Wire Baskets

I am a packing machine. Miscellaneous crap has been ceremoniously dumped on the tip, treasured items have been bubble wrapped and documented and we have endured weirdos from Gumtree turning up to collect the furniture that we gave away. We have been a little bit too organised and have ended up getting rid of most of our storage a little too early. This means every available surface is littered with items that were previously relegated to recesses of drawers. It’s a complete nightmare. I am dreading the day our bed goes! So it’s no surprise that I am all over little storage items that can be packed in our full-to-bursting container. Australia has very strict regulations on bringing in timber (I will weep when I give away my brand new wicker laundry basket) so I am sticking to canvas containers and my new love affair with wire baskets. Bit of a strange topic for a blog post but there you go!

Do you love wire baskets as much as me or should I seek help? 

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Windows, doors and blinds!

I primarily choose a restaurant because I know/have heard the food is very good. Atmosphere and service comes second but are still very important to me. It’s an added bonus when the restaurant I choose is a little unusual – something out of the norm. It becomes a talking point for everyone eating there and soon the dining area is filled with a buzz (what a clever way to create immediate atmosphere)! It’s a little too far away for me to visit but I came across Bon Restaurant in Bucharest and thought it would tick all the boxes for me. Over 200 reclaimed doors, windows and blinds were used as wall panelling. The seating arrangement is relaxed and the lighting is simple and cozy. Apart from the obvious aesthetic, the food and service is not too shabby either, with Tripadvisor reviewers giving Bon 4.5 stars!

Designed by Corvin Cristian & Vlad Vieru

Images via

Sloane Ranging!

About 5 years ago, I landed a job that was only 3 stops away from my home on the train line. 15 minutes on the train, 40 minutes door-to-door. When you live in London, commuting is king. I used to work with someone who commuted from Portsmouth (2.5 hours away, that’s 5 hours of travel every day). 2 hour commutes are actually quite common. For suburb living, not having to use the tube is nearly unheard of. I knew I had it real gooooood! The difference a shorter and more scenic journey to work made to my life was monumental. I had time in the mornings to do the washing, prep dinner and vacuum. I had time in the evening to relax. Our office was based in a large converted house in Sloane Square and if you have been to London but have never been to Sloane Square then be prepared to get back here immediately and rectify it. The tree lined streets, the regal walk-ups and the spectacular shops will keep you busy all day. Over a year and a half ago, we moved offices - I was gutted, my bank balance was not.

Monday Snoop – Sun, Sea and Sand

It’s all still very summery here in London with scorching temperatures and endless sunshine. I’ve spent every single one of my lunch breaks on a deck chair firmly planted in the sun. I think it’s the most tanned I have been since I arrived in London almost 9 years ago. I’ll take the sunshine and the heat any way I can get them but come 4pm, I have to admit that my energy levels have started to wane. I daydream about sea breezes and icy cold drinks. I found a house (in my native South Africa) that is just about perfect and has the porch area complete with sea views and breezes that I am craving at the moment. The rest of the house is equally beautiful – especially that bedroom!

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Party Pants!

Printed pants = my biggest love affair at the moment. I just can’t seem to get enough of them. As usual, H&M has set the bar very high and I have bought no fewer than 3 pairs from them in the past couple of months (Jordan, if you are reading this, remember that Australia does not have H&M therefore the purchases were very necessary… as were the shoes and the jeans). It seems they are not going anywhere fast and I for one am liking the break from restrictive and unforgiving skinny jeans.

Have you bought your printed pants yet?  If not, why the hell not?

For the love of Pottery Barn…

Whenever I see/hear about Pottery Barn, I always relive this episode of Friends in my head… LOVE IT

I am not sure if it is the heat or just general stress but I had a mid-week mini meltdown yesterday. I was bad tempered, sluggish and very unmotivated. I didn't post anything for that very reason. I just took the day to rant and vent and by the evening, I was back to my normal self again! Tantrum over. Normal service resumes.

In other news, I have been doing a fair bit of research on Australia's retail therapy scene and have discovered some alarming but also some seriously exciting stuff. Alarming: everything is expensive. As in really expensive (but I am told once you start earning $$ it evens out). Alarming: there is no Amazon. This is dire. Most alarming of all: there is NO H&M!!!!! (Although after some investigation, it seems there will be one in Sydney next year, when I will no doubt be deep into withdrawals). Exciting: they have Target! Exciting: the have Ikea! Most exciting of all: they have Pottery Barn and West Elm! And just like that, all is right in my world! I spent ages on Pottery Barn's website on Saturday, just ogling and sighing. I couldn't resist putting together a selection of my favourite outdoor items. 

P.S - Calling all Australians (or those in the know): I'd love to hear more about life in Australia from you. Where to shop, eat and hang out etc. Since this will be my first time in Australia (crazy I know), I am desperate for insider knowledge.

Cafe Lights; Outdoor Sectional; Outdoor Bench; Charcoal Bin; Drink Dispenser; Outdoor Pillows; Wicker Storage Cube; Outdoor Lanterns

Battersea Park Revisited…

We are now heading into our 2nd week of a heatwave and I am basking! Admittedly I did have a little grumble when we had to move our bed downstairs (down a spiral staircase) in order to get any kind of sleep on Saturday, as our bedroom feels only mildly cooler than an oven during the heat, but I’d do it again just to have the weekend of glorious sunshine that we did. On Sunday afternoon I took a little walk up to our Sainsburys which sits just outside Wandsworth Common and I could hardly believe my eyes at the sheer amount of people sandwiched together on the grass enjoying the weather. It got me thinking about how much I will miss these little oasises of green and calm in the middle of the city. Although we discovered Battersea Park only recently, it remains one of my favourite London parks. Here’s why…

All images via Wishful Thinking