Nicki Dobree ski lodge envy*

I have Nicki Dobree ski lodge envy. Ok - I can't ski, don't like skiing, but I could do a luxury ski lodge. Co_sy!

Country cottage*

I went to stay at my friend's country cottage on Saturday. She wants me to help her plan her interior schemes, so inevitably I've been giving cottage style some thought. Seemingly I can't escape it - it's featured everywhere in the interiors press right now. I wonder why that is? Maybe it's because the clocks changed and we're all thinking about cosying up indoors next to the open fire. And country cottages are most definitely snug. [I am 5'9 and discovered their low ceilings and small proportioned rooms were not really designed for tall people].

Modern rustic is one of my favorite styles right now [especially for kitchens] and this would be the obvious design approach. A cooler scheme [pale gray's, white washed floorboards, cute chandeliers, distressed furniture and small florals] is another approach. I saw two great design approaches for cottages in the Dec 09 issue of Living Etc. Sarah's converted Tudor cottage caught my imagination not just because she has chosen to put a highly modern interior in an 15th cottage, but more for her playing with scale [the white Panton chairs and floorsize Anglepoise lamp are super-size, but they work]. Maybe country cottages aren't that predictable after all.

Charlotte Mann murals*

Charlotte Mann's wonderfully intricate murals are hand drawn in marker pen onto white emulsion [yes I said hand drawn!]. My favorite mural by Mann is her work at India Knight's house - check out the trompe d'oeil window and the quirky radiator cover. Also the contrast between the orange Kartell light and blue marker pen is stunning. Her work starts at upwards of £1,000 but worth it - imagine getting your own unique, bespoke mural and the glow you'd get from supporting a talented artist. I hope she wins British Surface Designer of the Year 2009. Vote for her at http://www.thebritishdesignawards.com/.

A London Autumn*

How stunning are the colours on this modern stack chest of drawers from Established & Sons? Getting me right in the mood for autumn, yee ha
Available from Nest.co.uk

Swan chair 1958 - Arne Jacobsen*

The swan chair is perfect for my next project - an eco house for a garden designer. Its stunning organic curves will bring the outside in

Grand Hotel, Stockholm*

I was at Tent at the London Design Festival a few weeks back eyeing up lovely stuff and had to restrain myself from running off with some Isle Crawford chairs at the De La Espada stand. It reminded me of the chairs she uses in her recent interiors redesign of the Grand Hotel Sweden. I love how the high backed chairs let in the light beautifully but also make the seated feel so snug. She calls it 'seating for eating'. The light fittings at the Grand are just stunning - they include an artichoke light by Danish designer Poulsen and some delicate ceiling hung low pendants designed by Michael Anastassiades. I need to get me some Stockholm holiday time.

Modern rustic kitchen*

I am supposed to be researching garden eco studio for a project but find myself thinking about kitchens, and styling them. Maybe I will design a kitchen in 'modern rustic style' for our next house. Or maybe not. But it's nice wasting time thinking about it. I could contrast some glossy white surfaces and units with beautifully grained wood. An Aga would look stunning, but is a big fat cliche these days [and an eco nightmare], so maybe a silver range cooker would be better. I could expose some beams and floorboards, paint them white and satin varnish them. And stick a big old table in the middle of the room and invite everyone around. I could accessorise with copper pots, industrial metal signs and a Dualit toaster, and show off beautiful ceramics on open shelving. I could go on, and waste the rest of my day on this...

Cassina Refolo sofa*

Hello Cassina Refolo sofa, I love you.
Maybe I can use it in my next project. By Charlotte Perriand at Nest

Upcycling Zoe Murphy style*

A gold star for Zoe Murphy, the new kid on the British design scene. It's hard to make beautiful, original furniture, and even harder to do it with a eco-conscious approach.

She says 'most of her work is focused on trying to draw attention to furniture and textile pieces that are otherwise left unloved and disregarded'. Her approach is to take classic pieces, mostly in the mid-century modern style and 'upcycle' them using processes such as patchworking and veneering. So her pieces are contemporary but with a history to tell. I love it.

Absolute Zero Degrees*

Mmmm, how cute are these wallpapers and fabrics. And on my favorite chair, the Eames RAR rocker [I think it was vintage]. Taken at the London Design Festival, surface design by Absolute Zero Degrees.

Yura Kim bubble lights - London Design Festival

Today was the last day of the London Design Festival 2009. My favorite thing at 100% Design was Yura Kim's colourful resin Bubble light. The product was launched at the festival - the pop colours are so cheery and cast beautiful patterns when lit.

I heart Canteen, Spitalfields*

London Design Festival starts today, woo hoo. Lots and lots and lots to see. Which means, must think about places to rest weary sneaker feet in between shows. It's not hard in Spitalfields, home to Canteen, my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. You can go there day or night and find something nice and tasty and British to order. Breakfast is good on the comfy green banquettes with a hangover, brunch is fun on the perky blue, red and yellow stools looking out on the market [great for watching the London people go by], or when the light outside goes, dinner is intimate under low level Bestlites.

Universal Design Studio are clever people - the materials they chose [oak benches, marble clad walls, cork flooring, tweed upholstery] are solid and reflect the honest British food on offer. The interiors are inspired by mid century design ideology - everyone can have their victoria sponge cake and eat it together - democratic dining. The twist of genius is how special the design makes you feel when you sit inside.

Create the look at home with Windmill Furniture, Bestlite and Bute fabric.

Kvadrat Clouds*

I was walking to the studio this morning through the leaves. Autumn is being sneaky and is creeping up on us. It's time to put away the zingy yellow throw on my bed and put on something more cosy.

Textiles on the wall is a less conventional way of adding warmth and depth to a room, and has the added benefit of helping the rooms acoustics. I love the new 3D fabric 'Clouds' by the brothers Bouroullec and made with fabric from Kvadrat. There is something very romantic about piecing together a cloud on your living room wall. It is so decorative, it takes away the need for an artwork or picture. Cloud tiles are available in the UK from Kvadrat or Ligne Roset.

La Braderie flea market

What is a girl to do to get original pieces for her interiors scheme? Take a Eurostar to Europe's biggest flea market, that's what. La Braderie is over 100km of trincket* treasure heaven. Locals empty the contents of their houses onto the streets of the city and set up stalls alongside antiques traders and dealers with specialist pieces. So it's possible to pick up trinckets for as little as 1 euro or splurge on a unique piece at the dealer stall next door.

Me and Janie exhausted our feet and French haggling skills over two days and came away with two cases full of treasure - from 50's ceramics and glass, to decorative tins, industrial lighting pieces, cutlery and some quirky paintings. When we were done with trincket* hunting it was time to add our moule shells to the piles outside the restaurants that line the city and enjoy the local beers. The Braderie runs from 2pm Sat all night to 11pm Sun every year, one weekend in early September. Take a big case - and lots of stamina