A stylish snug

I thought it about time I shared the main living room from the holiday cottage from our trip to Norfolk last October. Staying there was a bit of a treat to ourselves after 2020, and it was the type of place that looked just as good as the photos online, and drew an intake of breath as we walked in and explored.

From the pictures here, and those I’ve shared before, I don’t think you’d know this was quite a tiny cottage. And from the inside you had everything you needed. A couple of armchairs, a cosy fire and plenty of decor to look at and soften the space. And did I mention the fire?

And the bottle of Norfolk gin on the side. And what a side. Talk about a statement piece.

If that wasn’t enough, then the feather wreath above it was just as stunning, and bold.

Green was a theme that reappeared throughout the room, and there was no better place to sit in the chilly October evenings in front of the fire.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to explore further than our ‘local area’ when the restrictions are lifted.

Two footstools and a tassel

Today it’s all about the footstools and a tassel at Blickling - if you’ve visited you might recognise the flooring of the Long Gallery. And if you haven’t, the Long Gallery is just what it says. It’s original use was for exercise and it has the most amazing ceiling - which I’ll share another day - today we’re spending time looking down, rather than up. And admiring the needlework.

The colour on both of the footstools were still pretty vivid, and both had a very polite note that they were too fragile for visitor use, though both looked very inviting. This one features birds and flowers, and what look like chillies. Maybe they are, maybe they’re not, but to me they could be.

And that bird definitely has its eye on them, so could be in for a surprise.

The second is more floral, and in all of my photos I think it’s upside down. So you can either enjoy it as I did, or turn your neck to try and imagine it the right way up.

Aren’t they both great? I think on balance the first one would be my first choice, but aren’t they both fab?

The tassel above also caught my eye, a relatively simple thing, but so much detail. And so, so pretty.

Love this #92 Shell Art

It’s been a while since my last Love this post, and as I keep pausing over these images as I scroll through my photos I thought it was about time.

I was - and am - absolutely smitten with these when I saw them on our visit to Houghton Hall last October, and could have quite easily have left with both of them, had my bank balance permitted. They are exquisite, and much more superior to my childhood shell art which I’m sure involved polyfilla, an empty plastic golden syrup tub and shells collected from the beach. There might also have been shells which we’d bought from the Shell Shop in Lyme Regis, a memory that definitely takes me back!

Both of these are by Blott Kerr-Wilson, a sea shell artist - and clearly one way above any of my childhood efforts, and quite frankly above anything I’d attempt even now. Both were on display in the stables, and both are pricey, just shy of £3000 - but oh, so lovely.

Who’d have thought that mussel shells (above) and sea urchins and tusk shells (below) could be quite so beautiful?

I’m not even going to say one day, but I know I’m glad I saw them and have a photo - as that’s as close as I’m going to get to these beauties - admiration from afar!