Beni

I've gone a little off piste this week. OK, majorly off-piste, with not one but TWO cabins Down Under. The first: a garden hideaway , was on Wednesday, and the second - today! But who can blame me when they exude relaxed charm?  The Woods Ocean Grove is made up of two cosy cabins nestled in the woods in the Ballerine Peninsula, Wadawurring, Australia. With the roar of the ocean and calls from the bush forever present, the property has been designed to embrace the great outdoors with an al fresco dining area, kitchen, bathroom and fire pit.  Living in Sweden, I understand the allure of embracing the great weather when it arrives - and love the idea of carving out zones in the garden (or even a little balcony). Don't miss the snapshots of the interiors too - full of easy vintage style as well as colours and materials inspired by the ocean and bush beyond, drawing the outside in.  Lovely inspiration for a balcony. I really like how they've added bar stools and ...

 It's one of those days where I've got a big photoshoot, the house is a mess, one of my girls has forgotten her cross country trainers.... and I've got a zoom call in half an hour. What I really feel like doing is emigrating to Australia. In fact, this studio will do! You might recall the a very beautiful workspace belonging to Kawa Heart Studio . Dee also runs a light and airy Airbnb - accessed by a secret path. 'A space less ordinary', the studio is located in a former glass studio in their lush garden on the fringes of old Fremantle town, Western Australia.  Built from recycled materials and powered by solar energy, Dee Kawai Tang has worked her magic with the interior, kitting it out with classic mid-century and vintage pieces which are bathed in sunlight from the Cathedral-style windows. All in all, a perfect garden hideaway in which to retreat, create and simply relax.  I'd fly over right away if I could! Could you imagine staying here too?...

Alva Herdevall is a Swedish author (Heirloom Skills: a complete guide to modern homesteading - which has been hugely popular in Swedish , is now  available to pre-order in English) as well as a self-confessed plant lover, homesteader & permaculture designer". Once a city girl (Alva also lived in Malmö for many years), the writer moved to Krusenbergs farm in Uppsala where she and her partner Anders Rydell have created a country life with their small children and four legged friend.  Days are spent 'odling' (toiling the soil and growing flowers, fruit and vegetables) - the results of which include a beautiful array of sunflowers, sweet peas, peonies, dahlia and other blooms as well as great gluts homegrown tomatoes, courgettes, beans and squash. Whatever the family have left over is preserved for the winter or sold through their honesty store and 'pick your own' farm. Fresh eggs and honey are also available to buy.  Inside, evidence of the recent harvest c...

Hello there! Forgive me if I don't write so much today. I have arrived in London to visit my mother, and there's a list of jobs to do as long as my arm - which involve everything from putting up a picture and stowing the parasol to checking the car tyre pressure (Dad where are you when I need you?). Even so, the sun is shining, just as it is in Nana Hagel's beautiful home in Copenhagen! A photographer and writer, Nana has an eye for aesthetics and design - and this shines through in her light and airy pared down home. Warm textures such as wood, leather and wool add a tactile touch to the rooms, while a wall of shelves over the door (hugely popular in Danish homes) provide a perfect place to showcase personal items like books, lamps and vases.  Let's take the tour!  The incredible kitchen cabinets were handcrafted by Ask og Eng (check out their Norwegian studio and also Sanne Hopp's kitchen ).  I spy a Sjöstrand coffee machine . We have one of these ...