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  • How to make an asymmetrical Christmas wreath | These Four Walls blog

    How to make an asymmetrical Christmas wreath

    December 1, 2020

    Making wreaths is one of my favourite things to do in the run-up to Christmas. There’s something very mindful about getting stuck into seasonal crafts, and surrounding yourself with winter…

  • Adding some festive sparkle with Georg Jensen's 2020 'Christmas Collectibles' | These Four Walls blog

    Adding some festive sparkle with Georg Jensen’s 2020 ‘Christmas Collectibles’

    November 24, 2020November 24, 2020

    [Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with Georg Jensen, but all words and opinions are my own] I generally opt for a pared-back look at Christmas, with lots of…

  • A soft, minimalist beige bedroom: mood board & plans | These Four Walls blog

    A soft, minimalist beige bedroom: mood board & plans

    November 17, 2020January 5, 2021

    Blocking up the door to our ensuite and opening a new one off the landing has not only enabled us to create a proper upstairs bathroom, it’s also given us…

  • How to create a cosy outdoor haven this winter | These Four Walls blog

    How to create a cosy outdoor haven this winter

    November 13, 2020August 11, 2022

    It’s that time of year when I’d normally be putting the garden furniture away for winter, but it’s 2020 so of course things are a little different. Ongoing restrictions mean…

  • Home tour - a minimalist getaway on the Swedish coast | These Four Walls blog

    Home tour | A minimalist getaway on the Swedish coast

    November 11, 2020November 10, 2020

    In Monday’s post I talked about how much I love the Bohuslän Archipelago to the north of Gothenburg, and just as I pressed ‘publish’ an email dropped into my inbox…

  • Scandinavian dreaming with Skandinavisk's new Eau de Toilette collection | These Four Walls blog

    Scandinavian dreaming with Skandinavisk’s new Eau de Toilette collection

    November 9, 2020

    [Advertisement – this is a paid collaboration with Skandinavisk, but all words and opinions are my own] Oh how I long to head off to a little island somewhere in…

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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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