may, 28th - style with substance.....

day 1195 / 294:

the joy of moving is that we have more space......in the Shoebox many of our treasures had been boxed and put away.....but now, we have the joy of digging them out and finding the right spot for them.....we are slowing getting there.....

i have also been trawling auction sites (ebay, you old friend) to find gems (storage mainly). things that just need a good sanding, lick of paint or repurposing......not only do we have a tiny budget for furnishing the new house but i also want to find things that we will happily take into a future.....i keep coming back to this book above and the idea of finding things that are stylish, yet have substance. i think that this means different things for different people but for me it's things that are: tactile; full of history; timeless and generally, i'm a sucker for handcrafted.

this week, i've painted a sweet old wardrobe to put in the girls room, convinced the local auction house to give away two old lampshades (perfect for stripping) and asked our genius (and very reasonable) electrician to change some of the plastic hanging lights to silk flex and metal ceiling roses (it makes such a difference). i also found this collection of vintage bobbins that were paid for with my coin purse and yet make me so very happy...the wood feels wonderful and they make great drumming sticks for Claya. 

now, just to find a battered, wooden table that can seat ten but still fit down the narrow Victorian stairs.....

nov, 21st - clever clogs....

day 1011 / 110:

our friends have almost finished renovating their house.....i posted some before pics here and here. they have nailed it! completely and utterly....i did say on my last visit that if it was my home, i'd probably never go out! and what's even more impressive is that they've also had a small baby to deal with at the same time. hopefully i can convince them to let me show the end results here.....they must be so chuffed.

sep, 22nd - stiffkey stores....

day 952 / 51:

Stiffkey Stores, The Old Coach House, Wells Road, Stiffkey (01328 830489)

on our way to the Long House {see day 949/ 48} we passed a building with a courtyard outside, strewn in bunting flapping in the breeze over tables and chairs and a sign that said - Stiffkey Stores. it certainly captured our attention so on the first morning, we went to take a look.

Stiffkey Stores is a cafe, plus delicatessan, plus quirky gift store, plus interiors store {see day 948 / 47}, plus local groceries store and surprisingly, it's even the local post office. it's the creation of a young couple who moved cross-country to set up this charming shop. it certainly has the feeling of something that has been lavished with attention and dedication. outside, they have even installed two beach huts with tables inside (i guess for those less sunny days). as I said on day 931 / 30, when we're on holiday, we always feel a little happier when we find a place that does great coffee....and their candy-striped cups and delicious pastries were an added bonus.  

we loved it so much that we visited it four times in two days.......i really wish that all villages had a Stiffkey Store....it would make travelling so much more enjoyable.

sep, 3rd - burnt enz....

day 936 / 35:

Burnt Enz, so glad that we made it there. it almost feels wrong to post about it now that it's closed on the weekends (there are four thursday night dinners left) as it has to be one of my favourite dining experiences in London.  set up in the Climpson & Sons Roastery under some railway arches in East London, it's a temporary restaurant started by Australian, Dave Pynt. 

Pynt got his grilling expertise from working in the acclaimed Spanish restaurant, Asador Exebarri. so, this is not your typical grill. we had whole leeks with fresh aioli, lamb ribs, courgettes, beef forerib (incredible) and the star dish, bone marrow (served with watercress and lightly toasted bread). seriously god food. all grilling is done over a charcoal flame and also in their specially built ovens (that are now for sale)

char-grilled cuisine with good friends, in an industrial space, with bulbs strung across the ceiling in a criss-cross fashion.....this is my idea of heaven. now you know.

 and this is what it actually looks like when we go out for lunch these days.............

jun, 28th - studio in umbria....

day 870:

our good friend, Lucy MacGillis, is an American artist living in the area of Umbria that we frequently visit {see day 856}. she's just finished renovating her home which includes the perfect studio with a view over the valley....

the rest of Lucy's home has just as much atmosphere. she painted all her walls herself in tones of white and grey. the raw cement work surfaces in the kitchen, beautiful original beams and rustic doors all have me swooning. she's done an amazing job.

outside is just as lovely.

to see Lucy's work, you can view her portfolio here.

jun, 12th - lace and light....

day 855:

in Italy, we stay in my sister's family home {see day 274}. it's such a relaxing space with huge beds and beautiful light. when my sister and brother-in-law bought the place, it had been converted from an old palazzo into a seventies space inside, that shrouded its stunning bones.  they restored it, creating a wonderful space for the whole extended family to gather in. original tiles were reused on the floors, stonework carefully restored and local craftsmen used. it's really been brought to life.