Today on weekend meanderings Alice Grace Interiors, The Grove, Entertaining Outdoors, and more.
WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Good morning and a happy Saturday to you! It’s time for weekend meandering with Kim and Juliet, our weekly series where we share all of the things that piqued our interest and caught our eye over the past week.
It has been a week hasn’t it? My heart is broken for Maui, the loss of life, history and an entire town wiped off the map. The photos are almost unbelievable, as if they are from a disaster movie. Any yet it is the reality for so many.
If you are considering a donation please do your due diligence because even in the face of unimaginable tragedy there are heartless people who will steal money from those in need. The Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and Maui Humane Society are a few places that I know of that are reputable and seeking donations.
Ok, let’s meander. I have lots to share this week and I think you are going to enjoy it.
ONE TO FOLLOW~Alice Grace Interiors
Instagram is a treasure trove of talent and every week I discover a new artist, chef, writer or interior designer. This week it is Alice Grace Interiors.
Alice Gaskell, is the founder of Alice Grace Interiors. Alice has a knack for working with contemporary spaces to create homes that are both timeless and beautiful, whilst her love for fabric and pattern blending adds depth and warmth to her designs. Every corner is carefully considered to balance functional practicality with traditional elegance.
In her past life Alice was a journalist, property marketing and sales and teaching. When her son was born and they moved into a new build she began to share her design work on Instagram. Within 3 years she gained 100,000 followers. People were drawn to the classic, layered English look and wanted it for their own home.
With the success of her account came repeated requests to design bespoke rooms for individuals. In 2021 a design service was set up and in 2023 has grown from rooms, to custom furniture, and whole house designs.
I love everything about the cozy, collected and timeless rooms that Alice creates. If you do as well you can follower her on Instagram or read her blog.
Read more about Alice Grace Interiors
Styling Small Spaces – with Alice Grace
Meet The Interior Designer: Alice Grace
How Alice Grace Interiors Gave Her Modern Home A Timeless Makeover
Alice is also the creator of the popular blog, ‘Journal of a Considered Home.’
Wanderlust~The Grove in Hertfordshire
I know that I say this every week, but The Grove is absolutely one to add to your bucket list. The Grove Hotel is located just 18 miles from London on 300 acres and not far from the Warner Brothers Studio where you can take the Harry Potter tour.
There are 189 rooms in the west wing and in the old mansion suites that are amazing. Should I ever stay there I want one of the suites preferably with a bookcase filled with books, a soaking tub and a fireplace.
The Grove has an 18 hole golf course, a spa and lots of outdoor activities like archery, laser clay pigeon shooting and horse riding. There is also axe throwing, tennis, swimming, woodland trails a garden and so much more. Seriously, I do not think you could ever be bored.
If you get hungry you can dine in the garden and sit in a hot air balloon, eat traditional fare at The Stables, Afternoon Tea in the Potting Shed or Indian at Madhu’s.
Even though all of this sounds and looks beautiful what drew me to The Grove was its history.
Archaeologists have found pottery dating back to the Bronze Age on the grounds. Queen Elizabeth founded the house in the 16th century. In 1753 The house was acquired by The Honourable Thomas Villiers, second son of the second Earl of Jersey and British Ambassador to France, who became the very first Earl of Clarendon. During this time it was a favourite spot for artist George Stubbs, who visited the stables regularly to create his famous horse portraits. The Grove was also visited by Captain Cook, who presented one of the Earls with a sapling of the newly discovered Black Walnut Tree. This magnificent tree is still there today. The house was a popular spot for Queen Victoria and other British aristocrats in the 1800’s.
In the 1940s, The Grove became a wartime HQ for London, Midland and Scottish Railway. The grounds were used to build air raid shelters and underground bunkers for jeeps and other vehicles. Left in a sorry state it was acquired in 1996 by Ralph Trustees Limited. Over the last 20 years they have created this amazing hotel and gathering place for families and sportsmen.
For more information about The Grove visit their website.
Outdoor Entertaining
This week Cindy, Mary Ann, Annie and Julie are sharing easy outdoor entertaining ideas! Beautiful tablescapes, menus, bars and tips for making your guests feel welcome.
Links
What Is Greta Gerwig Trying to Tell Us?
We’re All Shopping Addicts Now
The law of reversed effort: The harder you try, the harder you fall
Be Bad, Better—From Anger to Laziness, How to Put Your Worst Habits to Good Use
12 New Summer Books to Add to Your 2023 Reading List
5 Southern Roadtrips to Add to Your Bucket List
The Great American Chile Highway
The biggest names in food are just regular people on TikTok
7 Introvert Habits That Could Be Hampering Your Happiness
Air travel is magical, but it has lost all of its magic
Looking for a book to read at the beach or pool, here are some of my favorites.
This week Kim and Cindy shared their Signature Style post and it is all about linen!
FINDS
OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
Black is always in fashion, as the days get shorter and cooler I like to add black back into my wardrobe. The Fall turtleneck sweaters and midi skirts are “in”, honestly, I’ve always had them in my Fall and winter wardrobe. What about you? Here are the details for this classic outfit skirt//turtleneck//sling backs//tote//earrings
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT~ON THE BLOG THIS WEEK
Monday I shared a fun book I think you will enjoy, as well as Fall finds, outfits and lots more.
You can find all of these Terrain pieces as well as Fall items from Pottery Barn, H&M, Amazon, etc in My Cosy Fall Shop!
The nights are cooling down and I am starting to feel the pull toward cosy finds. I put this outfit together and think it is a casual, comfy look for the coming cool months. Here are the details jeans//sweater//shoes//earrings//perfume//bag//shirt.
Have I got a treat for you! Grab a zucchini or two from your garden and make this fudge and delicious Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread!
Outfit details, just in case you like a piece or two: sweater//purse//shoes//pants//perfume//bracelet.
Friday Favorites featured easy lettuce wraps and corn chowder to name just a few of the recipes, 3 books and a cookbook that you are going to love, an outfit for Fall and of course lots of links you may have missed this week! You can see all of the details in my Cozy Fall Finds Shop.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I hope that you enjoyed Alice Grace Interiors, The Grove, Entertaining Outdoors, and all the rest.
Last weeks post included the beautiful and moody Oho Interiors, the fascinating Alderney Island, and Julia Berolzheimer x Pottery Barn collection just in case you missed it.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
Have a wonderful weekend, stay cool and be safe. Make sure to hydrate.
Don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
This post contains affiliate links if you make a purchase from a link on the blog I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Leslie says
Friends from Lahaina who have lost everything are recommending that people who wish to donate consider the Maui Food Bank. Many people on the island are affected even those living outside the burn areas. They have lost jobs etc. As well resources are stretched thin. Many people lost food as the power has been out for days in other parts of the island. This is a legitimate charity and your donations will go directly to the people who need it
Mahalo
kim says
Elizabeth, Great post and good to share about Maui. I love the charities you shared and good to know as Leslie said about the food bank too.
Alice Grace interiors look very English country and I love that. The Grove wow! I am going to the UK in October. Wonder if I can see this? So many of these amazing places there. You need a UK trip and to hit them all and blog about it! I too love the history..
Your zucchini bread is on my recipe to try this week list!! I can’t even think about sweaters yet we are still so hot , but those are lovely.
Hope you have a great weekend!
xo
Juliet says
Happy Saturday, Elizabeth! You always bring us so many wonderful things … people to follow, places to visit, ideas for cooking and entertaining. I’m to get another cocoa and (deep) dive in! Have a wonderful weekend. xo
Diane E Ruebel says
Thank you so much for sharing the sites to help our friends in Hawaii. There plight needs compassion and you’ve made it easier to respond.
Hugs, Diney on Mercer Island
Elizabeth says
Diney, you are very welcome. I hope that they get all they need. It is such a sad situation.
Have a great day!
michele@hellolovely says
Great post! The Grove looks amazing – I’m quickly turning into an Anglophile as I binge watch For the Love of Kitchens and long to escape to the UK. (I began blogging about deVOL and even corresponding with them regularly back in the early days of blogging 2010-ish. They have such a global presence now!) My heart breaks for the devastation in Lahaina – I hope the land recovers quickly and residents feel somehow upheld by Love in their sorrow.