The Great British Strawberry Season

Image: Garden Organic

It is that time of year again when British strawberries ripen and herald the start of Summer. June is the start of the British strawberry season, synonymous with Summer they are only in season for a brief time, from early June through to August.

By far the best strawberries to buy have to be from a local producer. A day out strawberry picking can be fun; supermarkets may sell the cotton wool impostors cheaply but the flavour is incomparable to home grown fruits.

Strawberries were originally called strewberries because when growing they appear to have been thrown about. After various name changes they ended up as strawberries after the straw that was used as a mulch to surround them when growing.

In medieval Great Britain newly weds enjoyed strawberries, borage and soured cream for their wedding breakfast believing them to be an aphrodisiac. The heart shaped fruit has long been a symbol of purity, passion, and healing. In the 18th century farmers would fill baskets with the berries and tie them to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves who, it was believed, could help them produce a good supply of milk.

5 Facts About Strawberries

1. 5 strawberries provide more vitamin C than an entire orange 

2. 100 grams of strawberries contain approx 30 calories

3. Strawberries were cultivated by the Romans as early as 200 BC

4. Roughly 27,000 kilos of strawberries are eaten during the Wimbledon Championships

5. On average there are 200 tiny seeds on each berry

So pour the Pimms, get set for Wimbledon and enjoy the British strawberry season! 

Country Colours

Whether or not you live in the country, you can enjoy a simpler way of life by decorating your home in a modern country style and one of the key elements of doing this is through use of colour.

Modern country colours are natural, muted and subtle - think of the shades that are found in nature sage, moss, slate, clay, duck egg and chalk.

Grey

Qualities - Cool, Clear, Fresh

Grey is a versatile neutral colour to decorate with in the home and comes in many shades from Dove to Slate. Teamed with pale blues it looks clean and fresh or alternatively with taupe it takes on a warmer, earthier look. Furniture and panelling painted in pale grey take on a elegant Scandinavian look.

Green 

Qualities - Organic, Restful, Natural

The colour of freshly emerging leaves or muted sage, decorating with green in any shade is like bringing the outdoors into your home. Green is restful and rejuvenating, use apple green for a fresh summery look or olive for a rustic, autumnal feel.

Oatmeal

Qualities - Warm, Comforting, Relaxed

Calm and comforting, oatmeal is a perfect neutral base colour. Add white to keep it fresh and modern and plenty of texture to offset the muted effect. Honey tones and rich browns will add depth while tones of stone and slate will cool it down.

Blue

Qualities - Cool, Crisp, Clean

Cool blue creates a clean and crisp colour scheme, think blue and white stripes in a classic seaside beach house. Often seen as a cold colour add ivory or oatmeal for warmth or add pure white cotton and paintwork to keep the look fresh and modern.  

All pictures from Design Seeds

Creating Modern Country Kitchens

A true country kitchen is what many of us wish for in our own homes, whether or not our homes are surrounded by fields and farms it’s possible to evoke that classic country kitchen feel even if you live in the most urban of settings. For many people choosing to adopt a less formal, more relaxed style of home the country style kitchen is an ideal way to achieve this.

The kitchen and dining area of a home are one place where the modern country look can be easily achieved. In today's country kitchen old and new are cleverly combined - traditional furniture sits alongside sleek modern appliances while warm natural finishes are offset by stainless steel accessories.

Adding Modern Country Style to Your Kitchen

In terms of style 'modern' and 'country' may seem like polar opposites, however these two styles can be effectively combined to create a kitchen that is both warm and welcoming and yet completely up to date. 

The key to creating a modern country kitchen is getting the correct balance between the more traditional elements such as the cabinetry whilst accommodating the modern essentials such as the lighting and appliances. 

• Materials - Think of the materials used in the kitchen - slate, granite, stone and natural wood, they wear well and are compatible in both modern and country interiors.

• Colour - Keep the main colours soft and neutral and add accents of deeper colours such as cherry red, sage green or shaker blue. By using paler neutral colours on the walls it will keep the room light and airy and will make it look more spacious. 

• Accessories - Its important to consider the small details in order to create a truly individual kitchen. Mix authentic vintage kitchenware with country kitchen accessories such as enamel jugs, peg rails and chalk boards.

• Appliances - Key appliances are often integrated behind doors to keep in with the traditional style. Range cookers are the perfect centerpiece for the modern country kitchen and look great nestled into the chimney breast of the kitchen.

• Cabinetry - Cabinets should be simple - shaker style or tongue and grooved in solid wood, either painted in a subtle colour or left natural.

By adding modern country style to your kitchen you will enjoy a room that has the warmth and comfort associated with country living combined with the essentials required for modern day life.

Photos from www.housetohome.co.uk

What a Difference a Day Makes!

I've been looking out over the same view for months now, however all that has changed over the weekend ...

What a difference a day makes!