Joie De Vivre

Joie De Vivre

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Joie De Vivre
Joie De Vivre
Design Dilemmas
Design Dilemmas

Design Dilemmas

Episode 58: This week we are talking garden office styling, small space outdoor dining and stair carpeting. Plus investing in sockets and switches, downstairs loos and a competition for subscribers.

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Lisa Dawson
Apr 27, 2025
∙ Paid
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Joie De Vivre
Joie De Vivre
Design Dilemmas
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[Cover photo credit: The home of Henrietta Courtauld, photographed by Andrew Montgomery for House & Garden].

This week has felt like the shortest ever. I don’t know why - it was only one day less than normal - but it’s FLOWN by and I am not complaining. I’ve been attempting to detox after scoffing more cheese and chocolate over the course of last week than should ever be legal and have only eaten vegetables for three days straight. This isn’t just random, btw; I have a wheat allergy (bread and pasta are not my friends) and if I eat too much sugar then I blow up like Violet Beauregarde after blueberry gum. I was diagnosed (allegedly) with IBS in my twenties but I have never been too convinced of this, especially after discovering that if you tick three symptom boxes out of five on the sheet then they whack the label on you pronto. Anyway, vegetables. This should be easy, right? Vegans do it all the time. It’s a way of life, ffs. No worries, surely. But no. I have been sorely missing meat and fish (not assisted by the fact I made my family chicken fajitas last night) and am craving crispy bacon and avocado. I give it until tomorrow and I’m giving in. Bring me ALL the burgers, please.

School has gone back too and I am not complaining, not one bit. I’ve had three full days to myself at home working at my desk and it’s utterly blissful. I know that some people are not made for solitude but I am a huge fan. The radio has been on in the background (I do turn it down when Jeremy Vines audience call in), I’ve drunk endless cups of tea, the cat and dog have been sleeping in front of me and my Ugg Tasman slippers have been multi tasking both in the house and out. Who needs a spa day? Not me. Just give me peace, quiet and an Aldi candle at my desk and I’m perfectly happy.

Anyway, back to business and we have a plethora of dilemmas to attack this week. Firstly, we’re talking garden office colours and how to style to make it both cosy and conducive to work. Small space outdoor dining which doesn’t get in the way and how to tackle the whole carpet vs stairs conundrum. We’re discussed switches and sockets and whether we should invest (I’ve done a board of options for your perusal) and finally, going to town on downstairs loo decor. Yes, I am here for it. And finally, a competition for TEN of my lovely paid subscribers to win tickets to become BFF’s with Kevin McCloud at Grand Designs this year, courtesy of Howdens Kitchens.

You can READ ON by becoming a paid subscriber which means that not only do you receive four free posts a month but you’ll also get an eight EXTRA posts a month (including this weekly Sunday post) plus Chat threads so you can join our blossoming community. You’ll be able to access my archive to read ALL of my past posts (including recipes and travel write ups) for the price of one coffee a month. I would thoroughly recommend it!

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