Interiors

I have a friend who had to leave everything behind her for a range of personal reasons. She is a young woman who is embarrassed that she has mismatching plates and mugs to use for guests. It was her birthday and it was a lovely excuse for me to go to the Zara Home sale and buy her pretty white plates, bowls and lovely water glasses. It made her so happy so easily. As a lover of beautiful cups, plates and way too many vintage glasses, I love finding bargains and also appreciate the expensive porcelain as well.   Beautiful

Metal is an interesting Feng Shui element and in its positive form it represents purity, clarity, honesty and freshness. In its negative form, it can be blunt, cool and too precise. The key colours that partner with metal are shades of grey and tones of white. The other elements include Earth which strengthens and creates the Metal element and Metal is aligned with Water as it is created from Metal. The elements to avoid are Fire as that melts Water and Wood as Metal cuts down Wood.   Where Can I use Metal? Checking out the Bagua Map, a

Raymond Peynet is a famous French illustrator and known for his poignant drawings of lovers. There is a tender element that strikes you when you view his work. This lovely statue is in a central area in Antibes outside a tiny museum in his memory. With so much going on, we need to remind ourselves of kindness, compassion and unconditional love.  

Follow my blog with Bloglovin “The home should be the treasure chest of living.” Le Corbusier. We lived in an amazing city, Berlin, with its truly international, diverse history, architecture and challenging bureaucracy. We had a lovely apartment that felt as if it was in a treehouse and it had  a gentle but fun energy. The colours were perfect with soft hues of sky blue, cafe latte and cream. But our hearts need to be near the sea in all seasons and I have a strong connection with the French culture. The South of France is an escape from

Let's talk about jewel colours - ruby, amethyst, aquamarine, emerald, sapphire, citrine and topaz.  They add style and drama, often lacking in neutral tones, and in the right amount, can offer warmth and a deluxe hotel feel. These tones that are on trend at the moment, can be seen from the living room to the bedroom, offering elegance and making a real statement. If you choose to use one or more of these, you need to ask yourself, how much? Do you go big and bold or just accent? It does require planning and careful selection of colour and

There is one word that starts a New York conversation - 'storage'. It is still the city I have lived in that really gets it and has come up with a range of wardrobe, packing and lock-up solutions. Other cities need it as well as many of us live in smaller spaces whilst living in a shopping world that entices us with stuff. There is a reason that tiny houses are popular and books on minimalism are constantly being highlighted. Check out the Container Store, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Home Depot in the USA or if you are

A young friend was missing her home. She was only in Berlin for a year and wasn't allowed to paint, knock a nail in the wall or make any apartment changes. She said she was feeling depressed wondering what she could do and it wasn't a particularly attractive space with a tiny separate kitchen and bathroom and a room for dining, living and sleeping. Always a challenge. I once lived for eight months in a shabby - not chic, small French apartment and understood how our living space impacts on our feelings. First Steps We discussed her taste, colours

Philippe Starck once said, "If you are depressed, you put some bright yellow in and suddenly you are happy." I wasn't feeling depressed but wanted to add a touch of summer to our bedroom. I have realised for a long time that there is a whole market there for a good bedlinen designer! The choice is limited to hotel white, stripes or flowers. Not easy for a couple to choose and avoid looking too gender specific. I have run the gamut of hotel chic blanc, Chinese intense silks and have recently gone for an Art Deco look. A bedroom is

This is the second of the expensive rooms, the bathroom being the other one. As with the bathroom, careful planning is required, you won't regret it! If you are ripping out the old kitchen and starting afresh, then you have a chance to search for whitegoods, fixtures and the whole look. If you are partially renovating, work out what you are prepared to keep and what you are really want to spend money on. That seems to be obvious however, I have seen people's budget blow out without proper research and planning especially around the classic triangle of the