Festive coveting...

These...

These...

These...

Coveting...

I have long known about Anthropologie from reading US design and interiors blogs and was sad that they didn't have a store in the UK (although you can order some things online). They have now opened a store in that London (oh please come to Manchester) which seemed a bit of a trek to go shopping even though I was sure that it would be my kind of place...

...London here I come!

Walls...

A while ago my mum went through her linen closet and gave me some lovely linen sheets as well as a few crochet doily kind of things. Not sure of their name (anyone?) They are very pretty and intricate but I wasn't sure about using them on tables etc as they might look a bit twee.

I have also been looking for some artwork for our main bathroom (it is a monochromatic scheme) so when I saw this, it gave me the answer to both of these questions. Now I just need to make a trip to Ikea for some inexpensive frames, buy some black paper and I will have some new 'art'. A creative project that is within even my limited capabilities...

If I wasn't already married...

...then I would love to live with these people. They like so many of the same things that I do. I love the framed tea labels, peonies, welsh blankets, vintage caravans, galvanised tubs for planting...

Dressers, tea cups, leather chairs and vintage looking linens...


And I suppose if I was married to those people, I might have lots of lovely things but I guess I wouldn't have this, the loveliest of things...

How to be a domestic goddess when you haven't a kitchen...

I have been thinking a fair bit about kitchens. Mainly as ours is more than a little make shift. We have some nice built in cupboards (see above right) and of course a dishwasher (I am officially in love with the dishwasher and do not know how I lived for so long without one in my life) but the remainder of the kitchen is more than a little makeshift. We have a sink unit that was left (uninstalled) by the previous owners mortgage company. I suspect with a nod to making the house 'habitable', a fridge and freezer kindly sold to us at a bargain price by a friend (hi Gem) which is covered with a random piece of worktop which we found in the garage and holds the toaster, microwave and more importantly the coffee machine. We did splash out on the fancy new cooker above (hello handsome) as I refused to cook on a camping stove for many a month. And then the same lovely lady that sold us the fridge and freezer also donated a cupboard and dining table (for free!!) that make up the rest.

It's funny really as for years my mum had a mismatch of fitted cupboards, a dresser and a random cupboard unit completed with a dining table and a muddle of chairs so I think I am definitely from my mothers school of kitchen design. Eventually though she managed to get some new doors and smartened it all up with a lick of paint, new handles and a nice worktop and it is lovely and has always been warm and welcoming and sociable. My aunt always talks fondly of dancing in my mum's kitchen on New Year's Eves and I love the thought of that in ours....

Anyway, the central heating 'project' gobbled up the kitchen budget as quickly as it gobbles gas. Well according to t'husband it must gobble gas as despite it being a lot cooler now, we are still not allowed the heating on. I have to make do with lighting the fire which is lovely if you don't leave the living room and when I do, I have to carry a hot water bottle with me like a purse. Anyhoo, the lack of any cash for a kitchen only makes me covet them more. Here are a few of my faves.

Love the pantry cupboard and that it's not too 'slick'

Love that the cupboards and the table were obviously something else before they were a kitchen and look well used...oh and the sink and the tiles...

Love the open shelves (cake stands!) but I think t'husband wants to keep everything low level...

There seems to be 'a look' developing....

Love the dresser and the lights and the chairs...


We have a clock like this so scoorrrre...

Don't think we'll get the dog but still love it...

Lovely table and a muddle of chairs..more nice lights...another great pantry cupboard...

Seems I am branching as I love grey painted units too (note to self: F&B Charleston Gray) and the work station / free standing counter.

Despite the largely monochromatic schemes of the kitchens above am also drawn to the bright colours below. All removable items so I guess I can add these if I feel the need for colour...

Oh sinky sink, please be mine...


A coffee altar....nuff said and also stainless draws....

Pretty much all pictures from Livingetc

Next steps. Purchase lottery ticket and/or find (free) cupboards that would suffice and make friends with a carpenter willing to work for free...easy!

Coveting....

Found on HomeShoppingSpy - where else!

The person who designed this obviously thinks very much like me! But I think coffee might come first for me. Perhaps I could place it above the aforementioned fireplace. I already have the typewriter (thanks to Aly and Jolly - how are you guys? Long time no see).

The teapot (or is it a coffee pot?) is very similar to one that my mum's Thai friend Pom used to use when we would visit her as children and she would make us delicious (and I thought very exotic) Earl Gray tea from leaves not bags. Her house always smelt delicious. And being from abroad and probably not used to the British weather she had wonderful heated, parquee floors which to a chilly individual like myself were amazing and obviously way ahead of their time compared to normal UK houses.

The Cuddleston Wedding Extravaganza - part 2

So after a few days relaxing, eating, gently familiarising ourselves with our surroundings, eating and getting to know one another but mainly eating before we knew it it was the night before the wedding. Abi's brother and dad with the help of some of the other chaps prepared all the food for a pre-wedding BBQ. How Italian is this?

I was too busy eating to take photos of the food but believe me it was so, so good.. fresh fish, salads of various sorts, meats, and some rather hot roasted chillies t'husband insisted on eating and then regretted all followed by gelato of course. Anyhoo, here are the lovely couple still looking mighty relaxed the evening before. I think Abi looks super happy, mainly, as she has persuaded me to spend the last night as a single women with her and that is a treat for anyone!

Anyway, the day of the wedding dawned bright and beautiful with Abs throwing back the shutters and shouting 'It's my wedding day' rather too loudly for the early hour. This declaration of extreme importance was swiftly followed by the equally important 'Is it too early to open the Haribo?"

Matt had taken a more practical (and perhaps sensible) approach to dealing with wedding morning jitters. Instead of calming his nerves with a hit of sugar (!), he decided to wash the wedding car. The sight of something so beautiful clothed in white must have been a trial run for the day ahead...here she is. It makes you misty eyed doesn't it?

And Abi didn't scrub up too badly either! The headgear...

The flowers....

The boys in all their handsomeness...anyone else thinking that the Italians aren't the only ones with natty dress sense...

The calm before the storm....so lovely....(thanks for this one Nick)

The proud and also very lovely mum...

And then it was off the the ceremony. Twas a bit of a worry as we got separated from the convoy and only had very limited directions and even more limited grasp of the lingo and I am sure Matt could really have done without our 'we're lost, please help guide us through the town that you are not much more familiar with than us' type calls but he responded in his usual helpful fashion and we got there just in time. The vows were lovely. The Italians lay out the responsibilities of marriage quite wonderfully. I will try and get a copy...

Anyway, despite the ceremony being in Italian (they had a lovely translator) and it being the new Mayor's first wedding all went swimmingly. And after there were the congratulations...

The 'just married' photos overlooking the square...

The procession through the streets to find prosecco for some, gelato for others...

Then back to the villa for feasting...

And much love and romance...

Congratulations you guys, it was all so beautiful....

Houses I love....

More Friday house inspiration to fire me up for the weekend, despite the fact I am going away to spend time with some great mates. T'husband is away biking in Scotland so I have a free pass too to not do house stuff too!

Saying that the plumbers are coming over the weekend to fit a shower tray (fingers crossed it fits and they don't ask me any difficult questions) and connect up the downstairs basin.

Anyway, back the the prettiness. I can't remember the name of the person this house belongs to but I heart it. Tis, of course, from livingetc. Where else?!

Loving the built in cupboards, the bright colors against the white walls, the clock and the stove surround / mantle thingy. Wonder if we should get one for our stove? T'husband - what do you think?

Love this stair runner. Apparently, the owner made it by sewing together Ikea rugs...

Love the carpet, the globe, the blanket and that she has similar colour curtains to mine....

A shrine to coffee and stainless steel drawers. I am going to start building one of these and I shall worship there every morning.

The kitchen set up generally (another nice mantle), the island, the stools, the aga. All those cupboards must house other stuffs so only the pretty things are on display. Yum...

Houses I love....

I am waiting for t'husband which gives me time to look at more house porn! I want this one (from Livingetc) or I just want the owner to give me her stuff for The Money Pit.

I love the pillow (obvs), the button back chair and sofa, the lamps, the clock. Pretty much everything...

Plus she has my dream rug (used as a wall hanging) and I want the industrial light...

The kitchen units, signage and table...

The bathroom slash dressing room. Love that bath and more button backs. She is lucky, lucky, lucky...

And she seems to also be a fan of skulls?! I heart it...

Sigh...