GOURD HARVEST!

AND A KITCHEN GARDEN UPDATE....

Good morning, and happy Friday....

Instead of Friday flowers.....I bring you Gourds!

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

Decorative Gourds, are part of the 'Curcurbitaceae' family, along with Pumpkins, Squashes, Cucumbers and Melons.  Although inedible, I love to grow them for 'Autumn' decoration.....to bring baskets of them in to the house, or use to decorate an Autumn table setting.

Each so different....some smooth and pale, and others knobbled, bright and striped.  Growing and harvesting this characterful crop brings back childhood memories of my mother growing them at home when I was young....taking the time to varnish each one individually, to preserve them for decoration over the winter months. 

This year's wonderful warm summer, along with plenty of rich compost, has helped to create a bumper harvest in the kitchen garden....

DECORATE 'GOURDS'

The Japanese 'Uchiki Kuri' squashes, grown for the first time this year, have grown abundantly too....I can't wait to try these, having read so much about their superior taste and texture.....apparently 'Raymond Blanc's favourite squash, used in the kitchens at 'Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons'....so there's a top culinary tip!

SQUASH 'UCHIKI KURI'

 The surprise warm weather, accompanied by night time rain this week, has given the garden an added boost.....and just when I thought all the beans and courgettes were coming to an end, they have decided to romp ahead again....providing not just us, but friends and family with plenty....and our children have been sent back to their flats in London with regular vegetable parcels....I always have a tendency to grow too much!

Yellow courgettes....

Butternut squash....

Chillies and Aubergines in the greenhouse....

And an abundance of Heritage Tomatoes.....

all loving this Autumn sunshine.

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

*****

So from here in my kitchen garden, I wish you all a very happy and hopefully sunny weekend!

Sophia xx

A CHANGE FOR AUTUMN....

With the change of the season, don't you think it's nice to change things around a bit at home?  I love to welcome in Autumn, along with the shorter days and cooler temperatures, with the first lighting of the open fire, the addition of extra candles, cosy throws on the sofas.....and some different seasonal flowers and plants 

in the house.....

Gone are the 'fresh' feeling white Geraniums from the dining-room, which have been replaced by these gorgeous 'warm' winter Heathers......

With their beautiful soft hues of pink and white.....welcoming in September.

Still in full bloom, the Geraniums have been moved to the entrance porch to overwinter....

Along with white 'Cyclamen'....another favourite at this time of year.....

Seasonal 'Gladioli' on my kitchen island unit.....

....and another beautiful white Cyclamen in the sitting-room end of the kitchen.....

Which plants and flowers do you like to surround yourself with at this time of the year?  

I would love to hear!

Wishing you a very happy start to the week....

Sophia xx

SCANDINAVIAN STYLE....

A COUPLE OF ADDRESSES FOR YOU!

Good morning everyone and happy Friday....my favourite day of the week!

Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has so kindly left lovely comments or emails recently, especially on my first year blog anniversary.  I am so touched and delighted, that so many of you who are regular readers, are enjoying reading about the things that I love to share with you! I try to keep the blog varied, but if there is anything that you particularly enjoy reading about, I would love to hear from you!

Today I would like to tell you about a couple of favourite 'Scandinavian' interiors shops in Chelsea, London....both of which I popped in to yesterday, when I was up in town.

The first is 'Nordic Style', who have a stunning showroom in Lots Road, Chelsea.  Started originally in 1993 by Moussie Sayers, who was influential at the time for introducing Gustavian style to England.   The relatively unused concept back then of painted furniture was well received...... with its subtle pale palette, perfectly suiting small London spaces, and the classic and timeless elegance of the furniture responding to a clear gap in the British market.  Now under new ownership, Nordic Style continues to produce beautiful, top quality reproduction Gustavian style furniture.

Having a Swedish mother myself, I have grown up loving and appreciating this beautiful fresh, uplifting and elegant style, which does so much to enhance our interiors and counteract the dismal grey light we Brits have to endure so often.

Mixing beautifully of course with French, Belgian and also New England style.....

it is a style that works so well in many homes, and is a style I love to mix in here in my own home and often with client projects.

The stunning showroom is beautifully laid out as 'room sets'.....showcasing their gorgeous range of furniture for every room in the house....

Offering also their own range of beautiful Swedish fabrics......

.....and of course, the necessary gorgeous lighting and accessories to create the calm and harmonious interiors, that this style exudes.

With future plans to open further stores throughout the UK, this beautiful shop is definitely one to look out for.....and I am pleased to tell you, that they also have an online shop, which is lovely to browse.........www.nordicstyle.com

Another beautiful shop nearby, further down the King's Road, Chelsea.......is

 'Katarina Halvarsson'

The small showroom on two levels, showcases the exquisite Swedish furniture that they produce in their London workshops......

.....again with a wonderful selection of beautiful accessories to compliment this elegant timeless style.  I particularly loved these simple white plates, with their irregular 'hand made' feel.....

The beautiful glass 'bon bon' jars...

...and the elegant etched glassware, so typical of classic Scandinavian style.

So, if you find yourself in Chelsea, and love  beautiful Scandinavian style, then I would so recommend a visit to both these gorgeous shops!

'Nordic Style'

109 Lots Road,

Chelsea,

London, SW10 ORN

'Katarina Halvarsson'

384 Kings Road,

Chelsea,

London, SW3 5UZ

*****

If you would like help or advice to create your dream interior, then I would be delighted to hear from you!  For all enquiries, you can contact me via my website www.sophiawadsworthinteriors.co.uk

*****

Wishing you all a very happy weekend!

Sophia xx