BAY

This bay tree is from our wedding, we bought two for the top of the aisle, and gave one to Paul's parents afterwards. Where better to put a bay tree than in a bay window? (Have actually since moved it...)

Alabama and Clarence always get themselves into such picture perfect, catalogue poses. Here she is, sitting on top of a stack of books like the best possible cliche.

LAMP

I love these industrial, metal desk lamps. This one needs rewiring. But for know he's sitting pretty on some shelving.

BOAT

I love this magazine rack. We picked it up from eBay for £3! At the moment it is sporting the latest issue of Boat magazine! It is a nomadic travel and culture publication that focuses on a different, inspiring city for each issue. This month is LA. We are planning a retun trip there next summer so it's getting me super psyched for it!

 

LIFT

Not much to say here, apart from here I am, in the lift at work, taking a selfie...

Dressed in Zara, Falke and COS (obvi)

SHORT

Today I got my extensions taken off. I try to do three months on and three months off! I always end up feeling like half of my fingers have been chopped off for the first few days, and TEXTING? Oh my god it takes me about an hour to write one sentence again.

Here they are in all their stubby glory. Grey shellac!

CHOP

We are decreasing our meat intake, slowly slowly. I find it easier to decrease bit by bit, tricks the mind into not realising anything has changed...

At the moment, I have cut out all red meat, I don't eat fish, and am only left with chicken, once or twice a week.

Saturday evening, I cooked my most favourite vegetarian dish of mushroom bolognese. Mushrooms are an amazing substitute for mince, they've got a great consistency, and are actually quite meaty once cooked down.

SAFE

Sunday, saw a delightful (or not) trip to Safestore in Chingford. I love their corridors, even if it is a bit scary. We took the last bits of our "left over" stuff and locked it up, until after we sell. We are on the home stretch now... The exterior decorator has a few bits to finish off, and a few snags inside too. But we are NEARLY THERE!

BARBICAN

The Barbican estate is my second favourite building (if you can call it a building? A gaggle of buildings? What's the plural?) in London, after Battersea Power Station. It's a stunning example of brutalist architecture, it dwarfs and completey consumes you. It was built in the 1960's, on a bomb site from WW2. It's ambition and vision were groundbreaking. Architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon spent YEARS planning, developing and re planning etc. The City asked the architects to design the site in the early fifties and work didn't start until almost ten years later, completing the works in 1975, (TWENTY YEARS from start to finish!) with the arts centre following in 1982.

Paul took us to see John Cale here last Fri day for our six year anniverary (when did that happen!?) and I spent a good twenty minutes happily being lost in the maze that is the Barbican, before finding the theatre. I never learn. I have an awful sense of direction. But I guess there are much worse places to be lost.

One day we will own a flat here!

HOUSE DOCTOR

The House Doctor light fitting FINALLY went up. We had to get an electrician to fit it annoyingly, which is why it took so long! It's been sitting in a rather large box (taking up alot of room!) for a few months now. They do them in a few different colours, but we loved the copper!

 

Light fitting: House Doctor

LEDGE

So the ledge in the hallway finally went up! We are yet to arrange the frames, but was so excited, I had to tell you all! The hallway itself is quite thin, but I love "leaning" frames on shelves/ ledges, as opposed to just hanging on the wall. It creates a whole new dynamic.

The hallway is too narrow to put a proper shelf, so we found these ribba ledges from IKEA, which has a little lip at the edge to stop the items falling off.

Frame: Ribba, IKEA

BACK TO SCHOOL

Today saw the first day of my yoga teacher training. Kitted myself out with the wonderful Arne Jacobsen pencils and paper chase notepads.

The day was incredibly overwhelming in the most wonderful way. Pushing yourself passed your safety zones and challenging yourself to go further, is something we can all benefit from, from time to time. It's good for the brain! 

 

Pencil: Arne Jacobsen, SKANDIVIS

Note books: Paperchase

ALMOST THERE

So here we are. Almost 10 months after purchase. This room was initially a small living room and a very small bedroom! We knocked the wall down to create a lovely wide, open living/ dining area! Light floods this room! I'm taking the photo from the half way point, to the right is the "dining" area, which isn't quite finished yet!!! Patience, patience (saying this to myself, as well as to readers!)

Spot the cat....

READING

Paul has been in LA for a few days, so last night, I took myself to bed early with a cup of genmaicha, to get some reading done ahead of my yoga teacher training starting this Saturday (eek!)

However, as you can see, every time I picked the book up, this furry feline kept interrupting me, and proceeded to eventually just sit right in front of the it/ on it. I gave up after about half an hour.

APEROL

I went to Nice earlier this year with some girlfriends, and we became enamoured with Aperol Sptrizers. Why had I never had one before!? All these years of drinking and not once had I come across this beauty.

We had friends over for dinner of Friday, and I saw Aperol was on offer in Waitrose. Rude not to right?

CATURDAY

Paul flies to LA tomorrow, so we've dedicated a whole day to watching "Suits" in bed. Totally hooked.

AUTUMN

Today saw the first outing for my new Wolford's, which means one thing... Autumn is coming. Autumn is my very favourite season. It's the lead up to Christmas, still bright, longish evenings, wonderful, wonderful colours, lovely walks, and it's normally still warm enough for just a heavy jumper or light jacket and scarf. Here's to Autumn!

 

Tights: Wolford

Shoes: COS

SCHOOL

We bought these school chairs a few months ago from eBay with the inclination to do them up. But we haven't had time! So they are now for sale on eBay! They'd be a great project for someone. Just need a light sanding/ filling and reprinting. We were going to paint them grey, shockingly! If you're interested in bidding, do click HERE go go go!

BEDROOM

Playtype do some of my favourite posters. The paper they're printed on/ the typography, the placement, the colours. I love it all. We've put this "B" in the bedroom. Makes sense...

 

Print: PLAYTYPE from SKANDIVIS