AUTUMN DECORATING…..WITH BEAUTIFUL PALE PUMPKINS.

It is at this time of year, that I usually love to decorate the house with home grown gourds and pumpkins…. 

Tending to choose to pass on the fun but garish orange, and instead enjoying the more subtle hues of white, cream and blue/grey...

Perfect for creating an autumnal vignette…

Simple but striking…

With colours to inspire the perfect wall colour…

Creating a simple and stylish table piece…

To be imaginative with…

For the perfect place setting...

 To pile high and enjoy…

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With all this beautiful pale pumpkin inspiration via 'Pinterest', I am ready to decorate!

Are you?

Sophia xx

A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL PRESENT…

My husband received several very thoughtful, personal and special presents for his BIG birthday back in August, but there was one in particular that touched his heart….

My mother knows how much he adores his beloved Labrador 'Rocco', and so she commissioned very talented artist Christine Jenkinson to paint a special portrait of the great man himself!  

Christine lives near to us in the neighbouring county of East Sussex, and is renowned for dog and animal portraits that capture the unique character of the subject, and also for atmospheric and highly detailed landscapes and rural scenes.  She visited our home in secret when my husband wasn't here, earlier on in the summer, and I was so impressed by the amount of time she spent with Rocco that afternoon to truly get to know his personality.  Anyone who knows this gorgeous gentle giant agrees, that she has truly captured his kind and loving nature….

At twelve years old, Rocco isn't getting any younger….so you can imagine that to capture his beautiful face in oils is a very special thing indeed.

His portrait now takes pride of place on the wall in our entrance hall for all to enjoy.

Have you ever had your pet's portrait painted?  If not and you are interested in doing so, I urge you to visit Christine Jenkinson's website by clicking the link here and viewing her outstanding 

portfolio of work….a true talent!

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Wishing you all a very happy week!

Sophia xx

With a distinctive 'nip' in the air this Wednesday morning, I am definitely settling in to Autumn/Winter mode, and planning my favourite things for this beautiful time of the year…

Making warming winter soups...

Sunny woodland walks...

Candle lit evenings….

Cosying up in cashmere socks…

Lighting the fire…with a good glass of something!

 Or an indulgent chocolate treat…

ALL PICTURES VIA: PINTEREST

And a winter wardrobe….especially my beloved winter boots!

What do you look forward to most at this time of the year?  I would love to hear!

Wishing you a warm and happy Wednesday…

Sophia xx

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY…

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

Happy Friday everyone….where did the last week go? It has been non stop this week for me with work projects and now as we head in to the weekend, I am looking forward to a relaxing couple of days and taking things a little easier!  Mr. 'SH' has been away in Australia on business for the last couple of weeks, and from what I can gather from our snatched skype chats, he never got over his jet lag and is severely sleep deprived….so a clear agenda and R&R is definitely called for this weekend!

Above is the beautiful view from my kitchen deck early this morning, with the mist hovering over the fields….it looks like we are in for some lovely sunny Autumn weather too over the coming days, which is a bonus!

No relaxing weekend would be complete without some delicious ingredients for some new recipes and a few treats, and it was a joy to discover and visit a fabulous new farmshop yesterday, close to us here in Kent….the newly revamped and under new ownership 'Hartley Farmshop' near the picturesque market town of Cranbrook.

With their own bakery, fish monger, butchery, delicatessen and lovely coffee shop with far reaching views over the apple orchards behind, it is somewhere that turns the drudge of food shopping in to something really very enjoyable.

Concentrating on fresh and local produce with a fantastic selection of other goodies, it could well become my new favourite place to shop….

If you are ever in the area, do drop by….you won't be disappointed!

Hartley Farm Shop,

Hartley Dyke Farm,

Hartley Rd.

Cranbrook

Kent

TN17 3QG

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Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Sophia xx

A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

Set high in the Morena Mountains, 80km north of Seville in the heart of Andalucia, you will find a truly magical place called 'Trasierra'.

This historic 16th Century house is a privately owned boutique hotel, which has been run and owned by Charlotte Scott and her family for the past 35 years….

With its stunning interiors….eclectic, artistic, understated and so effortless….

Romantic and supremely comfortable bedrooms….

Beautiful gardens, with shady and tranquil hidden corners….

It truly was the most fabulous place to spend a long weekend…..and not just any weekend….for it was the most generous, special and very personal birthday celebration for my gorgeous friend Sarah, who was celebrating a 'big' birthday. She and her husband James so generously invited close friends and family to enjoy 'Trasierra' exclusively for four days.

Four days of fun and laughter, enjoying the most delicious food and wine, trips to Seville to 'The old fish market' for lunch and wine tasting in a beautiful local vineyard, gorgeous walks amongst stunning scenery, yoga, massage and relaxation….and of course, much

dancing and partying….the fantastic Spanish 'gypsy' band and Flamenco dancers were something we shall remember for ever!

As we enjoyed the last fabulous dinner on Sunday night in the spectacular candle lit courtyard, I know I was not alone amongst our fellow guests, in feeling that we had experienced four extremely special days indeed….the most generous and spoiling of invitations, that was also so personal, genuine and intimate.  A chance for us all to spend very special time with our hosts and fellow guests in a truly unique, beautiful and magical place...

Thank you, thank you,  to our dear friends Sarah and James….our celebrations with you both at 'Trasierra' will stay in our hearts for ever….xxx

'Trassierra'……

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Wishing you all a very happy weekend!

Sophia xxx

 FRIDAY FLOWERS...

PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

Happy Friday!

Best day of the week, don't you think?

My end of week ritual, if I can, is to visit our lovely weekly market in the nearby Georgian town of Tenterden here in Kent.

My favourite stall without a doubt, sells a fabulous array of plants and flowers….always so tempting.

Today's 'Friday flowers' that made their way home with me, were these gorgeous Autumn treats of

Heathers, Ornamental Cabbages, Pansies and Chrysanthemum…..perfect for planting and brightening our front door.

Wishing you all a very Happy Weekend!

Sophia xx

Happy Thursday!

Are you enjoying this beautiful Autumn weather?  Certainly here in the UK, we have had the most glorious days with sunshine and mild temperatures.  Things are set to change this weekend though….but the thought of lighting the fire, cosy evenings and a change of pace are all very welcome.  I adore all the seasons, and Autumn and Winter bring their own sense of beauty that I could not live without.

I apologise for the lack of blog posts recently, but it has been rather hectic here.  Busy with client design projects, and garden projects amongst many things, although it hasn't all completely been work and no rest….last weekend was a very special celebration and treat!  A dear and very generous girlfriend of mine Sarah and her husband, invited thirty-eight of us out to Seville for her big birthday celebrations.  Four days of partying in the most magical of places called Trasierra, up in the mountains outside Seville.  I look forward to sharing this wonderful place with you here shortly!

So, a short post today, while I catch up with myself and do some work….but I plan to share far more with you this Autumn on the blog.  More of what inspires me, from design inspiration, home and garden projects, delicious recipes and places and people of interest.  Thank you so much to all of you, all around the world, who take the time to pop in to 'Sophia Home' on a regular basis to read me….it means so much to me!  I always love your feedback, so do get in touch in the comments section or email me via my design website here.

Happy Autumn days!

Sophia xx