The Must Have Home Accessory

So Christmas is over and thoughts turn to 2014 and what it holds for us. What we need to do in terms of self development, firming up holiday plans, or looking at projects for the home

No one enjoys a house project more than I do and the idea of the smell of new paint or finding the most gorgeous piece of furniture or stunning accessory is definitely what floats my boat. If you've got the finances available after Christmas and are not like me, stealing yourself for an expensive time with both children's birthdays just three days apart in January, you may be looking to bag a bargain in the sales.

I'm a sales sceptic but I must concede finding something you would have happily paid full price for now marked down by 50% is a joyous experience but, as my dad always says 'it's not a bargain if you didn't need it in the first place'. Now I am prepared to replace the word NEED with the word WANT but I must say if you wouldn't have paid full price for it then at least make sure it's the item itself and not the sale label that you've fallen in love with.

One of my New Years resolutions for 2014 is one of retail restraint. And it's going to be a toughie!  I want to be a more discerning purchaser, buying one item that I will love forever rather than several that won't last the test of time. I'm  going for quality rather than quantity from local independent stores. We are very fortunate to have excellent retailers in Lichfield such as the Kitchen shop (follow them on twitter@KitchenShopLich) and www.worthbrothers.co.uk wine merchants not to mention www.packingtonpork.co.uk all offering fabulous service and knowledge and a passion for their chosen field.

I consider myself very fortunate to live in  a lovely single track lane just outside the cathedral city of Lichfield and although interior styling is my passion it has come home to me that whilst I love the items we have in our home both inherited and new, junk shop and designer what really makes the house a perfect home for us isn't necessarily the stuff I put in it. The best accessory to our home is the sense of community there is. Yes, yes I know that all sounds a bit 'Little House on The Prairie' instead of my usual 'little house at the Priory' but its true. While we are townies dipping our toes into country life, safe in the knowledge that easy access to the  road infer structure  allows us to go about our daily office based jobs, many of our neighbours have gown up in the lane, some have been here for more than 60 years, suffering the Foot & Mouth crisis and nearly loosing lambs and ewes in last years late snow fall.  

And yet for our differences we have a great sense of community here, getting together over Christmas, enjoying our 'new' tradition of a yearly rounders tournament etc. At a recent post Christmas bash we all jumped at the chance of helping move a farmers flock of sheep in the coming months as, with his three lads away at university, he will be short of help. Whether he is so short of help he has to rely on the assistance of a family of suburbanites remains to be seen but I sincerely hope so. I'm thinking that something in a wool tweed would be an ideal outfit for sheep steering, perhaps paired with a medium height wedge!

So whether you're a townie cuckooing your way into a rural community like me, or a confirmed city dweller, I would urge you in 2014 to work at building a community.  It's 2014's must have accessory for every well dressed home!

Christmas Countdown

Well, we've reached the main run up to Christmas. It's funny that there are so many markers along the way on our journey to the big day. I've had my first mince pie today for instance. Not exactly earth shattering  but I miss all the markers I used to associate with the season, such as the carol service and of course the Nativity now my children are teenagers.

But whilst everyone has their own vague trigger points, such as suddenly feeling the urge to mix yourself a 'snowball' or buy a box of Dates, for the kids it's the advent calendar that finally sees them go from mildly excited to full on 'peel them off the ceiling' mode.

Is it rose tinted spectacles for days gone by or are advert calendars a little bit crap these days. All cheap chocolate  and Dr Who or One Direction. So this year I've taken the bold step, with the aid of the inimitable www.johnlewis.com to come up with my own countdown to Christmas.

These delightfully traditional looking boxes come in a pack of 25 all with hanging ribbon already attached and a ribbon to attached them to, to string them around the home, I've chosen to hang mine, along with a few baubles rather precariously on a slightly lopsided branch. I thought the lopsidedness would add to the charm, however I may have inadvertently invented the worlds first Advent Kerplunk. Now, knowing what makes my family tick, I've stuck to a chocolate theme for inside, but you could always put other little gifts into them or healthy treats or uplifting messages (yeah right) and the boxes can be reused again and again to become a family tradition. It's great to get the kids involved in assembling the boxes or to do it solo whilst taking in a glass of fizz.

I've decided that to add a little jeopardy to proceedings, other than the whole Kerplunk thing, and to substitute 25% of the contents for a  forfeit or  task. For example if your day to open a box on the advent tree is 20th December, you may find that instead of the Lindt Christmas Bear you were expecting, you have to promise to stuff the Turkey, or go for the world record of most sprout consumed in a singe sitting.

Christmas Kerplunk Countdown Commences - Snowball anyone?

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

What can I say some weeks just come & bite you on the bum - It's been a stylish week all round with celebs pulling out all the stops and looking fabulous.  Drat & double drat!

Fashionista: Taylor Swift showing that style transcends age with a Reem Acra SS14 gown that is simply stunning and very grown up 

Fashionista: I think this must be as dressed down as Miranda Kerr gets. Jeans, boots, black shirt & coat simple right? - If only!

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista: Bella Thorne showed her Hunger Games colleague how to do sheer

Fashion Sister: Alas fashionista last week, but Jennifer  Lawrence shows you can't be complacent. Wearing Dior yet again this outfit doesn't do this A lister or the Couturier any favours. 

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista: Jennifer Lawrence is the woman of the week & had many fabulous outfits this week to promote the Hunger Games but she seems most at ease in this gorgeous Dior coat dress.

Fashion Sister: You would think someone would tell Jessica Biel that she's accidentally tucked her Giambattista Valli skirt into her knickers!

Walls Have Ears

Well ears, angels wings, flamingos, pretty much anything that ' floats your boat'.

The vast array of paint colours and finishes, wallpapers, wall stickers and made to order wall art can be mind boggling but get it right and that colour, or image can change your room from the ordinary to the extraordinary from the weak to the chic, the fine to the devine. Well you get my drift!

Farrow & Ball Hague Blue used on alternate walls 

With paint my advice is this, there are so many paint companies now from www.dulux.co.uk to www.firedearth.co.uk, www.littlepaintcompany.co.uk  even www.MrandMrsSmith.com, the boutique hotel sight has just launched a range, but I think you do get what you pay for in terms of pigment and paint quality especially if you are going for a dark, rich colour. The days of the one colour featured wall has been superseded with people being bolder and painting an entire room or painting to a fixed point. I've recently updated the much loved Dulux Night Jewels 2 in the kitchen with a rich www.farrowandball.co.uk Hague Blue which has a wonderful depth to it. I've also painted alternate walls, mad I hear you cry, but it really works, adding length to the room.  And what's the worst that can happen - be brave people it's only a tin of paint.

Faux wood wallpaper at Rockett St George

Faux effects wall paper is really hot right now. www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk have some of the best. Think distressed wood and metal. www.andrewmartin.co.uk also have some real beauties.  Again it pays to buy the best you can afford as the more expensive ones have a larger repeat - so giving a more realistic appearance which is what you're after and a better image depth and resolution. Choose your wall carefully. Ideally you want this on the opposite wall to the room entrance. That way it creates most impact and you view it from the furthest point. If it's behind you as you enter you already know it's not really a set of library shelves or a busy London street resplendent with double decker bus.

www.surfaceview.co.uk are one of the most forward thinking companies printing almost any image to fit your size of wall, from a classic painting to a classic car, a herd of elephants to the dyeing  swan in Swan Lake and anything in between. Even your own family photos. Just be careful of the resolution when super sizing your own images.

Panelling in our hall

I've been busy convincing Mr H-at-Home that panelling would look good up the stairs. He protested, and then having realised the error of his ways, got on with it. He's not done a bad job - although obviously I am the genius at work here!

Another one of the tasks my other half was issued with was to line the wall of the cloakroom in penny pieces. Yes my fabulous idea once again. Beautiful shades of bronze shimmer in the light as part of a dark and moody WC.

So people go forward with angels wings, wilder beast, pennies, panelling and even ears.

After all if walls really do have ears it seems only right to let them  do the talking!

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista: Kate Hudson wearing Gucci. A master class in how to show off 'to die for abs' without looking like a school girl or that you've come straight from the gym.

Fashion Sister: Sarah Jessica Parker's stance says it all. What on earth!!

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista: An effortlessly chic Rosie Huntington-Whiteley reminding us just how classic a black trousers / blouse combo can look

Fashion Sister: The style & elegance that is Gwyneth Paltrow showing that despite a 'wash board' stomach & crop tops being sooo on trend, that when you're over 25 you may look a little bit 'high school reunion' - Just saying! 

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista: Staffordshire model Erin O'Connor showing how to wear a black DJ. Pure class.

Fashion Sister: Dakota Fanning choosing a Vionnet S/S 2014 gown that washes out her lovely colouring. Dakota you usually do so much better & it's time to get your roots done.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like.......

Christmas! - There I've said it and we haven't even got past Halloween.

In fairness Christmas has been in our uppermost thoughts at work since July and the office party is scheduled for November! So perhaps it is inevitable that my thoughts are turning to family festivities too. My niece is coming over from Canada this year, which is very exciting, and the complicated logistics of getting everyone together in the same place at the same time is already being discussed.

Don't get me wrong I love Christmas and my usual pared back style gives way to an ethos of 'more, more, more'  as I start dreaming up schemes worthy of being the backdrop to our  traditional family celebrations.  And although never a day goes by when I don't do or say something that reminds me of my mother, it is Christmas when I realise that the things I do as part of our family Christmas are influenced so much by her and how magical she made all my childhood Christmas'.

One of the things I love most about Christmas is preparing the house for visiting family and friends. Setting the scene and creating an atmosphere that conjures up that feeling of expectancy, that tingle of excitement that only Christmas brings.

As usual there is a wealth of decorations to choose from with high streets and retail parks awash with every colour combination imaginable. If in doubt check out www.coxandcox.co.uk for lovely fairy lights, silvered tea light holders and glass candlesticks   Homespun is still a popular theme so get knitting, felting, or baking. One year I made gingerbread angels to hang on the tree, together with brightly coloured candy canes. By the end of the holiday the gingerbread went soft and one by one each angel fell from the tree only to be devoured by an expectant dog grateful that patience had finally paid off.

If all else fails gold trinkets and a vase of white lillies will add impact

I found a tub of plastic safari animals in a pound shop and sorted out the Elks & painted them white. From a distance or after a couple of Rum Punches they look like Reindeer amongst the snowy marshmallows

Anyone for Turkey, the table set for Christmas dinner

A big part of Christmas is obviously party season. Last year I was adamant that I was going to wear a dress I had worn previously, after all who needed a new dress?  Well it turned out that I did, and the resultant panic buy is still hanging in my wardrobe in shame. So this year far from it being an extravagance to buy a new outfit I think it's all part of the Christmas preparation and anticipation of the party season.  Yes, I've got a number of dresses that I could wear and yes it's unlikely that anyone will remember what I wore last year,  but that's not really the point!

Having been to the Style Birmingham Live event recently www.shoppinginbirmingham.com which was a wonderful showcase not only for the gorgeous style on offer but also for Birmingham itself,  I have designs on several dresses for the party season.  www.riverisland.co.uk came out very strongly at the Bullring 10 show www.bullring.co.uk with some really key pieces, notably some wine coloured shorts and a lush beaded top that  would look stunning if, and I use this as a loose rule of thumb, your birth certificate was registered in the 90's. (That counts me out then!)

Really lovely detail on this beaded top. 

For me the www.monsoon.co.uk beaded white flapper dress was gorgeous. It moved really well, which is not always obvious without seeing it on the catwalk but trust me on this, this frock will Conga and Macarena with the best of em!

Too sophisticated for the Macarena? Who knows after a couple of G&T's

Hark, do I hear the tinkling bells of the Coca Cola Christmas ad?

Yes, it may be October - but in my 'minds eye,'  in the words of Noddy Holder, "IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista:Karlie Kloss in Michael Kors AW 2013

Fashion Sister: Pixie Geldof resplendent in a Gucci vinyl skirt and with an Ashley Williams SS 2014 Shark Bag - Form an orderly queue here!

Fashionista - Fashion Sister

Friday 11th October 2013

In this weekly feature  I'll be sorting the Fashionista from the Fashion Sister.  Selected from Vogue's 'Best Dressed of the Week' we are talking 'A list' style royalty selected by THE top style magazine.

So where do I come in?  Well, even style high achievers can 'fall off the wagon'. Some people seem to make the grade looking anything but elegant or considered.

Included for who they are - despite style faux pas.  These are the fashion sisters.

Fashionista: Julianne Moore looking every inch a high achiever in a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci gown

Fashion Sister: Usually the epitome of style Livia Firth falls fowl of wide stripes and pantomime shoes

Brand Stand

Where do you stand on brand?

The chances are that even if you don't consider yourself a Prada Princess, you are a Dyson Diva or a Kellogg's Queen. In fact many of us feel more at home with a trusted brand or label whether it's Louis Vuitton for all our luggage requirements or Heinz for all our baked bean ones. And this is what makes brand so valuable and brand image so important.

Burberry that quintessentially English brand became a victim of its own success when its ubiquitous check design was taken up by youths and yobs. Whether they wore real or fake it was hugely damaging and whilst sales soared the brand was damaged and has taken time and hard work to recover.

Designers of high end labels help the economy, last week London Fashion week bought huge revenue into the city and they push boundaries which is always a good thing.

Whilst most of us can't afford the hefty price tag of an Elie Saab evening gown or a Stella McCartney suit we can buy into their label by purchasing their fragrance ranges and in doing so buying a little bit of 'je ne se qua'. Even now I love entering a department store and taking in that intoxicating smell of perfume en-mass. Leaving a perfume counter, full of images of women I could never be, with a little bag with cord handles (the cord handles are very important) I'm sure I walk out a little taller, a little thinner, a little bit someone else.

A highly contested market, the likes of Chanel & Dior were amongst the first Haute Couture houses to
establish themselves as a Brand. But would their products be quite so desirable if instead of  Keira Knightly and Natalie Portman their products were endorsed by say Vanessa Feltz or Kerry Katona. And why are the expensive and subliminal TV and glossy magazine ad's so surreal, telling you nothing about the product? - It's because to coin a phase, 'they had us at hello'. Whilst we spray and sniff at the perfume counter, generally we've already made up our minds  based purely on the product image.

My worry with labels and the 'it's designer' school of thought is that sometimes personal style suffers as a result and we hide behind the brand. Somehow wearing top to
toe anything or buying into a designer or store exclusively seems a bit of a 'cop out'.  The most stylish women are those who know their style and mix designer with high street. High street with charity shop finds etc for a more personal look. Some people use the label as justification. I must look good because it's Prada, Top Shop, or whatever your label of choice is.

As a mother of teenagers (I was a child bride) I am concerned at how much emphasis is put on a label. It's a real shame that kids these days use a hoody or T shirt, emblazoned with what is basically their own personal product endorsement, as a confidence enhancement.  I always say to my kids the only time you should wear a 3 inch logo across your chest is if you are being paid to.

But then the mist of time rolls back and whilst there wasn't the label pressure of today I remember spraying myself profusely with Cote's Just Musk perfume, or Just Muck as my parents called it. Apparently musk is derived from the anal gland of deer, it's something to do with them attracting a mate. I used to douse myself in it to the extent that it is a wonder I wasn't dry humped everyday by Donna and Blitzen!

I remember my friend cutting the Fred Perry emblem off her dads old tennis shirt and sewing it onto her plain white polo.  My brother first drenched himself in Brut and then quickly climbed the greasy pole of  fragrance acceptability with Aramis (which is enjoying a resurgence  with a whole new generation of consumer). Indeed it was a wonder that there wasn't some kind of chemical explosion in our house.

However, although I can still look back at those days and can empathise with my children, I still feel it is my parental duty to utter those words 'how much' an a way that conveys both astonishment  and indignation in equal measure. It's by way of family tradition. I would, if my understanding was sufficient,  convert the cost of say a pair of Vans back into 'old money' despite the irrelevance, just to underpin that tradition.

It's true to say that I don't move in those circles where the latest 'It' bag comes into play, and lets face it the waiting list for a Hermes Birkin or Kelly is as important to the brand as who is seen with one on their arm. But I do rub shoulders with women who are not wearing their black dress they are wearing their Karen Millen etc. So perhaps in that vain we haven't really changed that much from the insecure teenagers we once were.

Now, given I know why and how this whole label culture thing works am I immune? Far from it. If I had the  chance I would strut around with my Louis Vuitton bag & Louboutin heels. After all as my daughter always says 'but mom it's designer.'

My Stand on Brand - buy in all you want. Just don't sell yourself short!

Swag Bag

Is it just me but I seem to have lost my 'swag' in the last few weeks. Sometimes, indeed most times, I'm a fairly confident, let em have it with both barrels kinda girl. But then it's as if some mist descends and I feel a little low, a little out of sorts. Not that I'm poorly it's just a Mojo loosing phenomenon.

Now, I blame everything on my hormones or as the years go by perhaps the lack of them, but although I do generally like to worship at the Alter of blame I'm not sure in this instance I can lay my lack of  swag at this particular door. However I take solace in the fact that it seems that it isn't just me. Friends, colleagues and celebrities seem to go through similar phases and this has got me thinking - where is my swag and how do I get it back?

We all do that thing when you're feeling like crap for no apparent reason.  We layer on the 'isn't life wonderful' persona with a trowel. Only to look like some kind of uber charged neurotic, smiling too widely and laughing in a way that could shatter glass and indeed your entire face. No, I can  'over season it' with the best of them, I want my proper swag back. Hormones, weather, post holiday blues W H A T  E V E R!

Now it may seem a little sadist at this point but take a look at these women photographed on the streets of New York yesterday around the various venues for NYFW. All are gorgeous, none of them seem to have any need to a reach for their 'swag deficiency tablets' and yet one of these fabulousee is having a swag induced uber neurotic moment and just 'over reaching it'. She seems super confident and yet it's all 'working too hard'.

Confidence is an elusive thing, whether we're talking style, business, sport etc. When its flying high it regenerates itself effortlessly. But when it is lacking it retreats into the realms of 'rocking horse poo'.

We are all attracted to confident people and whilst appearance has a lot to do with confidence,  it is confidence that makes people attractive rather than attractive people necessarily being confident.  We all know that the merest application of our favourite lipstick can get us through the toughest of days. (I wonder what the male equivalent of that is?) But what is it in our psyche that makes the difference?

Well, not having studied psychology, and excepting clinical depression, hormones and bad karma  I have decided that my psyche needs a good kick up the arse.  I'm done wasting my time worrying about my chipped pedicure (even tough I'm wearing knee high boots) and other insecurities too many and petty to list. I'm going out tonight with old friends to have a few drinks & a lot of laughs. There's no better cure for lack of swag than laughing at yourself and each other until your stomach hurts.

Easy? - well at least until the next time I feel more Bag than Swag!

Me, have a style icon - that will be the Day!

Looking at the fashion trends for A/W13 I'm feeling slightly nostalgic. The trends are exuding the sophisticated style I can remember from my youth, not in my wardrobe you must understand, but from the old films I used to watch during my school holidays.

Whilst my children have their XBoxes, and One Direction fan forums to keep boredom at bay I only had three TV channels. Not that it mattered because every afternoon usually on BBC2, there was an old film to watch, rich with that old Hollywood glamour that somehow seems so elusive these days.

A/W13 brings longer line skirts both fitted and full, edge to edge swing coats and 'grown up' blouses, very reminiscent of those films. It's a grown up glamour with a flavour of Hollywood and its screen sirens and I have to say that I'm planning to make the most of it!

Of course Audrey Hepburn, that most ubiquitous of style icons is up there towards the pinnacle of my icon list, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Roman Holiday and My Fair Lady, although perhaps the credit for the later should go to Cecil Beaton who's costume and set design was simply sublime.


Let's not forget Grace Kelly pre and post Princess, who's casual elegance was a dream. That Long Island glamour, courtesy of the film High Society - unforgettable. Not many women get to have a handbag named after them, yet the synonymous Hermes 'Kelly' bag still stands the test of time, as the waiting list of A Lister's, gives testament.

How To Marry A Millionaire, whilst sadly not being a 'self help' thesis on the subject, must have had the most wonderful costume department, dressing Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall in some of the most fabulous outfits and you can clearly see the influences this era has had on AW/13 trends.

But for me, whether it is pure nostalgia, Doris Day is just the epitome of a style icon. Sitting there in the summer holidays I was simply enthralled by her grace, even when playing the fool, which she frequently did, and of cause her fabulous clothes. That Touch Of Mink, The Pyjama Game, Pillow Talk etc etc. Her clothes were simply stunning. It is also to her credit that in later years, she locked away all her fur coats so that they could never perpetuate the glamour that was at that time associated with fur. A classy lady!


Today's celebrities perhaps don't have the same glamour as that bygone age. Could this be due to they're not being 'owned' by the 'big studio's and therefore they have more scope to experiment with fashion and as such make
more mistakes? Their earlier counterparts were styled in house by studio designers to ensure they properly promoted the studio and this may be the difference. Certainly it worked in turns of style longevity.

Nicole Kidman, like most celebrities has had inevitable disasters on the red carpet, but has since developed her own style and is always very elegant. Likewise, Ms Victoria Beckham has become more stylish and glamorous over the years, perhaps because she is happier in her own skin and more relaxed. Now her elegant style is a million miles away from her 'World Cup' 'WAG' days. And whilst I'm not a great fan of her Cavalli 'less is more' phase  it did provide for stunning photo opportunities. Now her style is enduring and

timeless, and who wouldn't want a trolley dash round VB's dressing room. (If only her clothes had a good deal of stretch in them!)

But undoubtedly, if I could emulate just one of these style icons it would have to be Doris - If only for one Day!

Want = Need. Agreed?

Only a couple of days ago someone accused me of being superficial - How very dare they!

Their assumption was based on the fact that I like stuff, not just any stuff it has to 'float my boat' as it were, but I must confess style and design is something I'm passionate about. Does this make me a bad  person?

To be clear, it's not that I judge someone by what they are wearing or driving or their wallpaper etc (although  I did tell my 'other half' that the relationship was doomed unless he ditched his sofa). I wouldn't think badly of someone with no interest in beautiful things, in fact I'd envy and pity them in equal measure for the fact that they've never experienced that stomach churning longing for an object of desire.

The person in question was coming from an ecological view point and that people buy from greed rather than need. And this got me thinking.

Now I must concede that no one needs a covetable www.culinaryconcepts.co.uk champagne cooler or a Willy Mia & Fred egg cup, both of which are on my 'wish list'. But surely it's the way we spend our money that is important. I'm not a prolific purchaser, I'm more a diviner of desirables, darting this way and that like a spaniel routing out game.  I prefer to wait until I see something that really sets my heart a flutter. As William Morris once said ' Have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful'. (Bad news for Mr H at Home)

It's not all about the 'thrill of the till,' I'm not adverse to a bit of 'up cycling'. One of my favourite pieces of furniture is a table I made out of a discarded old pub pedestal and a junk shop table top - total cost £15.

We are lucky in Britain that we have some of the best designers and manufacturers in the world as well as fabulous local artisans and I  believe that these are the  companies we should patronise.

In the Midlands for instance www.dainesandhathaway.com is a company based in Walsall manufacturing high end luxury leather goods befitting the heritage of the leather industry in Walsall. If I was able to financially justify buying such  beautifully crafted pieces surely I should  look to Walsall rather than Spanish or Italian brands.

My 'must have' egg cups are available on line but also locally at www.facebook.com/thekitchenshoplichfield along with a jaw dropping array of other desirables, together with excellent service by knowledgeable staff. I'd be mad to go anywhere else.

www.curboroughhallfarmshop.co.uk and www.packingtonfreerange.co.uk are excellent local suppliers offering top quality produce with little carbon footprint and local cafes and restaurants have identified that customers want fresh, local, traceable food. www.thesparkcafebar.co.uk  offers an excellent menu using this mantra.

So how can we ensure that  our desire for design is also a desire to support our local economy and ecology?

• Buy locally where possible and only buy what you love and will always love. 
• Buy produce in season to reduce carbon footprint. 
• Ask local supermarkets to stock local produce (customers are king) 
• Save on waste and use a 'bag for life'. 

I saw a bag for life recently which said 'I'm taking this old bag shopping' - enough said!!

Does Size matter?

It's an age old query that many of  us have asked at one time or another and certainly there are those who, shy of the whole size issue, would argue that quality is the most important thing and who am I to undermine such notions. Certainly as a person who is eager to appreciate both having AND eating my cake, size AND quality would be my preference any day of the week!

But it's scale rather than size that is really at issue. What good is a huge room that is too big and lofty to be comfortable. Better a smaller well proportioned room, that can feel homely and snug and can be used more successfully in terms of day to day living.

But scale and proportion are important considerations when planning a room scheme and can be used to trick the eye in making a space appear bigger and to create visual impact. Think Alice with her 'drink me' potion.

Take lighting for example. A large statement light in a stair well or over a dining table can really add a wow factor. My advice is to choose a size to fit the space and then go one or even two sizes bigger - Trust me!

I have a large pendant light hanging over a coffee table which sets off the room and centralises the space. My Dad, not known for his grace or poise hits his head off it every time he gets off the sofa but this just makes me love it and him all the more! Check out www.johnlewis.co.uk or I am always really impressed with the quality and value of the lighting at www.bhs.co.uk

The same sizing up technique can work in the garden. Two large planters can look far better than a terrace full of smaller one's.


www.achica.co.uk showcase lots of garden requisites. So 'bag yourself a big un'. Or perhaps that should read urn!                

Likewise fashion is flexing it's not inconsiderable muscles in the size stakes with both jewellery and handbags making a real statement.

A/W2013 couture collections showcased large statement jewellery really making a big impact.  As usual www.topshop.co.uk are leading the way on the high street with a diverse mix to set off the simplest of dresses. This stunning piece would look equally at home with jeans and a simple white shirt as it would with something more glamorous for evening wear and is available now online for just £20.



Does size matter? - Well it's a great big  YES from me!

Basket Case

I have quite a thing for baskets. I find it almost impossible to walk past one in a shop without at the very least stroking it. Baskets have been around practically since civilisation began, perhaps that is where this primal urge of mine comes from. However urges aside, baskets are sustainable, versatile and environmentally friendly, so what's not to like?

I have a basket in the bathroom in which I store toilet rolls and display my 'show' towels. Now I realise that any heterosexual men reading this will be perplexed by the notion of towels that are not actually for use but there mealy  for decorative affect, but most women and indeed gay men embrace
the concept.

I have large baskets, almost of Phileas Fogg proportions, for logs for the open fire, medium baskets for smaller logs for the wood burner and small baskets for storing kindling. A little over the top?  Perhaps.

I even have a wicker tray which I find to my frustration is not particularly functional, due to the woven nature of the material making it an undulating surface on which to carry and serve hot beverages. The same is true of the set of eight platters that whilst bringing a tactile, rustic quality to a table setting, means that guests have to endure a very rocky dining experience, which is not entirely due to my lack of  culinary skill. Again for any heterosexual men, I appreciate that the idea of a decorative plate laid on a table purely to hold a slightly smaller food plate will be alien to you.

Yet despite my foibles, baskets are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to bring texture and warmth into a room whatever your style. A chunky distressed basket against a white wall or high gloss kitchen can look amazing, and no Aga in sight!

Use a shallow basket to serve crusty bread, display a couple of wicker hearts on a dresser or door knob, and of course show off your 'show' towels to their best advantage. Just get ready to bite your tongue if they look so good someone dares to actually use them!

Nursery to Nightmare

Just when you thought everything had been said about babies this week following the Royal birth, I'm going to 'throw my hat into the ring'. Although in fairness this is not so much for Kate, it's more for every other unsuspecting mother or expectant mother.

One of the joys of pregnancy (swollen ankles, morning sickness and hemorrhoids aside) is thinking about decorating the Nursery. These days there is such a wealth of really good products out there, you can buy off the shelf without worrying about having the same scheme as nearly everyone else on the maternity ward.  www.susiewatsondesigns.co.uk has just launched a new collection 'Bedtime with Owlbert', perfect for every little VIP and honing in on that owl and bird trend that is big at the moment. My advice to mothers-to-be is enjoy the process, revel in the fact that you can 'go to town' safe in the knowledge that the nursery, at least in the early months, will stay pristine and styled to within an inch of its life.

Take a look at www.babyface.uk.com for that American Rhode Island vibe or look at www.teamson.co.uk for painted nursery toys and furniture  which may well become family treasures.

But time cannot stand still and your little bundles of joy are soon toddling around, developing close attachments to the most hideous of toys in the most headache inducing hues, many without a single natural fibre to call their own. Beautiful displays of keepsakes and old fashioned jointed teddy bears are trashed in favour of whatever the modern equivalent is to a 'Tweeney'! At this stage the only advice I can offer is storage, storage and more storage.

But then before you are really aware of it you are suddenly ensconced in 'the teenage years'. Every surface artfully displays washing, both clean and dirty. Glasses and mugs  en mass form an art installation on window ledges, whilst waste paper baskets overflow with wrappers and the distinct smell of aged apple cores.

I decorated my sons room in a relaxing grey/blue shade  and created a wall intended to provoke wonderment and wanderlust by installing a giant world map from www.coxandcox.co.uk. Everything else has been kept to a minimum for very good reason.

The teenage years can be a time when your children want to develop their own tastes and sense of style and this can be an opportunity for them to explore their creative side. Trust me, under no circumstances should this be encouraged.

My advice:-

Paint floors, walls and ceilings with a rubberised coating and pressure wash everything down once a week!

Is change really as good as a rest?

There must be millions of old sayings knocking around and in our family we've probably got more than our fair share, but is it true that change can be restful and invigorating?

Some people find change quite stressful and this fact bears testament to the thousands of pounds HR departments spend each year on coaching courses on Managing Change and Influencing Change etc etc.

You've only got to look at people who go back to the same holiday destination & hotel year after year to realise that some people don't like change, they like their lives to be ordered and uninterrupted by excitement or wonder. But how do these people know they wouldn't rather be somewhere else; that they're not missing out on paradise just around the next corner!

I like change, in fact it's no secret that I'm very easily bored. I'm a 'what if?' kind of person.

This of course manifests itself in the decoration of my home, and although I love all the decor in the house, I'm keen to change it, to ring the changes.

It's not that I've grown tired of the slat grey, Night Jewels 2 from www.dulux.co.uk Or the rich brown of the hall panelling, London Clay www.farrowandball.co.uk , it's more that I have a yearning desire to see what something else looks like, to create something different.  I think a little reinvention is good for the soul.

Now, I'm not advocating that we all continually have the 'wet paint' signs up at home, it's been more than 5 years since we fully decorated. There has however been plenty of tweaks in between. I very often move pictures and objects around, it's a form of relaxation. We stop seeing things when we're too familiar with them, we stop looking at that photo on the landing or that beautiful vase on the hall table & that is the optimum time to shake things up a little.

Make a promise to yourself that you are going to change something in your home this week. Put some beautiful flowers in a vase that normally lies empty, www.grahamandgreen.co.uk have a lovely owl vase which looks great against a dark wall. Group some coherent pieces together for greater visual impact or display family treasures you have acquired from a beech or a woodland walk under a glass dome to create your very own curated masterpiece.

Go on make a change - you know you want to!