It’s officially summer. How do I know? I’ve swapped the winter duvet for the summer one. Which brings a few problems. Although I only have a standard double bed, I bought a winter duvet in a king size. It means that in winter there is an huge amount of extra duvet to pull around you and snuggle into, keeping you super warm. But now it’s summer I find that my selection of all-white double duvet covers could do with a refresh.

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Mini Moderns come to Margate

The Hoy pub in Margate is advertising on its chalkboard a ‘Cockney Night’. On ‘Cockney Night’ they’re promising both pie ‘n’ eels and entertainment from Chas ‘n’ Dave. I’m obviously very excited. But the peerless geniuses behind the heartbreaking ‘Ain’t No Pleasing You’ aren’t the only dynamic duo getting in on the Margate scene. Designers […]

East London press show snippets

Yesterday, several shops and designers in Shoreditch had press shows to reveal collections that are launching officially in September at this year’s London Design Festival. A sort of pre show show, if you will. I made it to Shoreditch crazy early (8.30), so got a glimpse of the local school run, which I’ll describe quickly […]

A Rebours: decadent decorating with Huysmans

In a moment I want to share with you the most incredible book. A fin de siècle novel that is the very definition of decadence, and is packed with more decorating ideas than Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s waste bin. But first let me share this – a bamboo rocking chair from our local charity shop (Jill, as per, […]

Decorating movies

What, you didn’t know that was a thing? Apart from Dirty Dancing, the one movie that all my oldest friends seem to associate with me is, appropriately, the mother of all decorating movies: The Money Pit. Come on, tell me you’ve seen it. It was on tv just the other week – I know because […]