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  • Highlights of 3 Days of Design 2023 | Audo Copenhagen

    Highlights of 3 Days of Design 2023 | Audo Copenhagen

    June 20, 2023February 11, 2026

    Born from the merger of Menu and by Lassen, Audo Copenhagen’s collection of soft minimalist pieces spans almost a century of Danish design history…

  • Highlights of 3 Days of Design 2023 | The &Tradition showroom

    Highlights of 3 Days of Design 2023 | The &Tradition showroom

    June 14, 2023February 11, 2026

    A look around &Tradition’s newly expanded Copenhagen showroom, which blends modern minimalist design with iconic Scandinavian classics…

  • Profile | Cassandra Ellis of Atelier Ellis

    Profile | Cassandra Ellis of Atelier Ellis

    May 30, 2023February 11, 2026

    Handmade paint brand Atelier Ellis has just opened its first physical store in the city of Bath. I chatted to founder Cassandra Ellis about the story behind the space, her unique approach to colour and more…

  • Three stylish schemes for small outdoor spaces

    Three stylish schemes for small outdoor spaces

    May 13, 2023February 17, 2026

    Inspiration and ideas for creating a stylish and usable outdoor space, even if you only have a small garden, a tiny courtyard or a balcony to play with…

  • The ‘CH004’ nesting tables – versatile space-saving design from Carl Hansen & Søn

    The ‘CH004’ nesting tables – versatile space-saving design from Carl Hansen & Søn

    May 10, 2023February 16, 2026

    Created by Hans J. Wegner in 1952, Carl Hansen & Søn’s ‘CH004’ nesting tables embody minimalist, multifunctional and space-saving design that’s perfect for modern homes…

  • New design finds | May 2023

    New design finds | May 2023

    May 3, 2023February 16, 2026

    Minimalist design finds this month include versatile storage systems, sculptural glass vases, outdoor furniture, a light made from recycled plastic and more…

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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
[AD - PR products tagged] The view that makes me h [AD - PR products tagged] The view that makes me happy every time I come in through the front door (until I get to the bottom of the stairs, which is where the extent of our cottage renovation currently stops!). 

#diningroomdesign #cottagerenovation #rusticminimalism #neutralhomedecor #simplehomestyle
Back in May I spent three fantastic days exploring Back in May I spent three fantastic days exploring Bergen with my friend Becky, and I've finally got around to putting together a city guide. 

Norway's second-largest city and one-time capital is known as the ‘gateway to the fjords’, and many people fly in and head straight back out again on a cruise. But it’s a place that’s well worth exploring, either as part of a wider itinerary or as a destination in its own right. Sandwiched between mountains and sea, it's a wonderful mix of history, culture and scenery, with a Unesco-listed Hanseatic harbourside, plenty of art galleries, a thriving food scene, and pretty wooden houses that creep up the slopes of its famous seven hills. 

Here are my top 12 things to see and do in Bergen, including restaurants, viewpoints, museums and more. Save this post for your future travels, and find my full Bergen guide on the blog. 

#visitbergen #visitnorway #travelblogger #travelphotography #divineworldplaces

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