LOOK what Ros just gave me as a belated birthday present.

You have to understand there is a history with us and swans. It started with a tense conversation in the car on the way to Ardingly a few years ago when we realised we were hunting for the same thing. Then Ros found one a few months ago, the start of her collection. Despite that, yesterday she gave me this without showing even a hint that she might have liked to keep it – what generosity of spirit! It’s my very first one.

Look how versatile she is (the swan I mean).

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Design Bloggers at Home book

Yes it’s my house and yes the shot is in focus in the way that’s sometimes lacking in my real Real Reveals. That’s because this photo is from Ellie Tennant’s first book Design Bloggers At Home (I’m calling it Tennant’s Super) and was shot by the talented Rachel Whiting. I’m honoured to be one of […]

Colour inspirations

Colour is such a personal thing. People will tell you they hate certain shades that you love and vice versa. You can be halted in your tracks over the strangest of sights, purely because of the colour or – more often for me – colour combination. Sometimes you think something will transfer easily into your […]

Address book: C. P. Hart

I declare a trend! And I’m calling it the Non-bathroom bathroom – stay with me. It’s the kind of bathroom that looks like a really beautiful living room, only with some carefully placed necessities – the WC, basin and such. It’s when the freestanding bath is positioned next to a huge window complete with luxury […]

Animal ceramics

This is my mantelpiece… A friend just gave me the ceramic cat’s face, which is by Japanese illustrator / designer Chie Miyazaki. I love it. We saw it together at an open studio event in Camberwell just before Christmas and she remembered my reaction, which is so nice. Here are a few more of Chie’s […]