St John Hotel

I always feel a bit disappointed when a lovely new hotel opens in London. How can I justify staying in a London hotel when I live in the city? But goodness, I would like to stay at the St John Hotel...Fergus Henderson has brought his simple, elegant and nose to tail eating style to another level.


So I suppose I'll just have to settle for dinner instead and, if it's anything like the original St John's restaurant in Clerkenwell, I'm in for a treat.

St John Hotel 1 Leicester St London WC2H 7BL

+44 (0) 203 301 8020

Cult of Beauty

Goodness, I just realised it's a few weeks since updating the blog. How time flies.

There is much going on here in the background here at Roost Living, finding exciting new artists and new products that we know you'll love, as well as taking a bit of time to look for inspiration.

I have been a member of the V&A for a number of years. It is my favourite gallery in London. And I'm very much looking forward to their latest exhibition The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860 - 1900.

I've always been drawn to the highly decorative, romantic work of Rossetti, William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, perhaps because my father's artistic style was so influenced by them.

The cross over from art to artistic furniture and the decoration of rooms also intrigues me. In this period, artists' houses and their extravagant lifestyles became the object of public fascination and sparked a revolution in the architecture and interior decoration of houses that led to a widespread recognition of the need for beauty in everyday life.

Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to seeing this Exhibition, at the V&A South Kensington
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL until the 17 July 2011

Anzacs...

Milly and I have been busy in the kitchen (although Milly's idea of helping is licking the spoon). We've been baking Anzac Biscuits! As a child these were my favourite, and they are becoming Milly's favourite too. The best bit is the 'magic'. I used to love watching it as a child. The recipe is from my mum, it's on an old piece of paper, yellow with time and covered in anzac mixture splatter.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Coconut
1 Cup Plain Flour
1 Cup Rolled Oats
3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
150 g Butter
2 Tablespoons Golden Syrup
1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda

Method:
Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a small saucepan gently melt the butter and golden syrup together over a low heat. Now for the magic.
Once the butter and golden syrup has melted quickly stir in the bicarbonate of soda and watch as they buttery mixture foams up into a gooey yummy mess. With a wooden spoon quickly mix into the dry ingredients. Roll a teaspoon of the mixture at a time into a ball and place on a pre-buttered baking sheet, then press down with a fork. Place in a pre-heated 160 degree oven and bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Our Anzac's have been served on a Bird on a Wire Plate by Fliff and with a lovely matching beaker full of tea. I am totally addicted to using Fliff's beakers they're so lovely and dainty to hold.

Anzac Day is on 26 April.

V&A Reading Rooms

These days I don't get much of a chance to get out and about as I once did - my 18 month old has seen to that. But for a very long time (well since it opened), I've been meaning to take a trip to the V&A Reading Rooms. Perhaps I may take a day of soon, and spend the day drinking coffee and reading...somehow it seems like a very remote idea, but I live in hope.



V&A Reading Rooms
No.8 Exhibition Road
South Kensington
London SW7 2HF

Easy Living, Featuring Ruler Light

Spotted in this month's Easy Living Magazine, the fabulous Ruling the Roost light by Rory Dobner.

Valentine's....

Valentine's is something I always look forward toand secretly I always hope and wonder if I will receive a gift from a secret admirer. But it's never happened, and at this stage in my life, I doubt it ever will.

So you'd think my partner may at least buy a special gift or take me out for a delicious meal, but no, last Valentine's he worked at home upstairs while I cooked him dinner downstairs. I think we ate together, although I'm sure he would have preferred to eat while working.

So, having been disappointed in the past, I've taken the situation in hand and booked us a weekend away to Suffolk. Romantic it probably won't be, Milly will be sleeping in the room with us, but at least we will be away together.

And, as he is a great lover of Whisky, I've decided to give him a lovely Kathleen Hills' Vintage Decanter....

Spring has Sprung

Introducing our fabulous new Spring Collection, including Ruling the Roost light shade, intricate drawings and Precious Paperweights by Rory Dobner as well as stunning new 'birdy' tableware by Fliff.

Vintage rulers, collected on Rory's travels around the world, are recycled into this stunning lightshade and now available online.


Rory Dobner specialises in unique, hand drawn, intricately detailed ink drawings. The works are complemented by unusual vintage picture frames & arrive ready to hang. The one off, whimsical ink designs allow the viewer a little peek into a fantasy world where their favourite animals, are discovered thoroughly enjoying getting up to all sorts of mischief or being playfully eccentric.

Rory's Intricate Drawings are now available as Limited Edition Prints or Originals.


Long time collaborator Fliff has created new 'birdy' tableware exclusively for Roost Living. Fliff uses delicate earthenware to create two ranges, Bird on a Wire and Flight of Fancy, available now online.