Summer entertaining ideas

I had such a wonderful day last week at Eltham Palace (you must visit if you haven’t been before) for a summer party with The White Company. We were really lucky with the weather and managed to soak up all the beauty of the grounds accessorised perfectly with The White Company’s fresh outdoor living accessories and fed and watered with the most delicious food by former head chef at river Cottage Tim Maddams and cocktails by 31 Dover.  We went on a tour of the gardens, all maintained exactly as they were in the 1930’s – look at that Wisteria! – and learnt a bit of the history of the house with the head gardener, as well as learning styling tips for your summer table from interiors stylist Luke Batchleor. The perfect Friday afternoon.

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

The White Company’s outdoor collection is based on their classic white palette with touches of grey this summer and everything works so well together, feeling as fresh and crisp as ever. One of my favourite outdoor accessories is this outdoor mattress; perfect for lounging around the garden on warm days and evenings. Oh, I am also desperate for these enamel lights – aren’t they perfect?

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

The gardens at Eltham Palace are stunning and we were there at just the right time to stare in awe at the mature Wisteria that draped so beautifully over the historical architecture.

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

How to create summer flavoured cocktails

31 Dover served up fresh cocktails and rose that afternoon and here are some yummy sounding recipes for us all to give a try at our own summer parties.

1 SUB-Lime

Inspiration – Lime & Bay fragrance

1 large or 2 small fresh bay leaves (don’t even think of using dried ones) 1 heaped teaspoon of natural sugar

50ml Chase Vodka
25ml fresh lime juice

1 egg white, beaten 25ml sugar syrup

With a mortar and pestle grind the bay leaf with the natural sugar, until the bay leaf is almost powdered. Place in a cocktail shaker with the vodka, lime juice, egg white, and sugar syrup. Shake with ice cubes and strain into an ice-filled highball glass.

2 Seaside G&T

Inspiration – Summer fragrance

Inspired by the salty seaside, Edinburgh Gin’s limited-edition ‘Seaside Gin’ features native Scottish botanicals foraged from along the coastline and include seaweed, ground ivy and bladderwick.The seaside really comes through in the London Dry style gin’s green, grassy sweetness with a touch of coastal saltiness.

50ml Edinburgh Gin Seaside Gin 100ml Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water Ice
Wedge of lemon

Build the ice in a highball glass, pour in the gin and top up with the tonic water. Add just a squeeze of lemon from the wedge and use to garnish.

3 Summer Boulevardier

Inspiration – Orange Grove fragrance (my favourite!)

The orange notes of the fragrance partner well with a Summer Boulevardier. Similar to a Negroni cocktail, the Boulevardier swaps gin for bourbon – which is a more earthy, darker spirit to complement the elements of Orange Grove fragrance. It’s also a little more punchy for those wanting to make more of a statement.

Summer Boulevardier
1 part Campari
1 part Bulleit Bourbon
1 part Belsazar Sweet Vermouth Ice

Orange zest twist

Made for socialite Erskine Gwynne in Harry’s Bar in Paris, the Boulevardier cocktail first appeared in the famous cocktails compendium, Barflies & Cocktails, in 1927. Easy to make, simply build the ingredients over ice, stir with a bar spoon and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

How to cook a BBQ feast

We ate the most incredible food that afternoon cooked by – it really was delicious – including fired salt pollack with bay, rosemary and chilli, with grilled asparagus and goats curd, lemon and mint and wood fired garlic flat bread. Yum attack!

Tim Maddems shared his tips for the perfect crowd-pleasing barbecue whilst cooking up a storm for us…

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

1. Preparation is key. Get your prep done before you want to start cooking. That includes making sure you have all the kit you need to hand, long-handled tongs, more charcoal, serving dishes, seasoning and oven gloves are all a must, but think about chopping boards and knives, and somewhere to rest meats.

2. You don’t need any fancy kit, a simple kettle type barbeque will be fine for most things, make sure the grills are clean! However, don’t be tempted to buy a gas barbeque – you might as well cook indoors.

3. Let your location do the talking. If you are planning a barbeque on the beach, serve fish, not chops and sausages.

4. Site your barbeque as near to your dining tables and kitchen area as possible, you don’t want to spend all your time running back and fourth.

5. Don’t use imported charcoal.You want coppice charcoal form a sustainable British source, there are lots to choose from, it get hot quickly and lights easily – what’s not to like?

6. Light your fire in plenty of time, it will take a little longer than you think to be ready to cook on. Look for the flames to have died down and the embers to be glowing with a light covering of ash before you attempt to start cooking.

7. Have two different zones for your barbeque. I light the fire on one side and keep it going in there. As the embers spread to the other side I know where on the grill to cook, and can manage the heat, moving things that need to slow down to cooler places, and things that need a push to a hot spot.

8. Fat creates fires, so beware if you are cooking very fatty things they will cause the fire to flare up and often burn things.

9. Allow enough time! Don’t try and rush a barbeque, it won’t work, or if you need to avoid things that take time to be cooked thoroughly, like chicken and sausages.

10. Use aromatics to deepen flavour – for example, I often grill sardines or mackerel on the barbeque, and I always lay branches of fresh bay leaves over the grill first, to add flavour but also as its stops them sticking to the grill and makes them far easier to handle.

11. Avoid sweet, sticky marinades, on a hot barbeque they tend to burn and add very little to the end dish except bitter, burnt-sugar notes.

12. I like to use spices, oil and citrus along with fresh herbs to make up my flavour palate for barbequing. Make sure everything to be cooked on the grill is at an ambient temperature before it goes on – fridge- cold meat, fish and veg won’t cook so well.

13. When the grill is too hot for cooking meats, fish, veg or cheese it’s often perfect for getting some flat breads done. Serve these with a few dips as a quick starter that will help to take the edge of your guests’ hunger, buying you time and providing tasty treats.

14. Be creative with your sides; simple but different salads are the way to go, combined with a carb-laden potato or pasta salad and some flat breads for those who like their meals heavy.

15. Relax and enjoy yourself, don’t rush, its all about easy dining, there are no rules, if it takes an hour to cook a whole leg of lamb to perfection, then do so, simply cooking one great piece of meat and serving it with lots of prepared earlier side dishes is a great way to go.

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

Summer entertaining with The White Company | Apartment Apothecary

A gorgeous afternoon and it’s got me thinking that we must throw our own party this summer up on our roof terrace…

Katy x

 

91 magazine

Such an exciting week for the 91 Magazine team as it sees their first print edition of this beautiful independent magazine that I have been reading and contributing to online for the last few years. As soon as my copy landed on the doormat I couldn’t wait to soak up all of the unique interiors, creative craft ideas, inspiring people, shops and spaces. So much goodness!

91 magazine May print edition | Buy it now

Buy your copy here.

For this very special print edition a couple of us collaborated with Anthropologie, who are stocking the magazine, to do a little room refresh feature for the mag. I chose to style up a few of their beautiful kitchen and dining accessories and here’s a sneak peek…

91 Magazine Anthropolgie collaboration | Summer kitchen updates | Apartment Apothecary

Egg crate, Ivory Epoch pot, Amparo wine glass, Latte bowls, Marble pestle and mortar – all from Anthropologie

I wanted to add a touch of summer to my kitchen with warm pink and copper tones, florals and stacks of white crockery to keep it fresh.

Pop over here to treat yourself to a copy – you’ll love it!

Katy x

 

Styling at Dwell

Today I’d like to share a fun shoot that I did a few weeks ago at one of the brand new Dwell stores. The brief I was given was quite a challenge as I was asked to set up three home scenes in my own style. Considering Dwell sells very modern furniture and I like lots of vintage pieces and have quite an eclectic style, I had my work cut out for me. However, I really enjoyed the task as I think there is always a way of making a piece of furniture or accessories your own by the way you style them.

I was styling the sets in the store so I brought a bag of knick knacks from home as well as some flowers, plants and food to bring it all to life. Sarah Lou Francis photographed each set for me as there was no way I would have had time to do both. There was no natural light in the store at all so try to imagine how much nicer it would all look in an actual house without the harsh shop spot lights!

Dining scene

I wanted to keep the dining scene light and bright with a blue and white theme based on the vases and tableware from Dwell. Sarah-Louise offered to bring the driftwood and oars, which work perfectly to bring a bit of texture and add contrast to the white and work perfectly with the coastal theme. A slice of New England in Slough 😉

Styling at Dwell | Coastal dining | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

Styling at Dwell | Coastal dining | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

Styling at Dwell | Coastal dining | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

I love the simplicity of the Eiffel dining table and chairs and I picked out the blue and white vases from around the store and added my own enamelware. The marble chopping board from Dwell’s dining accessories range was perfect for a New England pancake breakfast.

1. Eiffel dining table 2. Eiffel armchair 3. Eiffel dining chair with metal legs 4. Porous sculptural vase 5. Wave vase 6. Emotion coffee cup 7. Marble serving board

Home office scene

I love my own home office so I wanted to choose a desk that was quite close in style to my own Scandi-inspired workspace. I love the clean lines of these ladder desks and they are so practical, especially if space is an issue. I brought a few bits from my own desk, sticking with a very neutral monochromatic scheme to keep it modern and fresh. A big trailing plant adds a bit of colour and life.

Styling at Dwell | Scandi workspace | Ladder desk | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

Styling at Dwell | Scandi workspace | Ladder desk | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

Styling at Dwell | Scandi workspace | Ladder desk | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

As luck would have it Dwell sell exactly the same clock as I have in my own office and I had to sneak in one of the three ‘hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil’ owls from the store. I love them!

1. Escala desk 2. Straight back gloss home office chair 3. Timber wall clock 4. See no evil owl money bank

Bedroom scene

The only bed that I could style in the store was against a big black wall and it all felt quite hard and masculine. Therefore, I wanted to add a few florals and some blush pinks to soften the space and make it feel a bit more me. I hung a beautiful gown from Verry Kerry on the wall along with some pretty pink blooms in an alabaster pot from Dwell’s bathroom accessories. A sumptuous bedspread and breakfast in bed with a warm copper lamp on the other side of the bed helped to make the space feel more welcoming.

Styling at Dwell | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

Styling at Dwell | Photograph by Sarah-Louise Francis | Apartment Apothecary

The bedspread was one of my favourite pieces in the store and I feel the need to add it to my own bedroom.

1. Monza bed with drawers 2. S side table 3. Wire cage table lamp copper 4. Lexington bedspread 5. Button cushion dark grey 6. Alabaster toothbrush holder (I used it as a vase) 7. Hear no evil owl money bank 8. Owl tealight holder

Thank you so much to Sarah Lou for photographing my styling on the day and all the staff at the new Slough Dwell store who were so lovely and didn’t complain at all even though we had pancakes, plants and pots strewn around the store all day! To get more styling inspiration head over to Dwell’s blog.

Katy x

*This post was written in collaboration with Dwell. All images by Sarah Lou Francis.

Crafting with mason jars

Everyone loves a mason jar, don’t they? I bought a set of them a while ago with grand plans for many DIY projects. I’m now even more inspired to get started after reading Hester van Overbeek‘s new book Crafting with Mason Jars. I’m pleased to be kicking off the blog tour for the new book today and I have picked out a few of my favourite projects to show you.

There are loads of simple but effective projects in the book, all beautifully illustrated with photographs and graphics and clear step by step instructions. Filled with inspiration and clever ideas for gifts, homewares, decorations and storage solutions; some are perfect for crafting novices and others are a little more complex.

Here are my favourite ideas…

Crafting with mason jars | Book tour | A apartment Apothecary

Crafting with Mason Jars by Hester van Overbeek, photography by James Gardiner, published by CICO Books, all images © CICO Books

These drinks dispensers are brilliant for summer parties and well worth investing an afternoon into making one of these.

Crafting with mason jars | Book tour | A apartment Apothecary

Crafting with Mason Jars by Hester van Overbeek, photography by James Gardiner, published by CICO Books, all images © CICO Books

Another perfect project for the warmer evenings – they still seem so far away but I can’t wait for them!

Crafting with mason jars | Book tour | A apartment Apothecary

Crafting with Mason Jars by Hester van Overbeek, photography by James Gardiner, published by CICO Books, all images © CICO Books

I’m kicking myself for having bought one of these soap dispensers recently when I could have made it with Hester’s tutorial.

Crafting with mason jars | Book tour | A apartment Apothecary

Crafting with Mason Jars by Hester van Overbeek, photography by James Gardiner, published by CICO Books, all images © CICO Books

Crafting with mason jars | Book tour | A apartment Apothecary

Crafting with Mason Jars by Hester van Overbeek, photography by James Gardiner, published by CICO Books, all images © CICO Books

I hope you enjoy the rest of the blog tour and I look forward to seeing lots of mason jar upcycling projects!

Katy x

 

A London staycation

The problem with living in London, and always having done, is that you can take this amazing city for granted. You stay at home instead of exploring, you stick to your locals rather than travelling around too much, you think you know somewhere so well but actually places are always changing and there are new things to discover.

Last Sunday when I was offered a stay at the Thistle City Barbican with my mum for an early Mother’s Day treat I jumped at the chance because I knew I’d only be spending the afternoon at home and where’s the fun in that? It was an opportunity to spend a bit of uninterrupted time with my mum and relax a stone’s throw away from home.

A London staycation | Mother's Day with Thistle | Barbican | Apartment Apothecary

I met my mum in the lobby of the hotel and we dumped our bags and went for a stroll in the late afternoon sun. The streets were dead, the blossom was out on the trees and we wandered over to the Barbican centre.

A London staycation | Mother's Day with Thistle | Barbican | Apartment Apothecary

I have always loved this huge austere place and its dreary concrete. It’s a bit of a magical haven in the middle of the city and I would give pretty much anything to live in one of the amazing flats that over look the water here.

A London staycation | Mother's Day with Thistle | Barbican | Apartment Apothecary

We then met up with my sister, who also lives just down the road, and we went for a lovely early supper. It felt so relaxing to be eating out on a Sunday night knowing that we were going to fall in to the Barbican cinema afterwards and fall in to a hotel bed after that.

A London staycation | Mother's Day with Thistle | Barbican | Apartment Apothecary

The film finished late at about 11pm and we walked the short distance back to the hotel and did not see another person or a car – honestly, this part of  London is a ghost town on Sundays. Our beds were comfy and the room silent so I slept very well, which never happens when I’m away from home!

In the morning we had a swim and a steam in the hotel’s spa (the perfect way to start a Monday morning!).

A London staycation | Mother's Day with Thistle | Barbican | Apartment Apothecary

We didn’t have to check out until midday so we took our time over a full breakfast, chatted, drank coffee and I leisurely checked my emails in bed rather than rush home to my desk – why can’t every Monday morning be like that?

A London staycation | Mother's Day with Thistle | Barbican | Apartment Apothecary

Thank you so much to Thistle hotels for the stay and the chance to take a bit of time out of normality. The only problem is my mum is going to expect this every year from now on!

Katy x