The Perfect Study

Hey lovelies!

I've put my professional-business head on recently and have some very exciting plans in the pipeline which I can't wait to share with you! I've also been looking at new build houses with my OH and day dreaming of the perfect starter home! I don't think I'll ever rent, and the possibility of owning a new home using the amazing government/house builder loans which means you can get a 75% mortgage, while still only putting down 4-5% is amazing. This has also lead to looking at £200k houses and conning myself I could actually afford them, well, I need to get a job first!

So, the words professional and home can only mean one thing, home study/office! I've been collecting images on pinterest like it's nobodies business. Seriously, I am so obsessed with that site, I'll go through everything recent and 'like' the images that appeal, I'll then meticulously go through my haul and repin them to the most appropriate board....Yeh, you too?

Here are a few of my favourite study/office designs. That's probably what I'm looking forward to the most about moving out; a room with all my favourite things, so inspiring and colourful, totally feminine and totally me.

I love the white corner desk, and the gorgeous aqua chair matching the walls. Simple. 

The Wedding photo is perfect too.

Chevrons! As well as this funky design technique, 

ombre also seems to be popular; definitely using it my house!

Loving the grey with the warm yellow and the fresh flowers.

I always prefer offices/studies to be in a separate room, allowing you to close the door on work life/mess for the evening. So this room above is a little odd, but the rug is perfect and I love the warm greys with the white.

A little more traditional in decor. My main love of this design is the floor to ceiling bookshelf.

This is something I'll definitely need! Currently, even though I'm not in a state of moving, all my books are either in boxes, or random piles about the house. I can't wait to see them all together!

I LOVE the idea of having an office large enough to have a separate desk. It's a brilliant idea and I really think it would allow so much more creativity! You'd have your little computer desk to do your emails, accounts, (blog/pinterest) and get inspiration, and then your larger, electronic-less table to do crafts, sew, etc. I think it's so important to have a break from technology and reconnect with the world and yourself; this idea seems perfect for that. 

How is your office/study set out? Are you like me and can't wait to have one? 

Peace and Love

xx

Nigella's Own: Cheese and Onion Potato Pie

Hey lovelies!

I'm back today to share one of my favourite Nigella recipes with you. As a vegetarian, I often have to adjust many beloved "celeb chef" recipes to make them suitable, a great example of this is the variation on the Jamie Oliver Chicken Pie I blogged about here. But with this one, I can stick to it, word for word (apart from buying shop pastry!) and have something utterly delicious! I know, I know, it's summer, and hot cheesy pie isn't really very apt to the kind of weather we should be having. But thats exactly it, the weather in ol' Blighty has been utterly dire, constant rain, cold and windy. What happened to June! It used to be sunny, right?

So, I can go back to my autumn clothes, and my autumn food and indulge, knowing that I'm not being much of a weirdo by eating pie when it's 20C+ outside! Come to think of it, I may even have a log fire tonight!

Cheese and Onion Potato Pie by Nigella Lawson

This recipe can be found in her fantastic book, "How to be a Domestic Goddess"

500g Potatoes (waxy not floury) peeled and diced

100g Spring onions (about 6) chopped finely

125g Mature cheddar: 75g grated, 50g diced

2tbsp grated parmesan (I omitted this)

50g Red leicester; grated (I left this out too!)

2tbsp chopped parsely

4tbsp creme fraiche to bind (around 1 small pot of Asda's own)

First get all your ingredients together, all you need is potatoes, creme fraiche, parsley, 

spring onions and cheese (don't worry, not a whole block!). Oh and pastry, I used a shop bought puff pastry, but you could also use shortcrust, and homemade of course.

Peel and dice your tatties!

Put them in a pan of water and bring to the boil for 5 - 10 minutes 

until tender but keeping their shape. 

Once cooked, drain and leave to cool.

Prep your spring onions, topping and tailing and dice, 

leave 'em chunky if you like a bit of bite, 

they'll mellow out during the cooking anyway.

Mix in with your creme fraiche.

Add the cheese, grate some and cube some. 

Add in your slightly cooled potatoes, mixing all ingredients together.

Add in some salt, pepper, even some mustard powder if you wish.

Put into your oven dish, you could make separate pies 

if you wish (like the recipe suggests).

Top with your pastry, give it a milk (or egg) wash and chuck in a preheated oven (at gm6/200c) for 20 minutes or until golden.

And there you go!

Peace and Love!

xx