Interiors Archives - Conversations through the middle

Things I Love – book review

May 8, 2013

This is a book of four parts and includes a practical collection of design tips as well as a section of inspirational pull-out postcards, to whet your home stylist appetite. Megan also introduces a number of people she admires – designers, artists, models, collectors and photographers – through interviews that give insights into their creativity.

Finally, Homes I Love is a look inside houses across the world that have had an impact on her, thanks to their style and the people who live in them. Informal in tone and easy to read, this book will quickly engross you.

Things I Love by Megan Morton, £25, Conran Octopus

Fresh food, freezers and falling rain

March 10, 2013

This amazing sight is just outside Vinopolis. Very appropriately, it was chucking it down when I took this photo

Yesterday was rather a busy day, I was in London for the launch of a new cooling range from Zanussi, which was held at Vinopolis, a place I’ve wanted to visit since it opened.

Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo was on hand to talk us through he new products and I took loads of photos – but the guy has ants in his pants and didn’t stand still. At all. So I’ve had to delete most of them as they were just a blur (which the day could well have been for me had I given in to the Prosecco that was being liberally handed out. (Well, yes, I did have a couple of glasses, but that’s all honest.)

Luckily the fridge freezers were a bit more accommodating when it came to photographs.


I like the way the inside is designed, with really deep salad drawers and dedicated bottle space. I don’t know if you can see, but there’s another narrower drawer above the bottom shelf that still leaves space on the shelf itself

The freezer section has a really deep drawer – handy or what?


See what I mean, he can’t stand still…


This is the best photo I have. Gino chatted with the guests and gave a few food tips, none of which I can remember. We were asked for our tips and one of the audience revealed the interesting fact that if you store potatoes and apples together they will keep fresh for longer – I didn’t know that!

On the way back to the tube I popped in to Borough Market, which I’ve read so much about. These photos give you a flavour of the market – it was full of lovely, stinky cheeses, fruit and veg, meat, wines and perhaps most importantly, cakes. It was packed with people and there was a happy atmosphere, but overall, I found it a bit contrived. That’s not to say it doesn’t serve its purpose, I’m sure it does, and there should definitely be more food markets out there so we have a choice about where to shop. It seemed to me more like a tourist attraction than an actual market though. I’m not sure it that makes sense, but I couldn’t afford to shop there regularly as it’s too expensive, which defeats the idea of markets surely.

Pull up a biscuit and take a seat – interiors

December 3, 2012

Isn’t this brilliant? I’ve just received these images and had to share them. What a great idea for a seat, it’s quirky and ideal for the home fashionista who is looking for that little bit of extraordinary.

You can find this pink wafer biscuit footstool at HunkyDoryHome. The screenprinted fabric sits atop a beechwood frame and Queen Anne legs; the stool is handmade in the UK and measures 55x22x35cm – and it costs £110. I think that’s not bad for something so unusual. Chocolate digestives anyone?

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Winter ambiance – fragranced candles

November 20, 2012

It’s soooo cold outside and I do not want to leave the house again today. (I have to though, I have to go buy food for the rabbit otherwise she will leave home). I spent a couple of hours walking the dog this morning, which lifted my mood and, looking around at the autumn countryside, I totally appreciated living in a village. I love it here – the trees, hedges and even the ploughed fields are alive with colours that paint a beautiful picture.

I love being in the house at night, when it’s dark outside and I can hear the wind blowing, or the rain tapping against the windows. I have an arrangement of tall twigs in a tall vase that are dressed in fairy lights and when illuminated they cast a cosy glow around the room (as well as making me think of Christmas, which just in case you don’t know, is five weeks today).

For the past few weeks I have also been lighting candles, loving their fragrance and the dancing flames that add to the comfy atmosphere in my living room. I’m a late convert to the power of candles – until recently I’ve thought them overrated, and then when Dotty was little I was worried about accidents. Now she’s 11 I don’t have to worry so much and as for being overrated, I’ve totally changed my mind about that. I don’t think I could bring myself to light candles all over the house, it would make me anxious thinking about all the possible mishaps waiting to happen, but I have come round to thinking that one or two on the go is a good thing.

I love my Christmas candle from Wax Lyrical. It’s a cheery red colour and the fragrance is rather festive. I don’t think it will last until Christmas though as I’ve had it lit in the evening for a few weeks now and there’s not a lot left.

Another current favourite is the Christmas candle from Neom, with cinnamon, mandarin and tonka bean. It smells divine. That’s the one I have lit at the moment, I don’t know why but it makes me feel content and secure.

The final candle I want to tell you about is another Christmassy one – it’s the Hot Toddy from celebrity facialist Marie Reynolds. When I was at the press event launching this goodie I was invited to have a hand massage using the wax from the candle. I hadn’t heard of this before, but apparently the wax in this candle is so pure it can be used as a skincare treatment! The therapist just scooped out a little of the melted wax from the candle and massaged it into my hands. the fragrance is lovely and there’s a slight sparkle to it, which adds an extra festive touch.

I haven’t yet lit this one, or even opened it. I’m trying to save it for as long as possible., but I’ll let you know what it’s like when I do. Are there any other candle lovers out there?