Category: Interiors

Prosecco Party; Stories Told, Memories Made

November 6, 2018

Take a group of old school friends, a few bottles of prosecco and a spread of delicious nibbles and you have yourself an evening full of giggles and fun. Coming back from the other side of the world for a few weeks, I couldn’t help but plan an evening with my favourite girls involving good food and plenty of booze!

edit-14.jpgAlways being one for a cheese board and regular customer of our local wine bar, I had to provide a platter of delicious offerings including lots of fruits, pickles, cured meats and chutneys to accompany the carefully selected array of cheese. Also known for my love of creating and consuming beautiful salads, I made a salad inspired by a recent visit to Cote Brasserie which included apple, currents, walnuts, goats cheese and a honey mustard dressing. A board of fresh french stick with oil, balsamic and basil leaves was the perfect accompaniment to complete the nibbles table.

Edit 19When originally planning the gathering, I had envisioned using my bar skills and putting together some fancy cocktails. However I was far more concerned with getting the food prepped so opted for pink sparkling and endless bottles of prosecco to quench my guest’s thirst. My mum even kindly lent us her stunning antique prosecco coupes which were the perfect prop for photos too.

Edit 21Another important component to creating the perfect setting was the music. I linked my spotify to the speakers and put on my go to chilled house music mix from Majestic Casual. Some cute fairy lights and candles made for a cosy setting around the coffee table – the girls said it looked like Christmas in there!

Edit 20I wore my new knitted jumper which I’d spotted in a little boutique in Farnham along with my favourite ruffle suede mules from Zomp Shoez in Sydney. When the girls arrived at 4pm I couldn’t wait to pop the bubbly, relax and catch up on life with my friends. It couldn’t have been a more perfect setup in which to enjoy each other’s company and soak up the time with my girls.

edit-31.jpgOf course we had planned on moving the night onto the local club in town and having started in the late afternoon, by the evening we were more than ready to let our hair down on the dance floor. This is where the night got a little more boozy as we ordered in the tequila shots and jaeger bombs! Let’s just say there were definitely some memories made and stories to be told…

 

 

Love Brings You Home

November 2, 2018

They say home is where the heart is and sometimes it takes a little distance (or moving to the other side of the world in my case) to realise just how much you value closest family and friends. I find myself back home for a few weeks before I begin my next adventure in Australia, yet returning to my quaint village life beginnings after almost a year away, it doesn’t feel like I ever left.

Edit 4Walking through the front door I’m greeted with an overwhelming scent of home and my beautiful room is still just as I left it. I always took such pride in decorating my room with stylish interiors and memorabilia including precious photos from over the years. I’ve continued to make the effort to print those special photos despite everything being digital now so I can look back on cherished memories. It was also a joy to be reunited with my wardrobe of gorgeous clothes and shoes which I have a new appreciation for since I’ve been living out of my suitcase for 10 months!

edit-3.jpgNow having been back in England for a week, it doesn’t feel like a day has passed since I left. Coming back has reminded me of my humble roots and the fabulous family and friends I have who are always there and support me no matter what – that’s what makes home a home.

 

Just Another Rock to my Wall

September 11, 2018

Leaving England on my adventure to Australia 9 months ago, I never would’ve dreamed of the reality I currently find myself in… stone walling and living with two Aussie boys in the Southern Highlands in order to earn my visa extension. With my initial couple of months working on another farm up and farms elsewhere reluctant to take on new staff with the difficulties of the draught here, I took matters into my own hands. Through a contact of a friend, I’m now building stone walls on properties in the area.

Edit 3.jpgEdit 4

Now let me explain my exact role here, as there’s no kidding that I’m constructing these stone walls single handedly! With my perfectionist and somewhat artistic eye, my main job is to plug the front wall faces to give an aesthetically pleasing final result. Whilst the cold, frosty 6am morning starts haven’t been my finest hours, I’ve really thrown myself into working onsite and enjoying the camaraderie of the boys during breaks. As the weeks have passed, I’ve got to see the progress of the projects we are working on and appreciate the process of traditional stone walling.

Edit 1So as I continue my new found profession as a stone waller in the Southern Highlands, I can already taste Australian spring and look forward to working away in the heat of a summers day. It may not be the most glamorous of jobs and takes a lot of patience, but it certainly is one to add to my CV as another string to my bow, or more appropriately ‘rock to my wall’.

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.

Edit 10.

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.

Mood Board.jpg

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!

Edit 5Edit 3Edit 1

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.

pic00020edit-14

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.

Edit 2.jpg

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.

edit-3

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.

Edit 4.jpg

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…

Edit 7.jpgEdit 5.jpg