Five Items Of Note
A list of things that have caught my attention, fallen into my bag or made me happy. Including Portugese pastries, inspiring decor, getting on with everyone, puffy chairs and Benjamin Bratts torso.
I’ve just been scrolling my Instagram feed and the colours, they are a changing. Amongst the sunny, azure skies of the endless holiday posts (I am always here for a holiday post), the vibrant floaty summer dresses, the tomato bright salads and glorious beach views there is, most definitely, a distinct move into Autumnal shades. Candle lighting. Rusty coloured cushion plumping. Chunky throws. Berry filled vases. Brown suede boots. One pot meals. KNITWEAR. I’ve even seen someone decorating their house for Halloween, FFS. Of all the ‘holiday’ periods, Halloween is my least favourite. I am not here for the whole scary thing and fake spiders and skulls (plus there is nothing aesthetically pleasing to be gained by combining the colours orange and black in your home decor, I tell you).
Sob. I am not ready for this change in season. Not one bit. As I write, I am still here, in my flip flops, t shirt and sun tan and really, I don’t want it to end. The fast getting darker nights are currently not bringing me the urge to envelope myself in the curtain drawing, boxset watching, log burner lighting, Diptyque Ambre scented ambience that for me, heralds the start of the cosy season. So hold your fire, Autumn - I am hanging on in there with my Dove Visible Glow and my Double Caramel Magnums until I am properly feeling it.
But back to this months Items Of Note and August was a busy, busy month. We split our holidays, with a week in Kefalonia (a heavenly place indeed, where we spent much time lying around doing absolutely nothing whilst stuffing our faces with cheese and souvlaki; you can read my write up here) and finished the summer with a night in Lisbon followed by five days celebrating my Mums birthday with my ENTIRE family in Portugal (more of that later on, but rest assured that all 17 of us returned undamaged and still on speaking terms). But non argumentative holidays aside, there has been much to lift my spirits and spark joy in my life this month. Here are Five Items Of Note that have made me feel happy.
Finding Interior Inspiration Everywhere.
As an interior obsessive - given a day off, I would spend it touring the charity and antique shops in search of treasure and would rank a trip to Homesense in my Top Five favourite things to do - it is only natural that visiting a different country would get me MASSIVELY excited. And it really does. Much, it has to be said, to my family’s dismay whose idea of a ‘fun thing to do’ is NOT burying their heads in a pile of glazed salad bowls and shouting for joy. They don’t know what they’re missing, obviously. But it’s not just holiday homewares that bring me all the feels; it’s also my surroundings and where I am.
In the UK, we have a fairly dismal weather track record for most of the time, but jump on a plane and head southward for a few hours and you’re into sunshine territory. The sunnier the climes, the warmer the colours, the brighter the city, the higher likelihood of outdoor living and the more happy the decor. 15% of my subscribers are USA based and 20% of those live in California - my obsession with West Coast interiors is non abating and it’s not just Josh Flagg (who would 100% be my BFF should I ever live there) who is the attraction. A few years ago, we did a road trip (you can read about it here) and I was blown away with the Hotel interiors (top tip: The Palisociety Hotel Group may be small but their properties are all super individual and super cool).
But back to Lisbon and after an accidental last minute Hotel cancellation by myself for our one night stop (I know, I know), I found a small guesthouse in Bairro Alto that not only fitted the bill, but was £200 cheaper than the one I had ditched in error. Note: we need three rooms when we travel now so Hotel price is a major factor when considering where we stay. Called Casinha Das Flores, it’s the adjoining guesthouse to the main Hotel, Palácio das Especiarias, and it was absolute perfection. The rooms were all individually designed with glorious vintage furniture, filled with pattern and colour and views to the Lisbon street. There was a communal kitchen and dining space, plus a living area where the doors opened on to a little balcony where you could sit with your coffee and pastry. Total HEAVEN.
Combined with the abundance of architecture and, in particular, tiles and doors (who can talk about Lisbon without mentioning tiles and doors?), I came home hugely inspired and even more excited than ever about the prospect of selling our house and starting a new project (at some point, ha). There is so much to be gained creatively from walking around a different City; finding new artists, seeing how colours are combined, textures, styling, ALL of the stuff. Holidays are the best, but getting fresh inspo is one of my favourite take aways.
Successfully Navigating A Whole (As In Every Single Member) Family Holiday.
Last month, my Mum, Sue, was 80. I cannot lie, she does not look her age, a fact that she owes almost purely to Oil Of Olay (the face cream formerly known as Ulay) and pretty much an entire lifetime of using very normal moisturisers often picked up from the supermarket. She has not had regular facials, nor botox, fillers or worn any LED light masks that have made her look like Hannibal Lector. But still, she looks ten years younger than she actually is. As someone who has done almost all the above and still looks my age, I do not hold out much hope. Anyway, she looks great.
A few years ago, my Mum announced that she would like to go on an all family holiday to celebrate this momentous occasion and we started looking around for somewhere to book, not an easy task due to the fact that there are 17 of us in total. I have two siblings - a younger brother and sister - one of whom has two children and the other, three, plus my mum has a partner and Joe and I’s own family is one of five, plus Lucas (Ella’s boyfriend of seven years who is officially classed as a family member). We were all slightly apprehensive about the prospect, to be totally honest. The only other time we had been away together was three months after my Dad had died, back in 2008 - what we thought would be a nice family bonding week in memory of him turned into seven days of grief stricken carnage in a slightly shabby Victorian terrace near Porthminster beach. You live and you learn.
Anyway, we looked for large houses in the UK that would fit the bill and were met with costs equivalent to the same price as the purchase of a small flat in the North. So my sister and I found what looked like the perfect venue via Airbnb, in a totally non tourist area an hour out of Lisbon called Torres Novas. Called Quinta De Marmela, it had eight bedrooms each with its own bathroom, a big pool, lots of huge terraces and spacious rooms and was completely remote, yet only 2km from the town, with views across the mountains and no one to hear us scream (jokes, no one killed each other). Plus, it had a pool table. When you have kids, all holidays are improved with a pool table. It was crazily well priced and we could also arrange for a full cooked breakfast to be served every morning for an extra tenner. And even better, a local chef could come and make a special birthday dinner for Mum. We planned well in advance and in detail, finding a restaurant to take us all for the first night, booking Kasper, AKA Chef Domingo to cook for us twice and planned a BBQ in the middle cooked by us all.
So how did it go? No fears were realised. Everyone got on, from the youngest aged 10 to the eldest (aged 80, obvs). Everyone had their own space and it made the biggest difference having catering as there weren’t 17 of us trying to muscle in in the kitchen, nor argue about who was washing up. We didn’t try and arrange any extra outings that involved us all which are historically a recipe for disaster (although a few went go carting and castle viewing one day) and it was, actually, incredibly relaxing. I read two books. My Mum even managed without the Daily Mail crossword for FIVE WHOLE DAYS with no complaints. And we all, my Mum especially, had a really great time.
We’ve just calculated the full price of the entire holiday between us including the house, restaurant meal and ALL food and drink for four nights and it came to a very acceptable £350 a person. You couldn’t even set foot over the threshold of Centre Parcs for that, I tell you. And would we do it again? Yes. Yes, I think we would. Detailed planning, my friends, is the key to success.
Eating Portugese Pastries.
I have ranted to you before that one of my absolute favourite things about being on holiday is the food. All of it. ‘Home’ food can sometimes become a bit boring; we generally have the same kind of menu every week in our house and yes, that does include the ubiquitous ‘wrap pizza’ which is basically a Waitrose flatbread with Mutti (always the best IMO) tomato sauce, oregano and cheese on it. Don’t judge until you’ve tried it btw - top it with feta, avocado, prawns and chilli flakes and you could be in the VERY BEST of Italian restaurants. Well, sort of.
Lisbon brought forth a plethora of gastronomic excellence and, as always, I’ve come home inspired. Thanks to Covid, I had completely lost my appetite after our return from Greece and was surviving on a diet of Asda fishcakes, cheese and toast (it wasn’t all bad, tbh) but it didn’t take long for it to return once we hit Portugese shores. Anyone who has visited Lisbon will know that it is renowned for pastel de nata, a creamy custard tart in salted flaky pastry. These delish little tarts are inspired by an original recipe called Pastéis de Belém, created by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. In 1834, the monastery was closed and the recipe sold to the sugar refinery, whose owners in 1837 opened the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém which survives today, selling over 20,000 daily. We didn’t manage to make it there but we DID manage to eat at least one a day bought elsewhere and they are deeply addictive. I once - many years ago pre children - tackled them myself at home for a dinner party with friends, using this recipe from Jamie Oliver. It is genuinely NOT genuine at all in regard to the tart case and content but they did taste very good and were super quick.
We woke early on our morning in Lisbon so I sent Joe to find hot drinks and something to eat in bed - he consulted the Reception desk who sent him to buy pao de deus. Now these, my friends, are GOOD. Literally translated as ‘Gods Bread’, this excellence consists of a fluffy brioche dough topped with shredded coconut and sugar bound together with egg jam. I’m going to list a recipe here that I’ve found which - though vegan, which I know will please many - looks visually the closest to what Joe found in the bakers.
And the final excellent Portugese morning scoffing ritual that I’m going to bestow on you is chocolate salami, which not only did we have every morning at our rented house but which I’ve also recreated here at home (Reel coming this weekend if you follow me on Instagram). The most authentic recipe I have found (chocolate salami is also a treat in Italy but the recipe differs) is this one (with a few amendments biscuit wise) from Jeremiah Duarte Bills who is a Portugese pastry chef. You’re welcome.
Salame de Chocolate
You will need: 113g room temperature unsalted butter; 120g icing sugar (plus extra for dusting); half a teaspoon of sea salt; 120g good cocoa powder; 200g butter biscuits (I used M&S but anything similar will do); 45ml port wine.
Extras as you like: Toasted nuts - pistachios, almonds, pine nuts, hazelnuts; dried figs or dried cherries. I used a large handful each of flaked toasted almonds and whole pistachios.
Method: Preferably using a mixer, combine the butter, salt and icing sugar, then add the cocoa powder. Add the biscuits plus any extras you like and mix until the mixture starts to break up. Add the port and mix on low speed until it all comes together and the biscuits are crushed (add the rest of the port if needed). Remove and dump on a large piece of clingfilm and roll into a log around 30cm in length. Roll with your hands until the sides are smooth, pushing the ends in so that it’s totally solid, wrapping it in the clingfilm and twisting the ends like a real salami. Put in fridge for at least two hours. Remove from fridge, remove wrapping and roll in icing sugar. Slice and eat the lot (best when chilled as slices easier), preferably not alone unless you really, really like chocolate.
Falling Down The Rabbit Hole Of My Youth (Courtesy Of Benjamin Bratts Torso).
Okay, I’m going to lower the tone for a moment (disclaimer: blatant non PC discussion about hot men), so bear with. A few weeks ago, Joe and I watched one of the latest Netflix Top Ten recommendations, Mother Of The Bride. For us, it failed on many levels (mostly the storyline and script; we found ourselves predicting what they were going to say next and being correct 95% of the time) but for me, it had one redeeming feature. Actually two, as I love Brooke Shields. But mostly, it was Benjamin Bratt and his really quite outstanding torso. You’ll remember him, I’m sure, mostly for Miss Congeniality but for me, he will always be famous for going out with Julia Roberts. His outrageously ripped bare chest had me heading straight to Google (if you’re not Googling the actors, are you even watching TV?) to find out his age only to discover that he was now 60, a fact that had both Joe and I open mouthed in shock. Further internet investigation didn’t enlighten me on how he manages to maintain such a physique, but I can tell you that his chest is truly an aged modern miracle in its own right. Worth pushing on through the film just to confirm it for yourself.
Anyway, I’m sorry to admit that this then sent me down a Google rabbit hole to find out how other heart throbs from my youth have fared (yes, in a tabloid paper, classic Daily Mail headline, kind of way). When I was 14, I was completely and utterly obsessed with Rupert Graves in A Room With A View. OBSESSED, I tell you. Such a brilliant film, if you have never watched it (the book is great too), and most definitely worthy of a rewatch. A quick investigation into Ruperts current situation reveals that yes, he has indeed fared well and not only that, he has an X feed devoted to him called @gravesdiggers run by other similarly obsessed fans. Still got that Freddy charm, plus he can now travel free on the bus using his Oyster pass.
And finally (yes, I’ll stop now), I was forced to Google another teenage dream, Matt Dillon, tragic bad boy Dally in The Outsiders which remains to this day one of my favourite films of all time. ‘Stay gold, Pony Boy’ still has me rushing for the tissue box. That film 100% signifies my teenage youth, rara skirts, blue eyeliner, Rimmel Twilight Teaser lipstick and swigging Pink Lady sparkling perry directly out of the bottle whilst sitting on the pavement outside Highgrove Swimming Pool in Ruislip. And who can forget Rusty in Rumble Fish? Sigh. Anyway, he’s definitely still got it. Okay, swooning over. As you were.
Pondering Replacements For Stolen Furniture.
I spoke last month of my utter joy that finally, my 22 year old daughter Ella has realised the wonder of vintage furniture and swiped away my tulip table and Franco Albini coffee table for her new rented house as she embarks on a two year Masters degree (the degree comes with a double prong - pride that she’s committing to her goal of working in a hospital combined with the abject horror of having to support her almost entirely financially for the next 24 months). This joy, however, soon dissipated as I realised that not only had she taken the vintage treasure, but also shed loads of other furniture including a king sized bed, a set of four dining chairs and two living room armchairs. Not to mention a Le Creuset casserole dish and two out of three of my Black & Blum food savers which I love like children (these actually deserve a post of their own - if you are ever considering investing in such an item, these are genius. Not only can you dishwasher them with no fear but you can also put in the microwave EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE STEEL. Mind blown).
I have rearranged the house accordingly but the one thing that has left a huge gap is the two armchairs from the family room. The monster monstera is now home alone and although I’m considering moving furniture around, it is hard not to glance at what could possibly replace them. I do love a chair. My father in law, Barry (many of my social followers will know of Barry; a gardening genius, football player - he’s in his seventies - and musician) has the same obsession with chairs and could almost be described as a collector so we are totally useless together when faced with a vintage bargain. My favourite ever buy was a Pieff chair that I found on eBay and had for many years, until the leather literally disintegrated through use. Anyway, I had a sneaky look this week and not only have I found some beauts but also a couple of new buys that are definitely worth a look.
Yes, yes, I know I have similar to this in my courtyard (a two piece eBay bargain buy for £400, just saying) but this 1970’s cube lounge chair by Henry Olko is an absolute dream. The price, not so much. A new fabric and this would be an excellent statement piece.
These Guy Rogers Santa Fe pair of armchairs tick all my boxes. I am a big fan of a rolled arm and these are the perfect combination of vintage teak combined with a simple boucle fabric, relaxed shape and comfort. An investment for sure, but oh, they’d make you happy every single day.
Moving very much into aspirational rather than inspiration territory here with these mid century Italian armchairs but, OH YES. Like sitting on a fluffy, puffy cloud of dreams. Give me a glass of wine, a book and one of these and I’m done.
Back to financial reality and this cool piece of similarly styled loveliness is new in at H&M Home. Love the tubular frame and the cream boucle but most of all, I love the price which is an excellent £299. This looks the part, although cannot vouch for the equivalent of the Italian puffys level of comfort.
And finally, the Horton from Soho Home is half price in the sale (okay, still pricey but LOOK AT IT). Warm leather, soft curves, all the good stuff. Soho Home is not the cheapest but their products are not only well designed and super stylish but also, from my experience, good quality. I’ve a shocking weak spot for their lamps which I’ve mentioned before.
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You very much have me wanting to collect enough people to stay in this very house in Portugal and have breakfast cooked for me whilst I play ping pong… The whole trip looks gorgeous - as does your mum. *bulk buys Olay*
Vote cast. 👍 Good luck! X