Remember my shot of the side of my bed, looking like the aftermath of a temper tantrum in a library? Well brave reader Louise has got in touch to share her own book-based shame in an access-all-areas set of Real Reveals. Some of her photographs were too shocking to share, but these two, both of piles of books, spoke to me.

Louise says, “Thanks for the opportunity to record some of these messier parts of our house. We’ve lived here for twenty years, brought up four children here, had lots of parties, written a few books here, illustrated a few more and written countless book reviews in it. No wonder it’s looking a bit tired.”

Thank you Louise. Your house looks well loved and well read. However your attempt to mitigate the bedside chaos by saying “but to be fair we are painting the room” cuts no ice. Don’t you know we’re all painting a room. Slowly. Very slowly.

Louise, we salute your sharing spirit. If any other readers have a Real Reveal to send us please email theantistylist@hotmail.com

New shop: Between Dog and Wolf

We love a jug or vase grouping round here. So, I’m keeping my eye on this new online shop Between Dog and Wolf, especially for its collection of Mauk vases. They’re handmade out of PVC pipes – how super. The shop was set up last year by Kathryn Bristow, who also appears to have a great […]

Is it spring yet?

No, is the answer i think, with more snow coming. The daffs all over the garden are refusing to flower, so I had to fling a pound around in Tesco for these. In pursuit of some sunshine I’ve just been out to New Cross, where I almost bought a coffee table but got overwhelmed by […]

New essential

You’ll have noticed one in the corner of a room you liked in a homes mag. Or sat on one in a swanky bar. You might have put your feet on one in someone’s house or spilt your drink on it when you tried to use it as a coffee table. What am I talking […]

One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor

I’ve been claiming, round the house, that I’m applying for a job in New York. I’m not of course. They start work at 7am over there. But the pretence that I’ll be flat hunting in Manhattan shortly is cheering me up no end. New York and Tokyo are the only two cities I’d be interested […]