FRIDAY FLOWERS….and a Friday market.

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME



Don't you just love Fridays?
That feeling of anticipation for the weekend stretching out in front….

If I can, I always try to pop in to our local Friday market, in the beautiful nearby Georgian market town of Tenterden.  Held within a little square, and additional stalls stretching out along the high street.  It is a particularly lovely place to go to find wonderful fish, freshly caught that morning off the coast of nearby Hastings…..

Fabulous artisan breads….and an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables…..and my favourite of all, a wonderful flower stall run by a particularly smiley, cheery man!

I could not resist bringing home these beautiful tulips, irises and hyacinths…..

Friday flowers, to brighten the day and welcome in the weekend….

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Wishing you a happy end to your week!

Sophia xx

LITTLE WHITE BLOOMS OF HOPE...

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Happy Thursday, and I do hope you have had a lovely week so far?  

Something that has not been so 'lovely' recently, has been the weather here in the UK!  When will it ever stop raining?  My dogs are decidedly unhappy, and I find myself having to snatch any rare respite in the weather to leave my desk and take the poor things out for their beloved walks.  We are avoiding the surrounding fields as they are a mud bath to navigate, and the woods have had a gushing stream running through them with all the excess rain.  Instead we have been enjoying walking along the relatively quiet country lanes, which has made a nice change, and is often the source of some inspiration of sorts.

This morning's inspiration came to me as I walked past a particularly pretty cottage about half a mile down the lane from us.  Spreading along the length of their long gravel driveway, leading up to the front door, was a complete sea of Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)….so beautiful and uplifting on this grey and dismal day.  It occurred to me that I still have no Snowdrops in the garden…..something that for some reason seems to miss my bulb planting extravaganza each year…..and such a shame, as their bright and cheery, little white heads are the first thing to emerge in the garden at this time of year, and such a tonic.

Well, I am determined not to miss the boat again….and shall be ordering mine pronto!

Now is the perfect time to plant them, and the most reliable form is 'in the green'….still in active growth with their leaves on.   Quick to spread, if then lifted and divided whilst 'in the green' each year….

It may take some time for my modest bulb order to spread to resemble this spectacular display above….but in years to come, who knows!

You can find 'Snowdrops in the Green', by visiting here, here and here.

Wishing you a happy and hopefully a slightly dryer and brighter end to your week!

Sophia xx

BATHROOM BLISS…

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME


I don't know about you, but my bathroom is one of my most important and favourite rooms here at home.  We all need a sanctuary and a bit of 'Me' time, and the chance to indulge in a bit of pampering is always a good thing….especially in  damp, cold, miserable January!
Whether just a few precious minutes first thing in the morning at the start of a hectic day….or a relaxing hour or so at the end of it….the bathroom is a blissful, restorative place to be.

I have been fortunate over the years to also help many of my clients realise their own dream of their perfect bathroom sanctuary.  Always a particularly enjoyable commission…

I leave you with some eye catching 'Bathroom bliss' inspiration, each very different, but each with a unique and 'blissful' style of their own….

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A 'romantic' haven...

'Zen' clean lines….

Simple elegance….

Country charm….

The ultimate power shower….

Smart, masculine and moody….

The ultimate in feminine glamour….

A pool of a bath….

Baths with a view to dream of….

….and I couldn't resist this one….sometimes it is the simplest settings that are perfect for a very simple pleasure!

Do you have a favourite?

I would love to hear….

Sophia xx

A LOVELY INVITATION!

I have long been a follower of renowned English TV broadcaster, writer, cook, gardener and teacher 'Sarah Raven'.  Sarah is a presenter on BBC Gardener's World, writes for various publications as well as having produced numerous award winning gardening and cookery books.  An inspirational and passionate teacher, she also runs cookery, flower arranging, and gardening courses at her family home and farm 'Perch Hill', East Sussex.  Married to writer Adam Nicholson, the grandson of Vita Sackville-West, they divide their time between Perch Hill and 'Sissinghurst Castle' Kent. 

With a fabulous website with on-line shop, recipes, gardening advice and interesting articles, along with a gorgeous, inspiring seasonal mail order catalogue, it has always been a favourite choice for me when it comes to buying seeds, plants and bulbs, along with lovely things for the home and garden.

Linked to the Sarah Raven website, can be found their lovely blog 'Garlic and Sapphire',  created by the Sarah Raven team who have brought together a selection of bloggers from around the UK,  who are passionate about gardening, cooking, local produce and beautiful flowers. 

  You can imagine how delighted I was to be asked the other day to write a 'guest post' for 'Garlic & Sapphire', and even more so to now be invited to join their regular team of writers!  You can find my newly published post here, and I am looking forward to contributing regular articles on their lovely blog, about all things garden and kitchen related, with the addition of one or two other favourite topics too no doubt!

So when you have a moment, do hop over to the 'Sarah Raven' website and their 'Garlic and Sapphire' blog for some great inspiration for the coming season!

Wishing you all a very happy weekend!

Sophia xx

THINKING PINK!

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A busy day today…..immersed in the colour Pink!

Working on an enjoyable work commission to update a client's daughter's bedroom…….a simple brief…..open to ideas…..but one thing for sure…..it has to be pink!

Pink here at home can be found in my own daughter's bedroom.  From a little girl, throughout her teens, and now as an independent 22 year old,  she still loves her pink bedroom.  In her own flat in London she has gone for a change and has chosen a gorgeous cool, glamorous turquoise….but for her visits home, I have promised to keep her bedroom exactly is it is….pink!

The rest of my home and wardrobe are not renowned for that much colour….calm, understated white, neutrals, brown and black are my thing….but there's nothing like a punch of pink at times, whether in the form of a pretty scarf or bag,  or a vase of beautiful pink Roses or Peonies to make me smile and bring a room to life.

So to brighten this bleak, windy and rainy Thursday evening, I leave you with a little 'Pink' inspiration and loveliness…...

In the form of soft pink candlelight…..

Glamourous pink accessories……

A delicious 'Pink Martini'…..

Birthday balloons….

The coolest, girliest drive….

Roses, roses, roses….

A facade to make you smile….

A 'Wellie' to brighten the rainiest day….

A Spring blossom display to remember….

A luxurious recline….

And lastly…..a very important cause.

Sophia xx

*****

Ps.  If you would like help or advice on creating your dream interior, please contact me via my website: www.sophiawadsworthinteriors.co.uk

I would be delighted to hear from you! 

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY!

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

PHOTO:SOPHIA HOME

Another beautiful day here in Kent.  So lovely to have the sunshine streaming in through the house…..

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

 Brightening the space and spirits alike….

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Giving a hint of what we have to look forward to…. in the form of Spring.

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With a craving for something fresh and healthy for lunch today, it was to the kitchen garden that I turned to this morning.  Looking a little battered by the recent high winds and rain….but still with a reasonable supply of winter veg to choose from.

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

 Leeks, Celeriac, Chard, Beetroot, Purple Sprouting Broccoli and my absolute favourite….Kale!  A red 'Curly Kale' variety that has a particularly good flavour….

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Kale is the perfect ingredient at this time of year, when we are all trying to keep fit and healthy.  A powerhouse of nutrients, it is high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and rich in calcium.  As with broccoli and other brassicas, it can significantly lower cholesterol and also contains 'sulforaphane' which is a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties…..no wonder it is right up there on the list of 'Superfoods'!

  

One of my favourite ways of using this tasty, nutritious winter crop, is to put it in a delicious warming, hearty soup….similar to a Tuscan Robollita,  but using whatever I happen to have to hand.

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME


Today's mix was as follows:

1 onion
clove of garlic
1 red chilli
1 red pepper, chopped
6 mushrooms chopped
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin of cannellini beans 
1 pint of vegetable stock
large bunch of Kale, chopped
Parsley and Parmesan cheese to garnish

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Fry garlic, onions, red pepper mushrooms and chilli until soft.  Add tomatoes and stock, followed by Kale and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.  Add beans and warm through.  Serve garnished with Parsley and Parmesan cheese.

***

  Voila!
  Easy, delicious and incredibly healthy!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and here's to a happy and healthy week!

Sophia xx