New Arrivals at JVB

For the New Year we've just received a lovely range of armchairs to add to the JVB Country Collection at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. However, this isn't all that's new - I'm very excited to welcome Isabel Bradshaw to the JVB Design Studio to work alongside me on interiors projects. Isabel has already been a big hit with clients - here she is luxuriating in a brand new Nina armchair, doubtless sourcing something or other...

DCCH Charity Trees

So, blogging is so much harder than I thought - its been a whole month! But last night we decorated a charity designer christmas tree at DCCH, with trees by Joanna Wood, Nina Campbell, Trevor Pickett, Tim Gosling among others for the International Disaster Relief Charity 'Shelter Box', with the Lights being switched on by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, who is their president. Our tree was a celebration of a South African seaside Christmas and was covered in pearls, starfish and seahorses.... When HRH was introduced to us, cuddling Margot - resplendent in her pearls - she looked at the tree and said, "Seaside Christmas- I wish!"

www.shelterbox.org

HOW COLD WAS IT THIS MORNING!? Fire in any form really warms things . The first time I saw a collection of scented candles was my uber stylish cousin Margot Gilfillan, and its something I have taken to. It sets a mood and a tone for any evening, even if you are just chilling at home- especially if you are just chilling at home. From Diptique to the less well known boutique candles to the very popular Manuel Canovas candles at Colefax and Fowler. Where to get great ones- oh, anywhere these days; but my favourites at the moment are Heeley's Verveine Lemon Verbena and The White Company's Cassis- which is particularly wintery.... but the all time best is Amber. Amy Howard in Atlanta has a wonderful signature scent- and does not tell what it is, but it is very special....

Flowers flowers beautiful flowers...

No one smiles more than when being given a beautiful bouquet of flowers for whatever reason. I love flowers of one colour tone in a bunch- like this one we were given by our friends interior designers Andrew Buchanan and Stephen Richardson Pope. I used to sell flowers through Melissa's in Cape Town about 15 years ago when I was studying- wrapped in tracing paper and tied with string; bunches of farm roses and rosemary. Still chic, I think. A great flower idea is to choose three different varieties and display them in three different height containers as a trio without mixing the varieties together. My greatest flower inspirations have always been three people- my grandmother for her beautiful proper flower arrangements; my father for the amazing roses he grows and my old friend Robbie Honey for his absolute genius. www.robbiehoney.com

Friday Fabrics

Today was spent sourcing fabrics for two very special drawing rooms and I went beyond the DCCH (Design Centre Chelsea Harbour). I visited Claremont and De Le Cuona and Chelsea Textiles among others and found some wonderful old favorites and new fabrics...

Where To Find It

Trevor Pickett gave the entire troupe of 7 designers a leatherbound personalised notebook - brand new to his collection and embossable with names and initials etc. See www.pickett.co.uk. We had our character name embossed on the front and the signature on the back. Fabulous Christmas present!

Last Of The Summer Tomatoes

Pick the green ones and they will go red in the bowl in your window. Amazingly simple - with anything that includes olive oil and Maldon sea salt.