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Such lovely feedback from the fabulous Claire Orders, following the publication of her five-page feature in the current issue (October 2015) of House Beautiful.

Claire, who owns Maison Claire Interiors, (definitely worth checking out!) first crossed paths with me a few years ago. The time wasn’t quite right for an interiors feature then but, during our chat, Claire told me that she’d keep my details and get back to me.

True to her word, earlier this year, I received an email and it was all systems go. Having seen some snapshots of her wonderful home in Greenwich, I knew that this much-loved and tastefully decorated Victorian semi would certainly be the kind of property a national interiors magazine would just love to feature.

Our shoot on a hot sunny day in London was a dream – Claire’s passion for her home and business simply shone through during our interview.

To find out how Claire and her husband David have turned a dated property into a gorgeous home, peppered with eye-catching vintage furniture and decorative home accessories from her French lifestyle website, pick up a copy of House Beautiful and enjoy a leisurely read.

Huge thanks to Claire for her warmth, efficiency and hospitality, and to my colleague Richard Gadsby for yet another great shoot.

I’m so glad that we helped Claire’s dream come true. 🙂

‘It really was an absolute pleasure having you and Richard here to shoot the house on Friday. From the day we bought our home, I set myself a personal challenge to get it into a glossy interiors magazine, so a big, big thank you for making my dream happen 🙂’ Claire Orders

If you would like to see your own home featured in a glossy magazine, please drop a line to mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call me on 01243 792379.

So glad I managed to catch the Ravilious Exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery at the weekend. Safe to say, it was one of the highlights of my year – absolutely astonishing!

The enthralling exhibition, featuring more than 80 works by this watercolour genius, runs until Monday, August 31. If you haven’t already visited, I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough.

Yippee! School’s out and, if you’re looking for somewhere to make memories this summer, then how does the sound of exploring historic buildings and castles, breath-taking gardens, abundant woodlands and picturesque villages, grab you?

Last week, I was invited to Kent – often billed as the Garden of England – to sample some of the Seven Wonders of the Weald with a guest.

The Seven Wonders (currently celebrating their 10^th anniversary) comprise, you guessed it, no less than seven unique attractions – all within an easy drive from one another. These are Groombridge Place, Scotney Castle, Biddenden Vineyards, Kent & East Sussex Railway, Chiddingstone Castle & Gardens, the elegant spa town of Tunbridge Wells and Hole Park Gardens in Rolvenden – the most recent addition to the group, and first port of call on our trip.

Naturally, I was itching to peak inside this impressive house, flanked by a wonderful Magnolia grandiflora. Edward Barham and his wife Clare live in this superb home with their three children. Unfortunately for this inquisitive interiors writer, the remodelled house, which has been owned by the Barham family for the past four generations, is a private home.

However, the enchanting gardens, with their far-reaching views over the hills, woods and fields of the picturesque Kentish Weald, are a different matter entirely.

During a guided tour, the genial and extremely knowledgeable head gardener, Quentin Stark, explained how the gardens are a mix of formal design and more natural planting, offering a riot of colour throughout the seasons. I can confirm that the herbaceous borders were looking suitably stunning, inspiring me to get to grips with my own garden when time allows.

Having sampled the delights of the homemade cake and Hole Park apple juice (both delicious!) in The Coach House Tea Room, it was onwards and upwards to Biddenden Vineyards.

Set in 23 acres, and just a short distance from the charming Wealden village of Biddenden, Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard is the perfect spot for wine buffs.

Ten varieties of grapes are grown here to produce white, red, rosé and quality sparkling wines, all of which are pressed and bottled on site.

After a light lunch, with the opportunity to taste the award- winning wines, ciders and juices, we enjoyed a tour of the vineyard before heading the to the buzzy winery, where it was all happening.

Next up on our Wonders trip was a step back in time, courtesy of the friendly gang at the Kent & East Sussex Railway, based in the tree-lined ‘Jewel of the Weald’ town of Tenterden.

As we boarded the steam train, I felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, as the sights, smells and sounds of this bygone era assaulted my senses.

As the train rolled gently through the beautiful Rother Valley, passing the magnificent Bodiam Castle, a tasty afternoon tea was such a treat and the perfect way to end a memorable day out. Indeed, the whole experience was a far cry from the somewhat stressful train journeys I’ve encountered recently en route to my interiors jobs.

In a short space of time, the stresses and strains of modern day living seemed to fade away as we were captivated by the Wealden countryside.

Unfortunately, with work beckoning, we couldn’t stay overnight this time but, if you’re visiting for longer than a day trip (and I wholeheartedly recommend it!) then Kent & Sussex Holiday Cottages, located in Cranbrook and Sandwich, are worth checking out.

With four more Wonders calling and many more happy memories to be made, I can’t wait to return.

* Visitors can currently celebrate the tenth anniversary with a Seven Wonders of the Weald annual pass. Valid for a year from purchase, the pass, costing £25, allows one free entry into many of the attractions.

The pass is available from www.sevenwonders.org.uk, or from Biddenden Vineyards, Chiddingstone Castle, the Tourist Information Centre in Tunbridge Wells or Maidstone, or at the Kent & Sussex Holiday Cottages shop, located in Cranbrook High Street.

* Huge thanks to Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR for the invitation.

What a great start to the week! Such lovely feedback following the publication of the bright and breezy August issue of 25 Beautiful Homes.

Inside this summery edition, you can step into this magical seaside home in North Yorkshire, owned by Shona Williams and her husband Roger. After a huge amount of creative thinking and hard work, their crumbling cottage has been totally replanned and is now a delightful bolthole.

Feeling rather daunted by the scale of the project, Shona turned to her interior designer friend Bea Evans, who advised on a subtle palette echoing the cottage’s idyllic coastal location and nautical-themed fabrics, including this Roman blind in Clarke & Clarke’s Regatta ticking stripe (pictured above).

London home

Having used Julia Blunt Interiors for a previous project, when Jo and Nathan Birtle bought a tired London terrace with a view to completely remodelling the property, Jo knew exactly who to contact.

‘The girls at Julia Blunt encouraged me to make the bolder choices that, in my heart of hearts, I really wanted,’ Jo explains.

The result is a stunning home, packed with vibrant touches, such as the fuchsia Porta Romana satin lampshades pictured below.

Photograph above, courtesy of Jeremy Phillips.

Photograph below, courtesy of Andreas von Einsiedel.

Can you imagine waking up to a view like this every morning? Well, instead of just yearning to live by the sea, Clare Willison has turned her dream into reality.

To find out how Clare and her husband Murray knocked down a dilapidated beachside property to create this stunning home in West Sussex, pick up a copy of this month’s (August 2015) Country Homes & Interiors.

Inside, you can read the full story and take a tour of this fabulous home, courtesy of photographer colleague Richard Gadsby’s images, which include stunning shots of the rooms and Clare’s driftwood artwork.

Having moved to the coast, this hardworking couple have gone one step further and opened their own successful business, Billy’s on the Beach, just half a mile along the shore. It’s a super cafe and restaurant  with fab food, amazing views and friendly service. Definitely worth a visit. A few of my snaps are attached below.

For more information about Driftwood Boats, click here or call Clare on 01243 673560.

Photograph above of the master bedroom, courtesy of Richard Gadsby.

Just back from a couple of truly magical days, exploring the delights of Dorset in glorious sunshine.

Have to say, I enjoyed every single minute of the whistle-stop adventure, centred on the historic village of Abbotsbury – it really is amazing what you can pack into a short space of time!

Highlights included meeting artists, including John Meaker, at the inspiring Abbotsbury Studio, and discovering the wonderful Lazyhill Gallery, where a wealth of talented artists (such as the fab Jules Watson of JuJu and Bubba) and makers’ work is beautifully displayed and hard to resist.

My sister and I both fell for the same little gem that’s now winging its way back to Northern Ireland as a surprise gift that was bought with love for our mother.

Oh, and the sunset in Weymouth one evening was simply spectacular! 🙂

Wow…such an honour to be invited to open The Angmering School’s Art, Design and Technology exhibition last night.

I was absolutely astounded by the outstanding quality of work on display. The incredibly talented GCSE and A Level students’ enthusiasm and passion for their subject sang out loud and clear in every single piece – truly inspirational.

It was a real pleasure to meet the pupils and chat to them about their ingenious inventions, original designs and innovative artwork, as well as hearing about their hopes and dreams for the future.

Huge thanks to the dedicated head of the Design and Technology department Carrie Brixey (pictured below with student Emma Brown) for asking me along and also for the stunning fuchsia and white bouquet of summer flowers – so kind.

Calling all househunters! How do you fancy living in this fabulous four-bedroom house in the picturesque town of Arundel in West Sussex?

Anna Chatterton-Crosse and her husband Jules adore their wonderful three-storey house, featured in the May 2015 issue of Country Homes & Interiors.

However, Anna and Jules have decided that it’s time to move on to new challenges. Their elegant home in Maltravers Street, which boasts an abundance of charming period features, is currently on the market with Pegasus Properties, priced £599,950.

Having spent time in this superbly renovated character home, I reckon it’s a true gem of a property. Anna and Jules have put their hearts and souls into creating a stylish light-filled house and I know that it will make a wonderful home for the next lucky owners.

For further information, click the link here.

Fab shoot on the most wonderful summer’s day yesterday. Dreamy barn conversion and beautiful garden in an idyllic rural spot. I can’t wait to show you around inside. 🙂