ASHCROFT & TIBBLES

A little jaunt to Europe…but first, London! The British Library, The Pullman Hotel, St. Pancras Hotel and then the Eurostar from St. Pancras International Train Station and books from the grand dame of bookshops, Hatchard (outstanding)!

Welcome December…a season of beauty, peace, love & light.

As we progress with renovating, I thought I’d share one of my very favourite vintage portraits with you. She sits in pride of place in the foyer. From France, via she welcomes guests from far & wide. Happy Tuesday friends.

Wishing all of my dear friends in the United States a blessed, joyful & safe Thanksgiving. Over here, we’re working madly to achieve some semblance of order to get ready for Christmas. Enjoy a fantastic day friends.

So much beautiful Christmas inspiration everywhere but I’m still enjoying autumn light here. Little vignettes are appearing throughout the house awaiting their foraged finery.

LEST WE FORGET🥀

Don’t look at the stacks of grain sacks or the not so perfect photo of this scene…at least the black walls & nasty carpet are gone! Have a lovely Friday dear ones.

Enjoying nature’s spectacular show (and taking a short break from renovating) at The Westonbirt Arboretum. A national treasure to behold. Wishing you a beautiful day.

A lick of paint, carpet stripped, plywood & hundreds of staples painfully removed. Not done yet but the old girl’s coming into her own. Happy Halloween (cobwebs gone, zoom in on fireplace when we started)🕸️ Armoire

Some BEFORE & DURING photos of the dining & drawing rooms (AFTER’s…we’re not quite there yet🫣). Strong & dark wall colours are gone, two coats of primer, floors sanded and two marble fireplaces stripped of their paint (yes, someone painted over natural stone)! An extreme amount of elbow grease was required and still more needed (especially on the Carrara marble), but it’s a start…

Hello my dear friends, it’s been three months (to the day) since my last post…so definitely time for an update!
After a lengthy search, we’ve bought a house (a Georgian in the Cotswolds), renovated & redecorated (on-going), moved in, hosted family from overseas (a week after moving in), travelled to Scotland (family wedding), Wales, and the southeast of England (family reunion) and currently designing a walled garden overhaul. So, for the many of you who’ve been concerned about my absence, I thank you for checking in and now you know what’s been keeping me busy. As I come up for air, this is a small glimpse of the drawing room (Swedish chair from ). Happy Tuesday lovelies🤍

SMALL SPACES, BIG APPEAL…if you’re one who wishes for a larger home, don’t despair. We’ve found delightful inspiration in the just launched SMALL SPACES, BIG APPEAL.
Another brilliant book by Fifi O’Neill (stunning photography by Mark Lohman). Filled with authenticity & aesthetically charming spaces, owners of homes under 365 sq. metres/1,200 sq. feet show you don’t need big budgets or oodles of space to create an enticing home.

We celebrated Canada Day (1st July) with our Canadian family, Independence Day (4th July) with our American friends, and today we celebrate the beauty & magnificence of England with a tour of Buscot Park (one of Oxfordshire’s best kept secrets). A National Trust property & home of the present Lord Faringdon.

White & wood, tongue & groove and Carrara marble thrown in for good measure. Old beams, French bread boards & vintage marine lights. Classic & timeless…enjoy your Friday lovelies. An excerpt from the book SHADES OF WHITE. Written by Fifi O’Neill & photographed by Mark Lohman.

Swansea Castle, dwarfed by surrounding buildings, remains a survivor at the heart of the city. Just a few miles away you’ll experience the breathtaking beauty of the Gower Peninsula (the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)…Swansea Bay, Mumbles, Gower, Port Eynon Bay Beach, Rhossili Bay, 17 other outstanding beaches and the stunning Mumbles Lighthouse at Mumbles Head. Experience the wild flora & fauna on the dunes. A few days in South West Wales and you’ll want to go back time & time again🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Join us as we tour Aynho Park, a 400 year old landmark estate in the heart of the English countryside. This exquisite 73 acre, 60 room property, designed by the preeminent Sir John Soane, has been reimagined and is now open to the public for the first time as RH England. Celebrate history, design, food, wine & home decor and enjoy the gardens by iconic British landscape architect Capability Brown. (More photos in stories).

Sunshine & shadows, tulips & old paint kettles … wishing you a fantastic Thursday wherever you are and whatever you’re doing.

Reflections & roses. Wishing you a wonderful new week.

Guest bedroom view from one year ago today. David Austin Eden & Iceberg climbers providing us with a glorious sight. Congratulations for winning gold at this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show!

Mellow yellow … wishing you all a delightful Friday.

Wishing you a beautiful & bright Monday. Scene from a French style kitchen in a renovated barn. French doors, unfitted cabinets & shiplap cladding…letting the sunshine work it’s magic.

Welcome King Charles III❤️🇬🇧❤️

Quiet Friday moments…as we head into a coronation weekend filled with colour, celebration, cheers and the crowning of our King Charles III. Enjoy a glorious weekend everyone🇬🇧

Wishing you a delightful May. It’s snowball season (viburnum)!

A little tour of splendour & details in the delightful town of Sherston, Wiltshire. Enjoy your Wednesday lovelies.

Antiques, vintage and a gorgeous day out spent at in Oxfordshire. You won’t want to miss this fair and it’s on until Sunday. These are a few of our favourites but there’s SO much more! Wear your wellies and be ready to be overwhelmed at the treasures on offer.

This is NOT a paid advertisement, just sharing a delightful event not to be missed.

“Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life” … S.D. Gordon

A little treat from the delightful town of Burford in the Cotswolds. Sheep Street is beautifully adorned with stone, statues, ironwork & blooms…take a stroll with us.

The quietness of white spaces always feels like a gentle, nurturing embrace. Wednesday wishes to you.

A cheery Friday hello with a photo (needs must to stave off the nasties🤷‍♀️) and wishes for a glorious weekend to all.

Sunshine (we’re still waiting), reflections and texture in a back hallway. Let’s hope the sun shows her face again soon. In the meantime have a wonderful Friday.

A little scraped back goodness for your Friday. Are you a fan…or perhaps you prefer original paint or dark wood? Whatever your taste and wherever you are, enjoy a beautiful weekend🤍

Exploring the English countryside in the most charming village of Ramsbury, Wiltshire and it’s magnificent Holy Cross church built in the 13th-14th century. It’s craftsmanship & setting is a sight to behold. Enjoy a glorious Tuesday lovelies.

Wishing you all a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend too. A little outtake from our feature in the SHADES OF WHITE book by with glorious photography by 🤍

Natural stone…texture, age and beauty. In the Pigeon House it’s a sensual delight after climbing stone steps to view magnificent British countryside. Enjoy your weekend and get out there to explore…

For those of you who aren’t in England to experience the beauty of snowdrops, these little snippets are for you. There’s plenty more coming as we explore the Cotswolds and the magnificence of Mother Nature in February. See stories for a short video too…

Living in the light with Shades of White. Enjoy a fantastic Friday lovelies🤍

Welcome February and may the sun shine for us all. Stunning and iconic Crittall steel doors & windows allow for beautifully bright interiors in this home constructed of Bath stone…a true British gem.