How To Get The Measure Of Your Kitchen

For me, the heart of our home is shared equally between the living space and kitchen, in fact, I'd be inclined to say that I spend more time in the kitchen (entirely willingly I might add!) than anywhere else in our house. I enjoy the ritual of coming down in the morning to make my son his milk, honey and cinnamon (I made a rod for my own back the day I introduced him to that!) baking cookies or making our evening meal which also doubles up as time for me to unwind whilst Rob takes over the childcare.At the beginning of the year we were all set to buy what we thought would be our next home. It was a little rough around the edges, but that's what we loved about the house, that it was open to change. As viewings went, we were neither enamoured or deterred by anything we saw-the decor was relatively neutral save for the red "feature wall" in the front room, but still, it was all very standard as late Victorian 3 beds go. Until we reached the kitchen. I knew then that I had to have this house. What hit me first was the space there was available and the light streaming from a pair of French windows at the end. There was room for a table and a double oven-I could see it all before us; the family meals, helping Reuben with his homework at the table. Ok, the units were not to our taste and the layout didn't entirely flow, but being "project people" we relished the thought of re-designing the space to suit our needs.So what's the best way to plan your kitchen layout before you go to the expense of having it fitted? Magnet Kitchens have created a helpful guide as part of their Quick Quote service to highlight the basic rules as well as how to draw out a basic floor plan. If you're also lucky enough to be planning your own kitchen re-fit then take a look at the latest trends - I'm drawn to white gloss units at the moment like Planar White with clean, simple lines and a timeless look.Sadly our purchase fell through and with the pressure of baby Tabitha's imminent arrival we decided to move into a rented property until we could find the time to start the process of house hunting again. So, the dream kitchen is still on hold but given our experience of small, badly designed kitchens to date, there's no doubt in our minds that we'll be going to a professional when we're ready!*This post is in collaboration with Magnet. .

The Covet List - Living Space Must Haves For November

The Covet List is back! I've really missed spending the odd moment here and there online window shopping and let's face it, there's not been much time since selling the house, moving to a new one and having little Tabitha (I wish I was super-human). As things are slowly settling down again now, I've decided to start sharing those homely items I most covet with you each month, perhaps a few things might even make it into our house as I start to plan the various rooms.Let's kick off with November...1. I've recently had my eyes opened to baskets and I want to fill our home with them. I could fill them with magazines, blankets, even a cat or two! This natural Indra coil basket from Nkuku  is ideal for a tall houseplant and I love the combination of the natural woven fibres and tan leather. Perfection.2. Ikea has a great selection of affordable house plants and I've had my eye on a fiddle leaf fig for ages now, although it might prove tricky to sustain it here as they don't like direct sunlight and I wanted to put one in the corner of our living space next to the french doors. That aside, this ficus nitida with the twisted stem would still make a simple feature of an empty corner. Especially in that basket.3. This Wishbone chair designed by Hans J. Wegner from the Conran Shop is a classic piece of 1940s design given a contemporary update with a blue/grey lacquered colour-way. Ideal paired with a simple desk for the office or as a set for the dinner table, it also comes in eight other colour combos. Yes please.4. Is it just me or are lampshades one of the hardest accessories to buy for the home? I find it a little bit boring and it's yet another job I have to do in this house. BUT, give me beautifully printed paper, fresh colour and something folded within an inch of it's life and I'm sold. It's from my favourite Dutch homewear store, Klevering, too.5. Scent is so overlooked in the home yet we live with all our senses. Some of our most treasured memories are based on scent-for me it's things like the trace of my mum's Chanel 19 on her trench coat (it's the late 80s) or a chocolate cake baking on the eve of my birthday whilst I lie in bed. My favourite perfumers Penhaligon's produce some exquisite soy wax scented candles-I'd like to curl up under a blanket of an evening and light this one.6. If you follow my activities on Pinterest you may already know I have a penchant for hand thrown, rough-around-the-edges ceramics and this Scholten & Baijings mug in light blue and white is no exception. I'd love the full collection from Smug displayed on open shelves in the kitchen.7. Thank goodness we're starting to embrace the folk trend a little more-the delicate embroidered flowers and traditional patterns are very special- think eastern european. Elisabeth Dunker of Fine Little Day has a gorgeous example by Oscar Modin and Lina Holm for you to love.***Do you have a particular favourite? What are you coveting this month?.

Mini Mi Boutique Is Doing It For The Kids

I think I've just made a new friend and I'm very much hoping the parents of Rochester let her stay because she's just opened Mini-Mi, a beautiful children's boutique on the high street. It. Is. Gorgeous.For months now, the space once occupied by my favourite haberdashery, Hometown, has stood unloved and empty with quite a few traders concerned that it'd turn into another charity shop (Rochester is full of them in case you didn't know). So a few weeks back, whilst dragging my two children (I'm still getting used to saying the plural) around town to tire them out I was pleasantly surprised to see a brand spanking new boutique beaming at me from across the road. Reuben was first through the door and he immediately set to picking up and touching everything he could whilst I did my level best to avoid paying for breakages! Suffice to say, Mini Mi is just what a little town like ours needs. It's for small and big kids alike, boasts the best in Scandinavian and European children's design and provides us grown-ups with an alternative to the sometimes dreary mainstream option for clothing, toys and decor. No, I'm not being snobby at all but finding places like these in the Medway area is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. So "yay!" for Sarah Norris. Come and have a look round with me...Hello Sarah! Tell us a bit about you...I'm an approaching 40 busy mum to two small girls, Daisy (5) and Poppy (almost 2), as well as step mum to 3 kids, two in their teens and one 21 year old - we don't all live together but our house is one hectic place pretty much all of the time. For the past 17 years I've been working in the fashion industry which I always loved and felt very fortunate to do a job where I looked forward to going to work. However, children came along and my life changed! I love anything that's a bit different - and that applies to my life in general!!What inspired you to set up Mini-Mi?My job involved a lot of travelling around the country, early starts and home late, I was stressed from the time I went to bed the night before until the time I got home the following evening. I've always had an ambition to have my own shop but I thought it would be something way off in the future until an opportunity came my way that I simply could not let pass me by! I had always complained that although I live in a beautiful town, our high street does not meet my needs. With two small children I love to take a walk into town, get the girls some fresh air and do my shopping. However, every time there was a birthday or an event that needed a gift for I'd have to get in the car and head to a shopping centre. I thought that if I felt like that then I couldn't be the only one. I also needed a way out of the fashion industry, it's a dog eat dog world and since having my girls I always felt that if I slipped up someone would be there snapping at my heals to take my job, juggling work and kids is hard enough without that added pressure. I tested the market first by starting small and renting space in a friends shop, this experience was invaluable, I was lucky to have this opportunity to start small and keep my regular job going - It was a lot of work, two jobs, two kids but I'm so glad I did it now!!How do you go about choosing and sourcing your stock for Mini-Mi?I am always looking out for new things, I take lots of photos and with my old job I was constantly in and out of fabulous shops so I was always picking up little ideas here and there. I wanted Mini Mi to have a unique feel and not just be 'another' shop. I buy my stock from all over the world, this season we've been to trade shows in Copenhagen and London, I also use Instagram to find suppliers, these tend to be based in the USA which is great as it's difficult to find these brands in the UK and my customers want something that is unique.We stock beautifully made children's gifts and toys by Maileg from Denmark, another Danish brand which I love it called Sebra - I had to go to Denmark to place my order with this brand, it was so worth making the extra effort to get the correct stock, Sebra creates a massive impact in the shop. Traditional French toy brand Vilac, Radio Flyer trikes, Le Toy Van wooden toys, super cute Sonny Angels, Homewear by Rice and Littlephant, artwork by young Danish illustrator Carlslund (only UK stockist). On the clothing side we stock cool T's from American brand Prefresh (only UK stockist), new kids label Cute Graffiti, Bob & Blossom, Poppy, Joules, Minnetonka moccasins and in the summer our beloved Saltwater sandals!Why Rochester?I moved here 20 years ago when I started my Fashion degree at the Art college, I loved the area and never went back home!! Last year I assisted at my old art college helping the 1st year fashion students with their pattern cutting - it was lovely to be back, the 1st years were great!You're clearly very keen on Scandinavian and European style, what is it that you love about it?I have always loved this look, its very elegant and refined. It's probably no coincidence that I've worked for Danish fashion brands for the last 10 years! I would frequently go to meetings in Copenhagen and have had to run to the departure gate as I've spent too long wandering around Illums Bolighus gazing at the homewares!My favourite brand changes daily but today its Sebra - I love the giant William and Lulu cushions!! They are amazing and make a real statement but still beautiful and understated.What do you have planned for Mini-Mi in 2014?I've got some new brands coming in for SS14 which I'm really excited about! I also know that I have product areas that I can fulfil so I'm looking forward to January when the shows kick off again so I can go on the hunt for new product categories, as well as attending the childrenswear shows, next season we are planning to go to Paris to Maison & Objet - very exciting!!***Now that I have two very special babies arriving for friends and family in spring next year, it's just as well that I have Sarah on my doorstep. Just try and keep me away!

Anthropologie Christmas 2013 Preview

Shhhhhh! I know it's only mid October but Christmas is fast approaching (I won't mention how many weeks are left because quite frankly, I find it too scary to think about) BUT just look at what I have for you. The lovely folk at Anthropologie have allowed me to share a sneak peek from their 2013 Christmas Look Book and I've selected my absolute favourites to bring a touch of sophistication into your home this winter. From rich metallics and beautifully illustrated ceramics, to woodland motifs and tactile textiles, here's how to embrace the festive season the Anthropologie way...Winter Wonderland

1. Festive Word Cushion, Wish, £48 | 2. Yakity Pillow, Antlers

 Welcome winter into your home by introducing a few select pieces. I've focused on the living area with embellished cushions, faux fur throws and a little soft lighting. Create a warm and cosy nook with a touch of luxury.

3.  Faux Fur Throw, £188  |  4. Large Ginkgo Candelabra

 What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?Bring the party to the kitchen and dress for your turkey in one of these glamorous pinnies. I'm a huge fan of the Anthro apron, they're always perfectly tailored and oh-so chic. Sequins, pleats and peter pan collars...sigh.Served With StyleIllustrated art needn't be confined to the wall - have you seen these charming plates by New Orleans based painter Rebecca Rebouche? These beautiful woodland creatures would be a magical addition to the Christmas table, particularly if you're a colour lover. Alternatively, group them together on the wall if you're too scared to spoil them!

1.  Dessert Plates, Rebecca Rebouche, £14 each | 2. Rebecca Rebouche Platter, £78

 I chose this sweet little gaggle of measuring cups as a whimsical twist on a classic design - who wouldn't smile whilst cooking with these? I love the little touches of gold.The antler trend this winter has been carried through to tableware with this range of jugs, casserole dishes and platters. They're a statement piece without shouting about it.

1. Gaggle of Geese measuring cup, £36 | 2. Stag Serveware from £68

 You can find my favourites and a whole host of festive lovelies online and in store from the end of October.  In the meantime...have you seen the sale?.

FEATURED! 91 Magazine Issue 7

And breathe...it's the weekend, which means time to kick back, relax and catch up on some reading over a long and leisurely breakfast. Ok, well, if you don't have kids and trips to Ikea to achieve without filing for divorce at the same time that is, but the good news is, there's a new issue of 91 Magazine to pour over and yes, it's glorious.I'm really rather excited to be able to finally share this gorgeous (if I do say so myself) home entertaining shoot I worked on for 91 Magazine's A/W issue with photographer and fellow lover of all things Italian, Michelle Young. We shot this in June if my memory serves me correctly in my home whilst I was six months pregnant- it was quite a picture to see me running up and down stairs, crawling under the table and hanging up black-out fabric over the windows. Needless to say, I struggled to walk the following day!Anyway, back to the piece. In an effort to move away from the stereotypical idea of winter entertaining (red and green, sparkles and tinsel) I wanted to create a look which drew inspiration entirely from nature, using natural, reusable or up-cycled materials wherever possible- linens, cotton, succulents etc. Most of the items you'll see in this feature have been sourced from a charity shop, revamped from my own prop store or taken from the garden...I'm obsessed with copper at the moment, be it matt or highly polished and I loved the contemporary feel it created against the creased linen tablecloth and vintage Beryl Ware plates. Also included as part of the feature is a DIY wreath place setting which is extremely easy to achieve and will compliment your own winter tablescape.To see the rest of the feature and another beautifully inspiring edition, head over to issue 7 of 91 Magazine.What do you think of the crisp white with soft green and reflective copper?.

Bringing Holland Home - Decor the Dutch Way

The past week has been utterly insane. In a good way. I'm actually still rather gobsmacked (unusual for me). On Thursday 19th, under the influence of a full moon, we welcomed our new baby daughter, Tabitha into the world. She was a complete surprise, more so because we were convinced we were having another boy. Now we have her, we feel complete and Reuben is head over heels in love with his new sister. I can't wait to introduce you to her in a couple of weeks!It was a week in which I also turned 30, an event I'd come to dread for one reason or another-mainly because my plans to have a blow-out weekend were somewhat scuppered when we'd discovered I was expecting again and with a newborn to love and care for it was more likely to be a damp squib. Imagine my surprise then, whilst up to my eyes in breast feeding, nappies and midwife visits to see my wonderful friend of nearly ten years, Suze who lives in Holland, walk into my living room. Given that we chat every day for a split second I thought nothing of it to find her standing in front of me, it seemed like a very natural thing. Then of course the penny dropped that she'd come all the way from Holland (with her mum Ans too) and suddenly I was a blubbing wreck on the sofa. Ha! Apparently she'd been planning this visit along with her mum and my husband for many months cheekily behind my back. Now I don't "do" surprises, but in this case I made the exception and for the rest of the afternoon I was thoroughly spoilt with beautiful gifts, including the Tiffany tea tin which Suze discovered in a thrift store-could it be more perfect a gift?Amongst the goodies were a selection of some of my favourite Dutch magazines and I thought for today's post I'd share my pick of the pages, they're utterly gorgeous and have filled me with plenty of ideas and inspiration for our own home...101 WoonideeenThis month's issue explores some of the major trends for the up and coming year as spotted at the Paris and Milan trade shows. What's your favourite? 'Golden Delicious'Metallics are set to continue to dominate our interiors for the coming year but with a minimalist, linear edge as opposed to something more opulent. Lamps and furniture take on more geometric shapes and are complimented with bold, leather furniture as a contrast. I'm particularly taken with polished copper for its warm, reflective qualities and love the introduction of 3-dimensional and geometric wallpapers to re-enforce the trend.'Into The Wild'This look is my absolute favourite. This contemporary, bohemian jungle style is all about bold and bright print-think large leaves, bright grasses and landscapes. Mix ethnic designs inspired by Africa, South America and the Caribbean with natural materials- bamboo, woven grass, leather and linen. If there's one thing I've learnt about my decorative style in the four months we've been in this house it's that as much as I love clean, blank space, I'm all about colour, pattern and texture. Especially where green and ethnic print are concerned. I'm going to embrace it wholeheartedly-watch this space!'Sweet 50s'It's clear the retro 50s look is here to stay for some time and here in the UK we're showing no signs of tiring of the pastel and sweet shop colour palette. I'm pleased to see that 101 Woonideeen have gone the route of mid-century geometrics and Festival of Britain design elements over the more floral option with touches of soft watercolour for texture. This trend is happy and positive, thus the colours, shapes and textures should also reflect this mood.Ariadne at HomeA new publication for me, this jaw droppingly beautiful central Milan apartment, home of interior designer and stylist Stefania Passera and her three daughters has taken a hold of my heart in this feature which translates as 'Refurbish and Arrange in 20 Days'. Leaving their old house behind for a new start was a daunting prospect for Stefania who knew it was of fundamental importance to bring memories from their old home with them to create an instant feeling of home. Having upped sticks and moved house ourselves just four months ago, I really connected with her own thoughts of the meaning of home..."I personally believe 'home' is what's inside of you. The intimate, internal space that feeds our being...you can live in a little urban attic space or in a two bedroom home in the suburbs, but when YOU are balanced your house feels like home."The house is lovingly filled with objects and accessories with a story of family history. Use of colour as an accent along side a calm and tranquil base of white and grey-blue is reminiscent of a Kahlo-Duffy mash-up in places. It's full of character and vibrance.Isn't the kitchen gorgeous? The Studio Ditte plate wallpaper and pastel metal framed chairs compliment each other beautifully. It's a fun and feminine twist on modern vintage.

Styling: Francesca Davoli | Photography: Fabrizio Cicconi/Living Inside

This home is unapologetic in its style and character as I think all homes should be. Home should speak volumes about your personality and family life. It should wrap you up and ease the stresses of the day the second you walk in through the door, as a space where you can just "be" without any expectations.Tell me, what does home mean to you? Is it a feeling or atmosphere? Perhaps it's snuggling up in your favourite chair or something as simple as a slice of toast and Marmite?.

DIY Scandi-Style Kids Bedding

With just two weeks until all hell breaks loose and child number two makes its entrance into the world (I'm still in denial) we turned our thoughts to getting child number one's "big boy bed" installed in his room - we'll need the cot and even though it converts to a bed, we need it back and he's outgrown it.Finding the bed frame actually wasn't that painful, however, me being me and ever so picky about my linens and prints, I just couldn't find what I wanted for his bedding. The selection, unless you have a healthy budget, is pretty poor. You either opt for gimmicks, choose something gender specific (cars, lorries and dinosaurs for boys) or keep it plain and simple. What's available in between, for those who love simple, design led style and want something that doesn't overly dominate the room? Not much. So I was about to give in and buy a couple of plain block colour sets (which I'm still going to do anyway) when I thought "hold on-why don't I print my own?"So I did. And if you fancy it, you can very easily give it a go yourself. I juggled the best part of a day to get this completed around the usual routine of parenting (partly sponsored by Pixar) but if you've space and no interruptions then a couple of hours should see you clear...You Will Need:• Plain white or cream cotton bedding set.• A4 Foam sheet.• Dylon fabric dye in colours of your choice. I've used black and white.• A cutting board.• Scissors.• Stanley or craft knife.• Superglue or strong adhesive.• Paint brush.• Blocks of wood.Step OneDesign your templates first on paper and play around until you're happy with the look and sizing. Then trace the design onto the foam sheet and cut it out twice so that its double thickness and glue the two together. I didn't do this with the large cloud as it's almost A4 size and too big to mount on wood. Decide which way you want your image to print and then mark that side with a cross. The other side is what you'll glue to the wood to create your stamps.Step TwoCut your blocks of wood to size according to your stamp and trace the shape of each template roughly centre of each block to act as a guide when you're printing. Glue your templates (cross facing the right way up) to the centre of the other side of each block and you're ready to go.Step ThreeInsert a buffer between your fabric such as some thick paper if you can. It's a fiddle but will prevent any dye from transferring onto the back. I didn't do this...silly me.Pour out your fabric dye into a shallow bowl or pot and mix up your second colour (I chose grey but something brighter is also just as effective, just stick to one or two colours for the best outcome).Coat your stamp being careful not to overload your brush (once the fabric is marked, that's it!) and get printing!Step FourWait for the dye to dry (I carefully hung mine out on the line to keep it away from sneaky toddler hands) and then laying a clean piece of fabric or paper over your bedding and your iron on a high setting (turn off the steam please!) iron each printed section for 1-2 minutes (as advised by Dylon). This seals in the dye and should ensure it doesn't wash out later. It's pretty time consuming but worth the effort.And then you're done!What was Reuben's reaction? I believe the exact words were "Oh wow! Super cool!" From an (almost) three year old I'd say that was the seal of approval..

I Have Come Home

I have come home to my mother to slow down for a little while. Goodness knows I have needed this, with just five weeks of pregnancy left and a much awaited family wedding to celebrate in between, the time between now and "D-Day" grows ever shorter. There's still so much to prepare for but, perhaps as this is my second, I don't feel quite as frantic about it as before. It will all get done. Eventually. Last week nesting kicked in in the garden. I waited til dark, stripped to my underwear and spent a good hour weeding, pruning and watering in the balmy night air. Not a pretty picture but let me tell you it was heavenly. No one to see me or engage me in unnecessary bump chatter (I am huge and yes, thank you, I'm aware that I'm "all out front") and I could marvel at the stars and listen to our resident fox rustling in the bushes next door.And now a few days of pottering are in order for me and our son with family in Suffolk whilst my husband finishes painting our living space a clean, bright white.I love to come home, always. Despite all my protestations as an angry teen to escape this place, I spent the rest of my twenties happily returning to it or trying to recreate a surrogate in our own home. The house is filled with a heady scent of lilies-my mother's favourites left over from her birthday, which stand majestically on the worn and battered kitchen table.There's always the slow and steady sound of a clock ticking in the house, quite mesmerising when the rest of the house is quiet and a faithful heartbeat when it's not. I can take my time here, there's no rush, no strict routine to cling to and I can enjoy my own company for a while. I got my hair cut for the first time in months and I already feel like a new person, not the pregnant frump I was before but the old Tiff who had a little style and a gorgeous wardrobe before comfort and practicality took over.I think being allowed the chance to take a step back and re-evaluate life every once in a while is invaluable, especially as someone who doesn't like to mentally sit still for long (physically I'm too heavy and tired to move!!) my mind is always working over-time, pushing myself on to the next thing. I am my own worst enemy at times.I'm already planning ahead to the end of my sort-of maternity leave (because it doesn't really exist when you're self-employed!) and to new and exciting projects and shoots towards the end of the year. I've been in so much denial these past eight months, to the point at which I found myself on the phone to Kitchens & Bathrooms magazine for an assistant stylist job for some shopping pages at six months gone. What was I thinking?! Really, I ought to be focusing on how we'll all settle in as a family of four and try to get my head around being a mother to a three year old and a newborn. What I want to be doing though, is painting the house from top to bottom, up-cycling some worn bits of furniture we have that I can't let go of just yet and baking like a demon. One thing at a time Tiff.I'd love to know-how do you recharge your batteries? Is it something you reserve for your holiday or do you try to do it more regularly? Is there somewhere in particular you like to go?.

The Jolly Studio Tour

I'm extremely excited to share this gorgeous post with you this morning, very kindly submitted by my wonderful transatlantic friends Tom and Laura of creative illustration company Jolly Edition.You may have seen Laura's beautiful illustrations already ala Jolly Edition, if not here then most definitely Martha Stewart Weddings, Glamour magazine, Brides and Smitten to name but a few. I wish I had her artistic flair, the skill with which she interprets a couple's love story before sketching it out and breathing it to life with a humble paint palette.Tom's not a bad guy either, a web developer/designer extraordinaire who recently undertook the rather daunting task of handling my rebranding and is currently putting finishing touches to my brand new, squeaky clean website and puts up with my nit-picking most days! There's not many that can handle that...Having recently upped sticks from leafy Cambridge to set up in Laura's home town of Baltimore USA, the couple are now installed in a light and airy home studio and I get to share this little tour with you today. Normally I only see a small snippet of this space when we chat on Skype, so when Tom sent these to me I was pleasantly gobsmacked (and ever so slightly jealous)...Whatever their individual talents, these two are undoubtedly better as a team and this post gives us a little window into how their studio works for them..." We needed to find a space with a lot of light, we like to keep things minimal in our work space, if there's too much clutter we can't get anything done."I love the addition of the seafoam green to the window frames which ties in with Jolly Edition's branding and adds a fresh pop of colour to an otherwise blank canvas."Our furniture is a mixture of modern with a vintage feel - we've got modern Ikea pieces and an antique Ikea desk (sorry, we are the worst!) The colour rug which adds a splash of colour is Urban Outfitters and the navy love seat is from Ethan Allen.""We need to sit next to each other like the starship enterprise so we can focus on our individual work and bark orders at each other when we need to.""Eventually we'd like to fill our space with plants or animals, if there is none, it's incomplete."Tom and Laura currently look after Biscuit, the family dog (not pictured) who enjoys making the most of the hardwood flooring, sprawled out most days, but doesn't do much to help around the studio.In case you've got a little Jolly Studio envy and want to recreate their look in your own home or work space, I've put together a handy little shopping sheet below. And if you'd like your very own Jolly Edition design to adorn your wall, you can commission a portrait!1.The Ocean, The Sea, The Wave Print, Budi Satria Kwan, Society6  | 2. Fenton Wing Backed Charcoal Sofa, Rowan & Wren | 3. Paris Pendant, Pedlars | 4.  Morton Glass Trestle Table by James Harrison, Made.com | 5.  'Marine Splash' by Dulux | 6. Newgate Watford Lab Clock, HealsThanks to Laura and Tom for sharing your space and to Sarah Mooney for the photography..

Amalfi Inspired Lemon & Thyme Biscuits

Sometimes the most spontaneous of ideas turn out to be the best, and this super quick and instantly gratifying recipe is certainly no exception. With our recent spell of beautiful hot weather affording us the luxury of "alfresco dining" for every family meal this week, my thoughts have once again turned to Italy. Amalfi in particular, where we spent our honeymoon very nearly five years ago this summer is a region abundant in the most glorious lemons I have ever tasted, bigger than the size of your fist and beautifully imperfect in shape. We arrived late on a balmy night, newly married, exhausted and dehydrated to our apartment greeted by the most incredible lemon tiramisu we've ever tasted, made by the land lady to welcome us. Heaven only knows how much it was needed! Happy memories...Given that I'm now in no fit state to travel so far (32 weeks now) with a small handful of left over lemons in the fruit bowl (not from Amalfi I might add) and feeling peckish for a sweet treat, I decided to bake these zesty little lemon and thyme biscuits to transport me back there instead. If you want me, I'll be on the terrace overlooking the sea...Time: 15mins prep, 15mins to bakeIngredients:125g butter (I used salted as this was what I had to hand)125g caster sugar250g plain flour1.5 tsp baking powderThe zest of two lemonsA handful of fresh thyme, finely choppedX1 medium egg yolkApprox. X1 tablespoon double cream or milkMethod:Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees/160 degrees fan oven/gas mark 4.Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in the lemon zest, chopped thyme and egg yolk, then sieve in the flour and baking powder.Bring your mixture together until it forms a dry dough, then add your double cream or milk until it combines. The dough should just about pull together, it doesn't want to be wet.Roll pieces of the dough into conker sized balls roughly an inch apart, then gently press the top of each with a fork to lightly flatten. Pop them into the oven for around 15 minutes or until lightly golden on top. They should be slightly soft in the centre when you remove them from the oven onto a cooling rack, but they'll dry out nicely once cooled and should have a perfect crunch to them with a slightly softer middle.Pretty much as close to La Dolce Vita as you're gonna get.Enjoy!.

On Life So Far...

Well, I'm back from the land that time forgot! Life has been pretty involved over the past few weeks, from trying to sort through the remainder of stacked boxes in the garage (admittedly most of those are my props and crockery) sofa shopping (a near impossible task it would seem) and finishing up a couple of summer shoots, so I thought I'd drop in and have a little catch-up...BelongingWe really feel like we're a part of something here in our brand new Rochester neighbourhood. Suddenly it doesn't seem so alien to chat to a neighbour over the fence or wave as you pull into the driveway. Given that we never really had that relationship with our previous neighbours of eleven years it's actually a really nice feeling. Everyone know everyone's business...and that's ok!One afternoon before Reuben's nap we set to work baking these incredibly moreish chocolate and cranberry cookies as gifts for the neighbours to thank them for making us feel so welcome. Of course, I added my own touches, wrapping them in greaseproof paper and tying them with baker's twine and a little tag before waddling my pregnant backside off for door-to-door deliveries. It wasn't much, but I think the gesture made all the difference. Oh...and did I mention how good they were?Find the recipe in Tessa Kiros' 'Apples For Jam'.Food StylingI relish the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables available to us in summer and, as pretentious as it sounds, I make a big deal out of visiting the local green grocer on our high street once a week to see what's good to eat and of course, shoot. Given that I'm more comfortable in the styling of props (they're pretty predictable to work with) I'm pushing myself to experiment a little more with food and still life-these flat peaches were just calling out to me!Tomorrow is Rochester's Kentish cherry festival which I'm extremely excited about given that they are my current pregnancy craving. I mixed these up with some blueberries-they lend themselves beautifully to the camera in both their shape and variety in colour, don't you think? It's a real joy to experiment and push my skills in this house, the light is excellent regardless of the weather!A Need For Soft GreenA few weeks back we managed to escape to Ikea for a couple of hours sans Reuben to pick up a few essentials. Our worn out crockery had had its day and I'd ear-marked the beautiful 'Strosa' soft green stoneware bowls and plates to brighten up our new kitchen cupboards. I'm constantly drawn to this soft green which reminds of the popular kitchen colours of the 1930s and 40s, typically seen side by side of with light yellow. Having got them home I discovered a few more items already in that similar shade of green including the 1940s Berylware plates I recently used for an upcoming shoot for 91 Magazine, and the mixing bowl I picked up from a charity shop and always use for my baking. Perhaps I have a little problem?!Dyeing The Natural WayI picked up some Dylon fabric paints recently to try out for a mini DIY project coming up soon, but they got me thinking about ways in which I could harness natural dyes already available in my spice rack and garden. There's a wealth of hidden magic to try, including onion skins and marigolds (who knew?!) I grabbed a hank of acrylic and wool mix yarn and set to work dyeing it in a pan of boiling hot turmeric water. Whilst I was aware the dye might not take so well to the synthetic acrylic I was pleasantly pleased with the results and knitted some up to add to my beekeeper's quilt.If you'd like to learn more about working with natural dyes, check out my Dyes & Pigments board on Pinterest and have a go!Learning To RelaxI'm due in all of 9 weeks now and I'm still struggling to put my feet up and relax, particularly with a very active two year old boy. My mind is constantly ticking over and whilst that part of me is raring to go, my body most definitely isn't! I'm officially "off the circuit" for work now until later in the year and it's really difficult to turn down interesting styling jobs, particularly at this time of year when there's a busy schedule to partake in. I'm constantly aware of the possible back-lash it might have for me to turn work down so much now, but I have to remind myself that these opportunities will still be there when I come back and really, no one wants an 8 month pregnant stylist on set for a ten hour day who can't lug the heavy boxes or climb the stairs!For now, I'm putting my feet up, enjoying my family and these little creative projects that come along from time to time.See you soon :).

How Does Your {Indoor} Garden Grow?

I'm on a mission over the next few months to bring more of the garden indoors. There are so many harsh lines and empty corners in our new home and, whilst it's definitely not my aim to fill every space with clutter, I do yearn for a little vibrant greenery to soften things up a little. Whilst sourcing plants for a shoot next month, I caught the bug big time. Can you tell?I have a gorgeously simple DIY hanging garden to share with you at the end of the week which is beautifully contained and it got me thinking about other ways to introduce little contained gardens in the home. Mainly terrariums. Considered to be rather "trendy" these days, filled with all manner of succulents, cacti and other low maintenance plants they seem to be the thing to have right now. They don't need regular watering, feeding or pruning and can be left to their own devices to flourish on a windowsill (N.B check growing advice before you do this as some plants love light more than others!)Growing up we would always have the odd, quirky succulent plant about the house and I'm no stranger to them, so it was really lovely when I got to bring them in as a key plant for a client's wedding decor last year- in fact I ended up bringing quite a few home with me. It does make me laugh though to discover that since their rise in favour it's become almost impossible to find these in their usual habitats at bake sales, car boots and charity shops-they were unfashionable for so long and now everyone wants them!My absolute favourite gardening store, Terrain, has unfortunately yet to make it to Europe, but given that its sister stores Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters are already a much loved brand here in the UK I doubt it'll be long before its arrival. That's my explanation for breaking my "won't feature anything outside of Europe" rule today. If you don't know Terrain, then welcome -it's a breath of fresh air for all modern gardeners with beautiful collections of gardening paraphernalia, dressed up in the typically fresh, delicate style of its sister stores. It's a real treasure trove to explore and there's so much to love, but for today, in keeping with my indoor garden theme, I've chosen to share my 'Top 7 Terrain Terrariums'...1. Dome Specimen Cloche | 2. Edwardian Case Terrarium | 3. Open Bubble Terrarium | 4. Cylinder Terrarium | 5. Pedestal Terrarium | 6. Weathered Basin Terrarium | 7. Tidewater TerrariumFancy starting your own mini garden? It really couldn't be simpler (or cheaper for that matter).  Here's a few tips:• Glass works really well to display the details of your plants-don't assume you need to have a specially produced terrarium for this, a vase or bowl will work just as well.• Most mainstream garden centres sell a variety of terrarium plants for as little as 99p for a young sapling so you can stock up and watch them grow.• A layer of stones or pebbles on the bottom of the terrarium allows for drainage which is very important. Try not to over water your plants or they'll start to rot.• Add a variety of textures for your plants to grow into such as stones, worn glass pebbles, compost and sand. It also looks great layered through the glass.I hope you feel inspired to go forth and create your own indoor gardens and I look forward to showing the results of what I'll do with mine once they've had their moment in front of the camera in a few weeks!.

Swedish By Design - HOW ARE YOU

Here's a colourful start to your week in the form of Stockholm design duo Tobias and Emelie or HOW ARE YOU. As the ombre/gradient trend continues into the summer months bringing both bright and subtle pops of colour into our homes, I simply had to share these with you.I'm discovering a love of all things plywood at the moment that I never knew I had. Such a simple material and one no doubt you'll remember using to practice with on jigsaw machines during design and technology classes, HOW ARE YOU's Plywood Cabinet from their 'Made for us' collection is (I quote)..."RAW, it's BIG and MADE FOR KEEPING STUFF IN".I totally would too. The splash of graduated colour gives it a lift away from the ordinary and turns it into a real feature piece for the living space or office. All their cabinets are custom made in a "large and smaller than large" and painted to your preference. You could seriously go to town on this bad boy.Their soft canvas cushions from the COLORS collection are an ideal addition for your sofa and would look gorgeous mixed in with some light or dark grey soft furnishings for a contemporary feel.Love what you see? Check them out...Follow HOW ARE YOUWebsiteBlogTwitterFacebook.

A Small Office Tour - Just A Little Corner

Morning. Sleep well? I thought I'd start the day gently with a milky decaf and a little insight into my new office space, sharing a little corner of it with you. Over the past few days in between trips to the supermarket and hunting for nurseries for our son (a whole different ballgame here) I've managed to pick my way through the boxes and slowly unpack my office. I'll say it again. My office. You have no idea how good it feels to say that, given that I'd gone from having a corner of a room in our two-up-two down, to working on the sofa/dining table once our son was born. I planned entire weddings that way and it wasn't conducive to anything remotely organised...although I did it. Now I have an entire room. I can fill it with whatever I want. I can swing the cat if I feel like it (and I wouldn't really) but it is such a creatively liberating experience to finally be here.I discovered this beautiful old bureau in our local charity shop a few years ago and, although it was partly my sewing cupboard, it was also needed to store some very ugly DVDs for some time, so being able to lovingly display all my fabrics, linens and sewing paraphernalia is just really exciting. I'm rediscovering things I forgot I had be it from past shoots, projects or events and I treasure them even more now.The flip-side to up sizing a home is that you suddenly discover how much furniture you lack-slightly frustrating when you have all this "stuff" you had stored in the loft for years needing a home but nowhere as yet to put it! So, I'm only sharing this small corner of my space with you today because if I took any shots behind me you'd see a mess...so give me some time and I'll post a full reveal.As an impatient person I'm not too practised at waiting but I'm enjoying relaxing into the space and letting it reveal itself, how I use it and thus how I choose to decorate it. I'm going to live with it for a little while and carry on adding to my Pinterest board for inspiration until I feel ready. I'm pretty sure that crisp white will be the order of the day on the walls though, with colour brought in with accessories, perhaps a little rug?My next project will be to revamp my boring pine desk -thanks to everyone who voted on the colour on Facebook and Instagram. I'll reveal the winner in a DIY as soon as I can get out in some dry weather and get started!Hope you enjoyed exploring this morning. What's your creative space like?.

The New Neighbourhood - Finding Our Feet

Well, I'm still alive! We made it! Three days of DIY house moving (and boy was it exhausting, especially with this growing bump) and we're settling in nicely. I'd thought that weekend was going to be really emotional from the viewpoint of leaving our home of over ten years and starting anew but actually I don't miss the place at all. I have space here. And light. Lots of light!The first few days have been like a reawakening for all of us here, on our first morning in Rochester I took our son for a stroll into the town and was greeted and smiled at by people we passed in the street. The students at Kings School coming out of the cathedral after morning service were polite and considerate as they passed us on the pavement. Our neighbours actually introduced themselves and welcomed us first. It all felt rather like being in a musical, cheesy as it sounds. So I suppose you could say that my expectations have changed since moving just 20 minutes up the road. Thank goodness we did it.Over the bank holiday weekend Rochester welcomed its annual Sweeps Festival to town, a tradition steeped in history and folklore in which around 60,000 visitors and local morris dancing groups flock in their droves, faces blacked out as a nod to the chimney sweeps, clothed in their finery to dance and celebrate the May Day weekend. The fair set up camp outside in the castle gardens for the three days where live music played and kids got sick from the sweets and rides...Eccentric characters were in abundance and were admired, the town was absolutely buzzing. Having come from a shut down commuter town where you kept yourself to yourself it really brought home to us what we've been missing. Community.

Rochester is in full bloom at the moment, whether it's the cherry and magnolia blossoms outside the cathedral or inside the Six Poor Traveller's House courtyard garden (my new favourite retreat to escape the chaos). There is colour and texture everywhere.We finally discovered how to reach the Saxon Shoreway too. It's in Lower Upnor, just down from the castle. Upnor in itself is the most stunning little village but here you can walk the shoreline for quite some way at low tide. With the sun and a warm afternoon on our side, we stopped for a cool drink in the local pub and meandered along, enjoying the sound of the water.Hope you enjoyed this first little insight into our new neighbourhood. I'll be getting on with some 'Before & After' tours of the house once we're settled in but with the next few weeks packed with work for shoots you'll have to be a little patient in the meantime ;)Have a lovely weekend, whatever you're up to!.

A Soft Submission

With a rare day of sunshine yesterday I decided to be spontaneous and indulge in some bread making, in my opinion one of the most therapeutic things you can do. With just two weeks before moving day and a house groaning with packed cardboard boxes I relished the act of kneading some dough into a soft submission and with it the stress, if only for a short while. I'm sure you can empathise that with the effects of this unrelenting winter it's been darn near impossible to feel inspired. I was tired of moping around, feeling sorry for myself. I'd even wondered if I'd ever get my "mojo" back again, so I was somewhat relieved to feel it returning yesterday. Long may it last, please!One recipe for sweet bread I turn to time and time again is Babka/Pulla/Kringle-a bread made with sugar, butter, cinnamon and or cardamom. There are several variations on this theme depending on where in Europe you find it but the method is much the same. My favourite is the Babka from food writer Tessa Kiros' 'Falling Cloudberries' but given that I'd already boxed it away I plumped for an Estonian Kringle instead via 'Just Love Cookin' ' blog.With the dough rising beautifully in the airing cupboard we headed out for a walk to blow the cobwebs away before returning home tired and revitalised. I so looked forward to building up and braiding the dough ready for its thirty minute bake and afterwards I sat on the kitchen step with my son to watch it swell and caramelise in the oven. A little piece of heaven.I realised with a tinge of sadness that this sweet little indulgence would most likely be the last thing I bake in our oven before we leave it for the new owners. I was 21 when I moved in with my now husband and in those eight years this oven has seen all manner of dishes and delights , from numerous wedding and birthday cakes, to moussakas and baklavas. Like a constant companion it's never let me down and I know it as if it were an extension of me. Bit of an odd way to talk about an inanimate object, but let's just say I'll miss it a great deal.On the 26th we'll begin a new chapter in our new home, which as its rented will present a whole new set of decorative challenges but I wholeheartedly look forward to sharing this adventure with you. There'll be so much to do before this new baby arrives but with each day that passes I can feel my inspiration returning which can only be a good thing.See you on the other side. X{Check out more recipes like this}Chocolate Babka ~ Smitten KitchenBraided Cardamom Bread (Pulla) ~ SaveurPulla ~ Pure Vegetarian...and if you can't be bothered to bake your own but want to savour the flavour anyway, get down to Fabrique, a gorgeous Swedish bakery in Hoxton..

Miriam inhout & The Sunday Market

A few weeks back I was well enough to make it over to the north of Holland to stay with a good friend for a long weekend. This was a Christmas gift from my husband to enjoy and explore Holland sans the sprog which was incredibly liberating! Just imagine-I could actually shop in peace, explore wherever I wanted, eat when I wanted and sleep in if I decided to. Oh, the freedom!On the Sunday morning I received a tweet from the lovely Eline Pellinkhof telling me about a fantastic handmade market to visit on the outskirts of Amsterdam in Westerpark, so with a day free we headed out to see for ourselves.Held on every first Sunday of every month, the Sunday Market is a fashion, art and design market which has a similar feel to Greenwich & Spitalfields for the crafts and Borough market for the food and drink (you could indulge in a chocolate crepe and a chilled glass of champagne whilst you browsed).The market had a really laid back feel to it and boasted a number of very talented designer-makers. I was especially taken with the work of furniture designer and joiner Miriam Spanier of 'Miriam inhout' -literally translated as 'Miriam in Wood'. Inspired by the 1970s turned-leg pine coffee tables, she's breathed new life into what would've been considered old and dowdy designs and created a new contemporary must-have. The RE-LEGS collection.

Small RE-LEGS in neon pink

What I absolutely love about Miriam's designs is that she leaves the natural finish of the wood on the outside and introduces a cheeky splash of colour to the inside of the legs leaving the 3-dimensional detailing on display. She's made pine cool again.

Large RE-LEGS in blue

The tables come in a variety of colours including canal green (they wouldn't be Dutch without this traditional colour!) soft yellow, off-white and natural wood.

Small RE-LEGS in signal red

I think I'd like to have a series of these wall-mounted as book shelves. Don't you think they'd look great?.

Coming Out Of Hibernation...

Gosh. Just about two month since my last blog post. Are you wondering where I've been? Most likely not if you've better things to do with your time, but let's just say I've been really very unwell and pretty much bed/sofa-bound for much of the time. I certainly haven't flaked from the world of blogging, got bored or disinterested-I love the community we have here and hearing from you over on our Facebook page and Twitter, but it was so all-consuming that it was easier for me to put everything aside (including work) and concentrate on the job in hand. Getting myself better.So what was going on? Here's a clue...Yep. I've been growing another human being (and the last for us after this experience!) as the uncontrollable all day morning sickness I've had almost landed me in hospital-I couldn't keep anything down and I can honestly say it was the most miserable two months of my life, bar none.My husband was incredible, transforming into some sort of domestic god working full-time upstairs in our office, looking after me and our two year old son as well as doing all the housework, food shopping and catering. We live quite far from any family support and most of our friends work full time in the city so there was no chance of any outside help, we were literally on our own. And the work I had to turn down? It was pretty soul destroying too as I'd been offered the chance to style for a cook book, something at the very top of my goal list. And just when you'd think things couldn't get much worse, we lost the house we were buying...and so there we were, stuck without a home to move into and a very lovely, patient buyer waiting. You literally couldn't write this stuff.BUT (because this post really wasn't supposed to be a miserable bag of poo on a dreary Monday morning) we are expecting a healthy little 'Squirt' in early September and we're very excited to start a new chapter of parenting with two little Rileys. I'm also feeling a great deal better than I was a few weeks back and am trying hard to find my creative blogging mojo again, because it's what I love to do.So there we are, that's where I've been. If you've contacted me via email and I've not yet replied, I'm getting round to you, promise. And in the meantime, thanks for hanging in there and waiting!How ARE you all?!.