Travel

Updated Style in the Medieval Town of Dunster, Somerset

| Design Works International

Tucked into a 16th century shop in the Medieval town of Dunster, houses a Garden and Home Store with an updated style and sensibility known as the Horse and Crook. Shop owner and curator Abigail Larter has been in business the past 9 years because her style is somewhat unique in this tourist centric town where thousands of people from all over the world come and visit the Dunster Castle and Gardens.

Traveling as I do for my business, shopping trends and style throughout the world it’s refreshing to see a store that is unique to its town…and that is exactly what Abigail has created at the Horse and Crook.

Dunster is a town filled with many eateries and shops that are more tourist centric catering to bus loads of people on excursions to the castle. The Horse and Crook are exactly the opposite as a garden and home store with an updated “rustic glam” style. Abigail seeks out rustic and natural products from many local sources and curators them in an updated fashion. Her terra cotta and cream colored walls really do the trick creating a beautiful backdrop for her carefully curatored products. Succulents displayed in distressed painted pots, rustic frames with hand stamped detailing, hand lettered gift tags and printed textiles are just a few of Abigail’s fun finds at the Horse and Crook.

The Horse and Crook is located at:                  18 High Street in Dunster, Somerset. http://www.horseandcrook.co.uk 

          

From this Magical Place…Bratten Fleming, North Devon U.K. 

| Design Works International

First I have to thank my art director at Design Works International, Selina and her husband Pete for inviting us to their wedding in North Devon this coming Saturday…because when that invite arrived a few months back I did not even know this magical part of the country existed! After some quick research and my wonderful husband agreeing to rent a car and drive 4 hours out of London…on the opposite side of the road and a steering wheel flush right…our plans were official! (Kudos to my hubby Neil who drove like a pro…noted from Heathrow..into Central London for a day and 4 hours into the English Countryside)

Arriving into Bratten Fleming via the back roads that emulate glorified bike paths…I knew we were in for a fantastic adventure….you see these back roads are wide enough for a single vehicle no bigger than a Mini Cooper by UK standards…had to back up twice to let oncoming local traffic pass…these roads, or paths really, are flanked by fern and wild hollyhocks in bright magenta I might add! A photographers paradise…begging Neil to take me back on these roads today so I can capture their beauty! As a designer and photographer this part of the country is pure paradise!

We are staying at the lovely Bracken House in Bratten Fleming where I will dedicate a full blog post in a few days…so much to capture here that my brain needs time to comprehend and organize all my thoughts and images…so for now I will just post “moments of brillance” from this Magical Place!

Enjoy❤️

All photos by Nancy Fire

                

London Inspiration

| Design Works International

A quick trip in London before heading to North Devon today….wanted to share some “Global Greats”. Always love being in London especially when the sun is shinning  and the sky is blue!    Mesob Baskets and Kilim Rugs from Liberty of London and embroidered pillows from John Lewis Oxford Street.

  Fabrics, pillows and lampshades from John Lewis Oxford Street.

  Everything Home at John Lewis Oxford Street

  Berners Tavern at The London Edition

Berners Tavern at The London Edition

Spring Awakening 

| Design Works International

If your from the northeast this image should give you hope that “spring” is officially here. Snow has melted, spring grass is sprouting, birds are out in full force and it’s not freezing!

I guess it’s the winters past that make us appreciate these special moments between the segway of seasons.

For all of us creative types I feel that are senses are highlighted around these times as we see the beauty in the smallest of changes and appreciate them in a more memorable way.

For me it’s always renewal, gratitude and anticipation of what’s to come. A certain excitement starts to build in me with the possibilities of flowers blooming, veggies growing, birds returning and smiles on faces that seem a bit more sincere!

I often wonder if I lived in a place where the seasons did not change how I would miss these segways of seasons!

Photo by Nancy Fire

Night Walk Central Park NYC

| Design Works International

Just love this city…they say it’s “The City That Never Sleeps” and I truly know why. It’s not just about the “Action” in places like Times Square or the busy streets of NYC…its about that magical moment when day turns into night and the city takes on a new form of energy…its like a symphony of lights between the sky and the city. My favorite time of day in my favorite city to go for a “Night Walk in Central Park”.

Photo by Nancy Fire