Cottage time

I have just fallen in LOVE with this cute English country cottage...beautiful!

Images: Wealden Times

Once upon a time...

We spent an amazing Christmas in LA. For 3 glorious weeks we relaxed in an amazing craftsman cottage between Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney Blvd...great location!

It was such a cute little house with an amazing under cover seating area - perfect for watching the world go by!

We ventured out and found a Christmas tree to add a little festive touch to the house! I made some paper chains too.

I loved the dining table made from a Cedar Slab. 

The pizza from Abbott's Pizza Company is highly recommended. They do a yummy salad pizza!

While we were in LA we also drove out into Malibu to El Matador Beach,

where 6 months earlier this had happened...

I love California. I love LA. I love Venice Beach and I loved our stay in the little craftsman cottage.

Oh, and I love watching my husband be hunky and strong on the play area in Santa Monica...

HAPPY TIMES!

Images by me and from the craftsman house website

Cozy Bedrooms

Winter is beginning to set in. We woke up to our first frost this morning. Our bedroom is still a long way from being finished...we have no blinds or curtains even. Wouldn't it be great to just snuggle into bed in one of the bedrooms below? They all look so cozy, warm and inviting! 

Images - Ochre, Living etc, Homes & Gardens, Laura Day, The Hidden Hotel, Dean Street Hotel, Farrow & Ball

A new rug (or two)

Our Guest Room is coming along...it is getting to the fun part of adding the finishing touches. I love the rug below from Graham and Green.

I think that one at either side of the bed in our spare room would really help to make the painted floor boards feel a little more cozy!

Images: Graham and Green

A Beautiful Country Home

Just a couple of villages away from us sits this beautiful country home with a price tag of £2,250,000...it's nice to dream! The drawing room looks elegant yet cozy and warm, I love the formal garden and just imagine having a guest house in your grounds. AMAZING! The only thing I'm not so sure about is the kitchen. It is a little bit modern for me, although I do love the Aga.

Here are the agents details.

Images - Knight Frank

Sienna

I love Sienna, and just look how stunning she looked at the Dinard British Film Festival in France!

Animal print black top and blazer - from her fashion range Twenty8Twelve - and Christian Louboutin heels. Great tan too!

Image - Getty images via Daily Mail

Green Door

My dad's house has been a little neglected of late due to his hard work on our new pad. Anyhow, he is fitting himself a new back door and I am going to paint it green (his favourite colour).

We painted the front door to our flat a Farrow & Ball Green called Green smoke (see above).

I also like the colour Lichen (also Farrow & Ball) which the gate above is painted in. His house is built of Yorkshire Stone which has a similar colouring to the wall above...it could look pretty!

Some more green door images...

And my favourite...such a cute dog!

Images - Farrow & Ball, Ideal Home, Living etc, Country Living, Apartment Therapy

Paperwhites

 

For Christmas I'm having a go at forcing some Paperwhite bulbs to give as personal, home grown  presents to friends and family and to use as Christmas decorations. I think the Paperwhites on the fireplace below look beautiful!

They are meant to be easy to grow...fingers crossed!

          1) Arrange a layer of pebbles at least 1" deep on the bottom of the pot.

          2) Place bulbs root side down.

          3) Pour water to the top of (but not above) the pebble line.

          4) The bulb shouldn't be touching the water or it will rot. The roots will eventually 'find' the water.

          5) Water every few days.

          6) Roots should sprout and shoots grow and flowers bloom!

 I was given some forced hyacinths last Christmas. They were such a lovely present!

I'm going to add some new bulbs to the vases I was given last year. (Cox & Cox). It's so lovely to be able to re-use a Christmas present, and they look so pretty when they flower.

Good luck little bulbs!

(Images - Martha Stewart & Cox and Cox)