I love the home wares collection (and furniture!) from French Connection. When I was last in London, which was in November, I saw some of their collection for the home and really liked it. The quality looked just fine and I loved the muted, relaxed palette because you can mix these things into your interior world so easily without wondering if they'd match or not - can't go wrong with raw materials like wood with grays and whites. So versatile. They just rolled out some new furniture that I love. Here are some favorites below, with links, and since it's gray and rainy today, I find these images restful and just well, nice to look at.

My favorite things: leather and jute gray rug, wooden table with wheels, safari babe chair, tied bedding, driftwood mirrors, tree trunk wooden stool and the leaning shelves. I would love to buy some of these things, but they won't ship outside of the UK. So I guess I just have to look like most of you who aren't living there...

I'd add some music to this mix by Rose, Coeur De Pirate and Carla Bruni - they've been on constant rotation in my studio all week. I'd also light a few candles, add a string of twinkle lights over a door or mirror, and bring in some tea along with a really nice plate of yummy healthy things to eat. That's what you have to do on gray, dreary days. Relax and go with it. Create your own sanctuary and make a little magic.

P.S. I'm so happy French Connection seems to be moving away from their branding as FCUK, I always thought that was so degrading to their image. Did you ever think that too?

(images: french connection)