The Little Things I Love…

If there’s one thing people quickly learn about me, it’s that I love the little things.

Not necessarily expensive things. Not perfect things either. Just thoughtful things. Things with charm, atmosphere, nostalgia or personality.

My family laugh because as soon as evening arrives, I start saying “ambience, ambience…” while lighting candles and lowering lamps around the house.

And honestly? I make no apology for it. I love creating atmosphere at home. Soft lighting, flowers on a table, candles burning in the

kitchen, music on in the background. I think those small touches completely change how a

home feels. I’m very particular about scent too. I love fresh, herbaceous smells rosemary, bergamot, eucalyptus, fig. Anything too sweet or overly heavy gives me a headache now. I think as I’ve got older, I’ve become much more drawn to natural, calming scents that make a house feel fresh and welcoming.

 

I’ve always loved gifting too.

 Not huge extravagant gifting necessarily, but thoughtful gifting. I tend to “clump gift,” which probably says a lot about me. I’ll gather together a few small things Perhaps a candle, napkins, a little jug, matches or something quirky and build a gift around the person.

And strangely, I probably put almost as much effort into the gift bag as I do the actual present.I think gifting matters because it shows care. It says: “I saw this and thought of you.”

Sometimes a gift says the things words can’t.

 I’m not actually the world’s best gift wrapper especially with awkward shapes but I do love the whole process of choosing pieces that feel personal and meaningful. That same feeling is probably why I wanted to include children’s pieces within Moody Merchant too.

Many people don’t know that my mum owned a children’s clothes shop, and later I had one myself when my boys were young. I think that love of children’s things has always stayed with me.

I adore beautifully made toys. Wooden toys, nostalgic toys, imaginative toys pieces that feel thoughtful rather than disposable. I’ve always loved brands like Le Toy Van, Moulin Roty and Maileg because they feel timeless, charming and beautifully crafted. I’m definitely not someone who loves piles of plastic toys everywhere. I’d always rather gift one beautiful wooden toy that becomes part of a child’s world than lots of things that quickly get forgotten. And I think that’s true for homes in general too.

I love objects that quietly become part of everyday life.

A good napkin.

A rechargeable lamp glowing on a table.

Fresh Flowers from the garden