Treasures and textures in the home and garden shop at Snape Maltings

Walking into the House & Garden shop at Snape Maltings was the equivalent of entering a sweet shop for me. First I spotted the yellow velvet chaise longue and then there was something else that caught my eye. I was here, then I was there and I think at one point MOH was all for sitting down on the said chaise longue and wait for me to ground myself. However I suspect he also wanted to stay in close attendance so he could proffer the inevitable "and where would you put that" or "don't we already have something like that" when faced with me wanting to buy yet another thing. I'm sure without him following me around I'd have returned to him looking like someone who'd just taken part in the cabbages and kings game on Crackerjack (hands up who shouted it then, even if it was just in your head!) but I suspect even I may have struggled with the beauty that I first saw. 

I mean I don't even like corner sofas (and yes that was pointed out) but isn't this gorgeous, and totally worth making the exception for. I countered that this was the very reason we had to have mustard dining chairs. Understandably he looked confused, as we'd not even seen this then. But you know it makes sense don't you?

It's probably just as well we didn't come here before we bought our gorgeous white glass dining table, or else we might have ended up with this as this was everything I thought I wanted. 

And then I spotted this. It's wood. I was shocked too. But the colour. Even MOH was showing some interest now. I don't think the interest was to shoo me away from it, but maybe...

I managed to curb my enthusiasm enough as we continued through the shop.  Smaller, detailed items caught my eye, like this garden lantern - wouldn't these look great in a line along a patio or on my sleeper bed?

And after the frenzy of the colour overload we started with, I moved into a more restful and neutral - but no less gorgeous - part of the shop. The rose chair here isn't usually my style, but I fell for this too.

Being attracted to colour and naturally so, I always pause and wonder if there is such a thing as too much colour. Often when I see such subtle beauty as this. I'm reminded though that we all need some neutrals, to make sense of the colour and these go on my list for a future house too.

Even though I admire the coolness of these neutrals, I think I'd always be tempted to add a pop of colour in with all that pattern.  And some lime green blankets would be just my thing. 

My creative mind was also piqued with these heart made of buttons on wire. I'm not sure I have enough buttons yet, but give me a while and who knows!

Then just as MOH had managed to successfully steer me around the shop with no purchases, we both faltered. As usual I was attracted by the glitz of these stacking tables. MOH who's got a bit of a map thing was interested in them too, and I think they're the type of tables that are timeless. And what's even better is the top lifts off so it becomes a tray too. Multifunctional and beautiful, I think if we see these again we're sold.

I say if, as I strongly suspect that any future attempts to visit Snape Maltings in Suffolk will be strongly rejected, well I guess they will be if he knows where he's going...

Are you and your OH like this shopping? Or do you have other, defined roles that each of you take?

The knot garden at Helmingham Hall

On our recent break in Suffolk I was keen to get some garden visits in, as it turned out we only managed one, and that was on our trip home. But what a one. Helmingham Hall is a private garden that's close to Stowmarket and full of garden 'rooms'. Today I'm sharing pictures from the knot garden, and for a hedge fanatic like me, it was bliss.

I mean, just look.

It was actually the last part of the garden we visited and despite what you might think, this garden was only formed in 1982. Yes I know that's thirty-five years ago (I don't know how that is either) but it's not as old as the gardens which have a five hundred year history.

The knot garden was created to be "historically sympathetic" to the house and provide visual interest when viewed from the house and the raised walkways that surround it.  And it definitely works.

There are two knot patterns, both divided into four squares. Which is a lot of box. The patterns include the Tollemache fret (the Tollemache family own the estate) and some of the squares are inter-planted with herbs, others with plants themed around those introduced to Britain before 1750.

MOH was of course resigned to the fact I'd be taking plenty of pictures of hedges. He's used to that by now.

Eventually I made it through the garden to the statue, where like him I was fascinated by the bubbly plant surrounding its base. Not what I expected at all but I think I quite liked it.

The beds behind the statue were more formal borders than the front half of the garden, with many more herbs in the planting. The sweeping grass paths were a winner for me.

As was the dill, which was in full flower on our visit. It seems the local wasps were also thankful for that too.

It's great to explore privately run gardens as I think they really do have a different feel to the National Trust gardens that we so often make a beeline for.  These gardens always pique my interest and wonder at how the same plants can be put together to give such a different feel.  I've plenty more posts to come from Helmingham Gardens, and I don't think there'll be a garden you won't enjoy.  So if you're in the area, I can highly recommend a visit in person.

A tiny, modern cottage garden

On our wander around Orford recently there was one tiny garden that stood out for me. It wasn't in my last post as somehow, despite its part in the pretty village, I didn't want it to get lost in the traditional-ness of those photos. So I'm sharing it alone today:  

It is a small space, but one that packs a lot in and I'm sure makes the short walk from road to door delightful. I can't decide if I like the iron gate and railings, the planting or the mix of render and brickwork and use of traditional materials in a contemporary way.

But I definitely like the overall effect and it shows you can put your own stamp into even a small space.