Nature Inspired

When we walk on the beach I'm always on the lookout for sea glass. What you see above represents everything I've found so far. A lot of our beaches are just too rocky for glass. But I'll also pick up interesting stones, small pieces of driftwood, shells or whatever takes my fancy. 

I bring them home and put them into a dish, or line them up on a table top or windowsill and admire their organic shapes. I have small bags of such treasures stashed away in the cupboard and periodically I take them out and shuffle things around.

I think that a room is not complete without something from nature in it. A living plant on one side of the mantel combines with a crystal vase holding tall sculptural twigs for a vignette with lots of texture.

Now that summer is soon to come (I hope - it's been raining steadily the past few days), there will be flowers and herbs galore. I like to bundle lavender in an old linen napkin, tie it with some ribbon and lay it, like a bouquet, on a tabletop. When the lavender dries it can be gently crumbled off the stems and used for sachets in the linen closet.

Here, sea glass combines with candles and a jug of rosemary for a pretty summer table setting. If flowers are scarce, greenery is a great option. This year, in our new home, with deer munching almost everything in sight, I'll be looking for more of this kind of growth to fill my home with fragrance and colour. Deer don't like herbs, I've been told. 

Bringing nature indoors adds texture and life to a room. I'm inspired by the infinite colours and shapes that exist in creation. I'd love to hear your ideas for how you bring a bit of the outside into your home.