The July Edit

Including five new-on-my-radar hotels and agriturismos in Sweden, Egypt, France, Italy & the UK

Another month is almost over. Is it just me or is this year flying by? Or perhaps its just the countdown to my 40th birthday (in early August) is looming. I can’t quite believe I’m going to be 40; an age which once seemed so old but now feels so young. I have a lot to say about how I feel about turning 40 and society’s perceptions of being 40, so I’ll save that for a separate newsletter which I’m aiming on publishing prior to the big day. I’ve also got my second Postcards from … interview to publish next week. It’s with a hotel photographer who I really respect, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

July has been the quietest month I’ve had for both work and travel since the beginning of the year. While it can feel alarming to suddenly not have much work planned in, it’s actually been a bit of a relief. I was feeling burnt out last month (I even came down with stress-induced shingles) and it’s been nice to have a bit of a break and spend time at home. And it’s not like I’ve been sat around twiddling my fingers; I’ve had articles to write, photos to edit, pitches to send and website updates to make. I’ve also been able to dedicate a little more time to writing here.

I usually add to these edits bit by bit throughout the month as I stumble upon things that I want to share. This month, I’m writing this all in one go, searching through my Instagram saves and websites I’ve bookmarked to bring you the travel, interiors, fashion and beauty that has been inspiring me lately. I’m aiming to write this in one day and give you two newsletters in one week. Let’s see how it goes ….

I’ve fallen a little bit in love with Palm of Feronia’s one-of-a-kind necklaces made from different stones. I love the idea that each is completely unique, and some of them have little fish or shell charms attached for an extra touch of summer pizazz. The Aurevyn red jasper necklace is my favourite; hand-strung with red jasper beads, a little silver fish nestled in the middle. I can see myself wearing this in Greece at the end of the summer.

I’ve been eyeing up this organic cotton Jaggery Chico vest in milk for a while now (Clara Infante wears it well). I love its oversized, slouchy fit and deep v-neck for effortless summer style — or it can be layered during the colder months. It’s expensive, but is handmade in Peru and is sure to become a staple in your wardrobe.

This American Vintage Vitow cardigan in melange coffee has also caught my eye; it’s the kind of garment that I’d get tons of wear out of, and it looks super soft. It’s one of those timeless, easy to wear pieces that would go with everything in your wardrobe, from buttoned up with your favourite jeans to thrown on over a summer dress. If this coffee colour isn’t for you, it’s available in around 20 hues, from neutrals to brights.

I’m always on the lookout for places that combine beautifully designed interiors with farm-to-table cuisine. Newly opened Sibbjäns, located on the Swedish island of Gotland, hits all the right notes. Not only is it located in my favourite country (Gotland is high on my list for my next Sweden adventure) but the rooms look beautifully designed, most of the ingredients in the restaurant are produced in their own gardens, and guests can explore the land, picking produce and meeting the animals on the farm. Very much my kind of place. Choose from cosy farmstead rooms or a room in the hotel which also boasts a library, kitchen where guests can hang out, and a natural pool.

I’ve been eyeing up P r o j e k t i / T y y n y.’s beautiful quilts for a while but, sadly, they are out of my price range. For those of you who haven’t come across them before, they’re a Nordic textiles brand based in Dorset who offer a modern take on traditional textiles. Their patchwork quilts are the backbone of the brand, and I’ve completely fallen in love with this Harlequin quilt with its colourful diamonds. I’m never going to own one of these, but I can dream!

Another guesthouse I’ve happened upon recently that fuses beautifully designed interiors with a restaurant set on a farm is Le Doyenné. Located just south of Paris (I’m slowly building up a sizable list of hotels just outside Paris that I want to visit — I sense a trip on the horizon) it’s perfectly located for a rural retreat. The restaurant looks particularly striking, housed within a glass and wooden barn. Ingredients are grown on site, with seasonality playing a big part not just for vegetables but also for meat and seafood. The guest rooms are simple and cosy, with tiled bathrooms, exposed beams and a predominantly neutral colour palette, antique treasures dotted throughout.

If you’re on the hunt for a private rental in the Italian countryside where you and your guests have exclusive access, look no further than Villa Inkognito. This exclusive hideaway boasts eleven bedrooms and a vast array of communal spaces, with every room decorated uniquely. Bold colours, wallpapers and tiles feature heavily througout, with intricate details such as custom furnishings, hand-knotted rugs and bespoke joinery creating interest everywhere you look. I’m dying to stay here and photograph every inch of the place.

With a big birthday coming up, I’ve dreamt up a wishful-thinking birthday list, of which this Bembien Le Max Tote in copper is right at the top of. I’ve admired Bembien’s woven bags for a while; they’re perfect for everyday use, holidays and when you want to dress a little fancier. This style is the dream tote, woven in their signature carré leather with two braided shoulder straps.

I also have my eye on Avenue’s Fornillo sunhat. I’ve only recently stumbled upon this brand and love how they design straw sunhats that can easily be folded into your hand luggage. My favourite straw hat is absolutely massive, and I only wear it in my own garden. I’d love one of these effortless woven sunhats for popping in my suitcase when I’m off on my travels.

Another new-ish hotel/restaurant I’m dreaming of visiting, Osip recently relocated from it’s previous position on Bruton’s high street out into the Somerset countryside, where it’s new, larger location allowed it to add on a few guest rooms to its offering. The menu here is renowned for its greatness (they also offer a cheaper lunchtime menu if the thought of a £140 tasting menu makes you balk), boasting produce from their own nearby farm. The four bedrooms are decorated with a warm minimalist aesthetic, featuring huge bathtubs, exposed beams and locally crafted furnishings.

As we’re slowly renovating our entire home (we currently have three almost-finished rooms and a hell of a lot of work to go) I’m thinking quite a lot about lighting. I want each room to have beautifully crafted light fittings, and have particularly fallen in love with these (very expensive) deVOL frilly cranberry pendant lights. The frilly pink shades are handmade in deVOL’s studio, meaning that each one is slightly different. Our kitchen/dining room will eventually be red and pink (when we finally get round to doing up downstairs) so these would go perfectly — but I also love the thought of just one hanging in our olive green hallway.

Egypt is really having a moment for hotels with Egypt Beyond leading the game. Immobilia Cairo and Al Moudira Hotel have both been on my wish list for a while, and I’m now adding La Maison Bleue to the list. This beautifully designed thirteen-room houses is filled with painted murals by local artists, marble staircases and intricate tiles. I love how the rooms are colourwashed — especially the pastel blue beachfront suite with its high arched ceilings. I’m manifesting a trip to Egypt sometime soon.

Here’s a short review of everything I’ve been reading recently.

Affiliate links used below

Okay Days by Jenny Mustard

I didn’t enjoy this as much as Jenny Mustard’s new novel, but I still got lost in its pages. I particularly enjoyed reading it when I was on the Stockholm archipelago, as part of the story is set in Stockholm. The novel chronicles a young couple, told in alternating perspectives as they fall in and out of a relationship. It reminded me of Normal People, in that both the protagonists just need to have an honest conversation with each other!

Thirst Trap by Grainne O’Hare

I’d heard great things about this and really hyped it up in my head, but was left slightly disappointed. It was a good read and the author writes well, but I just didn’t find the story particularly memorable. It’s the story of three friends who live together, a year on from the tragic death of the fourth in their group. It focuses on how grief affects people in different ways, and also how friendships change and evolve over time.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

I read this for my local book club and really enjoyed it, although I didn’t quite love it. The book is comprised of three short stories which centre around a Korean woman who decided to become vegetarian, told from the perspectives of her husband, brother in law and sister. As her mental health deteriorates, those around her also begin to unravel. My favourite of the three stories was the somewhat controversial middle chapter.

On the Calculation Of Volume 1 by Solvej Balle

I really enjoyed this speculative literary novel (and was thrilled to learn its just the first of seven novels!) but you do have to be patient with it. The first time I tried to pick it up, I wanted an engrossing read and it wasn’t the right book, but I really enjoyed reading it lazily on holiday in Sweden, between dips in the lake. It’s the story of a woman who unexplicably becomes stuck in time, trapped in an eternal loop where she’s waking up each morning to the same day. It’s repetitive, but beautifully written. There were several points where I had to stop reading and just marvel at how wonderful the author’s sentences are.

Ripeness by Sarah Moss

I loved Sarah Moss’s latest novel! She’s definitely one of my favourite authors, despite not loving her previous two books as much as her back catalogue. This is quite different to anything I’ve read by her before; it isn’t set in Scotland, Yorkshire or a Nordic land, for a start. Rather, it’s based between Lake Como and a small Irish town. Half of the story focuses on Edith in the present day, living in rural Ireland in her seventies. Alternating chapters tell the story of when Edith was summoned to Italy as a teenager to be with her sister while she prepared to give birth to and give away a baby. It’s beautifully written and touches upon many important subjects.

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan

I loved this! It’s a really well written tale of a young girl on holiday on the New Zealand coast with her family as they begin to crumble apart. It’s told from the innocence point of view of the girl, which is really well done as the story tackles everything from her older sister mixing with the wrong crowd to her parents marriage fracturing and the creepy man who lives next door — but through the eyes of a child. It had echoes of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt.

Havoc by Rebecca Wait

I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved the premise (girl flees disgrace at home and enroles herself in a boarding school, only to find herself amidst a strange pandemic as more and more studens succumb to a mysterious illness) but the second half of the book lost me completely. By the end, I found that I just didn’t care.

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

This has got to be one of my favourite reads of the year! Beautifully written, compelling characters, and a story that (although slow paced) had me completely gripped, particularly in its third act. A really wonderful achievement of a book that I will now recommend to anyone and everyone. I didn’t know much about it before I picked it up (and think it’s best that way), but the basic premise is that it is set twenty years after WWII, when a woman’s brother unexpectedly brings his new girlfriend to their family home where she is living on her own.

Books I’m looking forward to reading in August include Selfish Girls by Abigail Bergstrom, Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidjia Hlije, The Ha Ha by Jennifer Dawson, The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter and The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri.

Well, I managed to finish this in one day, so I’m now scheduling it to go out on Thursday evening. Two newsletters in one week — who am I? Coming next week, the next edition of my interview series. And I’ll be writing my thoughts on turning 40 sometime before my 40th birthday (the day itself is the 9th August, but I’m going away for a long weekend with friends).

August is looking like another quiet month for me, for both travel and work. But I’m becoming increasingly tempted to book a little getaway for the end of the month. I’ll keep you posted if I do plan anything. I’ve been floating around ideas of France or Menorca, but realistically I don’t want to fly anywhere and only want to get away for a few days, so perhaps a UK retreat is more likely.

Until my next newsletter ….

Emma xx