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  • How to pack lightly & travel with carry-on luggage only

    How to pack lightly & travel with carry-on luggage only

    August 29, 2024January 29, 2026

    I have packing lightly down to a fine art, and it’s years since I last checked baggage. So, here are my top tips for travelling with cabin luggage only…

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Photos from a spring visit to Great Chalfield Mano Photos from a spring visit to Great Chalfield Manor, a 15th-century National Trust property not far from our new home. It's a beautiful, fairytale kind of place, especially at this time of year when the blossom and wisteria blooms. And see if you can spot the image where I may have captured a ghost... I mean, it was probably just a smudge on my camera lens, but a ghost is a far more interesting explanation. And intriguingly it didn't show up on the frames taken a second beforehand and a second afterwards... #thisprettyengland #wisteriahysteria #visitwiltshire #springgarden #visitthecotswolds
[AD - ongoing partnership] I'll always have a soft [AD - ongoing partnership] I'll always have a soft spot for @hollowaysofludlow's beautiful flagship showroom in Bath (it's where I held the official launch event for my first book), and it's currently hosting a fantastic takeover by Carl Hansen & Søn. Arranged as a series of zones, it's a great way to see the Danish brand's timeless Scandinavian design in context and try various pieces out for yourself. There are plenty of mid-century icons, including Hans J. Wegner's CH24 'Wishbone' chair (my personal favourite), plus newer pieces such as Rikke Frost's stunning 'Sideways' sofa with its organic curves and woven paper-cord sides. A specially created ochre-and-red colour scheme sets it all off perfectly, as do curated artworks and accessories. I’ve long believed that Scandinavian design lends itself particularly well to period settings such as this Georgian former bank building, as its pared-back expression and enduring materials work alongside a range of architectural styles. The takeover is proof of that, and fellow interiors enthusiasts will be in their element. It's on until September, so do take a look around if you're in town. #scandinavianinteriors #scandiinterior #danishdesign #minimalinterior #scandinaviandecor
I couldn't resist sharing a few snaps of our beaut I couldn't resist sharing a few snaps of our beautiful @nordiskakok kitchen, even though it's not quite finished. I've had this design in my head since we first viewed our house almost a year ago, and now it's a reality. I love the timeless Shaker units, oak interiors, floating shelf and bronze fixtures and fittings - it's a lovely blend of classic and contemporary, and it suits our little 19th-century home perfectly. And as pretty much our entire renovation budget has been blown on this room, we certainly hope it will last a very long time! There are a few things left to do - a cabinet that sits on the worktop needs fixing in place, we need to choose a pendant light, and we're on the hunt for a small rustic bar table / freestanding island unit to go in the centre of the room. But it's all now usable, and after six weeks with no kitchen and having had no working oven since we moved in November, that's an absolute joy! #shakerkitchen #cottagerenovation #minimalistkitchen #rusticminimalism #simpleinterior
A few snippets of the gorgeous Norwegian house of A few snippets of the gorgeous Norwegian house of @askogeng, photographed by @tiffanygrantriley for my second book, Bring The Outside In: Biophilic Design for a Naturally Beautiful Home. It's a wonderful haven of calming neutrals, natural materials and handmade pieces - and Tiff and I were lucky enough to stay there during the photoshoot so I can testify that it's as liveable as it is beautiful! See the rest of this wonderful home and others in the book, published by @rylandpetersandsmall and available internationally now. #neutralhomedecor #natureinspireddesign #minimalistinterior #scandiinterior #biophilicdesign
[AD - features PR products] Little snippets of our [AD - features PR products] Little snippets of our almost-finished living room. This space is so very nearly there - we're just waiting for the bioethanol stove to arrive and for the electricians to sort out some wiring so we can fit the rest of the skirting boards. This was a tricky room, as it has two windows, two doorways and acts as a bit of a thoroughfare to the kitchen. It also had no natural focal point. Some careful layout planning, a new chimney breast and a bespoke Bath-stone fireplace have made all the difference, as has our beautiful oak flooring. We've also built floating shelves in a nook that we think is the remnant of a former doorway. It's already a space I love spending time in, and it has the rustic-minimalist mix of old, new and handmade that I'm aiming for throughout our little cottage. I can't wait to show you more! Walls, woodwork & ceiling: Slipper Satin by @farrowandball Floor: Cascada hardwood flooring in Wintry Forest Oak by @quickstepfloors * Radiators: Milano Windsor & brass valves by @bestheatinguk * Fireplace: @christopheremerystone Sofa: @ikeauk HYLTARP Curtains: @laredoute_uk Artworks: @sarah_cocolapine and @tracydixon.ceramics Lounge chair: CH25 by @carlhansenandson Throws: @elvangdenmark * [*PR products] #cottagerenovation #rusticminimalism #neutralhomedecor #livingroomdecor #minimalistlivingroom

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