“Is it time to say goodbye to that collected summertime ephemera? How’s your winterweight bed linen holding up after being stashed in a cupboard for six months?”
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT’S AUTUMN ALREADY?
I never feel entirely ready to say goodbye to summer, but I do enjoy the opportunity that the change of season offers – autumn’s invitation to turn inwards. The prospect of coats, knits and boots returning to my wardrobe helps ease the transition too…
If you’re looking to switch up your home’s interior, you could always start by purging unnecessary clutter. Is it time to say goodbye to that summertime selection of shells and other collected ephemera? How’s your winter-weight bed linen holding up after being stashed in a cupboard for six months?
I’m trying to let ‘one in, one out’ be my guide when it comes to homeware purchases, so given shopping from these pages is a bit of an occupational hazard, there are more than a few cushions and whatnot around my house that I should part with. Creating a cleaner slate can help you to see the pieces you choose to hold on to with fresh eyes, and work out what new additions you need to prepare your place for the laid-back luxury of cosy nights in.
It can sometimes be tricky to strike a balance between living with less and creating a personality-filled home, but several of the tastemakers whose houses we visit this issue are bound to spark ideas about how to pull it off. We’re crushing on the inky-blue hues our cover homeowner Nikki Willis used to give her family home a sense of calm and elegance – turn to page 66 to find out how she and her husband Matt transformed a tired old villa into a thoroughly modern family abode. If it’s the brand-newness of a from-scratch build you’re dreaming of, take a peek at the house Annika Rowson designed, on page 96. Her love of mid-century architecture led her to skilfully incorporate an enclosed courtyard into the middle of the house, providing her and her family with a private sanctuary. And wait till you see the kitchen!
For simple seasonal updates that you can achieve right now, flip to our Style section on page 17 to find out how to decorate with of-the-moment jewel tones, accessorise with hibernation in mind and make your bedroom the best nest.