TOAST + Botany Pop-Up Shop

I'm a firm believer in the less is more approach, an ethos that is synonymous with lifestyle brand TOAST. If you've ever had the all-consuming pleasure of pouring over their Lookbook you'll know exactly what I'm talking about, it's an ode to slow-living, absorbing your surroundings, finding meaning in the simple things like, for example, the joy of plants. Over the next few weeks, TOAST's Notting Hill store is hosting a botanist's dream of a pop-up shop, collaborating with Hackney based plant and homeware concept store Botany. I stopped by to check it out...Founded only last year by die-hard plant lover and former menswear product developer Andrea Maynard, Botany believes "that good, useful, ethical design and considered surroundings make for a beautiful and balanced life." I couldn't agree more and instantly made a beeline for the concrete planters (housing a variety of cacti) and copper watering cans - the accessories are as important as the plant as far as I'm concerned!Amongst the bounty of plants sat some beautiful examples of handcrafted homeware and organic skincare products including soaps and candles by Honest and tactile cork covered notebooks.I couldn't resist exploring the rest of the store, enjoying the feeling of space inside which had light streaming down through sky lights, bright white paint on rough brick walls and large planters of tall bamboo reaching upward. No surprise that I was so drawn to the softly glazed Eve tableware, hand thrown in Suffolk where I grew up. Always a sucker for good quality ceramics, I could see these sitting pretty on the table for Easter lunch.As part of the pop-up, TOAST is running a competition on Instagram for those who visit during its residency - take a snap of the pop-up and upload it with #TOASTANDBOTANY to win this basket full of succulents. Open until May 2nd...what are you waiting for?!