When I moved into my home six years ago, I didn’t have a bed, or even a mattress to start off with. I slept on a pile of duvets on the floor for the first five months (surprisingly comfy), until I finally had enough cash to furnish the place. I used that time spent to decide what would look good, where, too. What I did buy straight away however, was a sofa. The Klippan, from Ikea, to be precise. Short and boxy, it was their cheapest one, and probably not the comfiest, but it at least allowed me to lie in front of the televis...View more
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Posted by Pip McCormac
October 24th, 2011
Step inside this elegant Victorian house owned by interior designer Frances Halliday, and her husband Trevor. If houses could talk, this elegant Victorian home in London would surely have a tale to tell. It was once the home of Percy Lane Oliver, founder of the first voluntary blood-donor service. The four-bedroom home had fallen into disrepair and when Frances and Trevor Halliday bought it at auction in 2007 it was more than ready for renovation. ‘You could have filmed a costume drama in here,’ says Frances. ‘It was owned by the sa...View more
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 21st, 2011
I couldn't resist sharing one more gorgeous recipe from Michel Roux Sr this afternoon. Perfect for a chilly Sunday afternoon, fruit crumble is a fail-safe dessert and Monsieur Roux Sr's delicious version has the X factor. You can follow the recipe here... 'You can vary the fruits in this according to the season – plums and blackberries also work well – but I adore the subtle contribution of quince and ginger,' says Michel Roux Sr 'The scent of the finished dish fills ...View more
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 21st, 2011
Looking to refresh your bedroom? These beautiful bed linen ranges have an autumnal zing and are just the ticket. Here's a few of my favourites...
GORGEOUS GRAPHICS (above)
Loving this Linen House Harper duvet cover (at ACHICA from 7am 29 Oct 2011), which is inspired by natural leaf motifs and designed in a stunning 1950's American graphic style. With its printed cotton, linen, broderie anglaise and piping in fresh tones of g...View more
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 21st, 2011
The mid-century look is a hot trend this season, so it’s timely that Danish design company GUBI has just reissued Jacques Adnet’s classic mirror from the 1950s.
I’m sure you’ll agree that this mirror by Jacques Adnet (1900 – 1984), the French architect and Art Deco modernist known for his distinctly avant-garde designs, is a work of art in itself.
Few designers have been able to create a mirror that is seen as such an iconic design. But, the beauty of Adnet’s piece, which wa...View more
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 20th, 2011
'Fondants vary enormously, but these are the best I’ve ever tasted,' says Michel Roux Sr. 'This is my adaptation of a recipe belonging to our skilful English pâtisserie mascot, Claire Clark, a true artist and dear friend. Ramekins can be used in place of metal rings; simply un-mould directly onto the plate.'
Follow the Michel Roux Sr Warm Chocolate Fondants here
Ingredients
200g softened butter, plus 20g to grease the rings
200g good-quality dark, bitter or Manjari ch...View more
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 19th, 2011
'There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea,' wrote Henry James in The Portrait of a Lady. Indeed. I do love the ceremony of afternoon tea (and morning tea and elevenses for that matter), so over my first cuppa this morning I was delighted to see a new range of gorgeous gift sets that have just been launched by Clipper.
The gift sets feature The Tea Party set (pictured above), which includes a cake stand, DIY bunting, invitations, cupcake cases and th...View more
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 19th, 2011
If, like me, you’re already planning your next holiday, then why not pencil in The Luxury Travel Fair, in association with Conde Nast Traveller, which will be held at Olympia, London between Nov 3 to Nov 6 2011. The fair plays host to over 100 hotels, travel companies and destinations around the world and you’ll be sure to find travel ideas that are unique, unusual and unforgettable.
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Posted by Emily Peck, Editor, ACHICA Living
October 17th, 2011
I think I may have mentioned once or twice that I’m a big fan of wallpaper. Anything that’s really striking will tick all the boxes for me, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive info on the latest designs from Fired Earth. Information on most new releases comes via email these days so when a beautifully presented thick envelope arrived in the post I knew I was going to be in for something special. It turns out Fired Earth, who is best known for its stunning tile...View more
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Posted by Emma Morton Turner, Interiors Stylist and Writer
October 17th, 2011
Autumn is a fantastic time of year in the garden, with trees and shrubs firing up to create sizzling leafy displays of orange, red and gold, and a range of sumptuous berries sparkling like jewels in the sun. It’s also the perfect time to plant bulbs, including daffodils, grape hyacinths and crocuses, which will flower next spring. This week I’ve been planting bulbs in baskets, together with some other beautiful plants that will look great now, and throughout the winter and into sp...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
October 14th, 2011
