Those of you who have seen photos of our home know that we’re avid collectors of all manner of things.

Which brings us neatly to the second title in our Bookmarks review series, The Way We Live – With the Things We Love by Stafford Cliff & Gilles de Chabaneix and published by Thames & Hudson.

The book celebrates the things with which we fill our houses – and how people express their personality through their homes and the objects they collect.

We’re always looking for imaginative ways to display…

…and this book is full of great ideas.

All the wonderful images, from houses all around the world, were taken by a single photographer, Gilles de Chabaneix, who spent over 40 years photographing domestic interiors.

The book doesn’t try to advise on what objects to collect, but offers inspiration for people who love to rummage at markets, bid at auction or have treasured heirlooms they want to put on show.

Objects ranging from fine art to humble beach-combed finds rub shoulders throughout the book.

From familiar groupings of mirrors and paintings, to much more idiosyncratic collections, such as a wall-full of vintage postcards of rock formations!

It’s a great lazy afternoon or bedtime read, with over 200 pages of inspiring, fascinating and intriguing rooms.

We’ve revisited the book a few times this week which is a good sign… and you do notice new things each time.

The book is one in the Way We Live: series and can also be bought from our Amazon bookshops: UK | US

[Many thanks to Thames & Hudson for supplying this review copy]

In addition to our web shop we have an antiques centre pitch.

Following  Bev & Tim’s efforts, it’s now looking wonderfully Christmas-y.

There’s a lovely tree and other festive decorations.

The window looks fab…

…with its selection of traditional vintage toys including board games, teddies, dolls and a gorgeous rocking horse.

Do pop by if you’re in the area – you may just find that perfect present!

We’re still thinking about some of the smashing things we saw at the GNCCF. One of our favourite stands was the slipware pottery produced by Hannah McAndrew shown below.

This pottery decoration technique is very ancient – and involves applying wet clay over unglazed pot… either by dipping, piping or painting. Hannah’s pieces have an almost Medieval quality whilst maintaining a modern feel. These small ‘Birdie’ mugs are great, and she also had some fantastic larger pieces…

…such as this jug & plates with oak leaf decoration.

We have a few bits of slipware dotted around our house such as this lovely little candleholder. Slipware has a timeless quality and is very good at tying together antique & modern pieces.

We picked up this amazing  charger a few years ago at a bric-a-brac shop down on the south coast.

It now sits on an antique coffer – it looks lovely against the patina of the old oak.

This large pottery tankard was also a good find – picked up relatively recently at a local flea market. It’s got a bit of age to it – and we think it’s absolutely beautiful!

This mug was made relatively recently but is very interesting all the same because of its social history.

This simple little fish plate is another favourite. The scales look to have been created by dragging a small stick through stripes of the wet slip.

And finally, this bowl which sits on our bathroom window sill and is normally full of bath salts & a little scoop – ready to ease the aches & pains brought on by our constant moving of boxes and furniture!