A dreamy cottage (to rent!) in South East England

Do you have any plans for Easter? We've just booked to go to London for the weekend to visit my parents and sister, so excited! This time last year we were in t-shirts (yes, I know this is perfectly normal for some of you (lucky people!), but for us that was kind of a big deal!). But when the sun shines there's no place I'd rather be. If you're tempted to try your luck with the British weather, how about staying at The White Cabin in the ancient village of Winchelsea in East Sussex, South East England? I'm loving the bright, open A-frame ceiling and rustic / industrial touches. Such a perfect base for long walks, pub lunches and paddles at Winchelsea beach? And if the rain comes down, you've the perfect excuse to stay indoors too!

The White Cabin, Big Cottage Company. Found via Style Files with thanks.

Lovely! I think my favourite touch is the reclaimed kitchen cabinet doors. The look reminds me of one of the Hudson Farmhouse in my book. The interior decorator had bought a disused barn and used some of the wood to create cladding and handmade furniture for the house. So fab!

How about you?

Get the look: source industrial pendant lights here, Black scissor wall light. Try your local flee market for a decorator's ladder. Buy linen by the yard.

I've featured several homes like this in the past. If this is your kind of style you might just want to take a tour of a white home packed with antiques and a beautiful cottage by the sea (also available for rent). Or to make a morning of it - how about my 'summer cottage' and 'swedish cottage' archives?!

I've got a bit of a busy day ahead, but before I rush off  I wanted to leave you with this short video clip - *smile*.

Have a lovely day! 

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The rustic Norwegian cabin hide-away

It's the weekend! Yay! Any great plans? We'll be at home this weekend but what I'd really like to be doing is escaping to this rustic cabin high up on the cliffs of Western Norway.  Imagine taking a walk in the blustery north wind followed by a hot drink next to the roaring fire? That's a part of every day life for Norwegian couple Elin and Rune. As lovers of the great outdoors, the duo are firm believers in the saying 'there's no bad weather, only bad clothing' and wanted to live somewhere they could enjoy Storfjorden and the surrounding mountain range. The cabin developed stage by stage, and although basic, it has everything they need  to observe the changing weather and delight in the uninterrupted views of the nature that surrounds them.

 Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission 

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Could you spend your weekend here?!

There's something so romantic about this retreat, don't you think?

I've spoken before about my dreams of walking one of the 'hytte to hytte' trails in Western Norway. I even asked my Mum for hiking boots for Christmas. Yes, really! But seriously, couldn't you walk 20 km just to spend a night in a 'hytte' like this?!

For more rustic log cabin inspiration (it's got to be done right?!) I love this Norwegian cabin by the sea, a Norwegian hide-away, and a pared-back Finnish retreat. Why do I do this to myself?!!

Have a truly fab weekend!

PS images found via House of C with thanks. 

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The rustic Norwegian log cabin hide-away

How much would you love to head off to this rustic Norwegian log cabin for the holidays? If I could spend just five days at this retreat, belonging to founders and owners of Bolina,  I'd camp out by the  roaring log fire with a cup of tea, my book by Swedish novelist Jonas Jonasson- the one hundred year old man who climbed out of a window and disappeared (which I've been meaning to read all year), play board games with my family, take long walks in the snow, and generally feel relaxed and very merry. How about you?!

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission. 

I have to say the owners have been ingenious in their decorating. At first glance it looks like a classic log cabin, but look closely and you'll notice a modern blend of textures  (concrete, wood, sheepskin, velvet, rattan) and styles (industrial, rustic, contemporary). Combine this with unique fittings such as the kitchen units crafted using reclaimed wood from a derelict barn and the result is an incredibly warm, cosy, personal retreat.

Oh how I dream to own a place like this. What about you?

More dreamy log cabin's I could pad around in this holiday include a Norwegian one by the sea (the sauna!), a black and white Finnish retreat, or a cottage in the snow that looks like this (toasty)!

If a rural retreat feels a million miles away right now and you have a christmas shopping list as long as your arm (it is the weekend before Christmas after all) you might want to take inspiration from these two fab gift guides: for children, for just about everyone. And my fail safe last minute man gift. Good luck!

Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

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Shelly Street's fabulous Cape Town home

Last year I visited Cape Town for the first time for a friend's wedding. I immediately fell in love with the hip style of the restaurants, cafes and shops. Some of the most fabulous homes I've seen are also located in the South African city. This home featured in the August edition of Elle Decoration UK, belongs to interior stylist Shelly Street who has done a fantastic job decorating. I particularly love the rustic touches and neutral tones, just my kind of style...

Photography Greg Cox. Elle Decoration. Via SF Girl By Bay with thanks.

What did you like the most about this home?

I've now arrived in the chateau in the Dordogne where my sister's getting married this weekend. So unbelievably exciting!  I'm definitely going to have to do a post about our time in the Dordogne when I'm back, we've seen some stunning places. In the meantime, unfortunately the wifi at our accommodation's not working at all so creating blog posts is going to be too tricky over the next few days. I really hope you don't mind if I take a writing check and come back with more fabulous home tours next week?

Have a wonderful week and see you Monday.

PS I'll be on Instagram until then (I've just posted a picture of where I'm writing this post right now - don't look if it's raining where you are.....!

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A Norwegian space with a boho / rustic touch

Morning! I hope you had a great weekend?! Southern Sweden is basking in sunshine right now, it's been so wonderful to be outside from dawn to dusk! I thought I'd kick off the week with the lovely rustic home of interior stylist / photographer Line from Vintagepiken. I have shown a few pics of this beautiful Norwegian boho space before and now it's been updated with a set of the oh so fab Schooley lights over the dining table and textiles (on table and floor) from Private 0204. I had to write to Line and ask her if those peaches were as soft and succulent as they look and she confirmed that they were indeed!

Vintagepiken

So lovely don't you think?

I love the way the table has been decorated don't you? Perfect for lunch inside on a rainy summer's day.

You might recognise the rustic workman's stool as I have a set I use as bedside tables in my bedroom. There are two for sale here and actually if you search for 'stools' on LiveAuctioneers a whole host of really beautiful vintage industrial stools come up.

For more bohemian inspiration this morning check out more lovely home tours here and spaces with rustic charm here (scroll passed this one above which will come out top).

Have a wonderful day!! 

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A cosy interior space for a rainy day

Hi there! Posting from a very rainy London today, which immediately makes me want to withdraw inside with a nice cup of tea and some cool coffee table books. I'm thinking this beautiful space from the Norwegian home of Line from  Vintage Piken would be the perfect place to be this Tuesday morning. I've shown more of this beautiful space here - but you can never see enough of her home right?!

Vintage Piken

I love her style - the vignettes, the beautiful furniture, the photography. Perfect! And I want that cup! What about you?

BLACK SHEEP (WHITE LIGHT) sell the most amazing grey icelandic sheepskin pillows. They're often getting new items in so it's worth following them on Facebook to keep an eye on what's available. Top of my Christmas wish list!

Have a lovely Tuesday!

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Rustic / industrial Danish restaurant Höst

It's my husband's birthday next week so I've been doing some planning. Since he loves eating out, at least part of his present should be visiting a new restaurant. And with Copenhagen just over the Öresund bridge how could the the rustic / industrial Scandinavian restaurant Höst not be top of the list?! If you love interior blogs you'll have seen images of this before. But honestly? Höst was completed last year after a collaboration with the fab Norm Architects team (remember this monochrome home last week?!) and Danish designers Menu for Cofoco. And word on the street is that the food is equally sublime.

Norm Architects / Menu / Höst Styling: Emma Fexeus.

Table for two please. And it's more for him........honest :)

PS I hope he doesn't read today's post!

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The pretty Danish home of Tine K

Gooood morning! I often feel Danish interiors have a  distinct style; simple, clean but with the perfect hint of relaxed bohemian. This is the pretty home of Tine K of Tine K Home in Funen, Denmark which she shares with her husband and three children. Built in 1834, the house was photographed by Jenny of Black Balloon shop and blog.  I love the way Tine has decorated her home with rustic wood furniture against the white, soft grey hues and sharp contrasts of black.

Jenny of Black Balloon

I am postively drooling over the rustic dining table and stools! Could you imagine this home all decked out for Christmas?! Hint hint Tine K! :)

I'm having a luxury morning in a cosy café around the corner from my home with my laptop and a latte machiatto. Now that's what work should be like! What are you up to today?

(If you haven't made plans yet - don't forget to enter my exciting give-away!).

Have a lovely Thursday!

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