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  • Lighting you can take anywhere: the 'Kizu' portable lamp from New Works | These Four Walls blog

    Lighting you can take anywhere: the ‘Kizu’ portable lamp from New Works

    March 23, 2022March 23, 2026

    Testing out an incredibly versatile, portable version of New Works’ ever-popular ‘Kizu’ marble table lamp…

  • The Vipp Pencil Case - a serene guest suite in Copenhagen | These Four Walls blog

    The Vipp Pencil Case – a serene guest suite in Copenhagen

    March 21, 2022March 23, 2026

    Vipp’s latest guesthouse is a converted 1930s pencil factory where minimalist Danish design meets Bauhaus-inspired architecture…

  • The Edit - everything you need for sustainable spring cleaning, including refillable containers, reusable cloths, eco-friendly detergents and handmade natural brushes | These Four Walls blog

    The Edit | Spring cleaning

    March 17, 2022March 23, 2026

    My pick of considered buys to make your spring cleaning that little bit more appealing, including reusable cloths and containers, natural cleaning sprays and detergents, and well-made wooden brushes that will last for years to come…

  • Holloways of Ludlow – a new design destination in the heart of Bath

    Holloways of Ludlow – a new design destination in the heart of Bath

    March 14, 2022March 23, 2026

    Its largest yet, Holloways of Ludlow’s fifth showroom is home to a wide selection of European brands, with a particular focus on pared-back Scandinavian design…

  • Home tour - a calming mid-century bungalow in California | These Four Walls blog

    Home tour | A calming mid-century bungalow in California

    March 9, 2022March 23, 2026

    A look around a 1960s ranch-style bungalow in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, that’s been transformed into a calming, contemporary haven…

  • New finds - March 2022 | These Four Walls blog

    New finds | March 2022

    March 4, 2022

    The start of the month means it’s time for my regular round-up of interesting new product launches. As always, I’m only sharing designs that I love and that I think…

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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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