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  • 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…

  • Room reveal: our calm, cosy cottage living room

    Room reveal: our calm, cosy cottage living room

    September 8, 2026October 14, 2026

    How we turned a featureless through-space into a rustic-minimalist living room with layers of inviting texture…

  • Room reveal: our minimalist cottage kitchen

    Room reveal: our minimalist cottage kitchen

    August 27, 2026September 18, 2026

    Our newly finished kitchen combines beige Shaker units with marble, oak, bronze and rustic wood for a timeless and elegant cottage aesthetic…

  • Room reveal: our rustic-minimalist dining room

    Room reveal: our rustic-minimalist dining room

    June 26, 2026September 18, 2026

    With its timeless pale oak furniture, calm neutral decor and natural materials, our dining room sets the tone for our cottage’s rustic-minimalist interior…

  • Three ways to use a reed-fronted cabinet from Bisley

    Three ways to use a reed-fronted cabinet from Bisley

    June 5, 2026June 26, 2026

    The ‘Fern Peek’ reed-fronted cabinet from British furniture company Bisley is incredibly versatile. Here are three ways to use it around the home, plus my top display-cabinet styling tips…

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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
So here it is: this year's Halloween fireplace, an So here it is: this year's Halloween fireplace, and the first in our new home. 

This looks tricky to do but it’s actually incredibly easy. Just arrange the pumpkins how you want them, tuck branches and dried ferns (or whatever foliage you prefer) in between and behind them, and use pine cones to fill any gaps. Nothing’s stuck down, so there’s no tape or glue involved, and as there are no fresh leaves or flowers you don’t need to use any unsustainable oasis foam or other water source. 

I find displays like this look best when there’s an odd number of pumpkins (for some reason, the human eye tends to prefer odd numbers over even ones) in a variety of sizes. I also like the foliage to look a little wild and unruly, with swooshy bits pointing up and down. I’ve gone for an asymmetrical display on one side of the mantelpiece only, but you could centre things or run pumpkins all the way along.

#halloweenfireplace #pumpkinseason #autumnhomedecor #seasonalhome #naturalhalloweendecorations 

Autumn home styling | Natural Halloween decor | Halloween mantelpiece display | Neutral home decor | Cottage living room | Neutral living room | Soft minimalist home | Seasonal living | Stylish Halloween decorations | Minimalist interior
From a lovely afternoon pumpkin picking yesterday. From a lovely afternoon pumpkin picking yesterday. It's become a bit of an annual tradition, although we had to skip it last year as we thought we were about to move house (turns out we weren't and had another month to wait). Anyway, the last photo in the carousel is my haul - 'far too many' according to Chris, but I can't wait to show what I'm doing with them all! 

#pumpkinseason #spookyseason #halloweendecorations #autumnmood #pumpkinpicking
A few people asked how effective the flame on our A few people asked how effective the flame on our bioethanol stove is, so here's a peek - and I reckon it's pretty good. Obviously you don't get the lovely woodsmoke smell that you have with wood-burners, but you can always recreate that with a scented candle - 'Smoke' by @essenceandalchemy, 'Tinder Box' by @thebotanicalcandleco and 'Winter Embers' by @charlesfarrislondon are ideal. And of course no smoke means no nasty particles in the air...

#cosyseason #autumnhome #cottageliving #cottagerenovation #neutrallivingroom 

Bioethanol fire | Cottage living room | Rustic minimalist interior | Neutral home decor | Cosy home | Soft minimalist decor | Minimalist home | Cottagr renovation

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