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  • New design finds | November 2026

    New design finds | November 2026

    November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

    On my radar this month are new lighting and rug designs, eco-friendly surface finishes, custom-made storage and a very clever tile range…

  • Five stylish no-carve ways to decorate with pumpkins

    Five stylish no-carve ways to decorate with pumpkins

    October 15, 2026October 15, 2026

    Five elegant no-carve pumpkin ideas for autumn and Halloween, from stylish fireplace displays to seasonal table centrepieces…

  • 20 of the best scalloped pendant lights

    20 of the best scalloped pendant lights

    October 6, 2026October 6, 2026

    Scalloped pendant lights add softness, elegance and gentle nostalgia to any space. Here are 20 of the best, with options to suit every budget, room and style of home…

  • Why we chose a bioethanol stove

    Why we chose a bioethanol stove

    September 30, 2026October 1, 2026

    The reasons why we opted for a bioethanol stove over a wood-burner or gas fire, from clean air to ease of installation – plus my verdict on whether our stove is any good…

  • Why we chose Quick-Step wood flooring for our cottage renovation

    Why we chose Quick-Step wood flooring for our cottage renovation

    September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

    Why pale oak wooden flooring from Quick-Step’s waterproof Cascada range proved ideal for our cosy, rustic-minimalist cottage…

  • The best scented candles for autumn – updated for 2026

    The best scented candles for autumn – updated for 2026

    September 14, 2026September 14, 2026

    A round-up of the best scented candles for autumn, from deep, woody aromas that evoke forests and firesides to comforting fragrances for cosy nights in…

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We had to prune our acer as it was getting very ta We had to prune our acer as it was getting very tall and scraggly, so I couldn't resist bringing some branches inside to display. And here's a sneak peek at our newly renovated bathroom - I'm so happy we decided to go for a darker colour. I just have the door and door frame to paint and then I'll share the whole space.

#acer #autumnfoliage #seasonalhomedecor #autumnhomestyle #autumnbranches
[AD - includes PR products] Details from the end o [AD - includes PR products] Details from the end of the living room that didn't get completely pumpkin'd for Halloween. The pumpkins are now going to be gradually eaten over the next few weeks to make way for Christmas decorations. And speaking of Christmas, we need to decide where to put the tree - it went in the corner shown here last year, but now we have a bigger sofa I don't think there's enough space. 

Sofa: Ikea 'HYLTARP'
'CH25' chair: @carlhansenandson*
Coffee table: @thedancingwoodman 
Oak plinth: @laredoute_uk 
Audo Copenhagen 'Reverse' table lamp: @hollowaysofludlow* 
'Daphine' floor lamp: @lumina_italia
Throw: @elvangdenmark
Artwork: @sarah_cocolapine 
'Ripple' candleholder: @newworksdk*
Beige vase: @cooeedesign 
Vintage urn: flea market 
Paint: 'Slipper Satin' by @farrowandball 

(*PR products)

#cottagerenovation #cottageinteriors #softminimalisthome #neutrallivingroom #minimalistlivingroom

Neutral living room | Cottage living room | Warm neutral decor | Renovated cottage interior | Minimalist interiors |  Rustic minimalist decor
Snippets from a wonderful Halloween weekend, inclu Snippets from a wonderful Halloween weekend, including a riverside walk, a visit to the always-atmospheric village and abbey of Lacock, and our little town's annual fireworks display. The last slide is when my phone camera refused to focus, but I quite like the effect! 

#halloween #cosyseason #visitwiltshire #autumntrees #englishcountryside 

Wiltshire villages | Lacock village and abbey | Bradford on Avon | Autumn landscape | Autumn colours | Autumn foliage | Wiltshire countryside | Autumn countryside | Halloween decorations
I've just settled down in front of the bioethanol I've just settled down in front of the bioethanol stove for a cosy Friday evening, so in honour of Halloween tomorrow, let me tell you a (true) fireside ghost story...

When I finished university back in 2005 I moved in with Chris, who owned a small end-of-terrace house in north Bristol. The adjoining house was empty at the time - it had been lived in by an elderly lady, but she'd died before I arrived. I never met her, but Chris told me she was lovely and often popped in to water his plants when he was away. A few months later her house was bought by a young couple, and we became good friends with them. 

I never saw anything odd in our own house, but I often got the feeling someone was there. I'd often be home alone with both our cats next to me, and I'd get the sense there was someone moving about upstairs or in the next room. 

After a couple of years Chris and I bought a new home together and moved to a different bit of Bristol, and eventually our friends from the house next door moved too, relocating to a totally different part of the country. We stayed in touch with them, and it was only years later that I happened to mention the strange feelings I'd had. It turns out they'd often experienced similar things in their house, and a visiting family member staying on their sofabed had once woken in the night to find an old lady standing on the stairs looking down at him.

I like to think it was Chris' kind former neighbour, still keeping an eye on her home and occasionally drifting over to check on his, just as she had in life.

#ghoststory #halloween #cottagerenovation #livingroomdecor #fireplacedecor
[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

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