Hot Heavy Summer - An Edit of June Highlights
A little bit of what I’m eating, screenshotting, reading, shopping and planning - written in front of a fan
As usual, I reached the email limit fairly quickly, so this is best read either on a webpage (oooh vintage) or via the app.
My goodness it’s been toasty. Last Tuesday saw London get to a sticky 35 degrees. And boy it was intolerable. I slept for approx. 108 minutes and have been grumpy ever since.
I’m aware how typically British it is to complain about the weather. Too hot, too cold. It did rain briefly, but heavily, on Wednesday which I was personally delighted about. The poor trees!
Another necessary discussion point in the UK is the calendar year. When I was younger my parents used to make comment on how quickly the year was going. As a child, the passing of time felt eternal. But here I am. Making the same “where has the year gone”s and “can you believe we’re half way through”s.
So here we are, in July. June was a special, if not hectic, month. June saw my birthday (34-eeeep), two breaks with family (to Cyprus and to Yorkshire), a busy work diary and my partner and I are in the midst of (hopefully) buying a house.
But I also feel particularly inspired at the moment. Sometimes when life is moving so fast, I get overwhelmed and forget to stop and remind myself of the little things. So, I have deliberately collated a list of the things I appreciated this month.
Eating at;
The Gomshall Mill, Surrey - So I didn’t find Jude Law (IYKYK), but I did have a delightful lunch in the garden with two of my closest friends. Life is busy (especially for Y and T who are juggling motherhood and balancing careers) so moments of calm to chat and laugh (and eat) are always welcome. And the dog on our neighbouring table certainly made the most of the stream trickling underneath the pub itself.
One Club Row, Shoreditch - One Club Row has been on my radar for a few months and did not disappoint. I follow owner James Dye (also of Camberwell Arms) on LinkedIn and Instagram as I have complete culinary trust in everything he touches. My friend and I perched up at the bar (always my favourite seat in the house), ordered a chilli margarita and shared a few small plates as well as the schnitzel. A special shout out for the lobster and ham croquettes.
Being an Interior Designer, my F&B preferences are similar to previous comments I’ve shared (here) on hotels. There is so much more than aesthetic to the success of a space. It’s about experience; what you see scratches the surface, but what do you listen to, what do you smell and touch, what is the artwork, the lighting, the service, ultimately the ambience. And One Club Row nails it.
The Pigs Ear, Chelsea - Possibly the best pub roast I’ve ever eaten. For context, we ate here on my birthday, which was special. My partner had planned the day which included breakfast, a stroll around Battersea Park, a glass of prosecco at The Cross Keys and then dinner at The Pigs Ear. Produce is sourced through Local & Wild, an initiative set up by the Gladwin Brothers who now run a handful of London pubs with Richard as the restaurateur, Oliver, the chef and Gregory, the farmer. The restaurant itself was refurbished and rebranded last year and so cleverly balances a whimsical playfulness with seriously good food and service.
Watching;
Stanley Tucci – Searching for Italy, BBC IPlayer
OK this is a few years old yes. But we don’t actually watch all that much TV, so it takes us a while to get round to things. And Stanley Tucci’s culinary tour of his parent’s home country is one of the best things I’ve seen on television in a long time.
He has such a genuine and charming approach and narrates the series with intuition, knowledge and humour (and ooozes style obviously). Whilst there is a diverse approach to cuisine across the country, the themes of culture and heritage are rooted everywhere he travels. From city to farmhouse, he explores both the Michelin-starred and the homemade.
The editing also deserves recognition which is graphically interesting and considered soundtracks perfectly enhance the content.
It’s not necessarily ground-breaking and potentially a little repetitive at times, but there is something very comforting and endearing about the series. A bit like diving into a big bowl of pasta. And that’s personally what I want to wind down to after a day in the studio.
Screenshotting;
Richard E. Grant walking through a rainy London with a brolly over a dog made me want to purchase a Burberry trench more than anything else ever could. As always, the campaign feels authentic, celebrates the brands culture and promotes a strong emphasis on craft. Bravo Burberry!
If there is one actor who can compete with my love of Richard E. Grant, it’s Bill Nighy. And this Ffern campaign is fresh, fun and unexpected. It also makes me want to book a trip to Cornwall imminently, smelling of marigold no less
“There’s no recipe for the perfect summer, but don’t let that hold you back”
Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Workspace
This is how you design an office. There is still a lot of misconception that workspaces today are drab and stacked back to back with white Formica desks. And yes that does exist. But I love that spaces like this are making the headlines. It’s warm, inviting and sparks creativity whilst retaining a domestic comfort. I may write a little more about this one in the future but for now adding to several mood boards!
Nike x ASOS Campaign
To celebrate the launch of Wimbledon and the new Nike for ASOS collection, the brands enlisted the creative eye of Good Culture and Nobody’s Cafe, who together constructed a pop up afternoon tea event in London’s Barbican. The collaboration presented an unpredictable space with juxtaposing context but an instantly recognisable brand identity.
Reading;
Perfection, Vincenzo Latronico - I have started reading perfection on my commute (mainly as it’s only 112 pages and easy to fit in my backpack) but the tongue-in-cheek observations of todays late 20-something generation is both easy to read but also a little melancholy
There Are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak - I have told everyone who will listen to add this to their reading lists. As I’ve come to expect with Shafak, her style is beautiful and takes perspective and narrative from from a point of nature - in this case a single drop of rain connecting three stories across centuries and continents
I currently have White Teeth, Intermezzo, Shy Creatures and The Ministry of Time on my bed side table to follow… But please do share anything you’ve loved recently too!
Planning;
Holidays - We’re hoping to visit one or two Greeks islands towards the end of summer and I’ve been saving plenty of restaurants and hotels in anticipation as I see them pop up on the holidays of my trusted Instagram following list!
But in the meantime, we are planning a birthday trip to Devon in a few weeks and have booked a hotel just outside of Salcombe, which I’m so looking forward to.
Hotel Il Pellicano, Tuscan Coast If no budget limitations existed, I have an ever growing wish list of hotels I would also be booking. I wrote previously about some of these (here), but here a few others I’ve since had my eye on ;
Minos Beach Art Hotel, Crete
Hotel San Francesc, Palma
Chalet Mirabell, Italy
Amangiri, Colorado
Les Roches Rouges, Saint-Raphaël, Cote D’Azur
Singita Serengeti House, Tanzania
Villa CPH, Copenhagen
Hotel il Pellicano, Italy
Cape Fahn, Koh Samui
Faro Capo Spartivento, Sardinia
One and Only Palmilla, Mexico
Imagery Sourced from Pinterest Our Garden! - The prospect of a garden - in our hopefully new house - is getting me through what is otherwise quite a stressful process! H bought me a few books on small gardens for my birthday which I’ve been browsing through, highlighting aspirations and ideas. It’s small, but generous enough to make space for a dining area, lots of wild plants and hopefully a raised vegetable bed! I’ll share more on the house and our plans in the coming few months (likely once something has actually been signed!) Watch this space…
Listening to;
Travel Secrets Podcast - For a little commute escapism. Host Tanya Rose invites guests to delve into their favourite travel stories, sharing hotel details, the best food they’ve experienced and top travel tips. Ofcourse, Richard E. Grant’s episode is a favourite and also note Jolie’s Franky Rousell who shares the same passions for good design as I do!
Dish Podcast - I don’t actually think Nick Grimshaw can touch anything that I don’t love. I just adore the relationship between him and cohost, Michelin star chef Angela Hartnett. The podcast is essentially an interview over dinner but it always feels seamless and effortless and Angela so cleverly balances meals that sound incredible but potentially achievable to replicate at home.
Summer Playlist - a few favourites which have been repeated on Spotify over the last few weeks have included God Gave Me Feet for Dancing by Ezra Collective, Solange’s Losing You, Everybody Loves the Sunshine by Roy Ayres Ubiquity, Feels Like a Sunday by Elderbrook and, somewhat predictably, Childish Gambino’s Feels Like Summer. Some other favourites this year saved in the playlist below;
Cooking;
Whilst we haven’t actually been at home to cook all that often over the last few weeks, I have very much enjoyed what we have been rustling up. Including;
Tuna Gnocchi- I got in a debate at work about whether tuna should ever be eaten hot. I say yes. If you agree add this one to your meal plans.
Tuscan Salmon - anyone who knows me well enough to care what I eat for dinner knows an Emily English recipe features in my diet at least weekly and I adore this Tuscan salmon which is both super speedy and super tasty.
Courgette, Sicilian Sausage and Chilli Gigli - I love a simple pasta recipe using seasonal ingredients. So asparagus is out and courgettes are in and paired with chilli and Sicilian sausage in this Monday Pasta Club recipe.
Shopping;
Fashion - as I so desperately need to clear out my wardrobe, I have tired to avoid buying anything over the last few months. But there are some bits I find myself saving on Pinterest again and again so I’m hoping to treat myself to a few pieces this month. including these mesh shoes, this necklace and another linen blouse
Interiors - I’m a big fan of seasonal home wear. Whilst tricky in a limited storage one bed flat, I like to swap out crockery, linen and decorative pieces to reflect the time of year. My online shopping baskets have seen these lobster embroidered napkins, this fishy plate and this posyer rug
Appreciating;
Family - particularly spending five days with my adorable niece. My family live in Glasgow so time spent with us all together is rare and never unappreciated and seeing my brother and sister-in-law (who has been in our family for somewhere around 10 years now) become parents has given me a whole new adoration for them!
Time – it’s never lost on me how easy it is to forget birthdays. So I always feel warm and fuzzy when someone takes the times to send a birthday text or card, especially from those who between us only seem to communicate on birthdays – life is busy – so thank you!
Forwarding;
And ending on a few things I’ve either forwarded on or been sent by friends in the form of job adverts! Even if none of us are particularly looking for new work, my close friends Whatsapp groups often share posts and adverts we see online. I think it’s always good to know the market.. so I thought I’d share just in case anyone reading along is interested…
RAW Interiors – Mid/Senior Interior Designer. Contact info@rawinteriors.co.uk
Studio Ashby - Design & Studio Intern, Contact careers@studioashby.com
Pinch London – Graphic Designer, Contact jobs@pinchdesign.com
A bit of a random round up no doubt.
But as I say, I was feeling inspired and my iphone notes are full to the brim of things, so I thought collating and sharing may be of interest
Sx
Elsewhere;
Instagram - @shonaghgardiner
Pinterest - @shonaghgardiner
*Where not captioned as my own photography, all photography credits belongs to brands discussed