprettyengland #visitbath
One of the things I love most about our house is t One of the things I love most about our house is the natural light, but it does have one downside. We face directly east-west, so in summer there's always strong light coming from one direction or another - and some rooms like the main bedroom shown here are dual-aspect, so they get it all day long. It's starting to cause UV damage to furniture and surfaces, even with the curtains closed for much of the day. I think we're going to have to look at adding UV-reducing film to the windows, while we save up to get them replaced properly. If you've used it yourself and have any thoughts on whether it actually makes a difference then I'd love to know!

The photograph on the wall, by the way, is one of my own images that I had printed out and framed. It was taken nearby, on a foggy morning not longer after we moved in, and it's one of my favourites. 

#cottagerenovation #neutralbedroom #naturallight #rusticminimalism #cottageinterior
This is the question we get asked whenever we say This is the question we get asked whenever we say we've downsized. We've also had some weird comments from people who assume that just because we've moved to a smaller house, we must be struggling financially. 

I hate the way the size of your home has somehow become a marker of success, and bigger isn't always better. I can understand people searching for more space if they have a growing family, but we don't. Instead, we made a conscious decision to reduce our mortgage, free up some budget for renovations, and give ourselves some breathing room for the future. 

So no, we won't be extending our little cottage. We don't want or need a bigger house just for the sake of it, and to be honest we consider ourselves lucky to own anywhere at all, given how difficult it is to buy a property nowadays. It would only mean more to clean, anyway! 

Here's to everyone else making the most of the home they have, no matter what its size or their circumstances. 

#cottagerenovation #cotswoldscottage #smallhome #cottagelife #downsizing
A few snippets from Bath, London and home during a A few snippets from Bath, London and home during a burning-hot July, some taken on my phone, others on my big camera. It's been a busy month, but a good one. I'm looking forward to a slightly slower August, and hopefully some rain for the parched landscape. 

#summermood #bathuk #cotswolds #summerlight #cornersofmyworld

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