As if proof were every needed, last week, I was once again struck by what a small world we live in. On Sunday morning, the husband and I took the children to see the Elephants Green Park.  We found a great parking spot, the sun was shining and as an added bonus we saw the rehearsals for the Queens Birthday parade, which was just like the real thing except the Duke of York stood in for the old dear, so that meant fewer crowds, so even better.  The children were mesmerised and as we walked along Buckingham Palace watching the parade and taking with excitement about having seen real Elephants in India.  Later that week,I attended a launch party at which I got talking to a lady who just happened to be the person responsible for bringing the elephants to London and who will soon be taking the same message and magic to Thailand. Then I met a lady who had sold my books in her store in LA and then I met another friend of a friend – Meg Mathews. Meg was warm and open and shared her own passion for design. Here is one of her wallpaper designs – available exclusivey at Liberty.

Here is an idea you might want to try or as in my case, you might want to let your children try.  This wide framed mirror in my kitchen lends itself perfectly to having old pictures and cards stuck onto it. These old memories tend to end up in boxes so better to enjoy them in a contained area.

I treated myself to my first Ochre lamp when my business reached a certain milestone.  That was 12 years ago and the Cherub lamp gives me as much pleasure today as it did then.  To add understated, timless elegance to any interior see www.ochre.net

Anyone looking to decorate their children’s rooms should take a look at Bobo Kids in Chelsea. Inspired by the French concept Bourgeois-Boheme, widely used in France to describe a particular lifestyle group, bobo refers to style-conscious consumers who embrace diverse fashion and interior trends to create individual style which is unique to them. You won’t find many all matching furniture suites here and thank goodness for that I say.  Also, if they don’t have what you are looking for, they can source it for you.  www.bobokids.co.uk 29 Elystan Street. Chelsea, SW3

So influential was Rachel Ashwell’s style, that it coined it’s very own phrase, know as shabby chic.  Whilst the look has been copied countless times, it can seem rather twee, but only Rachel can keep it whimsical, elegant and rather playful.  Personally I can’t do the whole look, but on visiting her new shop in Westbourne Grove, I found so much to delight and surprisingly taking it out of context made it look even more appealing.  If you are in London, don’t leave without visiting this treasure trove and my personal favorite – the floral union jack throw; I am going to put mine on batons and use it to hide the horrid plasma.  If you can’t get to the shop, buy her book for tips on creating the look.

I know Sania Pell; the creative mind and stylists behind The Homemade Home, because I had the pleasure of featuring her on the cover of Family Home.  Who can forget that precious baby and those fab Prada wedges teamed with fishnets.  This booked is packed with easily accessible create ideas and in doing the hard part of conceiving them, Sania offers the reader the pleasure of translating them with absolute ease.  The photography is by the talented Penny Wincer, who shot my Family Home book, so you can be sure The Homemade Home by CICO Books will be an inspiring visual treat – out now.

If like me, you enjoy the beauty of functional, everyday objects then you will love these hardwearing enamel kitchen accessories that just get better with time – for more visit www.labourandwait.co.uk

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In an ideal world we would be able to buy whatever we desired for our homes.  But personally I have found that having to ‘make do and mend’ has stretched my creativity and resulted in a space that feels so much more inviting.  If you are not sure what you can do for quick, easy and effective updates in your home, look for clues in any retail space as they are masters of the make-over.  Here the shop Merci in Paris has simply spray painted twigs and created a magical clothes display.  You could do the same and hang memento’s, photo’s and even change the display to be in tune with the seasons – perhaps hand made paper flowers in summer and glass baubles in winter.   The possibilities are endless but the price is low – my kind of decorating.

I have just come across this new site that offers cool classic furniture at low prices by simply cutting out the middle man.  There is not much on site right now, but it’s new and worth keeping an eye on it as no doubt their offering will increase over time.  - see made.com

A good blow dry every now and then, fresh food and a diptique candle; little indulgences that make me feel a million dollars.  Betterto do without than fill a home with cheap, chemical laden candles.