Firstly take a look at the home of Mark Bentham and Laura Lane, absolutely beautiful.

 I could sit in this kitchen for hours, extremely stylish and oh so usable and welcoming.

Now head on over to their amazing web store Uniche interiors where you will find almost all the items in the pictures above and more.

A message from their web store says.

Our home is a stage around which our lives unfold. How we set that stage is an extension of who we are. We believe style is individual, not ordinary. If your rooms are for living in, sofas are for sprawling on, battered is best and old is beautiful, then our vintage inspired pieces are for you.

Be creative and choose a statement piece to fit in with you’re living space, or work the full look throughout, anything goes..

Here is another excerpt from the web site that I particularly like,

Home is where the heart is… Keep your heart happy…

We at Uniche think you should treat your home as you would your friends. After all, you enjoy spending time in the company of your pad, getting that warm secure feeling whenever you’re together, surrounded by familiarity and things that you love.

But it’s not all take, sometimes you’ve got to give, you have to cheer your friends up and reassure them, buy them a box of chocolates and tell them they look great!

What better way to perk up your pad than with the gift of a present!

Think of Uniche as a sweetie shop for your home. Treat them to a mouth watering selection of quirky vintage inspired furniture, of unique accessories and unusual lighting.

Whether your friend is a warehouse apartment in London or a cottage in the country, buy them something special to show them how much you care… That’s what good friends do…

How could you resist? Head on over to their web site and drool away.

To keep up to date with all things new don’t forget to like their Facebook page, lots of lovely inspiration to brighten your day, it certainly has mine.

The post My perfect place to shop Uniche Interiors appeared first on Karen Barclay.

But then came the gusts of windy weather over  the last 24 hours and now they are looking a bit bashed. Please don’t let this be a repeat of last years weather.

The post Tulips after the rain. appeared first on Karen Barclay.

I have visited a few times now as I love all the antique shops and unusual buildings. There are some nice cafe’s to sit in and people watch,  plus lots of individually owned shops which is always good.

I think the pictures speak for themselves really.

Even the new houses are pleasing to look at.

The Market Hall.

Beautiful and interesting antique shops.

Twig the florist specialising in the unusual.

Prince Charles’s Highgrove shop, such a lovely building.

All the shops make an effort with the finer details.

Tetbury boasts a beautiful Asian shop called  Artique,  lots of beautiful jewel like colours throughout the shop.

A few muted colours sit quite happily against the jewel like colours.

The houses in Tetbury have such great feature windows.

The famous medieval cobbled Chipping Steps

Tetbury, well worth a long weekend or day visit.

The post Tetbury appeared first on Karen Barclay.

If I am stood or sat in one place for a long time, for example painting doors, I like to listen to Radio 4. In a past life I sat for hours in a rather large shed/workshop in my back garden working as a florist, this was just right for listening to Radio 4. You tend to have to go with the flow with whats on at the time, and to be honest some things are a bit too intellectual for me. So, at those points I would drift off in my own thoughts coming back when something more suitable for my brain came on, although subconsciously more goes into that brain than you realise. I have loads of information in my head that could have only come from my Radio 4 days.

I am a big fan of Gardeners question time and the Archers, and no this isn’t because I’m getting old, I have always liked them. There are also some really interesting and hugely amusing programmes, and as I said before, you learn all sorts of weird and wonderful things without realising.

In those past life days, my husband would come home from work and I would often start a conversation with “Did you know” and my husband would answer “oh god radio 4 again”. I miss those days.

Any way getting back to my weekend, I was fortunate to hear ‘Kerry’s list’ which was after Womans hour (I like that too) and before the shipping forecast, the very English, seen on all mugs posters and tea towels shipping forecast.

Kerry’s list was produced and acted by  Kerry Godliman, you may now her from a recent series that Ricky Gervais wrote called Derek, where she was cast as a care home manager called Hannah.

Kerry’s List  is a scratch-and-sniff collage of Kerry’s life; there’s a bit of sitcom, surreal sketches and Kerry doing stand-up.”

I laughed lots at this programme, and I’m sure like me you will hear something that rings true to your own life at some point. Unfortunately you have missed programme 1 unless you listen to it at 7.30am on Radio 4 Extra on Tuesday 7th May. Otherwise you can listen to programme 2 by clicking here. Programme 3 will be on next monday at 11.30am on Radio 4 or soon after on BBC IPlayer (radio).

Let me know what you thought about it, it’s a bit off the wall but then aren’t we all.

Lastly my husband has just sent me this, he knows me well.

The post You must listen to this. appeared first on Karen Barclay.

Ian & Barbara bought Abbey House in 1994 to make it their home for their family of three children and in the autumn of 1996 decided to create a garden that might attract visitors from around the world to the historic town of Malmesbury.

Barbara is a self confessed ‘Jack of all Trades’ listing teaching, fashion modelling, promotional, sales  and marketing work on her C.V.

Both enjoy the decorative arts in all its forms and whilst Barbara grew up in a garden with a small holding Ian made his first forays into horticulture as an adult once he owned a property with land on the east side of the country.

The purchase of C16th Abbey House with an unusually large 5 acre town centre garden, fed an interest in history the couple share.  Empty for 3 years after its previous owners had vacated, it needed a good deal of work and love to bring it back to the comfortable family home the Pollards knew it could be.

Ian & Barbara now spend their every moment tending family and garden, rarely going further than the garden gates.  “We can visit other gardens in our library of books and from our collection of DVD’s” says Barbara, “although I’m not sure our children will forgive us the lack of holidays away!”

Ian’s epitaph will read “Why not?”  This is the first question he asks when an idea comes into his head.  If he can’t find a good enough reason to answer that question… he goes ahead.

“We both try not to take ourselves too seriously although we take what we do very seriously.  It seems a person only has so much control in life and when you work with nature, especially the weather, you have to accept what happens because there is nothing else you can do!!”

“We like to be occupied and feel that whatever the reason is that we have found ourselves where we are we should do our best to make the best of our situation and our environment.”

“We are happy to share our environment with others – what would be the point of creating something lovely if no-one saw it? – and to work to the best of our ability to create a visitor experience that is as good as it can be”

The information above was taken from The Naked Garden website.

There are a few lovely sculptures in the garden, including a fish that caught a man.

If you look closely you will see the fish has the most beautiful eyes.

 There are some nice railings dotted around the garden as well as innovative gate hardware.

This is Ian  relaxing in his beautiful garden, fully dressed on the day we visited, although we have been witness to a rather spectacular leopard skin thong.

Here are a few more artistic features, with another picture of the amazing face hedge.

This is a great place to visit, Malmesbury itself is not in my opinion a great town, if anything it looks a little run down and has more than its share of teenagers in their racing cars that seem to frequent the car park.

Malmesbury should be very greatful that The Naked Garden has bought a true gem to their town. Tetbury is only a few miles away and is well worth a visit, lots of nice Cafe’s, very interesting antique shops, and  very pretty adjoining streets and houses. Not forgetting  Prince Charles’s gift shop, great for a look around as the shop has some nice displays, and as you would imagine the shop is of a really high standard as a building. The items in the shop however probably go down a storm with visiting Americans but sadly don’t do a lot for me, apart from the Highgrove Organic fruit and veg that is for sale on occasions.

This archway will be stunning in May with its laburnum flowers making a massive canopy, underplanted with hundreds of purple Alliums, truly stunning.

 Here is a photograph of the tunnel in May from the Naked Garden website.

So that’s lunch at Tetbury and a stroll around the pretty Cotswold town, then the short Drive to The Naked Garden for a relaxing afternoon. I will show you a small glimpse of Tetbury in my next blog.

Lastly has anyone noticed that Mr B has added his name to his photographs? I think he was fed up with me pinching the odd photograph of his and not giving him the credit! That’s spoilt my fun, sorry Mr B.

The rest of the photographs really are all mine, I feel a name adding session coming on!

The post The Naked Garden appeared first on Karen Barclay.

I thought it was a Lime tree but wasn’t sure, so  I got in contact with the secretary at the church and here is her reply.

I have spoken to the gentleman who looks after our churchyard here at Cuckfield,  he tells me that the tree is a Weeping Ash latin name Fruxinus Excelsior Pendula.

It was planted 80-90 years ago on a Sergison grave and trained around an iron hoop and trimmed every year which gave it that umbrella appearance. The hoop has long since rusted away but it is still pruned and trimmed every year.

Isn’t it nice when people know about their surroundings.

Incidentally the Sergison’s owned Cuckfiled park which contained a large mansion house reputed to be haunted.

The ghost here is that of “Wicked Dame Sergison” who died in 1848 aged 85 one documented sighting was in 1890 when to show her disapproval of her daughters wedding the ghost put in an appearance at the poor girls reception, needless to say the marriage didn’t last very long.

Further owners of the estate have often reported seeing a shadowing figure in the corridors, and guest have reported the feeling of a presence on the main stairway.

The post The Lime tree, or is it? appeared first on Karen Barclay.

 I lived close by in another village when my children were just babies, we spent many an afternoon feeding the ducks on the natural spring fed pond. We watched cricket, which has been played on the common since 1747. My car broke down there once. The RAC man couldn’t believe it when he arrived as I was sat in a garden chair, (which just happened to be left in my boot), whilst eating strawberries watching the cricket. If you are going to break down it is a perfect place to do it!

A visit to Limes is also a nice place for lunch.

The post Lindfield West Sussex. appeared first on Karen Barclay.

We were fortunate enough to arrive just in time to see milling taking place. I love the sound of Watermill’s and have fantasised more than once about living in one.I know there is always the risk of flooding, but that amazing sound of the water and the wildlife it attracts (minus the mice) would more than make up for that.

Here is the magical barn that is available for hire at Michelam Priory that I mentioned in my previous blog, what a great place for a barn dance where all ages can be included.

I had a quick look at some privately owned watermills, just incase those number come up!

Plus one that has been done up to a very high standard and is available for hire as a holiday treat.

Click here to view a gallery of the watermill for hire. when you are on the web page be sure to click on gallery for some lovely pictures of the mill.

The post The Watermill at Michelam Priory appeared first on Karen Barclay.

The name Michelham means “a large piece of land in a river bend”. The river is the Cuckmere which rises in the High Weald and cuts through the Downs near Alfriston to reach the sea between Eastbourne and Seaford.

I can’t stress how lovely this place really is, it is a peaceful priory and it is not difficult to imagine the Canons going about their daily chores, tending to herb beds and catching fish from the river.

In later years some evacuees were sent here from London and were reported to have the most fantastic time. One of the boy’s called Cyril is still alive today,  he comes back to Michelham Priory on special days to tell people of his fond memories and days spent here.

The Priory also contains some lovely sculptures.

Also, as you would expect from a priory the gardens are very tranquil, full of some lovely flowers and plants. There are a few river walks where wild life abounds. We managed to disturb a snake that was basking in the sun (yes it was hot when we visited), it frightened the life out of me as it slithered away making one hell of a noise.

My memories of living in rural Sussex are of bluebells, white wood anemones and the Cuckoo every spring, all of these were to be found at Michelam Priory which made my day.  I had forgotten just how much I miss living in the countryside and being witness to the changing seasons.

For me a beautiful rural place  gives me inspiration, colours and textures are around every corner, life is more relaxed, and senses are heightened.

I also have a thing about old walls, they have such a beautiful patina and are so much more interesting than bland new ones. Old fashioned roses look beautiful growing up against them, my favourites are some of the David Austin varieties. Old walled gardens can be particularly stunning and provide a great back drop for all sorts of plants and structures.

For those of you contemplating a wedding there is the most magical barn, just right in size and waiting to be filled with the beautiful and unusual. If you could be blessed with a warm sunny day and evening it would be a memorable day.

Now I sound like a wedding promotion booklet, I’m not even that keen on weddings! I think I am just imagining photographing it and thinking of all the fantastic ways you could decorate such a lovely building.

In my next blog I will show you the Watermill at Michelham Priory, so very very beautiful.

The post Michelham Priory East Sussex appeared first on Karen Barclay.

We quite often return to the area as it is such a well kept pretty county along with East Sussex, the county boundary for East Sussex runs a mere 6 miles from Cuckfield.

Our first stop was of course for a Coffee break, Flâneur is a exclusive emporium of unique furniture from France and Europe, mixed with outstanding gifts, silk flowers, a bistro and coffee shop all under one roof. The Bistro is going to open on Thursday the 16th May and I have made a mental note to return with my two sons at some point.

Incase you were wondering what Flâneur means it comes from the French word to stroll or walk slowly. In 19th Century Paris, a Flâneur was a gentleman or dandy who would amble the streets very slowly ‘contemplating’ life. An extreme Flâneur would follow his tortoise! The owners say’s “When you visit Flâneur we aim to give you that same sensation of relaxation and calm. A chance to slow your pace of life while being inspired and being surrounded by beautiful things”. We chatted to the owner who indeed provided excellent service and great coffee.

Sounds to me like the perfect reason to stop and enjoy.

Cuckfield boasts its fare share of well kept houses, I have always been a huge fan of the beautiful sussex roofs complete with moss. My love of natural pathways also stems from living in Sussex, as does my restraint from having an immaculate front paved driveway, which is much to my detriment, as I spend a good portion of my life sweeping back the shingle from path to driveway outside my house!

Back to the beautiful houses of Cuckfield, I’m sure you will agree that they are well worth a visit in their own right.

I have a favourite tree of all time that resides in the main street in Cuckfield, it spans the width of the road and is the first thing you see upon entering Cuckfield from the A272 from the West. For me it has always been the marker for me returning home, it hugs the village like it is keeping watch over it. I love the fact that it has been there for a lot of years and has seen changes that we only see in photographs. It is a bit of stability in an ever changing world.

 We lived in Sussex in the great storm of 1987, the first thing I did when it was safe to go out was drive the short distance to Cuckfield to make sure this tree was still standing, fortunately it would seem it would take more than a huge storm to get rid of this amazing tree.

The Church in Cuckfield is immaculately kept, as are the grounds. You are also treated to a fantastic view as far as the South Downs in Ditchling.

It’s quite interesting to look at some of the statues in the grave yard, also if you like poetry you are in for a treat whilst reading some of the head stones. I came across something new this time in the shape of an old custom woody car on one of the headstones, a work of art, I love it.

 On one side of the graveyard is an allotment which provides my need for a bit of garden colour in the form of some old sheds.

 Finally the most amazing pollarded Lime tree (I may be corrected on this, but I’m sure it is a lime). Look at the most amazing way the branches have now been trained to form an umbrella like structure, fabulous.

Cuckfield also has a nice selection of individually owned shops which is nice to see. The shop owners are very friendly and are more than happy to chat to you. Remember that, chatting shop owners?  Of course there are lots of nice tempting items to buy, they are now minus a metal sewing tin and a lovely silver and leather ring!

So there you have it, an introduction to a small village in West Sussex. It also helped that for April it was a very hot sunny day, just right to amble around and see what beautiful places still exist in England.

I have not tampered with this picture, the sky really was that colour, we also have a red face and shoulder to show for the soaring temperatures that today seem to have disappeared!

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