Let early evenings begin...

"...its contents are more to do with friendship, family, and travel than creating any particular impression. It's a workhorse of a house, as well as a retreat..." -- excerpt from Perfect English Townhouse by Ros Byam Shaw

As the days shorten and we return to standard time this weekend, my mind goes back to our latest two trips to England, both of which were during the holiday season.

Last December I had to remind myself as we were walking through London that it was still "daytime" even though shops and townhouses were lit from within and streetlights were aglow.

Because of being that much further north and the winter solstice having just passed, dusk began around 3:30 and it was fully dark by 4:00! Which made each glowing window a treat to peak into and catch a glimpse of domesticity and comfort.

Here in Thomasville, next week the sun will begin setting around 5:30, making coming home to a welcoming, comfortable house all the more important.

So, this week I am beginning a series of tips for creating a cozy, timeless English-style home ~ right where you are!

In our years of traveling to the UK, we've stayed in cottages, guest houses, London flats, and boutique hotels that embody this inviting look and feel.

Add to that over a decade of collecting and poring over English home magazines, of following British homeowners on Instagram and Pinterest, as well as years of watching shows like Escape to the Country (and even reading British fiction by authors like Rosamunde Pilcher), all of which has reinforced what we've experienced.

Twelve guidelines have made themselves apparent to me, and I'm delighted to share them with you over the next several weeks.

The first and biggest lesson I've learned is to actually LIVE in your rooms! Your home is not just for show. It is for dwelling in.

So, please do keep stacks of books and magazines (that you really read) on tables ~ and have piles of throw pillows that you don't mind someone squishing (no matter how much you spent on them!), as well as things like an artist easel in the corner, an ongoing game of Scrabble left out, and on and on...

Don't get me wrong: I am not advocating for messiness! But you can have a neat, clean, yet welcoming home that real people (you and your loved ones) feel comfortable in.

As you know, I truly believe in William Morris' mantra of having things that are beautiful AND useful in your home. So, I encourage you to make it easy to be an actual human in any of your rooms.

Position tables so that drinks are within easy reach of sofas and chairs. Have a basket of lap blankets handy. At our home, we even place a dog bed in each room so that Rugby, our lab, also has somewhere comfortable to rest (even in the kitchen!)

This idea of really living in each of your rooms is an overarching theme for all of the other ways to make a cozy, homey (which in the UK would be written, "cosy, homely") place for you and yours to dwell.

Next week, we'll be delving into adding whimsy to your decor ~ unless, of course, on a whim I decide to explore one of the other tips on my list!

xo,