Home is where the heart is

Homes and details that I think are pretty fantastic. Funny how a theme just happens when you start to pull together images. Must be the mood I'm in today....

 

Canvas, Emma, Dosa, Laviva, Elle,
James Plumb

Small pleasures

 

Quick coffee break. Freshly made coffee, sun comes out, doors are open, daffodils smiling, dogs are snoring. Made me want to giggle. 

An (un)healthy addiction to paint charts

I am a lover of Farrow & Ball. I am also a lover of Resene of NZ and Porters of Australia. I must now add Little Greene with its relatively new Paint scales collection. It's colours have pipped F & B on a house project. Historically based colours, full of pigment and super matt so that you feel like the walls are almost three dimensional. Beautiful colours that let books and art and people hold centre stage. I'll be using the below colours...

Pale, humble and happy.

And to continue my childhood addiction, I only took 5 colour charts. A table full of paint charts spread out is pure therapy...... I think I even giggled!

Happiness at home is...

All (read most) of the books back on the shelves, in completely random order. Otherwise, how will you be surprised and delighted when you discover a book you haven't read for awhile.

A freshly waxed table - £30 table, priceless dinners. It's feet look like Lily's paws - not sure what significance this has but we love it. It's not the big table as that is still in storage but we can stretch to eight - rounded corners is the secret!

 

Ed's chair, with an old/new cushion cover. His anthology from the novel he is writing - um good - um yes. Tin Tin dusted and watching the traffic and a 'dud' lampshade that surprisingly fits in our flat perfectly and on our 70's Spanish lamp. I didn't make it a dud on purpose I promise.....

A few more snipped hydrangeas in the loveliest Scottish vase my dear friend Suz gave me for my birthday this year.

It's sunny, I have a glass of prosecco, Lily is freshly bathed and Ed is reading. It really doesn't take much does it?

Happiness at home indeed.

Have a really lovely and special weekend.

Home

So, I write about creating 'Havens' all the time don't I? My home in NZ (above - last picture you'll see of moi for awhile - it's far too frightening!) was the living embodiment of all I believe in. Simple pleasures and a rested mind. My edible garden - tucked in amongst the roses and lavender were scattered a few rhubarb plants, cherry trees, herbs, tomatoes, coffee beans, lettuce and very cherished olive trees. Inside,  enough books to open a (small) library, and plenty of places to sit down and read them. An ample table that seated 10 (or 14) and big platters to serve roast chicken. Wooden floors, paint on the walls that looked like clouds, plump hand-made cushions and quilts. Pictures of family, souvenirs from travels far and wide and precious things passed down and found. Lastly, two dogs and an aging but determined moggy.

So London was meant to be the new and improved (because of the lovely Ed) version. Our flat here was meant to be temporary. I mean, come on, how could two adults, two rapidly growing children and a dog live in a two bedroomed flat with a small balcony. Ridiculous. Where were my reading chairs going to go, not to mentioned the prized table!

Except, here we are almost two years later. Circumstances have prevented us from moving. But never was this flat permanent in my head. Always planning, cycling around looking for a new place to live. Hopes dashed time and time again.

So I gave in. Ed's children made me. Last weekend I took myself off into the bedroom to read, so that Ed and O & F could have their time together. Less than three minutes later, both children were sitting on the bed asking me 'are you ok', what are you doing' and the killer - 'can we help'.

So now I'm home. Flat 9 in the Lavender Building is the best Haven I could ask for. Over the next month or so, No. 9 will get a bit of a transformation both physically and mentally. I shall practice what I preach, and maybe flick up a few piccies as we go.

Ed, Lily, Frankie, Oscar, books, art, copper pots and a few quilts - that's a good start isn't it?

A chair, some flowers, and something to rest your glass on...

Totally different rooms and styles, but the same principle. Both lovely, just different.

 last image from vogueliving.com.au

Home Sweet Home

Homes are often thought of as show homes - places to 'show-off' the It purchases from the It store, sourced by the It designer. Whilst I love interiors mags, I'm generally more interested in the who and the why compared to the what. The intent of many is concerned with how they look, not how they feel. Isn't your home meant to be the very place where your senses can be stimulated and heart protected, rather than a place to display a collection of wares?



The word 'home' is actually derived from the Nordic word 'heima', which translates to a state of well-being as well as the physical place. How you feel when you walk through your front door should in fact be as important to how it looks. Sight, smell, touch, taste and sound all contribute to that (unfortunately ) rare 'aha' feeling when you walk into a home that is 'tuned in'.
Pay attention to and delight in your senses in order to create a way of life and a home that is happy, warm and uplifting, and most importantly one that feels right to you and yours.

Image 1 from Vanity Fair 2009. Image 2 from www.royalacademy.com

Thanks Design Sponge!

The lovely Grace at Design Sponge posted my house a little while ago. Hard to believe it's all sitting in containers now, waiting for a new home. This time (and for the first time) everything has to mix in with my Ed and his possessions ..... many many guitars, music and more books.

Thanks again Grace - it was a very fond trip down memory lane.