Cause it’s probably you, not your camera.

As someone who is paid to shoot and creatively direct content, the two questions I get asked most are what I’m shooting on and what I’m editing with. Unless it’s film, it’s always my iPhone with little-to-no edits. I love shooting on iPhone - it’s easy and when you get it right, the colours and light are unmatched.

Every secret I have comes down to the same thing, which is getting the photo right at the moment you take it rather than trying to save it later through editing. I’m lazy - I don’t like editing, so I’ve spent years working out how to avoid it. It’s a mix of nailing your settings and a few tweaks as you shoot, all of which I’m sharing here.

Photography, for me, is a way of showing people how you see the world. Phone cameras have completely democratised our ability to take beautiful photographs - you don’t need a professional camera, you just need to know how to use the one you already have.

My most-read piece of all time is The Exact Settings On My iPhone Camera, so consider this the updated version, plus the subsequent tips I’ve shared all in one place. Grab your phone if it’s not already in your hand, as we’re going to start with settings.

I have the iPhone 17 Pro Max - the Pros have the best cameras. If you have an older or non-Pro phone then most of what follows still applies. You just won’t have *every* option available to you.

1. Sort Your Settings

Let’s start with your settings so when you open your camera you’re good to go -

Go to Settings > Camera and toggle the following:

• Grid > On, which divides your frame into thirds, which helps with composition

• Level > On, this gives you an on-screen spirit level

• View Outside the Frame > Off, the setting I feel most strongly about. This focuses your attention on purely what is in the frame, with everything else blacked out. I genuinely struggle to shoot on friends’ phones when they have it turned on

• Preserve Settings > On for exposure, so whatever you set last time is still waiting for you when you next open the camera

• Fusion Camera > 28mm & 35mm > On (if your phone has this) AKA 1.2 and 1.5x Zoom

In the camera itself

• I shoot on a 3:4 ratio most of the time (unless I’m specifically shooting for Instagram stories, then it’s 16:9)

We’re staying in settings as we get into the next bit too, I promise it’s a one and done thing!

2. Optimise The Quality

Most of us just use whatever is standard, but after years of trying different things I’ve landed on the following - these have changed since my original photography post. This is where it gets a bit technical as there are three places to alter your settings (Apple don’t make it straightforward, but I am trying to!)

Below the paywall we get into the nitty gritty of navigating countless iPhone setting options, how to stop your videos flickering and the two tricks I rely on. It feels a bit like I am baring my soul

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One of my eternal problems is that I have very specific and often expensive taste, without necessarily the budget to match. Once I have a vision in my head I find it genuinely difficult to settle for something lesser - let’s call it dedication.

Sometimes I have an innate feeling that there is another way, I just haven’t worked out what it is - yet. This time it revealed itself with a delve into my 200,000 picture deep camera roll to find something I knew I’d saved at some point.

This marks the start of a new series: How To Save £1000s - where I’ll be sharing how some savvy sourcing saved me thousands and thousands across our renovation (we can add it all up at the end and apply some girl math) - and exactly where to find the same things yourself.

I’m starting with the question frequenting my DMs right now, which is where I found our bamboo blinds. I’ve previously expressed my dislike of naked windows, simple enough to solve on standard sash windows, rather more complex when it comes to seven metres of skylight, south facing no less.

To provide some context - the extension we adopted when we bought the house was small and dark with no rooflight whatsoever, and what little daylight might have made it through was blocked by a pergola and overgrown shrubs. Getting light into the new one was the thing I cared about more than anything else in the entire renovation, so in went a flat skylight made up of four panels, 1.8m in length each. Finally, we had the light extension we’d been dreaming of.

Then we moved in in May, went straight into what’s on track to be the hottest summer on record with heatwave after heatwave and the dining area that gets the direct sun became somewhere we couldn’t actually sit for most hours of the day. After all that determination, I was starting to regret our choices. Had we created a room we couldn’t use half the year? Why did our architect let us do that? Were we going to have to sell the house? I started spiralling.

If you read my post on the interiors decisions I’d consciously made, you might remember I said I’d one day love bamboo blinds for our skylight. I hadn’t anticipated that day arriving quite so urgently.

Custom bamboo blinds for skylights, roof lights and side returns are typically very expensive, so I’d more or less accepted this was something we’d save up for and get to in a few years’ time. I approached a high end blind company anyway, the sort that fits out hotels and very beautiful private homes, mostly to understand what I was dealing with.

They were genuinely helpful - they sent samples, they talked me through how it would all work, and they corrected something I had completely wrong: I’d pictured the blinds running front to back, when in fact they needed to run left to right, which made far more sense once explained. I’d have got it wrong without that conversation, so I’m very grateful for their help.

I’d progressed the conversation as they’d said somewhere around £4,000-5,000 was realistic (still a lot, I know), but the quote landed in my inbox at £6,429, or £7,683 if I wanted them motorised. At about 50% more than we’d initially discussed, I was pushed to look elsewhere.

Next, I looked at Color & Co where I’d got a beautiful bamboo roller blind for our bathroom previously, but they sadly didn’t offer the retractable roof blind system that I needed. I reverted to my trusty screenshots folder. At first I found a reference where someone had ordered raw bamboo panels, had them cut to size, sent to a curtain maker to be edged and then sourced the track system separately. Despite conversing with Claude about the dummies version of how to do this, the £6,429 solution was starting to look more appealing. I am nothing if not allergic to complex instructions.

Then it appeared, from a screenshot I’d saved less than a week after Cosmo was born. A 10am breastfeeding scroll, evidently. I looked it up, half expecting another dead end. It looked promising. I worked out roughly what we’d need and did the maths twice because I couldn’t quite believe it. Less than £400 for all four - a saving of about £6,000.

I quickly decided that if I had £6,429 kicking around I’d sooner spend it on the garden or air conditioning. I figured these were worth trying for a literal fraction of the price. If I did want something more expensive and swanky down the line, they’d be a good test of whether the idea worked at all.

I ordered samples of the few options they had, and when they arrived I laid them next to the more luxe ones on the kitchen table, fully expecting there to be a noticeable difference, but there wasn’t.

I placed the order and a few weeks later the blinds arrived and I had them installed. What we ended up with exceeded all my expectations. Not only are they beautiful, but they’ve softened the space, allowed us to use the room in bright sunshine, added warmth and stopped the heat getting in on hot days. Turns out I didn’t need to save up for years at all.

Read on for the company, all the technical detail, how we actually live with them and an honest account of what you do and don’t get for a saving like this.

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Last week, our son Cosmo turned one - a big milestone whether you’re into hosting celebrations or not, and I am certainly into hosting celebrations. I get so much pleasure in bringing people together and considering all the details, whilst still making it look somewhat effortless.

Cosmo’s birthday coincided with our house reaching an almost-finished state, which meant the party became something of a hybrid: a birthday celebration meets housewarming. We hosted over forty people at home - loved ones young and old - and it was pretty magical, with a touch of mayhem. Just how a kids party should be.

I got very emotional whilst doing a little speech because the home we’d poured our everything into was finally how we’d pictured it - full of life and love. It was something I’d visualised so many times in the last couple of years and finally we’d made it to that point.

I took advantage of the fact that he can’t yet pick a theme himself, and with his name being Cosmo, it had to be cosmic. We also threw it on 8/8, arguably the most astrologically powerful date there is.

This post contains every detail: the photos, the invite, the illustrator, the decorations, the cake (chaos and all), the gifts, Cosmo’s outfit, new garden furniture and all my hosting hacks and sourcing secrets

I shot all the pics on film and it’s made me fall in love with it all over again!

The Invite

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I know this can be a delicate topic as conception looks so different for everyone. I’ve pored over this piece for months in the hope that I can be sensitive, whilst also sharing from my own experience. This piece is written from the perspective of natural conception between a man and a woman, we were lucky to conceive relatively quickly and not to suffer losses this time. I know this is not everyone’s story. If you are in a harder place with any of this, I’m sending love and hope something still resonates here, even if it’s just the segment on what to do if it’s not happening yet.

Having spent most of my life trying not to get pregnant, one day something switched. I always knew I wanted children, but the shift to actually wanting that more than anything else happened quite suddenly - I went from choosing festivals and drinking at weddings to a baby being the only thing on my mind. People always say there’s never a perfect time, and I think that’s true, but I also think there’s something in you that knows when it’s what you want to prioritise.

I became fascinated by pregnancy and birth years before I experienced them myself. The more I learnt, the more I realised how much there is to know, and how little of it is widely known.

I’m not an oracle - just someone with a fairly type-A approach to some things, and conception was one of them. The irony being that the month I actually conceived was the month I had completely taken my foot off the gas (we will get into this).

In this post I cover everything I did in the lead up to getting pregnant - from fertility testing and cycle tracking to the supplements worth taking months before you even start trying.

There is also a theory on how to influence the sex of your baby (that everyone with a girl will assure you is untrue..), advice for the emotional side of trying that doesn’t get talked about enough, the details of my acupuncturist who I credit with helping me conceive and a genius idea from a friend on what to do in the months it doesn’t happen, that I wish someone had told me sooner.

None of this is prescriptive and is certainly not medical advice. Everything here is based on my own personal experience and I will not take responsibility for any average sex you may have as a result.

Fertility Tests

About a year before we started trying, my husband and I both took fertility tests to get an indicator of where we were and whether we should get a headstart. These tests look at things like AMH levels in women and sperm health in men, though how predictive they actually are of fertility is up for debate. Nothing is a guarantee either way, but as an indicator of where we were, I found it useful - if I’d gone on to take a long time to get pregnant, perhaps I would have cursed their efficacy.

I used Hertility, an at-home finger prick test, which did the job - though if you’re at all squeamish I’d recommend against collecting your own blood sample, and if you do go down that route, have someone with you. It’s worth noting that results can vary depending on what contraception you’ve been on. If I were doing it again I’d probably go to an in-person clinic where you can have an ultrasound too.

Fertility testing is something I’d encourage doing with your partner - it’s very much a joint venture, and often we assume issues sit with the woman when they don’t. There are at-home tests and in-person options for men too. With both our results looking normal, we didn’t feel the need to start any sooner than we’d originally planned.

General Health

It’s generally undisputed that going into conception in good health gives you a better chance, and that applies to both of you. Good nutrition, sleep, reducing alcohol and being mindful of what you’re exposing your body to all make a difference. Fun is important too (more on that later). I’ve heard that the health of the male at the time of conception can even impact pregnancy sickness, which feels like reason enough to make it a joint effort.

There is a lot you can do to optimise this and it can feel overwhelming, so start small and dial it up if needed. On nutrition specifically, eggs and omega-3s are worth prioritising for hormonal health and egg quality. I’ve heard ‘Nine Months That Count Forever’ by the Glucose Goddess and ‘It Starts With An Egg’ by Rebecca Fett are both good places to go deeper (I’m yet to read them myself though).

Some of the swaps I made around this time: non-toxic period products, a natural deodorant and being more mindful generally about plastics and synthetic fragrances. None of it is dramatic, but it’s good practice for pregnancy too.

Contraception

Stopping contraception is the obvious first step, and it’s worth giving it some thought as it may not be totally straightforward depending on the method you’ve been using. You may well use condoms or already be tracking your cycle and feel very in tune with your body - I was not.

I had the hormonal Mirena coil and had it removed when I wanted to start trying, assuming my period would come right back. It actually took a few months to return, which I felt quite powerless over - not a huge wait, but still stressful not knowing.

I had demonised periods and glorified not having them for the six years I had the coil. I think very differently about my cycle now, after listening to this podcast, which helped me understand the importance of them and how flippantly we accept hormonal contraception.

One thing worth noting: if you’re coming off contraception, don’t assume that no period means you aren’t fertile. Your cycle may restart with ovulation before your first period arrives, so if you’re not yet ready to try, bear that in mind.

Below: the emotional reality of trying, my magic acupuncturist’s details, what a tarot card reader told me, an unscientific theory on baby sex and why not being pregnant yet can be a bonus

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This week’s Tuesday Ten comes straight from the Dolomites, where I’m staying at the beautiful Hotel Saltus with three friends you may know: Polly (@pollyvnewman), Hollie (@holliemercedes) and Fran (@francescasaffari). It’s hiking, spa and food heaven, and I’ve had them join me today for a special guest edition. It was so fun hearing their answers - we cover everything from beauty bits and wedding regrets to packing tips and camera roll management, travel recs to swimwear. Thanks for the questions as always.

1. If you could only take two beauty products to a desert island, what would they be?

Fran: Rodial Banana Low Lighter and Chanel Les Beiges Eau de Teint

Hollie: Chanel Baume Essentiel in Rose and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry

India: Ilia Serum Concealer and Merit Flush Balm in Persimmon

Polly: Merit Complexion Stick Concealer and Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick

2. Where is next on your travel wishlist?

Fran: A road trip around Canada

Hollie: Hiking in Pakistan

India: Upstate New York and New England in the Fall

Polly: Anywhere I can see Humpback whales, maybe Boston

3. Best city in Europe for a girls’ trip?

Fran: Barcelona

Hollie: Palma / Mallorca

India: Copenhagen

Polly: Lisbon

4. What are you currently reading?

Fran: The Lover. A love triangle spanning three decades, based on the author’s own life. Highly recommend

India: Pleasure by Emma-Louise Boynton. Part memoir, part cultural investigation into why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies and from sex, and what it takes to change that. Fascinating and incredibly eloquent

Polly: Famesick by Lena Dunham. Really good

Hollie: I’m not reading anything right now

5. Guilty pleasure song

Fran: Jimmy Eat World - The Middle

Hollie: Shakira - Hips Don’t Lie

India: Rihanna - Hate That I Love You

Polly: Cher Lloyd - None Of My Business

Beyond the paywall this week: our best packing tips, swimwear picks, camera roll confessions, wedding regrets and editing tools

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London is special in the sunshine - there’s a collective joy, a softening of the shoulders and a flurry to anywhere with outdoor seating.

This is the list I wish existed: a curation of places where you can eat outside, without compromising on the food. These are the 19 spots that give you both and don’t require you to be or know a member to visit.

I’ve never taken restaurant recommendations lightly, so I’ve visited all except the first, which is most recently opened and very much top of my list. I’ve divided my recs into Central, West, East and South so you can just bookmark this post to return to as your alfresco directory.

The Central section is free to read and paid subscribers get the full list, including an insider tip you’ll want at The River Cafe.

I’ve added my own pics where I have them - some of these I visited for events so they might not look exactly the same as when I’ve visited!

Central

Café Clement

180 The Thames, Temple

Café Clement comes from Nick Jones, the founder of Soho House, who brings the same energy and undeniable entrepreneurial spirit to everything he touches. Pair that with a former River Cafe head chef, Danny Bohan, in the kitchen and the hype writes itself. It’s all part of 180 Quarter off the Strand including the much-loved deli Corner Shop, the St Clement Hotel and a rooftop restaurant to follow. Book a table on the terrace, and don’t leave without visiting the loos. Apparently they’re quite something.

Go for: the atmosphere first, the food a close second

Toklas

Surrey Street, Temple

A pergola-covered, plant-filled terrace that’s become one of the most sought-after in the city. It’s discreet from the street and easy to walk past, though up a flight of concrete steps you’ll find a real sun trap. The Mediterranean menu is one of those where you want to order everything, so the more people you bring the more you get to try. Grab a sourdough from the bakery below on your way in or out, it’s in my top three loaves in London.

Go for: a feeling of being on holiday

Ham Yard

Denman Street, Soho

Tucked into a pedestrianised mews behind Piccadilly Circus, this feels like a well-kept secret. It’s hard to believe one of the busiest places in London is only moments away. The cooking is seasonal modern British and, as one of the Firmdale Hotels, every inch has that signature Kemp colour and pattern. Lovely for a long lunch, afternoon tea or an evening drink. There’s a very good dessert trolley complete with a ‘say when’ tiramisu, though I’m always torn between that and an ice cream from nearby Gelupo.

Go for: a leisurely lunch with parents or grandparents who prefer somewhere more classic

The Devonshire

Denman Street, Soho

Last year The Devonshire opened their roof terrace up on the third floor. Forty covers, walk-in only and open when the weather cooperates. Downstairs is Guinness and crowds spilling onto the pavement; upstairs are classic dining rooms, wood-grilled fare and a very well-priced daily set menu.

Go for: a sunny meal when you fancy your chances of nabbing a terrace table

Sessions Arts Club

Clerkenwell Green

Not strictly alfresco, but worth bending the rules for. Up on the fourth floor of the old courthouse on Clerkenwell Green, the terraces wrap around what is, to my mind, the most beautiful dining room in London: faded plaster, arched windows, candlelight, the lot. Come early for a drink on the roof while the sun’s still up, then move inside for dinner. Florence Knight’s cooking is innovative and delicious.

Go for: a rooftop drink at golden hour, then dinner by candlelight

Luca

Clerkenwell

Michelin-starred and home to one of the most romantic courtyards in London: cobbles, olive trees, scented jasmine. The terrace is mostly given over to private hire, with à la carte tables released daily depending on availability, so set a reminder and be quick. The Parmesan churros alone are worth it.

Go for: a date or an anniversary - it doesn’t get much more romantic

West

The River Cafe

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I’m honoured to often be the friend whose brain is borrowed for decision making. I’ll get a hurried text asking which restaurant to book in Soho, or which marble slab to go for, and it never gets old. Particularly with interiors, since we’re nearing the end of a big renovation so I’ve really been ‘in the detail’. The more specific the better, frankly. I find so much joy in researching, curating and being opinionated. I’ve even made a job of it.

For this week’s Tuesday Ten I asked you to send in your ‘this or that’s’ so I could help with some decisions. It’s leant quite interiors-y, with a smattering of career help and purchasing dilemmas.

If you missed out or you’re only just remembering your own, feel free to leave a comment. I loved putting this together!

PS. I woke up to these messages that truly made my day -

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I’m well aware it’s Wednesday, so apologies for the late Tuesday Ten! We’ve been doing a very wholesome trip in the South West of the UK seeing family, friends and attending a wedding. Naturally I haven’t had the chance to be at my laptop as much, plus I just keep thinking of things to add to the answers below (Question 10 on weaning, I’m looking at you).

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1. Would love some necklace recs! Been loving colourful beads lately

There are some gorgeous ones in Tanya Burr’s Monica Vinader edit that I got to see IRL last week, plus lots of new brand discoveries in this newsletter. My fave is this one from Alaire - I love the beads interspersed with the silver.

I’m a big fan of a cord necklace, like this red one from Arkitaip, or this fish one from YSSO. Lié Studio does beautiful necklaces too, plus the brand I mention in answer six below - I’m obsessed! There are some really cool ones at & Other Stories (I’ve got the shell one coming) and Sezane right now.

2. What are your summer plans?

I’m going to Barcelona, The Dolomites, Andalusia, Positano and hopefully Formentera between now and September. Mostly just little trips for a few nights. Then lots of time enjoying our home and seeing friends and family in England. I don’t tend to go away in August, whilst we aren’t confined to school holidays.

3. When you wore the Jillian Reformation dress, what bra did you wear?

I wore a wearable stick-on bra with the dress. I spotted Estée looking unreal in the yellow dress and now they have a lace one for brides too..

4. Colour drenched walls or contrast skirting?

We’ve done all colour-drenched, except for on our stairs, where we did a contrast - the same colour as the bannisters. To me, contrast skirting can be used playfully so it’s fun on the stairs, in a hallway or in a kid’s bedroom. It can obviously be used in a traditional way too, but I prefer a colour-drench in general. It’s just easier on the eye and more contemporary. Plus, you have to pick fewer colours..!

5. Current read?

I just finished Yesteryear, which I think I enjoyed… It was long and gripping, but I can’t work out how I feel about the ending. Has anyone else read it that can discuss with me?!

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Beyond the paywall this week: where my fish necklace is from, sofas, wedding shoes, wedding bands and all my weaning tips three months in

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I am always being asked about wedding guest dressing in particular, so you will find a few pieces here with that in mind. Whether you have a wedding to dress for, a honeymoon to pack for or simply want to feel a little more put together in the heat, I hope there is something here that inspires you.

Cloimh Sheer Apron Skirt | The sort of piece that can give a new lease of life to everything else in your wardrobe

Weekday Balloon Trousers | They’re giving off-duty chic. Why these are not already in my wardrobe I will never know

Mango Linen Dress | I need to track this down for a wedding this weekend. Looks more expensive than it is

Lucy Williams x WNU Poplin Trousers | It’s hard to pick just one piece from this collection, but I’m very drawn to this cobalt shade right now. PS: Use code INDIACARDONA10 for 10% off

Sezane Apron Top | One of those tops that quietly elevates everything around it and will balance out the more masculine bottoms that make up much of my wardrobe. Exactly the sort of softness I am after right now

The full edit continues below, including more wedding guest options, the dress I think every bride needs for her honeymoon and the bags that will complete your summer wardrobe

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Before I get into this week's questions: my friend Fran and I are doing a clothes and accessories sale this Fri and Sat on the Fulham Road in London. Think highly curated sample sale with everything over 50% off the RRP. See my IG highlight for details - we hope to see you there!

1. Which interior designers inspire you most?

So many! These are who are most commonly found in my ‘Saved’ folder

• Molly Kidd | Her work has this effortless layered Americana quality - soft palettes, warmth and elegance

• Katie Harbison | Katie is the definition of considered with ideas and execution that always leave me in awe. I’ve had the privilege of seeing Katie at work and I’ve learnt so much from her

• Côte de Folk | Sophie Rowell’s work is always a bit unexpected, clever and unique. She’s sympathetic to the properties she works on in ways I haven’t seen before. Her ideas often shouldn’t work, but they do!

• Good Bones | Leanne masterfully creates a lived-in but elevated space, every room considered without ever feeling overworked. I always think Leanne is very practical and savvy with what she does and she’s helped me lots

• Studio Ashby | More maximalist than my usual style but I’m always wowed by the projects - the creativity and joie de vivre is evident throughout

• Festen | I love everything they touch, behind some of my favourite hotels including Les Roches Rouges and Hotel Du Couvent

2. Nice summer outfit for a surprise pub 40th, breastfeeding and carrier friendly

I’d go for one of these! The first would be my top pick - very Doen vibes. 1, 2, 3

3. Bathroom sourcing pls - extractor fans that aren’t an eyesore & where to buy marble

I’d get the simplest and quietest fan you can find, spray the face of it with a paint adhesive spray and then paint them the same colours as the room so they blend in - that’s what we’ve done (except we didn’t get the quietest fans and I regret it!).

Marble-wise, you will need two things - stone and a fabricator. Your fabricator (I used Granite & Marble) is the person who templates, sources, cuts, seals and installs everything. Find them before you go slab shopping as some yards want to know who you’re working with before they’ll let you view.

Start by browsing online across different stone yards before committing to visits as you could end up shlepping all over. In London it’s worth looking at MGLW, Stoneyard, Stoneworld and Develli, plus Cullifords, which was my personal favourite as the yard is outside and you can see the stone in natural light. That’s where we got ours - I think they have some of the highest quality slabs from what I’ve seen.

Wherever you end up, go in person as slabs within the same block will all vary. Take paint samples with you so you can hold them against the stone as you look. It sounds obvious but the undertones in marble can read very differently once it’s next to your actual wall colour, and you want to be certain before you commit. I ventured all over before finding ours!

4. Chic lampshades for wall lights next to bed?

I’d pop one of these on a sconce - 1, 2, 3, 4

5. What highchair does Cosmo have?

He has the Tripp Trapp and it’s great. We’ve spruced it up with a Catchy tray for flailing food and recently added IKEA Trofast drawers that happen to fit the size. This is my reminder to get him a cushion from Grey Fox - can I get away with a ruffle for him?

Beyond the paywall this week: Wedding guest dressing when you're pregnant, baby name ideas, where I'm at with a house tour, bedside table ideas and all the details from the hen weekend I just planned (with help!)

6. Any suggestions for wedding outfits for a very pregnant woman?

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Few things are better than a really considered gift, the kind that shows real thought and a bit of forward planning. I love finding them, and I love giving them even more.

It’s funny how we talk about gifts endlessly at Christmas and then not at all for the rest of the year, when really there are so many more moments to celebrate the people we love.

Most of these are tried and tested by me, a sentimentalist - you’ll see from the embarrassing number of things I have adorned with my son Cosmo’s name (clearly I am not over the novelty of being able to name a whole human). Lots of these are great for new babies, which I’m often asked about, although certainly not limited to that (there are knives on the list, for example!).

Plates

Commissioning plates is one of my favourites, they can be used as, well, plates, but more so to hang on walls. I always think it's nice to gift the plates with the stickers or holders to hang them - just make sure you get the right size.

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No rest for the wicked as I’m going straight into our house move after the most magical wedding in Tuscany. Since having Cosmo my life has been slower in many ways - I hardly travelled or left the house in the evenings for months and months. A very different pace to the last few years! It’s been genuinely lovely, but our trip to Italy marks the start of a much busier period and it feels good.

1. Favourite face SPF?

So hard to pick a fave, but the ones I rotate between are Mecca To Save Face (Matte), Summer Fridays Shadedrops, Susanne Kauffman Barrier Repair SPF and Augustinus Bader Sunscreen. The Mecca lip SPF is the absolute best!!

2. What size did you wear in the white Dissh dress when you were pregnant?

I think I get a DM with this question on a weekly basis - Dissh Toby dress is suuuch a perfect pregnancy dress. I love it so much that I have it in three colours as I know I can wear it for years to come (pregnant or not). I have the UK/AU12, but I could have got my usual size 10 to be honest as it’s got a lot of stretch in the shirring.

3. Short-haul/potentially drivable family holiday - August. Thinking France? Ile de re?

Gorgeous idea!! I’ve only heard good things about Ile de Re and I’m desperate to go to Cap Ferret - I have my eye on Hotel des Dunes. I’m always drawn to surf destinations, not because I’m a surfer, but I love the pace of life and relaxed vibe. Cap Ferret is also known for oysters and being a chic escape, so it’s ticking all my boxes. Harriet Stewart always does the best driving holidays in her van, so have a look at her recs!

4. What have you learnt from your reno this week?

Look at the decibel level on your extractors. We might have to re-buy all of ours as they’re much louder than expected.

5. Please can you remind us of the meditation course you did and loved?

Of course - it's the London Meditation Centre (they have one in New York too). It takes place over a few days with a couple of hours per session so it fits around work etc. I did the course in 2019 and so many family and friends have done it since too. The course is on Vedic Meditation (from Ayurveda), which is a self-led, mantra-based practice similar to Transcendental Meditation. Other places teach it too.

It's genuinely been the most positively impactful thing I have done for myself in my life and all my best ideas come to me when I'm meditating. I could talk about it all day.

Beyond the paywall this week: meditation tips, my Italian hotel list, nail inspo, baby sun essentials, and an update on the Monsoon collab.

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Hitting twenty editions of Tuesday Ten on Substack feels like a small milestone worth marking, particularly as it’s a series I first started on Instagram a year ago now. I moved it over to Substack as I found myself frustrated by Instagram’s single-link limit, the impracticality of writing answers over images and the fact that it vanished after twenty-four hours.

Moving it to Substack solved these problems and got me into the habit of writing here weekly, which was always a goal, but one that often slipped. Now the series has hit its first birthday I’m shifting to bi-weekly - it seems to suit the format better with more energy from both sides of the Qs and As. It also leaves space in the alternating weeks for me to go more in-depth on other things.

I always get a buzz sending Tuesday Ten out - it’s reminiscent of that feeling when you give a friend a really good recommendation that you know will help them.

To get cheesy for a moment - I feel so grateful that questions are sent, that you care for my opinion, that this newsletter is read and some of you pay for the juicier content. I never take it for granted and always try to make sure the paid tier earns its keep with niche recommendations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ It’s hugely gratifying and a real privilege so thank you for the support in every form.

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1. Personalised/initial jewellery to mark the birth of my babies

If money was no object, I’d get a Sophie Bille Brahe initial ring in an instant.

I also love the Annoushka initial pendants which have a gorgeous blackened gold effect making them look more vintage.

My friend Mads has the sweetest charms made by Emma Clarkson Webb, which feature diamonds placed at the time of each daughter’s birth and little sketches they’ve done, with the last left blank until the youngest can add her own.

2. Current favourite London meal/restaurant

Right now has to be Weezie’s - the new pizza restaurant from the team behind the wine brand Amie. It’s next door to their wine bar in Eccleston Yards in Belgravia and it’s a large, inviting space with tons of outdoor seating too. The pizzas are excellent (the White Hot and Sobrasada are my faves), along with an array of accompanying dips (very important at a pizza spot) as well as delicious drinks (spicy marg, yes please).

3. Looking for an everyday shoe recommendation to cover all bases!

I genuinely struggle with shoes so much, so I feel your pain. Right now I’m wearing my Arigato runners a lot as they’re like a smarter trainer. I think my next trainer purchase will be some Keens.

In the summer, I love a mesh flat as they bridge the gap between open and closed shoes, so they work with many outfits. A flip flop is also a fave. Usually you’ll find me a in a dad trainer, or in the evenings I’ve been reaching for my Chanel loafers.

I have a few designer shoes and they are genuinely the ones I reach for the most - there are certain items I do believe are worth the investment, and shoes are one of them as they can really transform a look.

4. Niche reno question - have you found any chic solutions for smoke detectors/sprinklers?! x

We’ve gone for Nest smart smoke detectors (although I think they’ve discontinued them!) on each floor and fire doors over sprinklers. For bathroom extractors, we’ve painted the faces the same colour as the ceilings to make them blend in as much as possible. As they’re plastic, we bought a spray to which the paint adheres, to use first.

5. What pram do you use for London, and do you have a different one for travelling?

I have the Cybex Mios which is a mid-sized pram I would say. I love it because the seat can face either direction and I still really like having him facing me, but travelling around London with a pram is no joke! It’s wild how many steps you have to navigate.

I have a super light Stokke Yoyo which I used with the newborn attachment, but haven’t used since he outgrew that because he could only face out, but I’m going to start using it again now he’s older. It’s SO light and perfect for travel as it fits in the overhead locker on planes. I’m using it right now for travel and it’s been perfect.

I also have a Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew, which I find too big for travelling around, but it’s an incredible pram, especially if you are up against different terrains or you have lots of space for it! It’s mega and I’ve just seen it now comes in dark brown..

Beyond the paywall this week: my current travel wishlist, a framing recommendation you won’t find anywhere else, Chelsea Flower Show dressing, flooring choices in our house, and all the artists and spots I go to for artwork.

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Going into our renovation I thought I was reasonably prepared, reasonably organised and reasonably good at making decisions. Oh how a renovation will humble you. I’ve made mistakes throughout ours: the inevitable, the expensive, the annoying and the ones that keep me up at night.

I’m documenting all 21 of them here so that if you’re about to start, or you’re mid-way through, you can hopefully avoid a few of them. If a reno isn’t on your radar, at least you can delight in my errors or feel smug that you’re not doing one.

Number 21 is the one I make on a multiple times a day basis. A lot of this could probably be alleviated with an interior designer rather than doing it as a rookie, but I know a lot of us are more in the latter camp.

For every mistake on this list, there are things I’m genuinely thrilled with too. That post is coming soon.

Also a small change to flag: the Tuesday Ten is moving to bi-weekly so I can go deeper on topics like this one. There’ll still be a weekly newsletter, just in alternating formats.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. Thinking we might be an exception

When you start a renovation, everyone tells you it’ll take longer than planned and cost more than you think. You hope to be the exception, but, you are the rule. The costs start to feel like Monopoly money, the timelines stretch, and somehow it’s taken double the time and cost 20% more. The only good thing about it taking longer is that at least you have more time to make the money to cover the incremental costs!

2. Not making decisions upfront

This is the big one, and almost everything else on this list is a symptom of it. The earlier you can make decisions, the better. You'll be pressured to make them quickly and under duress throughout, so wherever you can get ahead, do. I've been working to a 'whatever is most urgent at that current moment' timeline, which isn't great for the heart rate. Often decisions lead to more decisions, but decide what you can. It's rarely too late to change something, it's just too expensive.

3. Planning without pricing

We created plans with our architect, secured planning permission and then got pricing from builders. When we found out the plans were too expensive, we had to go back and change things, then go to tender again: months of back and forth that could have been avoided. The same principle applies to individual decisions: it’s easy to fall in love with a range cooker or commit to tiling a whole floor before you’ve properly priced it. Get a rough sense of the true cost before you get attached, or worse, you’ve already committed.

4. Not understanding the sequence of events

Everything is connected in a renovation in ways you wouldn’t immediately consider, and if you don’t understand the knock-ons, you will very quickly! We were caught out by this many times, assuming something could come later, only to find it was actually blocking something else entirely. A simple rule of thumb: structural things first, plumbing and electrics next, flooring soon after, joinery and decorating last. What seems like an isolated element is rarely just that.

5. Confusing what’s actually needed

Before ruling something out on lead time, check what your builders actually need at each stage. Sometimes it’s just the measurements to prep the plumbing or electrics, not the product itself. That influenced some of my choices when really all they needed was the dimensions. On lead times more broadly: they may well be longer than expected, particularly for handmade items and particularly over Christmas.

The remaining 16 are for paid subscribers. If you’d like to read on and learn from my most embarrassing errors, I’d love to have you.

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I’m happy to see the back of Q1, which is without a doubt the sloggiest quarter, isn’t it? Boringly, we are still not in our house, with mid-April being the latest promise, and right now I feel a bit like I’m sitting in a waiting room watching the days tick by. I appreciate it’s dull hearing about someone not being in their renovation yet, like, yes, of course it took double the time, so hopefully you won’t have to hear me mention it for much longer!

1. Do you shoot your photos on an iPhone or camera?

iPhone - I really think it’s amazing if you know how to use it. I’ve shared my exact settings and all the tricks I use across five Substack posts linked here

2. When did you start having fixed routines with Cosmo? Eg daily nap times etc

Only recently and we’re still not strict with it. He’s almost eight months now so he’s awake for longer stretches and usually just does one shorter morning and one longer lunchtime nap. I’m actually so relieved that his wake windows are longer now so they’re not as rushed and I don’t have to try to get him down for naps more than twice! I swear I spent my life trying to get him to sleep.

I’ve attempted routines before, but honestly found it so confusing and stressful whereas now it feels like this rhythm has more naturally set in. Beforehand I often felt like I was failing as he wasn't asleep soon enough, long enough or frequently enough, but now it makes more sense.

One thing I learnt this week that no one had ever told me before was to focus on building the lunchtime nap as that’s the one that stays for years, whilst the others are phased out.

3. Renovating a listed property in Cyprus and one requirement is the internal walls remain white - how can I add depth and weight?

This sounds amazing! White can be so beautiful and classic, so if you can choose an off white then that will provide a gorgeous backdrop to build on. We’re using off whites for much of our home and it’s very grounding.

To add depth and weight the flooring you choose will have a big impact. You could go dark or tiled, but mainly just try to avoid anything too new looking (reclaimed or handmade would work well).

Soft and layered lighting, lots of natural materials and a dark accents will help anchor the space. One dark piece of furniture per room is a good place to start. Vintage furniture will also add depth.

Lean into the character of the building - I’m sure it will be incredible!

4. Best toys for 4-6 months?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I think the Love Every kits are incredible and the magic tissue box (in the Senser kit), in particular, provides hours of entertainment.

Some of my friends who are mamas have bought him his other favourite toys - crinkly newspapers and steel sensory shakers.

5. Outfit for a christening (as the mum!)

A Christening is one of the few times you can wear white to an event, so you might want to lean into that. I also love the idea of something like a longline top and midi skirt or matching jacket and shift dress. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (to pair with 7)

Beyond the paywall this week: Where I outsourced help with our reno, spring London spots, disco hen outfit, 40th birthday restaurant rec and the renovation costs that caught me completely off guard

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Lighting can completely change how a room is experienced, for better or worse. Yes, it has to be functional, but the best versions of it go further than that - form and function working in sync. A well-chosen fitting can be a design object in its own right or fade into the background just discreetly doing its job.

My approach has always leant towards warmth and softness, but up until now I’ve worked within the constraints of new builds littered with ceiling spots, so I’ve used lamps, battery lights and smart bulbs to create that feeling as best as I can.

Our house renovation is the first time I’ve been able to really get stuck into how our home is lit. I’m favouring diffused light sources, mostly hidden bulbs and nothing too stark.

Lighting plans are one of the first things you have to put in place during a renovation, even though the finished rooms can still feel so abstract. The wiring sits within the walls and ceilings, so decisions need to be made well before a room takes shape, which doesn’t make it easy.

There’s more to work through than most people expect: what type of lights you want wired in (wall lights, pendants, spotlights, LEDs), which fittings sit on which circuits and the placement. Looking at my emails, we did our lighting plans two weeks after my son was born, ergo, some mistakes are inevitable.

I like my lighting how I like most of my interiors: considered, timeless and a bit playful. With over 40 wired-in fittings to source, I’ve gone mostly new with a sprinkling of vintage finds from over the years. I’ve collated every single fitting so below with an additional lust list here.

Update: August 2026

Now that we have moved in and they’ve all been fitted, I’m sharing the final list, as well as some honest learnings.

This post is for paid subscribers as it’s a juicy one with months (if not years) of internet trawling behind it. All my lighting learnings will be coming soon too.

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1. Top items currently in your wardrobe rotation?

I’m hoping to share a lot more of my daily outfits once we’ve moved and I don’t have to move baby paraphernalia every time I snap a pic in the mirror, but for now..

I can’t stop wearing this puffer, jacket, leather coat, barrel jeans, indigo jeans, baggy jeans, taffeta trousers, trainers, sweatshirts, tees, totes, big cashmere jumpers, cardigans, zip up hoodies and pretty tops for evenings out.

2. As a new mum, what’s your current night routine?

Now that Cosmo goes down consistently at 7PM we have some of our evenings back. We usually have dinner right away and then I scramble to do all the work and life admin I haven’t done during the day (screens all with a red light filter), watch a bit of Love Story, get ready for bed, play NYT Games, reflect on my day with a quick journal, use magnesium butter and read a few pages of a book before falling asleep! Sometimes there’s a dream feed in there too, but we’re trying to drop it!

3. Oscar’s best dressed?

Emma Stone has completely killed it for me this awards season. This look is so simple but so perfectly executed. The cut, narrow bodice, wide neckline, little cap sleeves and length give it such elegance, and that liquid-like fabric is pure Old Hollywood.

Then Bella at the VF After Party. This is how to do a halter!

Brides.. take note!

4. Is Dragon Diffusion still in this year?

An unbranded woven bag will always be in! This is my favourite of theirs right now.

I’ve ordered a woven bag from Sezane - I love the pop of red.

5. Would love to see the full list of light fittings you've selected for your home

A Substack with just this is in the works! We’ve done a full rewire and need over forty lights.. eek!!

Beyond the paywall this week: baby shower ideas, rugs under £700, my spa day, sink and pillow recs

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It’s always a joy to see what you’re pondering - balloon trousers were not a question I saw coming, but what a rabbit hole it sent me down.

I’m getting back to work events, which is both delightful and exhausting in equal measure Outside of work, the Rose Wylie exhibition at the RA was a treat and we also did a very helpful baby first aid course with Newborn & Beyond.

This weekend brings my first Mother’s Day, which is surreal to the point that I have not made any plans. Perhaps that’s the point? I know it can be a complex day for many so I’m sending love to those that feel it.

I’m dabbling in soft furnishings for our house reno and dropped a ton of fabric to my curtain maker this week. I’m sharing her details in answer 9, which I may live to regret!

1. Net-A-Porter Sale picks?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The NAP Sale is SO good - I’ve filtered for my favourite designers here. I’d take all the discounted Dôen. Try the code FLASH20 for an extra 20% off

2. Go to breakfast as a breastfeeding mama?!

I have sourdough toasted with butter and cottage cheese everyyydayy. The breastfeeding hunger is no joke!

3. April wedding panic! Thoughts on balloon trousers as an option?

Personally I’d say they lean more casual, however I’m very happy to be proved wrong and a peruse on Pinterest shows me they can be dressed up! It might just depend on the couple and the vibe of the wedding. If I was styling them myself I’d use these looks as inspo -

4. Help with spring pregnancy style! Really struggling

I did a piece with Collagerie last year on pregnancy style that I often refer back to! I also have a preggo style highlight on my Instagram. Dungarees, button up tops, long tops, baby tees, floaty blouses, cardigans and dresses were my go-to!

5. London coffee shop recs!

Recently I have loved August Bakery (the cappuccino! the sourdough!), Abuelo (the matcha with vegan maple cream), and Kuro (take bagels + chive cream cheese home).

Beyond the paywall this week: antique shopping in London, my best affordable interiors rec, baby brands, window dressings (including my curtain makers details!) and nursery decor ideas

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As you may well know we’re currently renovating our home in London and the end is in sight. From the get-go, I’ve had a clear idea of our design ‘codes’. I’ve wanted to pay tribute to the Georgian heritage, whilst still moving it forwards in a way that feels contemporary and us.

I hope our house will feel inviting, calming, sophisticated, relaxed and grounded. I don’t want anything shouty, gauche or shi-shi. Most of all, I want it to feel quietly considered, because boyyy have I considered.

I was keen to move away from any of the trends I’ve been a slave to in the past, and I’ve also realised there are some things I feel irrationally strongly about including or excluding.

These are purely my personal opinions and what works for our house at this particular moment in time, so please don’t take any of it too seriously - or personally! It would be terribly dull if we all had the same taste. I also acknowledge the total privilege of even being able to make these choices in our home - how lucky we are to be able to do what we want (budget constraints notwithstanding)!

From furniture to flooring to finishes, these are the design decisions I’ve consciously made and why -

1. Cast Iron Radiators

I’ve always loved classic cast iron radiators, but all the ones I’d seen were eight hundred to a thousand pounds a pop and I’d ruled them out as firmly over budget. I went ahead and ordered cheaper, cast iron ‘look’ radiators and had the pipe work prepped for these months ago. When I realised how prominent their new positions would be - under our Georgian sash windows (so as not to take up prime wall real estate) - I realised they really needed to be the real thing, otherwise they’d risk ruining our most beautiful period feature.

I lost many sleepless nights over it, but later found some that weren’t actually much more expensive than what I’d already ordered - if I’d found these in the first place I could have avoided the whole kerfuffle! Luckily the first ones could be returned, and for a cost the pipes could be moved. Even with the faff, mistakes and cost they really are worth it (thank goodness). Another benefit is that the heat they give off is smoother and less artificial than ones I’ve had in the past. I’ll link the exact ones in the subscriber chat!

2. Dark Wood Floors

We sanded back our original pine flooring on the first and second floors, which I originally thought I’d stain lighter. I then realised I wanted something uniform and grounding so it quickly became clear that going dark was the only option - that way the knots and orange piney tinge would be less apparent. It felt like a bold and scary decision, but I think it will anchor our light coloured walls and soft furnishings. There’s something about a dark floor that makes everything else feel more intentional and less ‘safe’. Plus, we have lighter floors everywhere else!

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