Classic country or Modern
Thyme at Southrop
I admit it. I am one of those Americans who considers herself to be an Anglophile, though perhaps not as ardent an Anglophile as some people I know. England is one of my very favorite countries to visit. I'm captivated by the history, the architecture, the traditions and customs, the clothing (does anyone make better looking sporting clothes than the British?), and that British love of the country. (OK, U.K. readers, you can stop laughing and/or rolling your eyes now!) So perhaps all of the above is why I was completely charmed by this photo that I found in the May issue of House & Garden. Just look at those outbuildings, the overcast sky, the clothing, and those pigs. It's all very Country Life, don't you think?
Upon reading the article, I learned that the woman in the photograph, Caryn Hibbert, owns a cooking school called Thyme at Southrop, located in the village of Southrop in the Cotswolds. Hibbert and her husband bought Southrop Manor in 2001. A few years later, a complex of old barns and outbuildings, once part of Southrop Manor, went on the market. Rather than let the land fall into the hands of real estate developers, Hibbert purchased the complex and incorporated it back into Southrop Manor. Because she needed to do something with these old barns, Hibbert decided to open the cooking school on the property. The central building of the school is the renovated tithe barn which is used for demonstrations, lectures, and private events, while a new state of the art kitchen was built next to the tithe barn. It is here where the hands-on cooking classes actually take place.
I took a look at the school's website, and I can't imagine anything that I would rather do than to spend some time there attending their one-day cooking classes. One could learn about preparing a Middle Eastern feast, foraging for mushrooms, cultivating edible flowers, or making charcuterie. And, you could stay in one of the cottages on the property and dine at the pub which is also owned by the Hibberts. Doesn't it all sound...delicious???
The renovated tithe barn where demonstrations and private events are held.
A view of Southrop Manor.
The kitchen garden features a bronze hare sculpture by Sophie Ryder.
All images from House & Garden, May 2011, Rory Carnegie photographer.
Winter Knits....
Hello again!
After another busy week I found some time today to add some warmth to our home.
Remember I mentioned getting the rug out for our living room and 'cocooning' a bit?
As you can see above, I brought out the rug and my white knitted throw and what a difference it made straight away.
The sun was perfect in here today.
It has been really, really cold here as we only have a day of Autumn left.
So, I sat in the sun for a little while and enjoyed a coffee in the sunlight.
While I was sitting, I realised that we needed more cushions!
...and a new couch cover to be made.
The couch cover will have to wait for a few weeks while I tackle some other projects first.
Recently, I had a huge clean out of all our wardrobes and have bags and bags of clothes for the local charity shop.....but I did think, while sitting in that sun, that maybe I could use some of my knitted old jumpers and cardigans to make some covers.
So, I did. The grey one you see here was a cardigan I adored and thought it would make the perfect addition to our Winter cushion collection.
I only had time to whip up one, but I did salvage some other knits from the bags to be turned into covers very soon =0)
While the sun was pouring in our French doors, I thought I would give you a 'peek' of our 'new room'.
This room is ear marked for a paint makeover soon, but for now it is OK.
You will get a better look at it when I am ready to paint. I have some old/new pieces coming for the room that will be also getting makeovers and I am looking forward to that!
One day left until Winter hits. I think I am ready!!
all images by me
Checking Out
Tomorrow, I'm going to post about where I wish I was traveling to this summer, but today I'm simply going to show photos that evoke the carefree spirit of summertime. Who knows? Perhaps they'll get our creative juices flowing.
PS- I can't talk about Summer and not mention Atlanta's own Marcia Sherrill and her Anabelle collection handbags...so perfect for Summer. I need to get one of her pineapple print totes to hold my papers between home and library. The collection has recently been mentioned in O Magazine and WWD. Looks like it's going to be a good Summer for Marcia!
This pool pavilion, located on the grounds of a Portuguese estate, was decorated by the late Valerian Rybar. The walls, you ask? What is up with those stunning walls?? Why, they're covered in blue and white Portuguese tiles that were decorated in a Jean Pillement-esque Chinoiserie pattern. Have you seen anything so beautiful?
Treillage at Duke Gardens, c. 1966.
A lanai, located on Gorce Island, FL, that was decorated by John FitzGibbons. Wicker chairs, shells, dining al fresco. Does it get any better?
What does a platter of crudites have to do with Summer? I don't really know, although I usually eat celery stalks with pimento cheese for lunch during the summer. I also like the surtout (replete with rosemary stalks) that surrounds the spread.
Jack Lowrence's pool Gazebo at his home in Woodside, CA.
Lowrance pool pavilion photo from Architectural Digest California Interiors
; Rybar photo from Chateaux and Villas (The Worlds of Architectural Digest)
. All other photos from various House & Gardens from 1966.
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Cocooning Goal
Well, Hello there!
Lovely, cold, bitter day here in Tassie. Sun shining, but cold.
I like this sort of weather, makes you want to cocoon, pull out the throws, add more cushions (not like we don't have tonnes already!) and lots of candles etc.
One thing I have yet to do is bring our living room rug back out. I have been thinking maybe I will leave it, but after seeing this image, I am going to get it back out.
You get used to having bare floors over Summer and forget how warming it is to a space to have that rug, an anchor, in a room.
As you know, I am adding some new blinds soon to our Kitchen....then I stumble across this!
I am more, and more convinced that I need shelves and a island like this.
Our ceiling and floors are basically the same- meant to be!
Our center island has seen better days, lets be honest and my dear Dad has done his best to fix it up for us and make it work, but at the end of the day as he says "It has been poorly built and it needs re doing". Well Daddy, wanna build me one like this????
So, that's the goal for the week
-to warm and cozy up our kitchen and living room.
What are you doing for the change in seasons??
Umaid Bhawan Palace
The Million Dollar Decorators (that would be Mary, Nathan, Martyn, Jeffrey, and Kathryn) came to ADAC this month, and I have never seen such a turnout at ADAC before! I think that almost everybody in the Atlanta design community was there, and the consensus is that all five of the designers cum reality stars came across as the witty and vivacious people that they are.
During the panel discussion (which was led, by the way, by Veranda editor-in-chief Dara Caponigro), the designers were asked about what inspires them, and the topic of travel came up. I for one am quite envious because they all seem to be jetting hither and yon to all kinds of exotic places- and often. Mary McDonald mentioned a hotel in India that she found particularly inspiring because of its Art Deco interiors that were in pristine condition. It sounded like she called it the Umaid Bhawan, but I can't be sure because I didn't write it down.
Over the weekend, I was reading Architectural Digest Chateaux and Villas
Unfortunately, a finished palace never completely came to fruition as World War II hindered the completion of the palace's interiors. Today, the palace is a hotel run by the Taj group, although the current Maharaja still retains residence in another part of the palace. In addition to the AD photos, I also found a few intriguing ones from the hotel's website. I don't know if this is the hotel that Mary spoke so highly of, but even if it isn't, I'm going to add it to my list of places that I want to visit- hopefully someday soon.
(By the way, I have to congratulate Will Merrill. One of his designs for Currey & Co.- a small drinks table that is so charming- made the cover of the new Charlotte Moss book. Yay, Will!)
The Central Hall is a circular wonder.
The oval grand staircase adjoins the Central Hall. Look closely to the left of the staircase and you'll see some type of tented curtain.
A Guest Suite was inspired by the great luxury ocean liners. The mural was painted by Stefan Norblin, as were the murals in the photo below.
The Throne Room.
A Guest Bath sheathed in onyx and marble. According to the book, the wall sconces were a "recent innovation at that time."
A Guest Room featured a chrome-banded bed on a platform. The acid-etched black glass panel above the bed was executed by Norblin.
I found this photo of a Deco room on the hotel's website.
And, ending the post with a splash, the hotel's photo of the Zodiac Pool. Again, the murals were by Norblin. Is this pool amazing or what?
All photos with the exception of the last two from Architectural Digest Chateaux and Villas
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