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  • The Vipp Farmhouse – a rustic-contemporary Danish retreat

    The Vipp Farmhouse – a rustic-contemporary Danish retreat

    July 16, 2021July 15, 2021

    Fancy a bit of escapism to end the week? I certainly do, so let me introduce you to the Vipp Farmhouse – the fourth addition to the Danish design brand’s…

  • Postcards from the North Devon coast | These Four Walls blog

    Postcards from the North Devon coast

    May 20, 2021January 22, 2026

    Last week Chris and I took a few days off work and headed to the North Devon coast for a much-needed break. It’s only a two-hour drive from our home…

  • The Bolder - a pair of spectacular guest cabins high above a Norwegian fjord | These Four Walls blog

    The Bolder – a unique place to stay high above a Norwegian fjord

    February 5, 2021February 4, 2021

    Every now and then images of a project which takes my breath away land in my inbox, and I get so excited that I end up rejigging my blog schedule…

  • A cosy stay at Cynefin Retreats, Herefordshire | These Four Walls blog

    A cosy stay at Cynefin Retreats, Herefordshire

    November 4, 2020November 3, 2020

    Last week I shared a few tips on what to see and do in the beautiful county of Herefordshire, so for the second post from our recent trip I thought…

  • An autumn break in Herefordshire

    An autumn break in Herefordshire

    October 30, 2020October 30, 2020

    [Advertisement – this post is based on a press trip, but all words and opinions are my own] Earlier this month, Chris and I headed to Herefordshire for a much-needed…

  • Casa na Terra - a unique holiday hideaway in Portugal's Alentejo | These Four Walls blog

    Casa na Terra – a unique holiday hideaway in Portugal’s Alentejo

    August 4, 2020August 3, 2020

    How does everyone feel about travelling at the moment, given the ongoing restrictions and quarantine rules? I’m still nervous about it, but that hasn’t stopped me browsing the net and…

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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 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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