The Andrassy Living Blog

28 East Street Abstract Dinner Candles alfresco dining alzheimers society andrassy living Annabelle Maclay food autumn autumn checklist Baskets bathing bathroom ideas bathroom lighting bathroom storage bathroom tiles bathrooms Beach beatrix throw beautifully set tables bed linen bedding bedroom cushions bedrooms bedscapes best restaurant in somerset best shop in ilminster best shop in somerset best somerset shops best walks bicester village black and white storage bag Blaegrove barn blankets Blenheim Palace block print bobble glasses boot room storage boutique hotels British Colour Standard Candles brockenhurst broste copenhagen broste copenhagen candles brostecopenhagen bungalow cushions bungalow denmark cabbages and roses calligraphy cancer story candles caroline clifton-mogg carrot salad casual living centrepiece ceramic houses charity christina strutt christmas christmas day christmas dinner christmas films Christmas games christmas ideas christmas table decorations christmas tablescapes churchill exhibition clare nolan clean sheets cleaning Clear Glass Vase cosy textiles cotton knit cushions creative workshops cushions cushions made in india Cushions with Tassels danish homeware in ilminster danish moisturiser day birger et mikkelsen day home desks dining table dinner party dog walks dried hydrangeas elf day Family games farmerswife ficus fiddle leaf fig filing cabinets flowers fonthill bishop lake foraged food formal table settings frames France French Holiday fundraising for alzheimers Gee Cartwright gee cartwright cookery get ready for autumn gift shop ilminster Gifts glamorous bathrooms great bars great restaurant green and pink cushions greenery ham hill country park Hand Block Printed Cushions hand block printed napkins hand cream hand soap health in the home home design ideas home diffusers home fragrance home office home spa Homemade gifts homewares Horrell and horrell house doctor house doctor bowls house doctor dk house doctor storage House Doctor Vase house plants housedoctor how to do christmas how to relax how to set a table human nature icons of british fashion Ile de Re Ilminster ilminster shop independent store ilminster indoor plants indoor trees interesting people interiors interiors books interiors ilminster interiors shop its cool to be kind joanna simmons judith wilson Kindness La Rochelle lambswool blankets langport river lantern lanterns large desks large indoor plants large wool blanket laundry bag lavender water Le Cible lifestyle shop lifestyle shop somerset lifestyle store in ilminster linen napkins liquid soap lockdown loo roll holder lovely customers luxury bathrooms lymington magazines maison et objet maisonetobjet meditation mel denisse picnic setting Meraki meraki candles method floor polish Mini break in the UK MO15 modern calligraphy Mothers day mothers day gift ideas mulled wine myrtle lambswool throw napkins neutral cushions new forest new forest hotels New Recipes new shop new stock Nkuku cushions northern dawn skincare office chairs office organisation offices offices at home organic moisturiser organic skincare outdoor dining outdoor dining experience Oxford paint pampas grass paris fair pauline godfrey picnics picture frames Pink Gin Pip’s Carriage plant pot popup barn on the farm pork power cut emergency pack Pubs in Woodstock Pubs with rooms quill london reading rebecca tanqueray refresh your home relax at home relaxing restaurants with rooms rhubarb Rhubarb Gin ribbons river parrett savon de marseille scented candles sculptural plants shopping in oxford small office spaces small spaces society of lifestyle sofa cushions Somerset somerset dining somerset life magazine Somerset pubs Somerset restaurants somerset shop somerset shops somerset walks sparkford restaurant spring cleaning squashable storage bag storage storage bag storage bag with handle striped cushions Striped Dinner Candles stripey cushions study summer entertaining table mats table setting etiquette table settings tablecloth tablecloths tablescapes The Barrington Boar The Crooked Swan at Crewkerne the pig the pig hotel things to do at home throws TineK towels toy storage Travel Travel Blog trawler newspaper trestle tables tulips tweedmill Twig blankets UK weekend utility room storage vase vases vision boards visit bicester village volga linen wedding table settings wilde throw winter Woodstock working at home
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Rhubarb Rhubarb Rhubarb!

Rhubarb Rhubarb Rhubarb!

I already have a glut of rhubarb in the garden - what the devil shall I do with it?  Well on researching, I have discovered that I can just chop it all up and stick it straight into the freezer as it is.  Then when I come to make a crumble or a chutney, I can use a handful straight from frozen which makes life much easier.
April 27, 2023 — Sophie Martin
Tags: bobble glasses Pink Gin rhubarb Rhubarb Gin
The Storage Bag (with handles). How do you use yours?!

The Storage Bag (with handles). How do you use yours?!

Just a little post on the fabulously versatile and gloriously simple Storage Bag.  It squashes down completely flat when not in use and has a handy handle so you can hang it on the back of a bathroom door or in a cloakroom to corral hats and gloves.
March 22, 2023 — Sophie Martin
Tags: bathroom storage black and white storage bag boot room storage house doctor dk house doctor storage laundry bag loo roll holder magazines plant pot squashable storage bag storage storage bag storage bag with handle toy storage utility room storage
Live better, longer

Live better, longer

‘Blue Zones’.  Heard of them?  It’s a term used by National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner, used to describe areas of the world in which people live longer.  According to Dan, there are five of these zones in the world (Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece and Loma Linda in California) and their secret is down to a number of habits that he calls the ‘Power 9’………
February 10, 2023 — Sophie Martin
How to Refresh Your Home after the festivities

How to Refresh Your Home after the festivities

Now that we’re firmly into 2023 and you’ve got the Christmas decs packed up, the house is probably looking a little bare so it’s the perfect time to add a couple of elements to refresh things…..
January 13, 2023 — Sophie Martin
Tags: cleaning home diffusers home fragrance house plants meraki method floor polish paint pampas grass refresh your home spring cleaning
How to do Christmas Day (according to me!)

How to do Christmas Day (according to me!)

Well I’m no authority but given that I’m hosting this year I’ve done a bit of research / flicked through some lovely Christmassy magazines and looked at the pretty pictures!
December 16, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: block print christmas day christmas dinner christmas films christmas ideas christmas tablescapes how to do christmas napkins tablecloths
How to Create the Perfect Tablescape….. and make your guests feel loved

How to Create the Perfect Tablescape….. and make your guests feel loved

So, number one, a fabulous tablescape doesn’t necessarily involve going out and buying loads of new stuff although it is lovely to refresh what you have with some new napkins or a fabulous tablecloth, or just add a pop of colour with some dinner candles (I have plenty to choose from at the shop!)
November 11, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: Annabelle Maclay food beautifully set tables block print christmas table decorations dining table dinner party how to set a table Striped Dinner Candles table mats table setting etiquette table settings tablecloth tablescapes
Indoor Plants - good for your health and great for your home

Indoor Plants - good for your health and great for your home

.... house plants have long been conceived as slightly old-fashioned, plus lots of us are rather put off by the fact that we forget to water them and they collect dust but I'm here to convince you otherwise.  Trust me, some are dead easy to look after (pardon the pun) and they'll really transform the look and feel of your home.
September 28, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: ficus fiddle leaf fig greenery health in the home house doctor house plants indoor plants indoor trees large indoor plants picture frames sculptural plants society of lifestyle
Who doesn’t love cushions? (Apart from menfolk - they’re generally not so keen!)

Who doesn’t love cushions? (Apart from menfolk - they’re generally not so keen!)

Yes honestly, a beautiful cushion really can put a smile on your face every day, especially if it’s well-made, in a gorgeous fabric and comfortable to sit on / lean against / cry into!
September 02, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: bedroom cushions bungalow cushions cotton knit cushions Cushions cushions made in india Cushions with Tassels green and pink cushions Hand Block Printed Cushions neutral cushions Nkuku cushions sofa cushions striped cushions stripey cushions
Don’t Tempt Fate!

Don’t Tempt Fate!

Today, I put a sign up outside, encouraging people to pop in and say hello (it’s 35 bloody degrees out there so I need to encourage the only 3 people brave enough to walk around Ilminster today to cross the threshold!). At 12.10 an older lady walked in and asked if she could have a browse (I know this because I’m now keeping a list of everyone who comes into my shop, the time they enter and how long they stay - I know!) Anyway, 45 minutes later she left, having told me her life story and repeatedly telling me, “Don’t tempt fate!”  
August 11, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: andrassy living ilminster interesting people lifestyle shop somerset lovely customers new shop somerset shop
Andrassy Living Opens in Ilminster

Andrassy Living Opens in Ilminster

Well I’ve been open for exactly 3 days!  The [actual] doors to Andrassy Living in Ilminster opened on Wednesday 20th July and my lifelong dream of being a shopkeeper was realised (I really wanted to be a sweet shop lady but I have progressed to interiors and fashion - who knows, maybe I’ll stock some sweets too!)  
July 18, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: 28 East Street andrassy living best shop in ilminster gift shop ilminster ilminster ilminster shop independent store ilminster interiors ilminster interiors shop lifestyle shop somerset shop
Discover Meraki. The super duper Danish Skincare & Home fragrance brand

Discover Meraki. The super duper Danish Skincare & Home fragrance brand

Meraki skincare products are made of gentle and nourishing ingredients carefully selected for their positive qualities, proven effects, and natural fragrances. Designed and developed in Denmark, the products are inspired by Scandinavian aesthetics and created with love and respect for nature.  What’s not to like?
May 16, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: danish moisturiser hand cream hand soap home diffusers home spa liquid soap Meraki meraki candles northern dawn skincare organic moisturiser organic skincare scented candles
Beautiful Blankets

Beautiful Blankets

Just a little blog post today about our new 100% lambswool blankets that have arrived at Andrassy Living. 
May 03, 2022 — Sophie Martin
Tags: beatrix throw lambswool blankets large wool blanket myrtle lambswool throw Twig blankets wilde throw