Interiors

The skies are blue, the sea shimmers, the beaches beckon and we are in the days of suntan oil, salt and sand everywhere. Shops are full of gelato colours in hues of blue, pink, lemon and lime. There are sunshades in classic blue and white stripes or turquoise and all things marine seem to be on the shelves. The yachts and big boats are here and while I am horrified at the money attached, I would welcome an invitation as a guest! So before you go out and redecorate your living space in shells, anchors and fish, let's talk

Years ago, a young friend of 11 years asked, "so, what are your dreams?" I had to think about it then and I still think about it now as they shift shape around and through the years. Goals and expectations continue to change and often life's turns throw out surprises which override those desires. As we are working through a post-Covid summer, dreams have turned to friendships, good food and wine, chocolate and a pair of blue summer shorts with matching sandals on sale! But seriously, a good night's sleep is often undervalued and it is key for our

It had been one of those weeks. An uncle from the invisible side of the family - a long typical Irish foster story that only the Irish are not upset by or astounded at - had passed away. The rollercoaster of moving to a new place continues with new friends offering moments of delight and other friends letting you down when you least expect it. The grand old story of life. So we walked to the nearest cocktail bar on the beach, a pseudo Balinese affair. It offered solace with wonderfully kitsch decor, garish cocktails and sitting with feet

A lovely jewellery shop, or bijoux as they call it in France, has opened up opposite us. We have got to know the owners and by serendipity, he is interested in permaculture and alternative thinking. We were offered a glass of champagne on their opening day. As we discussed Feng Shui it was immediately clear that the shop has a corridor effect that could quickly be fixed. Hallways & Corridors Many houses and spaces have a door that opens straight into a long hallway. Some corridors even go right out a back door or through to windows. The energy

On holiday, a lovely brass fish caught my eye in our hotel. Having been told that I tend to swim against the tide, it was amusing to think of a Thai koi out of place in a French Provençal hotel but adding a ‘je ne sais quoi’. It resonated with the last six months of leaving one country to enter another. We often get asked where is home and answer wherever good friends and our favorite furniture is along with the cats. We too are fish displaced but hopefully we add to the local culture and find a sense

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