I love this time of year

Autumn in an English village is a such happy time for me.

October, November and December are some of the most  exciting months.

I love this time of year it… and always have since childhood – the smell of wood smoke from bonfires, the leaves falling, wrapping up warm for walks – and even better – an excuse to at last have a break from the gardening and to instead be able to contemplate how to make a few changes to enhance the inside my home and make it more inviting.

Now that the evenings are drawing in it is time to get my house ready so that I can fully enjoy the months of the year when I will be spending a lot more of my time indoors.

I carry a small notebook everywhere with me

so that when inspiration strikes I can jot down my ideas!

This year I want to make my home comfortable and welcoming, but not too cluttered – a contemporary country look – using a neutral palette with splashes of bright colour in the form of fabrics, cushions and candles.

I even use bowls of fruit for decoration

– and of course I also use plenty of dried teasles,

pinecones

and seed pods

for interesting touches of seasonal interest.

English cottage style is so comforting;  winter evenings by the fireside, friends and family gatherings and lots of delicious food.. (and drink)!

My interior decoration is all about warmth and practicality – not too fussy and ornate, but of course nothing too bare and bland.

Antique furniture mixed with more contemporary pieces and  compliment each other and matched together with rugs and large, comfortable sofas – plus lots of soft lighting; either from candlelight or table lamps.

If you are looking for a charming design theme for your home, look no further than cottage style. It may be nothing new, but it’s certainly not old fashioned.   It takes inspiration from traditional style, but can still looking fresh and airy in a contemporary home.

Cottage style decorating has managed to persist for hundreds of years-

largely because it suits any environment or budget.

I always love to have flowers indoors during the autumn and winter to cheer the place up, and best of all are the fragrant Hyacinth bulbs which I pot up and have strategically placed around the house.  Also I find that nothing can beat having a tiny posy of fresh flowers on the dressing table – you don’t need too many, just a few Freesias  in a small vase is enough to cheer up my bedroom and guarantee wafts of fragrance while I sit at my dressing table in the mornings.

I’m going to enjoy being indoors and adding a few new items to my home.

The next few weeks will be relaxed and calm ….. until the Christmas buzz begins!