I hope you’ve all read the summer issue of Heart Home magazine by now.  And if you haven’t, why not!

I have to say that the best part of putting together each issue is going on the photo shoots of our readers’ homes.  I am always amazed and inspired by the ingenious ideas you guys have for injecting style into your personal spaces; often on a very limited budget too.  Each shoot I come away with at least one idea that I want to try in my own home and quite often I would just like to move in!

So here is a run down of my favourite images in the summer issue and why they inspire me so much.

Henny Tate’s rambling 350 year old country house was actually photographed by her sister Emma Lewis so getting the right shots was a piece of cake.  Not that it would have been hard anyway.  There were so many quirky and interesting corners; and the fact that Henny is an interior designer with a knack for combining antiques, linen and upcycled furniture with all the normal paraphanalia of a hectic family life just made it all the more enjoyable.  And yes, we did eat the props.

By complete contrast the Edwardian home of Hannah Gooch was a lesson in restraint and practicality.  She and her husband had restored all of the period features of the house and turned it into a very welcoming and beautiful family home.  And as the owner of a home accessories website she had plenty of beautiful props for us to play with and move around to our hearts content.

And then we went to the seaside;  to the holiday home of Rebecca Partridge.  Just a short walk away from Camber Sands beach where I used to go as a child, is this very calming and practical white-painted holiday let.  Full of vintage childrens furniture that Rebecca sources for her business it would be the ideal place for a good old fashioned bucket and spade holiday.  It sleeps two families comfortably but I would just love to have the bedroom suite above.  Situated at the end of the house and with french windows opening directly onto the deck, I could imagine being very happy here for a few days. 

But if you like feminine with a touch of Parisian style you would love the home of Carole Poirot as much as we did.   It was incredibly light and airy and full of the best kept house plants I have ever seen.  I rushed home and bought a few ferns straight away.  She had her own paintings hanging on the walls and her own cushions scattered around and had styled the place so well we didn’t touch a thing.

Last but by no means least is the beautiful home of Elisa Rathje.  Another centuries old cottage that had more than a few tales to tell but the best stories were Elisa’s own.  She doesn’t just go out and buy the things she needs for her home, she learns how to make them instead.  Most of the things in the house she had made, painted or renovated herself and that was so inspiring.

Thanks also guys for all of the home-made cakes, tarts, soups and countless cups of tea.  Each and every shoot was an absolute joy!

 To see more inspiring photographs of these gorgeous homes head over to Heart Home magazine.

PS. If you would like your home featured in a future issue just send a few snaps to info@hearthomemag.co.uk