If you don't know by now, you should know that I'm a total sucker for column rads, and I would always recommend considering replacing existing radiators in your home when redecorating to column rads if you can. They fit perfectly into any scheme whether you’re going for modern, traditional, transitional, or any other interior style. You can customise them to be with or without feet, and add a custom colour too. Erghhh just so sexy. With that being said, radiators are heat sources, so you need to make sure that you get the right size radiator to give you the correct amount of heat output for the room it’s going in. You also need to think about energy efficiency! If it’s too big, it will add to your energy bills, if it’s too small, you’ll be cold and have it running on maximum! To make the process a bit easier, I wanted to pull together a step-by-step guide for you because there are a few things you need to do before you order your rads. I've actually been shopping around to find the right radiators for the #asihome, and I've made a decision to go with the Cast Iron Radiator Centre. For what I want, they are able to give me the best price, and I know that they're a really great quality product too. I've also listed a few other places you can find beautiful rads too. Follow these steps when buying your radiators: Step 1: Measurements Measure the room that the radiator(s) is going in. You want to note the width, height, and length. Step 2: Find out your BTU (British Thermal Units) This will determine the BTU output your radiator needs to have. To work it out, you just use a BTU calculator. You can either type ‘BTU calculator’ into Google, or head to Cast Iron Radiator Centre and use their one. I like this one because it asks you a few more questions to get it right, like whether you have double glazing in the room, where the radiator will be placed etc. The more questions, the more chance of getting it right and helping with those energy bills! Step 3: How many do you need? Write down how many rads you need in the room, and note down whether they’re going under a window or if they need to be a particular height. I'd also recommend having a browse on Pinterest for inspiration because you might decide that in some rooms you'd like a short rad, whereas in others the design might lean towards a standard size. My Pinterest has also got loads of inspiration on there. Step 3: Choose your rad My favourite is the four-column traditional radiators, but take a look around and find the right one for you. The more columns you have, the more depth you'll need to allow for. If you've got a particularly skinny hallway, for example, you might want to consider a 2-column rad. Or, if you have a large home and want to build a sense of cosiness, or add a sense of grandeur, then you may want to go for even more columns for example you could go for various heights of a 9-column rad like this one: You'll also need to get an idea of how many sections you want to aim for. You may need to be flexible with the sections though, as you may need to add/decrease these depending on what BTU output it will give you. Also, if your plumbing is already in place and it's not being moved, you'll be restricted to use the existing width. Our plumbing was generally ok and mostly in the right places, but design-wise, I didn't want the new radiators to be as long as the existing 70s radiators. Before altering our plumbing, I checked that we would still maintain the right BTU if the width was reduced - and it wouldn't. So, the plumbing stayed put and I've had to compromise with longer radiators. These are just little things to think about, so that's why it's always best to have your interior designer on board from the beginning if you are using one, and if not, having a strong idea of your design direction is really rather important. What are columns and sections? The columns are what you see from the side profile, so for example these radiators have 4 columns. CAST IRON RADIATOR CENTRE The sections go across the length, so for example, this radiator has 14 sections. Once you’ve got an idea of the height of your radiator and how many columns and sections you want, choose the style of radiator you want (I like the traditional ones), and then select the closest height to what you're looking for. Then, open up the list of options and look for your desired width and BTU. If you’re having more than one rad per room, you can split your BTU between the radiators so it covers the room. Sometimes the option for the rad you want is right there, sometimes you need to compromise on adding/removing sections or changing the height to get it right. (Just like I did for our living room. I didn't want more than 14 sections design-wise, but I've had to keep them at around 16 sections each because otherwise I'd of been under by about 2000 BTUs and they wouldn't heat the room effectively). Step 4: Pick your valves I personally love an antique brass valve with a wooden twist top. We are going for thermostatic valves so that we have more control over our heating. Here's a few that I love. Step 5: Decide if you want feet Yes, I did say feet. Some radiators attach to the wall, and some sit on radiator feet and attach to the wall with wall stays. Rads with feet and wall stays are personally my favourite. Rads with feet make me feel grounded, ones without feet don’t give me the same satisfaction. You can also add decorative feet if your rad doesn't have them already. Here's an example of rads with feet: And here's one without feet: Step 6: Pick your wall stays: I think wall stays add such a classy touch to your radiators, isn’t it satisfying when functionality and form intersect with absolute beauty? I like to match these with the hardware in your valves, so go for a gold/brass mix or stay with chrome/nickel. Step 7: Pick your finish! Don’t forget to think about the colour and finish. The colour of your rad has everything to do with the overall vibe and feeling in your home so don’t overlook this decision. It’s one that has held me off purchasing ours yet because I need to make a final decision on the colour schemes in the house. You can also pick between a satin finish, matte finish etc. Most companies will give you a standard set of finishes and colours plus some additional custom colours like bronze for example which can be realllllly sexy. Some companies also give you the option to customise with a specific paint colour so you could choose from a RAL or Farrow and Ball colour for example. Some additional tips 1. Budget for delivery costs It usually makes sense to purchase all your rads for your home in one go as the delivery fees can be extremely high. Just check, double-check, and triple-check it before you hit purchase, and make sure you’ve got yourself covered with refund terms and conditions in case you do mix up some of the measurements and you can easily replace it. 2. Don't risk it, know your end goal This is one of those things that can make renovating and redecorating a challenge. Knowing what your overall design is going to look like before you get started on your project is so important. Not having this can affect more things than are often realised, and without a design direction, your progress can come to an abrupt halt. Don't risk it and get any old radiator and hope for the best. My advice is to have at least nailed your design direction before you invest in new rads, especially if you're going for custom colours. 3. Be prepared for your plumber Your plumber will need to know the placement and width of your chosen radiators before they get started. Especially if you're planning on moving the location of your rads, this is helpful for them to know so they can give you an accurate quote. If you haven't got this nailed before they come - it could be a very short meeting. Shop for your rads A quick Google Search and here's some places you can have a look at. I haven't purchased from them so make sure you do your research first - read the reviews etc! I'll be going with Cast Iron Radiator Center. Cast Iron Radiator Centre Cast Iron Radiators Ltd Cast Rads UK The Traditional Radiator Company Cast Iron Radiators 4 U Just Radiators Period House Store The Radiator Company Best Heating UK Radiators Victoria Plumbing There you have it. All the advice I can give you! Happy shopping, and let me know if you found it helpful.

The unorthodox version. Many will question your sanity when you tell them you're taking on a renovation. Some impressed. Others, not so much. Yet there are many of us who have been through it, are going through it, and are YET to go through it. Opinions are usually unsolicited (lol - you know what I mean.. 'why are you doing that when you should be doing this', 'that's not going to work', 'you're going to regret that decision', you know the score). But where are the people who stand with you, and have an armful of knowledge, heads ups', and positive encouragement? Well friends, I'm here. And I come with a BUCKET load of motivation, positivity, and my survival guides I've put together for you from a little further along the tunnel. I'm not talking budget planners and spreadsheets here, I'm talking about the stuff that's going to help you remain sain throughout the process! I speak from experience. Some of these things I wish I had sooner, others I am so grateful I've had from the beginning. You're probably looking at this thinking, what on earth do these have to to with renovations? Hold tight for a quick breakdown. Dust doors: because there will be dust, and you might end up with an inhaler like I did. Cheers dust + crap Covid immune system. A water filter system: because chances are your water situ isn't great and you're not going to be wanting that 'straight from the tap' stuff. We've used ours religiously, hard water is grosssss. Enormous oversized bottle: the water bottle I've actually used for 12 weeks. Straight from the filter into this bottle, and zero chance of a dusty drink.. Extra long charger leads: I mean probably just a survival product for anyone living in 2023. I swear we lose chargers everywhere!? But, our 80s house has got switches and sockets in all the wrong places, + there's barely any of them. Now I can be a lazy woman in 2023 who can charge her phone on the other side of the room whilst sitting on the sofa.. A decent hoodie: renovations get cold. Especially in England. We've spent the winter with only two working radiators. You'll sense a theme, but it's been f******g freezing. Sleep masks: I know, I know, but along with our lack of radiators, we've had a lack of curtains and blinds. Those 80s curtains with decades of built up dust and God know's what else, they HAD to go. Silicone phone case: we've got concrete and hard floors everywhere. My silicone case means the chances of me having to spend money on replacing a broken phone due to my sheer clumsiness is avoided - now you can spend it on that USB plug socket you wanted... Electric blanket: did I already mention that renovations get cold, because they do, get really cold, and at 5ft 3, curling up in a ball just to retain body heat, well you can imagine. There's not a lot of heat there... Wine: does this really need an explanation? Probably not, but either way, wine helps. Faux flowers: flowers just really cheer me up, but you're renovating. Buying fresh flowers every week is a hard one to justify when every penny you have get's put into the house. And the ground - anyone else watched thousands and thousands of ££ just get poured in to the ground? *cries*. You lose the enjoyment of styling in a renovation, because it's just not the same, but there's nothing a bunch of beautiful styled flowers can't fix. Hand cream: because you're hands will end up looking like shrivelled up shrews. Hello winter dermatitis. Long hot water bottle: notice this isn't your standard hot water bottle. I've kind of become kind of co-dependent on mine. It's perfect for warming up your bed and then wrapping yourself up around it like a koala hugs a tree. Yeah, the cold nights don't bite as much with this gem. Diffuser: our house currently smells like wet plaster, dust, and building site. The diffuser does just want it says it will. Diffuses those smells and replaces it with something more, palatable. Diffuser scents: if you read number 13, this one's pretty self explanatory.. Noise reducing ear pods: I've been working from home throughout a lot of our drilling etc. Having noise reducing ear pods helps you to stay focussed and drown out the noise. Let's hope your neighbours have got some too.. (17 + 18) Hard/soft slipper shoes: unless you want me to add heel balm to the list, get yourself a pair of comfy shoes to wear around the house. George bought me a pair of crocs because he was sick of watching me walk around on a renovation floor. The sentiment was sweet, but I cannot stand crocs. However, my GOD have they come in useful. I'm more grateful than I am ashamed, so the Crocs get the win. Get in there first and add a nice pair of Birkinstocks or Uggs to your birthday list before you literally join the Croc club.. If you're in the renovation club, drop a comment below with what you'd add to the list for our fellow renovation friends. Or as always, drop into my DMs on Instagram and let's get the conversation going! *SOME AFFILIATE LINKS ARE USED IN THIS POST*.

Once you've got a base for your design, you can have fun switching out decor pieces to make the design reflect those nuances of your personality. I wanted to show you an example of how you can do this, so I've designed a very sexy base, and pulled in different lighting, textiles and artwork to transform each design to give you an idea of how you can make a design work for you. The changes are subtle, but I think this is a good way to show you that design really is subjective, and just by making a few changes, you can make a design feel like it's telling your story. Option 1 This is the original design that I based the additional variations from below. It's all about that muted design palette, bringing in rustic tones and mixing it with modern pieces to achieve the feel of laid-back living. Here are the things I want you to notice in the design details, and the things that I'm switching around to achieve a nuanced look in each design: Mixing metals in the lighting Mixing traditional details with modern details Bringing in faux plants to soften and add depth with natural colour Switching out the artwork, and picture lights - some art is minimal with hand sketches, whereas some is retro. The frames change depending on how you're mixing the metals too. Table decor: there's two-three options total, but you can add to a tablescape, or keep it super simple. I love mixing a vase, seasonal flowers (or all-year greenery), and a rustic bowl. Textiles - two similar cushion designs have been interchanged to create softer tones and dynamic tones. The dark stripe matches the cabinet detailing, and dark metals, but the soft nude stripe gives the design a soft texture. The two designs could be within the same room area - if you have the space, consider adding additional furniture like wall cabinets to add depth and interest. You'll see how once you get the foundation right (for example wall colours, flooring, dining table and chairs) you can dare to play around with other details like lighting fixtures, textiles, and art work options until you find what feels like your perfect fit. Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Option 6 Option 7 Option 8 Option 9 Option 10 Option 11 Option 12 What one's your favourite? Product links are below. If I've missed anything, just drop me a DM on Instagram and I'll send you the link. I've used some affiliate links where I can. FYI, this post contains affiliate links to some of the products. Thank you for shopping through my links, it means a lot to me. Even though it's only pennies, any commission I earn goes back into ASI and funds things like keeping my website running. I only share pieces I truly love and think you will too, so I appreciate your support more than you'll ever know.

I was recently inspired by Shea McGee's gorgeous dining area in her home, which isn't a surprise as I often feel drawn to everything Shea designs. It gave me the urge to design a new concept for The Journal that I could share with you too, whilst also sharing some of the elements that I really love about Shea's design. It's worth a read if you're thinking about refreshing your dining space in 2023 and want some tips/advice on how to achieve this kind of laid-back living vibe that I talk about so much! Studio McGee Inspiration: STUDIO MCGEE 5 Things I Love About Shea's Design It's simplicity - there isn't a huge amount going on in this design. The bare minimum is enough to let the design speak for itself. The mix of chair styles - I think matching the simple straight design on the legs of both chairs keeps the space feeling put together, but totally unfussy. It feels warm and inviting like you want to sink into it with a cup of tea and a notebook. The balance of old and new - you know this is my favourite way to style - old-looking, rustic, terracotta-y jugs with a modern light pendant. Organic textures - the light fixture and curtain rails are metal. I think they work so well with the wooden table and chairs. The jute on the base of the chairs is that perfect middle ground that connects the dots. The curved table - In a standard British home, we don't tend to have the same height and grand space for our dining areas as they do in the US, and, they can feel like a bit of a squeeze to walk around. I love the curve element and feel like this softer approach can do wonders over here. ASI Design: Living Room Here's the design concept that I worked on, incorporating all the design details mentioned above, like the curved dining table, the organic textures, and the rustic decor. I decided to go for a darker wood for the table and chairs. I think this darker wood tone is going to be gracing a lot more of our interiors over the next year or so and I am here for it. I haven't talked about our kitchen plans for the #asirenovation yet, but I know that there will certainly be features of this darker wood tone in our future kitchen! In this living room concept design, I brought old and new together with this gorgeous reclaimed wood floor from a company called Lubelska who has the most stunning reclaimed terracotta tiles too, go have a look if you're in the market for flooring! I added a pop of colour with this gorgeous rug from Home At First Sight. Monika, the owner, has a serious talent for finding the most beautiful pieces of home decor, I honestly don't know how she lets them go! I'd certainly struggle! I added organic textures in the window treatments, linen cushions, paper mache decorative bowl, and faux olive tree, whilst modernising the design with a simple black art print and modern chandelier. I really love this picture light, it's an old bronzey colour with traditional detailing, that compliments the simple black picture frame. But to keep the balance right, the artwork is a simple pencil drawing that perfectly blends everything together. So, what do you think? Leave me a comment, or drop me a DM on Instagram. I'd love to hear your thoughts! FYI, this post contains affiliate links to some of the products. Thank you for shopping through my links, it means a lot to me. Even though it's only pennies, any commission I earn goes back into ASI and funds things like keeping my website running. I only share pieces I truly love and think you will too, so I appreciate your support more than you'll ever know.

If you read this post then you'll already know that in our new house, we've got the opportunity I never thought we'd have to build a home office. And not just a small cubbyhole in the corner of a bedroom, but an actual whole room. I can't tell you how excited I am. The trouble is, as a designer it can be so difficult to make a final decision on your own home. For client projects, I'm so much more decisive! I think most interior designers will say the same thing. In 2022, we were really just taking it all in, figuring out how we live and function in our new home and exploring ideas for designs, and I shared some of my initial office ideas here. Yesterday, 16th Jan 2023 marked our kick-off day for the renovation works to begin and so now is the time I've got to start making final decisions. As we're having a full electrical re-wire at the house, the lighting and electrical plans need to be decided for each room. Our electrician started yesterday, (this was the kick-off! We can't do much else until this has been done) and he has already completed the living room re-wire, (so quick right?) which means the office will need to be decided imminently, eeeeeesh! Lighting is so important to set the tone throughout your home, but with an office, it's a highly functional space and task lighting is imperative, so over the next few days I'll be cracking down on the final furniture layout and electrical/lighting layout. The only trouble is, I've changed my mind.. again! I'm now leaning towards a lighter office with a light-coloured tongue and groove panelling, mixed metals, linen roman blinds and warm textures with earthy neutrals. Perhaps it's because I'm looking ahead to Spring which is one of my favourite seasons. I'm desperate for those springtime days when the skies are blue, the air is fresh, the house feels clean, the spring flowers are blooming and we can think about mowing the lawn for the first time in 2023. My mood is so affected by my interiors and I'm just thinking I'd like it to be nice and fresh. There are some things I know I'll need for certain that will depend on the placement of furniture and therefore placement of lighting and electrical. I'll need either joinery or a cabinet to hold samples, files, and other organisational things Space for a printer to be hidden away, documents to be held securely, and a separate seating area I'll need enough sockets to cater for all the electrical items I may need In one go so I can avoid extension leads Task lighting Aesthetic lighting Now I just need to figure out where my desk will go, and where the rest of the furniture will go! So, before I sign off on my final design, I thought I'd show you some progress from the last post as to what design direction I think I'm headed. I'd love to know your thoughts so come and chat to me in my DMS. Source: A Life Unfolding Source: Studio McGee Source: Olivia's (Affiliate Link) Source: Mad About The House via Albion Nord Source: Olivia's (Affiliate Link) Source: Antima Homes Source: Studio McGee Source: Studio McGee

Something I can't live without? Ceramics. Ceramics play a huge part in the ASI identity, Every interior designer has something (or a few things) that are extra special to them. Something they love to source over and above everything. For me, ceramics is one of those. Not only do I love styling them and physically using them, but I love finding the perfect pieces and making a thoughtfully curated collection. I would gladly travel the world on a ceramics quest, just to collect the perfect pieces to put into my clients (and my) homes. I think it's extra special when pieces of decor in your home can tell a story, whether it's how they were made, or how they we're sourced. It makes your home feel that much more special, individual and unique to you. For those of you that don't know, my dad lives in the South of France, but inland amongst the Aubrac and Auvergne mountains. There's a ceramics and pottery place just down the road called Pottery Du Don. It's one of my favourite places to go and I visit every time I'm over there. Each year I come home with something new for my collection. The pieces are so special to me, and bring a piece of my dad, his family, and their home away from home into my everyday and it's the little things like that which makes interior design that much more special. I recently came across everystory, run by sisters Abby & Hannah. I was so impressed. You know when you find something and before you know it, you've got 1000 tabs open. Not only do I love their pieces, but their story resembles that of my own philosophy - inspired by nature, taking inspiration from the beautiful countryside, no two pieces being the same, and each telling their own story. Their website says: "It all began through a desire to create thoughtful pieces for the home, each piece is individually handcrafted into organic forms taking inspiration from nature and the beauty found in the surrounding countryside and afar...every piece truly tells a story." I featured this piece in a recent blog, and the fact that I struggled to pick just one thing told me that I owed it to you to do a complete spotlight feature. So without further ado, I'm sharing my absolute favourite pieces with you below. Would love to know what you think.

As many of you know, I'm in the process of renovating my second home and something that's been on my mind a lot lately is lighting. I'm in the middle of doing the electrical lighting plans for our living room which is Phase one of the renovation, and that means I've been having to think a lot about the type of finishes we'll be going with and the actual pieces we'd like to get. So, with that in mind, this months recent additions to the shop are all lighting pieces. I absolutely LOVE shopping for lighting. I recommend investing in lighting where possible, because lighting makes such an impact on setting the tone in your home, and also setting the mood. Interior design isn't just about 'things', it's about creating a narrative and telling a story, and helping you to 'feel'. It's a complete experience, and getting your lighting just right is essential! I want to share the things I'm enjoying in real-time, so these articles might differ from month to month, but I'd love to know what you'd like to see as I can always include more features! Do you prefer to see a mixture of things, or do you want to see more of the specific pieces for those doing a renovation? Or, would you prefer to see new things by type? I.e. lighting, soft furnishings, decor pieces etc? Some of the links used below are affiliate links, but not all. Let me know if there are any pieces you like in particular! I'm sure you can see from the pieces I've selected that I'm particularly into antique bronze finishes. I'm quite particular with this, as I like the colour to emit a really burnished, worn, feel. Don't be afraid to mix metals though! Mixing metals is totally acceptable and I encourage it! Let me know if you'd like some tips on how to mix metals in your home? I imagine the first three pieces to be hung above the kitchen island. Depending on the size of your island, you could use two (of the same) to balance it out. Careful with number 2 though, if you're using multiple of these then make sure your island is big enough to carry the scale. Another alternative for over island/peninsular lighting is number 4. I keep coming back to this one, and there's a similar one from Andrew Martin that I've also been admiring. I'm hoping to eventually build out custom library style cabinetry in my office, and I'd love to incorporate some wall lights into the woodwork for that ultra luxury, heritage feel. These would be perfect to get that vibe. Number 6 and number 7 are great options for rooms with lower ceilings. They perfectly marry traditional finishes with modern lines. I could imagine these as the central light in my office, or a bedroom. What do you think about the pieces I've selected this month? If you're looking for more lighting options, take a look at all the lighting already in The Shop! - Allie

I've always loved writing, and as a child I loved reading and making up my own fairytale stories. A true millennial, I had the luxury of growing up without a smartphone and social media until about age nine or ten. I feel lucky to associate my childhood with waiting in anticipation for world book day to pick up my new Roahl Dahl or Tracey Beaker book, and the smell of fresh pages that were full of adventurous chapters I was yet to have with my favourite fictional characters. As a teenager and in my early twenties when blogging started to be the in thing, that childhood love of reading and writing developed into a love of writing blogs and writing in general, whether that was on paper or digitally. (And yes, I am that person who buys a new diary every January and plans all her goals for the year). When Allie Stephens Interiors was just a thought in my mind just a few years ago, I knew that I wanted it to be a place where I could bring together that love of books and writing that has been a part of me since I was little. I knew that having a digital journal was something I had to do, somewhere that I could write and talk about all things interiors, life, travel, and business that was personal, but also allowed me to connect with people personally, somewhere off of social media that was mine and not at risk of being unplugged without notice. I've been thinking about ways I can achieve this, could I write an editors note perhaps? But that felt a little bit too corporate for me. Recently I've been really enjoying Lydia's monthly journals, and it really emulates that of which I've been hoping to achieve, but in an informal relaxed way. Not only is it the perfect way to bookend each month, and have a moment to check in and out mentally, the name has a really nostalgic connection to why I started The Journal in the first place. So, inspired by Lydia, I'll be sharing the opening and closing of each chapter here on The Journal. I promise they won't be this long each month, and as we're already half way through October so there's just a few things on my list for this month: Finalise our living room design and prepare the drawings Learn and perfect a new winter recipe Get out walking more often, taking in the fresh country air surrounding me Let me know what you've been up to this month so far and what you think about the new chapter. Allie x

One of my favourite things to do when the seasons change, or we're kicking off with a new year is switch up my interiors (and my wardrobe). Right now, as you know I'm living in a renovation, so I'm not quite going to get my fix this year in the way that I would if the house was ready, but there are some small changes I can make, like new candles, and maybe a new throw. Now i'm not saying buy a new armchair every season, but I do like to include some big pieces like this in my selections for those of you who are in the process of completely overhauling your interiors. Or even to give you some inspiration for new fabrics or textures in case you we're considering up cycling a piece of furniture you have in your home. Although I'm in the midst of a renovation, it hasn't stopped me from doing some online window shopping. When it comes to interiors, I take a while to make decisions. From the furniture shape, to the fabric, the textures, the colours, all the little details are so important. Window shopping is like a little creative exercise for me, and I really enjoy it! It also means I get to share the pieces I love with you too. Below are some of the pieces I've recently found which I love. I think for me it's going to be new hand soap, moisturiser, throw, and a beautiful wild wreath for the front door. I'd love to know what changes you plan on making in your home this autumn/winter, or if this has given you any inspiration! If you didn't know, I have recently launched my email list, and I'm so excited to start connecting with you more personally there, so if you're interested in receiving that, I'll be sending it out every Sunday. If you want to sign up, I'm also giving away a freebie. Sign up here if you want to get your hands on your free gift! Rowen and Wren armchair Whilst I might not be able to update my own home for the colder season in the way I would normally, it doesn't stop me from browsing my favourite online retailers for new pieces, and manifest my home for next year. Whether you're a long time lover of switching up your home for the season, or it's a totally new concept for you, it's something I encourage you all to do if you can. I find it does wonders for my mental health - it reinvigorates a new aura in me and our home, helps re-motivate and energise me for Q4, helps me mentally adjust to darker evenings and longer nights, and melt into the loveliness that this time of year brings. If you need some help with picking out some new pieces, I've got you covered. Here's some of the pieces I'm loving for the season of hosting, eating, cosying up and making memories. Homewares: Pin me to save for later.

I don't know about you but my wardrobe is in desperate need of a shake up. I currently live in Adanola leggings, my favourite vintage t-shirt I picked up in Brighton over the summer, and my oversized jumper I lovingly bought in LA a few years back. I love that the changing seasons give us an excuse to change things up though, and it's been a little while since I've done that. During Covid I sent almost my entire wardrobe to the charity shop, so it's definitely about time I sorted out an Autumn/Winter capsule wardrobe. Give me a house to style and I can do it with ease, but when it comes to styling my wardrobe I'm running on minimal skill there. I definitely have a style, but I'm not very good at putting things together. Let me know if you feel me, or who your favourites are to follow for inspiration. Nonetheless, having a some essentials in your wardrobe for countryside living is a no-brainer. Be it a pub lunch by the roaring fire, or a long, fresh afternoon walk with your pooch, I've pulled together some of the pieces I've found this week that I'd like to update in my wardrobe. Tap the pictures for product links. P.s, I've used some affiliate links on the pieces that I can. Hope you don't mind! (In case you don't know, It costs nothing extra for you if you purchase through my link, it just earns me a small amount that I can put back into my business). Enjoy, Allie. You can pin me to your style board and save me for later!

Let's roll back to 2021, it's the second year of COVID and we're all so over it. My mental health was over it. I considered myself to be in a really lucky position with job security and a place of my own to retreat in, but like all others around the world the consistent negativity, worry, uncertainty naturally still fed into my consciousness. I needed some variation. I'd started taking myself out for more regular walks where it was almost certain i'd not bump into anyone, and if I did there was plenty of field space to avoid them, I rinsed Spotify of it's playlists, but even music became a bit tedious. It still wasn't enough. I didn't have time to read because I spent all day and all evening on my laptop busting away with my 9-5 then working on building ASI and I didn't want to strain my eyes any further, even though being whisked away into an imaginary alternative dimension would have been pretty nice. Then, I remembered that I had a wealth of podcasts at my fingertips. I'd never really listened to them, and I wasn't a huge fan of listening to talk shows on the radio so I never thought it would be something i'd be interested in. But, I needed to try something new so I headed out on my walk, typed in 'mental health' and was given a load of recommendations. I knew of Deepak Chopra, so that's what I put on, and let's just say my life changed. Podcasts then became a huge part of my life, and have had such a positive impact on my mental health in ways I never knew was possible. People would say to me for years, 'you need to listen to a podcast before bed', or 'get out for a walk and put a podcast on', but all the podcasts that we're being suggested just weren't vibing with me or what I felt I needed and like I said, I wasn't sure I wanted someone literally chewing my ear off. Anyway, with my new podcast obsession, I started to explore more, It was at the time where I was trying to absorb as much information I could about business, and interior design, and I was confident there would be something worth my while on Spotify that I could get stuck into on my afternoon walks during lockdown. And oh boy was there. I couldn't BELIEVE how much free business advice, marketing advice, interior design advice was right there and I had never made use of it. I instantly found my place in Spotify and it was amongst business and female empowerment podcasts. Before I knew it, I had playlists upon playlists of podcasts that I wanted to listen to. I had so many saved and it became a part of my daily life that kept me going through lockdown, keeping me motivated and inspired. So, I wanted to kick off a little series, where each month I share with you a few podcasts I recommend for those of you who are in the same boat as me - needing all the business , mindset, and female empowerment support we can get! As I write this, i've fallen off the bandwagon recently, with the house move and transition back into PT office hours and WFH, and both mine and Georges 30th birthdays I've had very little me time, but, this i'm excited to get back into it and share all my recommendations with you. I share the podcasts i'm loving in real-time on my Instagram stories, so if you can't wait for the blog round up, you can find me over there yapping away about my current favourites.

CREDIT: BLUSHING BOHO VIA #LTKHOME The current plan is to turn our existing dining room into my office. We're still a little way off taking action here, but I think once our kitchen and extension has been drawn up and signed off, we'll be able to start the work. At this point we have some options to work with, and before we start purchasing timber, knocking out walls or starting any of the work, I want to be absolutely confident that this layout is the most suitable, functional, and effective for our lifestyle. My advice is not to rush in excitement. Making the wrong decision can be VERY costly, and the most important thing is to take some time to live in your home (if you can) and figure out exactly what you need from it to serve your lifestyle. It's imperative that the layout makes sense for both you and your home. However, at this point, we can still start to gather ideas. With any project, gathering ideas always comes at the beginning of the process. It's handy to have an idea of the scale of the space you'll be working with, but any interior designer will be able to take your ideas and help create something that works within your space. It gives us a chance to get even more creative! I've spent around 18 months dreaming of having my own office space and going TO TOWN gathering my inspiration, so I feel really lucky about having this opportunity to build a home office. The only problem is where I've had so long to dream about it, nailing down the specifics is proving quite the challenge. This post is going to walk you through the things I'm considering, and some of the images that are really inspiring me. The space The intended room for the office is slightly in between a square and a rectangle - it's not completely square, but it's also not super long either. It has two long windows at the front which I love as it lets a lot of light in all day. See what the room looks like at the moment. CREDIT: CAMBRIDGEHOMECOMPANY The colour scheme Torn between moody and light, I think this is going to be a tough decision. Colours i'm loving for the walls are: Muted greens with soft ivory Sharp green with pops of taupe (perhaps in a subtle wallpaper that sits inside any joinery) All white with warmth added in the desk, chair, textiles, and antique bronze hardware I've also pinned a gorgeous oak desk built into joinery which is really beautiful CREDIT: DECORPAD The doors The plan is to open up the door frame and insert double french doors instead. This means whichever design I go for, I have to consider how it will look as you walk into our hallway. I'm toying between traditional lightly painted Georgian style french doors with glass inserts, dark painted timber doors with glass inserts (think Studio McGee Home Office - inspo pic below), or natural wooden oak doors. The only thing with using oak is it really reminds me of funerals, and I just don't want to be thinking about that all day. CREDIT: STUDIO MCGEE VIA LTKHOME The joinery As a designer, storage is absolutely essential. Whilst I love styling, I really don't like bulky things out on display. In my old house even the toaster was put away in the cupboard. Bespoke joinery will mean I can design a custom unit that maximises the space, and helps me to function and navigate my work. Custom nooks to file away samples whilst having access to the bulky things I need regularly, but also helping me feel zen and organised in my home (not to mention it gives your home a real sense of luxury). But joinery can also be very expensive, so I'm also thinking about affordable space saving options such as furniture that can grow with us, and move with us. CREDIT: JENNY ROSE The desk A decent size desk is absolutely essential. I'm your typical creative person who uses a roll of white paper, two notebooks, digital note taking apps, and post-it notes on a regular basis, if not all at the same time. I have regular brain dump sessions and when I've got an idea, my way of processing that usually comes in various forms so having space to get creative and get what's in my head, into a working plan, often requires a bit of elbow room! CREDIT: MINNIEPETERSDESIGN_ VIA COTSWOLD INTERIOR The lighting Nothing sets the scene like the perfect lighting. There will definitely be some re-wiring needed in the office, and depending on whether we go with joinery or not will also impact the lighting. I really love mixing traditional and modern, it's one of the most fun things to get creative with when designing. Adding in floor lamps is another way to keep it comfy, casual, and laid-back. CREDIT: LTKHOME The textiles Soft, earthy, textures, and subtle patterns. How I feel directly impacts how I work, and feeling cosy all year round is how I like to be. I plan to mix in some custom window treatments, probably roman blinds in a subtle herringbone pattern, or I might mix it up pairing a bolder pattern and colour on the blinds with structured dress curtains to shape the windows. CREDIT: HOUSEBEAUTIFUL The functionality Ultimately, an office space needs to function. The reality is, as my business grows, I may need to pre-empt space for a presentation area and client chair. So, bespoke joinery may take up additional room that may end up needing to be sacrificed. How you need to function in your space has a direct impact on the design you go with. That's why I always recommend having some drawings in place to help you visualise how your space can work for you. (You could use my visualiser package to help you with this). CREDIT: DECORAPAD Hopefully this gives you an idea of the concepts I'm currently playing with for the office. I'm excited to see how it turns out, and ideally it will be soon because working from my dining table, in the hallway, throughout winter is not the most ideal solution!