There’s something so whimsical and delightful about your feed, it seems a real break from the modern hustle and bustle of life and takes you away to your wonderful corner. Do you feel that when you write?

What a lovely question! It is my break away from the world actually! Time to myself to enjoy this beautiful, crumbly old cottage surrounded by magical landscapes. I love reading and writing and have been surprised that my writing has crept out of hibernation (I was an actress and writer many years ago but spectacularly unsuccessful).

Tell us about a typical working day for you.

Children to school, run or yoga (too many mince pies), reply to Instagram comments. Sit down at laptop and respond to work emails (interior design projects/ Instagram collaborations/ blog posts and magazine shoot prep), yell at my husband who dares to commute from our converted stable block for a coffee at 11 that I don’t have time for a coffee, then sit and have a lovely chat and a coffee with my very understanding husband. More work then create the next instagram post. Collect children/ drive them to various clubs. Return home, catch up with lovely instagram people whilst cooking supper then agree to watch some television, fall asleep, skulk upstairs to read instead.

Let’s talk cottagecore. For the uninitiated… what exactly is it and has it become so big recently.

Good question! Initially it was a love and passion for the countryside and old homes. It went crazy in lockdown as I think so many people looked to old ways and rural living for an escape from the situation. There has always been a community who simply love old cottages, we are a romantic bunch who love florals, fires, candles and a sense of history.

Do you think the whole idea of it is exclusive to the countryside? Can it work in cities?

Crikey! Actually I think it can work in the city. If we can decorate country residences like London mansions then why not? It is the principle rather than the situation. Obviously Cottagecore has grown and now includes lots of beautiful lithe young things wafting through wheatfields which would look a little out of place in Shepherds Bush but the basis stands firm. There are a myriad of gorgeous little cottages and Victorian terraces tucked away that look perfectly at home with floral curtains, wicker baskets and whimsical accessories.

Your cottage seems to combine elements of traditionalism with modern finishes; where do you draw your interior design inspiration from? 

I love old houses so was always going to decorate in a traditional style.I love English Country Estates with houses filled with chintz and bright young things, I love crumbly old cottages that would have been filled with animals all keeping warm by the fire but I couldn’t live like that (although our cottage is often filled with unwanted mice, spiders and even next door’s dog pops in every so often!). I wanted to keep the heritage of our home but live in modern day.

Your garden is just gorgeous. How important has outdoor space been in the last 18 months for you? Particularly in light of the pandemic where our homes have really become a sanctuary.

Thank you! We counted our blessings every day. Our cottage always feels smaller in the winter, in summer all the doors are open to the garden and suddenly our home doubles in size. From the beginning of the pandemic when we were outside nearly all the time playing croquet, cricket, den building, fighting over your gorgeous swing to half way through when we had really begun to think how we could use our garden, grow more veg, use more fruit from all the trees, how to create a composter and how to ensure lots of the garden is left for the wildlife to more recent times when we all had Covid and spent 10 days unable to leave the home at all. Thank goodness for our wide open space that calmed and nurtured.

You clearly have a love for the outdoors - we spy many a beautiful photo on your feed. Where do you go for garden inspiration? 

Weirdly I love formal gardens, I adore old school garden designers like Gertrude Jekyll and Capability Brown, I fell madly in love with books on Sissinghurst but actually prefer a wilder feel to my garden. I like the feeling of freedom and nature. I love Arthur Parkison and Sarah Raven and am rather partial to Monty. I really enjoy looking round National Trust properties and gardens and draw a lot of inspiration from these places.

Perfectly manicured lawn or a wildflower meadow?

The Latter every time. Although I want to say perfect lawn!!!!