November Scrapbook: Autumn in the countryside
With the usual hip happenings to pencil in plus the paint colours I'm loving right now.
Can we believe it’s November already? Halloween went by in a flash – and in a sugar rush nonetheless – and we’ve already had our village fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night, too. Next up, the Christmas delirium. I sort of love this time, though, whereby at 4 pm, it’s all silvery and dusky outside, and my body clock is telling me it’s time for bed (man, this is hard every year), so I then turn on the telly and fire off some juicy episode of Rivals. How many of you are watching the Jilly Cooper hit, too? It’s messy, it’s graphic, it’s silly and certainly sexy, it’s very much absurd, but it’s a laugh too, plus it’s all set in this little corner of the Cotswolds. So, while all eyes are on these pastoral plains, let’s get into what’s going on this month.
This month, I’m switching it up and am going to do a quick-hit gossip gab about all the newness I’ve spotted in the South West (mostly Somerset) recently.
In the Cotswolds:
Juliet, the new white tablecloth-filled bistro in Stroud from The Woolpack team, is open. Inside, it’s a little retro, with thick candelabras and a piano bar for late-night shenanigans (and singing).
Zonda Pizza is now open at The King’s Arms in Chipping Norton. Fans of the doughy pies are happy already.
In Bath:
Landrace – the bakery-and-small-plates-restaurant – is expanding into an even bigger and better space next door, open tomorrow. More buns for all.
Palette – also a bakery-shop-cafe-and-gallery – is set to open just before Christmas.
Brac – taking over a riverside spot, they’re specialising in strong coffee and super-stuffed focaccia sarnies.
In Somerset:
The Creamery – an old milk factory that’s been lovingly restored as a green-tiled trackside restaurant (the Castle Cary station) and working creamery (from the team behind The Newt).
Not far from the Castle Cary is another soon-to-be opening from the Chickpea Group. Watch out for Manor House Inn in Dicheat coming soon.
The Country Crib – a new homeware store in Sherborne and is filled with dreamy finds (and gardening goods) to squirrel away.
Osip 2.0 – it’s open. Merlin Labron-Johnson is bringing his farm fresh plates and delicate detailing to a new space on a farm near Bruton. Rooms are in the works, so spending the night will be made that much easier.
At the Hauser + Wirth, Da Costa is dishing out strong Italian flavours with ingredients grown in England. I’m getting the tiramisu.
In Bristol
Dongnae is bringing Seoul to Redland. From the team behind Bokman, you can expect the same attention to detail and much-loved Korean favourites.
November 14th – Cornwall’s hit restaurant Four Boys will be at Cheltenham’s The Tivoli pub for a four-course feast. The menu? Steamed Porthilly mussels with fennel and chilli, ravioli with squash, ricotta and sage, and a steamed lemon curd sponge with globs of custard. Email info@thetivolicheltenham.com to book your table, £70pp.
November 16th – British brand Boden is bringing a big bus to Stow. Find a tight edit of womenswear and a sweet map to the market town.
November 21st – Studio Bust – the female-founded studio that takes the beauty of the body and turns it into a timeless standalone figurine – is popping up at Thyme. You can normally find them in their workshop in London, crafting, and creating objets of women’s bodies in all shapes and forms. Book in for an appointment here.
Also, around these dates (21st-23rd), Ruskin – the lovely Oxford-based bag artisans – is coming to Stow’s Atelier 8 for a showcase of their crafts.
November 22nd + 23rd – it’s the firey Bangarang X Wine Freedom 10-dish dinner party. There are only a few more tickets left, and it’s at a secret location near Chipping Norton.
Next month – it’s the Christmas Market at our local, The Bell in Langford on December 7th. Shop small and shop local, with a toasty drink in hand, of course.
As the cottage renovations chug along – we are kicking off with our very twee, very tiny ensuite bathroom – under the carefully cool and keen eye of New York-based interior designer (and my sister) Lauren Carlucci Studio (find her on Instagram here) we have been combing through colours of all shades and tones. To be honest, we’ve looked at about 50 variations of creams while hunting for something buttery, soft, and yes, creamy. But in the search, I’ve also discovered some of the sweetest and dreamiest brands that are creating the most beautiful paints. Here’s a little spotlight on some of the people and paint houses I love right now, plus the colours that are on my radar.
Atelier Ellis
Based in Bath, Atelier Ellis was founded by Cassandra Ellis in 2018. Colours are earthy, classic, and deeply complex. Plus, they are natural, breathable, and bio-based. Rubus, below, is described as a faded, beautifully worn raspberry, and it’s the colour of my new front door.
Rose Uniacke
The queen of paints. One of my favourite designers and masters of tone. They’re also all ecological and mineral-based, but there’s just something soothing, smooth, and bold about her shades. She recently launched 20 new colours, happy picking. Below is red clay.
Colour Makes People Happy
Based in Kent (St Leonards on Sea and Hastings after moving from Lewes), there’s a bit of fun and funk with this high-street shop. Colour names include ‘I thought I told you to wait in the car’, ‘tawdry and frivolous’, and ‘there are moments you remember all your life, this is not one of those moments’. Below is No Trick Pony.
Benjamin Moore UK
I wasn’t aware of how loved Benjamin Moore was in the States until Lauren told me that they had just launched over here in the UK. A household staple, they’ve just announced their trend predictions for 2025, including this heathered plum and velvety brown mix below.
The Pickleson Paint Co.
It helps that the pots of this paint company are a trendy blushy pink, making it appealing to the snap-happy set. It’s sassy, fun, and young, and inspired by the Mediterranean, there are lots of island blues and dusty greens, including this ‘Pissy Yellow’, although it’s a bit of an odd name at that.
Harriet Slaughter
Not a brand but rather a creative colour consultant. She does the occasional carousel of shades she loves that are trending and that she sees inside homes and spots she visits. Plus, it’s a great way to seek inspo to steal for yourself.
Always love receiving your newsletter! Such a great curated list x