WE ARE CURRENTLY having a slice of summer cherry pie with custard and talking about all of the things that have been happening in the world these past few days. And it’s a lot to take in. It’s difficult to remain hopeful and inspired, and to keep on creating and absorbing beautiful things when at times, the world seems so chaotic. But it’s important (especially) at times like these, to focus on the good things that happened as well, the lovely moments, and the connections we have with those in our lives, those who know us well and who will always be there for us. These are things that matter most...
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PARIS-BORN Leia Sfez is a Creative Consultant and Director for brands in real life, but her Instagram page, @leiasfez, is like a dream. Like many enviable Parisiennes, the self-described "Creative Mind Mum of two" has that certain je ne sais quoi that comes through in everything. Whether she's traipsing about the streets of Paris in little summer dresses and wicker bags or belted tops and blue jeans, everything looks effortless...
THIS WEEKEND WE watched the Wimbledon finals, and Sunday’s match, between Federer and Djokovic, was especially exhilarating and ultimately heartbreaking (Federer forever). The weather has finally turned summery and I’m all billowy white dresses and espadrilles these days. The roses in all the English gardens have begun to fade, but everything is lush and green as it always is at this time of year, the height of summertime, when the days are hazy and you can almost hear the clouds float by. We still have so much to tell about these past few months of change and renewal, but for now, it’s nice to step back a little from everything, safe in the cosiness of the cottage and breathe. Also began a new book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, which has provided much to think about…
HAPPENED UPON a photo of the charming village of Saint-Émilion on Marlene Lee's Instagram feed, @cookiesncandies, and it immediately brought back so many fond memories of our trip to Bordeaux a few years ago, and the day trip we took to this very village...
THIS FRIDAY WILL BE THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER here in the northern hemisphere and WE COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED. Summertime is our favourite time and we're daydreaming of tan lines and a glass of wine on a breezy terrace, espadrilles and frills on little white dresses; palm trees and wicker and the flicker of candlelight on an August night...
THIS WEEKEND WE SAW Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino, whose ninth and latest film visits 1969 Los Angeles. Still not completely certain how I feel about it, but remember that it felt meanderingly and ploddingly slow, and very long. Of course, it was three hours and forty-five minutes, so it was actually long, but have always thought that really good films never seem to feel that way.
Call it cream, fawn, or unbleached silk, Tuscan, buff, camel, khaki, desert sand, French beige or ecru―BEIGE IS BACK and it's fashion's new favourite shade. And despite its reputation, this pared-back hue is anything but boring. Sophisticated, classic, understated, and elegant, it was first spotted on the streets at Paris Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2019 and we can't get enough of this the versatile and timeless colour. Here are a few ways to wear this chic shade...
THE THING ABOUT MOVING in to a new place is that if you get it just right, it far too cosy to leave. This weekend, we ordered in a perfectly spicy curry from the best Indian restaurant in the area and stayed in, enveloped in the cosy-ness of the cottage.
WE PAINTED THE LIVING this weekend, Farrow & Ball’s Middleton Pink, and it turned out to be rather disastrous. We ended up having to pick up new paint the next day and repaint everything, despite all my research pointing to the colour being pale powdery perfection, the prettiest and most delicate pink. We’re not certain what went wrong, but perhaps a combination of the wall texture and room lighting were to blame in making the colour appear a vivid candy floss pink that somehow even managed to clash with the fireplace mantle, which is cream. Décor misadventures aside, everything else was rather perfect, with sunset walks and Spanish wine in the last golden light of day; old stone houses and English roses and roaring fires and the feeling of being really very happy.
Casas na Areia is holiday apartment in Comporta, Setubal, Portugal. Once a family home, it now serves as a home away from home for guests from around the world. Work on the Casas na Areia was completed by the architect Manuel Aires Mateus who created a unique design that connects nature with contemporary architecture, while adhering to the simplicity of the original fishermen’s houses typical to the area.
This instalment of 10 Things We Lovely Lately includes, as always, a collection of beautiful finds from our travels around the internets, from British photographer Amberly Valentine's shots of model Inka Williams in Rome (above) to crochet for summertime, a Paris apartment, edible chocolate flower pots and more...
THE NEW ROUTER ARRIVED at the end of last week, and it was in the form of an AI Cube (despite being cylindrical) with Alexa installed. We have since been both mildly amused at the antics of new thing in our midst, and a little suspicious that it may be listening in all of our conversations. Also somehow picked up an horrendous summer cold somewhere at the beginning of last week that has progressively gotten worse...
PARIS IS HAVING A HEATWAVE and it’s only 13°C here in the English countryside. We call it a British Summer, but London is fine and is nearly as warm as Paris (but not quite). The locals here seem content to wear light jackets even in late June, for everything is lush and green and everywhere there is a fury of roses (our Instagram Stories is filled with them)...
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF DECORATING THE COTTAGE and despite there being unpacked boxes everywhere, have already chosen a paint colour and already know that there will be a gilded antique mirror hanging above the fireplace, a sentimental piece...