Molly Weasley and The Burrow

 "The walls were decorated with artwork drawn by children of the

 art department crew, and the prevailing color palette reflected 

the ginger-topped Weasleys' obvious favorite colors: red and orange."

My son is just 6, and although I really wanted to read the books with him first, my excitement ran away with me one rainy lockdown day a few weeks ago, and we started watching the Harry Potter films.

A few days later a friend asked me what character from a film I found I resonated with and why...... and to my surprise confidently poppoing up from my unconscious was the answer "Molly Weasley"!


The why part of the question started with the thought that she lived in 'The Burrow', probably my  true dream home. A home build on love........ cooked-from-scratch family meals, shabby old chairs covered in knitted throws, mis-matched crockery, wonky stairs, thread bare carpets covered with rugs, book shelves with the books squashed back in any free space... and then I recognised that actually this house and person resembled my own..... I even have a long haired ginger son.

 “We wanted everything - from the furniture through to the

 crockery on the kitchen table - to look as if it had been bought

 in second-hand shops, picked up at swap meets, or rescued from curbs.” - Stephenie McMillan

Its funny how through re-visiting films and books we notice the passing of time and the change in us. We are not the same person as we were first time around. I always thought of myself as Ginni Weasley in the past.....

Under the Oak :A converted Wagon in Wales

Under the Oak : Convertion in wales . Photo by Iris Thorsteinsdottir

As Wagon conversions go this one is pretty epic! Not only that but it is near my parents in Powis. The best news is the stunning conversion is available for short rentals via Canopy and Stars (this is not a paid post , just throught it would be of interest), the perfect place to retreat in all this current madness..... wht do you think?

 The railway wagon was used for many years for nothing more than storage. Fittingly, it now houses a collection of weird and wonderful objects that Jim has collected on his travels round the world as a cameraman. Now that both the wagon and the owners have settled a little, the transformation from railway carriage to living space has been completed.

A full length glazed wall gives lovely views out to the commons and a 6ft 6” square bed invites you to spread out. The wagon’s original ironwork has been used to make some of the fittings and the dark wood, also remaining from the original construction, gives a lovely rich feel. The wagon has gas hobs, a camping toaster and a Weber BBQ, plus a firepit and log seats outdoors. The washing up sink, prep area, fridge and other another gas ring are outside, undercover at the end of the wagon.
Under the Oak is tucked between two barns and screened by trees from Jim and Jude’s other project, Under the Ash, a converted showman’s wagon. Each have their own private compost loo and share a hot gas-powered shower, which are about 10 yards from both spaces. Although they are quite close together and near the cottage, every effort has been taken to give them their own areas and Jim & Jude’s friends have been enjoying staying there for years.

Under the Oak : Convertion in wales . Photo by Iris Thorsteinsdottir

Under the Oak: Conversion in Wales

Under the Oak: Photos via canopy and Stars

Gratitude Lists and the small details

Gratitude lists and the small details: Toadstool door Knocker via Instagram

Okay so I am not going to lie, since my last post I have been caught up in a bit of an existensial funk......... and after promising to post more havent really been in the headspace to do so....

 When everything is ticking along nicely I float from my little family to college , work to outdoor spaces, cups of tea in cafes to the Buddhist centre to mooching around charity shops (thrift stores). Its not very exciting but simplicty works for me and keeps my mind steady.

Small deatils, Star door handles

Now the rug has been removed, like everyone else I have become a little unsteady..... and for a little while abadndoned (or forgot) my tools to calm my mind. Maybe I just needed time to ruminate, think of poor outcomes for my loved ones and worse case scenarios at work (a nurse in the hospital)........so they could be released, captured and analysed, labelled, passified and then put safely in a box and stored.

Turn... photo by Liz Glass on Flickr

I am at the passified stage right now.......making the desent down from the clouds. Spring is in the air and new life is budding, I have my happy, bouncy, sensitive little boy home for the foreseeable, which feels like such a luxury..... building dens in the trampoline and cuddling up with a book under a blanket is pure heaven. The little fruits on my citrus tree are turning orange. The skys are clear without the airplanes flying in and out of Bristol airport. I have some wonderful friends.... and have discovered Zoom and Skype........

Moon door handle

Simply........ it is all in the details. It is the small moments that matter, the little wins. The sunshine pouring in through the gap in the curtains , the autumn turning the leaves warm orange and the sound of stepping on the crispy frost on the grass. I am so glad I am rembered. So grateful for......well..... gratitude lists.

Doorbells :) via tumblr

I would love to hear some of your gratitudes, either on here or on Instagram, if you would share...

Little bells

Antique Greyhound door handle

Mid Centuary Doorplate

Inspiration..... Small Gardens and potted plants

Beautiful Small gravel garden with potted plants

So the world has got a little intense but as a hospital worker and mother my two main aims for the up coming months are to keep myself grounded and healthy and to protect my son from too much anxiety. But I also really am feeling the need to return to Moon to Moon to post some beautiful relaxing natural homes and gardens...... to create my own little pocket of the internet that is free from anxities.... I hope you will join me ;)

Potted plants for a small Natural garden

Todays post is inspired by my need to design my garden around a pesky (massive understatement) bamboo problem meaning grass is sadly out of the question........so remembering the beautiful gravel garden in the top photo a gravel based garden it is!! Im thinking gravel, potted plants, a compost heap and potentially a raised pond are the way forward for my tiny city garden, bringing in wildlife whilst remainng functional.... the ultimate place to chill....woo hoo!

What do you think?

Curved lines giving this small garden the illusion of more depth

A beautiful cement water feature

I love the use of ferns to create a tropical effect in this small garden

Terrecota pots, timeless classic

Jeffrey Bale Garden Design see more here

The home of...... Frankie and Sol Bergstein (Grace and Frankie)

Frankie and Sol Bergstein in their California Hills home (Grace and Frankie season1)

Today is valentines day and as sadly I am working a night shift, I thought I would share with you all a little something special....... The home of the Bergstein's aka Frankie and Sol, from the Netflix Show Grace and Frankie.

Dont get me wrong the beach house is nice and all but Frankies house is where its at!! I have been meaning to do a post of Frankie and Sol's beautiful home since the first series came out 5 years ago (May 2015 to be exact), so here it is courtesy of some slightly dodgy screenshots from my ipad, haha! There are a fair few of the living room as that stunning mustard couch, mud cloth cusions and sculptures are just so special.

Grace and Frankie

The interiors for the prgramme were designed by Beuchamp Fontaine (can i have this job please!), who beleived that "Sol and Frankie Bergsteins home would have been inspired by their travels and love of art rather than any desire to keep up with the latest trends..... I imagine they brought most of their furniture when Sol first started making money and would have never replaced it"

The real home belonged to a ceramist and a sculpturist and many of the items were from their personal collection. Other items were from Omega Cinema Props.

If you like this post please check out ..... Nathan and Bonnies house from Big Little Lies
Coming soon..... Jean and Otis's house from Sex Education :)

Happy Valentines guys x

Frankie and Sol in 'the Den'

Sol and a bouble penis gourd :)

Robert and Grace in the Bergstein's Dinning Room

Grace and that beautiful Kilim cushion, one of the only items that migrates to the beach house

Shot gun the corner seat!

Bud and Coyote outside the Bergsteins house

The home of.... Instagrammer Lisa Loves Vintage

Lisa Loves Vintage :

Since Grace and Frankie began I have been dreaming of a beautiful blue kitchen like the one in that dreamy beach house, but have been a bit scared by the thought of such a dark colour in my otherwise very white walled house.

A few weeks ago I came across the Birmingham (UK) home of Instagrammer Lisa Piddington aka Lisa_loves_vintage and my obsession with painting my kitchen blue was reignighted. I just love that rich colour and pared with some green sploshes and house plants, it really works and doesnt fall into the trap of being too gloomy.

I love it..... what do you think?

To see more head on over to Lisa's page Lisa_loves_vintage

Essential Store Japan....

Essential Store Japan

As a child we spent a fair bit of time at antique fairs and shops. My parents are big collectors of ceramics and glassware and we were often on a hunt in some far off town for another piece of Honiton pottery. When I was little I have to be honest I found it a little dull, I would rather be playing ,but there were some huge antiques shops that were mazes spread over a few floors of big dusty ex-factories. These buildings were fun and I just loved exploring the curios with my sister and choosing which shiny things we would buy for our houses when we were 'older'.

Now i am 'older' I find myself drawn to these places once again, with the addition of charity shops, and can spend hours  browsing without buying, just imagining where i would put that Victorian chair, Matisse print or beautiful glass paper weight, and fingering through the teaspoons and old wooden handled bread knives. The magic hasn't gone , I am transported back to the Narnia of my youth where anything is possible.

When I saw these pictures of the Essential Store in Japan my curiosity was instantly awakened....  what is in those cabinets? what was that ceramic hand used for and who would give up that cute little tree, and most importantly how can i get one of those sets of bells hanging in the window..... and that blue and black painting....... and oh my.... the title of that book on the desk!!!! haha