Catherine

Tomorrow we are able to go further than 10km from our home and next week, cafes and restaurants are possibly allowed to offer outside spaces. The local places are suddenly alive with the smell of fresh paint, stacked chairs and tables appearing and a definite positive change in the air. Splashes of pink, lime green and lemon decor are appearing in the windows and finally, the dour shades of Vermeer seem to be fading away. Interior decor looks less like living in a monastery and more like a tropical beach bar. Bordering on kitsch but shouting out fun and

A pertinent phrase for the moment, meaning in good health and spirits! The sun came out, all of our social bubble have had first vaccines, rumours of open space cafes are possible in the near future, and even the shops are changing from austere colours and blasts of pink are appearing. The colour pink has an interesting history fully appearing in the French Louis XV court's fashion and interior designs. In later eras, it became a colour associated with women and gentility. These days it is a symbol for breast cancer research, and is emerging as a colour of

A couple of friends had started to worry about my state of mind with recent posts on bright green, rose and white. But, you love blue! Yes I do and it is still the colour I turn to in decor, fashion and jewellery. But each place we have lived in has offered the colours that should be used. A cottage full of seagreen, sky blue and lemon, a city courtyard house full of beige, aqua and cream, Penang apartments with turmeric silks and white cotton, a French townhouse full of white and grey, our New York shoebox of white,

An American Illustrator, Greg Parrish said, "If time were a colour, I bet it would be a tasteful off-white". Well, we are all marking time at the moment and seeking a renewed beginning, counting the days. Friends have had their first vaccines and I am alone like the last person standing, being too young at 57. With my thoughts turning inward and philosophical, I find myself drawn to white flowers, decor and dress. I have written several posts about white representing metal and clarity, but on a rainy day, let's pause and remember that our choice of colour and

It is Easter in France with lovely chocolate shaped as chickens, rabbits and even bells, as ancient signs of fertility, a new life and beginning. I love a piece of dark chocolate and it is an ingredient and colour that symbolises warmth, comfort and luxury. In Feng Shui practice, it represents Earth, the centre, and a sense of safety, reliability and grounding. Use carefully as it settles and calms down energy, particularly water. If you are looking to activate a sector's energy, other elements such as fire or water make more sense as they add growth and dynamism.  

We have two thirds of a kitchen! It is small but well designed and a throwback to our New York kitchen. I recall that Julia Child created her famous recipes in the most basic of spaces and said, "there is nothing nicer than a kitchen really made for a cook". It is all about the design. We have had big kitchens, galley design, country cottage style and an open bench kitchen. Our most challenging time was two years without hot water in a Penang apartment. You become resourceful and we used one of the three bathrooms; washing up dishes

“You create your own decoration. You choose your color, you choose your mood..if you are depressed, you put on some bright yellow and suddenly you are happy.” – Phillip Starck. A perfect quote as it is particularly true at the moment. Daffodils and multi-coloured anemones are appearing in local markets and I find myself drawn to cherry red roses and purple iris to brighten a room. Brighter fabrics and interior accessories are appearing in stores and we all need a spot of happiness.   Move Out of Your Comfort Zone! It is not suggested that you suddenly break out