The Thermostat [5th November, 2024]
Remember me? I’m nothing if not consistently inconsistent, but what can I say - life has been throwing a series of curveballs lately, and writing, Instagram, and most creative endeavours have sadly fallen to the bottom of the heap.
That said, I’m never not mentally gathering inspiration and lovely bits, and today is the day, or night as the case may be, for a brain dump…
Image: Verden
Beata Heuman has collaborated with Verden, aka the Queens of natural home fragrance, to create a signature scent of bergamot and warm woods, and I can confirm after having it burning in the kitchen and bedroom over the past couple of weeks, that it’s every bit as divine as you’d expect, and manages to be fresh yet super warm and cocooning all at once. It’s very much going to be on high rotation this winter in our house - I absolutely love it.
The House Upstairs Sofa Collection
There are SO many gorgeous sofas to choose from these days, that quite honestly I didn’t expect to be wowed by these, yet, I am. Not only are the designs spot on and UK made from sustainable materials, but you can specify custom sizes, AND supply your own fabric which is a mega-bonus in my book. Jodie and her team can advise on what’s suitable for your chosen design, and help you choose if you don’t know where to start. I’m a tad obsessed with the Amy skirted armless sofa, which is also available as a banquette (so with a more shallow seat depth), and it’s mentally already in our new house. That we haven’t found and don’t own. Yet.
But if you’re in the market for a new sofa, do check out the beautiful designs, and if you’re ready to order you can use the code PINEAPPLE for a 15% discount (any sofa up to large size, excluding fabric. Expires 30th November 2024).
Image: The House Upstairs
Expressive Interiors by Jo Berryman with photography by Bénédicte Drummond
I’ve been a huge fan of Jo’s interiors for many many years, and actually a fan of Bénédicte’s interior photography too, so this book is not only a match made in creative heaven, but is simply jam-packed with gorgeous spaces that fan the flame for interesting, unexpected and authentic design too. Exploring some of Jo’s own projects and paying homage to other interiors that embrace the same combination of glamour with originality and ‘pay homage to a playful spirit in decoration’. In other words, right up my street! Absolutely one for the Christmas Wish List.
Image: Bénédicte Drummond / Ryland Peters & Small
Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Bread
I really need to get back on track with healthier and gluten free eating, but whilst easing myself into hibernation season, I stumbled upon this recipe by Butternut Bakery for Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Bread and OH MY GOD, it’s good. Definitely not healthy, and a bit too good actually as I’ve made it twice now - the second time I made it gluten free - just literally substituting the plain flour for Dove’s Farm Self Raising Gluten Free Flour, and still adding the baking soda and powder in the recipe, and you’d never even know the difference. I think the pumpkin and oil (I use the Biona cuisine coconut oil which is odourless and flavourless, which I melt gently first) make it so deliciously moist that any difference using gluten free flour is totally nullified. Oh, and a tip I learned if your butter is refusing to mix into your cream cheese, is to blast the outside of the mixer bowl with a hairdryer for a minute or two. It miraculously melts the butter into the mix. Anyway, be warned, this is really extremely moorish! We can have the conversation about why we call cake ‘bread’ when baked in a loaf pan and therefore implying it’s somehow healthier another time. Or is it just me that thinks that way?!
Anyway, I’ve never seen pumpkin spice mix for sale here in the UK, so I make my own and use two generous teaspoons in this recipe, and store the rest in a spice jar for when I inevitably make it again. I still add in the extra cinnamon from the recipe.
My preferred mix is:
3 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves
When I first heard that Made were making a comeback via the takeover of Next, I will admit that I really wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I had always been a huge fan (oh the good old days!) but I wasn’t sure that the ‘new’ Made would be up to scratch. I’m not sure it was initially, but they seem to have found their stride again and there have been LOADS of gorgeous pieces coming through. Not that I get an invite to their press shows anymore. Le sigh. I will add a best of Made edit to my very long list of blog posts to write and swallow my pride / put my bruised ego aside. And maybe my snobbery too.
Okay I have to press publish now, or this post will sit in my rather full drafts folder and become obsolete, so pardon any major errors and sins. I’ll be back next week with another instalment as these posts are easier to get out of my over run brain than anything more structured at the moment and I think - hope - are also quite helpful and to the point!
Adios til then.