Y'all....I have some really pretty pictures to show you today of the Southeastern Designer Showhouse
Nobody loves a showhouse more than me....where the designers get a chance to step outside of the box and use creative ways to design a room!
Now we all know that as a designer we are sometimes bound to client desires....and let's face it people that is our job! But it is pretty fun to be
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Monday, May 29, 2023
Book Review- Gather at Home: Over 100 Simple Recipes, DIYs, and Inspiration for a Year of Occasions
Gather at Home 
The book is organized by season, making it easy to find ideas for any time of the year. I appreciated that the recipes and crafts are simple and straightforward, with ingredients that are easy to find. I love that Monika focuses on making even the everyday moments special, as it can be all too easy to overlook the little things in life.
The photography in the book is beautiful and truly sets the mood for each season. I was inspired by the beautiful presentation of each dish, and I found myself wanting to try out many of the recipes. I also loved the DIY projects, which are not only simple but also add a special touch to any occasion.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend Gather at Home by Monika Hibbs to anyone who loves to entertain or simply wants to add a special touch to their everyday moments. This book is filled with easy-to-follow recipes, DIY projects, and inspiration to make every moment a memorable one. Whether you’re looking for ideas for a big holiday celebration or just a cozy night in, this book is sure to provide you with the inspiration you need.
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, May 28, 2023
The plot is up, now it’s just a question of keeping it running
As the plants find their legs, the summer jobs of watering and a little light weeding come to the fore
Our early summer sowing is done for now. The baby herbs are happy. The spring salads are taking wing. The rampant orache is being rehomed in purple patches.
Last year’s mustards and kales flowered for the bees. Their skeletons removed to the compost bays. The remains of the chervil beds, too.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Pluck of the Irish: style languages combine in a Dublin home
A reworked Victorian house in the Irish capital pairs minimalism with glamour
* This article was originally published here
Maria Abou Khalife is a linguist who describes her home as having two styles – perhaps, like herself, it is multilingual. One style speaks to her sleek and minimalist side, influenced by the years she spent living in Copenhagen, the other style is full-on glamour, articulated with the help of interior designer Suzie McAdam. The glamorous drawing room is the room that sold the property to Maria. She describes it as a jewel box: “The detailed cornicing on the high ceiling is beautiful. It needed a complete overhaul, but the Victorian property had what we were looking for.” The couple, while reticent, could envisage the potential.
The room is painted in Farrow & Ball Calamine Pink now, with an impressive Il Pezzo Mancante chandelier at its centre and matching wall lights that contrast playfully with the traditional elements. It also features a distinctive stained glass window that they’re particularly pleased with. “We are the only house on the street with this bird design and we were told it had been a wedding present the original owner had received.”
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Friday, May 26, 2023
When councils lose the plot over gardens | Letters
Council tenants should be encouraged to create gardens on their properties, writes Marie Paterson, while Lyn Pigney finds it strange and sad that local authorities are clamping down on hanging baskets and flower boxes
How sad to read Phineas Harper’s article about council tenants being denied the pleasure of cultivating a small garden on the plots of land outside their properties (The council has come for our gnomes and pot plants. Your hanging basket might be next, 23 May).
When my mother and I moved into a new council flat in Manor Park in east London in the 1960s (now part of Newham), the large piece of land between our flat and the Eastern Region railway viaduct was divided into small garden plots, each with individual clothes lines. Most tenants took full advantage of these plots, taking great pleasure in cultivating them in their own individual ways.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Stop trying to flush your secrets — and other advice from plumbers
Plumbers find all manner of objects stuck in people’s pipes, from toys to Q-tips to evidence of infidelity. Here’s what they’d like you to know.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Taking a breath to cure a hangover | Brief letters
Oxygen to the rescue | Train strain | Hands off our plants | The joy of children
Re your article on the effect of alcohol on the body (The truth about booze, 24 May), when I was in the RAF and woke up with a hangover I would go and sit in the cockpit of a Meteor jet and breathe the oxygen supply for five minutes. Worked wonders.
JD Nixon
Hookwood, Surrey
• Your report (Rail passengers in England could lose wifi access amid cost cuts, 22 May) describes a proposal that would have been rejected from The Thick of It as being too dumb to be credible. In a climate emergency, amid budgetary constraints, what should we do: invest in public transport and encourage its use, or disincentivise people from using trains further while continuing to subsidise road building and airport expansion?
Dave Hunter
Bristol
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
‘Uplifting and beautiful’: accessible garden wins top prize at Chelsea flower show
Horatio’s Garden is designed to be a restorative sanctuary for people with spinal injuries
A wheelchair-accessible garden for people with spinal injuries has won best in show at the Chelsea flower show this year.
Horatio’s Garden is designed to be a sanctuary for those who may otherwise find gardens inaccessible, and to help people with spinal injuries to heal.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Monday, May 22, 2023
Weed-spliced concrete block at flower show highlights green space disparities in Chelsea
Smallest ever display aims to provide ‘visual representation of the stark reality of inequality’
Alongside displays of bright flowers and cutting-edge garden design, visitors at this year’s Chelsea flower show will find an exhibition featuring native weeds and plants.
The display, which is part of the smallest garden ever shown at the event, has been designed by the guerrilla gardening group Grow2Know, to bring attention to the disparity of green space in the borough.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Chelsea flower show garden built with asylum seekers brings ‘message of hope’
Choose Love garden uses materials found in refugee camps and plants that grow on migration routes
A centrepiece garden at this year’s Chelsea flower show has been built with the help of a team of asylum seekers with a design that recreates Europe’s migration routes and uses materials found in refugee camps.
The Choose Love garden, named after a charity working with displaced people, uses the sustainable “superadobe” building technique found in camp architecture.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Young country diary: Slugs, worms and an ant colony – what a successful garden hunt! Julia
Central London: I went out to see what I could find, and ended up feeling sorry for the earthworms
We share our garden with snails, slugs and ants. My mum has recorded incredible adventures of following the chomped plants and the trail of slime, feeling their presence. She told me about the different types of slugs she found. Our favourite is the leopard slug. It eats other slugs and rotting plants, fertilising the ground. Fascinated by her stories, I asked if I could go on a slug hunt myself. She was completely in favour of it. And so, I leave, hunting for any garden creature.
My first find was an earthworm, accidentally dug up. It was trying to burrow back into the ground. Usually, a robin comes and eats the worms, but it didn’t come today. Next, I moved a compost bag. Unfortunately, an ant colony was there and was now frantic, crawling and picking up their larvae. This was extremely interesting as I’d never seen a colony up close before.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Friday, May 19, 2023
Cancel culture and the Oxford Union | Brief letters
Free speech | Crossword coincidence | Early readers | Rewilding too far | Lost Marxists
So the Oxford Union is now under pressure from the cancel culture (Academics condemn ‘threats’ against Oxford Union in Kathleen Stock row, 17 May). I recall a Union debate in the early 60s when one of the speakers was Oswald Mosley. He was given a pretty rough ride. But the idea that we might have been forbidden to hear and debate his views would have been unthinkable.
John Prescott Thomas
Bristol
• I read the paper at breakfast time on Wednesday and sent off my email about Dorothy’s dog (Letters, 17 May) just after 8am. Then I did the quick crossword at lunchtime – and the clue for 10 across was “Dorothy’s dog”. How weird is that!
Pam Fraser
Cumnor, Oxfordshire
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, May 18, 2023
How to spot a bad flip? Page Turner of HGTV took your questions.
Page Turner of HGTV joins Jura Koncius to take reader questions about flipping spaces and more.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
How to turn your garden into a buffet for pollinators
Before leaping at a new variety of your favorite plant, consider whether the change in shape, color or bloom time may alter its appeal to pollinators.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Why it’s hard to hire a handyman or contractor — and what to do about it
Labor shortages and the increasing cost of doing business have made it harder to find skilled tradespeople to tackle home to-do lists.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Monday, May 15, 2023
Book Review – French Vintage Décor: Easy and Elegant DIY Projects for Any Home
As someone who is currently setting up a cottage for an Airbnb, I was on the lookout for inspiration to make it feel special and unique. When I stumbled upon “French Vintage Décor: Easy and Elegant DIY Projects for Any Home
As soon as I started reading, I was impressed by the range of projects Jamie had included in the book. There were ideas for every room in the house, from sewing to painting and upholstery, and each project was accompanied by beautiful photos to help guide me through the process. What I loved most about this book was the fact that it used easy-to-find and recycled objects, as well as new materials, to bring a touch of French vintage style into my life.
The step-by-step instructions were simple and easy to follow, and I was pleased to discover that many of the projects could be created in just a few hours or less. This was perfect for me, as I have a busy schedule and wanted to make the most of my limited time.
I decided to start with the provincial antique basket project, and I was thrilled with the results. It was such a fun and easy project, and it transformed my space in a matter of hours. I couldn’t believe how much of a difference such a small and simple change could make. I was inspired to keep going and tackle more projects, and before I knew it, my cottage was transformed into a French vintage haven.
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, May 14, 2023
So Kate Moss is now into gardening? I love it when ravers become boring | Emma Beddington
The model may use £1,300 saddle-stitched leather gardening tools, but there’s something pleasing when edgy idols take up hobbies we mere mortals already enjoy
I have a masochistic thing for How to Spend It, the Financial Times magazine that assists you in unloading all that pesky, burdensome cash. It rebranded as “HTSI” last year, presumably in the spirit of “quiet luxury”, which made it sound like some abstruse financial product, a high-yield, index-linked, short-term treasury bond, or whatever. None of those words means anything to me, which is probably why I am a mere rubbernecker in the HTSI universe.
It’s a place where your preferred fragrance is “an olfactory visualisation of brute concrete” and your living room features “a site-specific art installation, featuring the words from my poems inscribed in gold leaf on the walls and played over speakers in a recording voiced by Iggy Pop (like one recent interviewee, the artist Stefan Brüggemann, who sounds like a riot). Is the whole mag a site‑specific art installation? I will never be rich enough to find out.
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Saturday, May 13, 2023
Happy Spring!
Hello everyone,
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful
Spring. Once spring arrives here
there are so many garden chores
that need to be done . We have
been spending most of our
days in the garden and it
feels so good to be out
there again.
We have thousands of daffodils
blooming in the garden now
along with other spring bulbs,
scilla,mucari,hyacinths etc.
Our tulips are just starting
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Cork homeware – in pictures
Waterproof, insulating, versatile and attractive, cork furniture is making a comeback
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Talk about giving a dog a bad name… | Brief letters
Troublesome pups | Sleep obsession | Breakfast pie | Letterboxes | Right to protest
Re dog names (The pet I’ll never forget, 8 May), I remember, some 30 years ago, a dog running down our village street, its owners in hot pursuit calling out its name: “Tiptoe! Tiptoe!” It didn’t.
Joy Webb
Penistone, South Yorkshire
• When we got a cairn terrier puppy, he had already been named Achilles. I could always spot English speakers in the park by their reaction to my urgent shouts as I tried to train him to walk just behind me.
Charles Osborne
Prague, the Czech Republic
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
From a 30sqm house to a slice of urban parkland: Australia’s most sustainable homes of 2023 – in pictures
The sustainability shortlist in Architecture Australia’s annual Houses Awards demonstrates new ways of thinking about the places we call home, whether it be replacing a large garage with a place to “stare up at the stars”, or the first true net-zero home in Western Australia. House Awards jury chair Alexa Kempton said: ‘The jury was pleased to see … examples of homeowners taking agency over their homes’ environmental impacts.’
She hopes that this is ‘as much a consequence of a growing demand from consumers as it is a result of advocacy from the architects. The tenets of reduce and reuse also apply to building, and the jury saw many examples of creative and prudent adaptations that regenerated existing housing, rather than building new.’
* This article was originally published here
Monday, May 8, 2023
Living happily — and calmly — alongside 80 houseplants
A conversation with blogger and Instagram personality Tracey Hairston about how she uses plants to anchor her very personal space.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, May 7, 2023
How a school renovation in Belgium turned into a top class co-built community
What started as a single family project in Ghent soon blossomed into homes for 10 families
* This article was originally published here
On her first visit, 15 years ago, to the abandoned school complex that was to become her family home, Veva van Sloun was in for a surprise. Located in a busy area of Ghent, the old school was shielded from the main street by bamboo planting. Beyond white gate she discovered it had a hidden courtyard garden, not to mention its own chapel. The site was much bigger than she anticipated. “It was so dilapidated that when I leant against the wall some of the bricks crumbled and fell off,” she recalls.
Undeterred, she decided to take on the renovation. The chapel had been extended to house the school kitchen and gymnasium. These elements were removed to restore the chapel as a separate entity, giving van Sloun, her husband, Jan, and their children more space. “We had to take off the roof and rebuild it brick by brick because it was in a horrible condition,” she says. “I didn’t know enough about what I was getting into when I bought it – especially the costs of modernisation.”
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Fake books? Charles Dickens got there first | Brief letters
Shelf-esteem | Gardening tips | Gruff justice | The power of voting | Scathing school reports
Fake books are older than you seem to think (Fake books: the controversial interiors trend for literary pretenders, 1 May). Charles Dickens created “faux-aged spines” to line the door of his study at Gad’s Hill Place, his house in Kent. He gave them such titles as History of a Short Chancery Suit in Twelve Volumes, and Hansard’s Guide to Refreshing Sleep. I doubt it was to show people that he was literate.
Harland Walshaw
Lympstone, Devon
• I would love to see Adrian Chiles’s gardening show (The unspoken truth about gardening? It is a relentless, unwinnable war, 4 May) as I too come from the Attila the Hun school of gardening, and feel I never got far enough to learn from the others.
Margaret Squires
St Andrews, Fife
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Friday, May 5, 2023
Fake books? Charles Dickens got there first | Brief letters
Shelf-esteem | Gardening tips | Gruff justice | The power of voting | Scathing school reports
Fake books are older than you seem to think (Fake books: the controversial interiors trend for literary pretenders, 1 May). Charles Dickens created “faux-aged spines” to line the door of his study at Gad’s Hill Place, his house in Kent. He gave them such titles as History of a Short Chancery Suit in Twelve Volumes, and Hansard’s Guide to Refreshing Sleep. I doubt it was to show people that he was literate.
Harland Walshaw
Lympstone, Devon
• I would love to see Adrian Chiles’s gardening show (The unspoken truth about gardening? It is a relentless, unwinnable war, 4 May) as I too come from the Attila the Hun school of gardening, and feel I never got far enough to learn from the others.
Margaret Squires
St Andrews, Fife
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, May 4, 2023
I’m not kidding: a goat is a gardener’s best friend | Brief letters
Gardening | Tuition fees | The coronation oath of allegiance | Moss threat
If Adrian Chiles’s garden really gets his goat (The unspoken truth about gardening? It is a relentless, unwinnable war, 4 May), then he should do just that – get a goat. It will clear the thicket in a trice, leaving only the most stubborn bushes for his shredder to devour. BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today might commission a feature.
Jonathan Hauxwell
Cross Hills, North Yorkshire
• Regarding Keir Starmer’s views on university tuition fees (Report, 3 May), has he considered a graduate tax? This could spread student debt over a lifetime of employment, with the better paid graduates paying a higher rate and the badly paid or unemployed paying little or nothing.
Marilyn Mason
London
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Two French gourmets, one petite kitchen. Here’s how they make it work.
The key to living with a small kitchen is ruthless editing. Keep only the cooking equipment and dishes that are essential to your lifestyle.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
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