John Lewis, W1

It could be because I now get John Lewis vouchers instead of TopShop vouchers for my birthday (thanks Mum!) but I have recently found that my love for good old JLP is growing year by year.

The fashion is great at the mo (if you stock Whistles you are immediately in my good books), the haberdashery department is still as charming as it was when I got happily lost in it as a kid, yes the beauty hall in Oxford Street is looking a bit space age - but make-up is not really my bag anyway so I can deal with that, but the basement homeware section still has every baking or cleaning (yeah cleaning - I'm 31 now so totally allowed to go there) product I'll ever care to look for.

However it's the new House collection that's turned my head again this time. Turned it yes, but in such a lovely low key way. *That* is why I love John Lewis. 

House has been designed to be contemporary, but affordable. Stylish, but simple. Modern, but practical. All things I like and a lot of the products are right up my street too:

Classic, simple bedding:

Cosy throws, this one is £80 and I've been looking for something like this under a cool hundred so very pleased to see it!

They are even selling well priced furniture pieces:

Very nice styling in-store, I actually quite want the display unit but pre-tty sure it's just for visual merchandising...

And loads more loveliness online here. I particularly recommend checking out the coloured light cords, I'll have one in every colour please!

Do South, SE19

When I walked past Do South in the ever changing and upcoming Crystal Palace (have you seen the new Sparrowhawk pub - tres chic) and saw these perfectly cute and utterly stylish kids' chairs I knew it was going to be a winner...

Do South is an independent homeware and interiors shop, nicely mixing contemporary and vintage design. The older pieces particularly caught my eye in this colourful shop, as they catered for my well established era of choice: mid-century modern. 

One thing in particular that Do South do so well is chairs. My gosh, I don't think there was a chair in that shop that I couldn't happily park my posterior on any day of the week...

Dining...

 Reclining...

And...I don't know what this chair would be best for...maybe eating Chocolate Oranges?! But I'd be enjoying it whatever!

Do South also offers some beautiful mirrors including this wonderful round one with a sleek wooden frame but I also spied a suede framed mirror in store, fabulously tactile. 

Nesting tables that are worth building a nest for...

 

Crafting table extraordinaire? 

It's definitely worth a trip down south, if not for a vintage chair to eat/lounge/Choc Orange feast on, to take a more in depth peek at the contemporary furniture, accessories and eclectic one-offs at Do South.