Cushion the blow.

Autumn is here, the leaves are coming off the trees, the temperature has dropped and the forecast across the UK is for another long hard Winter. What better way to comfort against the cold than with some new sofa ornamentation (cushions to you or I) to buoy all that extra indoor snuggling time.

These two glorious ones are by Michelle Mason, they’d make lovely Christmas presents too, or is it really too early to be thinking about that?

Cushions £45 from Michelle Mason

Hard-wearing cotton satin with pom-pom trims.

Size: 48cm x 28cm

Images: © Michelle Mason 2011

Doormats and School Admissions

I have just been composing a letter to attach to the end of our choice of schools for Erbie next September.

Where we live all schools are so oversubscribed it is uncertain whether one will even get into a school within spitting distance. I was told to go with gut instinct when choosing, gut instinct didn’t like the first school we saw but very much liked the two over the road, so fingers crossed and a letter saying I will poo my pants if I have to walk Erbie too far to school in the morning.

Keep Calm and Come In from Graham & Green

I've also been looking at doormats from the plain to the sublime why not make a statement before even stepping over the threshold. Wiping ones wellies need never be tedious again.

Ikea heart doormat £9.99

Union Jack doormat Debenhams £22.50

I Love London Doormat £17.99 from Filoro

House jewellery

Large Heart Shaped Escutcheon - £3.75 from Willow and Stone

God is in the detail, or so it is said and now that we are proud homeowners (don’t say that too quickly) I find myself noticing things I would have dismissed before, such as door knobs and light fittings, window latches, locks and escutcheons, oh dear! Changing a small detail such as a window lock does however update ones surroundings for the minimum of cost. We recently replaced the old broken nickel fastening on the sash window with a shiny new Bristol brass one and it really is like jewellery for the house. It makes me smile every time I look at it sitting there glinting in the pale Winter light.

Brass Bristol Window Fitting © Willow & Stone

Door knobs are next on the agenda as Erbie is fast reaching the height where he could take an eye out on one of the unclassy metal hook-like handles we have adorning our doors presently.

I rather like copper or brass or glass...

All from willowandstone.co.uk

Olena Glass Door Knob from Laura Ashley

Talking of brass knockers we found out this morning that Kendal’s lump is malignant. Gulp, back to the house jewellery – quickly.

I like these...

Image: notonthehighstreet.com

I saw these in a shop window and found them online at: notonthehighhstreet.com.

On a much needed sojourn into town recently I also saw some Christmas themed ones in Selfridges. I am thinking of LOVE in the hallway.

French Enamel

Gate - Somewhere in North London

I have always really like blue French enamel door numbers and have recently noticed a high proportion of houses around here already have them. So it’s true, Erbie is destined to grow up a middle class mummies boy, could be worse I suppose.

If you too would like to have an authentic blue French enamel door number without traversing the Channel I found some here at Willow and Stone.

£18.50

£8 per number