Catherine

We are ready to go! The European borders re-open tomorrow and we will be on our way to our real home in a few days. These moments often teach us so much, what do we really want in life, where should we be and who do we want by our sides?     We will be taking a bit of current Berlin furniture to our French apartment - furniture that has traveled the world with us and holds many memories. To some, it is a couple of arm chairs, some paintings and kitchen glasses. For us, it is about

Let's clarify what that means. For me, it is not the floral Art Nouveau or the brutal end of Art Deco. It is all about the rounded curves, geometric silver, mirrored glamourous bedrooms and small parties with of course, a cocktail glass in my hand! However; the whole look can be a bit over the top unless you have the space and house to go with it. Our apartment is small and we are going to mixed it up with a bit of modern decor and use a hint of the 30s to add some style. To do this

Cherry blossom is out, the cafes are re-opening and we are cautiously meeting friends at a distance. Coming out of the Covid lockdown is not unlike the first hints of spring. Tentative steps are taken and appreciation of small tokens such as meeting for a coffee are considered. Choices that were taken away are now a possibility again. While I normally focus on Feng Shui and our interior space, it is at this moment that the exterior holds much more attraction. So, throw open the windows and look out in to the world again and embrace the air. We

When I think of floral decor, immediately visions of dated Laura Ashley or 1960s yellow daisies come to mind. Hints of rural living and vases of roses, cakes and scones. Not my cup of tea! However; there is a modern take on floral patterns and if used carefully, you can avoid your space looking like grandma's kitchen or a little girl's bedroom. Floral patterns can add a sense of freshness and nature especially if the flowers are dramatic and set against dark, strong colour or lots of white or cream. And even the 1970s daisies have been reinvented. Of

So here we are in week whatever and in Berlin the shops have re-opened and France re-opens their retail next week. It is interesting to ask ourselves what has helped us get through these past few bizarre weeks. Our homes have hopefully helped with giving us some internal harmony through at least having a haven to escape to. I am so grateful to my interior place as it has all the things and people I love, including two cats. I am also aware that others don't have this and have found themselves in difficult and sometimes life threatening situations.

My friends don't believe me but after years of selling and buying places, I don't think I have another place left in me. So we have bought our future home in Antibes and are selling our Berlin apartment. Even with the current pandemic, people are looking and we have a wonderful 360 video tour for potential buyers. We also have time on our side. Friends have also asked for tips on how to best to sell a place. Aside from it being the look, size and location that a buyer is looking for, there are also some simple tips

Well here we are in week whatever number. My last posts have been about the cleanliness of the bathroom for washing hands and the bed being a place to relax and now we have the haven of a comfy couch. It is the focal point for coffee, catching up with what other craziness is happening and for propping up phones and laptops to talk to friends and family. I have written about choosing a sofa and the key tip is - sit on it! Sofas On a Budget Don't discount IKEA. We had to buy sofas quickly when we

Week something of covid! At this time, there are two rooms that have become pivotal in enduring this confinement, the bathroom and the kitchen. The kitchen offers comfort for food and drinks. My husband is happily entering the world of baking and realising it is a science. I am mixing cocktails and buying decent wine. Over the years we have had the classic country kitchen of blue, white and wood, the modern black and white kitchen and currently, a cream and cafe latte galley kitchen. All have had three key aspects, the best that we could buy at the

As week 4 of the German Coronavirus lock down starts, several of us have remarked that it has become a 'month of Sundays'. This has led to what gives us comfort, what we feel we need to make us feel safe, happy and at home. Having lived in some shabby, not chic places in the past, a comfortable interior space can help balance inner harmony. So, I have come full circle of why I started this blog. Here are my key interior space needs:   A Shower I still think it is one of the best inventions outside of