I did a shoot and interview with Laura Binns, owner of online interiors boutique Roost Living, at her stunning Dartmouth Park house early last year. Her family home acts as the perfect canvas for her style finds, ergo stock and I found myself drifting off to covert every cushion, lamp…
CF Style
Small brand shout-outs, seasonal wardrobe staples and #OOTD for busy working mums.
Snapshot: the bedside table
I thought it would be fun to do a series of snapshots to show you little corners of my new home as they appear from the rubble, plus all my favourite beauty must-haves and style finds, in context. Here’s my bedside table this morning. It’s the first proper one I’ve…
The soundtrack to my life
Inspired by tonight’s episode of The Voice UK, namely Jaz Ellington killing it with his unique rendition of Ordinary People, it triggered this blog about my very own Desert Island Discs. Benny and I had been together only a month or so, we hadn’t said those three little words yet…
And the winner is…
Devon. After a lot of house-hunting, umming and aahhing, a whole heap of soul-searching and should we/shouldn’t we midnight talks, we’ve decided that Devon will be the Mansi family’s new home. While London was a loyal bedfellow for the last decade, with the arrival of Country Bebe it felt right…
On… hammocks
One of my main loves when it comes to country living is an early evening swing in a hammock. Preferably accompanied by my trusty Roberts wireless and a G&T. My parents have the perfect pair of apple trees to string a hammock between, offering dappled shade in the summer and…
Lulu Guinness for Uniqlo
I will be setting the alarm to get online on the 16th and hopefully snap up the second from bottom trio of t-shirts from Lulu Guinness’ collection for Uniqlo. I usually avoid a graphic tee like the plague (big boobs don’t need adverts), but these bold iconic Lulu designs really…
Object of Desire: Art.co.uk
Hi. My name’s Lydia. I’m a picture addict. I can’t stop buying photos/prints/artwork. Yes, it’s an affliction. They are stacked around the house, lined up along the skirting board as we have literally run out of wall space. And yet I keep buying. The only rule is thick, matt black…
A post-natal hair funk
So, it turns out early motherhood is a bitch in the vanity stakes. I guess I should have figured out that round the clock childcare isn’t *that* conducive to maintaining your beauty regime. Who knew? And oh how the mighty have fallen. From the dizzy heights of a head of…
Object of Desire: Beware the moon
So, this company has been on my ‘interior design tear sheet pile of dreams’ for a while. Even since the immaculately tasteful Judith Wilson wrote about it for me at The Resident back in 2009. Beware the moon is a father/daughter wallpaper company that really tickles my fancy. I love…
Valentine’s Day north of the border
If you’re in Edinburgh and are feeling warm and fuzzy towards your beau this February 14th, head to the recently opened Thinking Chocolate for a cacao fix that will blow their mind. I’m just going to insert some pics here so you can see *just* how good this little independent…
A tale of two brunches
This week has been all about the brunch. One in the city (Crouch End) and one by the sea (Lyme Regis). My city haunt is, by happy coincidence, on the same street my parents-in-law have lived for 30 years. The Haberdashery. I love the bones of this place. From the…
Festive sweaters – the sequel
I never thought I’d be hankering after a festive sweater but then I met this beauty from J Crew. I admired it from afar for a while, mulling over buying it for a casual Valentine’s date (all dates are casual with an 11 week in tow). I’d even mentally styled…