Anglophilia

Shall we have a bit of Anglophilia this Monday morning? For all their lording and looting and plundering and enslaving, I must say, begrudgingly, the Brits knew how to spend their ill-gotten gains. (Now we know they are not so good with the spending these days, but in the 18th and 19th century...well).  Why just look at the splendid décor given birth by Robert Adam. The Scottish architect and designer created ostentatious homes and made ceiling moldings his calling card---with not a little thought given over to details. Check out these moldings!

 

Also the architecture was brilliant too.

Adams also dabbled in furniture design.

 The style is neo-classical. Every single bit of it looks like monuments to wealth, power and excess. You will have seen many rooms like Adam's in Architectural Digest, House and Garden and Traditional Home. It just goes to show that there is nothing new under the sun. You know what I mean: plunder lands near and far, build ginormous, ostentatious houses in the neo-classical style, lather, rinse, repeat!

 

 

Pictures from Pinterest

 

I promise, my cynicism will give way to lighter fare tomorrow. At least, I hope.

Christmas in the Country

It's cold here in Brussels. And I have Christmas on the brain.

 Vogue has dubbed this the new dream destination wedding venue in the English countryside. Forget weddings, I'd want to spend my Christmas here. I already got married. But I can see me here eating goose and binging on plum pudding to stave off the Oxfordshire cold. This is Soho Farmhouse.

 

This country retreat comes complete with a deli shop, six restaurants, an ice rink, horses and a Cowshed spa. Right. A Spa you say? Sign up me and my tribe.

I can firmly say I would sleep well in either of these rooms. It would be a merry Christmas indeed.

Images from Vogue and Soho Farmhouse

What Makes a Good B&B ?

 

I am looking around for a spot for a weekend trip. I need a pretty, scenic destination and it would be great if it had some appealing points of interest--- stuff that appeals to my love of food, atmosphere and visual stimulation. But most importantly, since a mini-break is basically a runner from everyday stress I need a sense of peace, simple, clean lines and not too much bustle around the place where I will stay. A nice village or town with a B&B is ideal, I think. The comforts of a hotel without the bustle of too much intrusion and the presence of other peace seekers. I found Berdoulat and Breakfast which is in Bath. Sounds perfect.

I love that they have a  library. A nice featured spot. Something clearly reminiscent of home.

And  I love the little touches of the elegant old world. Why provide a standard water glass when you can bring instant memories to the guests. Plus the modern necessities are efficiently and neatly provided.

No point staying at a B&B if the bed is not spectacular and if you can make a better breakfast at home. If I visit I would skip the English spread for the full Turkish breakfast provided by Berdoulat and Breakfast.

English Country Home

Every year I wish I could dash off to the English Countryside -- maybe somewhere like Gloucestershire or Harrogate. I dream of it all winter and then by the time the spring hits and it's time to plan the August vacation we end up heading to the South of France or Italy. Those of us on the continent know it's so much easier, so much less hassle.  I'm sure a big part of the longing is brought on by the fantasy of owning an English country home. Well in lieu of the dream....