As you know my home is rather white and simple and that’s the way I like it because it gives me a canvass with which to add bold pattern and colour through objects and furnishings, as beautifully demonstrated in these pictures featured in Australian Magazine Ivy and Piper, via the gorgeous blog lalalovely.com.   Bright clashing shades and beautiful fresh flowers is all it takes.

I have been looking for a stepladder for some time now and was delighted to come across these in November’s Elle Decoration.  Designed by Karl Malmvall for Design House Stockholm, the Nordic simplicity combined with high-gloss style makes these lacquered-wood version a stylish choice. See momastore.org

Elle also featured this handy wall-mounted pot filler designed for that dream kitchen.  I looked at this and strangely it made me think of my mother who cooked for my father, my six siblings, my two cousins and their parents(who also lived with us when we were growing up) and and endless stream of friends who popped in daily being sure she would rustle something up in minutes without fuss and with absolute love and devotion.  Oh and she worked seven days a week.  Bless; wish my mother had this sort of support and lux when she was younger and yet, in truth it’s not gadgets that helped my mother, it was and simply is her happy heart that wants to give.  It comes from showhouse.moen.com

The last time I visited Amsterdam was on my first wedding anniversary.  No doubt much has changed in 19 years and seeing these images of Mezzo makes me want to take another trip.  I love the mismatched chairs, exposed brick walls, rough wooden shelving and sepia-toned images; it should not work, but it does. It makes the urban vibe feel relaxed and as inviting for singletons as mothers pushing strollers. for more enticing pictures see www.mezzoamsterdam.nl

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No sooner have I taken a breather from the Martha Stewart style preparations for my son’s 7th birthday (and yes, he was suitably pleased and that made blowing balloons and making sandwiches at 6.00am on a Sunday morning worth the effort), then came Halloween, which as some of you will know is a big deal in my part of town and then the first of many Diwali parties.  I thought I would share the meaning and rituals of Diwali as it may help to explain why so many houses will be maxing up the electric grid this Friday evening, but also because the theme of Diwali is universal.

Diwali is known as the ‘festival of lights’ as Hindu’s believe it is on the 5th day of this festival that Laxmi, the goddess of wealth enters our homes and hearts and blesses us with all good things and we leave the lights on so she can find her way – you can’t rely on Sat Nav alone!

lovely way to light up the house - as seen in elle deco

Whilst the legends that go with the festival are different in parts of India, fundamentally Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance and that is something we can all aspire to.  With all this comes renewal and that includes a house clean, freshening things up, getting rid of old, unwanted possessions and old out-worn habits.  What will you do to start a fresh?

my beautiful sisters await the goddess laxmi.

I am not big on theme parks as I find them manipulative, expensive and actually rather unimaginative, however, every now and then I put my cynisim aside and go with the flow and then something magical happens; I along with my children, end up having the most wonderful time.

I recently took my children to LegoLand in Windsor and not even the two hours spent in traffic or the hour spend in a queue for a ride that lasted 2 minutes could have spoilt the day.  The wonder on the little ones faces as we waited and anticipated the rides and the exhilaration once on them was heightened for them because I was as involved as they were.

I would recommend Legoland but be prepared, even the fast-track tickets won’t be that fast and it is not cheap, but there are ways to make it all easier and a lot more fun.  Firstly, really get into it and turn off the blackberry.  Buy your lunch from M&S on-route, where the children can pick a couple of healthy snacks and something sinful.  Don’t indulge in the pointless souvenirs sold around the park but instead give each child a budget (in our case £5.00 each) to spend in the Legoland shop on their way out.

Don’t you long to snuggle up in the womb like comfort of your bed as days grow shorter and nighttime comes calling.  I love the ritual of bedtime reading but the very act puts me to sleep with moments of turning the page. Oh, how I would love a room nearby with a quiet cozy corner as featured here.  This was probably my favorite house from my home book, in that it was modern but so very inviting.

Everyone is connected at some level and here is proof again.  As you know I love the work of Ilse Crawford and equally that of Martyn Thompson, who shot one of her books.  He has this extraordinary ability to make everything look striking and yet so serene.  As I was looking around for design inspiration for an up-coming project, I came across these pictures of Carter Smith’s New York home, shot by none other than Martyn Thompson for House and Garden.  The light, contrast, beauty and grace of these shots is hugely helped by Carter Smith’s high style and taste but no one takes a shot like Martyn.  Enjoy.

a masculine room that looks so inviting with its piles of books and comfortable sofa.

This weekend was packed yet perfect.  Friday evening was spent in the company of my dear friend Kelly and our partners.  We ate at La Caprice (which I would never do again) followed by drinks at The Connaught.  I loved that we were there in 15 minutes door to door, but I think some London venues are over-rated.  It is worth the drive to head out of town, especially if that out of town happens to be The Olde Bell in Hurley. I might sound biased because it is owned by our gracious friends, but it’s more than that; every detail has been considered and cared about by my design hero Ilse Crawford.  

Saturday evening was spent at The Olde Bell, in the company of our friends and Ilse herself.  I could wax lyrical about her work forever, but instead I suggest you take a look for yourself (one of her projects above) and buy her superb books; Sensual Home and Home is Where the Heart Is.   Even thought I only had three hours of sleep as we arrived home late and I was up early preparing Sunday lunch for friends, I felt energised because the whole weekend was about sharing time, thoughts, ideas, food……