I am reading
The Midnight Feast, the latest from one of my favourite authors, Lucy Foley. I knew I would love it, because I love her ‘ten little Indian style’ whodunnits. They are always set in beautiful, romantic locations, and full of contemporary nuances: old friends who were bullies, but have now superficially changed, but haven’t! The Midnight Feast is set in a crumbling stately home in Dorset, overlooking the sea, inherited by a feisty and determined young woman who is cleverly turning it into a ‘luxury wellness destination’, with the help of a handsome, young architect who she conveniently marries. It emerges that some of the staff and guests are closely connected to the owners and their ensuing tangles become edgier and more unexpected with every page.
I am watching
The latest Nicole Kidman drama on Netflix, The Perfect Couple. A little silly and far-fetched, slightly concerned that I did a bit of snoozing and missed some of it, but I really enjoyed it. Set in a stunning beach front house in Nantucket, Nicole plays an icy matriarch, whose son is just about to marry someone she is not quite 100% about and the wedding is called off on the morning because the chief bridesmaid is found dead on the beach – oh dear! It turns out chief bridesmaid has been a bit naughty, in fact all the characters are a bit naughty.
Anyway, I learnt a new expression – DILF – I clearly lead a very quiet life as I had never heard that before – need to get out more!
I am listening
To fellow stylist, Maria Le Mesurier, she has started a podcast, and I am really enjoying it. I have admired Maria from afar for a long time, we bought a beautiful coat rack from her husband’s busness Wood Edit, when we first moved in as a housewarming present to ourselves. I have never written about her for a magazine, but would love to one day!
She offers a service as a ‘Lifestyle Enhancer’ using her experience as an interior stylist to help people feel more confident and better about themselves, which is an interesting approach and a very valuable offering in my book.
I love her style, and her affinity with nature, I find it very calming. My only issue is that I think Maria tends not to put art on the walls in her own home. I could not live without art on the walls, so find that very interesting. I understand that she aims to create a truly serene sense of space. She presents some of the episodes with her daughter who is the same age as my own daughter, Eva, so feel very aligned.
She has had some difficult experiences that she has tackled with amazing strength and dignity so she is well worth listening to and can definitely help others.
I am enjoying
Posting on my new personal Instagram @accidentally_japandi_ where I am documenting our progress. My main Instagram @alisongibbstylingandwriting is purely for work: to connect with people I write about, and to try and explain what we actually ‘do’. I do share personal stuff, to make it clear that I am a human being, but my personal life is not the main focus.
I am finding it very relaxing and liberating showing up on Instagram just as myself, sharing all my errors, uncertainties and not having to seem at all professional.
I am writing
I am writing about the house that we shot on our recent trip to Mull…
What a beautiful place, visually gentler than Skye and a lot quieter. We have both been before, Doug has done other shoots there, I have only been as a tourist. It was a great privilege going back to do a shoot and going off the beaten track a bit. I desperately want to go back – I absolutely love it!
You can read all about it in Country Homes & Interiors magazine next summer!