All Things Considered: December edit
A round-up. Let's pretend it's not mid-Jan.
Hello friends,
I debated whether to send this All Things Considered because it’s far too late for a December round-up, but time is an abstract concept and who’s counting? I intended to send this a week ago when it wouldn’t have been weird to send an email that mentions Christmas several times, but for personal reasons that I won’t go into, 2025 got off to a difficult start.
I’ve written about this before but I always put too much pressure on myself to have the Best Christmas Ever, so this year we laid low and had a chilled few days in London. For New Year, we escaped the revelry and stayed in a shepherd’s hut on Aller farm in Dorset, which we’ve been to twice before. It’s run by Cat and Ant who own the farm and Cat especially is just the loveliest, most thoughtful woman you could ever meet. The hut’s interiors are very different to my own style but that doesn’t matter, Cat’s care and attention to detail are why we always feel so relaxed and happy there.
On the way to Dorset, we broke up the drive with a night at The Great Bustard in Wiltshire and for a small country pub, the rooms are exceptionally good! It’s a pub and not a country house hotel, so all the rooms look over a car park or the pub itself (there are no ornamental gardens outside the window) but once you’re aware of that detail, I think it’s one of the loveliest options for a stopover between London and Cornwall. It’s in a small village about five miles from Stonehenge and just outside Salisbury. Plus, if you’re interested in art and sculpture, it’s only 15/20 mins drive from Roche Court Sculpture Park and Messums West. Rooms are circa £150 and that includes a proper homemade breakfast. The bedrooms have huge no-expense-spared beds, tasteful colour palettes, thick curtains and smart hardware. I imagine the upscale simplicity of Heckfield Place was an inspiration.
Like everyone, we’ve been glued to the news this week, horrified by the wildfires in LA. My boyfriend and I celebrate 10 years together in March and we’d decided to spend our big anniversary in LA. Just last weekend, we were planning which flights to book and which areas to stay in - we couldn’t wait to be back. I’m heartbroken for everyone who now faces the reality of rebuilding their life and community from scratch.
I don’t have friends or family in California but
has written about her experience (her home is thankfully unharmed) in her newsletter, À La Carte. In that post, she also includes some links to fundraisers for those who lost their homes. Ali is based in Altadena, which has been badly impacted, and this week she has been taking donations and also using some of the proceeds from her newsletter to buy necessities for people in her community. Consider supporting À La Carte with a paid subscription - it’s is my favourite Substack to read and a visual treat, full of thoughtful insights and recommendations.
YSSO 1989 gold-plated shell earrings, £290
If you’ve seen me in the last two years, I was probably wearing YSSO earrings. I wear the crescent sun design constantly and they’re light enough to wear all day. This is the everyday style I’ve got my eye on next and I love that they’re a non-identical pair, with one facing up and one facing down. They also come in silver.
Straw x Herd bonnet in moss, £145
I’ve seen people wear this bonnet in red and they look cute AF. Unfortunately, I look dreadful in bright red but I do love the idea of a bonnet that I can tie rather than pull on over my already-static hair. Plus, as I have a giant head, hoods that look charming and roomy on others look a bit condom-ish on me.
Italian Interiors book by Phaidon, £38
I mostly buy older or second-hand interiors books as the prices really start to add up when you buy new titles, but having looked at a few select images online (I haven’t flicked through it yet), I do fancy this one. I love Italian design, and I’m really craving imagery that isn’t trend-led or doing the rounds on Instagram.
TOAST large velvet bedspread, £399
I’ve always loved TOAST’s handstitched velvet bedspreads but I’ve never bought one because of the size – they’re too small to drape over a king-size bed. That is, until now. They have finally expanded their offering to add a couple of large options (this and a dusky blue) in a generous size that’s far better suited to a bed. Not cheap but they’re a keep-for-a-lifetime type of purchase.
Folie Chambre lacquer ribbed lamp, £365
The excellent new ribbed lamp is the latest addition to Folie Chambre’s made-in-Yorkshire lighting collection. It’s designed by a fellow northerner whose first physical store/studio is now open in Hull. I’d go for the wine or grass colourways.
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