Secret Diary of a Scavenger

A lifestyle blog about my art, interior design and cruelty-free beauty

Fashion Colour Crush: Rust

I’m not sure if it’s because Autumn is in the air or because I’ve changed my hair colour but I’m really loving burnt oranges and rust coloured clothing right now. There’s lots more of this colour creeping into the high street edits which I’m really pleased about.

There are so many shades of rust too; some darker and robust, others are lighter and pastel coloured. I want them all!

Such is my colour crush that I’ve created a pinterest board of my favourite bits and pieces from the net and stores.

I’ll be adding to this daily so feel free to go over and follow my board.

In terms of must-have pieces that I’ll likely be picking up when that pay check hits my account, here are my top five:

  1. This simple long sleeved staple from Miss Selfridge, I love the lettuce effect and black thread running through it
  2. This corduroy skirt from Topshop. It’s actually part of a co ord but I’m not down with the matchy-matchy yet.
  3. This belted THICK cord jacket from Monki (get it on ASOS). It looks so cosy and will literally go with anything.
  4. This slouchy knit jumper from New Look. It’s also got a few other colours woven in which I love!
  5. These super skinny corduroy jeans from New Look. These will look amazing with a western style black belt.

I’ve not added a dress to my top five which is a little strange but most likely because the temperature has really dropped this past week.

How about your top fashion picks? Have you got any rust coloured clothing in there?

Vegan Eats At The Wheatsheaf Pub & Grill Bow Brickhill

Last Sunday I met with the #mkbloggers at The Wheatsheaf Pub and Grill in Bow Brickhill –  a pub I have passed many times and always wanted to go to. We headed to the pub for our summer social and it was nice to see everyone’s faces again. The last time we had seen each other was at The Goldsmithy Masterclass in Fenny Stratford. The interior is like a millennial has designed it, which isn’t a criticism at all because I absolutely loved it. There are many hues of grey, many plants and hipster style lighting (very instagramable). Something else that caught my eye as soon as I arrived was the gin station. Not sure if this is just a summer thing but you’re able to ‘pimp your gin’ with a variety of fruits.
So with drinks in tow we sat down at our table which looked delightful by the way – many thanks to the staff who decorated the table with cute flags and plants.

The starter – An Artichoke and Spinach Soup

Now, those two words probably put most people off: artichoke AND spinach, nah, surely not. Yes. Absolutely yes. I am one of those strange people who love all vegetables, which is handy being a vegetarian, and this combination was delicious. The bread with oil was a nice touch and luckily not too filling before the main.

The Main – Beetroot and Apple Vegan Burger, Basil Mayo, Skinny Fries and a Sweetcorn Slaw

Again, all of this veg mixed with fruit is my absolute dream. The burger had so many flavours going on which complemented each other well and the texture was great. It wasn’t trying to be meat which I feel is a mistake some chef’s make with vegan food. It was patty, and a fresh one at that. But the standout flavour for me was the basil mayo. I couldn’t believe it was vegan and it was a real simple twist to a sauce. I wish I had asked for a pot to dip my skinny fries in but thought I would get a few strange looks. Maybe next time?! Overall the meal was one of those you think about for the next week and wish you were eating that instead of what you have cooked yourself. So yes, I did miss the food. I’ll be going back for sure and taking a few other interested parties who were salivating over my insta stories. I left well-fed. *just so you’re aware, we were offered the meal for free in exchange for writing an honest review. All of these words and opinions are my own.

      The Conversation Pit: A Living Room On A Different Level

      If you are thinking about renovating your living room, you don’t have to go the traditional “four walls and a flat floor” route. Using different levels within the same space can give your living space a whole different dimension, and can give a feeling of coziness – especially when creating seating areas. It is particularly useful if you have a living space with dual purpose, or an open plan home, to define different areas. So how can you create this in your own home? Try making a conversation pit. Here’s what you need to know before renovating.

      The sunken conversation pit

      Back in 1959, the first conversation pit appeared in Homes and Garden Magazine, in the home of J.Irwin and Xenia Miller – celebrated patrons of modern design and interiors. The pit was designed by the architects Alexander Girard and Eero Saarinen, and was 2.5 foot deep, covering a 15 foot squared section of their living room. Each side of the conversation pit was lined with sofas and cushions. This unique idea created an intimate and cozy space to spend time with friends and family, focusing on each other. The same design was then used in New York’s JFK Airport in the TWA terminal.

      Building a conversation pit

      Due to the construction logistics, building a conversation pit is not a simple procedure – it involves digging a hole into the foundations in order to create a space large enough for your seating arrangement. It will be a financial investment in your home. The process is very similar to installing an indoor swimming pool. It is certainly advisable to get a professional to deal with the construction. You will need to keep track of the measurements though so that you can install sofas and cushions that fit perfectly in the space.

      A retro comeback

      Conversation pits are making a comeback in home design. Maybe we are getting tired of staring at computers and televisions all evening. It is certainly a refreshingly sociable living room feature, celebrating the importance of spending time with family and friends. The women’s club, The Wing, based in Dumbo, Brooklyn has recently installed a conversation pit, looking strikingly modern – a great space for intimate conversations. And architect Craig Steely installed a beautiful purple sofa pit in one of his home designs that took Instagram by storm.

      The conversation pit is back on the interior design map. Rather than looking like a 1960s gimmick, it is a modern way to move the focus of your home to the people that live there.