The Nursery

Ta Daaaaaah… My ‘other’ labour of love; Rex’s nursery. This room was, as expected, so much fun to put together, especially as we (and by ‘we,’ I mean, ‘my boyfriend’) wanted to do a lot of the work ourselves. From building wardrobes at weekends, to fitting coving and moving spotlights, my scientist by day, and builder by night, really outdid himself. I meanwhile, being about to pop, took on the less physical task of scouring the internet for the most environmentally-friendly baby shops I could find, trawling John Lewis (a parent-to-be right of passage) and spending some glorious hours on the sofa searching for those little magical touches from small brands that really make a space unique.

When it came to the paint, we went straight back to Farrow and Ball and enjoyed another of their brilliant at-home colour consultations (although, this time via a Covid-safe Zoom), to make sure the different colours in the nursery blended well together, but also complimented the other connecting rooms. The in-depth guidance and peace of mind surrounding the colour palette and quantities provided by the consultant Emily Harrold was such a weight off our shoulders, and her expertise really helped bring my little African vision to life. You can read about my previous colour consultation here.

Walls, Ceiling, Radiator and Skirting Boards: Pale Powder

Coving and Double Doors: Webet

Cupboards: Lichen

Sunshine: Hay

The addition of the sunshine was something I knew I had wanted, having been initially inspired by a picture of Molly Madfis’ nursery my sister saw on Pinterest, and thankfully DIY aficionado, my friend Katherine Ormerod, stepped in (or more waddled in, both being prettttty pregnant at the time), masking tape in hand, and helped me. It really does makes the room, and I’m so grateful for her help - It would not have looked remotely this impressive had I been left to my own devices, that’s for sure!!

I always knew I wanted Rex’s room to be safari themed (you can take the girl outta Africa…) but obligatory giant giraffes aside, I also wanted to include some mountainous nods to his rock climbing Daddy!

Laundry Basket made in Kenya: The Basket Room, Lion Seagrass Toy Baskets: Belly Bambino, Luggy Basket and Stacking Bowls: Oskoe Living, ‘A Pod of Hippopotamuses’ Illustration: Fee Greeing for Polkra, Wooden Train, Play Tent, Bunting and Wooden Vans: Scandiborn, Vintage Penguin Books and Mountain Caps: Ebay, Bespoke Knitted Wire Word: Seventy Seven 84, Custom Hoop: Leo and Wilf.

I bought the main piece of furniture, the wooden dresser, from Mamas & Papas. It was the largest I could find and it really owns the space. I love that once Rex is older, we can just remove the baby changer top, and he can enjoy the dresser for years to come.

You may recognise a few things from my old flat. After moving into my boyfriend’s house, we decided that my much-loved Gray Malin leopard balloon photograph, for instance, fitted this room and the theme perfectly. The other art we chose to feature I either found on Etsy or on Instagram, having had some lovely artists and illustrators contact me; Tatiana Alida, Frances Costelloe, Rose du B Illustrations, and Jo Laing.

Lion Rug: Oyoy Living, Sea Shell Music Mobile: Cam Cam Copenhagen, Sunshine Cushion and Mountain Cushion: Scandiborn, Lion Cushion: Jungalow, Cot Bunting: Arnold and the Caterpillar.

Having found the perfect cot, I was determined to find the comfiest and safest bedding to accompany it. After a lot of research, I was set on Rex having the sweetest dreams on an organic, non-toxic and chemical-free Naturalmat mattress. Handmade in Devon, the sustainably sourced, natural fibres used are inherently breathable and self-ventilating which helps babies regulate their body temperature for a comfortable night's sleep. I then chose organic linen/cotton sheets in a honey colour pop from The Little Green Sheep.

Custom Wooden Baby Name Letter Blocks: Etsy, Lace-up Baby Boots: Each Peach Baby.

Photography: Claire Menary

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Earth Day 2020

In the 1980’s there were an estimated 1.2 million elephants in Africa, and the latest survey shows there are now around 400,000... A shocking demise which has occurred in my own lifetime, and the result of savage poaching and human/wildlife conflict. On this most poignant of Earth Days, I am sat here wondering; How many more years will I be visiting these innocent, orphaned victims?⁣ ⁣

Despite some recent gains in elephant conservation, the worry now is, that with the sudden, unexpected standstill in African tourism (an industry that provides millions of jobs, and sees large percentages of their costs go back into local communities and wildlife protection) a spike in poaching is likely expected with vital incomes being lost, and safeguarding wildlife becoming harder and more dangerous; Threatened and endangered animals may become the additional casualties of the pandemic.⁣ ⁣

Conservation groups are now calling on finance ministers to make the protection of nature a cornerstone of their Covid 19 economic recovery plans; Our most precious wildlife cannot rely on tourism and donations alone anymore - We need governmental commitment to both planet and wildlife preservation!! ⁣

Also - Please don’t cancel your safari, just postpone it... It is money you will never invest better - and it goes a long way to preserving, protecting and supporting some of our world’s most special ecosystems, wildlife, and people.

Head over to my friend’s pages at Ol Malo, House in the Wild and The Safari Collection for some travel inspo, to Space for Giants to join their #AHealthyEarth campaign, and to my sister, Claire Eastwood, an African travel expert, to get planning your future African adventures!

⁣ Then and Now: Both pictures were taken at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (major shout out to the full 80’s commitment of scrunchie AND terry toweling shorts... Strong!)

Hello There: With Nothing Underneath

I love to highlight small, sustainable British brands that I truly love - and wear; After living in my throw-on linen With Nothing Underneath boyfriend-style shirt allllll last summer (which so many of you consistently enquired about), I’m finding their recently launched brushed-cotton design just as useful, and sooo cosy... Basically, they are my everyday wardrobe staples, whether I’m spending the day in town, on the beach, or in bed (don’t judge, it’s cold out there...)

Not only does this brand source all its organic material from the Better Cotton Initiative and use plastic-free packaging, but despite being a small company, after seeing a surge in orders after the Duchess of Sussex wore one of their cotton designs to visit the Luminary Bakery, my friend Pip Durell (WNU’s founder), made a generous donation to this London-based social enterprise that supports disadvantaged women, as a way to pay it forward.... Jolly good shirts by a jolly good egg

Photographer: Rosalind Alcazar

NHS Heroes (*and a happier day by the sea...)

I’m really relieved the members of the House of Commons Commission have decided that the proposed £500,000 needed to get Big Ben to chime in Brexit on January 31st, is money that would (obviously) be better spent elsewhere... Namely, the NHS - something we need to protect and prioritise with all our might, because you never know how much you rely upon it, until suddenly, you’re really bloody relying upon it.

8 days ago, I arrived at the hospital my mother had been brought to... We are still sitting tight in ICU, and taking each day, with their varying complications and long words, as they come, but I was totally blown away by the rapid response of the emergency services - the paramedics even came to check on me at the end of their shift, despite, I imagine, having had pretty exhausting days themselves. Similarly, the nursing staff, despite being run-ragged on their long shifts in a desperately underfunded arena, have been consistently compassionate, skilled and reassuring. These everyday heroes, deserving of our raised voices of support, see hundreds of people every week, but their faces are the ones that stay with us forever.

#NHSHeroes

A happier day by the sea…

Photography: Ollie Ali

Ro Copenhagen: RO Women

Despite being a self professed maximalist (let’s face it, this chic pad ain’t my home, is it?!) when it comes to jewellery, I’m about as Scandi as they come; I prefer clean lines, simple designs and delicate finishes... Discreet pieces I can can stack together for additional impact when, or if, necessary.

The everyday pieces I wear and love the most almost always hold great significance (like Harry Potter’esq portkeys to beautiful moments and memories I treasure) and I loved discovering that Ro Copenhagen, a Danish brand that is both gentle and strong, was all these things, and sparklingly more!

I loved being part of this ‘Ro Women’ campaign, alongside a few (both gentle and strong) women I truly adore, and being photographed by my friend Candice Lake (who impressively managed to keep a *mostly straight face whilst I shimmied across the bench singing the Frozen repertoire in my (K)elsa dress...

Hello There: Farleigh io

Given our acute awareness of how the linear fashion model of buying, wearing and quickly discarding clothes so negatively impacts both people and planet, there is an increased demand from customers for greater transparency in the fashion supply chain. I for one, am really making a more conscious effort to buy from, and champion ethical and sustainable British designers, and one such brand that has recently come on to my radar, happily just in time for the summer, is Farleigh io, and their stunning ready-to-wear collection of hand-drawn printed mini’s and maxi dresses.

Created for free-spirited women of all ages and sizes, each of Farleigh io’s ethically made, romantic designs look just as great with heels or wedges at a wedding, as they do with a pair of Veja trainers at a festival.

Brilliantly, Farleigh io doesn’t believe in large seasonal drops, instead choosing to slowly add one new design to her beautiful collection each month, with the aim of you treasuring that considered purchase for a long time. The dresses are not only brought to life by local London seamstresses and pattern printers, but also, for every design sold, a tree is planted in Zambia to help offset any carbon emissions made during its creation… Aaaaall the wonderful sunshine feels!

Wear With…

Wearing: Farleigh io’s Hazel Dress

Featuring: Puffin the Pup

OOTD: 08.05.19

We had such high hopes after that scorcher of a Bank Holiday last month, but annoyingly, ever since, my newly packed away winter clothes are one by one returning at pace, and I’ve intermittently had the heating back on! HOWEVER, these gloomy mornings and random downpours shall not rain on my parade or ruin my lewwwk – mainly thanks to this ALEXACHUNG vinyl hooded trench coat.

Waterproofing and insulation aside, I love the pale blue colour of this trench, which can be worn over separates or even styled as a dress (like it was on the runway), and it has a real retro feel to it, which I love.

I paired the trench with a Maje snake print mini skirt (I know, I’m usually a leopard lass through and through, but this chic skirt unsurprisingly slithered its way happily into my wardrobe), a sky-blue Jacquemus ribbed-knit top and some white ankle boots, the perfect transitional accompaniment for any season. This particular pair of much loved and worn boots are pretty old, but there are still some great options available, and I will pop some of my favourite alternatives below. I also recently discovered Sarah and Sebastian, ethical jewellers from Sydney, and I love their gorgeously delicate gold vermeil, petal-shaped Rosa pendants.

SHOP TLC’S LOOK…

And now, EVERYBODY…

Photography: Frances Davison

Hair: Taylor Taylor London

Dressed by Net a Porter

Earth Day 2019

We are amidst the largest period of species extinction in the last 60 million years. Shocking, in the last 50 years alone, the populations of all mammals, birds, reptiles and fish have fallen by an average of 60%…

With today being Earth Day, I thought I might talk a little more about some of my long legged friends back in Kenya. What many people don’t know, is that the wild animals living around the Safari Collection’s famous Giraffe Manor hotel are part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife’s vital breeding programme for the Rothschild Giraffe, one of the three sub-species of giraffe found in Kenya. All nine sub-species of giraffe across Africa are fighting a ‘silent extinction,’ being overshadowed in the press by other endangered animals. There are approx 500,000 wild elephant left in Africa for instance, whilst there are only 90,000 giraffe!!!! I was so shocked and saddened to hear this statistic. Similar to elephant, giraffe populations have suffered dramatically from illegal hunting, habitat loss and human/wildlife conflict, and the Rothschild, in particular, have really struggled.

However, due in big part to the amazing work of the AFEW, the Rothschild population in Kenya has increased from 80 to 800 individuals in the last 30 years, with 50 of those giraffe being the babies of breeding pairs reintroduced back into the wild from the Manor’s neighbouring Giraffe Centre. My heart hurts at the thought of a world without these beautiful long lashed and even longer legged giants, and the moments spent with them are never lost on me

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make...” Dr. Jane Goodall.

In my opinion, every damn day should be Earth Day... 🌍 #ExtinctionIsForever

TLC Staycation: Soho Farmhouse with The Outnet

I have just returned from a glamorous night away from London with The Outnet at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. I’ve wanted to stay there for ages - and WHAT an evening to have gone and seen it in all its sunset glory! WowWowWeeWow! After some afternoon yoga, and a spoiling Cowshed pedicure, we donned out finest frocks from The Outnet (I wore the Kelly green Moya Twill midi dress from Emilia Wickstead) and headed for a decadent dinner in one of the Farmhouse barns…

One of the best parts of my job, is the time I get to spend with such brilliantly unique and interesting women, many of whom have become wonderful and supportive friends who I can laugh till I cry with (or at times, vice versa!) This wonderfully fun, and Picante de la Casa fuelled, evening with these major bombshells (all also dressed head to toe by The Outnet, naturally!) was such a great start to my 2019.

I always loved me a blue eyed boy (and a scrunchie!) As well as making this necessary hair accessory purchase at Alex Eagle’s beautifully curated concept shop, The Store, I also spied these gorgeous china trinket pots by London-based artist Fee Greening… BUT WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET?!

Shop TLC’s Look…

#OOTD: 28.11.18

I fell for East London based brand Mother of Pearl hard over Fashion Week this season, not only because of their renown sustainable credentials, but also because this pyjama/jogger trouser/pearl lined shirt combo struck the perfect balance between casual and luxury – my sartorial happy place!

“I have a vision to make products that travel the minimum amount of miles, using the minimum amount of chemicals possible, and are socially responsible and organic,” says Amy Powney, Mother of Pearl’s creative director. Using only cotton and wool from ethical production methods (including minimised water consumption and zero toxins) Mother of Pearl’s feminine ruffles, use of faux pearl detailing and cooler than cool masculine silhouettes are well worth having on your radar (and in your wardrobe.)

Shop TLC’s Look…

Photography: Frances Davison

Hair: Taylor Taylor London

Nails: Sophie Gass