Sliding doors

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A great space saver, sliding doors can be a feature as well as functional. Sliding doors are used a lot in Japanese buildings but I'd like to see more of them over here too, especially if they look like this.

Blog of the Week

link (So many mouthwatering recipes, its making me hungry!)

link - (I just love that lampshade!)

link (what a great idea!)

This week's blog of the week is the fabulous Design Sponge. I've been a regular reader of this blog for a good couple of years now. I can't believe it has been going since 2004. Well, its certainly earned its great reputation for offering up great inspiration every day. It certainly cheers me up and makes me feel inspired again when i go and check it out after a hard day at work.

This blog, which i'm sure you will already be familiar with, is choc full of great DIY ideas, amazing furniture revamps with before and after snaps, detailed city guides for the craftily curious, gorgeous recipes, sneak peeks around some lovely homes and much much more.

The Ship Inn at Rye

Spent a lovely but rather bracing weekend (It was very very chilly) in Rye to celebrate my boyfriend's 30th. We stayed at The Ship Inn, a wonderfully decorated inn serving fantastic food. I haven't uploaded my pics of the place yet, but will do soon and pop them on here. Rye is an old smuggling port and the The Ship Inn was built back in 1592.It was built in 1592, originally as a warehouse to store contraband seized from smugglers. It is now a characterful countryside pub, with old beams and wooden floors and various areas to sit in and relax - the sunny end in the mornings to eat breakfast and read the papers, big tables for group Sunday lunches that last all afternoon or cups of tea by the fireplace after a long walk on the beach.

The decor and mix of old and new and retro styles works sooo well and I loved the fact there was constantly a roaring fire to keep you toasty after long walks in the cold. Rye is home to some very old pubs, the mermaid being the oldest, I think, with norman cellars dating from 1156 and the rest of the pub built in 1420!! Rye also boasts over 30 antique shops which is great for a nosey in too.

Brigid Berlin's home

I originally came across Brigid Berlin's incredible home, via Gemma Correll.  Brigid Berlin is the daughter of Dick Berlin ,head of the Hearst empire for 52 years,  and she is an artist who was Andy Warhol's best friend for 35 years but, more importantly, she has an amazing home filled with beautiful things.  I just love the color and the classic but coziness to it - no minimalistic pad for Brigid.