A peek at some of Habitat's Spring-Summer 18 range

I've had the Indoor and Garden Spring and Summer lookbook from Habitat since the start of the year, and it's something I keep coming back to, so today I'm sharing some of the items that have caught my eye. I think you'll work out why without me telling you, but in case you don't colour plays a big part.

I am seriously tempted by this Jambi occasional chair, although I daren't mention it to MOH yet - the key word there is yet!  I think if I did I'd be permanently banned from looking, as I said earlier in the week we've agreed a date for our conservatory work and are still working out how and where to store the furniture we already have, let alone finding space for more. And yes, I know it's a garden chair so could go outside, but it's way too nice to get rained on, isn't it?

WEAVE: JAMBI OCCASIONAL CHAIR

We've already got a grey two-seater outdoor sofa (yes that's indoors too) earmarked for the space and our dresser will go back into the space, but once I've got rid of the freezer then I'm sure there'll be space for something new.  And if I'm having colour, then I might as well have some colour...

BOLD AND BRIGHT: LEON WINDOW BOX

These planters will be just the thing, and I'd need them both. Not because I actually need them both, but because I don't think I could choose between them - I love the colour combinations. I told you about my orange and red outfit from the weekend, so orange and bright pink isn't too far away is it, I'm not sure though about wearing green and yellow (but never say never!) 

I'm also keen on this dinner service. We need new plates. We should buy plates that match our Denby set, because that's sensible. But I love these plates. I think I'm quite keen on not being sensible. I think we'll be having a visit to Habitat to check them out for ourselves. I think it's important to actually feel your crockery before deciding, don't you?

SWEET LA GLAMOUR : DENNIS DINNER SERVICE

The final shot I've chosen to share from the look book is this gorgeous table shot. The table is gorgeous, you'll know how much I love a wooden table, but for me it's the mix-and-match-but-still-together vases and eucalyptus.  It's a look I'd love to emulate, but I've a feeling that my attempts wouldn't look anywhere near as classy. 

NATURAL: FELIZ TABLE

There's also a high chance that my clumsy self would be knocking some of these over too, but I'll gloss over that and pretend that my life - and table - is as together as this. It isn't - or rarely is - but a girl can dream can't she?

You can find more of what's new at Habitat on their website - this isn't a sponsored post - I'm sharing these because they really are things I love and would happily have - and buy - for my home.

Photo-credit: All images courtesy of Habitat

Celebrating two years of the Loo Series

Now isn't this an odd thing. No, not my obsession with a good loo - surely you're used to that by now, but I've randomly been sharing those good loos here for two years. I know, hasn't it gone quickly.

The odd thing is that my first post almost two years ago to the day, was of the loos at the new Flat Iron in Covent Garden and without any planning at all, two years on I'm sharing the loos at the Flat Iron in Denmark Street.

I'd love to say that was planned, but it wasn't. It's clear though that Flat Iron do have some very good loos!  Although when I saw this sign in the Denmark Street restaurant I wasn't quite sure what I'd find...

It wasn't anywhere near as bad as my expectations, but I did opt for the door with the ladies loo sign on, just in case.  It was the wall art though that really made this small loo, it's pretty unique isn't it?

It was only afterwards that I realised the centre cow (bull?) had a bell, and I can't help but wonder if anyone ever rings it, and why!

In fact at the time I was much more amused by the choice of handwash.

What else?! 

I'll finish this post with a picture from the restaurant, mainly to prove that I do take other pictures in restaurants, and because it really is a rather gorgeous light.

The food too was good, but I must remember to order a medium rare steak for this cut of meat, MOH's tasted so much better than my rare one. But that could always be because it was on his plate...

My garden in January

Or more accurately the title of this post could be, my garden on January 28 2018. It's been the only day this month I've been out into the garden, and even then it was to just check to make sure we hadn't suffered any storm damage in that windiest of days recently, and to take some pictures.

January's not my favourite month, but I'd spied the snowdrops from the conservatory window and it was them which drew me outside. As it turned out Sunday was mild and rather lovely, but I was happy just having a cursory check around.

And the snowdrops were definitely worth it.

About half way down the garden the pink flowers from the hostas drew me in with a welcome burst of colour.

At the back of the garden the strawberries have been busy, there's lots of runners - which means new plants - and the leaves are varying shades of green and yellow, while the runners are a vivid red.  I've got these earmarked for the allotment to edge that new path I put in last year.

And now the admission. I own a pair of crocs, in fact I'll call them communal crocs and they live by the back door and are handy for popping out into the garden, as demonstrated below. 

The sleepers are relatively dry considering the weather we've had. I suspect they may need treating later in the year but I'll give them plenty of chance to dry out first.  Under the cherry tree the dead flowers of the silver leafed sage like bush made me smile, the flowerheads reminded me of hydrangeas that I've seen this week in Greenwich Park, and both reminded me how much I like dead flowers as much as live ones!

Throughout the garden the lime green of the euphorbias were making themselves known.  Amongst the leaves. Our garden is full of them right now, the wind has thoughtfully blown them off the grass for us, but that means they're in the beds and in piles on the patio. That's a job for another day though, a warmer one I hope!

Another discovery was the amount of buds starting to appear on the lilac tree and camellia. Walking through Greenwich Park this week I've seen camellias starting to come out, but it seems that this year is no different for mine and it's remaining resolutely, and fashionably late. I think it'll be a good month yet before we see any flowers, although I'm very happy to be proven wrong.

I was worried how the hibiscus would cope with the colder weather, I wasn't quite expecting the cold that we've had though. The leaves have gone rather black and I didn't hold out much hope for it. But I checked it this weekend and it's still alive. The way to check plants is to make a small scrape with your fingernail. If under the scrape shows white or green then it's still alive, if it's brown then it's time to think about getting a new plant. 

The final photo is rom the ivy which is also showing signs of yellow, which you'll know is very welcome. In fact any type of colour, even the lushness from the ivy, is welcome at this time of year. Anything to combat the greyness of the skies, but from a quick walk around the garden it's obvious that spring is on its way, and I'm very grateful for that, aren't you?