"Pure style is my way of life... a blueprint for living in the 21st Century"
Summer cool
03 August 2013
We are in summer, real summer (last one was 2006) with the almost forgotten sensations of
sticky heat on skin, cooling swims at the Lido and the garden smelling
more sweet and meadow-like as the mercury rises. The heat seals the season`s scents: ziplocked sweat ,rose petals ,hot pavements, bbq sausages and factor 30. I keep cool and fragrant with a squirt of cologne and and eat ice cream. My sister piles a carton high with blackcurrants from her garden which I simmer in sugar and water, cool whisk into whipped double cream and freeze.
A friend emailed: "George and I made your lemon ice cream a few days ago -which was simply sublime especially eaten before it had set` See said ice cream from the summer section of my book Pure Style Recipes for Everyday
What a treat to duck under the shade of the apple tree and read the 2nd issue of The Foodie Bugle mag. It is like a well stocked larder of delicious information and visual inspiration. Immediately drawn of course to the piece entitled `The Taste of Portugal`"
The house is a busy shoot destination this summer, and props and crew can spill over into the garden without the threat of a drop of rain.
Just as well, when Coca Cola turn up with
plus 30 individuals, fridges , ovens, turkeys and enough Coke to keep the area`s dentists in work for years. The theme is Coke and food, and involves a Coca cola `family` most of whom look like you and me, except for a brooding model hunk who spreads across the doorstep in between takes like a shaggy dog .
Just as it`s so good to waft about in summer frocks and bare legs, the
hot weather gives me so much pleasure on the housewifely front. When
the washing dries warm and toasty in the space of an hour I feel a
flush of domestic euphoria. Similarly I`ve been itching to give the rush mats a good scrub and here I am, hosing them down with gusto.
Pink poppies are welcome garden invaders maybe encouraged by the sun because they didn`t appear last year.
The sprinkler and he hissing of summer lawns couldn`t be more suburban and cool.
Want to feel cool and floaty? invest in a hippy cotton nightie from Denny Andrews
Cool sea blue ceramics by Sue Binns are summer essentials. (Green string, an Olaho hardware shop stalple)
Pink white, purple and green , the cool colours of summer in a jug of flowers on my table.
The wind continues to cut like iced knives, but at least there`s some green shooting going on in my shed. These are the sweet pea seeds I planted last autumn, and I`ve been pinching out the top leaves so that side shoots are encouraged to grow. Look at them stretching towards the light.
Good Friday. I make hot cross buns from the recipe in my book. My version only requires one proving of the dough which means they`re heavier than buns made with two. But less fuss to make, and delicious toasted and spread with butter. The mighty mxing bowl, my favourite , is part of an order to replenish stocks of house kit that has worn out or gone too far gone to repair. The last bowl met a shattering end on the kitchen floor.
A clump of self seeded violets in my vegetable patch is visual treasure. The flowers are edible, too.
More brilliant ideas from the Pure Style design files.
Mellow yellow: simple Daisy pattern wallpaper from The art of wallpaper. Also comes in a good sludgy blue, brick red, and charcoal.
The clocks will be going back soon and there will be a great excuse for investing in a really good desk lamp - I love this one from Anglepoise.
Blue and white striped Cornishware mugs feature in all the kitchens that I have lived in over the years. I love their utilitarian cheerful feel. From recently rescued TG Green – and also in red.
Indian summer’s over – it’s time for tea and toast. This smart glass jar comes with spiced fig jam, from Toast. Recycle it for your own jam making efforts.
More autumn leaf yellows (THE colour this season) in wool knit by Danish company Kvadrat cover this 50’s Scandinavian style easy char in oak, from Heal’s. It also comes in leather, but I’m not so sure that works so well.
Yes I know linen sheets almost need a mortgage, but treat them like investment dressing and save up for a set from Volga Linen to last and last.
I love the way denim fades when you wash it. Get the look with this squashy bean bag made in the UK and covered with indigo denim woven in Lancashire, from Ian Mankin.