Skip to content
  • HOME
  • BlogExpand
    • Interiors
    • Travel
    • Seasonal living
    • West Country & Cotswolds
  • About
  • Work with me
  • PortfolioExpand
    • Interiors & seasonal living
    • Travel, nature & location
  • My booksExpand
    • Bring The Outside In
    • The Soft Minimalist Home
  • The Edit
  • Contact
Instagram Pinterest Threads
  • A stay at Koto at The Point – minimalist eco cabins in Cornwall

    A stay at Koto at The Point – minimalist eco cabins in Cornwall

    October 1, 2024January 28, 2026

    My review of Koto at The Point – a cluster of minimalist Scandinavian-inspired eco cabins near Rock on the north Cornwall coast…

  • A visit to the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall

    A visit to the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall

    February 29, 2024February 1, 2026

    A look at Cornwall’s must-visit Lost Gardens of Heligan – a magical landscape of flowers, trees, pools, hidden grottos and wild valleys…

  • A stay at stylish Cornwall B&B The Sandy Duck – plus top tips for Falmouth, the Roseland Peninsula & around

    A stay at stylish Cornwall B&B The Sandy Duck – plus top tips for Falmouth, the Roseland Peninsula & around

    October 17, 2023February 3, 2026

    Boutique Cornwall B&B The Sandy Duck makes a wonderful base for exploring buzzing Falmouth and the beautiful Roseland Peninsula…

  • Reconnecting with nature in a minimalist treehouse at Rewild Things, Gloucestershire

    Reconnecting with nature in a minimalist treehouse at Rewild Things, Gloucestershire

    May 14, 2023February 11, 2026

    With minimalist Scandinavian-inspired interiors and a stunning setting in the rewilded Elmore Court estate, the Rewild Things treehouses allow you to reconnect with nature in style…

  • Luxury glamping at a restored Airstream trailer in Cornwall

    Luxury glamping at a restored Airstream trailer in Cornwall

    March 30, 2023February 16, 2026

    A weekend at a restored Airstream trailer near Looe in Cornwall, where retro nostalgia meets contemporary comfort and style…

  • The beautiful harbour town of St Ives | Top tips for the Penwith Peninsula, western Cornwall | These Four Walls blog

    Top tips for the Penwith Peninsula, western Cornwall

    July 20, 2022May 14, 2026

    My recommendations for where to stay, where to eat and drink and what to see and do on Cornwall’s magical Penwith Peninsula, covering St Ives, Mousehole, Penzance, Newlyn and more…

Page navigation

Previous PagePrevious 1 2 3 4 … 8 Next PageNext

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM

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
[AD - PR invite] Going to the Summer Lates at @the [AD - PR invite] Going to the Summer Lates at @theromanbaths in Bath has become a bit of a tradition for us in recent years. They stay open until 10pm, and they're absolutely magical illuminated by the setting sun and flickering torches. They even set up a bar by the main pool, and there are music sessions on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It's nice to enjoy such a special place in a relaxed, sociable way, just as the Romans did 2,000 years ago.

Summer Lates run every evening until 31st August, so do head along if you're local or visiting Bath. 

@visitbathuk #summerinbath #bathuk #theprettycities #summermood #thisprettyengland

DISCLAIMER


This site occasionally contains paid-for content, gifted products and affiliate links. All such content is clearly marked.

Simple, relaxed living at home & beyond

Instagram Pinterest Threads

Copyright 2026 © Abi Dare

  • Privacy Policy
Scroll to top
  • HOME
  • Blog
    • Interiors
    • Travel
    • Seasonal living
    • West Country & Cotswolds
  • About
  • Work with me
  • Portfolio
    • Interiors & seasonal living
    • Travel, nature & location
  • My books
    • Bring The Outside In
    • The Soft Minimalist Home
  • The Edit
  • Contact
Cart Shopping Cart 0
This site uses cookies to give you the best possible web experience. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this.