This time of year is always a shock to the system. In spite of the positive affirmations I wrote about last month, no matter how relaxed and refreshed I feel post-summer, that too-quick transition from sandy toes and Campari spritzes to febrile office politics and back-to-back Teams calls is something I will never get used to.
That said, the queasy, back-to-schoolness of autumn isn’t without its upsides. After weeks of traipsing through destinations near and far, living out of suitcases and sleeping in different beds, there’s a real joy to be found in coming home.
I love that sense of shutting the front door, breathing a sigh of relief and realising I’m where I can totally be myself. No putting on a smile for the benefit of hotel staff or in-laws at breakfast time. No ‘What are we doing today?’ No ‘Why aren’t you dressed yet?’ or ‘What do you mean you didn’t book?’ Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel, but being home is pure calmness, and that is to be celebrated.
What's everyone reading?
As ever, though, time away means that I look at my four walls (as well as my ceilings, doorframes, floors – everything, in fact) in a new light. While I clearly love the familiarity of it all, the seasonal switch also makes me crave change.
I have an itch and it’s nothing to do with Mediterranean mosquitoes or sunburn. I want to decorate, and I’m not talking about a tiny touch-up here and there; I mean a total revamp. I want every room to be different – walls in spectacular new shades, the kitchen transformed into a walk-in wardrobe, the windows (and walls) hung with swathes of fabulous new fabrics, the bathroom transfigured into an intergalactic mirrored spaceship of a place.
We’ll have to see how far I get with these plans when the nine-to-five reality kicks back in, but at least I have all the inspiration I need in this issue, including, as it does, pages upon pages celebrating all things decorating, as well as volume 8 of ELLE Decoration Bathrooms. It’s essential for tackling all of my planned projects, and yours too I hope.
In a wider sense, this annual reset also means I can reframe my dealings with my home city. London is like family. I love it dearly, ignore its let-downs and overpromises and appreciate that, as with most relationships, we’re in a permanent state of flux. Yet, as we approach this year’s London Design Festival, previewed on p87, I am nothing but overwhelmed with pride for the creativity of the people who make it what it is – a place always worth coming home to.
