Tag: Interiors

New Local; The Mutton at Hazeley Heath

October 9, 2022

Living in a small country village in the heart of Hampshire, when a new pub opens its doors, naturally it becomes the talk of the town. This October saw the reopening of an old local haunt The Shoulder of Mutton, relaunching as a fine dining gastro pub The Mutton at Hazeley Heath.

This quaint countryside pub with its prime location overlooking Hazeley Farm, has undergone a major makeover with tasteful interiors to match the modern British menu featuring pub classics with a twist.

Diners can tuck into an exciting menu made with local produce like mutton crumpets with pickled red cabbage and torched mackerel pakoras; and main courses of venison with salt-baked celeriac and mushroom risotto with sweetcorn, blue cheese and crispy kale. 

We stopped by this Saturday night to sample one of their delicious sounding cocktails. We both went for a Pisco Sour which certainly packed a punch, but was the perfect aperitif to kick start our Saturday evening in style. The pub was buzzing with a fully booked restaurant and locals from town like us popping by for a drink to see the place following its transformation.

I can’t wait to go back to sample the menu curated by chefs Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean, whose recent projects include The Oarsman in Marlow and The Crown at Bray. For mains I like the look of the barbecued celeriac, apple, chicory, walnut, beurre noisette, and needless to say I’ll be sampling another one of their cocktails of course!

Mutton Mary anyone? I’ll report back once we’ve been again for dinner and drinks very soon I’m sure. This may well become my new local favourite; the plush, country chic interiors and stunning cocktails already have me won over ❤

My Dressing Room of Dreams

October 2, 2022

Following about a year and a half living in our house now, the spare room has gradually evolved into my dressing room. So given that we don’t have people to stay over for the night too often, we decided to replace the bed with this gorgeous white sofa bed kindly handed down from my boyfriend’s parents.

This fits perfectly with the other white furniture also in this room and lets the black and gold details on the cushions and in the art work hung on the wall do the talking. Minimal, simple and oh so chic!

Naturally this has now become my walk in wardrobe of dreams and I’m obsessed.

I’ve always had a passion for fashion and find dressing up and experimenting with my clothes a fun and creative outlet.

Now I have this gorgeous space to plan my outfits, play dress-up and take photos within the surroundings of my dreamy dressing room.

The newest addition to my wardrobe is this beautiful DKNY handbag, a classic staple which I know I’m going to get so much use from and love for years to come.

I wore this ensemble for my Dad’s birthday celebrations last weekend. It was giving me those polished, French Riviera vibes and was the perfect colour palette match for a photo in my elegant new dressing room; tres, tres chic ❤

Kettner’s Soho House; Guestlist Only

July 3, 2022

The famous Soho House collection has a number of stunning locations across London open exclusively to members only. So when my Aussie Auntie and Uncle announced they were throwing a private party at Kettner’s Studio, I was thrilled to finally get a look inside one of the Soho House London city hangouts for myself.

We got the train into London Waterloo followed by a quick tube over to Leicester Square and a short walk to Kettner’s located in Soho. London was buzzing on a Thursday night; I just love soaking up the bustling atmosphere of the city on a warm summer’s evening.

Arriving at 6:30pm, we were greeted by the family with a welcoming glass of champagne which continued to flow all night of course. It was a very special occasion in celebration of the Australian crew in town only for that one week.

We had our own private room with this feature bar exclusively for our party. I was obsessed with these exquisite champagne coupes, the only way proper champagne should be served.

They had selected three cocktails to choose from: a spicy margarita, a cucumber tonic with gin or vodka, or the Soho House special ginger flavoured concoction made with tequila. At this point I was double parked, so I thank my boyfriend who ordered me a diet coke at this point to break up all the alcohol!

Soon the canapés came out and later on some more substantial bowl food. I wasn’t too impressed with the food to be honest, but something was better than nothing to soak up all the champagne.

I actually didn’t get many photos of the evening as I was just enjoying every second with my international family whose time with us is so precious. Nothing like a few blurry group pics for the memories though.

We caught the last train home just before midnight which was super busy too. I had the most wonderful evening with my awesome family in the most idyllic surroundings of Kettner’s beautiful champagne bar. These are the moments I will cherish forever – Love you family ❤

Home Updates June ’22

June 12, 2022

Happy Sunday! We’re well into June now and it finally feels like summer is here in the UK. I’ve had a super wholesome weekend soaking up the sunshine starting with a countryside bike ride to the pub on Friday evening, and then a fun day out at our local village festival yesterday drinking Belgian beer and enjoying some live music. Now I’m winding down before the week ahead and I thought it was time to do a little home interiors update. Having lived here for over a year now, I finally feel like the house is flourishing to reflect our style and I’m loving it; this is our home ❤

The Ivy; Alice in Wonderland Vibes

April 10, 2022

This weekend I decided to go all out for our date night and booked The Ivy Castle View in Guildford. I had tried to book The Ivy Asia a few weeks back, but with a three month waiting list to get a reservation there, I was happy with the regular Ivy restaurant we know and always enjoy.

I’m obsessed with the art deco inspired interiors featuring eclectic artwork and a vibrant colour palette, I was definitely getting Alice in Wonderland vibes as soon as we arrived at The Ivy Castle View.

Even the ladies bathrooms were decorated with opulent wallpaper and this stunning ceiling of roses, they are just too beautiful not to take a picture of.

The place was buzzing on a Saturday night, yet we were still treated to the same friendly and attentive service from the hosts and our waiters who looked after us for the evening.

We had this lovely, romantic round table for two right by the window overlooking the castle. I was lusting over these gorgeous green palm leaf print sofa chairs too, it really is an interior lovers heaven, every corner of the place there is something different to admire.

To start, we had a cocktail each and of course I couldn’t resist my favourite Espresso Martini in their special salted caramel flavour. My boyfriend had the Surrey Passion made with passionfruit, vodka and rum, a super fruity sweet concoction and showstopper served with a flaming top!

Whilst we don’t usually get starters, we did order the salt-crusted sourdough bread to nibble alongside our cocktails. To our delight they served an entire loaf freshly warmed straight from the oven – sometimes the simple things done well are the most satisfying, it was exquisite.

For mains I actually went for two starters: Roasted Scallops served with crispy potato rösti, pea purée, parmesan sauce and grated truffle, accompanied by a big basket of the Zucchini Fritti. This was a tasty combination of flavours which I paired with a glass of their house white wine from Carinena, Spain.

My boyfriend ordered the Korean Glazed Chicken served with pickled mooli, sesame, avocado and jalapeño sauce, citrus mayonnaise as well as some thick cut chunky chips. Safe to say we devoured the lot and savoured every delectable bite.

Our evening at The Ivy Castle View was wonderful with everything from the drinks and food to the service and experience, it was a 10/10 for me.

The Ivy Collection has a number of restaurants in handpicked locations across the UK, serving modern British cuisine, reflecting the same inimitable service and vibrant surroundings for which The Ivy is loved and revered. A top destination for a boujee date night full of photo opportunities ❤

Interiors Update; My Little Dresser Corner

February 13, 2022

Having lived in our wonderful house for almost a year now, it was time to change up the spare room decor and finally get a dressing table in there for me too. We wanted to make this room more mature by introducing black and bronze tones to compliment this gorgeous new set of abstract pictures now above the bed.

After a lot of playing around with different pillow options and arrangements, we settled on these stunning black and gold feather scatter cushions which make a subtle statement, whilst also fitting in with the new bedding perfectly.

The dresser is from Ikea to match the other furniture in this room and fits just right in that corner by the natural light of the window. With a large singular drawer in the dresser, I can now store and organise all of my makeup properly without having to put it away in makeup bags all the time. The stool and mirror are both from Amazon and perfectly align with the colour palette of the renewed spare room.

I’m obsessed with this Moroccan style bronze tray which I am using to hold my many perfume bottles. The spare room has had a fabulous makeover with just these few elements which have been changed up and I’m very grateful for the dresser gifted from my boyfriend for my birthday. Hope you’ve had a great weekend babes and Happy Valentines for tomorrow – Kiss, kiss ❤

Dubai Diaries; Barmy Beach Club Blues

January 20, 2022

When it comes to beach clubs in Dubai, you really are spoilt for choice. From the glamorous and Insta famous complex at Drift on The Palm, to the fun party til dawn vibes at BlaBla in Dubai Marina, there is a destination for every occasion.

One of my favourite spots was KoKo Bay beach club at the foot of The Palm on Jumeirah beach. We spent a whole afternoon here sunning ourselves until golden hour.

For just 150AED (£30) per sun bed which was redeemable on food and drink, we had the most perfect spot to enjoy all day long.

We went for a stroll down the beach as we took in those magnificent sweeping views of the Dubai Marina skyline. Just along from here was in fact the renowned beach club Five, however the laid back chilled vibes at KoKo were more our scene for a Wednesday arvo.

Cocktails at noon on holiday are a must, so I got started with a refreshing rum and pineapple concoction.

Later in the arvo we ordered some food and another round of cocktails. With such an extensive menu of seafood, sushi, poke bowls and curries, I opted for the bean chilli loaded nachos which made for the perfect beach nibble.

My boyfriend chose the Chinese Kung Po chicken which he admitted was the best he’d ever had of his favourite dish. Colourful cocktails, yummy food and a beautiful sunset, what more could you want!?

I would highly recommend KoKo Bay for its casual chic atmosphere combined with delicious food, amongst the most awesome beach setting overlooking one of the best views in Dubai.

My other personal favourite beach club was Ula at Dukes Hotel on The Palm. We visited here twice, once in the evening for dinner and again on our final day to lap up the sunshine.

With it’s Bali inspired interiors featuring gorgeous hanging lampshades, Ula strikes the perfect balance of tasteful decor to create a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere for a wonderful evening supper setting.

I had to come back to experience this gorgeous oasis in the daytime too. Those Bali vibes continue down to the beach bar with fantastic tall teepee loungers and cute cabanas.

Seeing the main feature bar area with that spectacular tree in the middle was even more glorious by day with the shadows casting patterns through the bamboo awning.

From their mediterranean inspired menu, we ordered a light lunch which we ate down at the beach bar amongst the palm trees overlooking Dubai Eye and the Marina. I had a simple but tasty house salad whilst my boyfriend had a classic Greek chicken gyros. Ahhhh, if only we could enjoy every lunch like this!

Soon the sun was setting on our final day in Dubai and the city skyline twinkled in the night.

There’s nothing like a barmy beach club day and a real must for anyone visiting Dubai. My top recommendations are of course KoKo Bay and Ula, as well as Drift, Five, Address Beach Resort and Twiggy. I just love those beach bum blues and that salty skin feeling ❤

Moving Diaries; Week Five

April 28, 2021

Happy hump day babes! I can’t believe it’s already the end of April and we’ve been here in our new home for well over a month now. Settling into a new home and getting it just the way you want it certainly is an ongoing process, as we continue to receive numerous deliveries of furniture and shuffle things around whilst we enhance decor and details also. Needless to say it’s been a busy month and each day there has been something new and exciting to look forward to as the house takes shape.

Having a four bed house as a blank canvas to decorate sure is a task, however with the help of my amazing mother-in-law we’ve had fun putting our stamp on the place. Mirrors are key to lightening and brightening smaller spaces, so we found this beautiful water droplet shape mirror for our hallway to hang over the unique radiator cover.

We chose to introduce touches of gold to compliment the grey and silver tones in the dining room and living room. I’m obsessed with this palm leaf statue and gold angel wing ornament, I’ve even got a second wing to go on the other side now. I’m also really happy with the stunning mango wood sideboard and cupboard to match in the living room. The dark wood wash adds a little warmth and the subtle gold abstract design on the doors bring the colour scheme together.

Following this photo being taken, I have already added more Moroccan style elements to the living room, including a floor standing Moroccan plant pot and Moroccan placemats with candles for the coffee tables. I plan on changing up a few cushions in here too with more boho abstract patterns as it’s feeling a little boyish at the moment! And whilst we’re yet to decide on our outdoor furniture, my Auntie did treat us to the perfect house warming gift of Moroccan style solar panelled lanterns – they create the most wonderful patterns lit up at night.

Last week we were very excited to finally sleep in our master bedroom for the first time. Despite ordering our TV bed back in February, unfortunately delivery was delayed so we have been sleeping in our spare room. We couldn’t wait to experience the novelty of a TV bed which comes with a full speaker system, under-bed storage and is super comfy. We’ve opted for an industrial style in our bedroom with the black spot lighting, black bedsheets and modern side tables. Of course we need a big photo for above the bed which we haven’t found yet, but I’m thinking either a gallery wall with prints and quotes, or some sort of beach sunset image; we want something striking yet timeless.

Now we have our gym equipment, we’ve in fact decided to swap the office and gym rooms over. Luckily we had both done with hard wood flooring, it was just too small for my boyfriend’s weight set and my yoga matt in the back room. This is just another one of those things which you learn as you live in a house, it takes time to know what will work best for you and your lifestyle.

I still love our kitchen and the simplicity of it, particularly that peaceful view of the trees out of the front window where Sandler the plant lives (we have chosen to name our house plants after actors!).

We spend a lot of time in here and eat most evening meals at the island as it is so comfortable, but we are yet to find a suitable photo or even photo gallery for the kitchen wall also.

We spend a lot of time in here and eat most meals at the island as it is so comfortable, but we are yet to find a suitable photo or even photo gallery for the kitchen wall also.

The garden is finally turfed now and soon we will be getting Red Robin trees lined along the back and flower bedding down the sides. Our patio area is another large space perfect for entertaining, so I’m keen to get a nice corner sofa and fire-pit table to fully enjoy those late summer evenings.

This is another gorgeous mirror feature we also added to complete the dining room, we are just waiting on a floor-lamp to finish off in here now. And whilst there is lots of finishing touches still to be added, the house is coming together nicely now and we are truly feeling like we are at home here in our beautiful abode ❤

Moving Diaries; Week One

March 31, 2021

Hey guys! Just coming at you from the comfort of our new home currently sat in our stunning kitchen at the breakfast bar – how civilised! After a hectic few days moving last week, we finally had our first official night in the house last Friday, complete with a bottle of celebratory bubbles of course 😉

The kitchen is one of the almost complete rooms at this stage with just a few pictures and maybe a clock yet to go up on the wall. I’m so happy with the bar table and perfectly matched white stools which are as comfortable as they are stylish. This will be where we eat the majority of the time, however we do also have a gorgeous Dining Room which we will be using for special occasions and dinner parties.

It’s already taking shape in here, we are just waiting on a nice sideboard to store our best crockery and glasses. I want to keep the simple and sleek aesthetic in this room, so we’ve ordered a black dinner set with copper cutlery to match the tones of the abstract artwork. That early evening light is just glorious as it bursts through those french doors, I’m obsessed!

As for the rest of the house, it’s all a work in progress at the moment. Like with any new house and especially a new build, there is a lot to think about and it’s taken us to get in here and actually see the space, before finalising our furniture orders. We are still waiting for most of our bedroom furniture, so currently we are sleeping in the spare bedroom. The lounge is coming together too as we already had a nice big grey corner sofa and big TV of course, we’re just in need of a rug, some sort of cabinet and again we need to choose some nice pictures for the wall. I have already made use of the many candles and reed diffusers I had saved, this one from Stonewood is my favourite scent and the blue bottle looks great on the landing windowsill.

We were even lucky enough to enjoy our first BBQ at the house this week as England was treated to its first proper day of sunshine this year, hitting highs of 22 degrees. Whilst we don’t have our outdoor furniture just yet, we do have the Weber BBQ setup and made do with some camping chairs on the patio as we sipped our beer and cooked the burgers. We then ate at our dining table with the french doors wide open letting that early evening sun shine through. It really got me excited for summer and many more BBQs to come when we can finally welcome friends and family into our new abode.

So there’s no denying it, moving into a new house for the first time is a long process and takes patience to get everything just as you need. However it’s super exciting to see it all come together and I can’t wait to share the journey as we create our dream home! Fresh start, new chapter – cheers to that!

The Next Chapter; Moving House

March 22, 2021

It’s been a long time coming following two other properties falling through last year, but it was third time lucky as my boyfriend finally exchanged on a stunning new build which we move into this week! It’s all very exciting and an absolute dream to be moving to our own four bed house complete with a huge driveway, garage, front lawn and lovely south facing garden – bring on those summer BBQs!

No doubt it will take some time for us to settle and get everything just the way we want it as we are starting from scratch. But what a beautiful blank canvas to be working with, I can finally live out my ultimate interior goals from hours scrolling Pinterest and creating vision boards.

Outdoor entertaining will be a big focus this summer following lockdown measures easing, so I’m keen to have a sociable area on the patio for lounging and soaking up the sun whilst firing up the BBQ. I’m obsessed in the corner sofas with a fire-pit table to keep us warm late into the evenings. Fairy lights and outdoor string bulb lighting are also a must for that atmospheric nighttime ambience.

I will of course miss my cosy little bedroom back home with its eclectic style and many wonderful memories in particularly captured in my photos. I’ve always taken pride in organising and displaying my favourite pictures from special times throughout my life, it never fails to make a house a home. I’m a sucker for inspirational quotes as well, so my favourite ‘Stay Wild’ gold text print from Maggs London years ago will definitely need a feature in the new place.

That classic Audrey poster from Breakfast At Tiffany’s is another timeless piece which I think might be a classy photo to go in the new dining room. My collection of treasured books will take pride of place on a bookshelf perhaps in the lounge, as I have some great coffee table style hard backs too.

Then there is the wardrobe which is going to be the biggest task of all! Being a self-confessed shopaholic and shoe addict, I’ve curated quite the collection of garments during my 26 years. Whilst moving is an opportunity to get rid of those less worn items, I do love it when trends come back around and I can give older pieces some love once again. However I want to aim towards a more minimalistic approach to my style, so keeping only what I wear most of the time will help to establish a refined capsule wardrobe…it’s going to be a process that’s for sure!

Focusing on the initial move however, I want to get the furniture and each room arranged perfectly before putting too much stuff in there. I have the luxury that I can leave what I want at my parent’s at least for now, then once I know how much storage we actually have in the new place, I can get organised and donate or bin anything which will be clutter. I’m looking at this as a fresh start and opportunity to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, free of the burden and stress of too many material things.

I guess it’s time to be a proper adult and say goodbye to my teenage room for now. My parent’s home isn’t going anywhere though, so my perfect little den will remain the spare bedroom and home to so many special memories.