Where Design and Interiors Meets Happiness and Wellbeing
Autumn is a season of great contrasts and changes. The trees change from shades of green to hues of gold and bronze. Days get shorter and cooler so we tend to hunker down and spend more time indoors.
While the onset of winter can sometimes make us feel a bit down, the season also brings its own distinctive joys and a feeling of cosiness. So here is a list of some of the simple pleasures to enjoy this autumn.
When the sun starts setting earlier and the weather feels crisp and cooler, then you know autumn has definitely arrived. And for me, this time of year always has associations with delicious soups. Especially orange coloured soups made with carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin that reflects the golden hues of the leaves changing colour on the trees.
While there’s nothing more delicious than a crunchy salad in the summer, it doesn’t always have the same appeal on a chilly autumnal day. We are then more inclined towards warming comfort food. And what could be more warming than a tasty bowl of hot soup? It’s the ultimate comfort food and what’s more, a hearty vegetable soup is nutritious too.
So in celebration of this mellow, golden time of year I thought it was time for a special giveaway of a Nessie Ladle and Herb Infuser. Two essential accessories – with a twist – to help you make and serve your own tempting soups.
My grandfather always used to start his breakfast with an apple. And he might have been onto something there. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, breakfast is the optimum time to eat fruit. Similarly, Maimonides – the famous 12th Century Spanish physician, writer and scholar – also advised that the most beneficial way to eat fruit is on an empty stomach.
Eating fruit for breakfast helps you start your day with a burst of energy and vitamins!
The trend for smoothies has certainly made fruit more of a trend now (instead of the traditional cereal and milk option). However, the problem with smoothies is that when you blend up the fruit it’s easy to knock back up to eight fruits in one shot. So although you’re getting a dose of vitamins, you’re also getting a large hit of sugar. Plus, you also loose much of the healthy fibre – the component that helps make you feel full.
When autumn arrives and the weather cools we tend to spend more time indoors. So it’s a great time to do some little interior projects in your home.
If you’re a book lover, you’ll know that there’s no better way to escape for a few hours that to loose yourself in the pages of a good book. So why not turn an area of your home into a cosy reading nook; where you can relax on a comfy chair surrounded by some of your favourite novels?
I knew straight away which piece of art I was going to use for theme of this month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers which is Plants and Art.
There’s a very special picture that hangs above the sofa in our lounge. It’s an image of a white Spanish style villa, adorned with greenery and and flowering plants.
In case you haven’t yet heard the news, we’ve just relaunched the Mocha online shop. You can now find us at: mochacasa.com
It’s now faster, easier to use and mobile responsive too – making it easier to browse and buy from your phone and tablet.
But this is just the start. There’s still much more to come including new products and some changes on the blog.
Spring is such an uplifting time of year. After the cold, dark months of hibernation, it is a season bursting with optimism. The days get longer and sunnier; and suddenly the buds on the trees erupt into dazzling white and pink blossoms.
This month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers topic is all about spring styling with plants. Could there be a more perfect time to add some greenery to your home?
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may already know that I particularly love both Mediterranean and Scandinavian design. Especially when the two styles are blended together.
While winter is conducive to a greater concentration of Scandinavian design: candlelight, throws, cosy greys … And of course a whole lot of hygge!
In spring, the emphasis leans more towards Mediterranean style. The image is one of bright yellow sunshine, blue skies and vibrant greenery. Hearty, thick soups are replaced by fresh salads and wedges of juicy watermelon.
With that in mind, I decided to style a table setting for spring with a Mediterranean theme, some touches of Scandinavian style; and of course plants and seasonal references.
With spring just around the corner, our thoughts naturally turn to the idea of the warm sunny days ahead.
In the winter we try to bring a taste of the outside in with plants, greenery and other touches of nature. Whereas in the summer, when we spend more time outdoors, we do the opposite. We bring some of the inside out.
What I really like is the Mediterranean style of turning outdoor spaces into an extension of the home. More than merely taking a couple of chairs out, the garden or terrace becomes an outdoor living room. And the space is carefully considered with furniture, accessories and potted plants. Much like the interior of your home.
I recently wrote about why we are attracted to a room with a view. But what do you do if your room doesn’t have a good view?
If you live in a built-up urban environment, this is an all too common problem. And one I can relate to. The first home my husband and I moved into was a little flat above shops. We had a view of a car park and dustbins on one side, and a view of the main road and petrol station on the other. Quite grim, as I’m sure you’ll agree.
When the view outside your window isn’t a very appealing one, one design trick is to draw attention away from the window altogether. Turn the view inwards, and instead, make something else the focal point.
When you think of hanging planters, you usually picture large, lush trailing plants, cascading down from hanging baskets.
So I had a bit of a dilemma with this month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers topic: hanging planters.
You see, I do have a couple of trailing plants. But right now they are quite tiny, and wouldn’t make much of an impact on their own.
Here is my Seddum Burrito succulent.
