Weekend Life.....Winter Inspiration (#1)

Winter Inspiration (#1)

Creamy green hellebores (the loveliest of flowers which emerge in mid to late winter), cherry blossoms, inky black candles to make a dull, grey afternoon a bit more bearable, flushed cheeks - natural or courtesy of a dab of rosebud pink blush, snow covered buildings and footpaths (alas not in London), soft charcoal wool blankets (sofa-time), textured ceramics to serve steaming bowls of soup or a colourful winter salad, rainy day (lost umbrellas), deep violet silk-satin paired with a graphic neck scarf, lips the colour of an autumnal black dahlia with heavily lined eyes (s*rew the rules).  Winter.

  

Black dinner candles (mine are Tom Dixon but I don't think you can buy them anymore)

Vintage brass chamber candle holder from Etsy

Eric Bonnin black vase from the beautiful Spartan Shop, Austin

Charcoal grey throw blanket (mine isn't available anymore but Urbanara has similar throws).

Weekend Life....Croissants + Japanese Anemones

Weekend brekky: croissants + jam + espresso + a vase of pretty Japanese anemones. 

Croissants from Poilane (the Waitrose frozen bake-to-order butter croissants are also rather good too especially if you want to serve them warm. I once read a book written by the owner of a boutique hotel in France and he swore by Picard frozen croissants. I keep meaning to remember to buy some to try when I am in Paris....but I worry they would all defrost on the Eurostar journey home!), lovely homemade raspberry jam and Duchy organic salted butter. 

The Japanese anemones are a happy August/September revelation for me - I had never seen or heard of them before I came across them at the New Covent Garden Flower Market last year. Now I can't get enough of them - so pretty (even the buds are beautiful) with lovely elegant bendy shapes and gorgeous hues. I keep seeing them in gardens now (they seem to do quite well in shady positions) and I saw a gorgeous display at Kew Gardens when I visited last year.  

Ceramic vases and plate by the incredible Janaki Larsen of Le Marche St George 

Japanese Anemones from Zest at New Covent Garden Flower Market

Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Grand Prix Dining chairs in walnut (I sat on so many chairs trying to find some that looked good and were comfy too. So many looked beautiful but were ridiculously uncomfortable after only a few minutes of sitting. I love the look of the  Hans Wegner Wishbone chair but the frame at the back just didn't work for me (not sure if it is height issue? Or just a me issue.... I wonder if that is why I see so many of them covered in sheepskin rugs!). Anyway, the Grand Prix chairs are wonderful to sit on, even over many hours. My only regret is not waiting, and trying to source some vintage teak Grand Prix chairs....