Category: Interiors

French Feels at Mount Ashby Estate

August 21, 2018

Nestled in the heart of Australia’s beautiful Southern Highlands, who’d have thought such authentic European ambience could be discovered. Combining a passion for antiques alongside French cuisine to accompany exquisite wine produced on the estate, Mount Ashby exudes classic style which together formulates the idyllic setting for a weekend leisurely lunch soaking up the charming Australian countryside.

Edit 11.jpgEdit 7Owners Chris and Sally Beresford pride themselves on creating the perfect setting in which to enjoy the immaculately kept estate as you graze on a delectable French inspired menu carefully curated by Sally herself. Whilst guzzling a glass of wine and soaking up the sun, you can explore the vineyard and get to know the majestic family of geese making their characterful presence known on the reservoir.

Edit 8An impeccable taste for French interiors is also reflected in the antique centre next door, in which Sally exhibits her antique tables made using trees imported from France. With a background in the rag trade and regular trips to Europe to scope out original pieces, Sally brings together antique furniture alongside touches of modern elements to formulate her unique style. This compilation of the old and new to accompany exclusively curated tables has drawn the attention of prestigious publications including Vogue and The Financial Times, establishing Beresford’s name in interiors from the highest of crituques.

Edit 9.jpgWith such attention drawn to Mount Ashby amongst socialites of the Southern Highlands and beyond, the estate is set to grow with a new event space being built to accommodate increasing demands of weddings taking place on the property. Set amongst the vineyard overlooking the reservoir, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque, romantic setting to take marriage vows. Meanwhile, the Pallete Cafe with its new summer special menu continues to bustle on the weekends, firmly proving itself as a little taste of France within the sweeping hills of Australian farmland.

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Style Obsession: Bottle Green Faux Fur

March 9, 2017

With fashion week hitting London, New York, Milan and finally Paris, the street style of who’s who in fashion brought fresh inspiration for our spring wardrobes. Models, bloggers, designers and celebrities rubbed shoulders to welcome the new season of trends which includes classics from the past such as the pinstripe shirt, alongside slogan t-shirts promoting messages of feminism.

Whilst the catwalks teased us with pieces for the spring, as always English weather was still cold and wet meaning street style remained autumnal. Browsing Instagram and Pinterest I found myself back to this one obsession: the bottle green fur coat. And it seems fur coats, of course faux fur, are the wardrobe essential this season to throw on for any occasion as much as you would perhaps a leather jacket.

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After creating a mood board and searching for a high street alternative to this stunning outfit stealing piece, I found a similar version from Zara. Of course this was sold out…so eBay it was and pretty soon I found myself a very affordable £15.00 copy from China!

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Ok, it has taken a month to come in the post, but this great find is surprisingly good quality and has certainly satisfied my bottle green fur obsession. As a statement piece I’ll be wearing it casually to vamp up jeans and kicks, or to subtly add colour to simple black jeans and boot heels on a night out. And as someone who feels the cold, I know this coat will be well loved even for those chilly summer nights.

Happy Pancake Day

March 3, 2017

Ok, so I know it’s a few days late but I think it’s time we enjoyed pancakes all year round! There’s so many delicious ways to mix them up and with the ingredients being store cupboard basics, they’re cheap and easy too.

This pancake day I decided to try something new and have banana oat pancakes for breakfast. Sticking to four ingredients – mashed banana, jumbo oats, rice flour and almond milk – I whipped it all together to make one big pancake. Perhaps not the traditional method, however once I added lots of berries, yoghurt, more banana, my homemade granola and a sprinkling of cinnamon on top, this made one tasty and filling breakfast to keep me going throughout the morning.

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And with the weekend coming up, I’m sure my Dad will be sniffing after his favourite crepes topped with simple fresh lemon juice and sugar. My fail safe recipe for these comes from Delia Smith and can be used as the basis to sweet and savoury pancakes. With leftover batter I’ll be making savoury open pancake salads which can be embellished with whatever takes your fancy – mozzarella, tomato, basil and balsamic rocket salad is always a winning combination. Experiment with your pancakes and they can become a go to dinner or a healthy breakfast choice any time of the year.

Escapism

February 24, 2017

You can never pick up a book and put it back down having not learnt anything. With technology encompassing our lives, I find the simple pleasure of getting lost in the journey of a book or magazine a perfect way to switch off from my phone…true escapism into the depths of imagination a million miles from this world that never stops.

So here is what I’m reading now. First up the books and Elizabeth Gilbert is an author I can’t get enough of at the moment. Eat Pray Love is both inspirational and frank about her unique road to finding peace within. Whilst a story of self discovery and learning the art of meditation may be a whimsical concept, Gilbert’s style of writing is down to earth and frank in her outlook on life, making this a relatable and often humorous read.

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Having enjoyed Eat Pray Love so much I was recommended Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Being in a creative field of work myself, this book opened my mind to the curiosities of imagination which we often shy away from. Gilbert encourages us to embrace our inner ambitions and face challenges we may have deferred, whether that is a hidden talent or simply a task at work. Living creatively doesn’t necessarily mean having a job in the arts, but leading a life fuelled more by curiosity than fear.

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Now onto my favourite magazines. I’ll be honest, I find many magazines full of advertisements and high end fashion which is pretentious and unecessary. However I do appreciate good articles on lifestyle, fashion, food and travel. I’ve been an Elle reader for many years now and find the styling tips and fashion articles relatable. The cover star is always well interviewed in a colloquial manner to give a realistic impression of their personality, alongside a beautiful spread of photos which showcase some enviable clothes.

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Finally Company is a magazine I’ve only recently began reading, especially since its new larger size and cheaper price (£1!). The lifestyle articles by Dawn O’Porter and Hey It’s Ok section never fail to make me smile – I can always relate some tragic situation to my own. And like with every magazine, I turn straight to the travel hotlist and swoon at the white sand beaches I dream of jetting off to…

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