The Summer Edit

Five hotels on my radar, a continued obsession with all things red, and the bags I've fallen in love with

I’d been saving everything that has caught my eye since my last Edit but struggling to pull it all together into something cohesive — then a piece of textile art I stumbled upon yesterday stopped me in my tracks. Not only did I fall instantly in love with it, but it seemed to pull everything together for my Summer Edit. I gave myself 24 hours to sit on it before making a purchase, and went back to the website this morning to find that someone had beaten me to it. The moral of this story: sometimes, when you really fall in love with a one-off or vintage piece, you’ve just got to take the plunge.

Regardless of this piece of art having found its way into someone else’s hands, I’m still including it here because a) I can’t stop thinking about it and b) it has inspired me to look for something a little different to adorn my walls. My walls are currently crumbling plaster, bare brickwork and holes left from the electrician’s chasing, so I’m not in any position to be adorning them, but I’m dreaming of reaching the stage of our renovation when I can buy nice things.

We purposefully timed this renovation work to coincide with my quieter work months of July and August (also, because I think I would’ve gone insane making this much mess in my house during the winter months when escaping outdoors is much harder). We’re making good progress with the boring structural work (much of which my boyfriend is doing himself) but there’s nothing too exciting to share with you yet. It turns out levelling floors is laborious, dull and not at all photogenic.

Between our reno and the trickle of work that’s keeping me going through the summer, I’ve been making the most of being at home while its been hot and sunny. The climate has been a bit more hit and miss the past couple of weeks, but it’s been nice to actually have a couple of downpours to water both my garden and the wider countryside. Our garden has been pretty neglected this year while we concentrate on the house, but we’ve been harvesting peas, broad beans, potatoes, courgettes and our very first cabbage — plus, the dahlias are finally beginning to flower! And I’ve been swimming in my favourite spots at every opportunity, whatever the weather (I have a bit of a wild swimming rant coming up later this month).

Without any further ado, let’s get into my Summer Edit, where I'll be sharing the hotel currently at the very, very top of my wishlist, a couple of pieces I’ve fallen in love with from my favourite London knitwear brand, a few pieces I’m considering for our home (including a stripy fabric I’ve fallen in love with), an upcoming book that I may have a feature or two in its pages, and a bundle of bags I can’t stop thinking about. Plus, scroll to the bottom for my recent book reviews.

The one boutique hotel that I currently can’t stop thinking about is Le Lappe in Tuscany. Never mind the fact that Tuscany in early autumn has been on my travel wishlist forever, this eleven-key farmhouse in the Chianti hills has completely captivated me. Handpainted murals by Florentine artist Assia Pallavicino, epic bathtubs with views of the hills, roaring fireplaces and oodles of charm combine to create a hotel which is very much my cup of tea. Rooms are spread between a former watchtower and a former convent, both of which have been sensitively restored by architect Niccolò Calabrese de Feo and his partner, interior designer Remy Renzullo. The food is given just as much attention to detail as the rooms, with evening feasts cooked up by resident chef, Sara Gonelli. Any editors reading this, I’m dying to shoot and review this little slice of heaven!

It’s no secret that I love Jaggery London, even if their garms are a little out of my price range. My current favourites (I honestly would add the entire collection to my wardrobe; my most beloved shirt is from Jaggery and I wear it to death) are the Solito vest (pictured below) and Lina vest cardigan (included in the collage at the top of this newsletter). Both in bright, bold red. I’ve previously been a little dubious about knitted vests for summer, but I love the thought of throwing one of these on over your bikini and denim cut-offs in the evening, when temperatures drop, or during shoulder season (which is my favourite time to travel, anyway).

Another new Italian hotel for my address book, Casa Osti is a six-bed villa in central Milan, beautifully decorated in a whimsical style that feels like time completely forgot about it. As noted on their website, this is a ‘collector’s home’, filled with mismatching vintage furniture and chintzy wallpaper. It gives the impression of one of those stays that just feels like home, where you can potter around in bare feet, peeking through open doors to admire the other rooms and breezing around the garden. This country girl is now contemplating a trip to the big city, purely to stay here.

Tucked away in a remote corner of the Serra de Sao Mamede National Park in Alentejo, A Sociedade Rural offer just seven guest rooms, split across three buildings on a working farm. From the garden sauna to the farm-to-table cuisine, this is everything I want from a rural stay. The rooms are simple, allowing their surroundings to captivate your attention. And speaking of those landscapes, the owners have designed five sensory walks around the estate to align your senses to your surroundings. A series of slow practices planned throughout the year for guests to sign up to include floral composition, mushroom foraging, yoga and watercolour workshops.

Another Iberian addition to my hotel wishlist, Solo Palacio is located amidst mountains in Astorias, offering one of the best views I’ve ever seen from a hotel pool. I’m clearly in a late summer/early autumn mindset, as I’m envisioning a trip here as the seasons change; still warm enough to laze beside that pool but cool enough for hikes in the hills followed by sauna sessions and candlelit jacuzzi soaks. They also offer a donkey experience in partnership with a non-profit organisation who protect the creatures, where you basically get to hang out with donkeys for a couple of hours! In fact, the hotel itself is non-profit, with the remaining 11 cents from every €1 (after staff and running costs) going back into community and conservation projects. It’s all very low-fi and lovely, but with a slow luxury twist — the hotel’s bistro is in partnership with Michelin-starred restaurant, Monte.

There’s something so simple yet so chic about this Asho Amulet from Cold Skin. Two gold plated fish pendants sit on a simple red Mauli thread, creating a simple design that can dress up even the simplest t-shirt. I have a real thing about fish jewellery, apparently. Perhaps due to my love of the water, I’m always drawn to golden fish, and this necklace is no exception.

I love everything that Bembien do, and have a list as long as my arm of all their bags I covet. The Selene handwoven leather tote (pictured below) is perhaps my favourite yet, for its slouchy shape and large size that would fit everything from my laptop to a bunch of flowers to a baguette (the essentials). I’ve been searching for the perfect leather everyday bag for a while, and while this is currently out of my budget at £342, I just can’t stop thinking about it.

Speaking of dreamy bags, I’ve recently come across new British brand, Elaree Studio and have fallen in love with pretty much every single piece. An emerald green raffia tote might not be the most practical (it’s available in black and natural too) but would add a punch to every single outfit. Plus, it’s big enough to stuff all your essentials inside and would be a perfect travel bag. If you’re after an evening bag, they’ve also got you covered with a selection of beaded designs — the Kate shoulder bag in caramel is my favourite, but there are a few other styles to choose from. I’m envisioning carrying this out for dinner on my travels, from Marseille to Morocco.

I’m always on the lookout for interesting retreats across Europe, where you can learn new skills and meet new people in beautiful surroundings. UK-based ethical small-batch clothing brand, Bug Clothing have just partnered with French sanctuary Casa Julfa for their first retreat themed around creating one-of-a-kind designs from linens and laces thrifted from local brocantes. It sounds like a dream, with days spent making one of Bug’s iconic designs from a completely unique fabric sourced themselves, mixed in with country walks, wild swims and communal feasts. The next One Of A Kind Textiles retreat will run next April.

Blumenhaus is my absolute favourite print publication; I own every single issue and am proud to have contributed my words and photographs to the past two volumes plus the 2026 issue that will be released later this year. Camille and Isabelle have just announced the very exciting news that their first book, A Botanical Anthology will be released at the end of October. Bound in a cloth cover with pink sprayed edges and a screen-printed title, it will come with a fold-out poster and set of postcards. Inside, you’ll find a curated selection of features from their first five issues (including work by myself!). Pre-order your copy here.

I am beyond gutted that this Landscape textile, Anita Rönnegård (via Kept London) sold before I could make an informed decision that, yes, I did want to spend £250 of my renovation budget on it. I adore everything about it: the colours, the texture, that it’s depicting an abundant garden. It would’ve been perfect hung above our fireplace, and I’m cursing myself for not acting fast enough. Other than my lesson learnt of sometimes you need to make an impulse purchase, I’ve also been alerted to the existance of beautiful textile art and will be seeking out similar pieces.

This Lamp Ldn Living Poppy sconce appeals to my love of all things folky. I saw similar designs when I was in Sweden last summer, and adore anything that gives a nod to my favourite country. We decided against wall lights in our living room because we hadn’t decided on the layout when the electrician came for the first fix, so I have my heart set on adding at least one sconce for flickering candlelight during the colder months. In case you hadn’t noticed from themes running across both these Edits and my Instagram, my favourite colours are red and green, both of which will be abundant in our reno.

Another homeware piece that has caught my eye is this Elara Wooven rattan vase from Hudson Home. I love rattan (in moderation) for adding an additional texture to a space, and could immediately see this perched on the counter of my new kitchen filled with dahlias fresh from the garden (proof of how good my imagination is, if you’ve seen my Instagram Stories of the current state of our kitchen). The key with adding rattan pieces to a room is to go minimal with just 1-3 items, lest your space start to look too trend-led.

I’ve always wanted to visit Lebanon, and now Hotel Albergo is on my radar I’m even more keen! I’m an absolute sucker for hotels that do maximalism well, and love all the colour and print adorning the walls and textiles of their 33 uniquely designed rooms, along with their vast collection of Persian rugs. Bathroom amenities include a scoop of salt from the Dead Sea to bathe with, there’s a rooftop pool for lounging, and a lush garden courtyard for keeping cool in the heat of the day. Start your day with a delicious Lebanese breakfast, dining on Mediterranean flavours and sipping local wines into the evenings.

I’m getting way ahead of myself with my reno, but I can’t wait to choose fabric for our new window seats. We’re having a mini banquet in the kitchen bay window, where our dining table will sit and a small window seat in the living room. I’ve adored Colours of Arley’s bold stripes for a while now, and have my heart set on using their skinny striped fabric in cherry and chalk pink for one (or perhaps both?) of the seats. If you click the link, you can see how Gem and Thom of Restaries (coincidentally one of my favourite UK stays) have used this exact stripe in their own kitchen.

Nymph by Sofia Montrone — This was a perfect heatwave read! It begins with a young girl working at her family’s Italian hotel over a long, hot summer, before flashing forward ten years. Leo is spending another summer working at the hotel, dealing with the aftermath of a family tragedy, when she meets an American girl who she feels an instant attraction to. It’s a gorgeously written queer coming of age story, that perfectly captures first love and hot European summers.

All Grown Up by Daisy Buchanan (pr copy) — As someone who adores Little Women in all its iterations (I love the book and both the nineties film and the recent Greta Gerwig adaptation), I was completely absorbed in this contemporary retelling focusing on what happened when the March girls grew up. Its a really fun, easy read that brings the beloved story into the 21st century, focusing on the aftermath of Beth’s death and what happens when the remaining three sisters all at once return to their family home to encroach on their mother’s (charmingly named Louisa) peace and quiet.

Awake Awake by Fiona Mozley — I loved Elmet and was really excited for Fiona Mozley’s new book: it didn’t disappoint. Awake Awake is a funny book, because our protagonist has a very unreliable memory and, even at the end, we’re not entirely sure what actually happened and what didn’t. I loved the memories of the main character, Mary’s childhood and her best friends since primary school. These parts of the novel were the strongest for me; I wasn’t entirely convince with her present-day memory struggles of whether or not her grandfather assassinated hitler, but I enjoyed Mozley’s writing so much that the book worked for me as a whole.

Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel (pr copy) — I adore Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility, so couldn’t wait to get my hands on Emily SJM’s latest delve into the human stories behind sci-fi ideas. It took me a little longer to get into that the two aforementioned books, but I was soon completely sucked in. This is such a clever, layered, beautifully written story with intriguing characters that draw you in. I was sad when part one ended, but found myself enjoying part two even more. To say too much about the plot would be a spoiler, but it tells the story of several people over their lifetimes (and across time and space) as their stories overlap. A work of genius!

Voyagers by Megan Charlton — I wanted to love this, but it fell a bit short for me. A man who was maybe abducted by aliens as a child finds himself racing across the country to reunite with his childhood best friend (and fellow potential abductee). At the same time, something strange is happening around the world and rumours are flying that this could be The End. The story focuses more on the lives of the two main characters than anything too sci-fi-y, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters the way that the author wanted me to.

I Want You To Be Happy by Jem Calder — I enjoyed this as a good, quick read. I don’t think I’ll remember much about it in a couple of months, but I flew through it and was completely hooked while reading it. It gave me slight Sally Rooney vibes, focusing on a fledgling relationship between an older man and younger woman. Spoiler alert: I was rooting for her, hated him.

Family Friends by Chloe Ashby — One of my favourite books of the year, hand’s down! I liked Chloe’s first book and haven’t read her second, but this feels like a massive step up from Wet Paint. Two families have holidayed together since the adult’s university days, but this year they’ve all got secrets to hide and cracks are starting to form in their relationships. I LOVE books set in big posh houses during scorching summers (I have a huge list of books along this theme I could recommend!) and Family Friends does this perfectly. I loved reading from all the character’s perspectives, and just adored reading this.

Upcoming releases on my radar …

Take What You Can by Naima Coster (6th August)

Freyja by Margret Ann Thors (6th August)

The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian (20th August)

Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason (27th August)

Clutch by Emily Nemens (27th August)

Under Story by Chloe Benjamin (1st September)

Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo (15th September)

Thanks for reading my Summer Edit!

My travels this month are going to be languid (I’m visiting friends in Brighton and France) and work is pretttty slow (August is always a very quiet month) so there won’t be a Diary; my next one will be at the end of September (which is shaping up to be a very exciting month). For paid subs, I’ll be focusing on Musings over the next few weeks (childhood travels and wild swimming are both on my list to write about), with hotel recommendations and personal travel stories to come in autumn. And for everyone, I have exciting Interviews coming up with more women who inspire me in the world of travel.

It’s my birthday this weekend, and then we’re moving out of our house for two weeks while its being plastered, so I might be a little quiet but there’s plenty to come!

Emma xx