THANK YOU!

A longer post is promised shortly, but today I would like to wish all my lovely American and Canadian readers a very happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful celebration and thank you so much for reading me.....

Sophia xx

HAPPY WEEKEND.....

.....and getting in a festive mood!

Via: Pinterest

It's Friday! 

Such a great feeling having the anticipation of the weekend stretching out in front of us all.  

Last week of November already,  and we are heading at full speed to one of my absolute favourite times of the year!  My birthday is at the beginning of December, and I always endeavour to use this as my deadline to get everything prepared for Christmas by this date....presents bought and wrapped, cards written and sent, menus planned....so that I can feel calm and organised, free to enjoy the socialising, carol concerts, pre Christmas cooking and just soak in the festive atmosphere, because I almost think that the December run up to the big day itself, is almost more enjoyable!  Some years, I have of course had the inevitable client design projects that have had a manic Christmas deadline, but at least with everything else under control, it helps keep the stress levels at bay!  This year, I am pleased to say, everything feels a little more paced.

I am a great fan of shopping online, as I know many of you out there are too, so that is where I have done the bulk of my Christmas shopping....trying to avoid the dreaded 'High Street' and usually finding some more original and unusual gifts.  As regular readers will know, I also visited the fabulous 'Spirit of Christmas Fair' at London, Olympia the other week with my daughter, which is always an enjoyable way of finding something special.  Tomorrow I plan to go to one of my other favourite Christmas shopping destinations, 

'The Wealden Times Midwinter Fair'

which is held in the grounds of Bedgebury Pinetum, near us here in Kent, which is a great place to find something a little bit different amongst the array of stallholders....along with beautiful vintage interior stalls and a food marquee showcasing the best of our local artisan food producers which is a great opportunity to stock up with edible Christmas goodies.  It will also be a lovely morning to catch up with my sister and mother, who will be joining me!  I look forward to sharing the Fair with you, after the weekend. 

How do you like to do your Christmas shopping?  Do you have any favourite suggestions?  I would love to hear!

Wishing you a very happy weekend.....

Sophia xx

ENJOYING AN AUTUMN SUNDAY.....and a perfect seasonal vegetarian lunch recipe for you.....

Happy Sunday!  

I do hope your weekend is proving to be enjoyable, fun and relaxing?

Our weekend kicked off to an indulgent and fun start, with cocktails and dinner at the fabulous 'Hakkasan' restaurant in London with friends, which is highly recommended!  One of my favourite restaurants with the most delicious pan asian dishes, in cool and opulently designed surroundings with a fantastic atmosphere.....it was a very special treat to end a busy week!

In equally lovely contrast, the rest of the weekend has been spent peacefully at home here in Kent, finishing bulb planting (oh yes, it didn't get finished last weekend!), walking the dogs in yesterday's sunshine, enjoying lighting the fire for the first time this autumn, and trying out a few new seasonal recipes.  Tonight we have a pheasant casserole on the menu (which I look forward to sharing shortly), for a lovely impromptu visit from our youngest son and his girlfriend.  For now though,  I would like to share with you, this simple but delicious recipe from a recent Waitrose 'Autumn Harvest' recipe supplement which I came across......perfect for using some of the abundant harvest of leeks that we have grown this year in the kitchen garden. 

'Leek & Mushroom Herb Crumble'.....perfect for a Saturday lunch or midweek vegetarian supper!

INGREDIENTS:

8 leeks, washed, trimmed and halved lengthways

350g tub Waitrose Four Cheese Sauce (or a home made classic cheese sauce)

2tsp olive oil

150g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped

100g fresh white bread crumbs

Large pinch cayenne pepper

25g fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

Preheat the oven to 200 C, gas mark 6

Cook the leeks in a large pan of boiling water for 6 minutes until just tender, then drain thoroughly.  Arrange in a shallow ovenproof dish and spoon over the cheese sauce to cover the leeks.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick pan and fry the mushrooms for several minutes over a medium-high heat until lightly browned.  Add the breadcrumbs and cayenne and cook for 2-3 minutes until starting to crisp.  Stir in the herbs then scatter the mixture over the cheese sauce.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden and crisp.  Serve with a salad and crusty bread to mop up any extra sauce.......yummy!

Bon appétit and wishing you a happy week ahead!

Sophia xx

A LABOUR OF LOVE....

Tulips 'Couleur Cardinal, 'Havran' and 'Prinses Irene'

I imagine all you fellow gardeners out there have, like me, been busy planting spring flowering bulbs recently?  Back breaking work and a true labour of love!  My love of tulips in particular spurs me on each Autumn to get planting, with my husband and I invariably braving the wind and the rain to get large quantities of bulbs in to the garden we have had to create from scratch.  Each year, as the garden develops in structure and matures in growth, the quantities of bulbs decreases thank goodness.  Our lawned areas were the most labour intensive, with hundreds of Daffodil bulbs being dug in to heavy Kent clay, but this project is now complete and nature has now taken over with the Daffodils naturalising and spreading themselves.

Each year as new areas of the garden have been created, with new beds dug, I have added to the tulip planting.  Last year I particularly concentrated on underplanting in the white rose garden off the kitchen, creating a cool calm spring display of white 'Purissima' and dark 'Queen of the Night' tulips.  This year in contrast is all about creating a riot of colour on the other side of the house, in the long beds leading to the entrance to the kitchen garden.....

Unpacking the two huge boxes of bulbs that arrived from 'Sarah Raven' and 'Parkers' last weekend and the thought of all that planting, was a rather daunting task.  However, fuelled with cups of coffee in the crisp Autumn sunshine and encouraged by a vision of the colour extravaganza ahead of us next Spring, we got the job complete in no time at all!  

Tulip 'Minuet'

Tulip 'Ballerina'

Tulip 'Black Hero'

A bold and brilliantly clashing choice ....and a far cry from my usual choice of cool 'White' in the garden.  Added to this, I shall be filling numerous large pots with the gorgeous slightly muted jewel colours of 'Couleur Cardinal', 'Havran' and 'Prinses Irene' which make up the beautiful 'Venetian Tulip Collection' from 'Sarah Raven' (pictured top) and of course not forgetting my love of white flowers.....Paperwhite Narcissi and White Hyacinths, to force indoors to flower in time for Christmas hopefully!

Do you have a favourite tulip variety you would recommend?  I would love to hear!

Happy bulb planting!

Sophia xx

A DAY OF SHOPPING....and getting in the 'SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS'....

Hello Friday....best day of the week!

After being pretty hectic recently, it is nice to know that we have two days ahead here at home, with NO agenda....bliss!  We all need that from time to time, don't you think?  Having said that, we have several hundred more bulbs to plant in the garden, so if the rain would kindly stop, then that is where we shall be!

Yesterday, I was up in London again, this time visiting the 'Spirit of Christmas Fair' at London Olympia, which is sponsored by 'House and Garden' magazine...an annual event that I always so look forward to going to!

 With over 150 stalls under one roof, selling a unique range of stylish products and gift ideas, it is Christmas shopping heaven!  Usually I go with one of my keen shopping girlfriends (we all have plenty of those don't we!) but this year I spent a precious day off with my daughter Georgie, who now with her own little flat, was equally interested in the beautiful interior products, as the gorgeous array of fashion accessories and clothes.  Combined with an entire upper floor of wonderful artisan food and drink producers, it was also a delicious opportunity to sample the yummy fair on offer and to take a few treats home or order in time for Christmas.  I didn't take many photos, as I was so busy browsing and forgot!  But here are just a few of the many lovely stalls, to give you a feel for this very festive shopping experience, and if you are in London and want to go, the fair is on until Sunday, so there is still time!

'Posh Graffiti'.....couldn't resist both buying their 'Noel' signs.

Beautiful suede and leather cuffs that we admired...

Deliciously scented bath and beauty products....

Pretty china and candles....

And of course, stunning Christmas decorations everywhere....

After five hours, even this keen mother/daughter shopping duo admitted defeat. With feet killing us, we said our goodbyes after such a fun day together, and headed our separate ways home.....in search of a restorative hot bath and feet up with a nice glass of wine!  However, most definitely revved up for the forthcoming festive season and full of the 

Spirit of Christmas!

*****

Wishing you a very happy weekend!

Sophia xx

THINKING......MID CENTURY MODERN....SOFAS IN PARTICULAR...

Good morning!  

I do hope your week is going well? I can't believe it is Wednesday already!

Since our lovely party here on Sunday for my mother, I hit the week running with a trip to London first thing on Monday morning, to visit a client's soon to be acquired city 'Pied à Terre'.

She needed a quick decision on the exact layout for this compact, yet stylish, bright south facing space which also had the precious commodity of a large roof terrace off the open plan kitchen/dining/living space....I was so taken with this delightful flat and would have adored to have it myself!  With the agent hovering with keys in hand, we had roughly thirty minutes to measure, assess, and come up with a workable solution which would then dictate our shopping list.....always an enjoyable aspect of my job is to go shopping for others, which feeds a girl's love of shopping, and yet saves her own bank account!

Our main aim was to quickly choose the size and style of sofa for this bijoux space and get it ordered, baring in mind the often several weeks lead time....also, once a key piece like this is chosen, then further furniture, style and colour choices tend to follow easily.

I have worked with this particular lovely client for several years now, having had the privilege of decorating her beautiful country home throughout,  so we work well together and usually make quick, decisive choices together which is always a joy! 

 A modern 'Mid Century' sofa style immediately caught our eye....clean lined, stylish and comfortable, and importantly for the small sitting area in question, the neat low slung proportions were perfect.  It offered the modern look she wanted and yet its retro styling gave the opportunity to mix with traditional pieces in the future.  Isn't it interesting that this enduring design style from the 60's is as popular today as it was back then.....which proves that 'Good style never goes out of fashion'!

All images via: Pinterest

Wishing you a very happy and productive week!

Sophia xx

PS. If you would like help or advice on any aspect of redesigning your home, do please contact me via my design website at

www.sophiawadsworthinteriors.co.uk

CAKE AND ROSES....

PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME


Cake and Roses were the centrepiece to the celebratory lunch table for my mother's 70th birthday on Sunday.....a small, intimate family lunch party which was a very happy and special occasion.....

Pretty and pink.....perfect theme for a very feminine and lovely 'Birthday girl'!

 Following present giving and champagne, we enjoyed a long lunch.....ending with the stunning 'Rose and pearl' birthday cake, made by my daughter Georgie......which was admired and enjoyed by all!

A photo of me with 'The Birthday girl'....

It is at times like this that I am at my happiest....opening up our home to family and friends.....sharing good food, wine and conversation.  Precious time with people we love....to catch up with each others' lives and most importantly.....TO CELEBRATE!

'ROCCO'

As you can see, we weren't the only ones to enjoy this special birthday celebration......Rocco loves a good party!

*****

Wishing you a very happy week!

Sophia xx