- Jonah garden lounge set Made
This, as far as I am concerned, is the best garden set out there. I own it in grey (wish it was this natural colour) and it has a) been outside for nearly five years and is still in mint condition and b) revolutionised our use of the garden as it’s so comfortable it has turned the patio into an outdoor living room that we use almost as much as the indoor one in summer. Garden furniture is often square, boxy and ugly and that’s before we get to uncomfortable. The key to this is that it’s an outdoor version of an existing indoor model so you know it’s going to work. And now you can buy it as a complete set which makes it a very good deal.
- Layered candles Graham & Green
It’s no longer acceptable to stick a plain white candle in a stick and hope for the best. Serious interiors people look for different colour and shapes and while I’m not one for hopping on a bandwagon these pretty sculptural candles will look great on a shelf. So pretty, in fact, you might not even want to burn them. They would make a great gift too.
- Zara x Vincent Van Duysen side table 03 Zara
Zara has teamed up with the Belgian designer Vincent van Duysen for a collection of timeless investment pieces that perfectly unites their pared back minimal style. The pieces aren’t cheap but, as they are classic in style, they will last for ever and should prove worth the investment. On that basis I would choose one of the wooden items or an accessory so they won’t wear out although, of course, if you love the sofa it can always be reupholstered in time. I love the sidetable although the price can shoot up pretty fast as you add different pieces to it.
- Atticus brass wall sconce Graham & Green
If you adhere to the principle that wall and ceiling lights are the earrings and necklaces of the home (and it’s a good principle) then this is a good investment. There’s a good chance the wall lights will be on at best 50 per cent of the time so they need to look good the other 50 per cent. These are decorative and will catch the light in a dark room and glow like jewellery on a darkly painted wall, whichever room they are in.
- Elin dinner plate Anthropologie
There is a fashion for hanging plates on the wall – for some this never went away – and this pretty mismatched set will work perfectly for that. But it’s also a lovely useable set. For me it’s the moss colourway for food and the orange for the wall. I’m not sure I will ever be on board with square plates but the joy of this is that you can mix and match. The taupe dessert plates are also lovely. When you choose coloured plates you do need to take a moment to visualise them with food on them. If you eat a lot of tomato-based pasta then the orange might not be right for example.
- Jimi Solid Rubberwood Bar Bench La Redoute
This definitely has echoes of Ercol and it’s a great spacesaver as well as a versatile piece that can be used in kitchens, halls and even bedrooms so it’s worth the investment. Rubberwood is regarded as eco-friendly as it harvested when it no longer produces latex meaning it would otherwise be burned so it’s given a useful life. It’s also more affordable as it’s regarded as a by-product.
- Hisia tulip metal table base La Redoute
Now this is a good idea. Pedestal tables are good for small spaces or with banquettes as you don’t have all the legs getting in the way and making everything appear more cluttered. But you might not like the top available and, I have observed, many of them are round and you might want an oval to save more space in a narrow kitchen. So buy this metal base – it comes in black and white – and choose your own top. You might want to visit the local stoneyard for a piece of marble or have something made in quartz. Either way it brings a more bespoke look to your kitchen or dining room.
- Granny Fluted Ceramic Ceiling Light La Redoute
Time was labelling something as “Granny” chic would NOT have been an enticement to buy but it’s now one of those “core” trends beloved by TikTok. Don’t let that put you off either however, this is a great alternative to the ubiquitous downlights that grid their way across so many kitchen ceilings across the land. I first looked for these about five years ago and couldn’t find them although they are common in the US. Put them on ceilings but also on walls – choose a pearlised or edison style bulb to soften the glare.
- Private ruffled linen curtain La Redoute
Window dressings are very expensive and it can be a paralysing purchase if you think you might want to change your décor at any point. You can, of course, choose neutrals but it’s a lot of money to spend on something that might not make your heart sing when you come into the room and your décor really does need to do that. The answer, then, is ready made curtains. You can’t go wrong with linen and these ones from La Redoute come in four different lengths from 180cm to 350cm and 10 colours. If you want more luxurious width then buy two pairs for each side and sew them together. If you want to personalise them you can always visit the haberdashery and add some pompoms or braid to the edges – easy to change with the décor.
- Liz rattan task lamp Anthropologie
I have been wary of jumping too wholeheartedly into the rattan trend for it will surely pass, but if you stick to small objects where it is used in a slightly unexpected way it has more longevity as it’s more considered. So, this pretty lamp will soften a work environment and is perfect for those WFH spots which have to share functions such as bedroom offices and sitting room desks.
- Finn table light Soho Home
A classic table lamp shape with a bit of interest in the design to keep it interesting. Buy this in the plain white (it does come in green too) and swap the lampshades as your décor changes. This will calm a colourful space and bring texture to one with a minimal palette. The narrow base also means it doesn’t take up too much room so it will work by a bed and also on a desk where, if you have a pale shade, the light will diffuse all round rather than being a single concentrated beam.
- Rina concrete coffee table Soho Home
Just a gorgeous piece that will work beautifully inside as well as out. Garden furniture can suffer from all looking the same and it’s refreshing to find a piece that can move in and out as you do. The glossy exterior is particularly pleasing and means it will be a brilliant addition to a dark interior as it will catch the light and reflect it back. There’s also a smaller, taller side table too. And if you prefer a pale olive green there is that option.
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