A LOVELY POST CHRISTMAS LULL....

I am writing this last blog post of 2016, in the lovely post Christmas lull before the New Year weekend.  Christmas has been a very happy time, with all our brood home for some, if not all of these days, and the house has been filled with music, laughter and fun.  

These few in between days have always been my favourite.  A nice mix of seeing friends with their families, easy meals with the delicious leftovers, plenty of walks in the fresh air, and time to just kick back with good books and films.

This is also a time to reflect on the past year, and to plan projects for the new year to come.  I have much that I want to share with you all in 2017, and along with my design work, I plan to spend more time working on the blog.  It has been a little neglected, particularly due to our travels (Thailand post coming soon!) so watch this space!

I do hope you have all had a very happy Christmas, and that you too are enjoying the last few days of 2016?

So from my home to yours, may I wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful new year, and thank you so much for reading 'Sophia Home'.

With love,

Sophia xxx

Christmas warmth and sparkle...

FESTIVE WHITES....
with a touch of sparkle and gold on my wishlist!

With Christmas just a little over six weeks away, my thoughts now turn to making list....gifts for family and friends, new recipe ideas, and of course my favourite...home decor. 

 I absolutely love decorating the house for the month of December.   Keeping it simple in my favourite tones of white and cream, and not too overdone, but with our two trees, a sprinkling of fairy lights, extra candles and votives, some favourite seasonal accessories and plenty of bulbs and fresh flowers, the house feels warm and magical and ready to welcome the family home.

Each year, I also love to see what's new, whether for myself or others, and here is a peek at some of the things that have caught my eye....

To start the month of December off, how charming is this wooden advent house from Gisella Graham?  With 24 little draws, what child or grown up for that matter, wouldn't love to find a small present or sweet treat inside each day on the countdown to the big day itself.

My personal preference for our home here in the Kent countryside is for a real tree, especially with a wonderful Christmas tree farm right on our doorstep, but if you can't face all the watering and the inevitable eventual needle drop, then this magnificent top quality artificial tree from House of Fraser (click for link) is your answer.  Artificial trees have come a long way in recent years, and almost hard to tell from the real thing!

Throws and cushions are essential for cosying up on the sofa with on cold Winter evenings and it's always nice to add a few new seasonal touches. I particularly love the texture of good faux fur to the touch.  Important also is for our homes to always smell good...this gorgeous 'Christmas wish' three-wicked candle from favourite organic brand Neom, will scent the air with a delicious aroma of mandarin, cinnamon and tonic bean.

Each year I like to add a little something new to our collection of tree decorations or something lovely for the table or mantlepiece. This rather splendid deer with fur ruff from Harrods would be perfect....and I love these delicate jewelled hanging snowflakes and glass baubles.  The latter can be personalised, which I think would be just perfect as table settings this year, with the names of each of our guests on.  They would make a lovely little memory to take home too.

Lastly, no Christmas decor would be complete without a beautiful wreath for the front door or perhaps on a mantle or used as a centrepiece for your Christmas table.  This lovely seasonal wreath from Oka is made of twigs covered in tiny white beads.  Simple and lovely. 

Happy countdown to the big day, and if any of these lovely items have caught your eye too, you can click on the images above....happy shopping!


Sophia xx

LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT GIFT...

As a girl who ideally likes to get all her Christmas shopping out of the way by the end of November, I now realise that I really need to get my skates on.  

Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year, and even more so the run up to it, so the aim is to have done as much as possible in advance, so to hopefully enjoy a calm and fun filled December....at least that is the aim!

Whether looking for that perfect birthday gift during the year, or with a host of presents to buy at Christmas...Maisie K in the picturesque Kentish village of Cranbrook is a favourite destination of mine, especially for pressies for the girls on my list.

With eye catching window displays, it is always hard to resist popping in for a browse when passing....

...and even harder to leave empty handed!

Established in 2004 by talented and stylish owner Clare, Maisie K is imaginatively stocked with gorgeous home interiors, furniture, wonderful gifts and jewellery, and more recently, beautiful items of clothing.

When I popped in this week, Clare was putting the finishing touches to the fabulous Christmas displays....

Whatever your style or colour scheme this festive season...there are also stunning decorations to inspire you.

Of course, every girl also deserves a treat for themselves at this hectic time of year, and I certainly have my eye on these gorgeous fur pom pom hats which are so on trend this season...! 

 So if you want to get ahead with your Christmas shopping and find yourself near the pretty Wealden village of Cranbrook, do pop in....you will not be disappointed!  

Maisie K will also be exhibiting at the fabulous Wealden Times Midwinter Fair 19th - 21st November.....see you there!

***

Happy Christmas shopping...

Sophia xx

COTSWOLDS' INSPIRATION...

Last weekend, while visiting my mother in law in the beautiful Cotswolds, we made a visit to one of my favourite Gloucestershire market towns 'Tetbury'.

Along with its wealth of salvage specialists and antique shops that I know and love already, I was also keen to visit a much written about shop called 'Twig'.....owned by the flamboyant and very talented artist, designer and florist, Su Daybell....

Su Daybell of 'Twig'...

Stepping in to 'Twig' is like entering a rather magical place....first the mass of stunning flowers and plants entices you in, and then you are hit with their incredible scent.  With candles flickering in amongst exuberant displays, ones eyes are drawn to the stunning architectural pieces used in the displays which too are for sale...

Statement topiary....

Fresh flowers and bulbs...

Oversize antique planters...

Olive trees...

Glass and interior accessories...

...and antique garden pieces, are all perfect finds for anyone wanting to make a 'statement'.

Along with furniture and decorative items, the shop is the perfect backdrop for Su's undoubted talent, showcasing her paintings which are in the lyrical abstract style....

...along with her own range of beautiful fabrics and lampshades, available through Lewis & Wood.  

The pretty outside courtyard completed our tour of Su's magical emporium, and had we had room in the car, I could have so been tempted with one of the fabulous baskets or planters to take home...

....I shall return!

'TWIG' (click to view)

***

Wishing you all a very happy and inspiring Wednesday, wherever you are...

Sophia xx

'Comfortably English' is how Alison the founder and creator of 'Cowparsley at home' sums up perfectly, the company's newly launched range of beautiful wallpapers....

Having long been a regular reader of her lovely blog 'Cowparsley',  I was so happy to see Alison realise her dream of launching her first collection of exquisite wallpapers.  Proud to be a British brand, all of the wallpapers are traditionally printed in Leicestershire, England by 'Anstey wallpaper company' where they have been producing wallpapers for over 100 years, using high quality techniques.

 Knowing how wonderfully stylish the 'Cowparsley' blog was, I knew that they would be special.... 

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

How thrilled I was, when a parcel arrived in the post a few weeks ago from Alison, with samples of seven beautiful designs for me to see...

'Rabbits and Daisies'

'Rocking Horse and Stars'

'Dummer Rose'

'Happy Bees'

'Florence Stripe' and 'Bantham Stripe'

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

The inspiration behind these charming designs is summed up beautifully by Alison, in her own words:

'Inspired by country childhood memories and soft, faded English florals.  I wanted to capture the aged elegance and comfort of relaxed family houses, where decoration and much loved possessions have evolved along with the people that live there and the passing years.  The designs are quintessentially English in their feel, and is the inspiration behind them.  'Comfortably English' is the very essense of Cowparsley.'

With a range of fabrics to follow shortly....'Cowparsley at home' is set to be a perfect choice for the classic English look.

If you would like to incorporate Cowparsley at home's beautiful designs in your own home, do visit their lovely website here.

I am certainly wishing for a client project in the future in which to use these gorgeous designs...a child's nursery maybe...those rabbits and rocking horses are just adorable!

***

Wishing you all a very happy Thursday...

Sophia xx

www.sophiawadsworthinteriors.co.uk

BATHING BEAUTIES...

BATHROOM: 'SOPHIA HOME'

BATHROOM: 'SOPHIA HOME'

BATHROOM: 'SOPHIA HOME'


Have you noticed, that design in bathroom floor and wall finishes has really taken off in recent times...with a wealth of different finishes in both high end and budget products.  I have always been a fan of classical stone for my client design projects, and here at home, as you can see in my own bedroom/open plan bathroom above, where I have used travertine stone...but am also drawn to some of the fabulous alternative looks and textures around.  So, for your Tuesday design inspiration, here are a few of the beautiful bathroom surface finishes that caught my eye on Pinterest recently...

I love the way the mix of different tiles, makes this small space so interesting... 

....this mix of metallics so striking,

...and the simplicity of these two finishes so calming.

Full on gloss glamour...

...and the rustic character of these masculine showers.

Beautiful mosaics...

...some in exquisite detail.

Gentle and feminine...au de nil and cream.

Moroccan mosaic style...

A fresh modern take on 'herringbone'...

(Above pictures via Pinterest)

...and a complete work of art!

***

What is your bathroom finish of choice?  What have you used in your own home....or dream of using?  I would so love to hear!

Wishing you all a very happy and inspiring Tuesday...

Sophia xx

www.sophiawadsworthinteriors.co.uk