Final week, Chris and I had the unimaginable alternative to journey to London for work. We had been invited by Williams Sonoma and William Morris and Co to preview their latest collaboration and the inspiration behind it. It was my first time in London and though it was a fast journey, they introduced us everywhere in the metropolis and countryside and I soaked up each final hanging floral–on the partitions and storefronts.
Wallpaper
We took a direct red-eye flight from Raleigh to Heathrow and arrived Monday morning. A driver introduced us to our lovely lodge–The Rosewood London, however our room wasn’t fairly prepared but. They sat us of their “mirror room” which was this beautiful jewel field eating space. We each ordered “the wholesome” breakfast choice and watched as Cameron Diaz, her husband, Benji and their daughter came visiting and sat on the sofa 5 toes behind us! We smiled however stated nothing. After which bumped into them the following day as properly!
Our first engagement was scheduled for that evening, so we bought a nap, watched the Queen’s funeral procession within the afternoon and bought prepared for dinner at a close-by lodge–The Ned. That they had a personal room reserved and it was all served household model. Numerous nice choices and we had been in a position to meet some superb journal editors and executives from William Morris and Williams Sonoma.
Within the morning we packed our luggage up and set off to the Morris & Co headquarters in Denham the place we had been in a position to see the studio the place the whole lot is designed and the brand new assortment for Williams Sonoma! (I already ordered the utensil holder for our countertop!)
Though London was extremely lovely together with her ornate structure at each flip, the English countryside has my coronary heart. We drove by the Cotswolds and onto William Morris’s residence, Kelmscott Manor.
So many particulars, though a whole bunch of years previous, felt so acquainted. The form of his hearth that our vary hood was modeled after. The entire wallpaper and materials that I see so many locations now, originated there!!
We then had lunch at The Royal Commonplace of England in Beaconsfield. I consider the pub is a few 900 years previous and I couldn’t shake that I felt like I used to be in a set at Disney World or one thing, not an precise place that each one of these motion pictures and eating places had been seemingly impressed by. I bought quite a lot of questions on how I can eat whereas touring, and if I follow veggies and meat, I’m often simply tremendous. (However I additionally introduced some tablets to assist simply in case). I had the braised pork and bubble and squeak with contemporary applesauce. English pub meals–so good!
We then headed to the beginning place of William Shakespeare, Stratford-on-Avon, for the evening. Breath taking views and the cutest streets. We stayed on the Ettington Park Resort. An especially previous (and pretty haunted–I’ll inform THAT story in tonight’s love letter) manor home, turned lodge on 40 lovely acres. It dates again to early 1500s. After a fast relaxation (sure–we did all of this in in the future!), we met for dinner at Woodsman Restaurant. We tried quite a lot of conventional English meals and stayed out technique to late chatting in regards to the day.
After a stressed evening, we set off within the morning to Loughborough to see the Morris & Co manufacturing facility. We noticed all of the alternative ways wallpaper is printed. Watching so many humble and hard-working individuals creating one thing to deliver pleasure and sweetness to our properties was such a transferring second. Dwelling issues. How we really feel in our residence issues. It has to!
We had an awesome day on the manufacturing facility studying and attempting a number of of the strategies (they nonetheless do some block printing and let me strive!!) Morris & Co supplied wallpaper to the Queen and royal household. There was a extremely particular second the place they allow us to go into the archives and see the block for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Simply sitting there on a shelf!
After the tour, we hopped on a prepare again to London. When you have the chance, take a prepare in England. It was such a captivating technique to finish our time with the 2 Williams.
Chris and I checked again into the Rosewood and bought prepared for our particular dinner. I made reservations at The Clove Membership in London a number of weeks again. It’s a 2 Michelin Star restaurant and after 12 excellent programs, we’d completely agree. We did the Chef’s tasting, so that you don’t order–the Chef simply cooks all of the small programs for you. It ended up being a 4 hour dinner and each mouthful was a shock. I used to be in a position so as to add my dietary restrictions to the reservation they usually had been extremely accommodating. I don’t really feel like I missed a factor!
The subsequent day, we explored London on foot. Took footage of method too many storefronts. Went to Buckingham palace. Stumbled in an vintage bookstore. Went to Kiln for lunch (a gap within the wall Southeast Asian restaurant that Chris hasn’t stopped speaking about–it. was. INCREDIBLE). After which noticed Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theater.
We ended up consuming at our lodge that evening so we might get to mattress early for our flight the following day and it was such an awesome finish cap to our journey.
We couldn’t do the whole lot, however I really feel like we did SO MUCH within the few days we had been there. I already can’t wait to return as a household.
What we wore in London!
Supply: Mad About The Home
