SUMMER IN THE TEA SHED – RECLAIMED GARDEN LIVING

Hello, June! This has got to have been the most spectacular year for weather that we’ve had for ages, don’t you think? All that wonderful frost and fog in February and then glorious sunbeams (with awesome thunder and rain storms to water the garden) thereafter. Spring was a beauty and now summer is here already. Last week was a blur of rearranging out in the garden and with a little furniture swapping and paring back, the Tea Shed is now feeling all Wabi-Sabi-rustic.Hands up if you’ve ever sawn the legs off a small dining table to make it the perfect height for taking tea seated on a floor cushion or in an armchair? We are not afraid to take a saw to a vintage piece of furniture here!I invested in these beautiful tea bowls with some money I had been given for my birthday in February and finally got some cushion pads for these wool and linen covers from Urbanara. I have been saving both for ages indoors awaiting this day. Then basically decided I needed to dedicate a whole ritual and room to them plus all the TEA! For a list of the other items I bought and used in here this time around, I’ve put together a mini source list at the bottom of this post. It’s feeling a lot calmer in here now, fewer patterns and colours but lots of subtle details and tactile textures.Linen and wool, wood and ceramics. The scent and steam of herbal tea in the air and some incense in the mornings.My collection of Hungarian linen cloths are living out their destiny along with some very special pottery pieces given to us by the gorgeous human being that is Jono Smart (vase below).Simple new wall decorations – a few framed pictures and a leaf mobile swiftly made (from and old Fog Linen metal garland I bought a few years ago). I love the flash of old gold when the breeze blows it and the clink of the metal leaves as they sway together.The glass baubles above have candles inside for an extra evening glow, the branch they hang from was one that had to be removed from our birch tree.We really are loving this slightly more paired back rustic feel, less to sweep the cobwebs off and just a few plants to water down here now.This Japanese inspired decor with floor cushions is perfect for four and a small visitor or two.For when there are only two for tea, not four I have saved our poor arm chairs from the scratchy clutches of our two cats! For some reason, they really love to have a good rip at only these two chairs – I think it’s the vintage slubby linen?? It is  also true that sometimes the T in Tea Shed stands for G&T but only after 5pm ;)The rug from this shoot for Anthropologie and 91 Magazine has found a new home in here for the summer, with some favourite old sheepskins for cosy factor.Marlo was not feeling the camera for long ha! But she does match up with our new cushions and whole shed aesthetic in the most delightful way.Have a wonderful weekend, we will be out in the sunshine working on the garden or hiding in here! Here is a quick source list as promised for a few places I bought items from – Linen and Wool Cushion covers – Urbanara, Metallic votives – West Elm, Vintage Chairs and sheepskins pre-loved eBay finds, Rug – Anthropologie, Hungarian Cloths – Fleet home, Mini wooden spoon – Hatchet and Bear, Leaf Garland – Grey September, Pelargoniums – The Walled Nursery in Hawkhurst, Shelves and reclaimed wall – wood found in skips and from old pallets, oh and the shed is from here!! I hope you have a garden hideaway you can sneak off to too ;) x