Where possible, I subscribe to the make-do-and-mend philosophy. And in doing so, I’ve been known to ignore care labels – only when all other options have been exhausted. Recently, some of my feather-filled cushions have been smelling a bit musty. Usually, I just throw them into the washing machine and dryer to bring them back to good-as-new condition (see below). But one cushion, I discovered, had a clumpy feather-poly fill, and washing it would have been futile. This particular cushion was a specific circular shape, so I couldn’t just get a new inner.
The solution? New stuffing. I unpicked and emptied the casing, did the same to a feather inner from H&M (IKEA and Pottery Barn also do great ones) and used the feathers to stuff my old cushion. Key learnings: don’t wear black and keep a vacuum cleaner nearby, as the clean-up is next level. But it’s worth it.
“There’s nothing like the smell of a freshly laundered home.”
Elle Lovelock
Laundry spa day?
I’ve written here before about how once a year I like to soak all my white towels in a light bleach solution to maintain brightness, but I’ve recently learnt this process has a trending name: Laundry Spa Day. And I have to say, I quite like it. It’s something I do with my non-towel laundry, too. Shirts, tops and bathrobes, for example, I like to treat collars and cuffs with a stain-removal spray before giving them a deep-clean wash. This method isn’t for everyone, but I find doing it by category helps me audit, too. Do I have too many of one style? Are some garments past their prime? Other categories I try to treat to a Laundry Spa Day are bedding (pillows, mattress protectors and quilts), tea towels (oil and tomato stains be gone!), and fabric furniture slipcovers. There’s nothing like the smell of a freshly laundered home.
Chintz charming
I love bringing nature into the house. And not always in the literal sense of a bunch of flowers or a pot plant. Sometimes it can be through materials or motifs. For example, in recent years, I’ve fallen in love with chintz. In some circles it has a bad rap for being dated, but interior designers all over the world use it with aplomb across every room, from the bedroom to the kitchen. To make chintz modern, consider what you pair it with. Strong, contrasting colours, geometric prints (hello, stripes!) and rough textures like slubby linen or stoneware, which play against the softness. As for wicker, well – it’s always been best friends with chintz and that’s not about to change, so just go with it. It works.
Spring styling
As the weather gets warmer, I – and every other content creator – like to embrace a little whimsy in my fashion. A hint of broderie anglaise, puff-sleeve details, dainty jewellery and the occasional bow. When used sparingly, I think they look lovely teamed with classics such as blue jeans and wicker baskets. I also have an addiction to ballet flats – usually suede or woven leather. They look polished enough for work, but are easy on the weekend, too.
On the make-up front, I’ve never suited bronzer, so in spring I go for peachy blushes and lips instead. My favourites are the Merit Flush Balm cheek colour in Lusitano and Tom Ford’s Soleil Summer Lip Balm in Uninhibited, which is classified as a red but reads more coral on me.
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